Chapter 46
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 46
Sure enough, Roxana pressed a hand to her forehead and let out a weary sigh.
Harriet, however, didn’t miss a beat.
“Please add another hour to our economics lessons. And could you recommend some good books for me to read? Also, if you happen to have any summarized notes... perhaps you could... lend them to me?”
“You’re little more than a bandit.”
“Knowledge doesn’t diminish no matter how much I ‘steal’ it, Master. So I’m not really a bandit, am I?”
Faced with Harriet’s cheeky grin, Roxana finally raised the white flag. Trisha had told her to help the girl, so what choice did she have?
“I don’t know what your true intentions are, but you certainly don’t lack passion. Very well. Since it’s for Lady Fellon, I’ll help you.”
“Thank you, Teacher!”
“Honestly, I’ve never had a student beg for more lessons and more homework. It’s quite refreshing.”
That day, Harriet saw Roxana smile for the first time.
*
The night in the dimly lit, boisterous tavern was a chaotic blend of idle jokes, dark conspiracies, raucous entertainment, and misplaced outbursts of anger.
“What did you just say?! What did you say to me?!”
“C-calm down, Albert! I was just saying I envied you!”
The man, who had merely remarked on how secure Albert must feel with a duke for a cousin, was so startled by Albert grabbing his collar that his drunkenness evaporated instantly.
But even with the excuse of envy, Albert’s rage didn’t subside. The confrontation quickly escalated into fisticuffs and only ended when the tavern owner intervened.
Albert’s mood soured completely after his departing friends spat on the ground and muttered, “I guess having a duke for a cousin means he doesn’t have to care about anyone else.”
“Damn it. They don’t know anything. My uncle and my father are twins. That position could have been mine! Cedric is just lucky...”
As he mumbled incoherently to himself and downed his drink, he felt a presence beside him.
“Oh? What is it?”
“Excuse me, are you alright? You seem to have been hurt just now...”
It was a young woman’s voice, but her pronunciation and accent were subtly awkward.
“A foreigner?”
“I was born abroad, but I am a citizen of the Empire. I’m Leslie Ozer.”
“Albert... Kingsley.”
She smiled faintly and sat opposite him. Taking a handkerchief from her pocket, she soaked it in strong liquor and began to dab at the wound on his face.
“Ow, that stings!”
“If you leave a scratch like that alone, it could scar. It’s only a temporary measure, but disinfecting it with high-proof alcohol is better than nothing.”
“You seem to know a lot about this.”
“Isn’t it just common sense?”
Leslie chuckled. Bathed in the light of the oil lamp, she was, on closer inspection, quite a beauty. Her smooth black hair, blue eyes, fair skin, and red lips were, one might say, rather alluring.
With the alcohol flowing and his ego bruised from the recent brawl, Albert didn’t refuse the kind ministrations of the beautiful woman. It was, in a way, more comfortable to talk to a stranger who knew nothing than to friends who carelessly brought up Cedric’s name.
“Are you a commoner?”
“I’m the daughter of a rural baron. My father received his title for his contributions to trade with the Firma Kingdom, but because of the war that ended last year, everyone looks down on me if I say I’m from Firma. I don’t even have any memories of the place.”
“Oh, I see.”
Feigning sympathy, Albert secretly looked down on her. Her attire, no different from a commoner’s, clearly marked her as a woman from an impoverished rural family. And to be in a tavern at this hour? He even wondered if she was a woman selling herself while pretending to be a noble.
“But for a young lady to be in a tavern at this hour... isn’t it a bit dangerous?”
“This place also serves as an inn, you know. I only arrived in Genoa today, so I’m staying here. I came down for a late dinner and witnessed all that commotion earlier.”
She spoke as if she already knew how Albert would perceive her.
“I spoke to you because I thought you might be someone who could see me without prejudice. I apologize if I offended you. It just seemed like you were angry earlier because people were talking freely without knowing the truth...”
At her words, Albert stared intently at Leslie, then extended his hand.
“Let’s reintroduce ourselves. I’m Albert Kingsley. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Leslie smiled sweetly and took his hand.
The two of them, despite having just met, got along remarkably well. They conversed for a long time, and Albert couldn’t remember the last time he’d had such a relaxed chat. As they talked, he sobered up considerably, his mind becoming sharp. Eventually, Leslie began to speak of things and concepts from Firma that didn’t exist in the Empire.
“My father was apparently quite surprised when he learned there was no herb like ‘Darsenger’ in the Empire. In Firma, it’s used as a panacea.”
“Darsenger? I’ve never heard of it. What is it good for?”
“It has powerful pain-relieving effects, and it’s said to lift the spirits of those who are depressed. They even call it a medicine for those driven mad by sorrow. And if you use it with other herbs...”
She glanced around subtly, then continued in a whisper.
“It’s also said to increase libido.”
“How did you find that out?”
“I wouldn’t know myself. But in Firma, it’s customary to give newlyweds a drink infused with Darsenger on their wedding night.”
It was a fascinating story. If such a medicine existed, it would be incredibly popular at noble parties.
Wait a minute. This... isn’t this a massive business opportunity?
Albert’s eyes gleamed. Darsenger was still largely unknown in the Empire. In that case, wouldn’t the market belong to whoever got there first?
He eagerly grabbed Leslie’s hand.
“Leslie. Could you possibly procure some of that Darsenger herb?”
“That wouldn’t be difficult at all. My father knows Firman pharmacists who make medicine with it. But why? Are you ill?”
“This isn’t the time for that. I need to meet your father. I want to discuss a business proposition.”
“So suddenly?”
Leslie seemed surprised, but she didn’t refuse.
“Though we are barons, our family isn’t exactly well-off. Could my father really make some money from this business you’re talking about?”
“Of course! I’ll make you a fortune.”
Albert completely forgot about the fight with his friends. He was now chasing the goose that laid the golden eggs.
*
“Whew... I think I’ve checked off nearly everything I needed to do, haven’t I?”
Harriet drew a line through the last item on the to-do list in her notebook, then reviewed the list once more. It was true she’d told Cedric it was urgent, but she hadn’t expected things to progress so smoothly and quickly.
I’ve introduced the Asters Merchant Guild representative to Director Catherine, so they’ll handle bringing in the goods... Tomorrow, maybe I should go see how the interior construction of the store is progressing?
It had only been ten days since she proposed the investment, yet it felt like she’d already visited every place she needed to check and approve. She’d been incredibly busy, but it wasn’t as difficult as she’d braced herself for. Only the trip to the convent had taken any real time; everything else was within Genoa, so there was nothing particularly challenging.
She’d also offered many suggestions for the Seriol Street store’s design, and the experienced carpenter Cedric had assigned her had proposed even more splendid designs based on her ideas.
“We’ll be working with the existing structure, so we estimate the construction period to be about two weeks.”
“That fast?”
“The Duke asked us to finish as quickly as possible.”
It had already been a week since she’d gaped at the carpenter, who had been ready to start construction immediately after the store design was finalized. Seeing Cedric rushing even more than she was, one might think it was his business.
Given how things have turned out, that’s not entirely wrong.
Harriet adjusted her hat and sighed.
In any case, she had to attend a bazaar she’d been invited to recently. To boost soap sales, she needed to visit many places and generate buzz before the store’s grand opening. She’d also heard that Bella would be attending the bazaar today.
It’ll be good to see you again after so long, Bella. Will you play the angel and pretend to be delighted to see me?
Of course, she had no intention of playing along with that charade. Before, she’d had no choice but to smile due to her uncle’s watchful eye, but now there was no reason to hold back.
Harriet put on the white dress Trisha had chosen for her and looked at herself in the mirror. The black-trimmed collar, cuffs, and hem looked sophisticated. With a hat adorned with a lavish black ribbon tilted jauntily on her head, she looked like a seasoned socialite, which she found somewhat amusing.
It’s amazing how much a person can change with just clothes and a hat.
Suddenly, she remembered her aunt, who used to foist dresses that were completely against her taste upon her.