Chapter 30
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 30
‘What was that man’s name again? Gray? Greg? I think his surname ended with a ‘t’...’
Though his name was fuzzy in her mind, he had been perfectly friendly when Trisha introduced them earlier.
He looked to be in his early thirties, dressed in clothes that were both luxurious and stylish. He seemed talkative, but his manner wasn't frivolous, nor was his laugh boisterous. As it happened, he was nursing a drink alone, just like her, with no one to talk to.
Harriet decided to approach him.
"Excuse me. Countess Fellon introduced us earlier, but I didn't get a chance to properly greet you. I apologize, but may I ask your name just one more time?"
"Ah, Greg Lambert. And you are Miss Harriet Listerwell, aren't you?"
"It seems everyone knows my name, yet I know so few in return. It’s quite embarrassing, really."
When she laughed, feigning bashfulness, Greg let out a hearty chuckle.
"We'll just have to get to know each other from now on, won't we? To be honest, there are plenty of people here whose names I don't know either."
"That makes me feel much more at ease. You're very kind."
Starting with a compliment, the conversation flowed smoothly.
He was the eldest son of the House of Viscount Lambert. He had married five years ago and was currently acting as the heir, assisting his father with the family business. At the mention of "business," Harriet's curiosity was piqued.
"What kind of business is Viscount Lambert involved in?"
"He mainly invests in national infrastructure and public facility construction. Recently... Ah, I shouldn't be going around talking about things like this."
Few things were more tantalizing than a sentence left hanging. She hadn't asked out of any great curiosity to begin with, but Greg cutting himself off only made her more inquisitive. Harriet, feigning ignorance, egged him on.
"What are you worried about telling me? No one would ever try to discuss 'business' with me. I'm simply curious to learn more about the House of Lambert and yourself, Sir Greg. It feels as though I've only just debuted in high society."
At that, Greg waved his hand as if it were no big deal.
"Ah, haha, well, I'm not holding back for any grand reason; I’m just afraid it might come across as boasting. My father recently secured the contract for a bridge construction project."
In Genoa, which was currently in the midst of an industrial boom, bridge construction projects were being commissioned one after another, alongside road maintenance and railway expansion. The Heron River, which divided the vast capital into north and south, was the symbol of Genoa—but it was also an obstacle hindering industrial development.
"A bridge, you say? Where exactly...?"
"Hmm. That's top-secret information... Hmm..." Greg pondered for a moment, then glanced around and whispered, "You absolutely must not tell anyone else. We're going to build a bridge connecting Vout and Chadbury."
Vout and Chadbury were areas facing each other across the Heron River, with many factories located on both sides. Even now, boats frequently traveled between them, but if a bridge were built, the two areas would undoubtedly see far more development than they had now.
"Vout and Chadbury will grow significantly in the future, then. It could change the very face of Genoa's industrial development."
"Exactly! So, if you have any spare funds, or can borrow from someone, invest. The target investment amount was met long ago, but if you're interested, I can speak to my father."
"I'm not very knowledgeable about such matters yet."
"If business investment feels like too much of a burden, it would be wise to buy buildings within Vout or Chadbury, or land in the surrounding areas. Real estate won't run away, after all."
It was tempting information, but Harriet didn't have the funds to buy property right now. She asked, feigning nonchalance.
"How would I know when the bridge is going to be built?"
"The project plan will be announced within a year, and construction will begin immediately afterward. By then, even if you try to buy buildings or land, they'll already be snatched up. I'm telling you this as a special favor because I owe Countess Fellon."
After that, the conversation drifted toward ordinary topics. Perhaps because more people had gathered nearby, Greg didn't bring up business again.
After exchanging goodbyes and promising to meet again, Harriet turned away, her heart pounding.
‘I did it. Just like Bella, I’ve managed to pry into another family’s business!’
Information about a bridge construction project that hadn't even been announced yet—it felt like she had accomplished something incredible. She was flushed with a sudden surge of confidence.
At the same time, impatience gnawed at her.
Just as Greg had said, she needed to buy property before the project was announced to profit from the market difference. But how on earth could she raise such a large sum of money?
‘Let's think this through carefully. I have a year.’
Even as she told herself to calm down, her face felt hot with excitement. Harriet stepped out onto the terrace overlooking the garden to get some fresh air.
However, several people were already there, admiring the garden or smoking. Not wanting to join them, Harriet tucked herself away in a darker corner.
"Haa."
After a deep breath, her racing heart slowed, and her excitement subsided. Only then did reality set in, and she felt a twinge of foolishness.
‘I got carried away. To believe everything a stranger said... Even if the information is real, I need to investigate further to see if it's actually worth the investment.’
Moreover, simply knowing the secret wouldn't put money in her hands. How to use that information was the far more crucial matter, and she still had much to learn.
‘Snap out of it, Harriet. Don't forget what you resolved when you returned to Genoa.’
Harriet soothed and spurred herself on, regaining her composure. The heat on her cheeks had finally faded, and she was about to head back inside when someone approached her. It was a familiar young man, and he appeared to be drunk.
"I never thought I'd see you in high society again. Harriet Listerwell."
His manner of speaking, devoid of any honorifics or politeness, made her frown.
"Who..."
"Ah, so you've decided to pretend you don't know me now? Pretending won't erase what you did in the past, you know."
"Setting aside your appalling lack of manners, tell me who you are first. That way, I can decide whether you’re worth remembering."
The man let out a scoffing laugh, looking dumbfounded. Then, his expression twisted into a snarl as he spat out the words.
"Julian Faith. Do you remember me now?"
"Julian Fai... Ah!"
She remembered. Her first scandal as the 'Scandal Maker'!
This was the man who had exchanged letters with Bella and then boasted to the world that he was Bella's fiancé. Hadn't she apologized to him, claiming she had been the one impersonating Bella?
She also realized why he looked familiar. Even before their encounter on the day of the apology, Harriet had delivered letters to this man a few times on Bella's behalf. Back then, he had been a pretty, delicate boy...
He was still handsome, but his drunken, dissolute demeanor made him utterly repulsive. Harriet tensed her core and lifted her chin.
‘I won’t run from a fight anymore. I don’t care if it turns into a dogfight or a mudslinging match.’
When she had avoided conflict in the past, she hadn't been praised for being a pacifist. Instead, people had pointed fingers and said, "Of course she did it. That's why she can't deny it."
When she walked out of the Saint Clarissa Convent, she had cast aside the teaching: 'If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to them the other also.'
Harriet smiled sweetly.
"I remember you now, but I'm not sure why you're acting this way. It can't be to reminisce about the good old days, can it?"
"Memories? To me, it was a nightmare!"
"A nightmare? That's a bit dramatic."
"Ha! You're as shameless as ever!"
"Sir Julian, you've become much ruder than before. Though, you weren't exactly a sensible person back then either. Claiming to be Bella's fiancé just because you received a few letters was a bit much, wasn't it?"
At her words, sparks seemed to fly from Julian's eyes.
"What do you mean, 'what did I do well'?! You're the one who wrote letters pretending to be Bella, claiming you liked me! Was that sensible?"
"I apologized for that, didn't I? Why are you picking a fight now over something that ended more than three years ago?"
As she said it, it truly felt strange. The incident with Julian had been so humiliating that she remembered it vividly. In front of Julian, who had come to the Listerwell mansion believing Bella had summoned him, she had apologized until her throat was raw.
"I... I l-liked Sir Faith... and when I saw Sir Faith's letters addressed to Bella... for a moment, I made a wrong choice. I apologize."
How difficult it had been to confess to a crime she hadn't committed, the words barely scraping past her teeth. He had stared at her with a stunned expression before exploding in anger. Bella had then stepped in to calm him down, apologizing on Harriet's behalf—but only after Harriet had repeated "I'm sorry" a dozen times.
In any case, the matter had ended there. Since then, she had attended parties where Julian was present a few times, but he had never confronted her like this. That was why she had forgotten his face.
As if stung by Harriet's remark, Julian gritted his teeth and took a menacing step forward. He looked as if he were about to strike her.
Harriet instinctively recoiled.