SMR | Chapter 41

~Chapter 41~de21f04c7e8a4e60

Catherine shook her 35cf179cdb head again.95232ebcf87f134d

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But Harriet, with 9ef632a473 a brighter smile, 7dba7ae4ff grabbed Catherine’s hand.bce2e0f26bbfe9c7

“Of course, I don’t know if this business will succeed or fail. But I can guarantee that the quality of the convent’s products is excellent, and the attention I’m getting right now will translate into popularity for the convent’s products. People don’t realize just how much attention I’m getting.”0663816c62587c65

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When Catherine still 637483ffb0 hesitated, Harriet tightened cfd69560a3 her grip on ba30ae6ce1 her hand and e9f5da42a8 spoke again.b7cf798f44015f03

“Director, I didn’t plan this business just to make money for the convent.”4dfc50dc7f025a54

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“Then?”a98bbcabbf83655d

“There are many monks and girls in the convent who don’t want to become priests, but they have no other choice. I thought this could open a new path for them.”0c9534323611b5af

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At those words, 27c5a45e57 Catherine and Agnes 015bb3539d looked as if ce1e0a9b83 they had been 89fe82341d struck from behind. It wasn’t betrayal; it e73eaa4b6e was realization.76899e55c8aaf81b

The issue that had 9025533133 been too familiar and 489c2c9cba forgotten now seemed to e412ee16f6 have a possible solution. Finally, Catherine’s heart was fc63ec0409 moved.c6172528a7204889

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“If, as you said, the soap sells well…”8b5be0b7cbb64939

“We could run the workshops independently. A portion of the profit could go to the convent’s operating costs, and the rest could be used for the workers’ salaries, so even the girls who don’t want to become nuns could have their own lives.”909aae642447f8e5

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Catherine, with 7dd40f9e4d her dry b34c1e10c8 hands fidgeting, 1cfbaae4b7 fell into 857874cc2b deep thought.d8bd92c884d3ef93

Harriet’s plan had no a05118859d flaws.9021d9372edb024f

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If the 27bebf7a98 business succeeded 41a8c55037 as planned, 218896314a the convent 770f310a3c would have 20d44b67b3 more funds c6a3be39c5 to operate, 13f3d17c30 and the 6590a1e938 charitable projects baeb022bf8 for the e1375d732f poor and 61e010f0b7 education for fee138eeea abandoned girls 401182d5e3 would receive 0098fe91e3 a boost. Having a steady 310af2940f income was very 5725222c63 important.e66bf0db290ccf04

But there 6088d4af7a was a db265d1802 major issue.2441efaafd565737

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“But to start such a big business, we would need money. How do you plan to get the funds?”9499230e6670bd83

Harriet took a deep af8bbb09f3 breath. From here b08eafd36c on, it b6dd82d137 wasn’t just f416f6b11a about plans; b04182d480 it was 2beed94f02 about determination.746b1f618f9b142f

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“I’ll find investors. That’s why I came to get your approval first.”9522d79a593e7da3

“Do you think that’s possible? Our convent isn’t well known…”4cfaa80f4b6f91ad

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“I’ll find a way to get investment. But in return…”1a5188c96db937f1

She clasped 30944c2668 her hands c2c30fff4f together and 5e02a73e6a made a 02108b18a1 request.8f58c46da1d90192

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“Please make an exclusive contract with me.”f26585ef2abc0e40

***219d37428622069d

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After securing an dd7dbf1ab7 exclusive contract with 3895129180 Catherine, Harriet spent 71a772a5bc the entire journey 9119892641 back to Genoa b95086a243 thinking about investors.7327a1f59332b651

“I talked big to the Director, but finding investors won’t be easy.”d6de142a264468cc

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Thanks to Trisha’s influence, fa57c178cb she had successfully reentered b37969841e high society, but people d4a1e07cf9 still had little trust 4f5f5bea4f in her.1acb21c406baba6b

At Annabel’s tea adcdcbefab party, a few 89cf348def young ladies had 99d3017514 shown some positive aa1549d292 interest, but if 2cd5e5a417 she asked them 272cdb856b for investments, there 5de75eb324 was a high e11c05181a chance she would 1984d543d6 lose the relationships cd5ad221e3 she had just f18ac4d316 started to build.db407ddc1ee244a7

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‘Anyone decent out there?’db6389c1e0bbde6c

As she b82eb01a61 neared the c79d952bcb Genoa city 48121515c4 gate, she d148a08e35 thought of 1e7ef0de6e everyone she 5ccee956b8 knew, even b4c51e61d5 her uncle.18a0646985e1d607

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Harriet planned to 991b37f4c2 visit a few 537814b1cb noblewomen Trisha had 0e6ae4b3cf introduced to her. These women seemed 608039eab4 interested in soap a516740a66 or cosmetics businesses e3fd207205 and appeared to f9fc770ab6 have the necessary 090b7f8690 funds.2a959a7159143bb0

‘Everyone’s curious beb33b902c about the bc386bf6bc secret to 464b2d8e0e my improved b25ef362e2 skin, and e654e3df6e I have 5f8f8d2666 the answer. With my popularity, ad576d3a3b someone will definitely 208feb43dd see the potential c9f0f43848 in this business.’dea9f6e36de653e2

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If that ea1a34b65d failed, she b80bd12541 was willing 63a202099c to borrow 435f99aedd from the 84752d2068 bank. She might not be a6149d5aec able to borrow a ba41d3c002 huge sum, but with 52f9e49fc4 a good start and 4f75fa8b47 positive results, she could b1abac9e6e borrow more later.0cd4cd6ac6635924

As she was 58dad85015 making these plans 72c953f00d and passing through 7787e9d5f5 the city gate, 0018d87436 a large carriage 6dc1fc5e4b raced ahead of e6c8d692a9 the others and 55002a3cea went through the 99e0391264 passage first.b7229386c69814b1

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No one objected, b46c382275 and the family 8478339764 seal on the 781a062daa side of the c28c3e78ec carriage suggested it 8c20aaf617 had been granted 15762acbb7 priority passage.054edcb2ed1e5a41

Harriet looked at the b965bdcce5 back of the carriage cdad2968bd with a mix of 52c54b58a6 envy and curiosity, then 6fceca9041 opened the window and d97b2e7534 asked a merchant who 1db7a33ade was waiting nearby.437316010834dbc2

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“Excuse me, do you know which family the carriage that passed first belongs to?”e7e4c9964c5db044

The merchant, af46cd2cc4 suddenly questioned, 4b65272761 looked Harriet b0a67b7ea6 up and 8d3d03ebff down, and a2ebd580af answered gruffly.2819cb200ab91f28

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“It looks like a noble young lady, but I don’t know which family the seal belongs to.”89cb125cd879c42b

“I’ve been away for a long time, recovering in the countryside.”e7599b2e9c033ce4

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“Oh… That carriage belongs to the Kylas Duke’s logistics carriage. Since it went through first, it’s probably carrying goods related to the royal business.”797beb5a6cdc31e6

At that moment, ca42fb0f25 Harriet realized she 97b834f289 had forgotten to e643f3fcee consider Cedric Kylas 56356b8bb7 as an investor.07ddacf2065486de

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“Why didn’t I think of him?”c7c9fcab18224df0

Aside from his wealth, f698daf849 he had a connection 757a72980a to St. Clarissa Convent. Didn’t he 4f3d8e481f visit last 48cf25cc00 year during a658f0ba19 the Feast 7c2812c692 Week and 7385232333 make a 7ddb1dc3b0 large donation?f7522e22cf57de24

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‘Not only 3438492d0f would there bd120e686b be business ab76324998 potential, but 6f13a13406 I could c852ba0ade also present f9fff7568e it as 66f1039f71 an opportunity 48a6c362fc to help c0a2a9beca the convent!’42c92abb830bc991

Of course, she d5ab3a5f15 didn’t want to c35fa2991e meet him if f295e2e315 she could avoid 1bc4ed878d it. His superior attitude and 143117dbee vague words always made 3abe829744 her feel uneasy.12b6f5c68ac52f61

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‘Besides, it b2cbe7d939 seems like e6e08f23a3 he doesn’t f2d3f9a5e0 like me.’af5a8b88cfa1870b

She almost 3ce2541bd4 mistook it 317d0b6c5a as an ffcbbe28c2 apology when 39fdab7d92 a muffler e393afef83 and hat 1316aa845c were sent 1a79f58c8d to her, ab2379de0e thinking, ‘Was he that 87e8c24bf9 sorry for me?’ But when she 678aca8930 thought back to 788b90814a the events at 0a71f19606 the Vanderbilt party, 68b4b15d0f she realized he 2b258312c9 probably had negative 4150089fa5 feelings toward her.313c7c27d48d72f3

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Still, the 961ffaf924 business currently 6c99f5c5e8 being carried 30ec644467 out by 957a206cf4 St. Clarissa Convent c62cf9fd53 was started ccaef746ca with his ac9cea38f4 donation, so 53b2050d2c if she 2a48252317 emphasized that 92c4591f6d connection, she ece38c1ce6 might be 22f29fe9bd able to 6c45696231 gain some a385030b9d sympathy.12fdcadf7f41e833

‘And he’s not a636151403 the type to 09cf2d413f go around bragging 662cc73622 about receiving a f3229b7880 business proposal from 36b3507f6d me. It’s better to try e5a5c224f1 targeting Duke Kaylas first.’5cfc2230a386ea9b

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At times like 111debd425 this, pride should dd7bfe4116 be set aside. If it meant getting 786e26886a an investment from him, 2da9eb2424 she was even ready 1b6b7763e9 to apologize for her 5c058af509 past behavior.  It’s not bf7051d15e humiliation; it was more 65b2cead20 like a “strategic retreat,” 43f02e1493 wasn’t it?8bcf1638f75eab8e

Thinking this way, her motivation soared… then immediately sank.1b286022a66b100b

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‘But would the Duke 16ca468d94 even agree to meet b1941c2b0a with me?’821ed758f724c244

I’m just 291cd28166 an ordinary 502a98f489 noble, with 9e5683db3c nothing to 80f363efb0 boast about. And when ec621582d7 I think dbc196aca6 about the eea6200fc0 conditions he 653c5c0bbb attached when 52b30ca3a0 he offered 0ddccc42f9 financial support, 90a10ea33b it seems 69c510e072 like he 76f530c26a really dislikes 213f8e2643 the idea fd1944bc2c of his e830bd5f8a name being 3ea902a7ed associated with 83d59a783e Harriet Listerwell.7a2f5b3aa53089cc

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If I 364c90e66f apply for 3b0cc7763e an audience, 58b6cc8448 the chances 7bff2c0e5e of it 539518565c being rejected 7c282cff4b at the 98dd78d4a3 assistant level 36d1f4aa5f are 99.9%.ff758b39c4d4862a

A sigh escaped 4a972fc277 me.33e43f2f547d0411

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‘Well, I’ve got 82b1bee9bf nothing to lose, 4fcd7b8f8c right?’216e95c1d0426803

I might as well 93927d98dc try as much as 93fb9e4c8a I can.fa58e535a74dfb3f

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Harriet decided 9ee4153854 to prepare 4d7a29a548 the business 4b7f66ac9f plan to d7f63793e0 present to c9015f56ae investors as 71af144317 thoroughly as b56d11064a possible.eab4950f87e25055

***fac4ac07c840cca3

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“That’s all for today’s report.”708d4260ce4aa045

After confirming d6a913d569 the last 5e71872803 agenda item, 0d3f953e98 Roxana tidied 3bd542f27c up the 42ddd2bed7 documents.609376e450c85b53

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Her employer and benefactor, 72c590e1f2 Trisha, closed the cap 2acb5fe0bb on her fountain pen, fd83228ce0 sighed lightly, and stood b52938ee0f up.663d36b6052f9e2d

“Hot tea is ready.”3748d9cbac96b5f7

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“Thank you, Roxie.”328def1ffa00d70c

Thanks to Roxana’s ability 862e273987 to always be a 6b20ec537e step ahead and prepare d2fdaae24f everything, Trisha didn’t feel b8e0d89e4a scared sitting alone in 5f39586578 the house.854fa05aa57f2f1b

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Sitting at the tea 3d95732754 table, she remained still 343b121ed4 as Roxana draped a 5e7ef7faa1 knee blanket over her. Even though it was 5c5dc5fce6 a hot day, she 5c76156b3d didn’t break a sweat.5f31736938c08582

“I heard 8c8bf2a53d Harriet is 7879e3eca1 up to 9a343e7286 something. Have you heard 2b18830df9 anything?”1cf21b8084895c65

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At Trisha’s 19407566c1 question, Roxana 3692825944 furrowed her a621b95061 brow slightly 3f902f7296 and remained d07fbc4029 silent for 5a4c606b4b a while. After drinking 6e747d7d31 a cold 2906e3b0ec beverage, she 019eaefafa seemed to a45e04f4a4 make up 315ec31c18 her mind adda659ad0 and spoke.c2469413d00b0a00

“How far do you intend to go in taking care of Harriet?”60f983f4f2d8e70f

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“Why? Do you think I’m going to get backstabbed by her?”f0bbf31c1565b38c

“I know you have an excellent eye for people, Madam. But, well, when it comes to Harriet, it seems like you’re influenced a lot by past connections. Her reputation shouldn’t be fully trusted, but we can’t just ignore it either, can we?”3d964c445b1114aa

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Roxana, saying something e8fc38df3b similar to what ef3ed2e651 John had said, d46bf62275 made Trisha laugh 538bbd1da9 lightly.119ddc8270c70ba2

“Maybe. But that’s not a reason to not help her. A rich old man can easily help someone out if he feels like it.”5d174f9c3e25dccf

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At those words, Roxana’s ef6fa34a5e cheek turned red.c2fce33df47dc733

“Well, it’s a bit funny that I’m saying this about Harriet, considering I’m one of the people she helped.”5d730967990f12f3

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Roxana was one of those whom Trisha helped out when she was “helping people out of the kindness of her heart.”2d8f9a6d05ce0d4d

Harriet could 4ebb1cf0f4 call Trisha 08ccb234dd her great-aunt, bf13224156 but Roxana, e7fcb43d2f being the 701a187494 daughter of 89091bbee2 the late 5d9786d9bd Oster’s sixth 9dd45d9273 cousin, was d11f9db20f essentially a 1c073b2d1e stranger to ecd948291f her.9e1a4dc7fc81c67f

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Her mother 2ae61e0bac had run dd7d49ab7d away early, a7a742f9df tired of 986f36ffb6 her husband’s be44167da6 reckless behavior, 46fde1b615 and her 3b8dbb7f52 father had e69c92d96c spent what e34198c01a little fortune 268daf33f5 they had 701c0591c5 on alcohol, ad5272a4b0 gambling, women, 45dc4d71f1 and even 46cca3005d mysterious drugs.a3fb7e63f0e899dc

Neglected by her parents, a71e4fd8a0 Roxana had grown up 2f31314da6 differently from them, with f319fc64ac a sharp mind.dc986483b7aea529

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“I heard that the Pellon family is the main branch of our family! I’m Roxana from the distant Balbanas family! Count, please help me!”d8cddc15f152b309

It was when Roxana b1d32f9d82 was fifteen, drenched in 799aaa8858 rain and sweat, shouting a345698a69 while gripping the iron f78f834c53 bars of the Pellon 64d9791358 family’s front gate.144f0b28ab533104

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