Chapter 45
~Chapter 45~
Cedric silently ran some calculations, then exchanged a few words with his aide to confirm feasibility before jotting down the revisions on the business plan. He never once asked for Harriet’s opinion, but she couldn’t exactly complain.
‘What could I even say? I don’t understand a word of it.’
Even though it was her business plan, watching Cedric expand and refine it felt strangely surreal. On one hand, she was glad for his approval, but on the other, the stark gap in their abilities bruised her pride.
Once he finished revising, Cedric handed the business plan back to her, now covered in strikeouts.
“Take a look.”
Harriet quietly flipped through the pages. Having revised it countless times until dawn, she could tell at a glance what had changed.
Originally, she had projected modest annual profits of around 500,000 dirhams, but Cedric had scaled it up to a 2 million dirham enterprise.
The key was the addition of a plan to donate another 200,000 dirhams to St. Clarissa Convent to build a larger workshop for soap and herbal products.
“I’m asking for an investment, not a donation.”
“The convent’s workshop can only produce just over a hundred bars of soap a week.”
“We agreed to produce as much as possible before the business launches. There should be plenty of stock.”
“Considering how long nobles take to use a single bar of soap, that won’t be enough. In the capital, meeting demand on time is crucial for any business. A bit of scarcity can generate buzz, but prolonged shortages lead straight to failure.”
Harriet knew that too. She just hated how it made him look like he was taking a loss. It stung her pride.
“So, you’re saying you’ll cover the workshop expansion costs as part of the investment, not a donation.”
Seeming to read something in her expression, Cedric added,
“It’s not a donation for your sake, Lady Harriet. When I visited last year, I wanted to give more, but with all the eyes on me, I could only manage 100,000 dirhams. Consider this settling the rest.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t delude myself into thinking it’s for me. Honestly, I’d believe it was because the convent’s puppy was cute.”
Cedric let out a short huff of laughter.
“Where on earth do you learn to say things like that?”
“……You find amusement in the oddest things. Anyway, what do I need to do now? It’s a bit embarrassing to ask……”
“Regardless, this is your business, Lady Harriet. My aide will assist, but you must make the decisions and oversee it yourself.”
To instill a sense of responsibility in her, Cedric spoke firmly, then lightened his tone as if to ease the tension.
“But it won’t be that difficult. You might wear yourself out running around here and there, though.”
She thought so too.
The store lease would be signed right here, and Cedric would handle the interior.
Her actual tasks amounted to meeting a distributor once or twice and introducing Abbess Catherine and Sophia when they visited the convent with him.
The design and packaging for the soap and herbal products were entirely her responsibility, though Cedric had recommended a packaging firm.
“Now, let’s discuss profit sharing. We’ll treat the production fees paid to the convent as fixed costs and split the remaining profits accordingly.”
It was a crucial matter, so she swallowed dryly.
“Until you recover 90% of the investment, we’ll split profits 70-30 in my favor, of course. After that, it shifts to 20-80, with you taking 80. Any objections?”
Harriet drew in a deep breath.
Everything had happened so quickly she could hardly catch her breath, and that very speed made her uneasy. Was this the right decision? Was there some hidden trap she’d overlooked that would trip her up later?
But no matter how she looked at it, Cedric was the one who stood to lose more.
‘I thought he’d demand more…… Is he being generous because it helps the convent?’
Personal feelings aside, she felt grateful.
“No objections.”
“You’ve set the convent’s production fees quite high. Lowering them would increase your share.”
“I’m not that shameless. I’m just lending my face to the business— I can’t skimp on the people actually making the products.”
“Thanks to your help, it’ll probably sell better than Natricksen Soap.”
Harriet shrugged.
“Who knows? The help you’re talking about comes from products made at St. Clarissa Convent.”
“I see. Then we’ll draw up the contract accordingly.”
He didn’t deny it, not even politely. It revealed his character once more. For some reason, that left a bitter taste.
The contract was drafted right before their eyes.
Cedric’s aide, experienced in such matters, wrote it out swiftly and smoothly.
Harriet reviewed every detail meticulously, then decided to add one clause at the end.
“I want to keep my role as the business’s representative a secret.”
“Any reason?”
“You know why. If people find out I’m in charge, they’ll twist it however they want to attack me.”
Cedric nodded, satisfied that she clearly understood her position.
“Very well. Then we’ll keep my role as investor secret for the time being as well.”
“Of course. I told you—I won’t tarnish your noble name.”
Harriet flashed a bright smile.
Cedric rather liked that smile. It carried an innocent confidence that she thought she’d hidden her irritation well.
“Shall we say you’re visiting Pellan Mansion to assist Mrs. Phelon?”
“That works best.”
“Now we have a pretext—let’s sign.”
Before the ink could dry, Cedric Kailas and Harriet Listerwell’s names were added to the bottom of the contract.
The business was officially underway.
On the way back to Pellan Mansion, Harriet skimmed the revised business plan and felt the ability gap between her and Cedric all over again.
’Of course there’s a difference. He’s been trained in this since childhood.’
No need to feel ashamed. But it wasn’t that simple.
‘Why does it bother me so much?’
It was her first business idea, and it had been accepted and was coming to life. Her heart raced with excitement, goosebumps rising. Yet at the same time, the fact that it wasn’t entirely her achievement pricked at her pride.
Over her thin, hesitant numbers, two confident lines had been struck through, replaced by Cedric’s bold, elegant figures.
The gap between those numbers felt like the wall between them. An insurmountable wall.
Harriet clenched her fist.
‘Right, overcoming innate differences is hard. But that doesn’t mean I have to be looked down on forever.’
Still, she wanted to stand on equal footing with Cedric. No, she wanted to surpass him.
She imagined the day Cedric would read her business plan, marvel at it, and say, “Nothing more to add—let’s sign the contract right now!”
……But the scene wouldn’t quite form in her mind.
Harriet let out a small sigh.
Still, it wasn’t a bad start for businesswoman Harriet Listerwell.
As soon as she arrived at Pellan Mansion, she sought out Roxana. Trisha was napping.
“Teacher! I did it—I got the investment!”
She couldn’t hide her excitement, but Roxana’s expression was…… odd. More shocked than pleased.
“From Duke Kailas?”
“Yes!”
“Hmm…… astonishing. Honestly, I thought you’d fail.”
“What? I thought you were rooting for me! You said I had to be bold to win over investors.”
Harriet’s eyes widened in betrayal, but Roxana showed no remorse.
“That was for other investors. The man is Cedric Kailas. Right now, it’s like…… the kid who went freshwater fishing reeled in a shark. It just doesn’t make sense.”
“……”
“And that shark has the eyes of a predator, while you’re grinning like you caught a big fish. Of course it’s shocking.”
“……Are you saying I might get eaten?”
“Who knows? It depends on your skill. I hope you survive.”
It was a clear message to wrap up and leave. But Harriet had a knack for teasing Roxana.
“Teacher, I don’t want to get eaten by the duke, and I don’t want this business to fail. So I need to learn even more from you.”
