Chapter 42
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 42
Her father, drugged and disoriented, had stumbled into a river and drowned. In the wake of his death, his creditors had moved in like vultures, intent on seizing her to settle his debts.
What she did then, hoping only to buy a little time, ended up changing her life forever.
"Your father’s affairs have been settled. For the time being, you should stay in this house and focus on recovering your health."
Oster Fellon had willingly taken in Roxana, a girl who was practically a stranger. Thanks to him, Roxana was able to eat a proper meal for the first time in her life and walk freely beneath the sun.
Once she regained her strength, the Fellon couple gave her a choice.
"Is there anything you want to do? I will help you however I can."
Following her father’s disgrace, Roxana and her descendants had been stripped of their noble status. She was a commoner now.
The best future she could hope for was a job as a maid for the Fellon family, working until she eventually married. Even knowing that, Roxana made a request, thinking she had nothing left to lose.
"I... I want to read and study, too. If I become educated, I will surely be of use to the Count and Countess, so..."
She trailed off, unable to finish. Even to her own ears, the request sounded preposterous.
However, the Fellon couple granted her wish without hesitation.
"Since you’re committed to it, then learn as much as you possibly can."
After Oster passed away, and with Trisha’s constant encouragement, Roxana eventually graduated from the Academy in the Kingdom of Candia, which accepted commoners into its ranks.
Becoming the top graduate was the sole result of her desperate efforts to repay the Fellon family’s kindness. She had returned to the Empire at twenty-five and had served as Trisha’s aide for the ten years since.
Come to think of it, I’ve received even more outrageous kindness than Lady Harriet.
Roxana looked down at the rippling tea in her cup, feeling a pang of shame. Perhaps she really had been jealous of Harriet.
Trisha reached out, her voice soothing.
"Roxy. I’m not blaming you. You see, I consider you and Harriet the joys of my twilight years. How could I live without watching over you two? I’d be bored to death."
"You’re still far too young to be saying such things, Madam."
"How kind of you. But I’m not just being sentimental; I truly don’t have long to live. So, while I still hold the position of Family Head, I want to look after you both."
Roxana bit her lip.
Just as she said, Trisha was growing weaker by the day. Her skin was becoming so dry that she didn't sweat even in the height of summer, and she was often plagued by long, hacking coughing fits. Not only had she lost a worrying amount of weight, but sharp chest pains kept her awake at least once a week.
Outsiders hadn't noticed the decline yet, but it was only a matter of time before people like Lauren caught on.
"So, let’s talk about Harriet again. What did she say she wanted to do?"
"She said she wanted to start a soap business, leveraging her current popularity. Apparently, people are curious about the secret behind her improved complexion."
Trisha didn't truly know what Harriet’s face had looked like before, but given the rumors she’d heard at the Vanderbilt party about Harriet becoming a beauty, the change must have been significant.
"But she can't just sell anything, can she?"
"The Saint Clarissa Convent produces soap and herbal products. Apparently, her hives and acne cleared up after she started using them."
"Such good products, and yet no one has heard of them until now?"
"They lack sales channels. And given the nature of a convent, they likely wouldn't seek to expand the business just for the sake of profit."
Trisha nodded slowly.
"Bringing the convent's products to Genoa and renting a storefront to sell them would require a significant amount of capital."
"That’s why she’s looking for investors."
"She hasn't mentioned a word of this to me yet."
Roxana took a sip of tea, then looked intently at Trisha.
"That’s what I meant when I asked how far you intended to help her. She says she’s looking for other investors now, but if she’s rejected by everyone else, she’ll eventually come to you, Madam."
"Ahaha! So that’s it. Hmm..."
A smile of anticipation bloomed on Trisha’s face.
Every time she saw Harriet bustling about, she thought the girl was like a diligent squirrel; she never imagined she’d embark on a full-scale business venture. Even if the business failed, Trisha was certain the experience would be a great asset to Harriet.
"Harriet might be even smarter than I expected. Isn't it a pity for such a child to be held back just because she has no parents, or because her reputation was ruined by false accusations?"
"There are few people in this world without a single regrettable circumstance. And we still don't know for certain if her scandal was a false accusation."
"Help her with a generous heart, Roxy. I’m saying this because I think it will be good for you, too. You two are quite alike."
At the mention of being alike, Roxana frowned again. She clearly didn't appreciate the comparison.
But Trisha saw them as sisters. Their shared past of losing parents, the experience of being abandoned by the world, and the iron will to carve a path through a bleak reality.
Lord Yawar seems to have given me you two in place of the children I never had.
Trisha finished her warm tea and smiled gently.
*
Clip-clop, clip-clop.
Harriet’s heart pounded in rhythm with the sound of the horses' hooves.
What on earth is he thinking?
Her application for an audience with Duke Kailas, which she had fully expected to be rejected, had been approved with startling ease. Although she had placed him at the top of her list of potential investors, the fact that he’d actually agreed was so bewildering that she realized she hadn't truly expected to get this far.
She had received the date three days ago. Now, Harriet sat in the carriage, clutching a business proposal she had perfected late into the night, on her way to the Kailas Ducal House.
Don't be scared. I haven't done anything that requires me to grovel before him.
Come to think of it, it was a stroke of luck that she had rejected his previous offer of financial support. Harriet gripped the envelope tightly and lifted her chin.
As she composed herself, imagining herself as an unbreakable diamond, the carriage slowed and came to a complete stop. The coachman, who seemed to be speaking with someone outside, approached the window.
"My Lady. We’ve arrived at the gates of the Kailas Ducal House. To enter, you must present your invitation or audience permit. They also require an inspection of the carriage interior."
"A checkpoint?"
"You could say that, My Lady."
To conduct such an inspection outside of the Imperial Palace was highly unusual. Even for a Ducal House, searching a noble’s carriage was bordering on rude. However, Harriet was in no position to offend a potential investor. She obediently opened the carriage door when the guard knocked.
"Thank you for your cooperation. Are you the only visitor, My Lady?"
"Yes, as you can see."
"Your permit or invitation, if you please..."
"Here it is."
The guard bowed slightly and took the permit. As he checked the document, his head suddenly snapped up, and he stared at Harriet’s face. Seeing his stunned expression, Harriet knew exactly what was crossing his mind.
"Is there a problem?"
"Oh, no. Nothing. I simply... are you truly Lady Harriet Listerwell?"
A faint sneer touched his lips. His eyes swept over her from head to toe—a blatant display of disrespect. In the past, she would have flushed with shame under such a gaze, but not anymore.
Harriet tilted her head and warned him in a dry, biting tone.
"I am. And in my opinion, the Duke wouldn't want his guards gossiping about his guests to outsiders."
The guard, looking flustered, nodded quickly. He returned the permit and closed the carriage door.
"You may pass."
As the coachman climbed back onto his seat, Harriet called out to the guard through the window.
"By the way, does the Ducal House usually inspect every visitor this thoroughly?"
The guard frowned slightly, likely used to receiving complaints.
"Since the Kifren War, there have been several assassination attempts on His Grace by remnants of the Firma Kingdom. Security has been tightened for his protection. We ask for your understanding."
Hearing that, Harriet recalled the headlines she had seen in the newspapers.
「Kailas Ducal Carriage Explosion, Firman Gunpowder Confirmed」
「18-Year-Old Firman Male Attacks High-Ranking Nobles on Nezerio Boulevard」
「Does the Firma Royal Family Intend to Uphold the Declaration of Defeat?」
At the time, she hadn't paid much attention, as it didn't affect her life. But now that she thought about it, the one the Firma Kingdom consistently targeted and antagonized was Duke Kailas.
What must it be like to live a life where you never know who might try to kill you, or when?
Yet, living such a life, he always seemed so remarkably composed.
As Harriet mused on how truly different her world was from Cedric’s, the carriage passed through the massive gates and entered the sprawling grounds of the Ducal House.