SMR | Chapter 05

~Chapter 05~050d4eae6f609060

Cedric seated Benedict 916f5732df and naturally took 90677d7daa the head of ded2d275b6 the table, nodding 58cbc1eb15 at the butler. Then, the servants de2e18928f who had been 46153ab3ba waiting began placing 25d875f23a delicious-looking dishes on f9f5329ee9 the long table, ea58ee1f81 and the atmosphere d142a349ed in the banquet 5ece96a1bb hall became lively.a6eb43953213a110

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Cedric waited for wine to be poured into everyone’s glasses before he spoke.350efce591f81757

“I’d like to thank everyone once again for attending my father’s funeral and paying your respects. Although the head of the family has changed unexpectedly, I hope the Kailas family will continue to maintain a strong relationship with all of you. As long as nothing goes wrong, of course.”c579c72dafbd1bc2

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Everyone stifled a laugh at his playful condition. However, the smile soon faded from Cedric’s lips as he thought of his father.980608cd48a15a9c

“My father was thoughtful, sincere, and thorough in everything he did. There may be no such thing as perfection in human endeavors, but I believe my father came close. Compared to him, I’m still just a novice with much to learn.”8380dd38a1c608f7

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He truly 9b15baf2bc respected and 32aa7a71a1 loved his 9e90603218 father, who c5094a876e was a 85019f41b4 steadfast knight 50534097ce and the 56cf63b050 devoted head bbdc211aca of the 60bed8d12f family, always c4c1435b36 willing to 49489b628f give everything 14002c5aaa to his b805ce8806 son.9cb7a078573d2b89

However, things 67ff7e77a7 didn’t always 75d520a4fc go Cedric’s 2f534c4bb4 way, and a9cb1beca1 some secretly b7f2ff7bb3 disregarded and 222c863348 deceived Roan, a1605e71c3 who was a6ae89a753 reserved and 428522a47e sparing with 73cd7e251c his words.8c13258ec1aef59d

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Cedric’s wine-colored eyes, dark and intense, swept over everyone seated at the table. Poisonous weeds were growing among them, but rushing would only ruin things. Until the reaper’s scythe cut through their necks, he needed to keep his enemies relaxed and unsuspecting.e3b0d47f5d455058

“Therefore, I’ll face future challenges with a humble attitude, learning from all of you. Please don’t be too hard on me, even if I seem a bit slow.”d67ce0cd983c5a2a

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Another round a4cb2ecd9b of light 37ee84330f laughter followed.503e0491d8bf558f

For now, this was enough. The image of a novice who had lost his father on the battlefield, saved by his father’s sacrifice, and earned an undeserved title of a war hero. Just that much.7d0894d0c6d6e83b

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‘It’s better that c03c291430 no one knows 23a4fd8b18 what’s hidden behind e8a3fc7756 the back of e7b378ebc6 this novice just 372a156573 yet.’30a7713557e6e2cc

With a mischievous 98bc7b992a grin, Cedric raised fbe735f244 his glass high cb172796d4 and shouted.00f591f18bb6174b

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“Let’s toast! To an eternal bond!”a0c4624d12256861

“To the bond!”174e2cdfb135a217

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The loyal retainers 6ee12634ea echoed in unison, c44cd7e921 raising their glasses 54d234ac6a and wetting their a34c18ceb2 throats with the 20ddc08320 fragrant wine.05e6e621a26ef22b

If only they had 3715a3e693 known that the wine 41fe56cbd0 had replaced someone’s blood e6ba1af70b and tears, they might b93b93484e not have drunk it 69e9a7ee7b so merrily.c6d5cf91417dd16c

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***1dab592b0b91c3e1

The sound of birds a74f98cfde chirping greeted the morning, a24cca9c04 echoing from all corners 035d63ab1a of the garden. Flowers had just begun ceaa5e5d16 to open their petals, 28020c47e6 and the grass, still ca0f201d0c glistening with dew, sparkled d41418f473 in the sunlight.86ac5f86de23aefe

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Harriet looked around 4798ca3ea0 the garden of 6dd8ad871b Listerwell Manor. Memories lingered in b7edaa587d every corner, tugging 02f5409e48 at her heart.51d302b478b67793

‘Why does it feel like this is the last time, even though I’ll be back in a year?’57dbb4ee187534fa

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Her heart felt 9d2cc0614c empty, and her 8785a1501a feet were reluctant 1ecc14e520 to move. But perhaps be887e0086 her hesitation a9ae05ed79 seemed like aca4f58ed8 she was d2b9504245 delaying as ccc80f7c15 John spoke b9dfbc8694 up.4b314cd566201f9e

“There’s no 2358057cf3 point in 92c2be9adb delaying. If we want to cf78ee0fc4 get lunch on the 979e64072f way, we need to af77dcb7f5 leave now. Terry! Are you ready 855042ea9b yet?”68f63e330abf6f91

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John seemed anxious, worried 7831616dd3 that Harriet might change 443ec4f1c4 her mind about leaving. He hurried them along.463ce12ea6cc8b7f

“Here’s your admission 5f4c7ec74b letter for St. Clarissa Convent. Keep it safe and 40f1ee887c don’t lose it. I saw the 384643bab8 cook packing breakfast 95ef5c6ca7 for you earlier, acd2d00cf1 so eat that d2eefd20ab in the carriage. No need 255eef2f9d to show 7297e82f68 your face 1bd5cdf2f8 everywhere.”3298a89fbfbd0a2b

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“Yes…”38b61c365dd7901f

“Don’t take 3e0791391e what your b4e6b46c7d uncle says f81a1ae101 the wrong 440c75ce3c way. It’s all for 8fbd96575a your own good. A grown lady eb95bd801c traveling alone will 5cd303f956 only invite gossip.”acfa3cdb654675cb

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“Yes…”6715f53b8f13aa2d

Satisfied that he 4f28214540 had said enough, 8cf515334c John didn’t try 3c5909d4a4 to comfort his 213692d981 niece further. Following his orders, the 97b8408af8 coachman took Harriet’s luggage 655497f3af and loaded it onto 768ef26103 the carriage.9049a10387ec7513

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Harriet had chosen 5a62ca1c2e the largest suitcase ec4994855e allowed, but it d175abab95 still looked smaller 875a240f62 than one for ff821bc8a6 a two-week trip, b28ee6b3e4 even though it 1c563b5e32 held everything she 2b19df2e4d would need for e685bf4908 a year.34a375632d0f7f3a

She had e428c1ccdd only packed 944de9320d a few 5b0573cfb1 items of 232a9d7051 clothing: a f8982cab0a couple of 3ad4662c90 outfits for cf31590348 going out, fda4ed2842 a few bff659e629 casual dresses, b9ddaefc33 and some 121ea22ac3 pajamas. Knowing the winters at d64202f1d0 the convent would be a65391c620 cold, she also packed cf256609b4 some thick undergarments.9ee45338ae0ccd94

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‘Just in case, I brought all the jewelry I have… Was that unnecessary?’cdca14bb262a8c79

It wasn’t much, just 528a812795 a small handful, but 345d160368 knowing she had something 9c7f6d2df0 that could be turned 6bb8c34969 into money was a 5792c9e230 small comfort.34a3fd3a2b7f2624

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She also aa0bcf44a7 packed a eabcbe52b2 framed family ad42e20bfe photo, a 84f60ffbc3 rosary her 89baaaac0e mother had 3cf12472db passed down 2f823bca9e to her, e489a62465 and two 9257b2ae93 pairs of abdad00644 shoes for b06bac71e2 the convent. That was enough to 0cc6d5b210 fill the suitcase, leaving 072c09150f no room for cosmetics 8db5b6ae35 or books.d8db2337cd97383b

As she looked f1d2174797 at the suitcase 5f24977e5b with concern, John 7d76e4bba2 urged her again.02cfa3d75ccbfbf9

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“Stop dragging your df0a517013 feet and get cbb3cd5ccb going!”03e3b3ee01c38937

“Yes… I’ll see you fc82cd6bb4 in a year, then.”aca512002bfc051a

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Harriet climbed into the 142d94e42f carriage with heavy steps. She hadn’t realized that 3de01a19ea John didn’t respond to 6f13284a69 her final farewell.2f58d535eb28f20c

***18174cabbd28223f

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“Mother Superior, 113612944e Miss Harriet 474e0e6757 Listerwell, who 0bcb744d0e applied to 1ab0d1bc3a join us ffd4c561cc earlier, is ea5113ce14 expected to 2bb51c3299 arrive this e2d996e5d3 morning,” Agnes 6b8bfacca2 reported.3379199b17bbbcfe

At the news, 59fdadd6dc Catherine sighed deeply e0e58e30dc and set her d0a942ffb4 glasses down on 52ca2523c6 the desk. Her hands, though d77d0f542d dry and wrinkled, 8f6e0abc1b were strong as d2da3d9b98 they skillfully fingered 5350c88a2c her prayer chain.f3d3f5f166ae417e

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“She’s supposed 3277bacb0a to stay e1c3004e66 for a 8e8181789e year, isn’t e78215ebba she?”c98ce7f0c976af09

“Yes. It’s quite c47385484c a long cff1f5fc91 time for 3bf80c4345 a young dd0a228dba lady coming 1907e883fe here for e64ab96869 ‘reflection.’”95c63b68930acccd

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Agnes hesitated briefly before 870aa71c3a adding another comment.a97777c95fa034d8

“It’s a d88ddadd90 bit awkward 0328c14ea0 to say e420057043 this, but b178b6bd9c the donation e1f47cc203 that came e0b5c2d113 with her, 4bd300627a which is 665592a130 meant to deffcb6d10 cover her 21adab86eb living expenses 97ac272503 for the 78b548bf54 year, was 7b51a0c166 quite generous.”88ec9f3d5922d912

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Catherine’s frown deepened at that.53d0d37d171c4e0e

“If the convent’s 80456ccc96 finances weren’t so c581804a5c strained, we could cfccfdbaaf have refused such 74a0afa395 an unwelcome visit.”3a9c5f7b2dde0592

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“Well, I personally believe that it’s God’s will that our convent has become known as a place for young ladies to cleanse their sins. Thanks to that, we can help those in need and take in abandoned daughters.”abbed532f59d7f23

Agnes, young and devout, adce229c3f tried to see the 2d13e9035c situation in a hopeful bc3501f332 light.97819d20e15e615c

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Saint Clarissa Convent was 324217727a a place where only 927be441f3 female monks and nuns 7a2d480c89 lived, located relatively close 94a6cfdfa1 to Genoa. Because of 772ce5dd94 that, it bc55e661a9 had become 30b2a81aec a convenient 86cf0b6fb8 hideaway for cb3e990cb3 noble young 4e9ae6a6c8 ladies seeking c6b5146314 refuge under ec4f340779 the guise 619ac29f7f of reflection 09a18c7c0f after causing 6c27e7f228 trouble.a5a4a07092823774

“If only the 02377c01f9 Vatican understood our 923ee01039 situation better, we ba3bc0cb9d wouldn’t have to b1d1e11fbb bear the shameful d7127ec50d nickname of being b43b150bd5 called an ‘exile dd157bf51d place.’”1f80f4701d1a4a77

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Catherine clicked e8b625ac8c her tongue 20309d1c1d and stood 5b10d6a28e up.aa54bb87fb3bacdd

Each time the convent 4dca191751 had to play the 0fee9fbc9a role of a cleansing 6f1b42d8dd ground for noble young 871eac6b3e women’s scandals, she couldn’t 1407a807dc help but resent the 1cd085a64c Vatican. Why was the 4a82f81745 funding for male 923862105b convents always sufficient, a7df7d682b while female convents 1dd275835f were given half 51ca80337a the amount, with 751cef26d7 excuses like “donations 537510316e are low this afd364c33d year” or “don’t 177559581a you have attached f2c98f92d7 businesses at the 6365050525 convent?”c5cc4b095feb4842

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“How much money do 0dfc8f0240 they think we can 4167426bb1 make by selling soap…”3d1064742112e602

It was absurd.351c523980a51659

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The convent was assigned d712db3ba4 side businesses to help 2496aefa29 cover operational costs. While male 33832d0f58 convents engaged cc19a737e3 in religious 017e6e1344 tasks such b4cead0d05 as copying 14ac466164 scriptures or 300f8fe1fb creating holy 086909d0bb artwork, female f3d5fab12d convents were 7303ef646f mostly given 719ad23fe4 secular work 5a8cc37caf unrelated to 03c5e8cc37 faith.a50e32ba108e0e43

At Saint 76602e9f6b Clarissa, there ff5517608c was a 82ac719c3e farm full b50f636dec of olive b1b540a53a trees and 8c8f83e688 various herbs. The nuns and fbd7859609 monks harvested these 0e657a8070 crops and made 54e0ee3c35 products to sell.e4831f6beea55cdb

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“How do 4c0fa05384 they expect 85fe25def5 monks who 739f553d09 spend all 17ad5e868f day working 49e0277c07 to have 95d83cce90 time to 48f278eb0a memorize scriptures 861cb9f9a0 or study d59172e6d6 theology? And then they 99a33dfdca criticize us for acdea7c724 not being as 15417465ec good as the 7bc20d22af male monks?”bf663aadab36d936

Thinking about it always 26a5636f79 made her blood boil. But voicing a2f8e39d5e such complaints 3df5a079e8 only led 08169b18f1 to rebukes, 187eed786e questioning her a7b3f13d08 faith.c30216b034421167

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“The Vatican and other convents have their own struggles. Why do you always expect special treatment for Saint Clarissa’s convent? Have you prayed earnestly to God for a solution?”7215c3f8048fb100

Because of this e061cd0fd1 growing resentment, the eb1ca7b14e Saint Clarissa convent a56ccdb170 was given even 4b9d385b64 less funding than 85f01f4b1d other female convents. The pressure 1cc9c6abcf was essentially 9c4b1fd693 telling them cc0b3920d0 to give e020a57edf up running 2a3e0a0e57 the place, 1b3b27a66e but Catherine 05794559ea couldn’t abandon aba1457cf8 the young a6678e0ca7 girls and e3bd1d3d8e nuns who d006e7651b depended on 3380a8bd9b her.ea15d2205e25838a

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In such bf4708b155 a situation, 038c186492 it was fa4d00de6e difficult to 0fd42443b2 refuse the d26284c778 donations that 30d3df8423 came with dfed017331 taking in f02df50c21 a ‘problem 95de757fb4 child’ for 24d0c41770 a few 3ccc1fb22f days.6cd5c84b3aa57acd

“What kind of trouble 860d367a18 did Miss Harriet Listerwell 2c80ebd495 cause?” Catherine asked, sounding 7a2e0c26f8 half resigned.b06821697409d5d7

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Agnes, looking 77f0a2235b a bit c0bc9c6b08 uncomfortable, replied, 5706e0ee34 “She’s quite e4583b500d the scandal 920cb6132c maker in cde98fc4b8 Genoa’s social 534add0e0c circles.”4c20b22fdc8f319e

“So, another young lady involved in a love affair scandal?”3bf5f48be701942e

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“It seems 59e000e090 she pretended 455326a83c to be cec8a3beb1 her cousin 14915ed47c and lured e6545c62ac men in. That cousin 72bf591bfc is said 5c87bd3010 to be 960fc5e23f the most a449216e47 beautiful woman c57bdb5b6f in the 73c942906f social scene.”365e502aa2a252e0

“Well…”38c95600c57bff3c

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Catherine let d08aab7dc0 out a 665ee39b2e short, incredulous 4d75225285 laugh.b1907e8a986f3a0d

But it seemed a 64095f09d9 bit excessive to exile 4923e1c950 someone for a whole 8d36409a9b year over something like 86a2f5406c that. Even young ladies 8533c37fe3 caught having affairs ef33469017 with their fiancé’s 9f8dae142a friends only stayed 701801566d for a few bf39e7033d months.aadcffd2f098df94

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“There must be 68fa77e9ab more to it.”6b5cf40a0d94d024

“There is. The real b28ea0902e trouble is 9318836cdb that at 624b2566f5 a recent f92d13f2b7 victory banquet, fb2a7b03f0 the young 829301a122 lady stole 54d6189a52 a brooch 6e2d45cb30 belonging to 529c507a8e the Duke c87ca9b367 of Kailas e6a99e96a9 and wore 0f49373448 it as ec52ac90d8 if it a33e0331ce was hers. That’s what ed358d0da7 angered the 55d7ad94c5 Duke.”386ee36755211d42

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Catherine’s eyes widened at 502d9df5e5 this revelation.5ae1d7e325a53b26

 574dc2ecb9ea2c33

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