Chapter 55
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 55
Everyone had disapproved, but Bella often brought Harriet along anyway. On that particular day, Harriet had taken a bite of the tea food on her plate, only to retch and immediately spit it out.
"What do you think you’re doing?" Caroline snapped.
Flustered, Harriet scrambled to spit the remaining food into a napkin. Naturally, everyone’s brows furrowed in disgust.
"I-it tasted strange."
"What are you talking about? We’re all eating the same food. How could yours be the only one that tastes strange?"
"It tasted... like it was rotten."
"What? Are you calling us pigs who enjoy eating garbage?"
Only then did Bella ask what was happening. Even then, she wore that same tearful expression, and her friends—myself included—had stepped forward to blame Harriet instead of listening.
The realization sent a violent shiver down Viviana’s spine.
“I didn’t mean it like that! Really! Please, just listen to me!”
Harriet had pleaded for a chance to explain, but Viviana and her friends had simply branded her a liar. The memory hit Viviana like a physical blow to the back of the head, making her gasp for air.
Why didn’t I listen to Harriet back then?
Thinking about it now, perhaps only the food on Harriet’s plate had accidentally spoiled. Or perhaps... it had been placed there intentionally.
"Viviana, are you really not going to apologize to Bella?" someone asked again, pulling her back to the present.
But was it truly her place to apologize to Bella?
No. She could say, unequivocally, no.
Viviana shook her head. "Caroline should be apologizing to me, not the other way around. And Bella, why did you ignore me when I tried to explain myself earlier?"
"Huh? Me?" Bella widened her eyes, the picture of bewildered innocence. "What are you talking about?"
"Yes. We clearly made eye contact."
"I was so flustered, I didn't realize you were calling for me. I'm so sorry, Viviana."
Then, the friends chimed in one by one, their voices sharp.
"She didn't even call you; you just made eye contact? Weren't you the only one who thought that?"
"Bella is the host of today’s party. She’s overwhelmed. How could she possibly pay attention to every single person, even if you are friends?"
"Viviana, what is wrong with you today? Just apologize and end this. People are staring."
Viviana slowly took a step back.
Her long-time friends suddenly felt like total strangers. A cold sweat broke out as she recalled her own past complicity in this behavior. She knew that if she turned away now without apologizing, she could almost hear the venomous things they would say about her the moment she was gone.
What should I do?
The path to an easy apology was right there. But she had trampled on her own pride enough today. She would never forget this moment.
Just then, a man’s voice drifted from beside her.
"Surely, that woman didn't say something to Lady Bella, did she?"
Viviana turned her head slowly. She knew that voice all too well.
Adam.
Adam Hofner. Her long-time unrequited love.
He was the very reason she had tried so hard to become Bella’s friend. She had believed that if she stayed by Bella’s side, she would be able to see Adam, who visited Bella frequently.
No matter how hard I try, to Adam, I’m just a woman whose name he doesn't even know...
The thought of the lengths she had gone to—even getting extra soap from Harriet for her skincare just to catch his eye—felt hollow and shameful.
Four years? Or was it five? She had endured countless hurts, nursing secret feelings since the moment she first saw him, but she couldn't erase the memory of being criticized by him in front of Bella.
It’s truly time to let this feeling die.
Her first love was coming to an end, leaving nothing but deep wounds. Yet, ironically, she felt a sense of relief. At the very least, there would be no more damage to her pride.
Viviana briefly looked up at the ceiling, swallowing her tears. Then she squared her shoulders and looked Bella straight in the eye.
"If it weren't for Caroline, this wouldn't have escalated. No matter how I look at it, it's not my place to apologize."
"Yes, I understand, Viviana. I must have done something wrong. I'm truly sorry," Bella apologized, her expression looking pathetic and fragile. Her friends, in turn, glared at Viviana with even more hostility.
But Viviana had made up her mind.
"Bella, you haven't done anything wrong either. But I don't think I can remain your friend any longer."
"Viviana!"
"I'll be heading back first. Goodbye, everyone."
She offered a shallow curtsy and turned away without a single regret. Her steps were heavy with fear, but she simply couldn't pretend everything was fine and remain among them a moment longer.
*
The price of showing her face in the noble district was having to put up with constant annoyances.
Every time Harriet went out, she had to endure people pointing at her and whispering. It wouldn't have been so bad if it were just that, but some would go out of their way to acknowledge her just to make snide comments or subtle teases.
"They say the advertising poster was quite popular..."
Harriet stared pointedly at Cedric, who had brought up the topic as if it were nothing.
"If you have something to say, just say it."
"I did. I said the products sold well thanks to the poster."
"I don't think that's what you really wanted to say."
"Why do you think that?"
Why, indeed. It was because of that ambiguous smirk playing on his lips.
Harriet let out a deep sigh and lowered her gaze back to the ledger for Saint Clarissa Soap & Herb. She had stopped by the Ducal House at Cedric's request to review the books. Cedric had only brought up the poster because the sales performance had exceeded all expectations.
It did sell well. I hadn't even hoped for this much.
On opening day, she had initially planned to intentionally declare a sell-out and close the doors before 6 PM. It was human nature to become desperate when something was unavailable, and she needed to manufacture rumors of its popularity.
But she hadn't expected it to actually sell out before 3 PM.
Because of that, the day had been chaotic, with staff rushing to move products from the warehouse directly to the storefront.
"For about two weeks, people were lining up in front of the store early in the morning. The lines have thinned now, but I think we succeeded in capturing the public's attention with the launch."
"How is the expansion of the Convent's workshops progressing?"
"It's hectic. If we hadn't expanded as you suggested, we would have truly suffered from a supply shortage."
At the Convent, they were using the money Cedric donated to expand both the Soap Workshop and the Herb Workshop. Construction was still ongoing, but for now, they were making soap in every empty space within the Convent to meet the urgent demand.
The soap, which used to be produced at a rate of about a hundred pieces a week, was now being made at a hundred pieces every three days. Once the workshop construction was complete, they would be able to produce over a hundred pieces a day—up to three hundred.
"Herb products have a lower production volume because you can't just whip them up in a pot. But they said that once the expansion is complete, they can produce three or four times the current amount."
"At that point," Cedric noted, "the problem won't be space, but a shortage of labor."
"The children from the orphanage are coming, aren't they? The girls who come of age will work in the Herb Workshop. And of course, they'll receive proper wages."
They could save those wages to live independently later, or they could become full-time employees and stay. That was the future Harriet and Catherine envisioned: a workshop that served as a path to self-reliance for the sisters of the Convent.
"In any case, at this rate, we should be able to smoothly open a second branch next year."
"That is, if no particular problems arise in the meantime."
"Are you looking at me while saying that because you think I might be the problem?"
"You have a talent for reading between the lines."
"It didn't seem all that deeply hidden..."
Harriet gave a wry smile. Cedric was smiling as if joking, but the weight behind his words was anything but light.
None of my past scandals have ever been explained.
If someone truly wanted to cause trouble, they could. Harriet was currently only known as the model for Saint Clarissa Soap & Herb, but if it were ever revealed that she was the true owner of the business...
They would slander the products and the Convent itself.
Knowing that, she had kept her ownership a secret. Of course, she wasn't without a plan.
"Don't worry. Once the business is stable, I plan to transfer the business itself to Saint Clarissa Convent."
"If the Convent becomes the primary business entity, the Papacy won't look favorably upon it."
"The Convent will play a supportive role. And I've already decided who to transfer the business to."
"Is it someone affiliated with the Convent?"