Chapter 42
~Chapter 42~
“Since we’ve started, let’s see how far we can go.”
After Oster passed away, it was Trisha’s warm encouragement that allowed Roxana to safely graduate from the Candia Kingdom Academy, which even accepted commoners as students.
The honor of graduating at the top of her class was the result of her grueling efforts to repay the Felon Count family’s grace.
Returning to the Empire at the age of twenty-five, she had served as Trisha’s aide for the next ten years.
Come to think of it, she herself had received far more undeserved kindness than Miss Harriet ever had.
Gazing at the rippling surface of her teacup, Roxana felt a twinge of shame.
Perhaps… she was jealous of Harriet.
Noticing her feelings, Trisha spoke softly, as if to soothe her.
“Roxi, I’m not blaming you. Honestly, watching you and Harriet… has become the joy of my twilight years. How boring my life would have been without you two?”
“You’re still far too young to say things like that, ma’am.”
“Thank you for the kind words. But I’m not just saying it. I truly feel like I don’t have much time left. That’s why, while I’m still the head of the family, I want to support you both as much as I can.”
Roxana bit her lip.
Trisha was indeed growing frailer by the day. Her skin had become so dry that she no longer sweated even in summer, and she often suffered long coughing fits.
She had lost weight, and once a week, chest pains kept her from sleeping.
Outsiders hadn’t noticed yet, but people like Lauren would inevitably catch on.
“Now, back to Harriet. What did that girl say she wanted to do this time?”
“She wants to start a soap business, capitalizing on her increased recognition. It seems people have been curious about how her skin has improved lately.”
Trisha didn’t know what Harriet used to look like, but since she’d heard multiple times at the Vanderbilt party that the girl had become quite beautiful, there must have been real changes.
“But we can’t sell just anything, can we?”
“She said she’s been using soap and herbal products made at St. Clarissa Convent. After using them, her rashes and acne disappeared.”
“If they’re such good products, why haven’t they gotten attention until now?”
“Because there was no distribution network. And being a convent, they probably weren’t interested in making a profit to begin with.”
Trisha nodded.
“Bringing those products all the way to Genoa and renting a shop to sell them… that would cost quite a bit.”
“So she’s looking for investors.”
“She hasn’t said anything to me yet.”
Roxana took a sip of her tea and looked steadily at Trisha.
“That’s why I asked how far you’re willing to help Miss Harriet. She’s looking for investors now, but if everyone turns her down, she’ll end up coming to you, ma’am.”
“Ah, I see. Hmm…”
A smile mixed with anticipation spread across Trisha’s face.
She had thought of Harriet as just a little squirrel scampering busily from one thing to another, but she hadn’t expected the girl to dive into a full-fledged business.
Even if it failed, Trisha believed this experience would be a valuable asset to the child.
“Harriet might be smarter than I thought. Isn’t it such a waste for a girl like that to be held back just because she has no parents, or because of some tarnished reputation from false rumors?”
“There are few people in the world without some tragic backstory. And we still don’t know if that scandal was truly false.”
“Help her with a generous heart. I’m saying this because I think it will be good for you in the end. You two resemble each other so much.”
At the word “resemble,” Roxana frowned again. Clearly, she didn’t like the comparison.
But Trisha sincerely thought they were like sisters. Both had lost their parents and been abandoned by others, and now they were struggling to carve out their own futures in a harsh world.
‘Perhaps God gave me you two in place of children.’
With a warm smile, Trisha took a sip of her tea.
Clop, clop.
Every time the sound of hooves echoed, Harriet’s heart pounded in time with the rhythm.
‘What is he thinking right now?’
She had expected immediate rejection, but surprisingly, Duke Kailas had agreed to meet her.
Even though he had boldly claimed she was his top choice as an investment opportunity, her current nervousness showed she hadn’t truly believed it would happen.
She had secured the meeting three days ago.
Now, Harriet clutched the business proposal she had refined late into the night before, heading to the Kailas estate.
‘Don’t be afraid. You’ve never done anything to grovel before him.’
In hindsight, she didn’t know how fortunate it was that she had turned down the financial support he had offered back then.
Gripping the envelope tightly, lifting her chin, Harriet reassured herself that she was like an unbreakable diamond.
Just as she managed to calm her nerves, the carriage slowed… and soon came to a complete stop.
The coachman, who had been talking to someone outside, approached the carriage and said,
“Miss, we’ve arrived at the main gate of the Kailas estate. But they say we need an invitation or written permission to pass through the main gate. They’re also requesting an inspection of the carriage interior.”
“An inspection?”
“Yes.”
An inspection of a passing carriage, and this wasn’t even the imperial palace? No matter how prestigious a duke’s house was, peering into a noble’s carriage was bordering on rudeness.
But Harriet wasn’t in a position to offend a potential investor, so when the guard knocked on the carriage door, she obediently opened it.
“Thank you for cooperating. Is the guest today just you, miss?”
“Yes, as you can see.”
“And the invitation or appointment confirmation…”
“Here it is.”
The guard politely bowed his head in thanks and examined the letter she handed him. Then, suddenly, he snapped his head up and stared blatantly at Harriet’s face.
From his flustered expression, Harriet could guess what thought had flashed through his mind.
“Is there a problem?”
“Oh, no. Not at all. It’s just… we need to confirm that you are indeed Lady Harriet Listerwell herself.”
The faint sneer at the end of his question and the gaze raking her from head to toe were utterly rude.
The old Harriet might have blushed with shame under such a look, but not anymore.
She tilted her head slightly and warned him in a cold, cynical voice,
“Yes. And I have a feeling His Grace won’t be pleased if his guards spread rumors about this meeting.”
The guard, looking flustered, hurriedly nodded, returned the confirmation letter, and closed the door.
“You may proceed.”
As the coachman started to climb back onto his seat, Harriet called out to the guard.
“Is this the standard procedure to inspect all visitors like this?”
As if he’d heard such questions many times before, he merely furrowed his brow slightly and replied,
“After the Kiphrene War, there were assassination attempts on His Grace by anti-regime figures from the Firma Kingdom. Security has been tightened as a result. We appreciate your understanding.”
Now that he mentioned it, she vaguely remembered reading about it in the newspapers.
「Duke Kailas’s Carriage Explosion Incident—Firma-Made Explosives Confirmed.」
「18-Year-Old Firma Youth Attacks Noble Delegation with Knife on Nezerio Boulevard.」
「Does the Firma Royal Family Truly Intend to Uphold the Defeat Treaty?」
At the time, she’d skimmed the articles, thinking they had nothing to do with her. But looking back, Cedric Kailas had long been the primary target of Firma’s hostility and attacks.
What must it feel like to live knowing someone might try to kill you at any moment?
And yet, he always seemed so calm and composed.
Feeling anew how different her world was from Cedric’s, the carriage carrying Harriet passed through the main gate and entered the grounds of the duke’s estate.
