Chapter 30
‘What was his name again? Gray? Greg? I think his last name ended with “Tro” or something…….’
Harriet couldn’t remember his name exactly, but he was the man who had seemed quite friendly when Trisha introduced him earlier.
He appeared to be in his early thirties, dressed in expensive and stylish clothes, and though he seemed quite talkative, his manner of speaking wasn’t overly light or grating.
And right now, like Harriet, he was standing alone, quietly sipping his drink with no one to talk to.
Harriet decided to approach him.
“Excuse me. The Pellon Countess introduced us earlier, but I didn’t get a proper chance to greet you. I’m sorry, but could I ask your name once more?”
“Ah, Greg Lambert. And you’re Miss Harriet Listerwell, right?”
“Everyone knows my name, but I barely know anyone else’s, so it’s really embarrassing.”
Harriet gave an awkward smile, and Greg responded with a hearty laugh.
“Haha, isn’t that how we get to know each other? Honestly, I don’t know many names myself.”
“That puts my mind at ease. You’re very kind.”
With that light compliment, their conversation flowed naturally.
He was the eldest son of the Lambert Viscount family, had married five years ago, and was currently assisting his father with the family business as the heir.
The word “business” piqued Harriet’s interest.
“What sort of business does Lord Lambert do?”
“We mainly invest in national infrastructure and public facility construction. Recently…… well, maybe I shouldn’t say this…….”
There was nothing more tantalizing than words cut off mid-sentence. Harriet hadn’t even asked out of genuine curiosity at first, but when Greg stopped himself, she grew more intrigued despite herself. Pretending utter ignorance, she gently coaxed him along.
“What’s there to worry about telling me? Who’s going to come to me for ‘business’ talk anyway? I just genuinely want to learn about the Lambert family and you, Lord Lambert. This is practically my debut in society.”
Greg waved it off as if it were nothing.
“Hahaha, it’s not some huge secret. I just didn’t want it to sound like boasting. My father recently secured the rights to a bridge construction project.”
Genoa was in the midst of an industrial boom lately, with road improvements and railway expansions leading to a surge in bridge projects.
The Heron River, which cut through the capital from north to south, was Genoa’s symbol—and at times, an obstacle to industrial progress.
“A bridge? Exactly where……?”
“Hmm. That’s actually top secret…… Hm…….”
Greg glanced cautiously around before leaning in to whisper lowly.
“You absolutely mustn’t tell anyone else. They’re planning to build a bridge connecting Baus and Chadbury.”
Baus and Chadbury were two industrial districts facing each other across the Heron River. Ships came and went frequently in that stretch, but if a bridge went up there, both areas were sure to experience explosive growth.
“If that happens, Baus and Chadbury will expand rapidly. It could have a huge impact on Genoa’s overall industrial development.”
“Exactly! So if you have any spare cash—or know someone who could lend some—why not invest? We’ve already hit our funding goal, but if you’re interested, I could put in a good word with my father.”
“I don’t know much about investing…….”
“Well, if direct business investment feels too daunting, you could always buy up buildings or land in Baus or Chadbury. Real estate isn’t going anywhere.”
It was tantalizing information. But Harriet didn’t have the funds on hand to buy land or buildings right now.
She asked as nonchalantly as she could. “When is the bridge scheduled for construction?”
“The project plan should be announced within a year, and they’ll break ground right after. By then, all the land and buildings will be snapped up. I’m only telling you this because you’re indebted to the Pellon Countess.”
After that, they shifted to more mundane topics. As more people gathered nearby, Greg didn’t bring up business again.
Harriet bid him farewell and turned away, her heart pounding.
‘Like Bella said, I managed to get valuable information on another noble family’s business!’
The thrill of learning about this confidential bridge project filled her with excitement and confidence. It felt like a major accomplishment.
At the same time, anxiety came rushing in.
As Greg had said, to turn a profit, she’d need to buy land or buildings before the project went public—but where on earth was she supposed to get that kind of money?
‘I need to think this through carefully. There’s still a full year left.’
She tried to tamp down her excitement, but she could feel her face burning. To cool her head with some fresh air, she stepped out onto the terrace.
But several people were already there, admiring the garden or smoking. Not wanting to mingle with them, Harriet slipped into a darker, more secluded corner.
“Haa…….”
A deep breath steadied her a little, and the excitement began to ebb. With her head clearing, the whole situation started to feel a bit silly.
‘I got too carried away. Believing everything that guy I just met said on the spot…… Even if it’s true, I need to verify whether it’s really worth investing in first.’
Simply knowing the information wouldn’t make her any money. What mattered was how she used it—and Harriet knew she still had a lot to learn.
‘Get it together, Harriet. Don’t forget why you came back to Genoa.’
She soothed herself and gathered her resolve. As the heat faded from her cheeks, she decided it was time to head back inside. But just as she turned to go, someone approached her—a young man with a familiar face, looking a bit drunk.
“To think I’d see you back in society…… Harriet Listerwell.”
His tone was rude, utterly devoid of respect. Harriet frowned.
“Who are you…….”
“Oh, now you’re pretending not to know? You think acting like nothing happened wipes the past clean?”
“I’ll let the rudeness slide for now. But first, tell me who you are. Then I can decide whether to remember you.”
The man let out a short, incredulous scoff, then suddenly scowled and spat out his words venomously.
“Julian Pace. Ring any bells now?”
“Julian Pa…… Ah!”
She remembered. The “scandal maker”—the subject of her monumental first scandal!
He was the man who’d gone around boasting that he was Bella’s fiancé, convinced they’d exchanged letters. But the one who’d confessed to impersonating Bella and apologized to him was Harriet.
Now she knew why he looked familiar. Even before that apology day, Harriet had delivered a few letters to him on Bella’s behalf. Back then, he’d had quite a pretty, boyish look……
He was still handsome, no doubt, but drunk and exuding arrogance, there was nothing appealing about him.
Harriet straightened her posture, lifted her chin, and steeled herself.
‘I won’t run from fights anymore. Even if they get dirty and ugly.’
Retreating like she used to wouldn’t earn her praise for loving peace. It would just give people fodder to say, “See? She didn’t even deny it. So it must really be true what she did.”
That was why, when she left St. Clarissa Convent, she’d long since abandoned the old teaching of “if someone slaps your right cheek, turn the left one too.”
Harriet smiled sweetly.
“Now I remember. But I still don’t understand why you’re treating me this way. Surely you don’t want to reminisce about the past.”
“Reminisce? It was a nightmare for me!”
“Isn’t that a bit over the top?”
“Ha! Still so shameless!”
“You’ve gotten awfully rude yourself, Lord Julian. Well, you weren’t exactly the picture of reason back then either. Strutting around as Bella’s fiancé after a few letters—that crossed the line too.”
At those words, fury blazed in Julian’s eyes.
“What about you? You’re the one who wrote those letters pretending to be Bella because you liked me! Was that reasonable?”
“I already apologized for that. Why drag up something from over three years ago now?”
Now that she’d said it aloud, it really did seem odd.
Harriet remembered that humiliating incident in vivid detail precisely because it had been so mortifying.
Julian had shown up at the Listerwell Mansion, convinced Bella had summoned him. And right there in front of it, Harriet had apologized over and over.
“I…… liked Lord Pace…… and after seeing the letters addressed to Sister Bella…… I made a terrible mistake. I’m sorry.”
Even starting to confess something that wasn’t true had been excruciating.
He’d stared at her in disbelief before erupting in rage. Only after Harriet had apologized dozens of times did Bella finally step in to apologize on her behalf and calm him down.
That was how it had ended, anyway.
She had attended a few parties with Julian present afterward, but he’d never approached her like this once. That was why she hadn’t recognized him right away.
Her words had struck a nerve, and Julian ground his teeth, stepping forward with the look of someone about to strike.
Just as Harriet instinctively recoiled—
—Before anything could happen, someone stepped between them.
