SMR | Chapter 41

~Chapter 41~e97ab9b3910e724f

Catherine shook her head c79719cee5 again.8b9a73e66c78daf7

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But Harriet, with a 512f576361 brighter smile, grabbed Catherine’s 90e030f8a8 hand.29a1b2789552d0d8

“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.”1acbd004f13b596b

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When Catherine still c73608dacb hesitated, Harriet tightened 85de4c8008 her grip on ca997ba721 her hand and 9cb8f82d2d spoke again.cdab5be9d2a7aa90

“Director, I didn’t plan this business just to make money for the convent.”72bc63a942a70b10

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“Then?”51fdbb19e0ebd75c

“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.”efa55aefd300c810

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At those d7f6eec0ee words, Catherine 40f0e2cc54 and Agnes c5ee2613ff looked as 61036f699b if they a6a164b0f5 had been 2c25d007c9 struck from 56e1981d41 behind. It wasn’t betrayal; 35aae7ae53 it was realization.9d19cb727559e557

The issue that 90d76b6e36 had been too 9d1894e68d familiar and forgotten cc84188f6a now seemed to 5c4a604e8a have a possible af94e6fea6 solution. Finally, Catherine’s 85e36773b9 heart was 4b1501d236 moved.35afaf3f8b7f6d13

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“If, as you said, the soap sells well…”29a8ff3c656df2c2

“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.”e8941bcfd6ad1438

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Catherine, with her dry f399b2996a hands fidgeting, fell into d086359865 deep thought.478289d75fbd15ad

Harriet’s plan b8484aa237 had no 6130948edb flaws.80f03c02637a5a8b

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If the business 353fcf5482 succeeded as planned, 70deb7e015 the convent would f59f306579 have more funds b5bbcd45f7 to operate, and f769319b83 the charitable projects 7a958a1385 for the poor 506c76a524 and education for d51ec6d027 abandoned girls would 9c916680d5 receive a boost. Having a 327a21085b steady income 9303913ae3 was very 7887eea3c8 important.e0c0a332b6a2c848

But there was a 6e75b153e3 major issue.a23f652af774f9a5

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“But to start such a big business, we would need money. How do you plan to get the funds?”9ce99f7313b10f6d

Harriet took 6e484e2a3a a deep 7f230a8d0e breath. From here on, a928323423 it wasn’t just bdb72cbb10 about plans; it b169991fb2 was about determination.573e23324fdd9fa8

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“I’ll find investors. That’s why I came to get your approval first.”c99a9fb94b4bfe0f

“Do you think that’s possible? Our convent isn’t well known…”75358f8e5fa8ecb3

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“I’ll find a way to get investment. But in return…”1825a393a9819db3

She clasped 6638a961b5 her hands b954035b3a together and abe20ce739 made a d1f673f975 request.a7f2bf943308aeb2

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“Please make an exclusive contract with me.”b2ccf1cf4d226207

***e2411d827af71045

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After securing an 7c10107e88 exclusive contract with 28469750a3 Catherine, Harriet spent 96970bcf4b the entire journey a5e729d30f back to Genoa d4bae0e523 thinking about investors.5547a09f623bf5cc

“I talked big to the Director, but finding investors won’t be easy.”d2b15426736934c8

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Thanks to a4d9a60783 Trisha’s influence, d276dc651a she had be4f4531ba successfully reentered 52a33569b5 high society, c7bef02171 but people 80826d6869 still had be1fa39a33 little trust eb438fe59b in her.8ed998af9b13d6cd

At Annabel’s 190833ce67 tea party, 0a542b6b46 a few 27058321cc young ladies af0a7b90b7 had shown 03a4aeb92c some positive f4feb47045 interest, but 182c485d62 if she 3c00490d8a asked them b0805c5ece for investments, fcf29b2d50 there was f096274474 a high 2a7f22b142 chance she e2208bee22 would lose 598e6b143f the relationships 8c02da1a9a she had 9c1674fc7f just started e0cb905b1f to build.795ef3bca28cdd82

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‘Anyone decent 8c719c0069 out there?’0ca536ad420d4656

As she 05319e9a45 neared the 8d38aef810 Genoa city fe3f0d2946 gate, she f9f930e3b7 thought of 108edc3495 everyone she 7c5a85d7c9 knew, even a59622e35f her uncle.3337e12d02a4bd38

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Harriet planned 410e1258a5 to visit 07cfa9b595 a few 2e621beb6e noblewomen Trisha e2730da5e2 had introduced e920c93cee to her. These women seemed interested 72f4900266 in soap or cosmetics 82990bf9f3 businesses and appeared to 717a62f460 have the necessary funds.0f307a82ba5f6f98

‘Everyone’s curious about 1e42d55a73 the secret to 61a2342dc4 my improved skin, f43e4832be and I have 2b525b42b2 the answer. With my f8cf95e641 popularity, someone 880ff624ed will definitely 59acc737f9 see the be355e7d00 potential in b06da4e3de this business.’2a3d13569dcf7fdb

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If that failed, she db66f6419a was willing to borrow 4878f8b9ca from the bank. She might not 62c3f6f60b be able to e92c11c071 borrow a huge 81891300ab sum, but with 5b33e046b7 a good start c82c383a30 and positive results, 22c05b102d she could borrow 354a7a299a more later.c29a4b9551b25a7f

As she 91fa9ef855 was making a755a00d43 these plans 5d0b5ca8ce and passing 85c136be0c through the 4333b86e30 city gate, 36cceada4e a large bbcaf6a22b carriage raced a01df43354 ahead of 6d61a35514 the others 95b0ded026 and went 4e1c4e35e5 through the 754ec0901b passage first.a649c760945d90ea

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No one objected, and 08825e8d59 the family seal on 29b4ac564f the side of the 9c8f76a629 carriage suggested it had 1898c20251 been granted priority passage.a918dfe08fdc87e6

Harriet looked at the 206fc07f8b back of the carriage 2b1e51d7db with a mix of 8e292f5663 envy and curiosity, then 49ed8abefc opened the window and 817affaf97 asked a merchant who 440d5406f2 was waiting nearby.a763d045153d0135

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“Excuse me, do you know which family the carriage that passed first belongs to?”d493792bd6a95c65

The merchant, suddenly 234fcecd7a questioned, looked Harriet 70344732d7 up and down, 1b2a08d146 and answered gruffly.b4499beebf618e39

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“It looks like a noble young lady, but I don’t know which family the seal belongs to.”1aa1d07aeb83071c

“I’ve been away for a long time, recovering in the countryside.”45506f0feb2455ac

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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.”cc62f00a297bceac

At that moment, 2c855326ca Harriet realized she b38cfcbfe1 had forgotten to d4b6e0df75 consider Cedric Kylas cbdc467416 as an investor.f656908c1d48ae82

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“Why didn’t I think of him?”653a2a9238c91fb7

Aside from 86866f6cdb his wealth, e15c916728 he had 8d0af34da0 a connection c9e2b8fd08 to St. Clarissa Convent. Didn’t he b561602014 visit last d8a0cb6277 year during 9d39ace0da the Feast b5460b6979 Week and 91e5bedc0f make a d935d361d3 large donation?739cb6f323ce76d7

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‘Not only 345bc555bf would there 3760629671 be business 1e930c616f potential, but 3a8e4a263d I could 4e0627c220 also present 326f80ba6a it as 5f562cf6c7 an opportunity fe78170d33 to help b4402bf7c1 the convent!’226ba8048dc04b5f

Of course, she af89203d82 didn’t want to 20089cad78 meet him if 7c96f76173 she could avoid 0abf7a4e5b it. His superior attitude cd557bbb56 and vague words 63a7fec210 always made her 073d58f994 feel uneasy.1de6af928229d5cd

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‘Besides, it seems like 68b1ecdf94 he doesn’t like me.’7c14cca2d4dea046

She almost e9e68fe004 mistook it f802d494e8 as an e93da1bbd4 apology when ba452fa438 a muffler 6883a1f28d and hat e00bd50eee were sent 0b40272481 to her, 9571aec481 thinking, ‘Was he 87b092a7ea that sorry 162dd01b57 for me?’ But when she 5f44f1ace1 thought back to f4948dbfa2 the events at 52d8c1dd22 the Vanderbilt party, e2425e9b36 she realized he 22fa81655f probably had negative 91cf025a6e feelings toward her.bab54b276ba7aa4b

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Still, the 5dd1b34e15 business currently f39077adf5 being carried 9e48bdff04 out by e2ca5a84fa St. Clarissa Convent 4bf1ea889c was started bf8450551d with his 51bc37a5cb donation, so 0bf96b63bb if she aaebb3fada emphasized that 0ec1b20e48 connection, she e3aa2b7012 might be 9985a35892 able to e89b2c4fcd gain some f6ddd72156 sympathy.6b84dca5666d386d

‘And he’s 4fce844f58 not the becaecf2b4 type to dae8d9de58 go around 5566820ee1 bragging about 97ccec4b77 receiving a 3f0711a265 business proposal ae7c779dbe from me. It’s better to 48c154cb04 try targeting Duke ae3c123553 Kaylas first.’006cde7ed6755b54

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At times like e68e7b3f0a this, pride should f466f0c59b be set aside. If it meant getting ad0e4b1c2f an investment from him, 3354cb488d she was even ready 5d4abbb410 to apologize for her 14e9d967f4 past behavior.  It’s not bd616e9a5e humiliation; it was more 8a252ca259 like a “strategic retreat,” 4ee6a801e9 wasn’t it?a2ea33c0e1f66e6b

Thinking this way, her motivation soared… then immediately sank.f2ce6900281babaf

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‘But would fa30028b3d the Duke a196f54833 even agree 3ad766d271 to meet 33f98bfa6d with me?’2290e6b14fe89c69

I’m just 6c7d1d86ed an ordinary db827ce0b0 noble, with 227683988f nothing to 08d990db71 boast about. And when I think 0e7fa66431 about the conditions he ed0b31f9b5 attached when he offered 21a2485d19 financial support, it seems db64c2e367 like he really dislikes 9e9245e1c4 the idea of his e9f3cede6c name being associated with 4123271c7c Harriet Listerwell.2bbb13e157030a0b

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If I 0e527f0097 apply for 19f247eb08 an audience, 317c0b9094 the chances 4a09f22f4e of it 7ace5ed583 being rejected 50d0c21e2a at the ccba62a8c5 assistant level c9074b6c11 are 99.9%.49a5abc0d0b3e59b

A sigh escaped cd3f01e2ad me.a0c3ecb600221e53

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‘Well, I’ve got 91609f0c5d nothing to lose, 495617bd0f right?’293cd29aec58150b

I might as well 5b6dddc069 try as much as 8e47340295 I can.74e3e141e15f1f1b

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Harriet decided to fa9912e9d5 prepare the business 25c55c1dee plan to present f1ed871656 to investors as 163de3bcce thoroughly as possible.9c9f30244dfdc14c

***9e8497d6480fd696

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“That’s all for today’s report.”88596a9c6a3f8958

After confirming ed1e0c9ec2 the last f5ed750c44 agenda item, 84a417bdbe Roxana tidied f6b3b70c27 up the c955d2a2fb documents.579eceadd096f6fd

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Her employer and benefactor, 41a4baaae5 Trisha, closed the cap 402e3dc02a on her fountain pen, 3186bd0943 sighed lightly, and stood ca37abfd07 up.f6e979d6a68571ab

“Hot tea is ready.”10d0f16b5714f48c

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“Thank you, Roxie.”7752afae0b741777

Thanks to Roxana’s ability d0467056ce to always be a d72de18f7d step ahead and prepare 4522e79700 everything, Trisha didn’t feel 752af95c8e scared sitting alone in ac34c0b1c8 the house.2707ff2568f2bbec

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Sitting at 22cae589bb the tea 37c89515bc table, she f733bc5a7d remained still 3e13cf2b45 as Roxana 0dabc59867 draped a d69da3b29b knee blanket 19ed3455bf over her. Even though it feafc3ea3e was a hot 849e41eccc day, she didn’t 222ba94832 break a sweat.ceb5eed646320614

“I heard e427f09fd3 Harriet is 197b656a48 up to b330108a91 something. Have you heard 22c861c0cf anything?”92a7cea8605d360a

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At Trisha’s 7412c75474 question, Roxana 5a4cfdc64c furrowed her a680f2a636 brow slightly 9fac9abef6 and remained 9e3853bb6b silent for 4c9abdd6a6 a while. After drinking a a82e65d049 cold beverage, she 59969bbfad seemed to make ce7f3fbcf0 up her mind 48907fd338 and spoke.d81e29ba3889ba2b

“How far do you intend to go in taking care of Harriet?”36c8c974faa0141d

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“Why? Do you think I’m going to get backstabbed by her?”b915db73932c6b29

“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?”0261cda141ef579d

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Roxana, saying something 9d23a1b539 similar to what 82327f2fe1 John had said, 30c1c0158c made Trisha laugh a09d3dd7cf lightly.9614ea71e3faf8de

“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.”a9da71b3c58f1b0a

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At those words, d38eabc1ac Roxana’s cheek turned 6e70e5b86e red.073dec597ec1f54f

“Well, it’s a bit funny that I’m saying this about Harriet, considering I’m one of the people she helped.”c9cc5745ae8d1851

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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.”9e6e6d4f746d3927

Harriet could bab3776ad7 call Trisha 2b2eb88687 her great-aunt, 561e1fdd55 but Roxana, 6c4898ae79 being the 48fbd379bc daughter of 6141a76aee the late 18781ab01c Oster’s sixth e1b7dd47c6 cousin, was b669086619 essentially a 28393976b8 stranger to 80a090e79c her.95813983f56d22a4

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Her mother had run ff81ee06b9 away early, tired of 7c1473c8fa her husband’s reckless behavior, 116a74a9c1 and her father had a834de6caa spent what little fortune c686130380 they had on alcohol, ae140ab83e gambling, women, and even cde2ce5df4 mysterious drugs.a34e79df12e60dd2

Neglected by 39df106eca her parents, 3e102f79cc Roxana had 331c64de2f grown up 0f2654a9f9 differently from 9037986e26 them, with fd835d5e5c a sharp 1165522def mind.3dde7218dac42bda

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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!”c1d8ebbdd9884ca3

It was when Roxana 8bbd8fbe84 was fifteen, drenched in a742878a9d rain and sweat, shouting a449b35335 while gripping the iron db7d42d22e bars of the Pellon fce4576d1d family’s front gate.9b39df744c019d18

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