Chapter 74
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 74
The moment Bella waved goodbye to John—who looked as though a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders—the smile vanished from her face.
My father is truly petty. If he was going to give it to me, why not give me the whole thing? Why split it in half?
Previously, she hadn’t thought much of it, considering it a win just to secure a pair of earrings. But upon reflection, Harriet was still ahead of her, even in matters like this.
No matter how much her father loved her, he still weighed the pros and cons. Her uncle, Arthur, on the other hand, had left such a massive fortune to his daughter without a single string attached.
That land was likely meant to be Harriet’s birthday gift. The land’s return date is June 25th, and her birthday is July 5th.
How would it feel to receive a mansion and 165 hectares of land as a twenty-second birthday gift? To have the guaranteed prestige of being the "Lady of Perilas"...
She would have been incredibly popular on the marriage market. These days, one's treatment often depended more on wealth than a title; if word spread that a young woman possessed such a fortune, suitors would have been lining up at Harriet’s door.
If that had actually happened, Bella might have been so consumed by indignation that she’d have fallen ill.
Well, Harriet didn’t get that gift, so it doesn’t matter. Half of that land will be mine, so I’m the winner.
She had to claim at least half. She had already decided to take everything from Harriet, piece by piece.
Once the land ownership is fully settled, I’ll tell you then, Harriet. I’ll tell you exactly what else you’ve lost to me.
The thought of Harriet seething with indignation brought the joyful smile back to Bella’s lips. Bella realized all over again that dragging her cousin into a pit was the most entertaining game in the world.
*
It was nearly the end of January when Harriet received a surprise visit from Daphne.
"Miss Daphne! What brings you here?"
Harriet was naturally startled, as there had been no prior notice of a visit. Daphne offered a shy smile and pulled an envelope from her pocket, handing it over.
"I’m personally delivering party invitations to my close acquaintances. I would be delighted if you could attend."
It was an invitation from the House of Laurel. Harriet had assumed it would be for Trisha, but there was an invitation with Harriet’s name on it as well.
Count Laurel doesn’t seem to like me much, so what happened? Did Daphne insist?
Regardless, there was no reason to overthink it. The important thing was that she had been invited as an individual, not merely as Trisha’s shadow.
Harriet stopped Daphne, who looked ready to leave the moment the invitation was delivered.
"If you aren't too busy, please stay for a cup of tea. The wind is quite chilly today."
"I couldn't possibly impose. I didn't even contact you beforehand..."
"I actually had nothing to do today and was feeling quite bored. You’d be doing me a favor."
Only then did Daphne smile brightly and accept the offer. Harriet led her to the window table in her private room.
"I apologize for not receiving you in the drawing room. I try not to disturb my great-aunt if I can help it."
"To be given the honor of seeing Miss Harriet’s room... I’m actually quite grateful!"
"I’m glad to hear you say that."
The window table, which perfectly reflected Harriet’s tastes, was her favorite spot in the house. Outside the window stood a large tree, allowing her to witness the changing seasons firsthand and listen to the songs of visiting birds—though they did occasionally wake her up too early.
Harriet offered Daphne a seat and poured the warm tea herself. "I heard you were planning to host a party, but I didn't expect an invitation so soon. Is there a particular reason for the timing?"
"Ah, well..."
Seeing Daphne’s troubled smile, Harriet quickly waved her hand.
"You don't have to tell me. I wasn't trying to pry into your family's private affairs!"
"No, I feel like I can speak more freely with you, Miss Harriet."
Even so, it seemed to take a bit of courage to open up. Daphne cupped the warm teacup with both hands and took a silent, steadying breath.
"They say James and Miss Bella’s engagement ceremony will be held around mid-March."
With that single sentence, Harriet understood the situation perfectly.
If the House of Laurel held a grand party after that engagement, everyone would view the event through the lens of that union. Daphne, appearing at her own family's party, would become an object of pity or ridicule, putting the House of Laurel in an awkward position.
So, they have no choice but to hold the party before then.
Harriet suppressed a sigh. The perpetrators were shameless and unbothered, while the victim couldn't even choose the date of her own party without being forced to maneuver around them.
But Daphne wasn't wallowing in self-pity as she once had.
"Since we didn't host a single party all last year, I thought it best to get it over with quickly. Once you've made up your mind, you should just get it done."
Her thin cheeks still needed to fill out, but the smile she offered was clear and resolute. Harriet felt that Daphne had truly matured.
"You seem to have shed a heavy burden."
"It’s thanks to you, Miss Harriet."
Harriet was grateful to Daphne for listening to her advice without taking offense. It reminded her that she had another friend with wounds to heal.
Harriet hesitated, then cautiously spoke up.
"Um, Miss Daphne. This might be a rude request, but could I ask for one more invitation?"
"If it’s for an acquaintance of yours, by all means."
"Well... it’s for someone who used to be Bella’s friend. Viviana Delus. You might have heard the rumors."
Daphne’s smile stiffened for a moment. Harriet wasn't unaware of how Daphne might feel, but Viviana’s situation had been so pitiful lately that Harriet had resolved to secure an invitation for her the moment the opportunity arose.
"Viviana broke off her friendship with Bella. She’s become a friend of mine now, so you can consider her completely dissociated from Bella."
Harriet briefly explained Viviana’s circumstances: how she had been drawn to Bella because of a crush, how she had declared an end to the friendship after realizing Bella’s true nature, how that man had hurt her even then, and most of all, how she had been unable to join any social gatherings recently due to her severed ties.
"I want to give her a chance to naturally find her place in society again. Of course, you can refuse. Your feelings are what matter most, Miss Daphne."
Daphne didn't answer immediately. She sipped her tea, lost in thought. Waiting for her, Harriet also took a sip of her tea, reflecting on how unpredictable human relationships could be.
Finally, Daphne raised her head.
"I’ve heard the rumors about Miss Viviana, and I trust your word, Miss Harriet. Giving her an invitation isn't a problem. However..." Daphne looked troubled. "The man Miss Viviana had a crush on... that’s Mr. Adam Hofner, isn't it?"
"Is that rumor widespread as well?"
"Unfortunately, yes. And invitations have already been sent to the Hofner family."
The implication was clear: Adam is highly likely to attend. Is she still okay with that?
"I don't think that’s for me to decide. But even if Viviana chooses not to attend, she will remember your kindness, Daphne."
"If she does, I would be grateful."
Thanks to Daphne’s mature decision, Viviana received an invitation to the Laurel party through Harriet, along with the warning that Adam might be in attendance.
Harriet handed the square envelope to Viviana, belatedly worrying if she had meddled unnecessarily. She watched Viviana’s expression closely. It took Viviana a long time to finish reading the card.
"I’m sorry if this was unwanted interference."
"Oh, no! I’m grateful. I haven't been invited anywhere lately, you know. I finally understand what you meant when you said Bella and I weren't on equal footing."
Even as she said that, Viviana’s expression remained dim.
Thinking it was because of Adam, Harriet reached out and clasped her hand.
"I told Daphne you might not attend. If you don't feel up to it, you can decline."
Harriet fully expected her to refuse.
But Viviana, who had been tracing the embossed Laurel family crest on the card, suddenly looked up with a resolute, almost defiant glint in her eyes.
"I’ll go. You went to all this trouble for my sake, after all. And I’d feel terrible for Daphne, who was so considerate."
"Are you really sure?"