Chapter 73
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 73
"That is simply the nature of investors. To minimize the risk of failure, one must know as much as possible about the venture."
"...I suppose so."
Harriet shrugged.
She was a bit surprised, but upon reflection, it wasn't entirely unexpected. Her parents' deaths were no secret, and everyone in high society knew Harriet Listerwell’s situation—living as a dependent under her uncle’s roof.
There was no reason to take offense just because a potential investor had looked into facts that were already common knowledge.
"Well, if you know that much, you likely aren't curious about why I’m so intent on making money. A young woman stripped of her guardianship without a penny to her name—and a notorious scandal maker at that—needs funds to survive if she wants to avoid a life of misery."
Harriet felt her throat go dry and took another sip of champagne. The bottle, brought in from the winter chill, remained crisp and cool even in the warmth of the room’s crackling fireplace.
"I also want to show those who cast me off to the Convent and then ignored me that I’ve succeeded, right before their very eyes. I... also have some debts to repay them..."
As the word 'debts' left her tongue, a flicker of unconcealed hatred flashed in her eyes. Had that foul scent of malice wafted out?
"It sounds as if repaying those debts is your true objective," Cedric remarked, his conjecture sharp.
Harriet flinched at his intuition and forced a light laugh.
"But that is no easy task. For now, I would consider it a success if I can simply manage to take care of myself."
Harriet left her answer at that.
Cedric felt as though he were looking at a door that had cracked open, only to slam shut an instant later. What on earth was the key to fully opening that door and revealing the mysterious world within?
More importantly, why do I want to open it so badly?
He couldn't understand it. Just as he couldn't fathom why he had kissed Harriet Listerwell in that dark moment beneath the Genoa City Gate.
He had assumed that a background check and a few conversations would provide clarity, but his curiosity only deepened the more he learned about her.
Then, Harriet posed a question of her own.
"It’s a bit sudden, but I’ll ask. Your Grace, why did you invest in me? Honestly, of all people, I thought you would have disliked me the most."
Instead of answering immediately, Cedric picked up the bottle and refilled both their glasses.
As if on cue, they raised them together.
Before the lingering aroma of the wine could fade, Cedric spoke.
"I never disliked you."
"Have you already forgotten? What happened at the Victory Banquet."
"Even then, I harbored no personal disgust or hostility toward you, Miss Harriet. If I had to put a name to it, I was simply irritated by the situation itself."
The memory of that time was exhausting. The shock of losing his father hadn't even fully subsided, yet everyone around him was making an excessive racket about the victory and his succession to the title.
Back then, Cedric had simply endured, clutching the brooch his father had left him. He had feigned composure, acting the part of the stoic, perfectly raised heir to a Ducal House.
"I never believed you were the one who orchestrated that incident, Miss Harriet. At first, I might have been agitated and pressed you for answers, but after thinking rationally, I knew it couldn't have been you."
"Did you... truly believe that?"
"If I hadn't, things would have escalated considerably. I am not so magnanimous as to overlook such an insult."
Harriet recalled the Cedric of that day, staring intently at her. His intensity had softened slightly back then, and his gaze hadn't held the contempt she expected.
He believed me.
She hadn't known. At the time, it felt as if the entire world was pointing a finger at her.
The other ladies who had attended Annabelle’s tea party had also mentioned that something felt off, so perhaps her situation hadn't been as hopeless as she’d feared. Perhaps she had simply been flailing blindly within the net her uncle and Bella had cast, unable to calmly assess her surroundings.
"Thank you."
"I’m not sure if it’s something to be thanked for. After all, it was because of my fuss that you ended up in the Convent for an entire year."
"And thanks to that, I am who I am today. So yes, it is something to be thankful for."
Harriet lowered her gaze, her lips curving into a faint, thin line. How could life be so full of irony?
She drained her glass and reached for the bottle.
"Would you like another?"
"I’d love one."
Cedric emptied his glass in a single gulp and held it out.
The golden liquid sparkled as it poured from the dark green bottle, reflecting the flickering firelight.
The two of them didn't leave until the bottle was empty. They exchanged occasional words, followed each other’s gazes, and shared silent smiles—as if they wished the moment would last forever.
*
John, who was sorting through the mountain of New Year’s cards, picked up one particular envelope and furrowed his brow.
"What is it now?"
He tore it open without hesitation and unfolded the letter.
「May the grace and blessings of God reside with the House of Viscount Listerwell.
...We are writing to you again as we have not heard from you since the turn of the year. We earnestly request that Miss Harriet Listerwell visit in person within this year to sign the confirmation of return for the land and mansion.
— Sincerely, President of the Perilas Asety Bank」
After reading the letter, he crumpled it into a ball and hurled it into the wastebasket.
"Damn it!"
Just thinking about the Perilas land made his head spin and his blood boil.
"How the hell am I supposed to get that girl there?!"
Even if he managed to drag her there, it would be a problem. Harriet was no longer the docile girl he once knew.
She had secured a powerful backer in Trisha Fellon and seemed to have made a fortune modeling for that shop selling Convent Soap. If she had developed a taste for making money, there was no way she would meekly sign over the Perilas land to him.
So, should he just hand the land over to Harriet?
Absolutely not!
There had to be a way. There had to be!
As he groaned, clutching his throbbing head, a knock sounded. Once he gave permission, Bella entered, dressed in new winter furs and stroking a sable muff.
"Bella? What is it?"
"I came to tell you I’m going to meet James. There are so many places to visit for the engagement preparations."
"Ah, yes. Have a good trip."
But instead of leaving, Bella scrutinized her father’s face.
"Is something wrong? You look quite unwell."
"Haa... That Harriet girl is giving me a headache."
He explained the situation with the Perilas Asety Bank.
"Those bastards even sent a follow-up letter. I have to get Harriet there, but I can't for the life of me think of a way."
Bella thought for a moment, then let out a small, sharp laugh.
"Father, do you absolutely have to take Harriet there?"
"That’s what I’m saying! Are they country bumpkins or something? So utterly narrow-minded! I am Viscount Listerwell myself—why would I need some girl from a collateral line?" John exclaimed, the veins in his neck bulging.
Bella shook her head, her eyes curving into a predatory smile.
"That’s not what I mean, Father. Do those people even know what Harriet looks like?"
"Huh?"
"They don't know her face. Why not just hire an actress who looks somewhat like her and have her impersonate Harriet?"
"Oh! That’s it!"
John felt the fog in his mind clear instantly.
"My daughter, you’re a genius!"
"But they won't be easily fooled, so you shouldn't just sign carelessly like I did last time. Make sure she practices Harriet’s signature."
"Do we have any documents with that girl’s signature at home?"
"You have the guardianship designation document, don't you? You didn't throw it away, did you?"
"That’s right! We still have that!"
John excitedly opened the Family Head’s safe.
The document drafted when he became Harriet’s guardian still bore her signature, signifying her acceptance of his guardianship.
"Good! This will do!"
"You found a solution thanks to me, didn't you?"
"Of course! While you’re out, why don't you buy yourself another pretty dress?"
"No, not that."
Bella had a different reason for helping her exasperated father instead of mocking him.
"If you secure the Perilas land using my plan, I want a portion of it registered in my name."
"Huh? Th-that’s..."
"My uncle gave his daughter a substantial amount of land as a gift. Surely you, Father, can spare a portion of that for me?"
John felt the chill in Bella’s gaze. His daughter was smiling, but her eyes were cold. There was nothing to gain by upsetting a daughter who would soon be a Countess.
"Nonsense! Of course I can! If I acquire the Perilas land, I’ll set aside half of it for you."
"Thank you, Father!"
Only then did Bella’s smile brighten into its usual mask.