Chapter 69
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 69
“Do I look like such a busybody that I’d stop you from seeing your friends? The carriage leaves in thirty minutes. Just be back by then.”
At that, Daphne turned to look at her parents.
With Trisha’s permission already granted, it would have been awkward for Count and Countess Laurel to object now.
“V-very well. Daphne, just make sure you aren't late.”
“Thank you, Father.”
Lest Count Laurel change his mind, Daphne grabbed Harriet’s hand and quickly hurried out of their sight.
The two walked fast enough to be slightly out of breath by the time they settled onto a bench in Temple Square. All around them, worshippers gathered, exchanging greetings and pleasantries in the afternoon sun.
“I apologize for dragging you all the way here, Lady Harriet. But I truly wanted to see you…”
“The honor is mine. To be honest, I wanted to see you as well, Lady Daphne. I’m relieved to see you looking better than the last time we met.”
“It’s thanks to you, Lady Harriet.”
Just then, the bell from the temple’s tower chimed, signaling the end of the service. Daphne gazed up at the tower with a faint smile before turning back to Harriet.
“When did you start attending Saint Paolo? I hadn’t heard that you were a follower of this temple.”
“Actually, today is my first time here.”
“Oh, really? Where did you attend before?”
“Nowhere at all.”
For Daphne, who had been raised attending temples since childhood, this was a perplexing admission.
“Ah, th-then… did your faith deepen while you were at the convent?”
“Not particularly.”
It was a bold statement, bordering on blasphemy.
Daphne stammered, unsure how to respond, but Harriet looked at her and calmly added, “But I did have a profound realization, thanks to the grace of Yawar.”
“What… was that?”
Harriet recalled the convent chapel she had run to, sobbing uncontrollably.
The dimly flickering candles, the cold stone floor, and the statue of Yawar gazing down at her with a gentle expression. She remembered her past self, screaming at that very statue.
“The truth that no one but myself would ever truly look after my life. I realized then that I had to pull myself together and take charge of my own existence.”
At those words, Daphne seemed struck speechless once more. Harriet continued, her expression resolute.
“It doesn’t mean you have to ignore your parents’ advice or reject the trends of your peers. It means that no matter how you choose to live, you must recognize that you are the master of your own life.”
“I’m not sure I understand exactly what you mean.”
“It means that only you can change your life. And Lady Daphne, it seems you already know that, don’t you?”
“W-what do you mean?”
“Choosing to come out like this instead of secluding yourself, or choosing to smile in the sunlight instead of hiding away in tears. Isn’t this how you decided to reclaim your life?”
Daphne’s eyes widened as she gazed at Harriet, her eyelashes fluttering.
Harriet knew exactly how much courage it took to step into a crowded temple and smile as if nothing were wrong. She knew what this moment truly meant to Daphne.
It wasn't her parents or the friends she’d known for years who understood her; it was Harriet Listerwell, a woman she had only recently met.
“Lady Harriet…!”
“I’m fighting too. I have to. If I don't, those beasts will try to tear me to pieces.”
Harriet gave a wry smile that seemed both detached and mischievous.
Daphne felt a sudden urge to lean on Harriet and cry her heart out. But having vowed not to weep anymore, she managed to force the corners of her mouth upward. Her expression was slightly contorted from the effort of holding back tears, but Harriet readily returned the smile.
Then, Harriet quickly scanned their surroundings and lowered her voice.
“It’s a name you probably don’t want to hear, but I’m talking about Bella.”
Hearing that name still made Daphne feel faint, but she nodded, listening intently.
“You must never appear vulnerable in front of her. Sympathy? Pity? She has none of that. If you show weakness, she will only see you as easy prey.”
“W-we won’t have to face each other anymore.”
“As someone who has known Bella for a long time, I can assure you—contrary to your expectations—you will inevitably encounter her again.”
Harriet was certain of it. If Bella were the type to simply steal one man and be satisfied, she wouldn’t have coveted James in the first place.
“She’ll try to take everything she can from you. She’ll only stop when she sees you crumble, and even then, she’ll act as if she didn't mean it. She'll play the innocent.”
Daphne was bewildered by the scathing assessment. Aside from stealing her fiancé, Bella’s reputation was actually quite good.
As if reading her thoughts, Harriet let out a small laugh.
“Right now, I’m probably the suspicious one to you. That’s fine. After you experience it a few times, you’ll understand what I meant.”
In the distance, Count and Countess Laurel were approaching. It seemed Trisha couldn’t hold them back any longer. Harriet stood, extending a hand to help Daphne to her feet.
“It doesn’t matter how you judge our conversation today, but please remember one thing: you are the one who determines your worth. Don’t let Bella determine it for you.”
Daphne nodded as if possessed. Harriet smiled and offered a slight curtsy.
“May God’s blessings and protection be with you, Lady Daphne.”
Then, she gracefully stepped back and turned away. She had said everything she needed to say. Harriet sincerely hoped that no more victims would be torn apart by Bella.
*
As the initial fervor of the New Year began to fade, Harriet’s accountant visited her, carrying the first settlement report.
“May God’s blessings be upon Lady Listerwell in the New Year.”
The middle-aged accountant greeted her politely before immediately withdrawing documents from an envelope and placing them before her. Harriet had been tense ever since she heard he was coming.
“Before I delve into the details, I’d like to prepare myself. What is the overall result? What is the net profit… or, perhaps, is there a deficit?”
She knew that Saint Clarissa Soap & Herb had been a hit since its opening. She had checked the ledgers herself and confirmed strong sales. Still, Harriet’s heart pounded at the mere thought of the word ‘deficit.’
The accountant laughed heartily, looking almost dumbfounded.
“A deficit? Surely you jest, Lady Harriet?”
He confidently unfurled the settlement report.
“To put it simply, it is a resounding success. It is difficult to find a beauty brand that has achieved this level of growth in recent years. Of course, the future is even more crucial.”
Only then did Harriet eagerly scan the pages.
Since the ingredients were sourced directly from the convent, there were almost no separate raw material costs. The packaging, designed to evoke the rustic elegance of ‘convent goods,’ had also cost less to produce than expected.
‘The largest monthly expenses are store rent, distribution, warehouse fees, and labor.’
Excluding taxes, labor, production costs paid to the convent, and profit dividends, the majority of the profit constituted the Kailas Ducal House’s share. But such details didn't seem to dampen the accountant's mood.
“Until the initial investment is recouped, your personal profit share will be modest, but even accounting for that, the numbers are impressive. The settlement for the last three months amounts to approximately 110,000 Dirham.”
“1… 110,000 Dirham?”
“If we subtract what you’ve already received in partial settlements, ah… it’s about 70,000 Dirham.”
It was an enormous sum.
‘I thought 20,000 Dirham at a time was a lot…’
Knowing it was a massive surplus, not a deficit, made her heart pound even harder. For a fleeting moment, she imagined herself sitting in a grand mansion, adorned with jewels, tossing bundles of banknotes into the air—was it too early for such fantasies?
Harriet took a deep breath, suppressing her wild imagination.
“My personal income is small for now, but the company’s net profit itself is substantial, isn't it?”
“That is correct. We also need to set aside funds for expanding the convent’s olive and herb farms as requested, and establish a reserve fund for unexpected events…”
“I’m not complaining. What representative wouldn’t be thrilled that their company is making good money?”
“You are wise, My Lady. Some are blinded by immediate profits and leave no surplus for the company, which then collapses under the first sign of trouble.”
The accountant nodded, clearly impressed. Harriet scanned the report once more, hesitating before she asked the final question.
“Approximately how many years will it take to fully repay the initial investment?”