The Scandal Maker Has Returned...(Chapter 161 to 200) (The End)..

Welcome to novelish universe where pages come alive and stories touch the soul. Step into a realm of sorrow, love, and fate where every word whispers in motion and every moment leaves a mark.

Today we begin the powerful journey with the novel The Scandalmaker Has Returned. Chapter 161. Harriet had no time to calmly reflect on her meeting with Cedric because the very next day she received shocking news. Lauren Marshall, who had been imprisoned, was dead.

The palace official who came to report it, explained her death with a blank, emotionless face. "Mrs. Marshall, who was in solitary confinement, died from poisoning. It is unclear whether it was suicide or murder. We are currently investigating how the poison reached her, but with the defendant dead, the case will most likely be closed."

"What? What did you say?" Everyone was shocked, but Harriet felt more anger than anything else. "No, wait just a minute. Yes, it's tragic that Lauren Marshall died, but that woman tried to kill my grand aunt and aunt Roxanna, and now you're saying that's it? That it just ends here?"

When Harriet protested, the official only shrugged as though helpless. "Criminal responsibility lies with the individual. Once the individual dies, there's no one left to hold accountable. If you have evidence that Baron Marshall's family assisted in her crimes, you can file new charges against them." But his lack of enthusiasm made it clear that he didn't expect anything further to happen.

Trisha shook her head. "That's enough. Proceed as you mentioned earlier." But grandmother Harriet looked at Trisha in frustration, but her grandmother didn't look the least bit regretful. "It's over. There's nothing to gain from tormenting the dead. Lauren received her punishment by being betrayed by her own family. They had spent years fighting, but sometimes attachment grows in strange ways."

Trisha seemed conflicted at the news of Lauren's death. The only one maintaining complete composure was Roxanna. "Even so, I would like the investigation to clearly determine how the poison entered the prison. Do you have any leads?"

"We thoroughly inspect all food and drinks. So, it is unlikely the poison was added in the kitchen. That means someone going in and out of the prison either poisoned her or delivered the poison to her. But the problem is many guards and wardens passed herself from her imprisonment until her death and they will all deny it." The official gave a bitter smile. "No one even sensed anything strange. I'm afraid finding the culprit will be very difficult."

"I see." In the quiet reception room, Harriet frowned. "Whether it was suicide or murder, the person who delivered the poison has to be a guard or warden. But who gave them the poison in the first place?"

Everyone turned toward her. "Could she have asked a friend or acquaintance to send the poison using some method we don't know?"

"That's nearly impossible. After her first trial, she was taken directly into custody. She had no contact with family or acquaintances." H then someone wanted Mrs. Marshall dead. Roxanna nodded. "Knowing her personality, I also doubt it was suicide. So, who wanted Lauren dead? Baron Marshall and his son, who didn't want to pay enormous restitution? Albert, who didn't want the truth about the drugs distribution, Joseph Elden, who had knowledge of poisons and resentment towards Lauren, or someone else entirely." There were several suspicious people, but now it would be extremely difficult to know the truth.

In the luxurious private room of lady's salon, a secret meeting place without a signboard, two men sat facing each other. "You weren't followed, were you?"

"Of course not." The young man bowed deeply before Tae. Even though just a commoner, his rich parents had helped him secure a job as a guard at the imperial prison at a young age. But now he looked nervous and on edge. Tae ignored the man's anxious state and asked, "So, what do you think will happen next?"

"They say Mrs. Marshall's case will be dismissed soon. They've been making a fuss trying to find who delivered the poison, but no one saw anything, and everyone denies it. They'll never find the culprit."

"And how is the Pelen family reacting? They don't seem to be putting up a fight. If they were, it wouldn't have ended this quietly." Tae nodded satisfactoryy. "Good. Very good. Remember, this must remain a secret to the grave. If this comes out, it's not just me. You'll face far worse than losing your job."

At the thinly veiled threat, the man hurriedly nodded, then glanced at Tae. "Then, um, as you promised."

"Ah, of course. Here you are." Tae handed him a small pouch he had prepared in advance. The man tore it open so frantically that he didn't even step aside before grabbing what was inside.

"Angelique, the water is behind you." Before Tae could continue, the man swallowed the pills like someone gulping down air. One wasn't enough to stop his trembling. He had to take three. "I can breathe again."

"If you're feeling calmer, that's good. But aren't you using too much?"

"If I stop for a while, I need this much before my symptoms improve again." The man who had been restless like a dog that needed to relieve himself now seemed noticeably calmer. He stopped pacing, and he no longer jammed his shaking hands under his armpits. "I should never have started taking it." With his craving temporarily satisfied, clarity returned, his face twisted and self-hatred as he buried it in his hands. "It used to cost five durhams a pill. Now it's 30 and I can't get it through doctors anymore, so I have to pay underground dealers an extra 10 Durhams per pill." He had always struggled with severe anxiety due to suffocating pressure from his wealthy parents. Someone once recommended Angelique and for the first time in his life, he experienced peace. After that, it became essential. But with anxiety being so hard to diagnose, doctors rarely prescribed it. So he turned to illegal sellers. Now all his wages and even loans went towards the drug. "My wife left a long time ago and now even my parents who used to help pay for the medicine say they're cutting ties." Still, he couldn't quit. Without Angelique, his body trembled and he felt like he was dying. But with a few little white pills, it felt like he could do anything again. And for that reason, he had reached the point where he was willing to kill a prisoner with lethal poison if someone paid him in pills. "I want to quit, but I don't know how. I feel like I'm going insane."

"Tisk, tisk. That's unfortunate. Take care of yourself." Tae offered a soulless word of sympathy and dismissed him. The man bowed awkwardly and hurried out of the room.

As soon as he left, Bella stepped out from behind the curtain where she had been hiding and listening. "It's done, right? Mrs. Marshall is dead and the case is closed."

Tae spoke like a knight victorious in battle. Bella gave him the sweetest smile. "Thank you, Taz, truly." She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. When they finally pulled apart and Bella's breathing grew soft and warm, she whispered lovingly, "I don't know what I would have done without you."

"It was close, wasn't it? It really was." When Tae bribed the guard and killed Lauren, Bella opened the letter Lauren had written, and her heart nearly stopped. If they had been even a little slower, Jaden could have used it to blackmail her. The idea to put poison on the envelope seal using glue mixed with toxin had been Tae's. Thanks to that, Lauren willingly poisoned herself. And since Tae retrieved the container afterward, no evidence remained. A perfect murder.

"As a thank you, I'll do anything you want today."

"Anything? Of course. Why else do you think I rented this entire place for a full day?"

"Then I won't waste it. I'll take my time." Tae chuckled and pulled down Bella's robe, then froze. Under it, she wore a lingerie so revealing that only brothel girls would normally wear it. "Oh, Bella, you really know how to heat things up." Tae pushed her onto the bed. He thought he was the one in control, but Bella didn't think so at all. She enjoyed his pleasure while getting Lauren killed without lifting a finger. From beginning to end, this arrangement benefited her entirely. "I need to keep Tae in my grasp. He's very useful." As Bella cried out in passion, a look of triumph spread across her face.

Chapter 162. With Lauren's death, all the counterattack weapons Roxanna had carefully prepared became useless. Harriet, who had helped collect the evidence, felt a little empty inside. But since Trisha and Roxanna had decided to quietly close the case, she had nothing more to say.

While Harriet sorted and organized the piles of documents on Roxanna's desk, she asked regretfully, "Are we cutting off the living expenses we were giving to the Marshalss?"

Roxanna glanced at her and nodded calmly. "Those payments were given only because Lauren Marshall was part of the Pelen family's collateral branch."

"What about the townhouse? I heard Pelen prepared that for them, too."

"That one has already been transferred to their name. We can't take it back." Harriet felt furious that Baron, Marshall, and Jaden would get away with everything just because Lauren had killed herself. Lauren had led the crimes, yes, but there was no way her family didn't know, and no way they hadn't helped. Jaden even accompanied her when she went to mock Trisha. and Baron Marshall went with her when she approached the Imperial Noble Circle.

Seeing Harriet even angrier than herself, Roxanna let out a small laugh and added as if comforting her, "Now that Pelin's living expenses are gone, the marshals will only have the taxes from their tiny territory as income. But they've already gotten used to living at the level of Genoa's high society. They won't be able to maintain that. They'll probably sell their townhouse. So, the Marshall family will collapse completely. Take comfort in that." Harriet nodded with a bitter smile. She refocused on organizing documents when suddenly Andre rushed in holding a newspaper.

"My lady, have you seen this?" He spread out several issues of today's paper on the table. The ink wasn't even fully dry yet. "The illegally traded drug. Is this acceptable? The abnormal craze. the truth behind it. Already more than 200 suicides and suicide attempts. The cause, drug addiction." Every headline on the front page was attacking Anelique. "I was in town earlier and they printed these as special editions, so I bought them all. I think this Anelique drug is related to the medicine madam used before."

Instead of answering, Roxanna picked up a paper. Harriet read beside her, immediately realizing this must be the big incident Cedric had warned about. "Investigations into the sudden rise of suicides in noble society revealed that most victims were drowning in debt due to buying or attending so-called anelique parties. The drug shortage of Anjelique has led to illegal sellers, none of whom have pharmacy licenses, selling it at high prices. Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that doctors secretly siphoned off medicine instead of prescribing it to patients in genuine need. Duracure is being pointed to as the cause of the recent widespread symptoms among nobles, but the manufacturer Kingsley Pharmaceutical claims only normal side effects have been reported and that it cannot control misuse."

After skimming the paper, Roxanna shook her head with a hardened expression. "This is going to become a massive scandal."

Andre nodded. "The commoners don't know much about Anelique, so their reaction was lukewarm. But the nobles, every one of them, rushed to buy the papers. Of course, many nobles have been taking it."

Harriet, who checked even the back pages carefully before handing the paper back, said, "Duke Kylo told us we might be called to testify. The medicine my granddad took was made from the same ingredients by the same company. He wants us to testify that the drug was also used for attempted murder. Yes, despite all this, Kingsley Pharmaceutical will try to hide behind the second prince. We can't let that happen."

Roxanna nodded. She still regretted giving Trisha permission to take that medicine. How could she forget the day she almost killed the very woman who raised her? "If needed, tell him to call me anytime. I'll gladly testify." Seeing Roxanna, whose resolution was just as strong as hers, perhaps even stronger, Harriet smiled softly.

2 days later, the newspaper printed another sensational headline. "Emperor enraged. Arrest Albert Kingsley pla." Just as Roxanna predicted, the Anjelique incident erupted into a massive scandal that shook the entire noble class. Those who had taken it for medical reasons panicked when they learned about the side effects. Those who had taken it for pleasure panicked because Kingsley Pharmaceutical had shut down production and they could no longer obtain the drug. While the black market price of Anjelique rose by the day, in the mirror room, the imperial court known as the court of the palace, the emperor personally interrogated Albert.

"Your majesty, as I have repeatedly stated, Anelique was created with good intention. We have countless reports proving its success. Patients suffering from depression regained vitality thanks to Anelik."

"You mean my son Michael is your prime example?"

"Yes, your majesty." Albert bowed his head after confidently asserting this, but Emperor Darin's expression showed he wasn't convinced. "Yes, I know. That's why I supported you in return. For example, allowing you to build your second factory on imperial land free of charge for 10 years or exempting your company from medicine license fees for 3 years." Then he threw a thick stack of papers at Albert's feet. "And now I learned this drug was no different than a narcotic and that you knew this long ago." The papers were filled with details about Anelik's harmful side effects and addictive nature. Albert felt they looked oddly familiar, but decided to deny everything. "This must be fabricated. Someone is trying to frame me."

"Oh." turned to the last page. Obeying reluctantly, Albert flipped to the end and froze. There was the Kingsley Pharmaceutical seal along with signatures of the company's laboratory staff. It was a confidential internal document summarizing concerns raised during the first experiments using Delassenger extracts. "Why is this here? You can't even recognize documents from your own company? Are you out of your mind from taking too much of your own drug? Or did you produce a medicine without reviewing critical research?" Albert felt as if he had been struck on the back of the head. There was no way this document should be here. It had been locked away in his study safe. How is something from my private safe sitting in front of the emperor? His mind was spinning too wildly to speak.

Just then, like a savior, the second prince, Michael, burst into the room. When the door swung open during the interrogation, Albert nearly cried with relief. "Father, Lord Kingsley is innocent. Why are you conducting such a biased interrogation on the claims of a few people?"

But Emperor Darin didn't even look surprised. "I told them to let no one in."

"Sorry, your majesty. His highness said he was an important witness." Ridiculous. He clicked his tongue and turned to his son. "What do you want to say?"

"Thanks to Anelique, I can function as a normal person, father. You saw it yourself. How can you question its effectiveness? The problem lies with those who abused it, not with the medicine."

"So, you're saying you suffered no side effects because you used it exactly as prescribed?"

"Of course." Michael's confident reply made Darin scoff, but his scoff faded into a bitter smile. "I should have listened to Anastasia earlier." He sighed and gestured to an attendant who placed two notebooks on the table. "Michael, look, this is the record of all your Anelique purchases, and this is the original prescription record from the Imperial physician." Michael's mouth shut instantly. He had been forging the Imperial physicians prescriptions, lengthening them, increasing the dosage to get more of the drug. Document forgery had become so easy that deceiving his mother and father felt trivial. "The illnesses of the imperial family are top secret to outsiders. But inside the palace, everything is carefully monitored. Did you think you were only issued one paper prescription? I didn't. I should have double-cheed myself, but I hoped you would fix the problem on your own. I warned you multiple times, and every time you insisted you had it under control." Cold sweat ran down Michael's forehead as he finally realized his parents had merely been enduring him. "Your dosage increased far beyond the forged prescriptions, and the money spent skyrocketed. I once believed you were recovering, but now they tell me you can't even get out of bed without this drug."

"But as long as I take anique, I can."

"That is what addiction means. You can't do anything without the drug. A prince of this empire controlled by a mere noble and unable to even protest. Someone who throws away his honor on the ground just to get more pills. That is called a slave to addiction." Michael flinched at the harsh tone. His father had never raised his voice like this. But Darin wasn't finished.

Chapter 163. "Let him in." At the emperor's command, one of the mirrored doors opened and Cedric entered. Albert's eyes widened in panic when he saw the newcomer, while the emperor casually extended his hand toward Cedric. "the materials you mentioned earlier. Give them to me."

Cedric obeyed quietly and handed over a thick file. Durine flipped through the pages one by one, frowning slightly. "Explain, Cedric. Tell me exactly what has happened because of this drug."

Finally, it was time for Cedric to play his role. Looking down at the trembling Albert, Cedric calmly explained everything he had investigated so far, what incidents had occurred, why he concluded that Angelique was the cause, and what various specialists and witnesses had testified. "And the reason I started investigating in the first place was because her majesty, the Empress, personally asked me. She has been worried about Michael's condition for a very long time."

"Yes. Anastasia mentioned it to me before, too. I believed Michael would overcome it, but perhaps my faith only made the situation worse." The emperor's sharp gaze turned toward his son and Albert. "I also heard something called Angelique parties is quite famous in noble society. Where were they held?"

"inside a ship named Kingdom, usually docked at El Mar. They dreamed of a kingdom separate from the Empire, did they? Even the ship's name is insolent, and it wasn't just a normal social party, was it?" Cedric nodded and handed over another file. Durine took his time reading it, while Albert's throat dried up painfully. "So that's what you did, gathering beastlike people and doing filthy things. But that was just just a type of party. If no one was harmed, there is no legal basis to restrict personal sexual freedom. If no one was harmed, that is." Durraine lifted a few pages and waved them coldly in the air. "I am very curious what you plan to say about the people who died there."

"They they were slaves."

"Slaves? Since when does the AOGA Empire have a slave system? I've never heard of such a thing." The more Albert spoke, the deeper he sank into the swamp, but the worst was still coming. "There was also a reason you held those parties on a ship, correct? I heard unbelievable amounts of Angelique were sold there. How much tax did you steal?"

What enraged the emperor as a father was that his son had been destroyed by the drug. What enraged him as a ruler was the tax evasion, and what Albert feared most was the latter being exposed. He could still lie about Michael's illness, but tax evasion was an undeniable crime. "If they find out the full extent of my tax evasion, I'm finished. There's no way the Angelique sales ledger ended up in the emperor's hands. Right." Just as Albert's face was turning completely pale, Drain closed the file sharply.

"Albert Kingsley will undergo a formal trial for tax evasion and insulting the Imperial family. Until then, imprison him in the palace prison. Also, shut down all production in Kingsley Pharmaceutical immediately. Begin recalling any drugs that have already been distributed." With that, Albert's dream of becoming richer than any duke shattered instantly. He now had to worry about whether he could keep his life or his title, not money.

After making his decision about Albert, the emperor turned toward his son, who looked hollow and stunned. "Michael, starting today, you will undergo treatment to purge Angelique from your system. He's going to resist, so hold him tightly." At the emperor's orders, palace attendants rushed toward Michael. He struggled, but his frail body couldn't overpower four strong attendants. Pinned by the arms, unable to move, Michael screamed desperately, "Father, please have mercy. Without that drug, I'll die. Please save me, Father." The sight of the imperial prince begging so miserably was both pitiful and pathetic. As a father, Derraine felt heartbroken watching his sickly son cry like that. But then he remembered his wife who loved Michael even more, asking Cedric to completely eradicate Angelique. Clenching his fist, Darraine spoke softly but firmly. "Do not fear too much, Michael. Cedric has developed a new medicine that minimizes Angelique's side effects and helps the body recover."

Albert's eyes suddenly blazed in rage. "Your Majesty, please. Cedric is deceiving you to destroy me. He is spreading this new drug to earn money. He wants to make a fortune from this."

"I don't think so. You're wrong. Who would refuse to buy it when fear is spreading like this? If Cedric spreads a new drug now, everyone will buy it. He'll make a fortune without lifting a finger." As Albert shouted desperately, Drain simply shook his head. "Cedric has sworn to distribute the new medicine for free. The kyas duchi will bear all costs of production and distribution. He will earn nothing. Satisfied now, Albert Kingsley."

But everyone knows the only thing that removes Angelique from the body is water. How did Cedric find another method? Cedric answered that arrogant question himself. "It wasn't easy finding the ingredients, but there is no such thing as an eternal perfect secret."

"What? Darasen, a herb that mainly grows in the kingdom of Furma. They have long used it in folk medicine."

"See, that proves Angelique is a useful medicine. You admit it works."

"It works only because Ferma has the molimma fruit to counteract Darasanganger addiction. Our empire does not have that plant." Cedric explained calmly. And the hardest part of creating the new drug had been secretly securing Mima. If Ferma learned this, they would immediately block its export. "If I hadn't known Mulimma grew in Aelarone, it would have been difficult. Do you understand how much manpower and money are wasted because you were blinded by greed and created such a drug?" Cedric frowned slightly. "But it doesn't matter. A vassal's mistake must be cleaned up by his house. The kyas duchi will restore what was damaged."

"I I didn't know Darisanger was dangerous. The document his majesty showed me. I saw it, yes, but I was told the risks had been removed during development." Cedric stared at his cousin, not sure whether to feel sad or impressed by his stupidity. Albert acted confidently as if he had committed the perfect crime, but he had been arrogant from the beginning.

"Nonsense. you knew. If you didn't know about addiction and withdrawal symptoms, how could you dare treat the prince like a subordinate? When did I ever on the day you tried to blackmail me using my father's belongings? Remember how you insulted Prince Michael and even spat on the empress's corridor floor?" Albert froze. He had ordered Michael to clear the area that day to avoid witnesses, but Cedric's words matched exactly what had happened. "No, I I" Cedric smirked as he remembered how Harriet had told him all the details. The person who witnessed it said they were stunned. They never imagined the fool who dared to make an enemy of the Kyass Duke would be his own cousin. Albert understood the mockery, but he couldn't be angry. Not now. Finally, he shouted desperately at the emperor. "It's all that woman's fault, your majesty, Lesie Oer, the daughter of Baron Oer. She told me about Dar Sanger. She planned everything." He attempted to throw his mistress under the carriage, but both the emperor and Cedric only scoffed. "Do not worry. The woman you knew as Lesie Oer, the Ferman spy, Allesia Peter, is already wanted. What spy? If you were fooled without wowing that, then you truly are a fool." Albert stood there blankly before he and Michael were dragged out of the mirrored room. Even then he looked shocked that Lesie had been a spy.

Silence fell over the room. Then the emperor asked Cedric in a dry voice, "What do you think? Was I too late?"

"No, your majesty. There will be some chaos and backlash, but eventually Prince Michael and the people will recover. The empire will not fall. I will make sure of that." The weary sigh of an aging ruler echoed through the mirrored room. "It seems I only keep accumulating debts to you and your father. Thank you."

Chapter 164. News that the emperor had personally interrogated Albert Kingsley and thrown him into prison was printed in the newspapers and spread throughout all of Genoa. Among the reports, what captured people's attention the most was the story of the ship where the Anelique parties were held. Whether they had spouses or not, no matter how noble their families were or how well educated they were, everyone on that ship acted like animals obsessed with perverted sexual acts. Inside the boldly named ship Kingdom, a single pill of coast cost nearly 100 dirham. And the money spent on entertainment ranged from 1,000 dirham to tens of thousands. A family of four survives an entire week on a 100 dirham. Yet nobles wasted enormous sums just for pleasure. The customer list remains top secret. But thanks to a few brave informants, names are slowly being revealed, including some well-known figures of high society. The unimaginable scale of the drugfueled party became the hottest topic everywhere. People suddenly had a common enemy. "See, the rich ones are always dirtier. They act so superior, but they're filthier than us. All that talk about honor and refinement, what a joke." Even among the nobles, the Anjalik party became something people openly condemned. Everyone tried desperately to prove they had not been on the ship. If you were exposed as someone who had boarded kingdom, your marriage or engagement could collapse and you might be cast out of high society entirely. So those who had actually been customers hid in fear, praying the storm would pass. But the Imperial family didn't intend to spare anyone.

"Looks like his majesty is determined. I heard he already summoned several suspect passengers as witnesses." Edgar shook the newspaper as he spoke. Albert believed he could keep the customers identities hidden for two reasons. One, the customers were essentially partners in crime, so none would dare confess. Two, since everyone wore a mask, it would be hard to identify anyone with complete certainty. But the Imperial family crushed those naive assumptions. Anyone suspected of being a customer was summoned under the pretext of a witness interview. If they confront them with evidence or corner them about their alibis, they'll end up confessing. It's only a matter of time before they identify everyone. People easily fall into self-pity, and that often turns into, "It's unfair if I go down alone."

"You and I predicted this, didn't we? It was going to be mayhem."

"True, but it's still scary. breakups, divorces, lawsuits, it'll be endless."

"That's nothing compared to matters involving people's lives." Cedric set aside the documents summarizing the rescued victim's condition and their upcoming treatment plans. Still, Edgar wasn't wrong. Individual consequences couldn't be ignored, especially when someone had gone into that mess for his sake. "I need the Duke's advice about something related to that ship. Could you spare a moment?" Harriet Lististerwell. Around noon, Cedric received Harriet's letter and immediately sent word granting her request with a note to ask her to come as soon as possible. Late that afternoon, Harriet arrived looking troubled.

"You said you needed advice."

"Yes. Nothing has happened yet, but I think I should prepare in advance." She hesitated, clearly embarrassed before forcing herself to continue. "Tezor knows I was on that ship kingdom, and he's helping Bella. I think rumors that I was on a passenger will start spreading soon."

Cedric only nodded slowly. Harriet looked even more awkward as she spoke again. "Should we reconsider our plan? my reputation will hit rock bottom, and if I'm connected to you, it might cause negative public opinion towards you as well."

Only then Cedric lifted his gaze at her. "So, you're worried not about your own reputation, but that I might be harmed because of it?"

"I mean, I'm worried about both things." Cedric let out a short, incredulous laugh. "You might be the person in the entire AOGA Empire who underestimates me the most."

"What? How? I've never"

"You assume I'm the kind of man who would abandon someone who helped me just to avoid trouble. What? No, I didn't." Cedric shook his head. "If that were true, you should be demanding knowing how I plan to help you. I just I know you didn't mean anything bad. Still, it stings a little. Makes me wonder if I look that unreliable to you. No, that's not." Cedric enjoyed teasing her, but he stopped himself. A straight-laced girl like Harriet might take his words too seriously. He put his teacup down loud enough to shift the atmosphere. "Don't worry about anything. If your name gets mentioned, I will immediately release an announcement about the brooch. you will become the patriot who risked her safety to board that ship to help a hero of the empire. The only reason he hadn't announced it earlier was because Harriet hadn't wanted him to. She didn't know how such news might be twisted. "Like I've said before, I don't want that kind of attention."

"You returned Rowan Kyus' heirloom. Announcing it is the least I can do. And Edgar was on the ship, too. He'll support you." Harriet's eyes were wide as if they'd pop out. "Edgar Dawson was on that ship looking for the brooch."

"That's right. Not that he was very useful." Oh, I really did something ridiculous. Embarrassed by her own recklessness, Harriet covered her face with both hands. Even now, she doesn't know what she was thinking back then. Cedric watched her with quiet amusement. The fact she couldn't even explain her actions meant her impulsive decision had probably been driven by an emotion she wasn't aware of. His hand almost reached her cheek before he stopped himself. Harriet was free to be impulsive, but he had to stay absolutely rational until she became his. "I doubt your name will be mentioned." He said it with about 90% confidence. Harriet, however, looked confused. Her expression practically floated with question marks. Cedric laughed softly. "Since you kept getting involved with Tez Ror, I looked into him. He's not the type to do anything that disadvantages himself. But Harriet was still puzzled. If he says I was on the ship, he'd have to admit he was there, too. Why would he do that now? Oh, but his mask wasn't very big. People probably realized it was Ror's heir, right? He can just deny it, and the Ror count will cover it up for him." Harriet blinked cluelessly, not understanding that Cedric had investigated Tez because of her. Cedric could only sigh internally. His one-sided crush was still a long way from being obvious to her. "Of course, this is only my guess. I could be wrong. In fact, I hope I'm wrong. I hope you're right. It'll be better if everything stays quiet." Harriet looked a little relieved now, her face brighter than when she arrived. Cedric spoke sincerely. "Thank you again for letting me keep memories of my father."

"You don't need to thank me. I was just lucky that day. If I'd failed, I would have caused major trouble for you."

"I would have been glad even then. That's a lie. You scolded me so much afterward." Cedric burst into laughter. As always, Harriet never behaved in the way he expected, and he loved that about her.

Chapter 165. "I'm finished. My life is over. I tell you, over." A woman's wailing echoed from the Imperial interrogation room. The Imperial investigator questioning her grimaced helplessly. The woman summoned to the palace under imperial order, Cecil McGra, was rumored to be the first woman ever to be identified as a passenger of the kingdom, and rumors were correct. Because of that, her life had completely fallen apart. "My parents cut ties with me. They told me to leave the house. What am I supposed to do now?"

"Well, why did you even go to that kind of place?"

"Was I the only one who went? There were people way more important than me on that ship. So why am I the only one dragged here like this?"

If it's so unfair, then tell me the names of the other passengers you saw. We'll summon them, too." He only said it to shut her loud mouth. But Cecile, who was standing at the edge of a cliff, no, already rolling down it, had no intention of protecting anyone's secrets. "Bella Lististerwell. She was there too, I swear."

The investigator lifted his head, surprised at the unexpected name. "You mean the young lady of the Listwell Barreny? She's known for being extremely modest and proper."

"Was I known for being lewd before all this? Everyone on that ship acted like perfect gentlemen and ladies outside." Actually, that was a reasonable point. The investigator stroked his chin. "Do you have any reason to believe it was Bella Lististerwell? Did she reveal her name or face to you?"

"No, not exactly. But she looked exactly like Bella Lististerell. Same hair color, same build, and most of all, she had moles here and here."

"Moles?" The woman pointed at her neck and upper chest. His tone implied he was doubtful, and Cecilele scoffed. "You've never seen Bella Lististerwell, have you? She always walks around with her chest practically exposed. On her pale decolotage, she has two moles. Men call those moles chocolate. Everyone knows about them."

"Is that true? Ask the men who came before me. Anyway, the woman I saw on that ship had moles exactly in those spots. I only saw her once, but I'm sure it was Bella Lististerwell." The investigator wrote this down, though he didn't think it was very credible. How could anyone know another person's mole positions that precisely, but just as Cecilele claimed, when he questioned the men who had arrived earlier, their answers matched perfectly. "Ah, yes, Bella Lististerwell's chocolate is famous. One on the neck, one on the upper chest, placed quite uh alluringly. Probably the sweetest chocolate in the world. Ask if we remember the exact locations. Probably around here and here. Bella. Ah, yes. I remember them, too. Those moles are so wellnown. And she was the one who Oh, never mind. I said nothing." Slip of the tongue. Every man pointed to the same spots. So the investigator concluded Cecil McGra's testimony was trustworthy and issued a summon to Bella Lististerwell. The letter read, "There is testimony stating that you were a passenger aboard the ship Kingdom. By the emperor's direct order, you are hereby summoned as a witness. Please present yourself by September 8th. If you object, you may submit a petition to the Imperial Investigation Bureau."

The rumor spreads. News that Imperial investigators had gone to deliver a summon to Bella Lististerwell spread instantly. No one knew who leaked it, but surely it wasn't false. This investigation was ordered by the emperor himself. Anyone spreading lies would be punished. Bella had never imagined that something she brushed aside carelessly would come back at her like this.

"It wasn't me. It was Harriet. My cousin dressed up as me and boarded that ship. I have a witness, too." Bella went to the palace to file an objection and spoke smoothly without any hesitation because she truly never boarded that ship. But the investigator looked at her suspiciously. "You said you have a witness. How does that witness know with certainty it was Harriet Listister?"

"Because that person brought her there."

"Oh, and who is that person?" That's Bella abruptly closed her mouth. Revealing Tez's involvement would be dangerous. "He'll come speak for himself."

"I see. Then I will postpone your summons for one week. Within that time, your witness must come and testify."

"Of course. But if it is proven that Harriet impersonated me, then what happens afterwards?"

"Then Harriet Lististerwell will receive the summons. And if the impersonation is true, you may even press fraud charges." Bella had to hold her breath to stop her from smiling too brightly. "Harriet, you thought this was revenge? Too bad. I finally get to crush you completely." To Bella, this was luck. Recently, Harriet's reputation had improved so much that Bella felt threatened. But now, the timing couldn't be better.

Bella began spreading explanations before meeting TZ. "I was shocked to receive a summons. I've never stepped on that ship, but it seems Harriet impersonated me again. I kept quiet, believing Harriet would eventually regret her actions, but this is too malicious. The truth will come out soon. Don't worry." She expected the same reaction as before. Her the pitiful victim, Harriet, the immoral villain. But things were different now. One friend approached her and said carefully, "Bella, I believe you. You'd never go on a ship like that. But I don't think the person impersonating you was Harriet."

"What do you mean, Elizabeth?"

"Harriet can now get an audience with her majesty the Empress. Someone like that wouldn't do something so foolish again." Bella froze, trying to keep her expression calm. "So, you think I'm blaming the wrong person?"

"No, I just thought maybe you misunderstood something." Bella's smile cracked. "A misunderstanding? What misunderstanding?" Embarrassed, Elizabeth blushed, but forced herself to continue. "People are talking. They're asking, 'How do you even know it was Harriet to know she dressed like you and boarded the ship? The one who told you must have been on the ship, right?'" Bella almost snapped back with, "Isn't it obvious?" But she caught herself. If she said that, she'd basically confess that she was involved with someone obscene. But if she denied it, she'd have no explanation for how she knew it was Harriet. Unable to do anything, Bella smiled stiffly. "I can't explain right now. It's an extremely sensitive matter, but trust me, Harriet will get the summon soon, not me."

"Oh, okay." Elizabeth nodded and left. Bella knew perfectly well that her friend didn't truly believe her. "I need to talk to Tez right now." When had the social circle, once devoted to her, started caring about Harriet's reputation? Bella refused to understand or accept it, but she reassured herself. It didn't matter. Harriet would fall soon. People would say, "We knew Harriet Listwell was wicked."

With two days left in the deadline given by the investigator, Bella met Tez as always at the audience chamber. "Tez."

"Bella, why are you frowning? You'll get wrinkles on your pretty face." Tez gently hugged her and stroked her hair. Their relationship had round so close it almost felt like a romance, something that thrilled her. Bella whed sweetly. "I'm in so much trouble because of Harriet. Someone on the ship saw her and testified that I was the one there."

"What? How could that happen? Right? How could they mistake her for me? Maybe their eyes were messed up from the drugs. Anyway, that's why I got a summons." Tez chuckled awkwardly, then tilted his head as if he remembered something. "To be fair, when she dressed up that day, she did look a lot like you. I finally understood how you used to impersonate Harriet before. What? Your cousins. Maybe that's why. Your faces are similar. Your height and build, too." Bella puffed her chest out. "She doesn't have these."

"That's true, but that day she must have stuffed something underneath. She looked pretty full. She"

"At least she knows she's flat." Anyway, Bella stroked Tez's chest seductively and looked up with pleading eyes. "Go to the palace and testify that the woman on the ship was Harriet. Then they'll cancel my summons and send one to her instead." Her voice was full of expectation. But Tez, who she thought would say, "Of course," instead grabbed her hand and gently removed it from his chest. "Tez, sorry, Bella, that's difficult."

"What? What do you mean difficult?" Her innocent question made Tez let out a disbelieving laugh.

Chapter 166. "So, you're telling me to jump into the mud on my own when everyone who boarded that ship is being pointed at and condemned? And you don't see why that's difficult?"

"You were afraid of that, yet you went around wearing such a small mask. Oh, Bella. Bella, you pretended to be Harriet because you thought you wouldn't get caught, right? I did, too. I never imagined things would blow up like this." Because of that incident, Tez was already busy going around silencing people, trying to keep things from leaking any further. And now, Bella was even telling him to turn himself in. Irritation slowly crept up on him. But Bella still didn't seem to notice his mood at all.

"Still, you're the one who took that girl onto the ship, so you should take responsibility."

"Are you saying I'm supposed to take all the blame alone? Responsibility? Are you telling me to take responsibility? Who was it that asked me to find Harriet's weakness in the first place? I never told you to take her onto that ship. So, if you came up with that method, then it's your responsibility." Ha. Tez laughed loudly in disbelief. He knew Bella was selfish, but he hadn't realized she could be this shameless. Was this what it meant to lose all affection for someone? At first, her face had been something he could only admire, but now it didn't look all that pretty anymore. They'd slept together a few times, so the excitement from the beginning was already gone. At this rate, he felt like he'd just end up as a fool being drained dry by Bella. So, Tez decided to use this chance to cut ties with her completely. "I'm refusing, Bella. Go find some penniles idiot who can afford to throw everything away for you. I have too much to lose. Bella, go to the palace and keep insisting that it wasn't you until the very end. Then they won't be able to do much there. I'll be going now." He pushed her aside and left the room. Only then did Bella finally realize that the man she thought would always be on her side was actually someone who had been ready to leave at any moment.

Harriet hadn't expected things to unfold like this either. "It looks like Bella is going to refuse the summons to the very end." At first, people thought it was just some misunderstanding. But now they're saying maybe Bella really did board that ship and that she blamed you again because getting caught would ruin her engagement with the Cheslo family." Viviana, who had rushed over excitedly, clicked her tongue in satisfaction as she shared Bella's latest situation. "Isn't she vicious? If it wasn't her, then it wasn't her. How can she lie again and say you impersonated her?"

"Yeah." Harriet quickly lifted her teacup and pretended to drink, trying to hide her awkward smile. Viviana didn't notice at all and continued fuming on Harriet's behalf. "She can't keep using that excuse forever. Every time her name comes up in a scandal, she drags you in. People are finally starting to think something's off."

"Really?"

"Yes. I heard people talking at a bizaar yesterday. They were saying half jokingly that Bella had dumped everything on you in the past." That made Harriet's mind snap awake. The reason she had never spoken out about what Bella had done to her was because she believed no one would ever believe her, no matter what she said. But now, regardless of the details, doubt was beginning to grow around Bella. After all, why had she dressed up like Harriet and boarded that ship in the first place?

"This is exactly what you wanted, isn't it, Harriet? Don't act like a hypocrite." Harriet imagined slapping herself hard in her mind once, then put on a more natural smile and spoke to Viviana. "Then, I suppose it's finally time to explain what happened in the past."

"Oh, Harriet, you finally made up your mind." Viviana clasped her hands together, looking even more excited than Harriet herself. Harriet found her both amusing and deeply grateful. When someone wanted her reputation restored this badly, she couldn't afford to stay idle. "That's right. She didn't have the luxury to waste good fortune. She still had a long road ahead and many things to reclaim." Thinking of the garden of the Liststerwill estate she missed so dearly and the memories buried there, Harriet decided to make full use of this opportunity. The first stage was Annabelle Leighton's tea party.

Harriet attended one of Annabelle's regularly held tea gatherings. She had been looking for a chance to bring up Bella, but before she even needed to, the conversation naturally turned to that ship and the summons. "A friend of a friend of mine seems to have been a passenger on that ship. The fact that they fled to their territory in the middle of the night makes it pretty convincing. It's embarrassing to say this, but my cousin's household is in chaos. Apparently, her husband had been secretly going to that ship. I think they'll be divorcing soon."

"I haven't heard of anyone around me receiving a summon. Isn't it just a tiny number of people muddying the waters?"

"No. There were many highranking passengers, too. And I heard those people already struck deals with the Imperial family, but the cost of covering it up was enormous." The ship Kingdom was causing massive turmoil in high society. At first, there had been criticism aimed at the Emperor and Cedric for stirring up a hornet's nest. But as shocking truths about what happened aboard the ship surfaced one after another, those complaints disappeared. Instead, people increasingly believed that the two were treating the Empire's festering wounds, which in a way was fortunate.

"Oh, Miss Harriet, are you all right?"

"Me?" When someone asked her with curious eyes, Harriet tensed up. "I heard Bella tried to pin the blame on you. That's right. I heard she received a summon, too, but she's refusing to appear again while using your explanation." Listening to their concern gave Harriet a strange feeling. In the past, everyone had believed Bella without question. Now, they were naturally assuming Harriet was falsely accused. Back then, I thought Bella was an impregnable fortress I could never defeat. But now that I look at it, she was just a sand castle that would collapse with a single wave. The childhood days she had spent crying over it suddenly felt unfair. But she couldn't afford to drown in self-pity. Putting on a troubled expression, Harriet spoke to Annabelle.

Oh, that story. I was so shocked when I heard it, too. I really can't endure it anymore. I thought I'd finally be done being used and tried to bury the past.

But she paused deliberately, and everyone leaned in, clearly waiting for something interesting. It was time to reveal a truth she had buried for a very long time. You know those old scandals where people said I impersonated Bella and got involved with men? All of that was actually done by Bella.

"What?" As expected, everyone looked shocked, half of them clearly doubting it. "You're free to believe me or not, but please just listen to my story till the end."

Harriet added the same condition she always did before confessing her past and began explaining what Bella had done to her. Starting with the first Julian Pace scandal, the incidents at various masquerade balls, rumors that she had seduced married men, and the label of being jealous of Bella. The acts were so malicious that it was hard to believe they'd been committed by a teenage girl.

Someone asked suspiciously, "If that's true, why didn't you say anything then? Why reveal it only now?" It was a question she'd heard countless times, enough to make her almost laugh. "Everyone at the time, my uncle was my only guardian, and I wasn't even 20 years old, bound by the leash of guardianship, cut off from most social interaction, she had been an ignorant orphan with nowhere to turn. Had people simply not seen that? Do you really think I could have made trouble for Bella then? Knowing that if my uncle got angry, I'd be thrown out with nothing."

Suppressing the anger rising as she revisited the past, Harriet let out a long breath. "I also went to St. Clarissa Convent because I believed my uncle when he said that if I stayed there for just one year, he'd find me a good marriage. But you all know how that turned out. He abandoned me there and cut off the guardianship completely."

By then the people sitting there clearly leaned towards pitying Harriet. She stayed composed until the end. "I suppose an obedient, dependent cousin who couldn't talk back must have been a very convenient tool. Looking back, I feel frustrated with myself, too, for admitting it was my fault every time, just as Bella and my uncle told me."

"No, Harriet, you are just a teenage girl then. Your uncle's influence must have been absolute." Annabelle, who had been listening silently, took Harriet's hand in support. Others hesitated for a moment before adding their voices. "That's right. Refusing the demands of your only guardian would have been incredibly difficult. I'm shocked that Bella would do such a thing, so she was just pretending to be kind in public. Does the Cheslo family know about this? They'll find out through this summons issue. Countest Cheslo is known for being very strict."

The tea party quickly turned into a chorus of overlapping voices. To Harriet, that noisy crowd sounded like a massive boulder finally beginning to roll. Bella's reputation, once seeming immovable, was slowly starting to tilt. And this time, Harriet knew it wouldn't stop.

Chapter 167. Welcome, Baron.

In the dimness of the night, John warmly greeted Benedict, who had arrived in a hurry. But Benedict didn't even have the composure to smile back at the welcome. "We don't have time. Let's skip the pleasantries and get straight to business."

"I agree. This way, please." John quickly led him to the sitting room where Bella was waiting. Because the meeting was held in strict secrecy, the mansion's lights were kept low and no servants were called in. After Bella personally poured him a cup of tea, Benedict finally caught his breath. Still, he kept rubbing his hands together, trying to calm his anxious nerves.

"I believe you can guess why I came here. Is it about Sir Albert?" At John's guess, Benedict nodded silently. His tightly clenched jaw revealed both anger and worry. "We can't fall apart like this. There has to be a way to negotiate. Miss Bella, how are things with Cedric?" He looked at her with a hopeful gaze.

To be honest, he was deeply disappointed that she still hadn't managed to get Cedric to take Angelique. But right now, she was the only person who could approach him. Bella knew that as well, so she didn't shrink back at all. "We've been exchanging letters and keeping in steady contact since the opera."

"You haven't met him?"

"As you know, he's been extremely busy lately." There was no need to say why. It was obvious. It was the reason Albert was now in prison. Benedict clenched his teeth, then forced himself to speak again. "If you help save Albert, Miss Bella, the Kingsley family will fully support the Listister Wells. I promise you."

"That's vague. Exactly how much support are you offering?"

"We'll give Baron Listwell 500,000 dirhams as a lump sum and another 500,000 directly to you, Miss Bella. After this incident is resolved, we'll also introduce our heir, Young Aston, to key figures. Beyond that, we can provide positive support for any businesses the Liststerwell family is involved in." Although they held the same rank, the Kingsley Barren had far greater influence. They were wealthier and served under a ducal house, which meant their connections were on a higher level. Jon's face immediately brightened, but Bella remained cautious.

"You applied for bail, correct?"

"Of course. Then I have one more request. When Sir Albert is released, I want him to publicly state that I never took Angelique, nor was I a passenger on Kingdom. No, he should say that Harriet was the one who disguised herself as me and boarded the ship."

"That won't be difficult at all. It doesn't even cost money." Only then did Bella lightly nod. The shock she'd felt when she heard just days ago that Harriet had begun exposing her still hadn't faded. Up until now, no one had believed Harriet. That was why Harriet had kept her mouth shut and endured it all. But now, the situation was different. Everyone was paying attention to Harriet. Several people had already come asking whether her story was true. Bella was furious at Harriet, at the people who dared listen to someone as insignificant as her, and at Tez, who had caused this entire mess. "How dare they make a laughingstock of me. Just wait. I won't let this go." She clenched her fist tightly. Her perfectly manicured nails dug into her palm. But perhaps, because the side effects of Angelique were still lingering, she didn't even feel the pain.

In midepptember, when the wind began to carry the scent of autumn, Cedric finally agreed to see Bella. He had assumed she wanted him to pity her difficult situation, but the conversation took a slightly different turn.

"It really feels like autumn is coming now. Last night was chilly enough that I reached for a shawl. The heat has certainly eased. They say it's easy to catch a cold at times like this. It'd be much nicer if you had someone beside you to hold while you sleep."

Cedric let out a light laugh at that. "For a moment, I thought you were pretending to be a proper young lady, but I quite like how that story ended."

"I told you I'd be honest with you." Bella smiled sweetly, then lifted her teacup and took a sip. Cedric quietly watched her. "I've heard there are some troublesome rumors going around lately."

"Rumors? Oh, you mean the summons?" When he didn't respond, Bella smiled faintly and shrugged. "The truth always comes out eventually, so I'm not worried. Honestly, Duke, you already know who it was that boarded the ship while imitating me."

Cedric still didn't answer, but his smile grew slightly deeper. Bella shot him a mildly annoyed glance. "Of course, I know you won't reveal it. After all, it involves the former Duke's keepsake. Still, don't you think it was incredibly malicious that Harriet disguised herself as me? I don't know what her intentions were."

"It seems there's some history between the two of you, but that's not something I need to concern myself with."

"I suppose so. That's fine. What matters to me is that at least you know I'm innocent." Bella still looked confident and seductive, as if she had nothing to fear. Cedric tilted his head slightly and asked, "Then why did you come to see me today? I thought you wanted my help, but apparently not. That's interesting. Do you only meet people when there's a clear purpose?"

"If I had to give a reason, it's because I wanted to see you." Cedric smiled again. He was reminded of how he'd once told a woman he missed her, only to be coldly rejected. "I see. To be honest, everyone who comes here usually has an agenda, so hearing that you came simply because you missed me feels rather refreshing."

"Oh my, you must have been lonely." Bella lowered her brows and pretended to sympathize with him. After that, they continued with light, superficial conversations about the weather, good places for dates, hobbies they'd been into lately, rather than politics or the mood of high society. Eventually, the topic shifted to family and friends.

"So, my family is quite close. We stay in touch with even distant relatives. When things get tough, blood is the only thing you can really rely on."

"That's usually true." Cedric paused briefly before answering. Bella either didn't notice the meaning behind that silence, or rather she misunderstood it. "Oh, I may have made things awkward, especially since you're having trouble with your cousin, Sir Albert. It's not awkward enough to bother me. Well, still, isn't it sad for close relatives to turn their backs on each other? You don't have siblings, so Sir Albert is basically like a brother to you, isn't he?"

Cedric found Bella amusing. She had a way of making people laugh, different from Harriet, but effective in her own way. "Then let me ask you, when your cousin was in trouble, did you feel sorry for her?"

"I've always felt sorry for her face." She tossed it off as a joke, and Cedric burst out laughing. Bella laughed along with him. At a glance, the two of them seemed to get along remarkably well. Still smiling, Cedric spoke. "If Albert were to come himself, kneel and beg, that might be one thing, but it's difficult for me to help him first. After all, he was the one who picked the fight."

"Ah, because of Debroch." Nodding as if she understood, Bella looked up at Cedric and added carefully, "But don't you think Harriet might be involved with Sir Albert somehow? Otherwise, how would she have known the brooch was there?"

"I don't know how Harriet, Miss Harriet got involved. I did thank her for retrieving it at least, but one thing is certain, Albert stole it." Cedric lifted his teacup, his smile still lingering. While he drank, Bella couldn't see his expression, but she became convinced that Cedric had feelings for her. What he said next only strengthened that belief.

"Please convey what I just said to Albert."

"What?"

"I I would have been happier if your visit truly had no purpose. Still, it wasn't bad." Cedric was smiling, even though he clearly knew why she'd come. His gaze seductive, his expression peas. "I've never had a man desire me while being this aloof. That's pretty refreshing, too." Bella let out a small laugh and nodded. The negotiation was settled. All that was left was to pass the message on to Albert, and then her part would be finished.

Chapter 168.

After Bella left, Cedric wiped the smile from his face and took out a scrapbook he had neglected for a long time. It contained information that Cloud had investigated about the Liststerwell family. He had once thrown it away, then later taken it back out and carefully pasted everything inside again. At the time, he hadn't understood why he was doing that. Only much later did he realize the reason. By then, his interest in Harriet had already gone beyond mere curiosity.

As he flipped through the pages, his hand suddenly stopped. It was the section with a newspaper article dated June 28th, 1866 about the fatal boating accident at Alrech Park, along with photographs taken at the scene. "A face you feel sorry for." With his fingertips, he traced the photos labeled victim's family. The pictures were old and blurry, but it wasn't hard to recognize Harriet. He could vividly imagine the pitiful young girl trembling and on the verge of tears as if she couldn't believe what had happened. A young girl with long, straight, dark brown hair hanging down her back. Even at such a young age, her posture was straight and her features were neat and refined. 10 years later, that girl would reappear in high society with a stunning presence. Now she was undeniably beautiful. And to one man in particular, she was more beautiful than anyone else. the one who stained such a beautiful child with tears. That was you, Bella Lististerwell, thinking about how himself had also been used in Bella's schemes and ended up hurting Harriet, twisted his insides. It was the first time in his life he had fallen for such a shallow trick, and the first time he had been used for something so despicable. The humiliation he felt whenever he recalled it only grew stronger with time.

"So this time you'll be the one used by my plan." Cedric flicked a photo of young Bella crying even harder than Harriet beside her with his finger and let out a quiet mocking laugh. Without his beloved little squirrel lady knowing everything was proceeding perfectly according to plan.

Harriet suddenly shivered. "What's wrong?"

"I I suddenly got chills. Is someone talking badly about me somewhere?"

"People talk about you badly all the time, don't they? It's probably just the change of seasons. This is when it's easy to catch a cold, drink something warm, and always carry a shawl." Roxanna offered her advice bluntly. Harriet was slightly dissatisfied with the implication in her words, but she knew this was simply how Roxanna showed concern.

"Don't worry about me, aunt. You should take care of yourself. Ever since grandmother returned to Genoa, you've barely slept, juggling nursing her and managing the family affairs."

"Handling household matters is nothing new, and seeing mother is something I choose to do. I've never needed much sleep. I'm not overdoing it. But still, let's continue what we were talking about earlier." Roxanna cut Harriet off mid-sentence. "I heard you attended several tea parties and gatherings and revealed the truth about the past scandals. How's the atmosphere now?"

Harriet sighed at Roxanna's clear attempt to avoid the topic of her own health, then answered obediently. "People say it can't be true, but at the same time, they're starting to doubt Bella. The fact that no one is openly calling me a liar says a lot."

"Are you certain?"

"Yes. Even from what Vivana and Daphne's group say, even those defending Bella are apparently being quite defensive. Before, people said Bella would never do something like that or Harriet is lying again. Their attitude had clearly changed. Even if what you say is true, people will say everyone makes mistakes when they're young, and they'll claim Harriet wasn't completely blameless. Wasn't it just a series of misunderstandings building up over time? Of course, it's not really my place to say. I'll remain neutral until I see clear evidence."

Of course, there were still people who believed Bella was a pure, flawless angel without a shred of doubt, but they were few now, and most of them were men. Compared to the past when everyone believed Bella was an angel, it was a dramatic change.

"What is Bella doing right now?" Harriet wondered whether Bella, now suffering in the same way she once made Harriet suffer, had realized this was her own karma, or whether she had reflected even a little. It was unlikely, but still.

Roxanna lifted her hand as if to pat Harriet's shoulder, then awkwardly lowered it again. Still, what she wanted to say hadn't changed. "A flawless gemstone with no cracks or inclusions is so beautiful, it's almost untouchable. That's why it's expensive and why people handle it so carefully to preserve its purity. But once a crack appears, Harriet met Roxanna's eyes. The value of that gem plummets. The disappointment is just as great as the admiration once was. That's exactly Bella's situation."

Now, after Bella received the summons, the Liststerwell family rushed to contain the damage. But soon after, rumors spread that Bella had purchased Angelic. Men who had dreamed of her purity frowned in disgust, and men who had wanted nothing more than to hold her hand cheered instead. Regardless of the truth, it was a devastating blow to Bella.

"So, if you want to reclaim the Liststerwell estate, you need to prepare a heavy, decisive strike soon. Can you do that?"

Harriet slowly nodded. "Yes, I'm already preparing something. I don't know if it'll work, but I have to try." She clenched her fist, recalling the letter she had received from Maurice Declan a few days earlier.

"We added a few conditions, but Kipris shipyard has contacted us saying they're willing to sell a vessel. At this rate, we expect it can be launched by the end of the year. Your colleague Maurice Albert was released on bail officially. The reason given was to settle various financial obligations related to his company."

But the place Albert rushed to after leaving prison was somewhere else. Cedric. When Cedric appeared before him, Albert, who had been waiting anxiously, jumped to his feet, his face a mixture of relief and fear. Ignoring his reaction, Cedric sat down calmly and greeted him as if nothing had ever happened between them.

"You look much thinner. Are you eating properly?" It was practically a taunt, but instead of getting angry, Albert dropped to his knees and bowed his head to the floor. "I I did something unforgivable to you. I was insane. I think taking Angelic messed up my head. Please forgive me. Okay. Please."

"What's with you, Albert? Don't make things awkward. Get up."

"No. No. I have to apologize. I've really come to my senses. So, just once, please. Please." There was no anger or humiliation in his voice, only desperation. "If you help me just once, I'll never act arrogant again. I'll never go against your opinion, and I'll live quietly like I don't even exist. I swear."

Despite the desperate plea, Cedric said nothing. Only the soft sound of his teacup brushing the saucer broke the silence. That silence was so terrifying that Albert couldn't hold back the tears welling up.

"I told you the price for disappointing me would be high."

"Cedric. H. Please, just once. I'm sorry. I was truly wrong. Please, please." Cedric had lost count of how many times Albert had said please since entering the room. But he felt little sincerity in it. When a knife is at their throat, anyone will say whatever they can to escape the moment. And once the danger passes, they wipe their mouth clean and act as if nothing happened. He had lived through this exact situation countless times before. No wonder it felt tiresome, even if this situation is one I created. The corner of his lips lifted slightly. Watching Albert gravel was becoming unbearable. It was time to finally carry out the purpose for which he had summoned him.

"Fine. People make mistakes. I understand."

"Cedric. Cedric. Please, just once. I'm sorry. I was truly wrong. Please, please." He had not been treated so poorly, even during his peak of aragity. Cedric started his next point calmly as he watched Albert play his hand. "But I've seen too many people who keep repeating their mistakes. I won't. I swear. What should I do? What do I have to do for you to trust me?"

"H then shall we do a little test?" He had known things would come to this even before Bella came to see him. That was why it felt perfectly natural for him to pull out the letter he had prepared in advance from his inner pocket. "Can you personally deliver this letter to Marquis Pascal?"

Albert accepted the envelope with trembling hands. Written on the front unmistakably was the sender's name. Benedict Kingsley. "What is this?" There was no answer. "Either accept or leave." That silent pressure filled the room. Albert had no other choice. He didn't want to return to that cold stone floor, living among nameless insects. Never again.

Chapter 169.

"I'll do it. Are you sure you can really handle it?"

"Of course. If I just deliver this, you'll let me go, right?" Albert's jaw was trembling uncontrollably. Cedric watched him with a faint smile. Since this was how things were bound to end, he wondered why this man had ever been so confident in the first place.

"I can't make it as if nothing ever happened. I can try to smooth over the side effects of Angelic, but what happened on that ship? I'll pay back every bit of the tax I evaded, including the value added tax, every last coin, and about the the people who died. You were very selective about choosing people with no families to compensate." Cedric took another sip of tea. If he didn't swallow it down like that, he felt his disgust would show on his face.

"How about this? Release the people who were trafficked, give them compensation, and donate to the temple so prayers can be offered for the dead. Yes, that that sounds good. And make a substantial donation to the project developing the antidote for Angelik. Then I might be able to reduce the fine you'll owe the imperial family."

"I'll do everything you say."

"One more thing." As the conditions kept piling up, Albert looked at him with anxious eyes. Cedric leaned forward slightly, closing the distance between them. "What did you promise Bella Lististerwell? Huh? She wouldn't have volunteered to defend you without demanding something in return."

Seeing how Cedric seemed to know everything, Albert swallowed hard and confessed. "500,000 dirhams. I'll handle the money."

"That's not what I'm asking. Did you promise anything involving Harriet?"

Listwell. Albert's eyes wavered for a split second. Cedric didn't miss it. "Listen carefully. If the name Harriet Lististerwell comes out of your mouth, this entire deal is off."

"What? Why?"

"Because she's the one who recovered my father's keepsake." Struck again at his weak point, Albert's shoulders shook violently as he waved his hands in denial. "I I won't say anything. Never. I I swear."

As Albert shook his head frantically, Gerard approached and handed him a document. Until that moment, Albert hadn't even realized there was anyone else in the room besides Cedric. "This is a written pledge stating you'll carry out everything discussed. Sign it."

"Huh? What? Do I look like someone who believes verbal promises?"

"No, of course not. I'll sign." Albert knew he was being dragged along by Cedric's will, but he had no choice but to sign. Solving things with money was the cheapest way out. Sweat dripping as his hand shook, he steadied the pen and finished signing, then stood up on unsteady legs. Cedric watched him calmly and gave a one final warning. "You know this already, but there can't be a second mistake and make sure no one except Marque Pascal knows that you delivered this letter."

"Of course, I'll go right away." With a pale face, Albert fled the reception room as if running for his life. He was dying of curiosity about what could possibly be written in the letter, something even his father didn't seem to know. But Cedric's words about it being a test terrified him too much to dare open the envelope. "Think simply. I just have to deliver it just that." It might mean betraying his own father, but if it meant avoiding a return to prison, he was willing to do even worse.

Sylvane, the marquee of Pascal, was slightly annoyed by Albert's unannounced visit, but he still allowed him in. It was too early to discard someone who might still be useful. However, after reading the letter that the hollow-faced Albert handed him, any lingering sympathy vanished completely.

"So, this letter was sent by your father?"

"Yes."

"Do you know what's written inside?"

"No, I was only told to deliver it."

"Is that so?" Sane smiled vaguely and looked down at the letter again. On the stationery, faintly embossed with the seal of the kyas ducal house, there was only a single line written. "Until next time." Along with that was a natkin from a cafe called Elshis with a date written on it. 1872 428. It was the exact place and date where Sain inspired with his allies to murder Rowan Kyus.

Either Baron Kingsley betrayed me, or his tail was stepped on, and he could guess why the letter had deliberately been sent through Albert. It was a message saying, "I'm trampling through your surroundings as I come for you. An arrogant bastard." It was unpleasant, but at the same time, it was an opportunity, a chance to pin everything on a piece that had become useless and slip away cleanly. Folding the letter, Sylvane spoke to Albert. "You've worked hard coming all this way, and it would be best if you told no one about this. No one. Do you understand?" For a moment, Albert felt as if Sane had realized who the true sender of the letter was, and the no one he referred to likely included Albert's own father. "What the hell is going on?" He felt like he'd suffocate from frustration, but there was nothing he could demand. "I understand. May I take my leave now?"

"Go ahead." Albert staggered out of the marquees estate. Watching his retreating figure from a second floor window, Sane took out a sheet of paper and scribbled a few lines. It was a letter to Count Hayward, one of the executors of the anti-ducal faction. "We've been exposed. Cut off Kingsley."

2 days after Albert was released on bail, the Imperial Knights stormed the Kingsley estate. Although the Anglicate case was still under investigation, and Albert's bail had only been approved two days ago, no one had expected this to happen. But this time, the person the knights dragged away wasn't Albert. It was Benedict.

"Let go of me. At least explain what this is about if you expect me to come quietly." As Benedict struggled in the knight's grip, the commander stared at him coldly. "This is by imperial decree. What further explanation do you require?"

"No, but I'm the Duke of Kyas's uncle. You can't treat me like this."

"A traitor to the empire sure talks a lot. Take him away."

"What? A traitor? What are you talking about?" Benedict stared at the commander in disbelief, but received no answer. "There must be some misunderstanding. Please, just wait calmly." Trying to reassure his tearful wife, Benedict boarded the escort carriage. Albert's deathly pale face bothered him, but he forced himself not to panic as they headed to the palace. What awaited him there, however, was an imperial trial with all the major nobles present. The imperial trial was the highest judicial authority of the Isoga Empire, a partially constitutional monarchy. The emperor personally judged and sentenced the accused, and once a verdict was delivered, no appeal was possible. Such trials were reserved for only cases of treason or crimes that caused extreme social upheaval.

"What in the world is happening? Why is Count Hayward standing there?" Seeing Count Hayward beside the emperor, Benedict felt a surge of unease. His cold expression only made it worse. But there was no time to understand the situation. Benedict was placed in the defendant's position, and Darin asked in a frigid voice, "Benedict Kingsley, do you have even the slightest idea why you've been brought here?"

"No, I don't. Here's a hint. This court primarily exists to punish traitors of the empire. I'll ask again. Do you truly have nothing weighing on your conscience?" Benedict swallowed hard. It wasn't that nothing came to mind. It was that too much did and he couldn't speak recklessly. As he hesitated, Darin let out a faint laugh. "Count Hayward, read out the charges."

"Yes, your majesty." Hayward unfolded the document he was holding and began to read. "We hereby accuse Benedict Kingsley of colluding with the kingdom of FMA and deeply involved in the death of former Duke Rowan Kyas out of jealousy and envy towards his twin brother Rowan and in order to seize control of the Kyas ducal house he joined hands with the kingdom of Furma."

As Hayward's voice echoed through the courtroom, Benedict stood there with his mouth hanging open, unable to believe what was happening. to be implicated in Rowan's death without a single warning. This was something he had never even imagined. When Hayward finished the accusation, Darin spoke again. "The evidence is more than sufficient. Letters exchanged with the Kingdom of Furma, large sums of money of unknown origin flowing into your accounts and witness testimonies."

"That's impossible. What? That we uncovered it so quickly?" The exact strike made Benedict's pupils shake, and Darin clicked his tongue in disgust. "Did you think the imperial family and the Ducal House had forgotten Rowan's death? We've been gathering information and evidence in absolute secrecy, and once Count Hayward discovered the decisive proof and filed his accusation, all the pieces fell into place."

"Count Hayward personally accused me?" Fire flared in Benedict's eyes. The people who had dragged him into this affair were Marque Pascal and Count Hayward. And now they had abandoned him. Glaring at Hayward, Benedict shouted.

Chapter 170.

"So after using me however you pleased, now that there's nothing left to squeeze out, you're dumping all the blame on me. Is that what you're saying?" At those words, the nobles in attendance gasped and began to murmur. But Count Hayward had clearly anticipated this reaction. "Cornered as you are, are you trying to grab onto my ankle? Unfortunately, it's useless. All the evidence shows this was your crime alone. Don't make me laugh. When you met Ferman spies, when you exchanged letters with the Ferman royal family, when you accepted payment, all of it involved only you. The spies we captured all pointed to you as well."

"I took it and passed it to you people. You used me as a gobetween. Was this all for today?" Benedict shouted. But Count Hayward showed no sign of shrinking back or wavering. "Do I look that naive? Why would I entrust such large sums to you? Why would I use only you as a contact? That idea itself is laughable at that." The other nobles snorted and nodded in agreement. Of course, they were right. Who would risk money and information being skimmed off midway by entrusting everything to just one person? But Benedict felt like he was going to burst from injustice. Back then they had flattered him endlessly, telling him he was trustworthy, and he had delivered every coin precisely without missing even a single scent to earn the favor of those in power.

"You said you trusted me. What are you even talking about?"

"It seems you mistook my criticism of the former Duke of Kais as weakness. Don't misunderstand. I stood on the opposite side only to maintain power balance. I never once intended to harm the Empire's hero."

"You liar!" Benedict screamed, but nothing changed.

"Enough!" With a single shout of drain, the courtroom fell silent. "I hereby strip the traitor Benedict Kingsley of his title and sentence him to death. The Kingsley family shall be charged compensation for the victims of Angelik as well as reparations to the house of Kais and the imperial family." The verdict struck like a bolt of lightning. Benedict's mind went blank. This had to be a dream. It had to be. Trembling, unable to speak, his gaze landed on Cedric, who was sitting quietly observing everything.

Cedric. There was no way his muttering could have reached him. And yet, Cedric suddenly raised his hand halfway, drawing the emperor's attention. "Your Majesty, I request one final private meeting with my uncle."

"I cannot permit private punishment."

"That's not my intention. I simply have something I want to ask." Durine seemed to read something, perhaps grief in Cedric's request. After a brief hesitation, he nodded. As a result, instead of being dragged straight to the imperial prison, Benedict was tied to a chair and seated across from Cedric.

"Cedric, this is a conspiracy. I was nothing more than a chess piece. The real culprits are Marque Pascal and Count Hayward." Having barely regained his senses, Benedict pleaded desperately, his voice sounding as if his insides were being torn apart. But Cedric merely nodded calmly, as though hearing something obvious.

"It's true. Since things have come to this, I'll tell you everything honestly. Yes, I envied Rowan, a man who looked exactly like me, became the emperor's son-in-law, then a duke, rising higher and higher. It twisted my insides." For the first time, Benedict poured out his true feelings, his breath coming fast. "But what choice did I have? I was just a petty baron clinging to the prestige of the ducal house. If Marque Pascal hadn't tempted me, I'd have lived quite comfortably under the mercy of Rowan."

In silence, Marque Pascal was the one colluding with the kingdom of Furma. It's not public, but his biological mother was Ferman. Rowan, who swayed noble opinion in favor of the Imperial family, was a thorn in his side. That's why he decided to kill him. It's true. As Benedict ranted, spitting with desperation, Cedric finally spoke.

"I already knew all of that."

"What?" Benedict stared blankly. Cedric smiled faintly. "For the past several years, I've even given up certain businesses while digging into everything related to my father's death. I quickly realized that Marque Pascal was the ring leader and that you had betrayed the Ducal House. We simply lacked definitive evidence."

"Then why leave Marque Pascal alone? What do you gain by catching a small fry like me?"

"A small fry? Yes, a small fry. That's exactly why it's unforgivable. a small fry daring to take part in driving the head of the house to his death."

"Cedric. Oh, don't feel too wronged. Marque Pascal, Count Hayward, and the other small fries beneath them won't escape either. We're just dealing with them in stages, because eliminating them all at once would destabilize the government." Realizing that Cedric had no intention of forgiving him, Benedict began trembling violently, forcing out tears. "I was wrong. I did everything wrong. I'm begging you. Please forgive me just once. Let me live and repay the sin,"

Cedric. So much cold sweat poured out that his clothes were visibly wet. But Cedric's expression did not change in the slightest. "Do you know how many chances I've already given you? Uh, I suppose not. I stopped counting after 15. At that point, I started feeling disgusted with myself for being so indecisive." Looking down at his hands clasped together over his crossed knees. He recalled all the moments he had endured patiently, waiting for definitive proof. It had been painful, but worth enduring.

"Anyway, there's something I need to ask. To be honest, I don't think you'll remember, but I still have to ask." Even with tears and mucus streaming down his face, Benedict looked at Cedric with a sliver of hope. "Do you remember where the sword of Estallone and the novel Treasure Island story were hidden?"

"The sword of Estallone? Ah, I remember. Of course I remember. The tears that had briefly stopped began to flow again, this time not from fear. They were gifts Rowan and I received for our 12th birthday. We buried them under the floor of the treehouse we used as our secret base." That brilliant time when they had been each other's strongest allies seemed to rise vividly before his eyes. "We promised we'd dig them up again once I became Baron Kingsley, but I never did." That failure was entirely due to his own greed and jealousy. Benedict lowered his head, sobbing. The fact that Cedric knew this story meant that Rowan never forgot that promise despite knowing his brother resented and obstructed him foolishly.

"This is troublesome," Cedric muttered to himself. "And it truly was troublesome. He felt not the slightest hesitation about executing Benedict, but contrary to appearances, his father, who had been kinder than he looked, had once left him a single request, as if foreseeing this moment. Cedric, no matter what Benedict does, show him mercy just once at the very end."

"I don't want to."

"Cedric, I refuse. The moment you're talking about would be after he's crossed a river he can never return from. Then let's do this. Ask him whether he remembers where the sword of Estoone and the novel Treasure Island story were hidden." As Rowan said this, he told Cedric stories from the time that Benedict and Rowan had been the closest of friends. They were stories so fun and touching that Cedric, who had no siblings, felt a little jealous. He had assumed Benedict wouldn't remember something from when they were 12. But now things had become awkward.

The Angelic incident settled much more quickly than expected. To pay the enormous compensation and fines, Albert handed over the ship Kingdom to the Imperial family. People even joked that the empire had acquired yet another kingdom. Those addicted to Angelic panicked briefly at first, but thanks to Simon, they gradually recovered without suffering severe side effects or withdrawal. The Empire officially delivered a protest to the Kingdom of Furma and issued an ultimatum. If Furma failed to pay the long delayed war reparations within 2 years, the Empire would cut off all exports to Furma. As if a dam had burst, long stagnant problems began to resolve one after another. People praised Cedric alongside the imperial family.

In the midst of all that, Harriet receiving a request to visit the Ducal House was unexpected. He must be busy. Why does he want to see me? She didn't know the reason, but she was secretly happy. Because she missed him.

Chapter 171.

"I missed you so much that even I find it strange." The words Cedric had spoken inside the carriage became Harriet's, turning over in her mind every day. She missed him deeply, inexplicably. She dreamed of him almost every night. In her dreams, Cedric smiled at her without exception and spoke softly, teasing words whose meaning she could never quite grasp. When she woke from those dreams, her chest would ache so badly she had to curl up for a long time. Sometimes she felt pathetic for being like that and shed a few tears. Other times she wondered if there was any way to erase these feelings.

Then one morning after waking without dreaming of him at all, Harriet felt an emptiness and realized something. "Liking him isn't pain. It's happiness." The fact that meeting Cedric had brought her sadness and loneliness didn't make her want to avoid him. That alone was proof. So Harriet changed her way of thinking. Feeling something like this might be a once-ina-lifetime blessing. Turning such a gift into nothing but sorrow would be a waste of life. She decided to acknowledge her feelings and accept this love gladly, to give up some things and let others flutter freely, to create memories she would never forget without Cedric ever knowing. She decided not to worry about his relationships with other women. No matter who he became to someone else, her feelings wouldn't change. and worrying about that felt pointless. Once she changed her mindset, Harriet's heart felt far more at ease. Thanks to that, she could act quite calmly in front of Cedric now, even teasing him lightly.

"I was surprised you contacted me. You must be the busiest person in Genanoa these days. I'm sure many people want to see you."

"Even if there are many, not a single one is welcome. They all just want money. I heard thanks to the Kyas Ducal House, the economy is booming. Are you regretting releasing Angelik's antidote, Simon, for free?"

"Honestly, I squeezed quite a bit out of Albert, so things aren't bad." Cedric shrugged and smiled easily as always. Meanwhile, Harriet had spent days exhausting herself just to look unaffected. Everything seemed effortless for him and that made her a little annoyed. So she teased him on purpose.

"Isn't this front page news material? Hero of the empire who calmed the Angelic Crisis at his own expense. Secretly extorted money. That headline would sell well."

"I'm closer to a villain than a hero, so I don't mind."

"Oh, come on. Playing the anti-hero doesn't suit you. and you are a hero. You solved a problem even the imperial family couldn't touch." She praised him more than usual, hoping to see him flustered. Instead, a bitter smile appeared on his lips. "A hero. People really use that word lightly." He turned his gaze toward the portrait of his father hanging on the wall. "I haven't dealt with single one of the people responsible for my father's death. What kind of hero is that?" Like dying embers, even his crooked smile faded away.

Benedict had escaped execution. Cedric had hesitated, but in the end, he couldn't break his promise to his father. When he asked the emperor to change Benedict's sentence, the words hadn't come easily. But seeing the sentence reduced to 20 years, and watching Marcus Pascal panic and scramble, he realized once again that his father's judgment had been right. If Benedict died, the happiest people would be Marcus Pascal and Count Hwood. Cedric had no intention of letting his enemies cut off their tails and escape. If he threw out the right bait, set the trap, and waited, they would walk straight into their own destruction, and Benedict would make an excellent trap. Even so, the frustration wouldn't go away.

"Everything is moving so quickly, yet the matter of my father's death alone feels painfully slow, even though my enemies are right in front of me." He felt disgusted with himself for being unable to act, so much so that he couldn't even fully enjoy the success he'd worked so hard for. As Cedric clicked his tongue bitterly, Harriet, sitting across from him, hesitantly reached out and placed her hand over his.

"I understand how you feel." The rolls had reversed from the carriage, and Cedric knew she meant it sincerely. She too had been unable to touch the matter of her parents' deaths.

"Thank you. That helps more than you know." Only when Cedric accepted her comfort so openly did Harriet finally allow herself a truly gentle smile. She adjusted her posture slightly as if to lighten the mood.

"By the way, the reason you asked to see me today, there had to be something he wanted to say or assign." So she prepared herself, but Cedric, who had been meeting her gaze, looked away slightly and leaned back. Was it my imagination? Did he seem a little embarrassed?

"I thought we could share some updates and have a cup of tea." Harriet paused once again. He casually said something that could easily be misunderstood. Before she would have stiffened and tried to decipher his exact meaning, but now, having decided to enjoy what made her heart flutter, she responded differently. Smiling brightly, she offered a more daring suggestion.

"Tea is nice, but today I brought a gift that went through proper inspection." At her nod, butler Herbert placed a prepared box on the table. It was wine again. "It's from a vineyard I invested in. It wasn't bad to my taste. Would you like to try it?"

Cedric opened the box with interest. "Eden Roger Ponor. Yes. I heard it's a difficult variety to grow. The vineyard isn't large, but I valued their ability to cultivate such a finicky grape stably. The owner is very passionate."

"You've truly become a businesswoman." The gentle curve of his smile was beautiful, so much so she wanted to keep looking at it forever. Cedric asked Herbert to pour the wine. As before, two delicate, top quality wine glasses were filled with a translucent reddish brown liquid. Once finished, Herbert discreetly withdrew, leaving only Cedric and Harriet in the study.

"The aroma is wonderful." Cedric brought the glass briefly to his nose and smiled in satisfaction. They lightly clinkedked glasses and drank in silence. The scent of raspberries and dewcovered roses filled the air, followed by a wine that was pleasantly acidic without being bitter, leaving behind the earthy fragrance of the ground where the grapes had grown. After tasting it, Cedric slowly rotated the glass, admiring the color. Harriet watched for a moment, then swallowed dryly, took a deep breath, and spoke as naturally as she could.

"This wine somehow reminds me of you, Duke. The reason I invested in this vineyard wasn't the owner's passion, or even the quality. It was because a random glass of wine reminded her of Cedric." He lifted his eyes from the glass and looked at her. Her heart pounded loudly, but Harriet lowered her gaze and continued almost like a confession. "The color, it's exactly like your eyes, clear reddish brown, and it feels very delicate and captivating." She could feel his intense gaze, and her lips went dry, but she didn't stop. Some things had to be given up, but excitement was something she chose to enjoy.

"I don't know much about wine, but I thought this fragrance was what ideal wine should smell like. It might feel a bit light to you, though."

"No, it's excellent. More than that." Cedric slowly trailed off. "When exactly did you look at my eyes that closely?" The direct question made Harriet's stomach tighten. For a moment, she feared he might mock her for staring at him.

"Is there really such a thing as closely? You can see it just by looking. It's not ambiguous like mine."

"You think your eye color is ambiguous? It's hazel. Your left eye is slightly greener than your right." Now that I say it, I suppose it really is visible if you look. Without thinking, Harriet raised a hand and touched near her eyes. She had always thought both were the same. How had he noticed such a subtle difference? His eyes were clear, uniform color, but many people failed to recognize hers as Hazel because of the mixed tones. What she had meant as a light fluttering comment came back with such weight that Harriet felt flustered. Think of something else, something else. Otherwise, her ears and cheeks would surely turn red. And at times like this, sad thoughts were the solution.

"Anyway, I'm glad you like it. If the first glass was a greeting, shall we raise the next in memory of the late Duke Rowan Kyas?" Cedric fell silent, then slowly nodded. He personally poured wine into the empty glasses.

"Come to think of it, my father loved wine, too. He favored fullbodied Cabernet salvinan, but he wasn't very picky. Did he like drinking?"

"He didn't enjoy strong liquor. He said, 'The head of the house must always stay clear-minded.' He only had one or two glasses with meals or late at night." Because he never indulged for the sake of the family, Cedric never knew how much his father truly loved wine, he could only hope it wasn't something he forced himself to give up. Cedric

Chapter 172.

After finishing another glass cleanly, the two of them continued talking in a noticeably gentler atmosphere.

"This is your first time coming into my study, isn't it? Yes, I was actually curious. Why did you ask to meet here?"

Today? Seeing each other in the reception room every time gets a bit dull, doesn't it?

Cedric stood up first and slowly walked toward the wall where Rowan's portrait hung. To me, the reception room is just a place for work. When it's someone I'm personally close to, I often invite them into my study instead. Only then did Harriet realized that she was someone he considered personally close. A small joy bloomed inside her, and with it came a little courage. She set her glass down, quietly stood up, and walked toward Cedric.

"Is there a reason you only keep the former Duke's portrait in your study?"

"To keep myself alert. If I think my father is watching, I can't allow myself to become lazy."

For some reason, his broad, solid back suddenly looked lonely. When and beside whom would this man ever be able to set down this sense of responsibility and rest? She had always thought his constant composure was annoying. But what if it was actually a shield worn by someone who couldn't afford to let their guard down for even a moment? Harriet felt both sorry for him and deeply sympathetic. It felt presumptuous, but then again, wasn't even an emperor allowed to be pied sometimes.

After hesitating briefly, she placed her hand gently in the middle of Cedric's back. She hoped he would feel that her comfort was sincere. "If the former Duke could see a son who never rests, I think he'd feel more sorrow than pride, you're already doing more than enough."

Cedric turned his head slightly to look back at her. His gaze was strange, its meaning impossible to read. Feeling a little embarrassed, Harriet lowered her hand and stepped forward. Standing side by side with Cedric in front of Rowan's portrait, she felt as though Rowan himself were looking down at them.

"To be honest, there was a time I wanted to beat you."

"Why past tense?"

"Because I realized it's impossible. The more I learned about you, the overwhelming difference became apparent. That's Don't misunderstand. I'm not putting myself down." Harriet turned to look at him again. "It just means you're incredible, even if I hate to admit it."

"Is that so?"

At that, Cedric let out a small laugh. Watching him smile so comfortably made Harriet feel at ease as well. She even wished that just for this moment, she could be a place of rest for him. That's why she could joke about herself, too.

"Still, you're lucky, Duke. You get to keep your father's portrait close and even have his belongings. I have nothing."

"What do you mean nothing?"

All the portraits are locked away in the Lististerville family storage, and my uncle burned all the keepsakes.

"What?"

The idea of leaving not even one belonging to one's parents to their child, was so absurd that even Cedric, usually unflapable, was stunned. Nobles valued heirlooms deeply, as family history was passed down through blood. Leaving personal belongings to one's children was one of the most important rituals before death. Even if Harriet's parents had died suddenly in an accident, Jon, who inherited the title, had a duty to pass those items to her, but instead of doing that, he destroyed them.

"Why would he go that far?"

"I know. He even burned them right in front of me." She could never forget that day, the day she cried and begged beside her uncle as he threw her parents' belongings into the fire like a cremation ritual, asking him to spare even just one.

"My uncle said he'd heard somewhere that parents who die leaving children behind can't rest in peace and suffer terribly, so all objects their souls might cling to have to be destroyed."

"I've never heard such nonsense."

"I know now it sounds like something only heretics would say, but what power did a 12-year-old child have back then?" Harriet let out a small, bitter laugh.

"If you truly loved your parents, you wouldn't do this. Are you really going to let your poor uncle and aunt suffer just so you can feel better?" Her uncle scolding her like a foolish child, her aunt clicking her tongue, her cousin staring at her as if to say, "What's wrong with her?" That day when no one took her side, when the shock of losing her parents hadn't even faded and she couldn't keep a single keepsake, who could understand the grief of that girl? The time that felt like it would kill her passed, and the one who couldn't die somehow kept living on. But the wound carved into her then remained a large scar, flaring up from time to time to remind it it was still there.

Some people say it's silly to assign meaning to objects, but there are people who endure by clinging to them. I just wanted even just one. The faces of her parents, once unforgettable, had grown blurriier with time. She couldn't remember whether her father's fountain pen was navy or black. She had no recollection at all of the pattern on the knitted shawl her mother often wore. The guilt of realizing she was forgetting the people she loved most in the world. No one who has experienced it can truly understand.

As Harriet tried to smile and hide her heavy heart, Cedric stepped closer. He lifted one hand and slowly cupped her cheek, brushing beneath her eye with his thumb. Only then did the tears pulled in her eyes spilled down her face.

"I finally understand how cruel it was of me to throw my father's keepsake in the fountain. I don't know how to apologize."

"That wasn't your fault, Duke. I never told you any of this."

"Of course, you wouldn't have known. It was because I was arrogant and foolish because I didn't notice."

"Hearing you say that feels strange. It doesn't suit you." Harriet joked lightly, perhaps embarrassed that she'd cried. But Cedric couldn't joke back. He was glad she didn't step away, and the softness of her cheek in his hand was too beautiful. No man could treat a moment like this lightly.

"I know I'm being strange right now." His thumb traced the curve of her cheek as if memorizing the shape of her face. Her flushed cheekbones and softly lifted nose were lovely, but they couldn't draw his eyes away as much as her slightly parted lips, her smile slowly fading. If one crushed sweet red fruit to extract its juice, would it glow with such a tempting color? Swallowing the saliva beneath his tongue, Cedric pressed gently on Harriet's lower lip. He didn't even know when his finger had ended up there.

As her lips parted further under his touch, a memory he had tried hard to forget surfaced. The dizzying, intoxicating heat of the kiss they'd shared beneath a dark gazebo under a lace shawl. The sweetness that made him want to lose himself without thinking.

"Did you know you're the one who makes me strange?"

Hazel eyes, surprised, perhaps a little sad, blinked calmly at his words. "That's funny. The one who makes me strange is you, Duke."

It felt like Cedric had been struck by a blow from the ambiguity he'd always owned. He completely forgot what they were talking about just moments ago. Was this what it meant to be captivated in an instant? Like someone who had let go of all restraint, he kissed her without reason, and only once their lips touched did he finally understand why. "I want this woman." The passion flaring up left him no time to finish the thought. How could he think of anything else when he was finally touching what he had missed for so long, her scent, her warmth, especially when Harriet was in his arms. A fragile breath escaped between their joined lips, but neither loosened their hold, as if they might never kiss again once this moment passed, as if they knew a moment could never become eternity, and so clung to each other all the more desperately.

When a small moan slipped from Harriet, Cedric instinctively knew she was about to push him away, so he held her tighter, refusing to accept the approaching end of this moment. But stop. Harriet turned her head and at last put a period to the miracle moment. Only then did Cedric open his eyes, realizing far too late what he had done.

"Uh," he almost never made such a foolish sound in his life. And before he could even hide his confusion, Harriet whispered, "Was this also part of your plan?"

Chapter 173. It was a natural question for her to ask, but Cedric didn't know how to answer. What was the best possible response to that question? No, before that, how was he supposed to interpret the fact that Harriet hadn't avoided the kiss or run away? He had thought that what held her in place wasn't Cedric Kyus himself, but the word revenge. But was that not the case after all? His thoughts were tangled, and the words wouldn't come easily. But if he just stood there like an idiot, that would surely hurt Harriet, too. It wasn't part of a plan. Saying, "I did it because I like you," felt too sudden. It might make him sound like the kind of man who kissed any woman he felt attracted to. But he couldn't just babble something foolish, either. He wanted to say something that wouldn't humiliate Harriet and wouldn't cause her to misunderstand his sincerity, but his mind felt completely blank. It had never been like this in his life, and even Cedric was flustered.

Then Harriet answered half smiling, half not. "So even things don't go the way you want sometimes, Duke."

"They do, especially with you. You always go against my expectations." Even as he said it, he thought he sounded stupid. But for some reason, Harriet liked the answer and smiled faintly.

"It's unfortunate that I don't turn out the way you expect, but I like that he could only look at her, unable to respond." Was it his imagination, or did Harriet's eyes look especially clear and moist as she met his gaze? If there were even the slightest sign, he wanted to rush forward and take her again, but it felt as though a thin crack had formed between them, stopping him from moving carelessly. All he could do was suppress his desire and regret and keep looking at her.

Then at the end of that silent exchange, Harriet spoke, "If you don't want me to misunderstand, tell me now. And if I do, I'll rewind time to just before that accident."

Cedric let out a small laugh, then shook his head again. "It won't be a misunderstanding." He felt love and gratitude towards Harriet for guiding the situation when he couldn't. The constant impatience he felt around her seemed like it might finally ease. If only she hadn't added one more thing.

"Don't worry, I won't get ahead of myself and wish for too much. I know how these things usually go."

"What?"

"So, this means we're dating, right?"

"If you allow it." It felt slightly off somehow, but it wasn't wrong either. When he accepted it, Harriet nodded with a satisfied look and added, "Should I assume the duration is until this plan ends?"

"What? Well, we'll have to see how things go. We don't know what'll happen in the future." Anyway, the squirrel-like young lady, happy all on her own, smiled shily. "This is my first time dating."

"It's my first time, too. I'm honored to be the Duke's first partner." Then, she rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly. "I should get going. I think the alcohol is catching up to me. If I stay any longer, I'll definitely do something stupid. Harriet, I guess I'll see you at Vanderbilt's party next time. You'll smile when we meet, right?"

"Of course." Harriet took a step back with an awkward smile, as if pressing something down, then suddenly darted forward and lightly kissed Cedric's cheek. "I'm really going now. Bye." She fled the study as if embarrassed.

Only after her presence completely disappeared did Cedric's lips twist crookedly. "I never thought I'd end up with someone who believes in free love, talking about breaking up on the very first day of dating." He kept letting out incredulous laughs. Hadn't they just confirmed their feelings with that kiss? Even if it wasn't love yet, it was clearly more than simple interest. If both people had feelings, wasn't it natural to think about marriage? Even if he compromised and stopped short of that, who in the world decided the end date of a relationship on the day they started dating? The more he thought about it, the more irritated he felt, planning to have me and then throw me away. She really isn't an ordinary woman.

Of course, Harriet didn't mean it that way. Even Edgar, the embodiment of freespirited living, had never imagined Cedric marrying a common noble woman. But that didn't mean Cedric had to think the same way. He was a man who had always gotten what he wanted. A man who decided what was possible and what wasn't. The plan can proceed as it is without changes. Something enormous had happened, yet almost nothing had changed. Heaven is so close, and yet it won't let itself be grasped so easily.

As he laughed hollowly, he felt a gaze on him. Thinking Edgar might be spying again, Cedric turned sharply, only to find his father's portrait staring back at him. Was it his imagination, or did the corner of his father's stern mouth look slightly raised?

"Don't laugh." Embarrassed at having his flushed face seen by his father, Cedric muttered to himself.

Chapter 174. As expected, a reply from Cedric arrived quickly. "It's rather short notice, but would tomorrow be possible?" Meeting the very next day was unusual enough, but the appointment was set for 6:00 p.m. That alone meant this was not an ordinary formal meeting. Anyone else might have been nervous, but not Bella. Whenever she suggested a meeting with a suggestive undertone, every man reacted the same way. And the next evening, Bella wore modest, proper-looking dress over provocative lingerie. Men always went crazy for that contrast. As if you'd be any different. Unless a man had an unusual sexual taste, almost no one could resist that kind of temptation.

After checking her reflection, Bella applied a special lipstick as a final touch. It contained angelic. They say the amount a man ingests through an intense kiss is quite significant. I even added an especially sweet flavor. When she had gone to Albert to get drugs for Cedric before, he handed her this lipstick along with various forms of angelic, wearing an expression that clearly showed what kind of situation he was imagining. She had never used it until today. Tonight, she intended to succeed.

"I even dusted angelic powder on my fingertips. I'll brush his lips with them, then kiss him. Perfect. I'll ingest some, too. So what?" Imagining Cedric looking at her as if he wanted to devour her sent a shiver of excitement down her spine. Still, she forced herself to stay calm and arrived at the Ducal residence right on time.

"Welcome. I've been waiting for you." The quicker than usual escort, the softly lit reception room, and Cedric's subtly sensual greeting made Bella certain today would decide her fate. Seated across from each other, they talked briefly about ordinary topics, weather, health, palace events. But as the sunset deepened, Bella revealed her true intent.

"Let's stop this kind of talk. Neither of us is really interested, are we?"

"That's refreshing to hear. I wanted to see you, Duke, without any other purpose. Purely." When Cedric smiled in clear pleasure, Bella stood and moved to sit beside him. Normally, she would have been stopped immediately, but Cedric didn't look flustered, and Bella sat down smoothly as if she'd expected this.

"I've always been curious about this seat."

"What do you mean?"

"Don't pretend you don't know. You know how I feel. You said our relationship was just a smoke screen for breaking off your engagement. And I also said that I wanted to experience true love." Boldly, she placed her hand on Cedric's cheek. "I won't pretend in front of you. So honestly, I wanted the man known as the best husband candidate in the Atoba Empire, the hero who saved the nation, the ice flower on a cliff." Her thumb gently brushed over Cedric's lips. "and I can become everything you desire, Duke. If you don't believe me, feel free to test it."

"A test?"

"Invite me to your bedroom. If you don't like the night we spend together, I'll never trouble you again." She whispered seductively as she slowly leaned closer. Her heart pounded. The amount of angelic Cedric would ingest through this kiss would be enough to get him into bed. Once that happened, slipping him the pills she'd prepared was child's play, and what followed didn't require much imagination. As she felt his warm breath near her lips, Bella nearly drowned in ecstasy, already imagining herself as the future Duchess.

But just before their lips touched, Cedric grasped her shoulders and pushed her away. Not roughly, but firmly.

"Cedric." As she called his name in confusion, he spoke. "The consequences of my actions are not mine alone. The Kyus family would bear them. That is why I must push you away."

"Are you saying I'm unsuitable for you because I'm just a baron's daughter?"

"No, I mean that the Duke of Kilus cannot appear to lay hands on a woman who already has a fiance." Bella's eyes widened.

"What if I didn't have a fiance?"

"I cannot say anything that would influence an agreement between your family and another. That is the responsibility of my position. But you can infer what I have not said." Of course, she could. Bella realized she had reached a crossroads. James Chzlo or Cedric Kyus. Was there even a choice?

"There are rumors that our relationship is more than ordinary. At this point, my father would allow me to break off the engagement."

"Then you would achieve your initial goal."

"I'm no longer satisfied with just that. My goal is you." At that words, Cedric laughed silently. Bella truly wanted him.

"I'll bring you a result you'll be satisfied with soon. then do what we couldn't do today."

"I'll look forward to it." That single reply completely captivated her. The great Cedric Kilus waiting for her to break off her engagement, anticipating a kiss and a night together. So today's failure wasn't really a failure. She returned home having achieved nothing. And yet she burst into John's study with confidence.

"Father, I'm breaking off my engagement with James."

"What?" Startled for a moment, John quickly grasped the situation. "The Duke of Kilus demanded it, didn't he? He said it would be troublesome if a scandal broke with an engaged woman, a man not responsible, wouldn't abandon a woman whose marriage prospects he ruined." Even as her daughter implied premarital relations, Jon wasn't flustered. He nodded in agreement.

"That's right. Damn it. You have to grab them while they're fired up. When is that James fellow coming back?"

"According to his last letter, soon his friends already told him plenty about me and the Duke."

"Good. That'll make things faster. Don't drag it out. Wrap things up quickly and focus on the Duke." But Bella had a different idea.

"No, I need to let it simmer a little. It'll be more dramatic that way."

"Does that really matter?"

"Of course. Men get bored quickly with things that come too easily. James needs to chase me a bit. Then the Duke will truly recognize my value." Bella smiled sweetly. Even though she had decided to toy with the son of one of the most powerful families, she felt no fear or tension, only excitement that made her restless.

After Skayas rested, James Chzlo returned to Genoa in early October. The journey from Sarrav must have been exhausting, but he went straight to the Liststerwell estate the moment he arrived. "Bella! Bella!" he shouted his fiance's name, but the cold iron gates did not open. "Damn it, Bella, open the door."

About 2 weeks after arriving in Srirachev, letters from his friends in Genoa began to arrive, meaning they had been sent almost immediately after he left. "James, I'm sorry to say this, but Miss Bella attended the opera with the Duke of Kilus. It was even in the papers. Something feels off. I swear I'm saying this for your sake and hers. Come back immediately and take her with you. The Duke of Kyus admitted to dating Miss Bella at the club. Everyone is keeping quiet, but anyone who matters knows. As if that wasn't enough, even more shocking news followed. They say Miss Bella was a customer on that ship. She even received a summons from the palace. Did you ever take Angelic with Miss Bella? If not, you should make your stand clear quickly. The situation looks bad."

At first, he kept telling himself it couldn't be true. But suspicion slowly crept in. Why hadn't he pressed her harder when she emerged from the Kyus tent at the hunting competition? Why had he backed down when she suggested postponing the wedding? The rumors about Angelic and the kingdom ship troubled him, too. Bella wasn't the type to access such drugs, and her body was so sensitive that stimulants would have caused her pain, not pleasure. He wanted to believe it was all nonsense, some misunderstanding. But as time passed, a different possibility surfaced. What if that sensitive body had been shaped by Angelic? What if the times she dodged his questions about where she'd been were because she'd boarded the kingdom? No. Angelic can come later. As long as Bella doesn't leave me, drugs don't matter. He was even willing to smooth over the palace summons. That was how much he loved her and how afraid he was of losing her. But he couldn't return to Genoa immediately. Srirachev had suffered repeated river flooding over the years and its poor infrastructure made it less promising than neighboring territories. Development projects were underway, requiring many people, and as heir, he had many decisions to make alongside his father. Unable to return right away, he kept writing to Bella, asking whether the rumors about the Duke were true, begging her if she loved him and wanted to keep their engagement, not even to meet the Duke. But no replies came, not once in the last two and a half months.

Chapter 175. "Hey, you there, tell the Viscount that James Cheslo is here." Shaking the gate of the Liststerwell estate, James shouted at a servant passing in the distance. The servant startled, then ran into the mansion as if fleeing. Even after a long while, no one came out. It hardly felt like the same estate that had always welcomed him.

"Bella, did you really betray me?" His insides felt twisted, his head spinning. He couldn't believe that the beautiful woman who had always whispered that she loved only him had been unfaithful with another man. So he clung to a different suspicion.

"Bella wouldn't deceive me. The Duke of Kais must have threatened her while I was away. He must have used his power to crush her and steal her from me. Yes. Wasn't that far more convincing?" Bella was the most beautiful woman in Genanoa. No, in the entire empire, and Cedric must have been watching her all along. Then the moment James left the capital, Cedric would have pounced, threatening to destroy her family if she didn't comply. He might have even told people to block my letters. Bella must be withering away inside, trapped in sorrow. The cool autumn wind brushed past the back of his neck, lowering his body temperature. But his anger only burned hotter.

After that, James grabbed anyone he could and badmouthed Cedric. "He's trash who knows nothing of honor or decency. How dare he covet another man's fiance? Everyone knows Bella and I were about to be married and yet he threatens her and tries to steal her from me. I'm worried sick about Bella. I don't know what he said or how he threatened her, but she hasn't stepped outside the estate even once."

But the first response to his outcry didn't come from the Kylus ducal house. "They say Bella Lististerwell broke off her engagement to James Cheslo and is going to marry the Duke of Kilus." Completely opposite to what James wanted. People began treating Bella and Cedric's marriage as a foregone conclusion. No matter how great a noble James was, Cedric was currently the most powerful aristocrat in the empire. Not only was the emperor his uncle, but he recently resolved one of the empire's greatest crises. A hero in every sense. If a man like that set his mind to it, stealing a woman who already had a fiance would be easy. The Ducalous's delayed statement only fueled the rumors. They said they'll clarify things soon. If there was nothing between them, why drag it out? Just wait. They'll announce the engagement date any day now. As a result, high society buzzed once again.

Once Bella became convinced of the rumors herself, she poured oil on the fire. When the count and countest Cheslo sent a formal letter of protest to the Listister Wells, she ignored it completely. Only after James, driven nearly insane, sent an ultimatum. "If you won't see me, I'll challenge Cedric Kilus to a duel," did Bella finally open her door to him. The moment he saw her, James pulled Bella into his arms, desperately, asking if she was well and what had happened. But she gently pushed him away.

"Bella." Leaving the stunned James standing there, Bella sat alone on the sofa and poured herself some tea, her expression blank. "Let's at least have some tea and calm down."

"Bella, did the Duke of Kais make you do this? That bastard is threatening you, isn't he?" His jaw trembled as he asked, unable to trust the fiance, who now felt like a stranger.

Bella raised her teacup to her lips and drooped her eyebrows as if troubled. On one side, a storm was raging. Right beside it, a gentle spring breeze was blowing. "James, I think we're not very compatible."

"What are you talking about? We've been great together all this time. At least you were happy. That's something. So, you weren't? Why? Just tell me what I did wrong, and I'll fix everything." Even in shock, he desperately clung to hope. But Bella's decision didn't waver.

"I'm tired. Please let me go." Sensing the end, he asked with trembling hands, "Are you really in that kind of relationship with the Duke of Kais?"

"Are you really? I believe you'll understand me." It felt like he'd been struck in the back of the head. She hadn't outright admitted it, but asking him to understand said enough. After all, he himself had once abandoned his longtime lover, Daphne, to choose Bella. "There's a better option. Why cling to old feelings? Isn't that right?" He remembered saying those very words to Bella once. Now he had nothing to say.

"For your information, I like men who always speak politely to me and treat me with respect." With that, Bella stood up, having finally said everything she wanted, she felt refreshed. Now I just need to write the Duke of Kilus and tell him I've settled things with James. She hummed to herself without realizing it.

The love triangle between Bella, James, and Cedric, became a huge topic of conversation. Viviana, who brought Harriet the detailed gossip, passionately ranted about the chaos Bella had caused. "This is insane. I thought Bella was just chasing the Duke on her own. But now, it turns out they were actually having an affair." She looked genuinely heartbroken, as if she had hoped the scandal with Cedric was all in Bella's imagination. But Harriet remained expressionless, not calm so much as unreadable.

"How are Bella's friends reacting? Have you heard anything?"

"That's actually why I came. A few of Bella's friends, who used to be my friends, too, contacted me. They said they want to apologize. Huh?"

"If Bella's chances of becoming the Duchess just went up, shouldn't they be even more loyal to her?"

"The ones who broke away care more about moral principles than that. They followed her because they thought she was an angel. When Bella got engaged to James, they had already been flustered. When the scandal with Cedric broke, they advised her not to go further, and that caused friction between them. Then, after hearing that the engagement had nearly collapsed, they abandoned their faith in Bella altogether."

"That change was significant. Oh, those friends must have meant a lot to Bella. To become a central figure in high society, Bella had carefully gathered well-known noble ladies around her. It sounds simple, but making proud young ladies into followers wasn't easy. Bella had spent a long time and great effort achieving that, and to her, friends were both powerful weapons and useful tools. Losing them meant either she had something else to rely on, or she was no longer as calculating as before."

Unaware of Harriet's thoughts, Viviana worried that Harriet might be quietly angry and quickly changed the subject in a brighter tone. "But apparently she'll never break with Caroline. In fact, they say Caroline is even closer to Bella now."

"Caroline is probably the only person Bella was truly close to in that group. Though close doesn't necessarily mean friend. She's not a friend. She's a maid. A maid. I really don't understand Caroline." Harriet let out a small, dry laugh. Understanding was such a self-centered thing. Once Harriet had tried hard to understand Caroline, her former friend who had told Bella all her secrets, but she stopped trying the day Caroline stood beside Bella, slandered her, and laughed at her.

"Honestly, I didn't want to be your friend. I wanted to be you. But standing next to you, I realized I'd never have that place." Caroline had said it with a smile, her face filled with a strange sense of victory, despite never truly securing her place beside Bella, either. That kind of malice was beyond Harriet's ability to understand. Pushing aside the bitter memory, Harriet let out a small sigh. More important things were coming, one after another.

Chapter 176. "Viviana."

"Hm."

"I'm going to apologize in advance. Something will happen soon that will make you disappointed in me."

"What? Why are you saying that all of a sudden?"

"When it happens, you'll understand what I mean. But please know this much. There was no other choice. And it's not because I looked down on you or didn't trust you." Viviana tried hard to guess what Harriet was talking about, but Harriet stayed quiet, giving her no more clues.

"Are you betraying me?"

"No, but I think you'll feel hurt. But you'll still stay my friend, right?"

"Of course."

"Then that's enough." Viviana looked a little uneasy, but she didn't question her more, and she didn't get angry either. Harriet was surprised again at how deep her friendship with Viviana had become. Of course, she didn't know how Viviana would react when that day actually came. Still, the one in trouble isn't Viviana. It's me.

Harriet quietly let out a sigh, careful not to let Viviana notice. Ever since she came back from kissing Cedric, she hadn't been able to escape her thoughts. That day, she had been so excited after hearing, "Let's date." But now that she thought about it, this wasn't something small or normal. And it wasn't about the kiss itself. To be honest, she didn't regret the kiss. Not because it was the right thing to do, because it was so overwhelming and sweet. Every time she remembered it, her cheeks got hot and she bit her lip. It felt like she might cry and laugh at the same time. Her heart was pounding so hard that her chest actually hurt. She probably wouldn't forget it until the day she died.

The real problem is I keep wanting more from him. When she went to meet him that day, her feelings were somewhere between sadness and longing. But now she kept giving deep meaning to every word he had said. And without realizing it, she even started holding on to hope. But no matter how many times she thought about it, there was no way this relationship would end with they lived happily ever after. Because the man she was with was the Duke of Kylo, the emperor's nephew, the strongest noble in the empire, a man who could gain alliances with other countries through marriage. That was Cedric. For someone like her to dream of becoming his wife was impossible.

Wake up. I don't know what will happen between us, but this isn't the time to get lost in those thoughts. She clenched her fist and forced herself to steady her mind. what she was doing with Cedric right now was far more important to her. And even so, Cedric was still doing his absolute best, even while lowering her reputation. So, she couldn't afford to get overly emotional and ruin everything just because they were dating for a short time. Harriet decided that the next time she met Cedric, she would act only as his temporary girlfriend and as someone involved in this plan, even though she'd already made that promise to herself dozens of times.

The date everyone expected Cedric to officially state his position was October 28th, the day the Vanderbilt family held their party. Since the Duke of Kyas's family had officially said they would attend, people began expecting Cedric to show up holding Bella's hand, proving their relationship.

"Is the Chzlo family coming, too?"

"That's what I heard. What if a fight breaks out? That would be entertaining in its own way."

"It'll probably end boringly. Duke Kyas is a man who came back from the battlefield." While people whispered like that, one of the people everyone had been waiting for finally entered the ballroom.

"Oh, it's Miss Bella Lististerell, but she came with her family." Bella, dressed in dazzling beauty, followed behind John and Miriam, and greeted people with calm smiles. Her expression looked relaxed and happy.

"Oh my, then the rumors about the Duke of Kyas must be true, right? But I don't see James."

"It's better if he doesn't come." Bella's first dance partner will obviously be the Duke of Kyas when they broke up so recently. Everyone believed Cedric and Bella would naturally become dance partners and announce their relationship that way without ruining someone else's party while still satisfying everyone's curiosity. Some impatient people couldn't even wait and asked Bella directly.

"Miss Bella, are you really lovers with the Duke of Kyas?"

"Well, I'm not sure what I should say, but I think you'll find out soon." It wasn't a clear answer, but anyone would take it as a yes. Now, only Cedric's arrival remained. And finally, the long awaited news arrived.

"They say the Duke of Kyas's carriage has arrived." Even Count and Countest Vanderbilt, the hosts of the party, looked tense and prepared to greet him. Outside, servants hurried back and forth, and it felt like someone important was slowly approaching. In a ballroom filled with countless people, even the air felt tense. The awkward silence was broken by Count Vanderbilt.

"Welcome, Duke Kyas. Thank you for having me. It's a wonderful party." The moment Cedric's voice was heard, everyone leaned their heads toward the entrance. As the doors opened wide, Cedric stepped in, and beside him appeared the silhouette of the woman he was escorting. People assumed it must be his mother, Jeremiah, until someone muttered in shock, "Wait, that can't be Harriet Listwell." Instead of Jeremiah's blonde hair, the woman beside him had dark brown hair. She had thick brows and a clear, familiar face. Even from far away, her diamond earrings sparkled, and she wore a silver gray fox fur shawl. Everyone doubted their eyes. But no matter how much they blinked or stood on tiptoe, the woman greeting the Vanderbilts at Cedric's side really was Harriet Lististerell. Even the hosts looked flustered, as if they hadn't been informed. The ballroom fell into complete chaos.

"Why? Why?" Everyone's eyes immediately turned toward Bella, but Bella also looked shocked. She stared at Cedric and Harriet without even hiding her expression. "What is happening? I don't understand either. Even Miss Bella looked surprised. So, does that mean they never agreed on anything?" No matter how confused everyone was, Cedric calmly smiled and entered the ballroom with Harriet by his side. Behind him, Edgar Dawson followed, escorting Daphne Laurel.

Count and Countis Vanderbilt, trying to save the mood of the party, spoke awkwardly, as if voicing everyone's thoughts. "I didn't expect you to come with Miss Harriet. Is it because of the rumor that I'm dating a Miss Listister?"

"Well, pardon?"

"Uh, well, I don't know what I should say, but I think you'll find out soon." It wasn't a clear answer, but anyone would take it as a yes. Now only Cedric's arrival remained. And finally, the long awaited news arrived.

"They say the Duke of Kyas's carriage has arrived." Even Count and Countest Vanderbilt, the hosts of the party, looked tense and prepared to greet him. Outside, servants hurried back and forth, and it felt like someone important was slowly approaching. In a ballroom filled with countless people, even the air felt tense. The awkward silence was broken by Count Vanderbilt.

"Welcome, Duke Kyas. Thank you for having me. It's a wonderful party." The moment Cedric's voice was heard, everyone leaned their heads toward the entrance. As the doors opened wide, Cedric stepped in, and beside him appeared the silhouette of the woman he was escorting. People assumed it must be his mother, Jeremiah, until someone muttered in shock, "Wait, that can't be Harriet Listwell." Instead of Jeremiah's blonde hair, the woman beside him had dark brown hair. She had thick brows and a clear, familiar face. Even from far away, her diamond earrings sparkled, and she wore a silver gray fox fur shawl. Everyone doubted their eyes, but no matter how much they blinked or stood on tiptoe, the woman greeting the Vanderbilts at Cedric's side really was Harriet Lististerwell. Even the hosts looked flustered, as if they hadn't been informed. The ballroom fell into complete chaos.

"Why? Why?" Everyone's eyes immediately turned toward Bella, but Bella also looked shocked. She stared at Cedric and Harriet without even hiding her expression. "What is happening? I don't understand either. Even Miss Bella looked surprised. So, does that mean they never agreed on anything?" No matter how confused everyone was, Cedric calmly smiled and entered the ballroom with Harriet by his side. Behind him, Edgar Dawson followed, escorting Daphne Laurel.

Count and Countis Vanderbilt, trying to save the mood of the party, spoke awkwardly, as if voicing everyone's thoughts. "I didn't expect you to come with Miss Harriet. Is it because of the rumor that I'm dating a Miss Listister?"

"Well, pardon?"

"Uh, well, I don't know what I should say, but I think you'll find out soon." It wasn't a clear answer, but anyone would take it as a yes. Now only Cedric's arrival remained. And finally, the long awaited news arrived.

"They say the Duke of Kylo's carriage has arrived." Even Count and Countest Vanderbilt, the hosts of the party, looked tense and prepared to greet him. Outside, servants hurried back and forth, and it felt like someone important was slowly approaching. In a ballroom filled with countless people, even the air felt tense. The awkward silence was broken by Count Vanderbilt.

"Welcome, Duke Kyas."

Chapter 177. "Wait, if the two of them aren't lovers, then why did Miss Bella break up with James?"

"Right. She acted like she was dating Duke Kyus. What exactly did she say?"

"Well, she never openly admitted it, but whenever someone asked, she didn't deny it either. She would just say, 'You'll find out soon.'"

"Oh my, look at Miss Bella's face." The people watching Bella gasped in shock because it was the first time they had ever seen the face of angelic Bella Lististerwell become so frighteningly stiff. She was glaring at Cedric and Harriet, and even her body was trembling. My goodness, was she just imagining everything on her own? If that's true, what a humiliation. Don't tell me she threw away her position as the future daughter-in-law of House Chzlo because of her own delusion. Poofed. People couldn't hold back and burst out in mocking laughter.

And no matter what others were saying or thinking, Cedric and Harriet took their places for the party's first waltz.

"Um, do I look strange?" Harriet asked quietly, hoping it would look to others like she was whispering a sweet love message.

Cedric answered with a gentle, sweet smile. "I'd like you to smile a little more. You look too nervous."

"Really? I thought I was trying pretty hard."

"If you lean against me, you'll look even more like lovers." At Cedric's advice, Harriet nodded briefly and leaned into his chest. It felt like she could even hear people around them sucking in their breath, and she swallowed nervously. I really is natural at this. If I had acted like I was still hung up on what happened that day, it would have been so embarrassing. Harriet felt glad she had smiled at Cedric today as if nothing had happened. Thanks to that, everything was going exactly according to plan, so perfectly that it almost felt like deciding to become real lovers was a dream because everything looked the same as before.

When they pressed close, just like any other couple, the orchestra finally began to play. The two of them started moving at the exact same moment, like partners who had danced together for years. They separated slightly, faced each other, stepped to the side, stepped back the other way. One hand lifted high as they held each other's hand, and drew a circle, stepping slowly.

"Your dancing isn't bad. I guess what you said last time was just exaggerating." At Cedric's words, Harriet remembered the walts they had danced in a dark corner of the garden back then, and she clearly remembered him saying, "Someday we should dance in a wide ballroom, too. I practiced more since then, as you know, I really hate embarrassing you, your grace." She answered with a small grin, and Cedric chuckled softly. The vibration she felt against his chest made even her insides feel ticklish.

Just then, a wave of murmuring rose somewhere in the ballroom. "It looks like the tragic male lead has arrived." At Cedric's whisper, Harriet glanced over and saw James Cheslo greeting acquaintances far away from Bella.

"I thought he wouldn't come. He's not ordinary either. He probably came to punch me, but now I'm dancing with you. So now, what do you think he'll do?" Maybe because he didn't want to be compared to Cedric, James looked unusually well-dressed. But no matter how he dressed, it was obvious he wasn't his usual self. His eyes looked hollow, his skin was dark and tired looking, and his lips were dry and peeling white. Just like Cedric said, James looked like he had come intending to cause trouble. But now, seeing his rival dancing with another woman, he seemed completely unable to understand what was happening.

Bella noticed his arrival, too, and for a moment she looked startled, but she probably started calculating quickly in her head. Quick thinking was one of her strengths. She must have realized that if she didn't at least cling to James, she would become a complete joke. So, Bella walked towards her former fianceé with a worried appearance.

"James, your face looks so pale. Are you feeling sick?" And just like she used to, she reached out to gently touch his cheek. If James had simply stayed still, there was still hope she could flip this situation around. But James had regained his senses. Before her hand could touch his face, he grabbed her wrist.

"There is no reason for Miss Lististerwell to worry about my condition. We're not connected in any way. It's a misunderstanding. Please listen to me. I can't explain it here." He spoke as if chewing and crushing every word. Then he threw her wrist away like it was nothing, turned around and left the ballroom.

Bella, left behind, looked around and shook her head as if she was unfairly wronged, but no one defended her. As Harriet spun around holding Cedric's hand, Bella's eyes met hers, and Bella's gaze suddenly became vicious.

"No one knew how many people noticed that change."

"Bella and my uncle look ridiculous right now. What do you think will happen next?" Harriet whispered, forcing down the smile that wanted to rise on her lips.

Cedric only shrugged cautiously. "Who knows? Honestly, a storm inside a teacup isn't my concern." Then he held Harriet's waist firmly and helped her lean back smoothly. As he admired the beautiful curve her upper body made, he remembered a promise from months ago. On the night of the party Jeremiah had held to find Cedric a bride, Cedric had been dancing with Harriet in a dark hidden corner of the garden when he dangled bait she couldn't resist.

"Are you interested in revenge?"

"Just as he had expected, Harriet doubted his true intentions, but still asked, 'What revenge?'"

"Didn't you say you needed to repay a debt?"

"Are you talking about your uncle's family?" Cedric only smiled as he watched Harriet's eyes looking up at him like a small lake where starlight reflected and ripples of emotion trembled. "What he was about to say would definitely provoke her competitive spirit. your cousin and probably the person you need to repay that debt to, Miss Bella Lististerwell, tried to seduce me openly."

There was no way Harriet hadn't noticed. She had definitely seen Bella and Cedric enter the ballroom from the balcony. That stiff look was exactly why she had followed him out here. At first, I found it unpleasant, but after thinking about it, I decided she might be useful.

"Useful for what?"

"I think Miss Bella has joined hands with my uncle. If I use her, I may be able to feed false information to my enemies and create conflict among them." It was a shallow excuse, and Cedric felt nervous that Harriet might suspect him, so he added something unnecessary. "I also remember that when she became engaged to James Cheslo, even your friend, Miss Daphne, was put in a difficult situation. If you help me, you can even take revenge for your friend."

"What are you planning that you're trying this hard?" Harriet's hand gripping his arm felt desperate, but Cedric put on a serious expression and set the trap meant to keep her from leaving.

"Become my lover."

"What?" She was startled and unbelievably cute, but she still looked like she might run. Cedric gently stroked her back, calming the frozen squirrel-like young lady, and whispered, "Only for a while, and during that time people will misunderstand and believe my lover is not you, but Miss Bella Lististerwell, including Bella herself."

"And what are you going to do then?"

"I will break the engagement between her and James Cheslo. That moment will be the starting point of Bella Lististerwell's downfall. and once she loses her connection to a powerful house, it'll be easier to bring her down even further." Only then Harriet's expression turned serious. Cedric loved that side of her, a person who was usually innocent, heartwarming, and full of weak spots, forcing herself to suppress her true nature and become

Cold and calculating. He could guess she had lived through painful times to reach this point. But Harriet didn't crumble like most people would have. She decided to save herself from that pain. How could he not love that strength?

"What exactly do I have to endure?" A scandal. Ah, the Duke of Kilus's lover being me would be a massive scandal.

"I will protect you. I promise you will never get hurt."

Harriet took a deep breath as if thinking hard. "You already have a plan, don't you? It feels like you planned all of this, even expecting I would accept. If you help me, things will be easier in many ways."

"All right. Are you serious?"

At his overly dramatic question, Harriet smiled faintly and answered, "I told you, didn't I? If you need me, I'll help with anything. So, use me as much as you want, and when you're done, just put me back where I belong. Thank you."

Cedric hesitated a moment before answering her properly because he couldn't actually do what she said, because when all of this was over, Harriet wouldn't be standing in this place anymore.

Chapter 178.

Back then, I was worried you might realize my true feelings and run away. But now, Cedric felt bitter because Harriet didn't understand his true feelings. After all, the very first thing she said right after they confirmed their feelings was, "Let's turn this contract romance into a fixed-term romance." And the worst part was, even after that, she was still adorable and lovable. That was the most dangerous thing about her.

Cedric looked down at Harriet, who made a tiny mistake in her steps, and then smiled shily, embarrassedly. To avoid showing how much he liked her, he clenched his teeth tightly. Honestly, it wasn't like Cedric hadn't thought about explaining everything right away when he realized Harriet was misunderstanding things. But if he did that, he might lose even this fixed-term relationship or even the original contract romance plan they had prepared.

Harriet has lived through a different past than I have. Since the day she was born, Cedric had always been able to get anything he wanted if he reached for it. But Harriet had lived a life where what she already had was stolen from her, and the things she wanted were burned right in front of her eyes. She had fallen off a cliff and clung to small bits of luck, climbing her way back up with desperate effort until she reached where she was now. Someone who lived that kind of life naturally becomes defensive because they have to protect themselves.

Cedric had already known Harriet thought their feelings were nothing more than something temporary like a passing wind. He could tell from the moment they met again to attend today's party. From the moment he saw her smiling so naturally as if nothing had happened. Even if he confessed that he loved her, even if he said he wanted to marry her, she would obviously respond with something like, "We can't be together anyway."

There's no way I can let her run away like that. Cedric pulled Harriet into his arms, using the excuse that he was leading her through the dance. He loved her even more because she looked surprised, yet didn't struggle to escape. This unpredictable young lady was too precious. Now he couldn't let her go.

"Don't rush. I'll give her my best until she can truly trust me. It wasn't too late to confess after gaining her trust. By then, Harriet wouldn't doubt that they could share a future together. And no matter what hardships came, she wouldn't give up this love so easily. And that day wasn't far away."

At that night, when the rumor that Harriet was dating Cedric exploded, Harriet was called in late to see Trisha, who was still awake. Walking into her room, Harriet felt like a criminal. Trisha was sitting there in a thick shawl drinking night tea.

"You're here. Sit down."

Harriet thought she might get scolded for keeping it secret, but Trisha's face looked nothing like someone angry. If anything, it looked like she was full of curiosity and excitement.

"I just heard grandmother. I mean, it's just my friends really have nothing better to do. They couldn't even wait until morning. They're already spreading rumors."

Harriet didn't know what to say, so she only let out an awkward laugh. But Trisha looked completely relaxed and elegant. It almost seemed like she was excited about her grand niece's first real romance, meaning not a fake scandal, but real dating news.

"So, are you too serious?" The way she asked so carefully proved it. For a moment, Harriet hesitated, unsure what serious even meant in this situation. But in the end, she nodded. Because it was now a real relationship, a blush rose on her cheeks without her even trying to fake it.

Trisha burst into loud laughter. "Oh my goodness, my instincts haven't died yet. I thought that boy liked you for a long time. What? No, I was the slow one. Honestly, otherwise none of the things Duke Kyas has done for you make any sense."

"Uh, yes." Trisha was clearly even more excited now. "When you came from the convent into my home, you know, that boy asked me about you. That's when I first thought it was strange. I wondered why he was asking about a girl he had nothing to do with. At that time, we had no relationship at all. If anything, we were closer to disliking each other."

The more careful a person is, the harder it is for them to admit they fell in love at first sight. Sometimes they even confuse it and think it's dislike. Harriet felt like Trisha was jumping to conclusions and it made her uncomfortable because soon she would have to disappoint her great aunt. When this short relationship ends, how heartbroken will she be? Just imagining Trisha sighing sadly saying Harriet would never get married made Harriet's mouth taste bitter. Still, she couldn't tell the truth. If Trisha found out this romance was based on a contract, she would never stay quiet. She might even run straight to Cedric and grab him by the collar.

But thankfully, or maybe not, Trisha wasn't only excited. "You and Duke Kyass match well. You're similar in some ways, and you balance each other in other ways."

"I don't think other people see it that way."

"Of course not. If we talk about status and conditions, it's ridiculous. Who doesn't know that?" As she spoke teasingly, her smile faded a little. "Those conditions are something that boy chose to accept. I don't care about that. What I'm worried about is what you'll faced from now on. What do you mean?"

"Cedric Kyas isn't an easy man to handle. He thinks too much and his relationships are complicated. The biggest problem is you never know what his true thinking is."

Harriet agreed with that completely. If she could look inside Cedric's mind, she'd finally feel relieved.

"Still, he chose you. Of course, you chose, too. But if we're being cold and realistic, this situation came about mainly because Duke Kyas intended it." That made her heart jump. "A woman with decades of experience in high society is nothing to be underestimated, and I still can't guess what kind of price you'll have to pay for that."

"Please don't worry too much. I'm going to think of it lightly."

"Lightly? Just it's a romance, something everyone experiences. Even if we break up, it'll just be a breakup. There'll be other people in the future."

Trisha let out a deep sigh. "It won't be that simple. If he were only the eldest son of an ordinary family, maybe. But he's the Duke of Kyas."

"Uh, yes, I understand what you mean."

"No, you don't." As wrinkles formed between her brows, her face instantly became strict like an intimidating Noble Matron. "You're the type who will smile and let it pass when people insult you, saying, 'Yes, I know you're right.' And if Cedric says he wants to break up, you'll just accept it, saying, 'Sure. Okay.' Even if your reputation collapses in the process, you'll just accept that, too. But isn't that unavoidable? You're idiot. I'm telling you not to do that." Trisha slapped the tea table lightly with her palm. "Even while you're dating him, you'll face a lot of opposition. Honestly, when I think about it, I want to stop you. The only reason I won't stop you is because this could be an opportunity for you. An opportunity. Even if you don't make it to marriage, hold your head high. Act like everything Cedric belongs to you. No matter what situation happens, don't go down quietly. If you do that, people will treat you differently."

Harriet bit her lip, organizing her thoughts carefully. She understood what Trisha meant, and she also understood that Cedric had prepared another gift for her beyond Bella's downfall. So, he even thought of this this far ahead. Becoming the lover of a man at the top of power was such a huge event that it could completely erase her image as the troublemaker scandalmaker. Even if she broke up with him, no one would remember her past scandals anymore. Instead, the label Duke Kyas's ex-lover would become a kind of metal. Feeling bitter that she needed Cedric's name to change her image was a luxury she couldn't afford because Cedric would be losing something, too. People would say, "After choosing so carefully, the woman he dated was only Harriet Listwell." And yet he still took her hand even knowing that it could be a disaster if she made one wrong move. But Cedric promised her that she would not get hurt, that he would protect her. So all that was left now was for Harriet to properly create a scandal as his real lover and give Cedric the benefit he wanted. If she could gain successful revenge and reputation in exchange for dreaming a sweet dream for a little while and then waking up afterwards, wasn't that a good deal?

"So, enjoy this unbelievable luck, but don't drown in emotions. When the goal is achieved, our relationship ends, too. I can't forget that." Harriet repeated that promise to herself again and again, as if soothing the tight knot in her chest. For now, she told herself to focus only on revenge against Bella and Jon and not on Cedric.

Chapter 179.

Just as Cedric planned, the public announcement that the two of them were lovers became a massive scandal and completely shook high society. And then Viviana came running to Harriet, looking like she might faint.

"This is what you meant, isn't it? The thing you said would make me disappointed in you."

"I'm sorry I couldn't tell you in advance, Viviana."

"It's kind of annoying. Yeah, but so what? You're the Duke of Kyas's lover, not Bella." She stomped her feet in excitement, like she was about to jump up and down. "You really never know what's going to happen in life. How could there be revenge this cool? Cool revenge. Yeah, right. Of course it is. Haven't you heard the rumors about Bella?"

At that, Harriet nodded, forcing herself not to smile. This scandal became such a hot topic not only because Cedric Kyas's first officially acknowledged lover was Harriet Lististerwell, someone known for having caused lots of trouble in the past, but also because Bella, who had been praised as the goddess of high society, had completely turned into a joke.

They say the Chzlo family officially sent a notice ending the engagement, but now Bella is trying hard to change Lord Chzlo's mind. Bella still hadn't properly cleared herself of the accusations related to Angelique. She must have thought that if she seduced Cedric and became his lover, she could easily escape all the complicated problems surrounding her because she hadn't even responded properly to the situation until now. As for the new summon she received, she stubbornly insisted it wasn't me and managed to get a postponement of the summons. But the rumor that someone had seen her buy Angelique was growing bigger and bigger like a snowball. Even for that reason alone, the Cheslo family had more than enough reason to end the engagement. The only reason they hadn't done it earlier was because James loved Bella so much. But now that James had been humiliatingly dumped and had taken back his feelings for her, the count and countest Chzlo had no reason not to cancel the engagement.

What was surprising was the fact that Bella still hadn't given up on James. "She's the one who said she wanted to break up. So, how does she think that's possible? No way. I heard she tried acting friendly at the Vanderbilt party, too, and she got humiliated. Bella has sent letters so many times and James Chzlo doesn't even reply." Just how big of a scandal it was that people even knew how many letters Bella sent and that James wasn't replying.

But Harriet didn't feel sorry for James. "That guy is ridiculous, too. He should apologize first for going around saying Cedric threatened Bella and stole her."

"Oh my, you said Cedric. That's so embarrassing. I'm getting goosebumps."

"Don't tease me." Harriet smiled shily like she was embarrassed. She didn't need to act. It really did feel like someone was tickling her, making her whole body twist up.

"You have to call me by my name anywhere, Miss Harriet. That way, we'll look much closer." She was following Cedric's request, but every time she called him by his name, it made her feel like this relationship could last forever, and she felt embarrassed because she knew that was only her own wishful thinking.

Anyway, thanks to that, Viviana didn't doubt their relationship and only excitedly kept talking about Bella. "I think the Chzlo family might even sue her for fraud and defamation."

"Defamation. Okay, but why fraud? Don't you remember? They even threw a party for Bella even though she wasn't married yet. And it's not like Lord Chzlo only gave her one or two gifts."

Only then did Harriet understand. There wasn't anyone who didn't know how huge the diamond on Bella's engagement ring was. So, they're saying she tricked them into giving her money and gifts by pretending it was for marriage. They say it's an insane amount. two diamond rings, a fox fur coat, so many dresses and shoes you can't even count, and they even gave her a horse. Viviana shook her head in disbelief. "Anyway, Bella's reputation has completely hit rock bottom. People are saying she ruined herself by weighing two men on a scale."

Harriet, who had been the subject of gossip many times herself, knew that wasn't all they were saying. They would definitely point fingers and call Bella a gold digger. And they would drag out the names of every man even slightly connected to her. Bella Lististerwell, who everyone thought was an angel, was actually a shameless woman who played with men. It was the perfect story for people to tear apart. Those nasty rumors spread unbelievably fast, and Harriet guessed that was one of Cedric's projects.

"Seriously, he's not a man you'd ever want as an enemy."

While Harriet swallowed a bitter laugh, Viviana took a sip of tea and suddenly clapped her hands like she had just remembered something. "Oh, Caroline Tarant abandoned Bella, too."

"Really? I expected it, but that was fast. Why?"

"I heard Bella promised to introduce her to a man close to the Duke of Kyas. She probably used her like crazy because of that excuse. Caroline already acted like Bella's personal maid for a long time, but it seems like Bella had been treating her even worse lately, enough to build up resentment. They say Caroline drew a clear line because she thought she'd end up getting caught up in bad rumors, too. So now Bella has no single friend left beside her."

"Well, that's not surprising. They didn't become friends at a friendship. It was just a relationship where they benefited from each other. It was a relationship that worked on completely different calculations than the normal idea of helping a friend in trouble. In that kind of relationship, if one side stopped being useful, the other leaving was only natural."

"How do you feel now, Bella?" Harriet smiled faintly as she remembered herself at 15 years old when Bella stole her friends and left her all alone. Back then, she had lost her parents, lost her friends, and the only people she had left were her uncle's family who bullied her. Her reputation formed no matter what she did. She had no one to ask for advice, so she couldn't even judge whether her actions were right or wrong, and she ended up being shaken around by whatever Jon said. She didn't even know how many times she had wanted to die.

"But your situation is better than mine. You still have your family beside you. Of course, it remains to be seen how long they'll keep holding Bella's hand."

Hiding those cold thoughts, Harriet smiled warmly at Viviana. The raspberry scented black tea tasted especially good today.

Thunk. Jon tossed a thin but heavy looking file folder on the table. Bella asked with her eyes what it was.

"It's an admission permit. You'll be going to a convent for a while."

"What?" She asked again, but Jon didn't answer.

Bella, completely stunned, asked again, "Did you just say a convent?"

"Yes, St. Evans Convent. St. Clarissa Convent says they won't accept short-term residents anymore."

"Dad, are you insane?" Bella jumped up and shouted, "How could you do this to me? Do you have any idea how much I've done for you until now?"

"I know that, but look at the situation. Everywhere you go, all people talk about is that drug and your broken engagement. Just hide for a while until things calm down."

"I'm never going. Just wait a little longer. If I calm James down, Bella." Jon finally snapped and shouted.

Bella froze in shock. Jon tried to suppress his anger and spoke in a hard voice, pressuring her. "James is already gone. He rejected your request to meet five times. Isn't it time you admitted it? If you make the Cheslo family even angrier, it might not end with just paying compensation."

Bella clenched her teeth tightly. James, who had begged desperately before, was now ignoring her like he wanted revenge. When she imagined him laughing at her while reading her letters like he'd done with Daphne's, she felt like she was going crazy. But Bella knew it, too. This situation wasn't James' fault or the Cheslo families.

"It's all because of the Duke of Kyas. He's the one who confused me and made things turn out this way. He's the one who ruined the engagement, so he needs to take responsibility."

"And where are you planning to claim that?" At John's question, Bella shut her mouth again. If she went around making that claim, it would be the same as admitting she'd been weighing James and Cedric at the same time. And now, even if she tried to hold a tea party, no one would come. Everyone who had been friendly to her completely turned against her after the Vanderbilt party.

"This is so damn annoying." Bella slammed her face on the table and cried bitterly. Jon also let out a deep sigh.

"And I still don't understand what Harriet's relation with the Duke of Kyas is. There's no way they're real lovers."

At that, Bella suddenly lifted her head. "That's right, Harriet. This is all because of her."

"Finally figured it out, huh? The thing I can't understand is what weakness that Duke of Kyas could possibly have that someone like Harriet could use to make him do this. It's definitely that brooch. Harriet brought back the previous Duke's relic from the kingdom ship before. I couldn't figure out what she demanded in return, but this was it."

To them, Harriet was always someone lacking in some way, so the idea that Cedric might have fallen for Harriet was impossible. And on the other hand, Harriet returning someone else's belongings without conditions was also something they couldn't understand. Anyway, completely convinced Harriet was behind this whole thing, Bella grit her teeth.

"I can't let you be the only one smiling." She wiped her wet cheeks with the back of her hand, then suddenly stood up. Before Jon could stop her, she ran outside.

"Terry prepared the carriage." Terry, the coachman, who had been brushing Solo the horse's coat, swallowed hard at Bella's hysterical voice. Whenever the angel-like young lady revealed her true self, something bad always happened.

Chapter 180.

The place Bella rushed to while pushing Terry to hurry was Count Pelen's mansion. She had already calculated that Harriet would willingly agree to meet her. She'll want to see me crying and begging. How fun would that be for her? Bella had even prepared an excuse to lower the Pelen household's guard. "I'll be leaving for a convent soon. Before that, I came to apologize to Harriet. If she refuses, there's nothing I can do. But could you at least deliver my message to her?"

Sure enough, the butler returned with Harriet's answer, saying she would meet her, and he guided Bella into the drawing room. In front of the servants, Bella acted fragile and pitiful, but as she walked through the hallway of the mansion, a cold smile appeared at the corner of her mouth. She hadn't come to ask for forgiveness or to beg for mercy. She came to scratch Harriet one more time, to give Harriet a wound she wouldn't be able to overcome.

"It's unfair if I'm the only one who cries while I'm stuck in a convent. I'll make you go crazy, too."

Inside Pelen's mansion, basically the enemy's territory, Bella stood up straight and pulled up her malice, wanting to rush at Harriet and kill her right then.

"Welcome. I'll skip the pointless greetings." Harriet, who had greeted her, had also thrown away any polite mask. Bella didn't even greet her in return. She scoffed and mocked her. "How the hell did you seduce the Duke of Kyass? That brooch you brought back from that drug den? That's it, right? It has to be. Otherwise, none of this makes sense." She also looked Harriet up and down.

But Harriet just shrugged casually and answered. "To love someone, you don't need the title of the most beautiful woman in high society or in a trade. You need sincerity."

"What? Sincerity? It's something you don't have. So even if I explained it, you wouldn't understand." Harriet's smacking mockery made Bella laugh loudly. "So that sincerity bought you a mistress position for that last two months. No, maybe one. Time is ticking right now. So what are you going to do? Isn't that such a waste?"

"It's not your situation you should worry about, Bella. Why worry about someone who's better off than you?"

At that Bella's expression instantly turned vicious. "You [ __ ] [ __ ] At least pretend to be elegant. You already gave up on that too. Don't act so proud. You're not better than me in single way. And you think your parents were something special? Don't fool yourself. They were all trash."

In that moment, Harriet saw the cruel hatred inside Bella's eyes. But before Harriet could even criticize her for it, Bella kept talking. It was when we were seven. You and I fell down the stairs once. There weren't even that many steps, and neither of us got seriously hurt, but it hurt, and we were scared, so we cried. We were kids, so of course we did. A short, stifled laugh escaped her, but she didn't stop speaking. But your parents came running like crazy, picked you up right away, and only checked how badly you were hurt, even though I was crying on the floor.

Bella enjoyed that Harriet couldn't answer. She had always wanted to tear down Harriet's respected father, the man she was constantly compared to, and now she was doing it right in front of her daughter. It felt like the climax of a play, like the rising tension right before destroying the villain.

"In the end, you and your parents only cared about yourselves, so don't point fingers at me and my family. That's what I'm saying."

While Bella looked strangely proud of herself, Harriet finally asked a question she had kept buried for a long time. "So, you killed my mother and father."

For a moment, the drawing room fell into silence. Bella blinked with her eyes wide, shocked that her words were taken away, and she answered without thinking. "How did you know that?"

Bella had come here to tell Harriet that her parents hadn't died in an accident. She wasn't worried about her old crime being exposed. Even if Harriet later claimed today's conversation proved murder, who would believe it? It had been more than 10 years, and there were no witnesses and no evidence. So Harriet, knowing her parents were murdered, yet unable to do anything, would obviously be furious and feel wronged to the point of going insane. She might even do something stupid and ruin her reputation again. That was why I came here. But Harriet was speaking as if she already knew the truth. Bella had even planned that if Harriet lost control and attacked her, she would pretend to beg for forgiveness and turn Harriet into the villain. But now that plan felt completely ruined.

Still, Bella didn't give up. She tried to provoke Harriet again. "Since we're talking about it, your parents were so stupid that they lost the family money here and there. If my dad became vice count list, he obviously would have done a much better job."

"How could you say that? My parents treated you and my uncle so well."

"That's what you think? It wasn't enough for me." Bella smiled, showing her teeth as if she was enjoying herself. "Someone with no ability taking responsibility for the whole family just because they were born first. That's something that makes way too many people unhappy. You and my uncle are the ones who took that position without any effort thanks to my parents dying and you still act proud. Don't you think that's too much?"

Seeing Harriet respond calmly made Bella's anger boil up. So Bella brought up something she never should have said out loud. "No way. I've never gotten anything without effort, Harriet. Finding glue that dissolves in water was luck, but killing your parents with it was my own effort."

"Glue?" Bella burst out laughing. Even now, she still thought her accident plan was perfect. I happened to read in a book how to make glue, and it said there were people who made defective glue using cheap materials. That made me curious. If it's really completely useless, why would anyone make it? What if it has another use? She didn't know why other people bought and used that glue, but young Bella thought of something. It would be good for killing someone. If you spread glue on the bottom of a boat and let it dry well, it looks like normal wood, but when it touches water, it slowly dissolves and disappears completely. Isn't that perfect for an uncle who loves boating? Gurgle, gurgle, John, save me. Bella even mocked Arthur by imitating the sounds of him dying.

When Bella saw Harriet's fists trembling with rage, she became even happier. She realized all over again that nothing in the world was more fun than crushing Harriet.

"You won't regret talking about that in front of me. What changes if you know it was over 10 years ago and there's no evidence anywhere and I'll just cry and say I never said anything like that or maybe you'll whine to your fixedterm lover. No matter how powerful the Duke of Kyas is, it'll be hard to create evidence that doesn't exist."

Harriet clenched her teeth as she looked at Bella, who was showing her the ugliest side of herself. Her head felt like it was going to burn with anger, but she had to endure this moment.

"My parents weren't angels. Of course not. But at least they tried to live kindly. But you, you who wear the most beautiful shell in the world and pretend to be an angel. You're nothing but a lump made of inferiority, jealousy, and a victim mentality. Pathetic and small, yet deluded into thinking you're great. You've grown up, Harriet. In the past, you only cried like a baby. I will never forgive you. Don't even hope for it."

"Who are you to say that? I'm the one who'll never leave you alone. Just wait." Bella left spitting vicious curses until the very end without a shred of regret. She looked like she hadn't taken any damage at all, but it was obvious she was furious that she failed to shake Harriet up. You could tell because she fired Terry just because he opened the carriage door a little too slowly. And four days later, Bella left for a convent that also served as a nursing retreat, using the excuse that she wasn't feeling well.

# SF #

Even the day after Bella came and made a scene, Harriet already had plans to meet Cedric. They were going to attend an event where members of the Imperial family's collateral line gathered together. They stayed tightly close like a couple that had just started dating, openly showing that they were in a relationship and at the same time pretending to whisper sweet words to each other while they worked.

"Bella came by yesterday. She said she'll be entering a convent soon. So, the Liststerwell family mainly leaves their problems to God. I didn't expect my uncle to take revenge for me." Harriet smiled brightly, being mindful of the people around them. Of course, it really was funny. The punishment of being locked away in a convent that had once been forced on her had now been given to Bella, too. There was no way Bella hadn't realized how completely their positions had reversed. Of course, Harriet didn't feel a tiny bit of sympathy.

"She came furious and cursed me. Then she confessed that she and them killed my parents. She even explained the method in detail. Did she decide prison would be better than a convent? I think she wanted to see me completely lose my mind. It happened a long time ago, and there's no evidence and no witnesses." Harriet knew it because she had experienced it many times. Confessing what she had done to Harriet, who couldn't do anything about it, had always been one of Bella's disgusting hobbies ever since she lived with the Listwell family. Harriet sighed. "And she's not wrong. I can't report my uncle's family with only her words. If I do, it'll backfire on me. So she"

Chapter 181.

"Oh, Cedric, it's nice to see your face after so long. Is the imperial princess doing well? It looks like she didn't come today."

"Greetings, Countest Dyel. My mother's chronic migraines flared up, so she unfortunately couldn't attend today."

"Oh my goodness. Ah, and this is my lover, Miss Harriet Lististerwell. Harriet, this is Countess Avery Dyrell, my great aunt."

Cedric introduced her, and Harriet was just about to bend her knees and greet her properly, but the countess spoke first, as if Harriet wasn't even there.

"By the way, I heard some good news recently. The youngest princess of the Aelone royal family who helped develop Simon is coming to our empire to study soon, isn't she?"

"That is true, but I don't think this is the right time to discuss that."

"What do you mean it isn't? Why would Aeloon send their princess to study abroad? It's because of you." The countest laughed brightly and slapped Cedric's arm. To anyone passing by, they might have looked friendly and warm, but it wasn't that kind of atmosphere at all because she was openly ignoring Harriet.

Of course, Cedric wasn't the type to let that slide. "Countest Dyrell. Perhaps you didn't hear my introduction earlier. I said, 'This young lady is my lover, Miss Harriet Lististerwell.'"

"Ah." Only then did the old lady look Harriet up and down with a crooked expression. It was clearly an emotion closer to disgust, but Harriet smiled brightly and bent her knees again. "It's an honor to meet you, Countess Dyrell. Your outfits are always so dignified and elegant. I've secretly admired your fashion sense for a long time."

"No need for flattery. Countest Pelen always makes sure you're dressed well anyway since she's wealthy." Even after receiving a compliment, the countest couldn't respond kindly. It seemed Harriet truly bothered her. Usually, the collateral relatives would naturally be careful around Cedric and watch their behavior. But there were also people like her, those who used their age and higher family rank to lecture him.

Cedric put on a cold smile and wrapped an arm around Harriet. "Countess, I would like to greet you longer, but there are many people I haven't seen in a while, so we'll be going."

But when Cedric tried to leave, Countest Dyel openly showed her displeasure. "I suppose I've upset you. Since we're already talking, I'll ask why this young lady. If you had chosen Bella Lististerwell instead, I could at least understand."

Harriet was slightly surprised by her bluntness, but she didn't panic. From the beginning, one important part of this plan was the fact that they were lovers of completely mismatched status. And because of that, they were able to take a blow to Bella. They had already discussed how to handle situations like this. Cedric was supposed to laugh lightly and give a vague, joking answer, as if it were a casual relationship that could end at any moment. That way, the other person couldn't argue too long and would back off.

But then Cedric started saying something Harriet didn't expect at all. "I would like to ask you something. Since when did you start interfering in your grand nephew's dating life?"

"Interfering? You are the Duke of Kyas. Do you not understand the influence your decisions and judgments carry?"

"I understand. That is why I'm saying this. Why are you trying to insert your personal opinion into my decision and judgment?" He truly seemed angry.

Cedric, Harriet whispered softly and tugged lightly at the edge of his jacket, but he didn't waver at all.

"Did the Aelone royal family contact you personally? Are you saying I'm recommending some ridiculous bride just to gain personal profit?"

"There are plenty of people who do. How rude. Do you think I'm someone without honor?"

"You are the one who presented a ridiculous woman as your lover, Cedric. How could you become blinded by love for a shameless [ __ ] like her?" She didn't seem like the type who feared the power of the Duke of Kyla's household very much. Harriet felt uncomfortable being caught between them, and could only keep an awkward smile, but Cedric pulled her into his arms more firmly and spoke.

"Whether I fall for a [ __ ] or fall for a saint, that decision is entirely mine. Something no one else can interfere with mine." It was a warning. Don't overstep your place and try to teach him.

"Huh, what an incredible love. We might as well call it the romance of the century. I'll be watching to see how it ends." In the end, Countest Dyel, completely offended, shot Harriet another sharp look and then turned away and left.

Harriet let out an awkward sigh at the conflict ending without being resolved. But Cedric pulled her into his arms more firmly and whispered, "I'm sorry for hurting you. Most people know to keep themselves in check, but there are always nosy old people like that."

"Hurt? Not at all. I'm fine. It's not like this was unexpected." But at that answer, Cedric looked like he was the one who got hurt, and he gently stroked Harriet's cheek. Harriet flinched in surprise, and he gave a bitter smile.

"From far away, it'll look like I'm comforting you because you're sad after hearing insults, even if in reality it's the opposite."

"Ah, that's true. Then keep doing it. Should I squeeze out a few tears, too?"

"No." Cedric let out a small laugh and leaned his head against the top of her head. Harriet blushed and smiled softly, too. The comforting her sadness image was gone now, but to anyone watching, they would definitely look like a couple deeply in love.

About 3 days passed after that, and Harriet received a sudden summons from Jeremiah. "I know it's rude, but could you visit the mansion tomorrow? People don't send invitations only one day before. Something serious must have happened." It finally came. Harriet's lips went dry, especially because of the final line attached to the invitation, which made her anxiety worse. "Don't tell Cedric. Come alone."

So Harriet couldn't ask Cedric for advice. She couldn't sleep at night either, and she stared at her pale, exhaustic face in the mirror and sighed. Before starting this romance, which began as a contract, Jeremiah was the part Harriet had worried about the most.

"Does the Duchess know, too?"

"Please tell her this isn't a plan Cedric is forcing through on his own. She doesn't. More specifically, she will only know that I have fallen in love. That is that okay? Until the operation succeeds, it's better if my mother doesn't know the details, but she will probably thank the heavens just because I'm dating someone at all, so you don't need to worry about her harming you." Cedric had promised so confidently that Harriet had felt relieved. But now that she received a letter from Jeremiah telling her to come to the Duke's mansion alone without even telling Cedric, her stomach tightened. Especially because of the last gathering, someone had openly attacked her.

"Okay, if she tells me to break up, I'll just say I understand and leave. She can't demand anything more from me than that, right? The Duke of Kyas will handle everything after that." Harriet thought hard to calm herself down, covering her dark circles under her eyes because she couldn't sleep, she headed to the Duke of Kyas's residence. Cedric had said he would be away from the mansion because he had business at the Imperial Palace. Arriving at the front gate in a hired carriage, Harriet was guided very politely to Jeremiah's tea room. Perhaps because the weather was clear, the tea room looked warm despite the winter, and black tea prepared exactly on time spread a deep fragrance.

"It's been a long time, ma'am." Harriet greeted her first, and Jeremiah, who had been looking at her with kind eyes, spoke, too.

"It has. When was the last time we met? Ah, maybe. I think this is the first time since the Duke's family party. Is that so? It really has been a long time. I should have invited you in the meantime, and at least served you tea."

"No, no, just hearing you say that is already more than enough. Thank you." Harriet sat across from Jeremiah, tense. The former imperial princess personally lifted the teapot and poured tea into Harriet's cup.

"There's no need to be so scared. I only called you because I wanted to talk a bit about wedding dresses and jewelry."

"Pardon?" Harriet thought she must have misheard. Wedding dresses?

"Ah, is it uncomfortable that I'm taking interest, but Countest Pelen is unwell and Miss Roxanna probably busy, so I thought it would be better for me since I have time to help. No. Um, who's getting married?"

"Well, who else? Cedric and Miss Harriet will be married." Ah, I said things in the wrong order. Jeremiah clapped her hands like she'd made a silly mistake and laughed awkwardly. "I'm sorry. I should have sent the formal proposal letter to the Pelen family first, but when I heard Cedric was getting married, I got too excited. What? But honestly, what does procedure matter? The two of you already decided, didn't you? So, let's deal with the urgent things first. Cedric said he wants to do it by no later than next summer, and if that's the case, we need to hurry starting now."

Harriet couldn't follow what Jeremiah was saying at all. Marriage. She had never heard anything about this from Cedric. But if I act like this is the first time hearing it, the Duchess will think I'm strange. Harriet tried to feel resentment towards Cedric for bringing up marriage without discussing it with her first, but she decided to try and brush it off without looking awkward.

Chapter 182.

"I don't even know where to put myself when you welcome me so warmly. Honestly, I thought you might oppose this, ma'am."

"Hm. To be blunt, I'm not someone who has the right to interfere in Cedric's dating or marriage. I don't have that qualification, and I trust his judgment. But, but I don't really have anything, and there were those unpleasant incidents in my past. At one point, I did want to test you, Miss Harriet. If you had gone around boasting about your connection to her majesty, the Empress, I would have been disappointed." Harriet wondered why the empress was suddenly being mentioned, then searched her memory and recalled that Anastasia had once protected her. Jeremiah's influence must have been behind that. So, she wasn't helping me just because she heard Cedric's story. She was watching me. A chill ran down Harriet's spine. If she had tried to exploit that luck for more than just getting through a crisis, what would have happened?

"Her Majesty, the Empress, also thinks highly of you. There are plenty of people who desperately try to grab onto any kind of imperial connection, but she said you are humble and wise. I was just I couldn't even believe I was invited that day. You're shy like this, yet I hear you're quite bold outside. Cedric said that's what he fell for. Ho ho ho." Jeremiah looked delighted, as if she were genuinely excited about her future daughter-in-law. Harriet, however, had no idea how to react anymore and could only smile along.

Meanwhile, Jeremiah kept moving things forward at her own pace. "Do you have a dress designer in mind?"

"No." She had only heard about the marriage today. There was no way she had thought about a wedding dress.

"Then how about having it made at Cervves? Since they work with the Imperial family, they're considered the best in the Empire. Actually, I saw a dress there yesterday that I thought would suit you perfectly. Ah, am I being too pushy? You probably have your own dream wedding or dress in mind. I'm sorry." Now that Harriet looked more closely, Jeremiah seemed extremely excited. her flushed cheeks, the constant smile on her face. Harriet felt terrible about disappointing her expectations, but there was nothing she could do except go along with it.

"No, Cervich sounds wonderful. Really? If you're just agreeing because of me, don't hesitate to say so. Or shall we look around other boutiques together?" Harriet shook her head repeatedly and reassured her several times that she truly liked the idea. Then Jeremiah moved on to listing jewelers. "Lundberg, where Cedric brought your earrings, is good. Dicapo and Angelus are popular. I'll have the jewelers come to the mansion soon so you can look at everything and choose what you like."

"H how do I even know what to do with myself? How long was this fraud going to continue? Once dresses were ordered and deposits paid for jewelry, the losses would be enormous. I think I really need to talk to Cedric about this, ma'am."

"Oh my, I like how you call him Cedric. Do you have any other nicknames?"

"What? Uh, not yet."

"When you want to tease him, try calling him Si. You'll see something very entertaining," Jeremiah whispered mischievously. While Harriet stood there flustered, Jeremiah smoothly returned to the topic of wedding preparations. "Anyway, let's do this for the dresses and jewelry instead of consulting Cedric. Whatever you choose, I'll pay for it. Ma'am, you can call me mother now. Ho ho."

In front of Jeremiah, who looked genuinely happy, Harriet felt time passing unbearably slowly. The guilt of deceiving someone who was sincerely happy about her son's romance in marriage made her want to run away. The moment she was finally allowed to leave with a "let's meet again soon," Harriet immediately went to find Cedric. Fortunately, she didn't have to wait long on the main road leading from the Imperial Palace before she spotted his carriage returning. She ran straight in front of it, stopped it, and jumped inside.

"What kind of dangerous thing are you doing, Harriet? You could have been hurt."

"That's not what matters, Cedric. This is serious. Really serious." Harriet grabbed the sleeve of his jacket and shook it frantically. "Why did you announce our marriage without telling me anything? I was summoned by the duchess today."

"My mother summoned you? What happened?"

"She said she'll buy my wedding dress and the jewelry set for the ceremony." Even as she explained, cold sweat broke out. "What do we do? She said there's no time and wants to move forward as quickly as possible. But if we sign contracts and then cancel, that's actual fraud."

"So, she wasn't scolding, but discussing wedding preparations."

"Yes, she completely believes we're really getting married." Harriet felt like she was burning up inside, but Cedric looked perfectly calm.

"Don't worry about it."

"How can I not worry? She wants me to order a dress from Cerv and she plans to invite jewelers at Lundberg's level. Just thinking about how much that costs makes me feel like I can't breathe." When Harriet's face truly turned pale, Cedric finally placed a hand on her back.

"There's no need to panic. Choose carefully, just like a real bride preparing for her wedding. I'll take care of everything afterwards, so don't worry."

"How are you going to handle the penalties? I mean, I know you're rich, but that's still money being thrown away."

"Our plan is working exactly as intended. That's far more important to me. Everyone who approached me under the excuse of introductions or matchmaking has disappeared, and the opposition that tried to label me an irresponsible head of the family, uninterested in producing an heir, has also backed off." Really? He smiled slightly and lowered his voice. "And this period, where I look completely absorbed in wedding preparations, will seem like the perfect opportunity for them. They'll rush to attack me before I'm fully prepared. And plans made in haste always have holes. Ah, so don't worry about penalties. Just act like a happy bride to be. No, don't even think about acting. Just enjoy the situation. Can you do that?"

After hearing him save that much, Harriet began to feel resolute. Right. Cedric Kais wouldn't mention marriage without thinking it through. She was a little hurt that he hadn't told her first, but he must have had his reasons. What mattered more was that she was helping him right now. Harriet nodded firmly.

"Okay, I'll do my best."

"Thank you." Cedric even offered to escort her all the way home, playing the role of a devoted lover perfectly. Only after she waved and entered the mansion did he slowly lower his own hand and let his smile fade.

"That was close. He hadn't expected Jeremiah to move this quickly, blurting out that he'd marry Harriet in front of her the night before had truly been an accident. Countest Dy roll hesited this morning. Did she talk about Harriet? You already know, so tell me, are you truly serious about Miss Harriet? If not, don't sacrifice an innocent"

person. End it cleanly. Cedric was slightly surprised by her intuition that this relationship might be fake, but there was no reason for him to back down. To him, it was real.

"I don't know what you mean. I can roughly guess why you created the situation, but you should think about Harriet, too. You shouldn't use someone who helped you and then throw her away."

She seemed to be believing Harriet was being used without understanding anything, and that once everything was over, she would be discarded with a bit of money. At first, Cedric brushed it off, saying that wasn't the case and that he truly loved her. But Jeremiah's next words made him lose his patience.

"Mother, I'll say this clearly right now. I am going to marry Harriet. I'm so eager to be with her that it's physically painful. Are you saying you intend to oppose that?"

"Are you serious? Have I ever joked about something like this? At the latest, I want to bring her here before next summer sends."

Jeremiah looked extremely shocked, but not wanting to argue further, Cedric returned to his room. He hadn't expected her to act faster than he did. But now that things had come to this, following through with the words he'd blurted out didn't seem so bad.

"The problem is that I have to win Harriet over by then," he chuckled slightly. "Perhaps my mother's suspicion was correct. The one giving false hope was Harriet, and the one slowly withering was him."

But he had no intention of just waiting and hoping. The kiss they would share at the wedding altar would definitely be sweet, a moment filled only with happiness, where Harriet wouldn't look like she was about to cry or try to run away. That's what he intended to make happen.

Chapter 183.

It felt like the cold wind had only just begun yesterday, but before she knew it, it was already the last week of December, the week of the Holy Festival. In the meantime, many things in Harriet's situation had changed. First of all, attempts to belittle or mock her in high society had almost disappeared. That was thanks to how firmly Cedric showed his affection for his lover. On the other hand, that also meant more people started approaching her, hoping to use her connections or ask for favors.

"I'll take this chance to apologize. I thought that once you became a duke, life would be easy. But even I'm getting clung to like this when I'm not even a duchess, just a lover. How much harassment do you go through exactly?" Harriet said this while rubbing her throbbing temples.

"If you cut them off coldly, they'll eventually stop approaching you carelessly. Right now, it's because you look easy to deal with."

"Then how do I stop looking easy?"

"Look at everyone who tries to use you the same way you look at Bella Lististerwell."

"Ah, that makes it instantly clear." She nodded in understanding, then sighed and looked out the window. They were on their way together to St. Clarissa Convent for the Holy Festival week. It felt exciting since it had been a while, and she was curious how Clarissa was doing now, but at the same time, she was nervous and uneasy, afraid of how people there would react when they heard that she and Cedric were lovers.

"I feel like I might get punished."

"Who would dare punish you? When people hear I'm your lover, they think I'm practically the Duchess already."

"Leaving that misunderstanding alone is a kind of lie, too. And if I lie to the abbis, I feel like Lord Yahwar won't let it slide. I've thought this before, but you really are devout. You're afraid of divine punishment."

At his lightly teasing comment, Harriet just shrugged. Honestly, lying to others wasn't that big of a deal. The real problem was that she was genuinely enjoying this time-limited pretend relationship.

"If this ends, I might really act like someone who got dumped." She wondered if agreeing to date him had been a dream. But Cedric was playing the role of a perfect lover. He was polite to other women, but never particularly kind. So when he showed gentle warmth only to her, it made her realize, "Ah, we really are lovers." Even now, despite her being bundled up in layers, he still tried to give his coat to her, saying she must be cold.

"I'm fine. If you give that to me, you'll be cold."

"I'm fine as well. Compared to the battlefield, this level of cold is nothing."

"This isn't a battlefield. Being overconfident about your health is a bad habit. If you catch a cold, people will tease you, saying, 'Even a war hero caught one.'"

Even after she refused that much, Cedric still seemed worried and offered a compromise.

"Then let's share it."

"What?"

Before Harriet could fully process what he meant, Cedric took off his coat, pulled her close to sit right next to him, and draped it over them both like they were sharing a blanket. Because he was large, the coat itself was big, but sharing meant their bodies had to be pressed close together.

"Um, you don't really have to do this."

"The human body is a very good heat source. This way, it'll definitely be warmer," as if he truly meant to share body heat. He practically held her in his arms. Her heart was pounding so hard she felt like she might throw up, but it wasn't unpleasant.

"If I can enjoy it, I should enjoy it." Repeating the motto of this time-limited love to herself once more, Harriet leaned against him slightly, as if she couldn't help it.

"Well, it is warm." From above her head, she felt Cedric's breath warm and amused, as if he were smiling.

When they arrived, St. Clarissa convent looked different from the last time she had seen it. It felt much brighter, like a lively small village.

"Welcome, Duke of Kylus. Welcome, Sister Harriet."

"Abbis Catherine, I've missed you." Harriet hugged Catherine warmly. She looked a bit thinner than when they met in April's, which made her worried.

"Are you unwell? You look like you've lost weight."

"I think I've just lost some weight from being busy. It used to be a quiet convent, but now it's lively from morning to night." That didn't seem like a lie. On the news that a high-ranking noble was visiting from the capital, children from the Effer orphanage were crowded beyond the wall, peeking over to look at them. Just seeing their bright, curious eyes made it easy to imagine how noisy the convent had become.

"Wow, he looks unreal. He's like a prince. Are all nobles that handsome?"

Embarrassed by the girl's whispers, Catherine quickly led Cedric and Harriet to the Abbis' office. Only after closing the old wooden door did they finally find enough quiet to talk. Vice Abbis Agnes, who was with them, served plain tea in simple cups and asked, "How did the two of you come together this time? Did you ask the Duke about his destination in advance, Sister Harriet?" Everyone recalled the past incident when Cedric had taken Harriet with him after she was stranded at the convent during the snow and couldn't hire a carriage. Harriet realized again how many times she and Cedric had crossed paths and gave an awkward smile. Now was the moment to make a confession mixed with truth and lies.

"Well, actually, it seems the rumors from Geneva haven't reached this far. We've been lovers for quite some time now."

"What? Lovers?"

Cedric answered in Harriet's place as she hesitated, and as expected, Catatherine and Agnes were shocked. Surprisingly, the shock didn't last long. What Catherine said next was even more shocking to Harriet.

"So, it finally turned out this way, too. I had a feeling for some time."

"What? This time, Harriet was the one asking. What do you mean you had a feeling, Abbis?"

"Well, this might be rude to the Duke of Kylus, but I wondered if he would really be this kind to a woman he had no personal feelings for. Every time he visited, he would ask about you or mention you."

"I can't argue with someone blessed with divine insight. She's right. From the very first visit, I already had a lot of interest in Harriet." Cedric, I'm serious. I just didn't realize it myself back then." The way he smiled was oddly playful. his eyebrows lifting slightly as if he were in a very good mood. Watching the two of them communicate with just their eyes, Catherine smiled warmly and offered their blessing.

"They say that when Yalar created humans, he deliberately removed a piece and placed it in the person who would become their other half. Forgive my boldness, but I believe the two of you have finally found those missing pieces."

Harriet's face turned bright red. She had often wondered who might fill the empty space in her, whether such a person even existed. But unaware of Harriet's inner thoughts, Catherine continued and offered a prayer for them.

"Oh Yahwir, who set the order of all things and governs their flow. Please bless these two who will become each other's whole. Allow them to build their nest in your garden and to enjoy the complete happiness they gain together."

The low, gentle prayer echoing in the simple, tidy room soothed Harriet's worries in an instant.

"Don't think about unnecessary things. For now, just do my best as I am." Hadn't she decided to help Cedric? Then she just needed to stay faithful to that plan. Cedric, looking at her, had completely different thoughts in his eyes, but Harriet couldn't imagine what they were.

After the prayer and words of blessing, the two of them made a large donation in their joint names.

"My share isn't actually that much, but Cedric insisted we do it together," as Harriet added shily, Catherine looked at her kindly.

"The share of devotion you have toward the convent is probably greater. Of course, I can guarantee that." They laughed cheerfully and stood up.

Next, they went to check on the current state of Clarissa, which Harriet had entrusted to Emma. Though Harriet now remained only as an adviser, Cedric as the sole investor was in a position to give opinions on the business. Emma, seeing Harriet after a long time, ran over at full speed and hugged her tightly.

"Sister Harriet."

"Emma, have you been well? I feel like I'm dying, but also like I'm alive. I don't even know what I'm saying, but basically I'm happy." She smiled much more than before, her expression bright. It was hard to imagine the cold, distant version of her from before. Because of that, her beauty seemed to have blossomed as well.

"You've completely lost that girlish air, Emma. It wouldn't be strange at all if you received a marriage proposal now."

"I'm not interested in marriage. Just thinking about how to grow Clarissa keeps me busy all day." That wasn't bragging. Emma truly worked as if she had devoted everything to Clarissa. She developed various soaps and herbal products and worked hard to promote honey and beeswax products. Thanks to that, a new trend had even formed. A night lit by convent candles. People would light Clarissa's high-quality candles and read scripture or pray, finding peace of mind.

"You've really worked hard. I stop by the Clarissa shop whenever I have time, and it's always full of customers. You are more suited to being the head than I ever was."

"Oh, that's too much." Emma waved her hands awkwardly at the praise. Playful exclamations rose around them, and Harriet laughed freely with everyone for the first time in a long while.

On the way back, Harriet kept glancing back toward the convent, murmuring regretfully. "I'm already worried about how I'll explain things to the abbus later. We even received a blessing meant for an engaged couple. There won't be anything to correct later."

"What? Why?"

"I promised I wouldn't put you in a difficult position."

"Ah, thank you." Harriet assumed Cedric meant he would explain things to Catherine on her behalf, but his true thoughts were completely different.

"If we get married, there will be nothing to explain." with the satisfaction of having received.

Chapter 184.

Once the New Year prayer meeting ended, Harriet had something she could no longer postpone. The preparations for the fake wedding.

"I've secured the chapel at St. Paulo Cathedral. Countest Liilburn, the head of the ladies association, put in a lot of effort, so make sure you thank her properly later." Jeremiah, who had summoned Harriet and Cedric, spoke excitedly, clearly proud that she had secured the largest wedding hall.

"And this is the list of people we'll be sending invitations to. It's a bit long, but you should look it over."

"Yes, I asked Bishop Klouse Far to give the congratulatory address. I told him not to make it too long, but don't expect much. Still, there's no one more suitable. Bishop Farvin is acceptable, and I've requested a choir as well. A ceremony with only instruments feels very different from one with a full chorus."

"I understand." As Harriet had said before, neither Trisha nor Roxanna was in a position to help with the wedding preparations, so Jeremiah was handling all the major matters herself. As someone who had long maintained her position as both the Imperial Princess and Duchess, she worked boldly yet meticulously. Watching her, Harriet felt a little sorry for whoever would become the next Duchess of Kyas. No matter how capable she was, she would inevitably be compared to Jeremiah.

Feeling slightly overwhelmed, Harriet was quietly listening to the mother and son when Jeremiah turned her gaze toward her.

"Oh, right. For the front row on the bride's side, it'll be Countest Pelen and Miss Roxanna. Is that all right?"

"Of course. But will you be sitting alone, ma'am?" As Harriet asked while looking down at the seating chart, Jeremiah nodded casually.

"The only close enough relative to sit with me would be his majesty, the emperor, and the imperial family has a separate section."

Then Cedric spoke up.

"Don't sit alone. Prepare a seat next to you for Count Weaver as well."

"Huh, Samuel?"

"But he's waited long enough, hasn't he? Making the relationship official on this occasion wouldn't be a bad thing."

At those words, Jeremiah's eyes trembled. Seating her lover in such an important place at the wedding was something unimaginable for the Cedric she had known in the past.

"Are you serious?"

"I think father would have wanted that as well." Even Cedric himself was a little surprised to the moment he said it. He realized how naturally he believed that his father would not have wanted his mother to remain lonely. Perhaps Harriet was the reason he had come to understand that if I were to die first and leave Harriet behind, the thing I'd worry about most would be her living alone. Only now did he understand why his father had so earnestly asked him to look after his mother before closing his eyes. And Samuel Weaver, yes, a man who had stayed quietly in the shadows, protecting his mother's side for years. He deserved recognition now.

"Thank you, Cedric." Her whispered voice, trembling with tears, was filled with emotions that couldn't be summed up in a single word. gratitude, longing, guilt, sorrow, joy, and sadness. While Jeremiah pulled out a handkerchief to dab at her eyes, Harriet poked Cedric in the side.

"Hurry and hug him," she mouthed the words silently. Cedric tilted his head in confusion, so Harriet poked him harder. He thought there was no need to stage such an embarrassing scene, but since it was Harriet's command, he had no choice but to comply. He went over and awkwardly hugged his mother. And suddenly Jeremiah burst into loud sobs.

"Sniff. Cedric. Cedric." He had never seen his mother cry like this before, and he was deeply flustered. Meanwhile, Harriet, as if she had expected it, sat down on Jeremiah's other side and gently rubbed her back to comfort her. Over Jeremiah's head, buried in her handkerchief as she sobbed, their eyes met. Harriet smiled as if to say, "You did well. I owe you another debt." Cedric felt sincere gratitude toward Harriet for soothing even the parts of his mother's heart he himself hadn't properly cared for. Thanks to that, things between him and his mother would likely feel more comfortable from now on.

After crying her fill in the arms of her son and future daughter-in-law, Jeremiah finally straightened up, looking embarrassed but refreshed, and spoke in her usual cheerful tone.

"All right, leave all the annoying stuff to me, and you two focus on the dress and jewelry, Cedric. You can escort her properly, can't you?"

"I learned how to do it when I was young, but I'm not sure I can do it without mistakes." At that joke, Jeremiah and Harriet burst out laughing.

Two days later, the two of them visited Servage to finish the final fitting. Following the superstition that the groom shouldn't see the wedding dress before the ceremony, Cedric waited outside. When Harriet came out after the fitting, she looked oddly tired.

"Good work." She let out a heavy sigh a moment she saw him, then asked weakly.

"That dress, how much was it again? I told you not to worry about it. 98,000 dirhams, right? I haven't forgotten. There's no way I could." He didn't know what the dress looked like, but considering how Jeremiah, who had finalized the contract with Harriet, had fussed, saying, "You might cry when you see Harriet at the wedding, it was surely beautiful." That was why Harriet couldn't understand why Harriet, who must have been showered with praise by the staff, looked so gloomy.

"Is the money really bothering you that much? I guess I'm just not cut out for being rich. Thinking about the money being thrown away on a dress and jewelry makes me break out in cold sweat."

"Both can be resold, so there's no need to worry too much. Of course, we have to resell it to make up the loss, but we won't get the original price back. The jewelry, maybe, but the dress, it's such a beautiful dress." Her muttering was full of regret, just as Jeremiah had said. The dress Harriet had chosen suited her perfectly. Could I buy it back myself? That thought crossed her mind, but the price of a dress made by a shop that clothed the imperial family was far beyond what a minor noble lady could afford. 98,000 dirhams. It really is too expensive for just one dress. But giving it to someone else, it felt like a waste. She'd never been greedy about clothes before, but for some reason she wanted that wedding dress desperately, even though she didn't know when she'd ever wear it again or if she ever would.

Watching her from the side, Cedric roughly guessed what was going on and smiled secretly. "So, she's worried about that beautiful dress being sold to someone else." He felt a little sorry for Harriet, but that worry was unnecessary. Even if everything went wrong, a wedding dress prepared for a ducal wedding could never be passed on to another woman. That dress could only ever be worn by Harriet.

"I'm glad she truly likes it." Satisfied, Cedric headed with her to Lundberg. They'd called in several jewelers of the same rank to view their items, but after seeing the expensive jewelry and turning pale, Harriet asked Cedric to just choose for me. Since the earrings he had bought before suited her perfectly, Cedric chose Lundberg again without hesitation. Thanks to the fame it had gained, its owner, Damen Lundberg, welcomed the couple with a broad smile.

"As requested, I've prepared pieces that would suit Miss Lististerwell. Please come this way." On the large table in the inner room he led them to, various accessories and tiaras were neatly arranged. Most were diamonds with different accent gemstones or slightly varied styles. They all shared two things. They sparkled beautifully and their prices were enough to make one's eyes pop out of.

"Recently, brides prefer not to wear strict sets, but to mix matching pieces. For example, if you choose a very ornate tiara, you might skip the necklace and wear only earrings and a ring. or keep the tiarara simple and emphasize the other jewelry." His explanation was serious and passionate, but very little of it stayed in her head. You can only remember what you know, and she had never worn jewelry this expensive in her life. No, not until the earrings Cedric had given her.

"Please take your time and let me know." After finishing his explanation, the owner stepped aside to give them space to discuss. Only then was Harriet finally able to open her mouth.

Chapter 185.

"We need to get out of here quickly. No matter how powerful you are, there's no way you can easily brush off wedding preparations that involve things like this." What she was pointing at was a famous diamond necklace known as Elevena's tears. It was said that a certain foreign martianist had once tried to buy it, but couldn't finish paying the full price. So, it wandered from place to place. In the end, it drifted all the way to the empire without ever being sold.

"You seem to like it."

"No, no. I'm just using it as an example. If the wedding doesn't actually take place, the jewelry you choose won't be shown publicly anyway. More importantly, is there anything here that you do like?"

"Wouldn't it be faster to ask if there's anything I don't like? They're all beautiful."

At that, Cedric chuckled, then lightly bumped her shoulder with his and whispered teasingly, "Choose whatever you want. The more expensive the better. My enemies need to believe I'm completely smitten with you so they'll feel at ease."

"Huh? I'm really going to trust you on this. Your grace."

"Cedric."

"What?"

"You should call me Cedric. I've never seen someone so serious about deceiving others like you. No, wait. Since Bella. Since Bella. You're the first, Cedric." Even though it was half sarcastic, he burst out laughing. Thanks to that, Harriet relaxed a little and hesitantly pointed at the tiara. she had been eyeing for a while.

"When I was little, I used to imagine getting married like a princess wearing something like this. Is that childish?"

"No, it would suit you very well." The headpiece, decorated with several pearls and diamonds, was delicate and elegant. Among all the tiaras there, it was also the smallest. Cedric gently placed the tiara on Harriet's head. Then he observed her stiff, frozen posture, as if she were afraid the tiara might fall and break. Her expression was awkward, but just as she said, she looked like a princess with it on.

"This is enough for me. If I wear this along with the earrings you entrusted to me, I think it'll be fine, since it won't actually go as far as a wedding, saying that shouldn't cause any problems." Harriet still thought of the diamond earrings he had given her as merely entrusted to her. Cedric didn't correct that misunderstanding, worried she might make a fuss if she thought of them as a gift. She probably finds it hard to choose on her own. Cedric nodded lightly and called the jeweler. Damen entered the room with a warm smile and asked gently.

"So, how was it? Did you find something among our pieces that you like?"

"Ah, you chose the tiara. I thought it would suit you. You have excellent taste."

"Haha, really?" Harriet laughed awkwardly, still uncomfortable with the tiara on her head, and Damen nodded enthusiastically.

"Finding pearls with such uniform shape and color is already difficult. On top of that, they're the finest Luma mountain pearls, and the diamonds filling the rest of the tiara are also top grade. That's why it's the most expensive piece here, but also the most beautiful."

"The most expensive?" Harriet's eyes widened in shock. She had chosen it partly because it was the one she liked most, but also because she thought its small size meant it would be the cheapest. Reading her thoughts clearly, Cedric smirked and pointed to another item on the table.

"I'd like to contract these earrings as well."

"Oh, excellent choice. Personally, I think you could go even bolder, but this combination is romantic and lovely in its own way."

"Cedric, adding that too is a bit..."

"The earrings I gave you before don't match this tiara. They're too extravagant and are better worn alone. These are more suitable instead. We'll skip the necklace. The bride's opinion is the most important. What do you think, Miss?" Damian asked gently, but in truth, the answer was already decided. How could she possibly reject what Cedric had chosen? Believing that skipping the necklace was his way of being considerate, Harriet nodded.

"Please do it that way."

"Understood. The tiara is a one-of-a-kind piece, so once payment is made, you may take it immediately. The earrings, however, will need to be newly made, so it will take about 2 months. Will that be acceptable?" Cedric answered without hesitation.

"We'll receive the tiara and earrings on the same day. We'll leave a deposit for now. Also, please make sure the diamonds used for the earrings are the same grade as the ones on the tiara. These seem slightly yellow."

"Very few people can tell the difference, as expected of the Duke. We'll make them exactly as you requested." Damen bowed politely, his face full of admiration and joy, then excused himself to prepare the receipt. Only then did Harriet carefully remove the tiara from her head, place it back where it had been, and finally let out the breath she had been holding.

"I'll say it again. I've never seen someone so committed to deceiving people since Bella. No, wait. Since Bella, you're the first, Cedric." Even though it was half sarcastic, he burst out laughing. Thanks to that, Harriet relaxed a little and hesitantly pointed at the tiara she had been eyeing for a while.

"When I was little, I used to imagine getting married like a princess wearing something like this. Is that childish?"

"No, it would suit you very well." The headpiece decorated with several pearls and diamonds was delicate and elegant. Among all the tiaras there, it was also the smallest. Cedric gently placed the tiara on Harriet's head. Then he observed her stiff, frozen posture, as if she were afraid the tiara might fall and break. Her expression was awkward, but just as she said, she looked like a princess with it on.

"This is enough for me. If I wear this along with the earrings you entrusted to me, I think it'll be fine, since it won't actually go as far as a wedding." Saying that shouldn't cause any problems. Harriet still thought of the diamond earrings he had given her as merely entrusted to her. Cedric didn't correct that misunderstanding, worried she might make a fuss if she thought of them as a gift. She probably finds it hard to choose on her own. Cedric nodded lightly and called the jeweler. Damen entered the room with a warm smile and asked gently.

"So, how was it? Did you find something among our pieces that you like?"

"Ah, you chose the tiara. I thought it would suit you. You have excellent taste. Haha. Really?" Harriet laughed awkwardly, still uncomfortable with the tiara on her head, and Damen nodded enthusiastically.

"Finding pearls with such uniform shape and color is already difficult. On top of that, they're the finest Luma mountain pearls. And the diamonds filling the rest of the tiara are also top grade. That's why it's the most expensive piece here, but also the most beautiful."

"The most expensive." Harriet's eyes widened in shock. She had chosen it partly because it was the one she liked most, but also because she thought its small size meant it would be the cheapest. Reading her thoughts clearly, Cedric smirked and pointed to another item on the table.

"I'd like to contract these earrings as well."

"Oh, excellent choice. Personally, I think you could go even bolder, but this combination is romantic and lovely in its own way."

"Cedric, adding that too is a bit..."

"The earrings I gave you before don't match this tiara. They're too extravagant and are better worn alone. These are more suitable instead. We'll skip the necklace. The bride's opinion is the most important. What do you think, Miss?" Damian asked gently, but in truth, the answer was already decided. How could she possibly reject what Cedric had chosen? Believing that skipping the necklace was his way of being considerate, Harriet nodded.

"Please do it that way."

"Understood. The tiara is a one-of-a-kind piece, so once payment is made, you may take it immediately. The earrings, however, will need to be newly made, so it will take about 2 months. Will that be acceptable?" Cedric answered without hesitation.

"We'll receive the tiara and earrings on the same day. We'll leave a deposit for now. Also, please make sure the diamonds used for the earrings are the same grade as the ones on the tiara. These seem slightly yellow."

"Very few people can tell the difference, as expected of the Duke. We'll make them exactly as you requested." Damen bowed politely, his face full of admiration and joy, then excused himself to prepare the receipt. Only then did Harriet carefully remove the tiara from her head, place it back where it had been, and finally let out the breath she had been holding.

"I'll say it again. I've never seen someone so committed to deceiving people since Bella. No, wait, since Bella. You're the first, Cedric." Even though it was half sarcastic, he burst out laughing. Thanks to that, Harriet relaxed a little and hesitantly pointed at the tiara she had been eyeing for a while.

"When I was little, I used to imagine getting married like a princess wearing something like this. Is that childish?"

"No, it would suit you very well." The headpiece decorated with several pearls and diamonds was delicate and elegant. Among all the tiaras there, it was also the smallest. Cedric gently placed the tiara on Harriet's head. Then he observed her stiff, frozen posture, as if she were afraid the tiara might fall and break. Her expression was awkward, but just as she said, she looked like a princess with it on.

"This is enough for me. If I wear this along with the earrings you entrusted to me, I think it'll be fine, since it won't actually go as far as a wedding." Saying that shouldn't cause any problems. Harriet still thought of the diamond earrings he had given her as merely entrusted to her. Cedric didn't correct that misunderstanding, worried she might make a fuss if she thought of them as a gift. She probably finds it hard to choose on her own. Cedric nodded lightly and called the jeweler. Damian entered the room with a warm smile and asked gently.

"So, how was it? Did you find something among our pieces that you like?"

"Ah, you chose the tiara. I thought it would suit you. You have excellent taste. Haha. Really?" Harriet laughed awkwardly, still uncomfortable with the tiara on her head, and Damen nodded enthusiastically.

"Finding pearls with such uniform shape and color is already difficult. On top of that, they're the finest Luma mountain pearls. And the diamonds filling the rest of the tiara are also top grade. That's why it's the most expensive piece here, but also the most beautiful."

"The most expensive." Harriet's eyes widened in shock. She had chosen it partly because it was the one she liked most, but also because she thought its small size meant it would be the cheapest. Reading her thoughts clearly, Cedric smirked and pointed to another item on the table.

"I'd like to contract these earrings as well."

"Oh, excellent choice. Personally, I think you could go even bolder, but this combination is romantic and lovely in its own way."

"Cedric, adding that too is a bit..."

"The earrings I gave you before don't match this tiara. They're too extravagant and are better worn alone. These are more suitable instead. We'll skip the necklace. The bride's opinion is the most important. What do you think, Miss?" Damian asked gently, but in truth, the answer was already decided. How could she possibly reject what Cedric had chosen? Believing that skipping the necklace was his way of being considerate, Harriet nodded.

"Please do it that way."

"Understood. The tiara is a one-of-a-kind piece, so once payment is made, you may take it immediately. The earrings, however, will need to be newly made, so it will take about 2 months. Will that be acceptable?" Cedric answered without hesitation.

"We'll receive the tiara and earrings on the same day. We'll leave a deposit for now. Also, please make sure the diamonds used for the earrings are the same grade as the ones on the tiara. These seem slightly yellow."

"Very few people can tell the difference, as expected of the Duke. We'll make them exactly as you requested." Damen bowed politely, his face full of admiration and joy, then excused himself to prepare the receipt. Only then did Harriet carefully remove the tiara from her head, place it back where it had been, and finally let out the breath she had been holding.

"I'll say it again. I've never seen someone so committed to deceiving people since Bella. No, wait, since Bella. You're the first, Cedric." Even though it was half sarcastic, he burst out laughing. Thanks to that, Harriet relaxed a little and hesitantly pointed at the tiara she had been eyeing for a while.

"When I was little, I used to imagine getting married like a princess wearing something like this. Is that childish?"

"No, it would suit you very well." The headpiece decorated with several pearls and diamonds was delicate and elegant. Among all the tiaras there, it was also the smallest. Cedric gently placed the tiara on Harriet's head. Then he observed her stiff, frozen posture, as if she were afraid the tiara might fall and break. Her expression was awkward, but just as she said, she looked like a princess with it on.

"This is enough for me. If I wear this along with the earrings you entrusted to me, I think it'll be fine, since it won't actually go as far as a wedding." Saying that shouldn't cause any problems. Harriet still thought of the diamond earrings he had given her as merely entrusted to her. Cedric didn't correct that misunderstanding, worried she might make a fuss if she thought of them as a gift. She probably finds it hard to choose on her own. Cedric nodded lightly and called the jeweler. Damian entered the room with a warm smile and asked gently.

"So, how was it? Did you find something among our pieces that you like?"

"Ah, you chose the tiara. I thought it would suit you. You have excellent taste. Haha. Really?" Harriet laughed awkwardly, still uncomfortable with the tiara on her head, and Damen nodded enthusiastically.

"Finding pearls with such uniform shape and color is already difficult. On top of that, they're the finest Luma mountain pearls. And the diamonds filling the rest of the tiara are also top grade. That's why it's the most expensive piece here, but also the most beautiful."

"The most expensive." Harriet's eyes widened in shock. She had chosen it partly because it was the one she liked most, but also because she thought its small size meant it would be the cheapest. Reading her thoughts clearly, Cedric smirked and pointed to another item on the table.

"I'd like to contract these earrings as well."

"Oh, excellent choice. Personally, I think you could go even bolder, but this combination is romantic and lovely in its own way."

"Cedric, adding that too is a bit..."

"The earrings I gave you before don't match this tiara. They're too extravagant and are better worn alone. These are more suitable instead. We'll skip the necklace. The bride's opinion is the most important. What do you think, Miss?" Damian asked gently, but in truth, the answer was already decided. How could she possibly reject what Cedric had chosen? Believing that skipping the necklace was his way of being considerate, Harriet nodded.

"Please do it that way."

"Understood. The tiara is a one-of-a-kind piece, so once payment is made, you may take it immediately. The earrings, however, will need to be newly made, so it will take about 2 months. Will that be acceptable?" Cedric answered without hesitation.

"We'll receive the tiara and earrings on the same day. We'll leave a deposit for now. Also, please make sure the diamonds used for the earrings are the same grade as the ones on the tiara. These seem slightly yellow."

"Very few people can tell the difference, as expected of the Duke. We'll make them exactly as you requested." Damen bowed politely, his face full of admiration and joy, then excused himself to prepare the receipt. Only then did Harriet carefully remove the tiara from her head, place it back where it had been, and finally let out the breath she had been holding.

Chapter 186.

Rumors that Cedric was preparing an extravagant wedding for Harriet spread quickly. In particular, the news that she had become the owner of the most expensive tiara at Lundberg drew immense attention and envy from unmarried young ladies.

"I always thought that tiarra was just for display. I never imagined it was something that could actually be sold."

"I know, right? But once you hear that the Duke of Kyas bought it, somehow it makes sense. Miss Harriet is so lucky. Those earrings before were already stunning, and now it's a famous tiara."

Attending Annabelle's tea party for the first time in a while, Harriet broke out in cold sweat as congratulations poured in from every direction.

"If the wedding gets cancelled after all of this, what happens to me?" She was boldly acting her part, trusting Cedric. But she honestly couldn't predict how things would end. All she could do was give her best performance for now.

"You're praising me too much. Honestly, everything feels far beyond me. I even tried to refuse, but since it's a Ducal family matter, they said the level has to match."

"Of course, the dignity of the Ducal House matters. I'm always worried I might tarnish their reputation."

"What are you saying? The Duke would be hurt if he heard that." Whenever Harriet acted modestly out of guilt, people around her only looked more envious. Unable to endure their admiring gazes, she eventually resorted to smiling quietly in response.

Once the topic of the Ducal wedding passed and Harriet was no longer the center of attention, Viviana, sitting beside her, leaned closer and whispered, "I never thought I'd get to feel this kind of smuggness thanks to a friend. I'm glad you're enjoying it. My throat feels completely dry. Want to hear something that'll make you feel better, too?" Viviana giggled and continued.

"I guarantee this news has reached Bella as well. You know how much she loves jewelry, right? Imagine how furious she must be. She might really need that rest cure now." Just like that, the discomfort she'd been feeling vanished. Now she understood why Cedric had told her to walk with her shoulders back. This was part of his strategy to confuse his enemies and at the same time it was a form of revenge for her. She had no intention of defining her own worth by wealth gained from a fake fiance. But if this was how the opponent chose to fight, there was no reason she couldn't play along.

"You're right. Thinking of it that way, I'm starting to feel a bit excited."

"See? So enjoy it, Harriet." Viviana winked. Thanks to her friend's later mood, Harriet was able to accept the situation more comfortably. Right. I decided to enjoy what I can, a potential duchess. She chose to willingly accept this ridiculous title.

The vice count Preston, whom Harriet met through Cedric's arrangement, was much younger than she had expected, maybe in his late 30s. Harriet, who greeted him together with Cedric in the Kyas Ducal reception room, was momentarily flustered, having expected an elderly man. Noticing this, the vice count smiled faintly and said, "My father also died in the Kipan War. Because of that, I inherited the title early."

"Oh, I'm sorry for my rudeness. I didn't mean to bring up painful memories."

"No need to apologize. People who meet me without knowing usually find it strange as well. That aside, I'm curious why you asked to see me. No matter how I think about it, I don't see a point of contact between us." He responded gently. His demeanor and speech showed that he had been well educated, and because of that, Harriet realized persuading him would not be easy. Those raised thoroughly as heirs were not swayed by emotion. They carefully calculated their family's interests, just like Cedric. To such a man, she had to say, "Based only on a 70-year-old man's testimony and circumstantial suspicion, I want to damage your family's park lawn and dredge the lake." "Oh, and your park and family name might appear in the newspapers. Please help me, Mom. Dad." Trying not to show her nerves, Harriet took a sip of tea and quietly steadied her breathing.

"There is exactly one connection. Albert Park." Even then, the vice count tilted his head, clearly not understanding. That was natural. Remembering an accident that happened long ago on family-owned land would already be impressive. Remembering the victims and their daughter was nearly impossible.

"12 years ago, there was a boating accident in Alrech Park, owned by the Preston family. Oh my. and today I came to ask you for a very difficult favor." Her mouth felt dry at the thought that being refused here would leave her with no path forward. Even though a long time has passed, I want to salvage the boot my parents were on from the sight of the accident." As expected, Vice Count Preston looked troubled. Still, he was a courteous man and did not reject her outright.

"I deeply regret your parents accident. However, I don't quite understand why you feel the need to retrieve the boat now. Wouldn't it be better to use that cost to enshrine your parents' remains at a temple?"

"That boat would be evidence. Evidence of what?" Harriet lifted her gaze and looked straight at him.

"Evidence that my parents were murdered." The vice count froze.

"Murder? Did you just say murder?"

"It wasn't an accident. Yes. I only learned this two years ago, and as you know, until recently, I wasn't in a position to pursue something like this." Now, she had to reveal the truth of that day to yet another person. The fact that she had reached the point of explaining it to a complete stranger sent a chill through her. Harriet told him about Baron Vallet's testimony and Bella's confession. She tried to keep her tone calm, but her emotions surged, breaking her speech at times.

"Bella even mocked me, saying there was nothing I could do. She might be right. Raising the boat might not become usable evidence, but she clenched her teeth tightly, afraid her voice would shake with her trembling breath. I can't give up without even trying. I can't let the people who stole everything from me and my parents lived their lives without regret or fear." She couldn't finish her sentence. The injustice was too overwhelming, and tears threatened to spill before her words.

As Harriet took a moment to steady herself, Cedric, who had been silent until then, spoke quietly.

"Vice count, when you first heard that your father had died in battle, what was your very first thought?" After a pause, Vice Count Preston answered heavily, "I wanted to run there immediately, see my father's body with my own eyes, and cut down with my own hands those responsible for his death."

"That's it. The issue isn't that he died in battle. It's that someone's intent was involved in that death. That's what makes us angry. It's the same for Harriet. The people who killed her parents, took over the family, drove out the rightful heir, and even mocked her." Ha! So the kind of people I hate the most were right there. The gentle expression he'd worn earlier was gone. His eyes now closely resembled Cedric's, eyes that had yet to escape the shadow of his own father's death. Still, as the head of a family, he did not linger in his grief. When he looked back at Harriet, there was pity in his gaze like that of a fellow soldier.

"I can easily imagine how much you've suffered. The Preston family feels a degree of responsibility for that accident, and as a way of honoring your grief, we will grant permission for the salvage operation."

"Really?" Harriet jumped to her feet, overwhelmed with joy. She had hoped for it, but she hadn't believed it would really happen.

"I'll of course pay for the lawn restoration and compensate for any losses from closing the park."

"Miss, that is not how one comforts a friend's pain. Vice count. I sincerely hope you are able to resolve your parents resentment." These weren't empty words. He immediately drafted the documents on the spot. They would close the park to the public for 3 days, including the day of the salvage, and mobilize all park staff to assist. Looking at the document, Harriet made one more request.

"I'd like the park to be open to the public on the day of the salvage."

"And what is your intention in doing so?"

"To create witnesses." Her eyes gleamed coldly. "No evidence? No witnesses? Then we'll make them." The truth behind the boating accident at Alrech Park had finally begun to surface.

Chapter 187.

The biting cold that had frozen the end and beginning of the year gradually loosened as January passed. By mid-February, it had almost completely disappeared. The harsh wind softened, rain fell a few times, and sharp leaf buds and flower buds began to sprout on the once bare branches, signaling that spring was close. Around that time, an article appeared in the newspaper saying that Harriet planned to salvage a boat from the lake in Alrech Park.

12 years ago, when she was only 12 years old, she was forced to accept the news of her parents' deaths without even hearing the results of a proper investigation. Yet, she never once forgot the sorrow of that day. Now having grown into a woman of influence, Miss Harriet hopes to raise the boat her late father boarded from the bottom of the lake and properly mourn her parents who died amid screams. According to Mr. Maurice Declan of the newly established Marine Exploration Company, Wesca Marine Industries, the task is entirely feasible. Miss Harriet has already obtained permission from Vice Count Preston, the owner of Alrech Park. This decision was made because she suspects that her parents were murdered at the time.

The article did not cause an immediate stir. Every day brought more sensational news, and few people were interested in deaths that happened so long ago. But to John, it was shocking enough to make him fall out of bed.

"Have you lost your mind? What does that wretched girl think she's doing?" The newspaper trembled in his shaking hands. Then suddenly, Harriet's past words came back to him. "I know more than you think, uncle. I heard something about the Alrech Park accident from 11 years ago." He had worried briefly back then, but after hearing Bella say there was no reason to fear Harriet, he had forgotten all about it. He never imagined that moment of carelessness would lead to this.

"No, that boat can't be evidence. There are no witnesses left. There's nothing she can do." John tried desperately to calm his racing heart. The only living witnesses to that incident were relatives and acquaintances who had seen him crying and wailing in grief. He firmly believed they would all take his side. After all, he had acted his sorrow so convincingly that people had pied him more than Harriet, who had been left all alone. The idea of raising a boat from Lake Tacia was absurd. Anyway, there was no guarantee the boat from 12 years ago had not completely rotted away, and even if it were found, there was no way it could survive the salvage process intact.

"It's fine. Everything will be fine." John pressed down his trembling hand with the other and repeated to himself that nothing would happen again and again all day long. Still, fragments of that imperfect memory kept making him uneasy. Did I miss something? Was there someone watching? In the end, he couldn't stand it anymore and sprang to his feet.

"I have to do something. Anything." The easiest thing to do was to slander Harriet. He had done it many times before and was quite used to it. First, Jon gathered the relatives and criticized his niece's reckless, emotion-driven behavior, claiming that this incident only tarnished the honor of his deceased brother and sister-in-law. Next, he vented complaints about her to acquaintances and even gave an interview to a newspaper reporter. Soon enough, there would be an article with a title like, "Listes strong opposition. The rumors will spread by themselves. Now I need to deal with the other side." After running around non-stop, he hired a broker who arranged discrete meetings and rented a shabby inn on the outskirts of the capital. The person the broker would bring was Maurice Declan, the head of the salvage company, Wesca Marine Industries.

"Nothing good will come from that boat being raised. If I'd known Harriet would go this far, I should have established ties with the Preston family earlier." That option was already too late, so Maurice became the next target. Sitting across from Maurice at a table in the inn's empty, eerily quiet first floor dining hall, Jon noticed the man's jacket sleeves were worn shiny, and the white shirt underneath was faded. He frowned instinctively.

"A former Wesca diver, was it? Harriet really does associate with people just like herself, except for the Duke of Kyas." As John waited arrogantly for the other man to greet him, Maurice bowed first without hesitation.

"Ah, hello. My name is Maurice Declan. May I ask the name of the person who urgently requested this meeting?"

"You don't need to know. Well, Vice Count John Lististerwell, I assume." Jon flinched. So, he's not completely stupid. It bothered him that his identity had been exposed, but denying it now would only look foolish. Besides, they would face each other on the day of the salvage. He snorted casually and got right to the point.

"You came because you're interested in the terms I sent, didn't you?"

"Haha. You offered 800,000 dirhams for a small favor. How could I not be interested?" John curled one corner of his mouth upward. People who reacted to money were easy to control. 800,000 dirhams wasn't a small sum, but if it could make this problem disappear, it was worth it.

"I hear you're planning to raise a boat from Alrech Park."

"Yes. Yes. Are you interested in ship salvage as well? We're planning to recover treasure ships left on the seabed." As Maurice excitedly started explaining his business plan, John raised a hand to stop him.

"What you need to do is simple. Fail the salvage that day."

"What? Why?"

"If that thing comes out into the world, it'll be troublesome for a lot of people. A foolish girl trying to vent her anger shouldn't be allowed to stir up chaos."

"Ha, that's a bit difficult." As Maurice scratched the back of his head, looking troubled, Jon felt his insides burn with impatience.

"How much is Harriet paying you?"

"It's not about the money. This job is our first official project. We need to prove our ability here to attract investors and expand the business."

"Then do it this way. Pull the boat up out of the water, but pretend to move it onto land and destroy it instead. It's been submerged for years, so it'll already be weak. A small impact should make the hull fall apart."

"You seem to know a lot." That single remark made Jon panic to "That's obvious. Anyone could predict that just from reading the newspaper. Anyway, you can do it, right?"

"Hm. It's not impossible, but 800,000 dirhams won't be enough."

"What? A clean 1 million?"

"Then I'll naturally break it and sink it back into the lake." Only then did Jon realize Maurice was not the sloppy, cowardly man his appearance suggested. Those shabby clothes might have been a way to lower his guard. It bruised his pride to lose control of the negotiation to an uneducated commoner, but there was no turning back now.

"Fine, but don't change your story later. Unless you want to welcome some very unpleasant visitors."

"Oh, don't worry about that. Then shall we"

Write up a contract first for trust? Just so you know, I'll need 10% upfront as a start fee.

Maurice pulled paper and a pen from his bag and began drafting the document with practiced ease. Jon had considered stiffing him later or even killing him after the job was done. But faced with Maurici's thorowness, he had no choice but to hand over 100,000 dirhams up front.

As the weather warmed, news that an old sunken pleasure boat would be raised from Lake Tacia in Alrech Park gradually attracted attention. This was largely because the Preston family announced that the park would be open to the public for free that day. Once March arrived, the weather stayed pleasant, and since ship salvage was not something people could see everyday, it became an event for the nobles of the capital.

On the long awaited day, March 10th, spectators gathered along the lakeside of Alrech Park, spreading mats, drinks, and snacks, creating an atmosphere like a picnic. Among the crowd were members of the Liststerwell family, except for Bella, and Imperial investigators who had come at Harriet's request.

Seeing this, John thought it worked out well and immediately grabbed one of the investigators to complain. "This is insanity. No matter how you look at it, my parents' deaths are also a family matter. We're considering suing Harriet for defamation."

As he ranted angrily, the investigator asked with a puzzled expression, "Why is confirming the suspicious death of the previous head of the family considered a disgrace? It wasn't suspicious. It was a simple accident. Harriet has always had a pathological need for attention. Becoming the Duke's mistress is already embarrassing enough, and now she's using my parents' deaths, too."

Honestly, his act of slandering Harriet was perfect. Years of practice made him look exactly like an uncle at his wit's end because of a troublesome niece. However, he overlooked two things. Since Bella's engagement had been broken, high society no longer looked kindly on the Liststerwell family and Harriet's standing had completely reversed.

"Very few people would misunderstand Miss Harriet's intentions, so there's no need to worry so much. To be honest, I find it more surprising that you're not willingly helping."

"What? No, it's not so simple when it's someone else's family."

Just then, Harriet appeared. She was accompanied by an elderly man.

Chapter 188. Harriet.

John grounded his teeth and called her name in a low voice, but Harriet did not even look at her uncle. Instead, she introduced the man who had come with her to the Imperial investigator. "This is Baron Alonso Villet. He is the person who witnessed my parents' accident from the closest distance."

John reacted instantly. "What kind of lie is that?"

Only then did Harriet turn her gaze toward him. "Oh, I suppose you weren't the closest one. There were two other people near my parents as well."

"And who were they?"

At the investigator's question, Alonso slowly raised his hand. Because of his age, his fingers trembled as he pointed. Standing where his hand indicated was the man who had been shouting angrily just moments ago. John Lististerwell, pale as death.

"This is nonsense. Hey, when did you ever see me to make up such lies? How much did she pay you? Huh?"

While Jon nearly toppled over in agitation, Baron Villa's expression remained calm. If anything, it looked resolute. "If you had turned your head even once to look at your brother, who was screaming for his wife's life, you would have seen my wife and me rowing towards you."

"What are you talking about? I was resting on the grass near the pier at the time with my wife. If I hadn't seen it myself, how would I know the exact location of the accident?"

With regret-filled eyes, Alonso turned his gaze toward Lake Tacia, a beautiful lake shared by four large parks. Its winding shoreline and thick trees created lovely scenery, but also blocked many lines of sight. Alonso pointed beyond a willow tree where new buds had sprouted, but the branches were not yet thick. "If you go in there, the water suddenly becomes much deeper. During boating season, usually buoys are placed there. They weren't at the time." He let out a small sigh and continued from there about 80 m to the northeast. "It may have felt further because of the urgency, but it was around that area."

"You're just repeating what was already printed in the newspaper. Investigator Harriet is falsely accusing me."

As Jon lashed out again, the investigator frowned irritably. "If you believe that, then file a lawsuit. I'm here today because Miss Harriet Lististerwell requested that the salvaged boat be accepted as evidence. We're not going to arrest you based on Baron Villa's testimony alone. So, please calm yourself."

"How am I supposed to calm down right now? There's no reason not to. If you're truly innocent, you should be welcoming the boat being raised today. Don't you know that getting angry only makes you look more suspicious?"

At that, Jon finally shut his complaining mouth. He forced out dry laughs, trying to imply his innocence, but the people who had overheard the exchange looked at him with clear distrust. Fury boiled inside him at how completely the situation had changed.

"That title really is something. The Duke's mistress. Everyone's bending over backwards to please Harriet now. How wonderful it would have been if his daughter Bella had taken that position. Because she hadn't, he was now reduced to waiting and hoping that the Wuska country bumpkin would fail the salvage. Fine, even better. I'll have that boat smashed to pieces right in front of her, so she never dare act so high and mighty again."

With his arms crossed, Jon decided to wait for today's show to end in miserable failure. Not long after, Maurice, who had finished checking the salvage ship and equipment that had been anchored at the lake since yesterday, jogged over to the pier and announced that everything was ready. The spectators, not fully understanding what today's operation truly meant, simply clapped and cheered, excited.

"Please take good care of it, Mr. Declan."

"Of course, my investor." Maurice took off the flat cap he was wearing, gave a playful bow, and headed back toward the lake.

Watching his back, Harriet fought to suppress the surge of emotion rising in her chest. It could fail. They had confirmed the presence of the boat the day before. She didn't know how many tears she had held back then. But according to the diver who had gone down and come up again, soft mud covered the boat, making success uncertain. With the water pressure and the weight of the mud, the boat could break apart.

It was Maurice who had comforted her when she grew anxious. "Don't worry, I'm the guy trying to raise treasure ships that have been abandoned for over a hundred years. A wooden boat that's been down there for only 12 years will be easy." She clung to that hope and managed to stand there. But still, a voice kept whispering, "Don't expect too much." Things had rarely gone her way in her life.

"All right, we're setting off. Everyone, please wish us success."

At Maurice's shout, the salvage ship and divers headed toward the accident site. At that same time, Cedric was watching everything from his office through reports and informants. At 10:23 a.m., Mr. Declan set the salvage ship in motion.

Butler Herbert, who had briefly spoken with someone outside, reported to Cedric. "Keep watching. Report immediately if anything unusual happens."

"Yes, sir." After Herbert replied, Cedric returned his gaze to the documents he was reading. Normally Herbert would have withdrawn without disturbing his master further, but today he hesitated and spoke again. "Wouldn't it be better for you to be with Miss Harriet today?"

Cedric looked up, surprised. A subtle smile soon appeared on his lips. "And why do you think that?"

"This salvage must be very important to her. Her uncle seems to be there, too. If your grace were by her side, it would give her peace of mind."

"Yes, many people would probably think the same thing. That's why I didn't go, or rather why I couldn't go." Cedric let out a short sigh. In truth, he wanted to run to her immediately. But if the boat was successfully salvaged today, there was a high chance it would lead straight to a lawsuit. Both he and Harriet needed to be careful.

"If I were by her side today, how do you think people would see it?"

"They'd think you were supporting your beloved lover. Surely that would stop idol gossip. On the contrary, they'd smile to our faces, then behind our backs say that Harriet is using the power of the Ducal House to torment her uncle. Everyone already knows about the conflict between them."

"I doubt it. By now, people must roughly understand that the scandals around Harriet were false." Herbert spoke as if such malicious thoughts were unthinkable, but Cedric knew human nature well, especially envy towards those who gained something better than themselves. There were brothers who tried to kill each other over a sibling becoming a royal consort. How much more jealousy would a stranger's sudden good fortune inspire?

"In any case, today must be Harriet stage. I also have a lot to handle from behind the scenes." He lightly waved the documents in his hand and returned to his work. The papers Cedric was reviewing listed someone's actions neatly organized by date. What stood out was that the dates were from 12 years ago. Disguises, threats, silencing witnesses, even murder. Vicount Listwell did put in effort, but it wasn't perfect. The reason he hadn't been thorough was probably because he had underestimated Harriet. Cedric marked the important points and sorted documents that could become decisive evidence. The real power being used for Harriet was moving without her knowledge.

About 2 hours passed before the news he had been waiting for finally arrived. "Your grace, the boat has appeared on the surface."

Cedric clenched the pen in his hand. The image of Harriet breaking down in tears of relief came to mind, and the fact that he couldn't hold her in that moment was almost painful. But if a short wait could bring far greater results, he was willing to endure it. He spoke to Herbert, who was waiting for instructions. "Immediately strengthen personal protection for Mr. Declan."

Chapter 189.

"What? What is this? This isn't what we agreed on."

John had been staring at the boat, waiting for it to break apart at any moment or sink back into the water. When the small wooden boat was safely placed near the park's pier, he finally realized he had been betrayed. He couldn't hide his shock when he saw that the green paint applied long ago because it had been his brother's favorite color was still there. The boat's original shape was almost completely intact.

At this point, there was nothing he could do except glare at Maurice. "That bastard. He dared to deceive me."

Maurice stood beside Harriet, who had her hand over her mouth, wearing a deeply satisfied expression. From how familiar he looked with her, it was obvious he had never planned to destroy the boat or sink it again. To make matters worse, when he lifted his head and met J's eyes, he even grinned mockingly. Jon's clenched fist trembled as range surged through him. He ground his teeth, swearing to kill Maurice.

At the same time, Harriet, who had been desperately holding back tears ever since the boat surfaced, looked at her uncle with icy eyes. "How does it feel, uncle, knowing you couldn't stop me even with money? Do I look a little different to you now?"

She had expected Jon to approach Maurice once news of the salvage appeared in the papers. His options had been obvious. That was why she had warned Maurice in advance. "My uncle might come to you. If you refuse outright, he might even try to kill you before the salvage."

"Pretend to go along with him. And what if I really take his side?" Maurice had asked.

"I don't believe someone who needs to promote their business would ruin their own dream for a bit of money, and he won't even offer you enough to cover my investment." At that, Maurice had laughed cheerfully. "I really can't outsmart my investor. Understood. Is there anything else I can help you with? If possible, please secure proof that my uncle tried to interfere, but don't push yourself."

Not long after that conversation, Maurice contacted her. "Miss Lististerville, someone who didn't even give his name reached out to me. He said he'd give me 800,000 dirhams if I did him a favor, but he didn't seem like someone trying to invest in my business."

Hearing that, Harriet had almost felt relieved. To avoid suspicion, Maurice rejected him once or twice before accepting the meeting. And at the meeting, he even signed a contract and received a down payment, securing solid evidence. John's signature on the contract and the fact that he handed over the money himself, those would become decisive proof that he had actively tried to sabotage the operation.

"When you try to buy someone, you should have secured a weakness they couldn't betray you over, uncle, what made you think you could trust someone who has nothing to lose?" As she accepted congratulations from those around her, Harriet quietly mocked her foolish and arrogant uncle. She felt pity for her past self for being controlled by a man like that and felt wronged that her most brilliant teenage years had been destroyed. Now she felt she had to take it all back to feel satisfied.

"Miss Harriet, shall we examine the boat now?" At the Imperial investigator's suggestion, she wiped her tears and approached the boat her parents had ridden for the last time.

A diver from the salvage company who had been inspecting it first spoke with a puzzled expression. "The lake bed is very soft mud, so the boat didn't crack or dent when it sank. The biggest concern was whether it could withstand the weight of the mud on top, but thankfully it was well preserved and it was not damaged during the lift. But but what is there a problem?"

"Well, there are very neatly shaped holes in the bottom of the boat. It's extremely strange." The diver, who had no idea how Harriet's parents died or why she had raised the boat, tilted his head as he pointed inside the hull. Since it was a small boat meant for only two or three people, its structure wasn't complicated. It was immediately clear what he meant. There were multiple round holes in the wooden planks at the bottom, holes that were clearly made with tools.

"You damn bastards." Tears and curses burst out of her before she could stop them. This could only be described as a clear intent to kill. If there had been only one or two holes, they might have been able to plug them with clothing and paddle to shallow water. But with this many holes, it would have been impossible. The boat would have sunk almost instantly.

Harriet pressed down hard on her chest where her heart was pounding violently and forced herself to breathe. Images of the terror and despair that her parents must have felt as they drowned flooded her mind, making it hard to stand upright, but she clenched her jaw, telling herself she could not collapse here.

"Investigator, seeing this, can you still say, 'My parents died in an accident.'" She couldn't finish her sentence because she was biting her lip to hold back tears. But the Imperial investigator fully understood. "You're right, miss. This was clearly caused by someone's intent. However, these holes alone aren't enough to identify the murderer. That's why I sent you what Bella told me in advance. If I had made that story up, how could there really be holes in the boat? Based on suspicion alone, you could file a lawsuit. But coincidences do exist, and we also lack proof that the information came from Bella. To win, you'll need more."

Harriet closed her eyes tightly, then nodded. "But this boat can still be accepted as evidence, right?"

"Of course, technicians from the Imperial Investigation Bureau will thoroughly document the condition of the boat on the spot. those records can be formally used as evidence in court." It was disappointing, but arguing further wouldn't change anything. All Harriet could do was hope the technicians examined it as carefully as possible and recorded every single detail.

Baron Valle, who had been watching the salvage nearby, approached her and gently patted her back. "I believe your parents will help you from the heavens."

"Ah, Baron." She quickly wiped her tears and turned to him. "Thank you again for testifying today."

"It was something I should have done long ago." He clicked his tongue while glancing at John, who was hovering nearby with a pale face. "It seems he plans to deny it to the end."

"That's not all. He'll probably try to smear me however he can." News that the bottom of the boat had multiple holes spread quickly. Bella's name came up as well, and people began forming convincing theories, casting suspicious looks at the Lististerville family. There was no way Jon could endure that. As expected, growing anxious, he cleared his throat loudly and approached Harriet.

"What are all these people doing? If the inspection is over, we'll take this boat. We'll preserve it as my brother's belonging."

"Why, planning to burn this one, too?" interrupted.

Jon glared at her furiously. "What is wrong with you? You are still spreading baseless rumors about Bella and slandering me. This whole thing, no matter what, you should have discussed it with me first as the head of the family."

"You think I should consult you about finding evidence that you and Bella murdered my parents?"

"What? Have you lost your mind? What kind of insane delusion is that?" Harriet didn't waver at all. She extended her palm toward the wet boat. "There are holes in the bottom just like Bella told me. How do you explain that?"

"Bella said, 'What are you?'" John's eyes widened to their limit when he looked where she pointed. Water that had pulled inside the boat was steadily draining out through the many holes.

"What is that? What do you mean, uncle? Do you not know? Then did 12-year-old Bella do this all by herself?" John shook his head violently. "This is ridiculous. I've never seen that and I know nothing about it. Are you saying you sank the boat there just to frame our family? Can you take responsibility for that accusation? You're saying the Preston family helped me slander you."

"For your information, Bella explained in detail how the boat was sunk. I sent that information to the investigator before I received permission for the salvage. You just pieced together nonsense." As he shouted, trying to overpower him with volume, the investigator tapped Jon on the shoulder.

"You're saying you know nothing at all about defective glue that dissolves in cold water."

"H Do I look like a carpenter? I don't even know what glue looks like."

"Very well. In any case, Miss Harriet intends to accuse you of murder, and this is an evidence collection site. Please step aside."

"at murder and accusation." Jon clenched his fists tightly. So that unease he'd felt hadn't been wrong. It had come to this after all. "Stay calm. The evidence exists, but no one can prove I did it. As long as I deny everything, I'll survive." His reputation would hit rock bottom from suspicion alone, but it couldn't be helped. With a bitter expression, Jon turned and returned to his family. And a few days later, the trial that would come to be known in Genoa as Harriet versus John Lististerville officially began.

Chapter 190. Harriet.

"Harriet. Harriet." Someone was calling her name in a gentle voice, but Harriet was too sleepy to wake up. Maybe that voice was part of a dream. "Mom. Dad." It was a voice filled with affection, the kind she had only ever heard from them. Harriet curled up tighter, refusing to wake.

Sunlight filtered through a thin cotton curtain, casting soft, fluttering shadows over her body. It was warm enough to be perfect for sleeping. The breeze felt like a mother's hand soothing a baby, making it even harder to open her eyes. She must be really tired still sleeping on the sofa like this. She heard a worried murmur again and wanted to nod. Life was exhausting. She wanted to complain that everything was too hard, that she wanted someone to hold her and gently pat her back.

As if reading her mind, someone slipped an arm beneath her and carefully lifted her up. The floating sensation, something you rarely feel in real life, made Harriet open her eyes just a little. "Oh, did I wake you?" the man carrying her asked softly, sounding apologetic.

"Cedric?" Her vision was blurry, but she recognized him instantly by his voice and scent alone. "Is this a dream?" It had to be. She was at the Pelan estate and there was no way Cedric would come all the way here. Harriet closed her eyes again and relaxed into the pleasant swaying. Seeing him carrying her made her smile unconsciously.

"You seem to be having a nice dream." Since reporting John, her days had been overwhelmingly busy. The lawyers Jon hired demanded precise memories down to trivial details. digging into her private life, even when it had nothing to do with the case, trying to damage her credibility. But she was no longer the Harriet Lististerwell of the past. With Cedric's connections, she hired the best lawyer in Genoa and was dismantling Jon's slander piece by piece. She had even summoned Bella back from the convent to Genoa and questioned her. She had lost count of how many courtroom battles they'd already fought. She was doing exactly what she had promised herself when leaving St. Clarissa Convent. Determined not to lose, she had barely slept, pouring all her energy into the trial. Unable to endure anymore, she had collapsed into a nap like fainting. And now Cedric, whom she rarely got to see because of the trial, was appearing in her dream. She felt happy just seeing him.

"I miss you," she murmured. The owner of the gentle voice asked softly, like coaxing a child, "Who do you miss?"

"You." Even half asleep, she felt embarrassed and let out a small, uncontrolled laugh. By then, it seemed they had reached the bed. Cedric laid her down gently on the soft mattress. "I doubt you miss me more than I miss you. I came here because I couldn't stand it. My lover fell asleep, but this isn't bad either." She felt a light vibration as if he were chuckling, but Harriet couldn't respond anymore. Relaxed at last, she sank into deep sleep.

How long had she slept? She opened her eyes, feeling incredibly refreshed. It had been a long time since she had slept this deeply. Her eyes, which had been dry and aching before, felt perfectly fine now. She checked the clock and was surprised. "I slept for 3 hours." That was a long nap, but it had clearly relieved a lot of her built-up fatigue. She sat on the bed blankly for a moment, and outside the window, it was no longer midday. It was already evening.

"I miss Cedric." Seeing him in her dream only made her miss him more. She had met him briefly to discuss trial matters, but they had no time for personal conversations. She had finally become his lover, and there wasn't much time left in that relationship. Yet, she couldn't spend time with him as she wanted, and that often left her frustrated.

"It can't be helped. This is the path I chose." She let out a long sigh and slowly got out of bed, then froze. "Who moved me to the bed? I had definitely been lying on the sofa. I had only planned to nap briefly. Yet here she is in bed as if the dream had been real." After thinking seriously for a moment, Harriet let out a small laugh and shook her head. "Aunt Roxanna must have had a servant move me. There was no way Cedric, busier than anyone, had actually come. He hadn't even said he would." She finished getting up and adjusted her clothes and hair.

Just then, she heard movement outside. Esther knocked and asked, "Miss, are you awake?"

"Yes, come in." But instead of entering, Esther spoke from outside the door. "Everyone is waiting to eat with you once you wake up."

"What? Really? You should have woken me up."

"Madam said not to. She said, 'You haven't been sleeping well lately.'"

"Oh, come on. How could everyone just wait without knowing when I'd wake up?" Harriet quickly wiped her face with toner soaked gauze and humming room. But before she even reached it, she heard laughter inside. Trisha's voice and a young man.

"Huh?" She opened the dining room door and doubted her eyes.

"Oh, you're here, Harriet."

"Yes, grandmother. You look like you've seen a ghost. Is that the face you should show your fianceé?"

No, it's just the man keeping Trisha company was Cedric. No matter how many times she looked, it was definitely him.

"How are you here?"

"I missed you too much to endure it."

"What?" She stared at him in shock and Cedric smiled. He looked so good that she ended up smiling foolishly as she walked closer.

"When did you arrive? You should have woken me up."

"You were sleeping so soundly. Even when I carried you to the bed, I was afraid you'd wake you."

"What?" Harriet shouted without realizing it. "Was that not a dream?"

"Were you hoping it was?"

"I think I said something strange in my sleep."

"It wasn't strange. You did talk and sleep, though."

"What did I say?" But he only smiled without answering. He seemed unusually cheerful, smiling far more than she had ever seen. Watching them fondly, Trisha gestured to a maid nearby. "Go call Roxanna. Sleeping Beauty has awakened, so it's time for dinner."

With just one more person, dinner that evening felt far livelier than usual. Cedric spoke smoothly like someone who had mastered social skills since childhood. He didn't dominate the conversation, but lightened the mood with jokes, introduced interesting topics when things slowed down, and naturally shared news everyone was curious about. Seeing Trisha so happy was rare enough, but seeing Roxanna laugh so freely was almost unheard of.

"People who lead society are really different." Harriet admired him silently. He could make any gathering entertaining. And somehow the anyone here were the people she loved. "He's not even my real fiance, but I feel proud anyway." She tried to suppress her constant smile and finished her meal.

After dinner, she naturally thought she should see Cedric off, but Trisha stood up and said, "I've had the garden lights turned on. Don't go too far where it's dark."

"Understood?" Harriet hesitated in confusion, but Cedric bowed politely. "Thank you. You should at least get something in return for entertaining an old woman for 3 hours."

"What? What do you mean?" Harriet looked between them confused and Roxanna chuckled and answered instead. "While you were sleeping, the Duke of Kilus kept your mother company. They talked and even played chess." Harriet froze, her mouth falling open.

"Why didn't I realize earlier? He waited for three full hours. Weren't you busy?"

"I was. Then why?"

"As I said before, because I missed you too much." At that moment, Harriet felt as if pink rose petals were fluttering around her just for a second. Trisha, saying she didn't want to watch young people flirting close by, quickly dragged Roxanna away. Before Harriet could react, Cedric gently led her out into the garden. The spring night air was soft and fragrant enough to make you fall in love even with a stranger. Under the garden lights, the petals of newly bloomed flowers glowed white.

"Really? Why did you come?" Harriet asked, still unable to understand why Cedric was here. Cedric looked at her.

>> Chapter 191.

"Does it sound like a lie to you that I came because I missed you?"

"That's something you said so my great aunt wouldn't get suspicious. Then were you trying to deceive someone when you muttered that you missed me in your sleep?"

"What? Talking in my sleep? I did?" The moment she asked, Harriet remembered herself giggling and mumbling half asleep. Ah. Mortified, she slapped both sides of her head with her hands and stomped her feet. The sight was so unexpected that Cedric burst out laughing.

"What do I do? What do I do?" Their laughter echoed through the night garden, then slowly faded.

"Honestly, you're completely unpredictable."

"That's rich coming from you. No, seriously, you're unbelievably busy, yet you sat around here for hours just because you missed me. Isn't that strange?"

"I've been holding back this whole time. But today, I really couldn't. So, I came without thinking. without even contacting me first. To be honest, I was prepared to be turned away at the door. Luckily, Lady Pel welcomed me warmly."

"Yes, that could be called warm, all things considered. Showing up unannounced like that. You're a duke, yet did you throw all your manners away somewhere?" The so-called son-in-law inspection that started the moment he arrived, along with sharp greetings, hadn't been easy at all. But after hearing her sincerity over a chess game, he felt that coming today had been the right choice.

"She grew up lonely. She's a child who was utterly betrayed by the person she trusted most. When someone like that says she wants to build a family, I feel joy, but also worry."

"I think I understand what you're concerned about. I'm glad you do. Then you should also know this." Ignoring the rules, Trisha placed her king directly in front of his king and spoke in a low, threatening voice, "If you ever make Harriet cry, Duke or not, I'll peel the skin off your head. I'm an old woman with not much time left, so I have nothing to fear."

At that moment, Cedric found himself wondering if Harriet's unpredictable nature came from Trisha. The thought amused him. "I'll remember that. But since I'm rather slow, I might forget sometimes. So, please live a long life and keep reminding me."

"I wouldn't give Harriet to a man that foolish." Cedric clasped his hands together and asked once more, "Please live a long time." Trisha stared at him for a moment, then grumbled while brushing off the blanket on her knees, as if chess had suddenly become boring. She muttered something about him being sly. Cedric decided to keep her harsh words to himself. Whatever her language, Trisha was an elder who deserved respect. Smiling lightly, he turned his concern to Harriet.

"I heard you haven't been sleeping properly because of the trial. At this rate, you'll collapse before it even ends."

"I know. I know I need to take care of myself, but it's hard. I keep thinking about anxious things. What worries you so much? We still don't have decisive evidence. That's why Jon can act so shamelessly. The circumstances point to him as the culprit. But suspicion alone can't achieve anything. I'm exhausted from trying to read the juror's faces. They all look like they'll rule not guilty. And if that happens, then her uncle and Bella will surely brand her as an unfil criminal. It might even give Bella a chance to rise again. Thinking about that keeps me from sleeping."

Cedric pulled her slumped shoulders into his arms. "Everything will work out. I'll help you however I can, so don't worry too much."

"I don't want to frame them with false accusation. That would make me no different than them."

"You'd think they were innocent the way you say that." His joke brought her smile back. "Thank you. Honestly, I feel a lot better just because you came today."

"You're not the only one." As they walked and talked, they reached an arched tunnel covered in hanging wisteria. It was a place Trisha had paid special attention to. Seeing the wisteria at night was breathtaking. It felt like the two of them had fallen into a dream world.

"Wow, it's so beautiful." As Harriet tilted her head back in admiration at the flowers swaying as if about to spill down on her, Cedric, who had been looking up with her, lowered his gaze to her face. "You're more beautiful."

In that still moment, when even the night breeze stopped, Harriet instinctively knew they were going to kiss. Closing her eyes as Cedric stepped closer felt completely natural. Wisteria flowers falling like a blessing, the night air thick with fragrance, and the warmth, scent, and burning lips of the man she loved. Nothing more was needed for that moment to be remembered as eternity.

After their lips met again and again, lingering with regret, they slowly opened their eyes and looked at each other. "I never knew I was this patient." Harriet couldn't quite grasp what he truly meant. No, she was afraid she did. If they acknowledge that meaning, this relationship might fall apart at a terrifying speed.

"When I'm too happy, I get scared. So this, just like this, this much is perfect." Cedric soothed her by gently stroking her back. His lover still needed practice accepting happiness. If she increased the amount she could bear by little by little, one day she would be able to accept everything he gave her with pure joy. For that to happen, we must win this trial cleanly. He believed that the day Harriet completely set her past right, was the day she was reborn, and that day would surely come.

The atmosphere of the trial, known as Harriet versus John Lististerwell, which had been filled with back and forth arguments, changed unexpectedly after dried pieces of glue were found in several places on the now dry boat. The glue exposed to water had all washed away, but some had seeped into the gaps where wooden planks were joined and remained there.

"The glue found on the boat is exactly the same glue Harriet heard from Bella. It's not the type normally used on boats. Do you still claim this was a story Harriet made up to frame Bella?" Harriet's lawyers shouted towards the judge and jury, but Bella immediately stepped forward to refute it.

"I've told you again and again. I never said such a thing. I was 12 at the time, just like Harriet. How could a child that young even think of killing her uncle's family like that?" Tears streamed down her still beautiful face. As she turned towards Harriet, and added in anguish, "Why are you tormenting us like this, Harriet? No matter how much you hate us, how can you accuse me and my father of murdering your own parents?" Her tears were more than enough to shake the juror's hearts.

Sensing their wavering, Jon's lawyer followed up. "It does seem clear that holes were drilled into the bottom of the boat and water soluble glue was used. However, that alone does not prove that Miss Bella or Count Listwell committed the act. He appeared to have decided to stop attacking the boat itself and instead exploit other weaknesses. It could have been done by a third party. And isn't it more plausible that Harriet, after hearing such a story, is framing her uncle's family to seize the title?" He once again emphasized that there was no way to prove that Bella was the source of the glue story.

Then they brought in collateral relatives as a way to corner Harriet, people who had once been kind to her when Arthur Lististerwell was still alive.

"Count Abear, are you Harriet's great uncle?"

"Yes."

"And at the time of the incident, did you sense anything suspicious from Count John Lististerwell or Miss Bella?"

"Not at all. Arthur and John were very close brothers, and John especially respected and followed his older brother. He was a good younger brother."

"I see. I hear you have something to say about this matter." With the stage set, the man cleared his throat and spoke with a deliberately sorrowful expression. "It pains me that this incident keeps bringing up the issue of succession. There is no way Jon killed Arthur, and Arthur never formally named Harriet as his successor before his death. She was far too young at the time. Therefore, the rightful heir to the Listwell title is John." Then he looked directly at Harriet and added, "Harriott, how can you commit the shameful act of accusing your own family? If you do this, your father will never rest in peace. Are you intending to become an unfilial child?"

At unfil? Harriet was so stunned that she couldn't speak.

Chapter 192.

"Who is it that's actually betraying family and morals right now?" She tried to argue back a moment too late, but Jon's lawyer quickly called another relative to the witness stand. Three people appeared and as if they had rehearsed it, all three said the same things. They insisted that Jon's family had not killed Arthur and his wife, that Harriet had done all of this because she coveted her uncle's title, and even brought up irrelevant claims, such as Harriet having long been jealous of Bella. None of it had anything to do with the actual case. Yet, the judge did not stop their testimony.

"Everything the witnesses have said is nothing more than their personal speculation, and that too does not prove that John Lististerwell's family is innocent." Harriet's lawyer did not back down either. He submitted the evidence Maurice had obtained, the contract bearing John's signature, and the bundle of money.

"If he is truly innocent, then why would he try to bribe Mr. Deck to make the salvage operation fail?"

"That was because he believed Harriet was about to disgrace the family name. As the head of the family, he decided it was better to quietly bury the issue, even if it cost some money."

"Some money is an understatement. The amount he promised was a full 1 million dirhams. Do you truly believe that is a sum one would spend merely to avoid noise around the family name?" The exchange was fierce and evenly matched. Perhaps because of that, the judge only nodded faintly with an unreadable expression. It was impossible to tell whether that meant agreement or was simply a habitual gesture.

"The next hearing will take place in 2 weeks at 11:00 a.m. This concludes today's session." With no further points to argue, the judge declared the session over in a weary voice and rose from his seat. That alone made it hard to predict the outcome, but a juror connected to Trisha brought unsettling news.

"If Miss Harriet cannot secure more decisive evidence, the situation may become quite difficult." It felt as though darkness fell before her eyes, but Harriet managed to nod calmly. Her lawyer had feared this outcome as well, so it only confirmed what they had expected.

On the way out of the courtroom, Harriet spoke to Roxanna, who was trying to comfort her. "I more or less expected this, but now that people have reason to doubt him, my uncle will struggle quite a bit with the lawsuits I plan to file." She intended to sue Jon for burning all of her parents' belongings, for framing her for Bella's actions, and for trying to seize the land and estate at Pillis. If she continued attacking them on multiple fronts, they would eventually lose, and Bella would have no chance to recover.

"It will be a very long fight. Are you prepared for that?"

"No matter how long the trials last, they can't be longer than the years I lived in injustice. If I don't take revenge like this, how am I supposed to live the rest of my life?"

"I understand. The Pelon family will fully support you."

"Thank you, Aunt." Harriet smiled lightly and parted ways with her. Then she went to meet Cedric to tell him today's results. Having resolved not to whine or show weakness, she spoke to Cedric in a playful tone when he greeted her.

"It looks like things will go just as we thought. There's no way to prove that Bella confessed to me only after all." The corners of his smiling mouth slowly fell, but Harriet kept smiling as if it were someone else's problem. "They're saying maybe some third party did it and I'm just pinning it on Bella and my uncle. If someone else did it, then you'd accuse that person. But they claim I'm framing my uncle because I want the title as if I care about that title at all."

Cedric thought for a moment with a hardened expression, then asked, "I heard several collateral relatives of the Listwell family testified today. That probably tipped the jury. To them, it's better if a clueless child doesn't become the head of the family. And yet, they're still defending my uncle's family, saying it must be because they're truly innocent."

The resentment and grief she had been holding back finally burst out. She clenched her teeth trying to hold it in, but tears spilled down her cheeks. "They all said that my uncle could never have killed my father. Harriet. They all said that when my father was alive, they all adored me. Now they're calling me an unfil child. They say, 'No matter how much I want the title, how could I disgrace the family name by filing a lawsuit like this?'" She couldn't forget the looks of disgust the relatives had given her. Harriet didn't even think to wipe her tear streaked face as she struggled to make sense of this incomprehensible situation. "I never thought they'd act like this. I didn't expect them to take my side, but I thought they'd at least stay neutral. How could they?"

Cedric wrapped his arm around Harriet's trembling shoulders and gently led her to the sofa to sit. He took out a handkerchief, lightly wiped her cheeks, and neatly smoothed her disheveled hair. "They probably were pressured directly or indirectly to testify. There's hardly anyone among them who doesn't depend on favors from the Liststerwell family."

"Then they should have at least been mindful of me. Isn't that what conscience is?"

"To keep their positions, people will sell their conscience for less than the price of a pair of shoes. If you truly want to reclaim the Liststerwell title, it's better you learn that now." Even her lover spoke as if their behavior were only natural. Harriet wasn't sure whether she was naive and foolish or whether the moral standard she had lived by simply differed from the world's reality. She was so busy trying to recover from that quiet shock that she didn't notice the dangerous glint that crossed Cedric's eyes as he looked at her tears.

"By the way, I'm curious. If you're going to win this trial in the end, why are you shedding such precious tears?"

"You haven't forgotten what I said earlier, right? I don't have decisive proof that my uncle or Bella is the culprit."

Cedric let out a small laugh. "I think I've said this before, but in the Asty empire, the person who underestimates me the most is probably you."

"What are you talking about now?"

"If I truly wanted, I could turn an innocent person into the worst criminal imaginable. Harriet leaned back slightly, eyeing him suspiciously. And Cedric added, "And exposing what a real criminal has done is even easier."

"Really? But how?"

"With money and power, it's not that difficult, especially since the Lististerwell family didn't commit a perfect crime." He shrugged as if it was nothing and pointed out several key facts. "While investigating, I learned something interesting. Among those who rented boats at the Alrech Park dock at the time, not a single person reported their boat sinking, no insurance payouts were ever made. None of the people boating that day lost a vessel. That means just by looking at the condition of the salvaged boat, you can tell it was new back then. Even the paint hadn't peeled. So, who gave a freshly built wooden boat to Arthur Listwell and his wife?" Cedric's gaze grew colder. "And who would lose such an expensive boat and never report it?"

Harriet already knew the answer. "My uncle had it made himself."

"Not himself, exactly. Drilling holes into a boat and covering them with glue isn't something a noble who's never held a saw could do. Someone must have made it on commission." The thought that such a person existed, someone who could give decisive testimony, made Harriet feel as though she saw a halo appear behind his head. But he wasn't finished. "One more thing, defective glue is, by definition, faulty merchandise. There aren't many places that sell it in bulk. It's been over 10 years, but if someone sold that much, there might be a merchant who remembers. If we could really find those people." Hope surged in Harriet's chest, but she quickly clenched her teeth and forced herself to calm down. "It won't be easy. Too much time has passed. Still, if we look, we might find unexpected clues."

"Actually, about 80% of it is already done."

"What?"

"While you were running yourself ragged and losing sleep, do you think I was just sitting around? I wanted to finish setting the stage before this trial, but something came up." He spoke as if he hadn't just done something enormous. Harriet stared at him in disbelief, trying to grasp what he meant, but Cedric calmly asked, "There's good news and bad news. Which would you like to hear first?"

Chapter 193.

"The bad news first."

The boat builder, who could have become the decisive witness, died 2 days after Arthur Lististerwell and his wife drowned. He was attacked by a robber at night, robbed of his money, and killed. Harriet's face darkened. "Do you really think it was just an ordinary robbery?"

"Of course not. If it were, it would be far too obvious." A sigh escaped her. The boat builder had only taken on a strange commission and carried it out as instructed. Yet, he had been killed without even knowing why. That gives me one more reason I can't afford to lose this trial. It also meant there might be others who had been silenced in the same way. Angry at Jon and Bella's cruelty and selfishness, Harriet asked the next question without much expectation.

"Then, what's the good news?"

"The boat builder's wife is still alive and Edgar is persuading her as we speak. She'll probably come over to our side. Really?" If nothing else, Edgar is exceptionally good at winning people over. For someone like that, he still hasn't won Daphne's heart. That's how it goes when it's personal. By the way, may I tell Edgar you said that? I think he'd find it quite entertaining. Even in a moment like this, Cedric was thinking about teasing his friend. Seeing that, Harriet felt her mood lift a little. Talking with him always seemed to give her more breathing room as well. She smiled at him as if indulging a well-mannered child and asked, "What about the glue seller?"

At that, Cedric's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Did you know that people who break the law are surprisingly meticulous, especially in business, they always keep double ledgers so they can use them as leverage if something goes wrong?"

"Correct. Excellent answer." Harriet's heart began to race again. The outcome of a trial she had nearly given up could be completely overturned. No, someone like Cedric Kais probably envisioned this.

outcome from the very beginning. That was why he had told her to salvage the boat and to sue Jon.

For an excellent student, I still have so much to learn, especially from you. If that sounded suggestive to me, does that mean the problem is with me? Only then did Harriet realize what he had imagined. She bit her lip and lightly slapped his arm. Then she muttered softly, "Well, I guess it's not completely wrong either."

Cedric froze for a moment, then broke into a dazzling smile, so bright it almost seemed excessive.

Two weeks passed, just as the judge had said. The case of Harriet versus John Lististerwell appeared to be entering its final stage. Because of the two Liststerwell young ladies, now infamous as scandalmakers and the involvement of the Kyus Ducal House, the trial drew heavy media attention. Once again, reporters crowded the front of the courthouse.

"Count Liststerwell, if the opposing side failed to secure any further evidence or witnesses, today's verdict is likely to be issued. Are you confident of victory?"

"Of course, the judge is a fair and impartial man who will not be swayed by the influence of the Kyus Stolouse. I have no reason to fear the outcome." Bella also responded to questions.

"You halted your convalescence and returned to Genoa because of the trial. What are your plans afterwards?"

"I ended up causing trouble for St. Evans Monastery because of Harriet. I haven't fully recovered yet, but I no longer have the face to return there. I think I'll have to rest at my residence in the capital."

Just then, the Pellen family's carriage stopped nearby. Reporters rushed toward it, cameras raised. The silence as they waited for Harriet to step out lasted longer than expected. Only when they were nearly swallowing dry, Harriet finally appeared, and flashes erupted all around.

Bella, who had dressed especially carefully for today, clenched her teeth. But no matter what, today's focus was not her. It was Harriet.

"Miss Harriet, please look this way. Will new evidence appear in today's trial? If you lose, what are your plans afterwards?" Questions poured in all at once. The flashes momentarily blinded her, but Harriet stepped down with perfect grace and offered a faint smile to those around her. Without answering a single question, she calmly walked into the courthouse.

"Is there something going on? She doesn't look like someone who's about to lose." At a reporter's muttered remark, Bella shot him a side glance and walked on with Jon. Following behind Harriet left a bitter taste in her mouth.

Inside the courtroom, more spectators had gathered than last time. There were reporters, idolers driven by curiosity, and people with vested interests. The reasons differed, but everyone looked as if they expected a verdict today.

As soon as the judge took a seat, he placed a thick file on the desk. "The plaintiff has submitted new evidence and has also requested to call a witness. Plaintiff's council, proceed."

New evidence and new witness. Those who thought Harriet was cornered and destined to lose due to lack of proof were stirred by the news of her counterattack. "That young lady's no pushover." "Well, she is the Duke of Kilus's lover. There must be something." "Nonsense. Look, her lover never once showed up while she was in this grueling trial. People say their relationship is nothing more than a fling."

As people whispered freely, Harriet's lawyer stood up. "Your honor, the evidence we submit today clearly proves that Count John Lististerell is the murderer of Arthur Lististerwell and his wife."

"That evidence is—" "That's absurd. Lies." Before he could finish, shouts erupted from J's side of the gallery. The lawyer calmly acknowledged them with a polite nod and continued. "It is the secret ledger of the merchant who sold the defective glue used in the crime. Though 12 years have passed, the merchant kept the ledger in case of emergency. In it, the buyer's name, John Lististerwell, is clearly recorded."

"Is there proof that this ledger was not fabricated?"

"Along with the ledger, delivery confirmations and receipts bearing the buyer's signature were preserved. Frankly, even we did not expect to find everything." The judge examined several documents as if verifying the lawyer's claim. The investigators have already confirmed the authenticity of the signature. They determined it to be the defendant's own handwriting.

John's face drained of color. The lawyer pressed on. "Didn't you say you didn't even know what glue looked like? Buying goods without seeing them is a bad habit, Count."

The judge then addressed Jon directly. "The defendant previously claimed he knew nothing about this defective glue. Please explain this contradiction."

"Uh, that is, I remember now. At the time, something needed repairs. My servants mentioned it, so I bought a small amount, but I had no idea it was that kind of glue."

"A small amount? You purchased a total of 100 kg. That's hardly the quantity one would buy to fix a creaky chair."

"I don't know. I don't remember clearly." The judge looked at the flustered John with unmistakable suspicion.

"Witness, please come to the stand." In response, a woman in her late 60s stepped forward, her face tense. The moment she saw Jon, her expression twisted. Harriet's lawyer approached her and asked, "Please state your name."

"My name is May Carpenter."

"I was the wife of a carpenter who built wooden pleasure boats for nobles." John's mouth fell open. A name he had completely forgotten flashed in his mind.

"You said 'was'. Why the past tense?"

"My husband died 12 years ago."

"Your husband was Tom Carpenter, correct?"

"Yes." Her voice trembled as if she could never forget that day.

"Could you tell us about your husband's last job?" She nodded as if making a great decision and opened her mouth to speak.

Chapter 194. "My husband told me one day that someone had offered him a large sum of money to build a boat. At the time, we were struggling just to put food on the table, so it felt like a blessing. But strangely enough, that man's expression was never good. What was the reason?"

"He asked for a boat that would sink. Of course, it felt unsettling. I thought it was strange even then, but we were desperate for money, so we accepted the job." Mrs. Carpenter pressed a handkerchief tightly to the corner of her eyes. The courtroom fell silent as she swallowed back her tears.

"When the boat was finished, Tom asked me to help him. I thought he meant cleaning up sawdust, but when I went to the workshop, he told me to hang a pot and melt glue. Glue is weak against water, so it's never used to build boats, and there was a lot of it." Though she sniffled, her voice remained clear, filled with a determination to reveal the truth.

"For several days. After that, Tom and I repeatedly spread melted glue over the holes drilled into the bottom of the boat, let it harden, then applied it again. Once hardened, it turned dark brown and didn't look much different from the wood. After the final layer, we even attached thin planks over it. At a glance, it would have looked just like an ordinary boat."

"And 2 weeks after delivering that boat, your husband passed away."

"Yes. Our family was destroyed after that. I couldn't support us on my income alone, so even the children had to work and my youngest, who had been home alone, fell into a well while drawing water and died." Her voice finally broke into sobs. The lawyer handed her a handkerchief and gently comforted her before asking, "Do you remember the name of the person who commissioned the boat?"

"No, but Tom's work journal still exists. I can't read, so I only kept it all this time. I didn't know what was written in it until recently when Miss Harriet Lististerwell's people looked at it for me. We submit as our second piece of evidence the work journal of the boat builder Tom Carpenter, who died under suspicious circumstances."

At the lawyer's dramatic declaration, the judge opened the work notebook. "It's written here. 'The client did not want to reveal his name, but I heard his coachman call him Lord Listwell.' He does not seem to be Count Listwell." A murmur spread through the gallery. John's claim that he knew nothing about the boat or the glue had now been completely exposed as a lie, but what silenced the courtroom was not the judge's gavel.

"I came here today because there's something I want to ask you. Did you really kill my husband?" Mrs. Carpenter's voice, red-eyed and furious as she shouted at John, rang louder than anyone else's.

"Your honor, Mrs. Carpenter's statement is irrelevant to this trial."

"I heard about the Alrech Park boating accident, and Tom was devastated. He kept saying it might have been the boat he made. You have no idea how much he suffered." Mrs. Carpenter shouted, veins standing out on her neck. "He knew he was going to die. Otherwise, why would he have told me to keep his work journal safe and to say I knew nothing if anyone came to asking?"

"Mrs. May Carpenter, please step down from the stand."

"I'm asking you if you killed my husband." She continued shouting despite the judge's order and was eventually escorted out by guards. John, Bella, and their lawyer huddled together in frantic whispers.

Amid the chaos, Harriet's lawyer stepped forward again. "Count John Lististerwell claims that he is a kind man who showed great generosity towards his niece, Miss Harriet. We would like to refute that as well. If he were truly such an uncle, would he attempt to forge documents to seize land and an estate registered in his niece's name?" He then called a new witness, a woman from the back alleys named Lily Adler. When Jon saw her, he briefly frowned, then his eyes widened in shock.

"Miss Lily Adler, in late February of last year, did you visit the Aseti Bank in Perilis together with Count John Lististerell?"

"Yes."

"Why did you go with him?"

"He told me to pretend to be Miss Harriet Listwell and signed some documents. Before going, I practiced her signature many times." The gallery erupted in murmurs again.

"Why were you hired?"

"He said my physical features resembled Miss Harriet's. After the plan failed, he paid me 500 dirhams and threatened me to kill if I ever spoke about it." As she answered, the lawyer turned towards the jury. "The documents she was meant to sign while impersonating Miss Harriet concerned the transfer of 165 hectares of land in Perilis along with the estate there. Before this attempt, Count John Lististerwell had already tried to receive the property himself. Is there evidence or a witness?"

"We request Lord Howard Scott, head of the Perilis Aseti Bank, as a witness." Howard, who had come all the way to Genoa for the trial, took the stand. John's face had gone completely pale.

"Is everything the lawyer said true?"

"Yes. Count John Lististerwell repeatedly lied and made excuses in response to my letters, requesting Miss Harriet's personal appearance. He even actively interfered to prevent us from meeting." He explained in detail when he had sent each letter, what he had written, and how Jon had replied. Since John's replies were submitted as evidence, his testimony could not be dismissed as false.

"That concludes our case, your honor. So then, who was it that coveted another person's property? And who was it that committed an unforgivable betrayal of family?" The tide had completely turned. Still, Jon seemed determined to deny everything to the very end.

"If Count Listwell truly oppressed Miss Harriet, why did she not actively explain herself until now? Is it just a coincidence that she only began attacking my family after becoming the Duke of Kylo's lover?" As Jon's lawyer shouted, Harriet's lawyer raised his hand as if he had been waiting.

"We request Miss Harriet Lististerwell herself as our final witness." With the judge's permission, Harriet slowly stepped up to the witness stand. From that slightly elevated position, she could clearly see the plaintiffs and defendants' seats, as well as the faces of the spectators and jurors: suspicion, expectation, curiosity, disgust, and here and there traces of goodwill and support. Seeing all of it, Harriet was reminded of the day she left the monastery, the reckless day she had thought she would become her uncle and Bella's greatest scandal, and wondered how far she could go. She took a deep breath and began to speak.

"When my parents died, I was a 12-year-old girl just like Bella. As an orphan, the only person I could rely on was my uncle, my sole guardian. At the time, I truly believed he was acting for my sake. Until my parents passed away, my uncle's entire family had been kind and affectionate." She moistened her dry lips with her tongue and clenched her fists as she recalled the days when her once bright and cheerful self slowly withered. Just remembering it caused pain to surge through her body. It was hard to realize that my uncle's family was subtly manipulating me, suppressing me, and breaking me down. I never imagined that my closest blood relatives would try to kill me. But every time Bella caused a scandal, it was pushed onto me. With no one to rely on, I couldn't actively defend myself." Rumors about her past scandals were already widespread. Some doubted the truth of her testimony, but few were curious about the details. Bella ground her teeth in fury at that reality, but she had no choice now. She could only watch buried truths being dragged into the light.

"Still, I believed. I thought my uncle's family would acknowledge my sacrifices, that they would keep their promise to find me a good marriage and provide a generous dowry. But after I was thrown into St. Clarissa Monastery, and even my guardianship was cut off, I realized my uncle never intended to support me at all."

"While you were at the monastery, Baron Alonso Villis came to see you."

"Yes. He told me the truth about my parents' accident, and with that knowledge, I returned to Genoa to determine to uncover it." At that point, John shouted, "Lies! All lies. If you doubt it, I will call the abbess of St. Clarissa Monastery and the nuns as witnesses. They will testify sincerely, including about the night my uncle came to drag me to the Aseti bank."

"They were all bribed. You spread your legs for the Duke of Kylo and did all that." The judge slammed his gavel on the desk twice. "Order. If you continue to insult others without evidence, you will be punished separately from this trial. This is your warning." Only then Jon fell silent. He looked desperately towards the jury, but their expressions were no different from the judge's: cold, unmistakable contempt. The confidence Jon had felt that morning seemed suddenly like a memory from long ago.

Chapter 195. Watching his face turn deathly pale, Harriet continued speaking. "When I returned, my uncle panicked and tried to bury me in any way he could. But I believed that the truth would eventually come out, and that belief is what brought me here today." She turned toward the jury. "Your honor, members of the jury, please examine today's evidence and the testimonies of the witnesses carefully before delivering your verdict. I also ask that you recognize the fact that our witnesses came forward today at the risk of their lives. If Jon were to win this case, the witnesses' lives could be endangered." The jurors glanced at Mrs. Carpenter, who was still wiping away tears, and at Lily Adler, whose face was stiff with tension, whispering among themselves.

The judge reviewed the motions submitted by Harriet's side and spoke. "In two weeks, we will hold the final arguments and then issue a verdict. In addition, at the plaintiff's request, the Liststerwell family is hereby prohibited from disposing of its assets arbitrarily until the verdict is rendered." At that declaration, Jon slammed his hand onto the defense table in protest, but was immediately restrained.

As Harriet stepped down from the witness stand and returned to the plaintiff's seat, her eyes met Bella's. Those green eyes, once praised as the most beautiful in the Atoga Empire, were now filled with hatred and murderous intent. "You really don't believe you've done anything wrong. Not a little, not now, not ever." That truth was clear just from her gaze, and that made things easier. Harriet knew she would feel no pity when her uncle and Bella fell.

Turn the page. The Liststerwell family was given its final chance to argue, but they failed to find any evidence or witnesses proving Harriet's words false. Instead, they were caught trying to secretly siphon off assets, creating even more circumstantial evidence of their guilt.

On the final day of the Harriet versus John Lististerwell trial, the judge delivered the verdict in a steady voice. "By unanimous decision of the jury, John Lististerwell is found guilty and there is no sufficient reason to overturn this verdict. Accordingly, this court finds John Lististerwell guilty of the murder of Arthur and Lillian Lististerwell and of unlawfully seizing their inheritance and sentences him to exile to the Antier continent."

"No. No." Jon screamed as if he had lost his mind. For murderers, the usual punishments were execution or exile. Being spared execution did not mean exile was merciful. Being cast away to a place that required a week-long sea journey, stripped of wealth, status, connections, and prior knowledge was no different from a death sentence. The judge immediately stripped Jon of all his privileges.

"Furthermore, under imperial law stating that one who murders the previous head of a family cannot inherit a title, John Lististerwell is hereby stripped of his title. From this moment onward, all positions and assets of the Liststerwell family are transferred to Harriet Listwell. As for Bella Lististerwell, there is insufficient evidence of her participation in the crime and therefore she is acquitted."

Harriet listened to the verdict in a daze as Roxanna patted her shoulder and congratulated her on the victory. It still did not feel real to her that she had reclaimed the Liststerwell title. The lack of punishment for Bella made it feel even more unreal.

"It's unfortunate, but don't be too disappointed. Even with an acquittal, Miss Bella's future is bleak."

"That's true. She won't be able to return to high society and marriage prospects are essentially gone. So today, at least today, you need to fully accept your joy." Harriet stood up with a long breath of relief just as the weight of everything finally lifted.

"Harriet." Jon, who had been restrained by the guards, broke free and rushed toward her. "Harriet, please spare me for old times' sake. Please, there's been a misunderstanding. I'll explain everything. Just say one word to them. Just one word asking for leniency." Before his hand could grab her clothes, the guards restrained him again, but Jon continued to thrash and scream desperately. Harriet felt no pity as she watched him. Not once, in all the moments when she herself had begged and clung to him in the past, had her uncle ever reached out a hand to her. All she felt was a hollow, bitter laugh at the thought that this man had caused her so much suffering.

"Uncle Harriet." As Jon reached for hope, she spoke in a voice colder than ice. "When I heard at the monastery that my guardianship had been terminated, do you know how that felt? Now it's your turn to feel it." She had clawed her way out of despair with gritted teeth. But would he be able to do the same? Leaving behind a faint smile, Harriet turned away. She could hear Jon's screaming curses behind her, but she did not look back. The wounds of the past were no longer enough to make her turn around.

With her past settled, thoughts of the future naturally filled her mind. Thoughts of Cedric in particular. She opened her mouth to make a slightly awkward request to Roxanna, who was quietly standing by her. "I should tell Great Aunt Trisha first about today's outcome, but she'll probably already be asleep. I'll tell her about the victory myself, so you should go see someone else." Thanks to Roxanna's quick understanding, Harriet felt the weight lift from her heart and decided to go see Cedric. But she did not need to rush to the Duke of Kyas's residence. A carriage bearing the Kyas family seal was already waiting in front of the courthouse.

"Cedric," she murmured as the carriage door opened and a dazzling blonde man stepped out. As he walked toward her, camera flashes went off repeatedly around them. "You worked very hard." Just one simple sentence, and only then did Harriet realize everything she had regained. The long, bitter tie with her uncle was finally severed. Her parents' unjust deaths had been brought to light. She had reclaimed the Liststerwell family she loved. She had restored her honor.

"Yeah, I really worked so hard." With tears in her eyes, Harriet smiled as Cedric pulled her into his arms, knowing this would be the most dramatic image of the trial's outcome. The reporters feverishly captured the moment.

Even after arriving at the Kyas residence in the Duke's study, Harriet still felt dazed. She could barely remember how she had gotten there. From the moment she embraced him, reporters had swarmed them with questions, flashes bursting non-stop. With Cedric pressed close to her, she could see nothing else.

"I'll escort you, so don't be afraid. Smile like a victor." His breath and voice at her ear took over her senses instantly. She smiled as he told her to, confidently, even a little arrogantly. She thought she answered some questions from a major daily newspaper. What had she said? "Reclaiming the Liststerwell family was not out of greed, but because it is my root, my rightful claim, and the only way to reclaim my childhood that was destroyed by my uncle's family. Leniency. No, I have no intention of showing it. If someone can forgive a person who killed their parents, stole their entire fortune, and tried to bury them socially, they're free to call me cruel. Cedric is my strongest supporter, but I did not use his power to fabricate evidence or testimony. I swear this before God in my late parents' names." Looking back, she might have sounded a little too impressive. In any case, following Cedric's lead, evening came before she knew it. She thought they were heading home, but instead, they were at the Duke of Kyas's residence. The noise still seemed to buzz in her ears. Only after Cedric placed a warm cup of tea in front of her and fed her a piece of sweet cookie did Harriet finally stop staring into space. As she chewed and tasted the rich sweetness, she spoke.

"It's over."

Cedric smiled faintly and nodded. "For now, I imagine there's a lot I want to ask you."

"I imagine there is. Ask me anything." That easy permission made her hesitate instead. She had been too grateful and too sorry to ask before knowing that her lover had found evidence and convinced witnesses without her even realizing it. After rinsing her mouth with tea, Harriet spoke carefully.

"The witnesses, how did you find them all?"

"With Lily Adler, we had some help from Terry Haymon, who used to work as the Liststerwells' coachman. He remembered where he had dropped her off when he went to Pillis with your uncle. Terry not only told her where to find her, but also helped persuade her. He frightened her by saying Jon might try to kill her once the trial began and convinced her that helping Harriet and the Duke of Kyas was the only way to gain their protection."

"Uncle Terry helped me that much. But what do you mean by 'used to be a coachman'?"

"He was dismissed. I noticed you were sending him money every month, so I thought you already knew."

"Oh, no. That was just to thank him for bringing Chairman Howard Scott to the Pellen residence." She had been told not to worry, so she had been sending money regularly as thanks. She had no idea Terry had been fired from the estate he had served his whole life. Harriet blamed herself for being careless about Terry's situation and forgot to be surprised that Cedric even knew she was sending him money.

Chapter 196. "Please contact Uncle Terry. He needs to be brought back to the Liststerwell estate. He's not someone who should have been dismissed so easily."

"That's a good idea. You don't throw away an experienced servant lightly. Since Harriet would soon be returning to the Liststerwell estate anyway, it would be best to call Terry back around that time."

"Anyway, I understand that Uncle Terry helped with finding Lily Adler, but how did you find the others?"

"The boat builder and the glue seller were traced by going back to the starting point, assuming what you said was true. It was like looking for a needle in a desert. But when you spread enough people out, you eventually find a thread somewhere." After gathering evidence herself for the trial, Harriet now had a rough idea of how much it cost to hire that many informants. People say money and power can do anything, but there was no way the fortune Cedric had poured into securing her victory was small. She finally asked what she had been genuinely curious about.

"You spent that much money. What do you gain from it? Is there something you want me to do for you using this trial?"

"Harriet, I'm not accusing you. I really don't know. I'm ignorant about things like this. Oh, right. The new Liststerwell family will be loyal to the Ducal House and the Imperial family. You don't need to worry about that." Cedric quietly watched her, looking almost anxious. The slight tremble in her hazel eyes, the unease as she tried to read his true intentions.

"Do you really not know? Is it some kind of compensation for the engagement that's going to be broken off soon? Even if it were, it's far too much."

"Huh?" Harriet was still assuming the relationship would end. For the first time, Cedric regretted being petty. He'd hoped she would want something for herself, but for someone like Harriet, who had only ever had things taken from her, that might have been too difficult. He spoke without a trace of joking.

"I was just trying to be loved. I thought that if I did this, you might stay by my side."

"What does that mean? Are you asking me to become your mistress?"

"A mistress? Even after everything he said, Harriet stubbornly avoided the obvious answer. I'm the countess of Lististerwell. Someone like me becoming a Duke's mistress. No. No. No matter how I think about it, that's not right, Cedric."

"Wait, I just confessed my love. Why are you jumping to that conclusion?"

"Love? What? For the record, I don't have lovers outside of marriage ever. Absolutely not." Cedric gently lifted her chin and looked into her eyes, deep and secretive like Tasjia Lake. Slowly, carefully, he pressed every word out.

"I'm begging you to love me, to marry me, to not leave me." At his desperate tone, Harriet finally seemed to understand his true feelings. Her eyes widened little by little, and her hesitant lips spilled nonsense.

"Makes sense. You're the Duke of Kyus, the emperor's nephew. You should marry someone better. I decide who is better for me. You marrying me would be a loss to the nation. Even neighboring princesses want you as a husband, so why?" Watching Harriet act as if she were desperate to send him off to another woman, Cedric almost laughed. Almost.

"Harriet, you keep acting as if you're not part of this." He grabbed her wrist. "Don't you love me?"

"Shh. Do you have the confidence to leave me?" The question was direct, not vague or evasive. Yet Harriet couldn't answer at all, and that was answer enough for Cedric.

"If you can't decide, then I will. I will marry only once in my life, and my bride will be Harriet Lististerwell. You and only you."

"Cedric, are you serious?"

"I've never been more serious. Do you want proof?" He kissed her, surrendering himself to the overwhelming rush of emotion. It felt like he was being dragged along with this innocent, oblivious woman's pace, but it didn't matter anymore. His desire to show his feelings wrinkled his neat suit in a way that was anything but proper. He had been prepared to hold her if she tried to run, but he didn't need to. The moment their tongues met, she wrapped her arms around him and leaned into him.

"Harriet, become everything to me. I'll give you all of mine in return," he whispered, their lips barely apart. He hoped his desire didn't sound too crude. Perhaps she sensed that fear in his touch, but Harriet smiled faintly and answered, "I'll give myself to you. Take me." The heaven that felt forever out of reach finally opened its doors to him.

Troubula. The next morning, Harriet realized just how naive her decision to spend the night in Cedric's room had been.

"Good morning." The sight before her eyes was unreal. Cedric, completely naked, except for a sheet barely covering his lower half, smiled at her and greeted her in a half-asleep voice. Unable to respond, Harriet slowly moved her fingertips and touched his arm. The firm muscle beneath his smooth skin confirmed that he was real. Cedric chuckled as if it tickled, then suddenly wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close.

"Don't tease me this early. It's hard to hold back."

"Uh, I—I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize." He enjoyed the soft body in his arms for a moment before returning to reality. "I don't want to bring this up in a situation like this, but people have been waiting for a while now."

"What? Who? For what?"

"The reporters are camped out in front of the estate gates."

"What?" Harriet jolted fully awake and sprang up. She threw on a robe, went to the window, and carefully pulled the curtain. Though it was still morning, reporters with photographers were already waiting outside the Ducal Estate walls for her to appear.

"Oh my god." She realized how naive she had been to think everything ended with winning the trial. The victorious figure of a sensational trial, a 24-year-old newly crowned countess of Lististerwell, and a woman about to marry a duke. It was irresistible gossip. For a while, she wouldn't be able to escape the public eye wherever she went.

"What? What do we do?"

"Just go out and wave your hand a little. If they find out I spent the night here before we're married, no one will dare say our marriage will fall apart anymore." Unlike the panicking Harriet, Cedric looked pleased. "Honestly, I'd like to keep you in this room, but we have things to do." He stood up, put on his own robe, gave Harriet a light kiss, then pulled a cord to summon a servant.

"You called, Your Grace."

"Shall I bring water for washing?" The maid bowed deeply without lifting her gaze.

"I think Harriet should wash up. The bath is already prepared. If you need assistance—"

"No, no, I can walk on my own." Embarrassed by the exchange, Harriet quickly followed the maid. Spending the night with her lover in his mother's house, and then bathing there, too, made her face burn with guilt. Yet the maid acted as if this were completely normal, calmly helping her bathe and get dressed.

"I've selected three outfits. I went for a more composed look, but if you prefer a different style, I can prepare more."

"I really like the second one. But whose clothes are these?"

"They belonged to Madame Stewie when she was young. They were altered to fit her. The fabric and tailoring were excellent, so she cherished them." The maid seemed worried Harriet might mind wearing used clothes, but Harriet was shocked for a different reason. I slept with her son in her house, and now I'm wearing her clothes, too. At least thanks to that, she stopped worrying so much about the reporters outside. The maid clearly had professional training. Her sense of style, makeup, and hair was flawless. An hour after leaving Cedric's bedroom, Harriet had become a noble woman who looked well-dressed without being excessive.

Cedric, now looking every bit like a duke on a day off, was waiting for her. "Shall we go out?" After breakfast, they appeared before the reporters as if they were simply going for a light walk. As expected, cameras flashed. Harriet looked startled for a moment, then smiled gently and waved. That small gesture alone sent the reporters into a frenzy.

"Please wave one more time. Look this way." Some even called her "Countess Listwell," and a few went further, calling her "Duchess." Cedric seemed to like the latter quite a bit and waved back with her. After that, the two ignored the reporters and walked along the garden path.

"What are your plans from here?"

"Renovating and redecorating the Liststerwell estate is the biggest task. My uncle's family will be leaving today, and fixing the inside and outside and decorating it to my taste will take at least a month."

"You doubt they'll leave quietly." At Cedric's comment, Harriet laughed. From afar, it might have looked like a woman laughing at her lover's joke, but in truth, her eyes held a cold gleam.

Chapter 197. Bella was never going to step back quietly. When I looked into her eyes, it felt like she genuinely wanted to kill me.

"What are you planning to do?"

"Nothing dramatic. I'll just keep an eye on her." They talked about various small matters that still needed to be handled as they returned to the estate, and that marked the end of dealing with the reporters.

"I guess I worried for nothing. It really wasn't a big deal."

"It's more troublesome than it looks. You have to appear natural while giving them nothing, and they can nitpick."

"Did I look strange?"

"Not at all. Honestly, you were so natural it surprised me." Cedric was delighted by how comfortably she walked through the Ducal Garden, but he tried hard not to show it. If he relaxed even a little, he feared he might start smiling foolishly without realizing it. Today's newspapers carried the news of Harriet's victory. Tomorrow's papers would carry the story that her relationship with him was solid and unquestionable. After the Liststerwell estate was repaired and reorganized once Jon's family was gone, Harriet would return to the home she had lived in since childhood. Now that she was finally going back for real, the final event marking the peak of her happiness was scheduled for two and a half months later.

The wedding will be soon. Everything was perfect. Preparations for the wedding were nearly complete. Just as he had planned, Harriet would walk into the ceremony without inferiority or haste, receiving the blessings of many people. It would have been even better if not for what happened later that afternoon.

Harriet, who had come back after spending the night away, received a thorough scolding from Trisha. "No matter how close to marriage you are, how could you spend the night at a man's house? At a time like this, what if people start picking at you?"

"I'm sorry, grandmother. Do you think beating John means everything is over? Not a chance. This is only the beginning. Once you become a duchess, do you know how many people will rush to tear you apart?"

"I'm sorry." She had nothing to say, so she kept her head down and apologized again and again. At that moment, Andre knocked on the door, clearly aware of the tension inside.

"Andre, madam, miss, something terrible has happened." If Andre said something was serious, then it truly was. As soon as Trisha allowed it, he rushed in and delivered the news.

"There's been a fire at the Liststerwell estate."

"What?" Trisha shouted in shock. But Harriet asked something else.

"It was put out quickly, right?"

"What?"

"Uh, yes, thankfully. Was the suspect caught?"

"Yes, but the thing is, was it Bella?" This time, Andre's eyes widened in surprise.

"How did you already know?" Harriet simply nodded instead of answering.

"It looks like Bella finally lost control. In the past, she wouldn't have done something that would get her caught so easily." She had expected Bella to do something drastic. The look in her eyes when they last met in court had said as much.

"You knew I just had someone keep an eye on her just in case." Thanks to Bella's arson attempt, Harriet was able to end the lecture from Trisha. She immediately headed to the Liststerwell estate with guards. As they drew closer, the stench of smoke grew so strong that she had to cover her nose and mouth with a handkerchief. Inside the estate, one of the investigators inspecting the fire site recognized her and gave a small bow.

"You came quickly."

"I came as soon as I heard. How bad is the damage?"

"The kitchen and dining area where the fire started will need to be completely torn out, but the rest of the estate is intact." Just then, another investigator came in from outside.

"Thanks to the quick report, Bella Lististerwell was caught in the act. She's denying it, but the evidence is overwhelming, so prosecution won't be difficult."

"Where is she now?"

"She's being held at Abigail Prison just until sentencing. Arson is a serious crime, so if she's convicted, she'll likely be transferred to Dover Fortress or Element Prison." Harriet nodded lightly and looked around the charred dining room. The kitchen where the fire started was almost completely destroyed, as if oil had been poured everywhere. The dining room that had acted as a fire break was also beyond saving. Still, it was fortunate things hadn't gone further. If she hadn't anticipated Bella's state of mind and simply waited for her to leave, the entire estate might have been burned down.

As Harriet shook her head bitterly, one investigator cautiously asked, "Would you like to see Bella? A short visit might be possible." Harriet stared at the blackened wall for a moment, then looked at him and smiled faintly.

"No." She turned away without hesitation. What she needed to do was clear: repair the estate as soon as possible, make Bella pay for her crime, and completely cut ties with her uncle's family. There was no reason to give Bella a chance to make excuses or vent her resentment.

In a small stone cell at Abigail Prison, where noble prisoners were temporarily held, Bella paced back and forth, muttering to herself in rage, "It's not fair. Why is this happening only to me? Why?" She didn't know when or where everything had gone wrong. Not long ago, she had been called the golden rose of Genoa, adored by countless men as the most beautiful woman in high society. Now she was a prisoner, abandoned in a jail cell, unsure of her fate. The injustice of it drove her mad.

"This is a trap. Otherwise, how could the Imperial investigators have arrived so quickly? It makes no sense." Jon had been sentenced to exile, and the remaining family members had been forced to leave the Liststerwell estate with only their personal belongings. At that time, Jon and Miriam had blamed Bella. "Why did you ever say something like that to Harriet to begin with? What are you going to do now? I told you again and again to watch your mouth. Our family ended up like this because of you." When they helped them gain the title and live comfortably, they had doted on her as their daughter. Now that things had turned, they bared their teeth at her. More painful than her parents' betrayal was the realization that Harriet had taken everything from her. That resentment made it impossible for her to disappear quietly.

"If I can't have it, I'll destroy it." Yesterday morning, as she poured oil around the oven of the estate that had been hers until recently, Bella ground her teeth. After the verdict, the servants had been temporarily dismissed, so no one was there to stop her until she watched the fire grow into a towering blaze from a distance. She never thought this would become a crime that dragged her life even further. By the time people arrived, she planned to be gone. Since the fire started in the kitchen, they'd probably blame the kitchen maids.

"This is my last gift to you, Harriet." She laughed and turned away, only to freeze.

"Bella Lististerwell, you are arrested for arson." Imperial investigators in uniform rushed in with guards and restrained her. Firefighters followed, dousing the flames with water and sand. Because of that, the fire that might have reduced the entire estate to ashes was extinguished after burning only the kitchen and dining room.

"It's fine. The house isn't completely destroyed, right? I'll say it was an accident. I'll be released soon. There's no proof." Bella tried to calm herself with those thoughts. She learned just 3 days later that being forced to leave the estate with her belongings would have been the most lenient outcome she could have hoped for.

"Another article already. She's in the papers more often now than when she ruled high society." Cedric said as he placed the newspaper he'd been reading in front of Harriet. "The wicked woman of the century, Bella Lististerwell, suspect in multiple murders." The article showed a photo of Bella squinting under the flash as she was dragged away, alongside reports that she was linked not only to arson, but also to several murder cases.

"Mrs. Marshall and even the doctor who treated my grandmother." Harriet put down the apple she was eating and picked up the paper. "Further investigation has confirmed that both the accidental death of the late Sir Jasper Atworth, the physician of Countess Pelen, and the poisoning of the late Lauren Marshall while in prison were both carried out under Bella Lististerwell's orders."

"My God." Seeing Harriet too shocked to speak, Cedric gently held the apple back to her mouth. "Thanks to you uncovering the truth about your parents' deaths, other souls will finally be avenged as well." If I'd known she killed Sir Jasper, I would have run over and pulled her hair myself. Remembering that Jasper's death had been the starting point of the incident where Trisha nearly died, Harriet's fists trembled with anger.

Chapter 198. When Cedric realized that Harriet was no longer in the mood to eat, he took the apple she had bitten into and put it in his own mouth.

"There will probably be more criminals exposed soon. This man, listed here only as a former lover, likely played a decisive role. His family seems to be desperately trying to block it for now. But that would be Tez Ror." Cedric frowned slightly.

"Hearing that man's name from your mouth isn't pleasant, even in the situation like this." Harriet tilted her head. "Why? Why? Is there something I don't know?" Seeing her genuinely confused expression made him feel like a fool. No, maybe he really was one. There had been nothing between Harriet and Tzor at all. The jealousy had been nothing but his own misunderstanding. Still, he couldn't forget it: that smug smile Tzor had worn when he introduced Harriet as his partner.

"It's just that there was a time I wanted to punch his face."

"That's surprising. I can't imagine you wanting to hit someone." Just then, as if on cue, the man Cedric most often wanted to hit burst through the door.

"Edgar Dawson. Hey, my friend. Oh, Miss Harriet is here, too. Please forgive my rudeness for barging in without knocking, my lady." He apologized with his usual exaggerated gestures and cheerful voice. Cedric's expression twisted.

"Isn't there someone you should apologize to first?"

"I just did, Miss Harriet. If my apology wasn't enough, you're welcome to throw tea on me." At that, Cedric lifted his teacup, and Harriet laughed as she stopped him.

"If the two of you have something to discuss, I can excuse myself."

"No, this is actually perfect. I wanted to ask Miss Harriet for advice." Edgar casually sat down across from them and gulped down the tea Cedric hadn't touched. "It's about Daphne."

"What? Did something happen to Daphne?"

"You know, James Chzlo has made a complete fool of himself, right? There's probably no one in Genoa who doesn't know that." Cedric answered in her place, and Edgar chuckled smugly. "So, he was lying low. But with all this news about Bella coming out, James's name has started circulating again. People are wondering if he helped with her crimes. A reasonable suspicion. The Chzlo family says they'll take legal action to protect what little honor their remaining son has left. But the real problem is the shameless, ungrateful bastard." Edgar took another sip of tea, then frowned deeply. "He contacted Daphne."

"What? What?" Harriet and Cedric asked at the same time. Harriet slammed her hand on the table. "Don't tell me he spouted nonsense about wanting to try again now of all times. That Chzlo much sure knows how to bark. Has he lost his mind?"

"Unfortunately, yes. Otherwise, what kind of nerve would it take to tell Daphne he regretted his foolish past and ask if they could at least remain friends?" Even if it was someone else's problem, it was infuriating. Harriet took several steady breaths to avoid swearing, then asked, "What? What did Daphne say?"

"She was deeply offended that he contacted her at all. She complained to me that she must look easy. 'Anyway, this is what I wanted to ask you.'" He clasped his hands together and asked seriously. "I told her there was also a man who had only eyes for her."

"Oh my. I thought she'd respond as usual, thanking me for the comfort and brushing it off." But then Edgar's cheeks flushed faintly. He turned completely red, got flustered, said she suddenly remembered something urgent, and ran off.

"Oh my goodness." Harriet covered her mouth, unable to suppress her smile.

"Edgar leaned closer. That's a good sign, right? Or did something really happen? Or maybe she just didn't want to be with me anymore."

"No way. Well, personally, I'd bet on that last option," Cedric cut in coolly. But Edgar didn't joke back. His shoulders slumped and his voice grew quiet. "Honestly, I'm starting to lose confidence. I believed if I kept expressing my feelings, she'd understand someday. But even if she understands, there's no reason she has to accept me, is there?"

"Looks like Edgar Dawson has finally learned how society works." When I think about it like that, I start wondering if I'm no different than James Chzlo. Seeing Edgar so dejected felt unfamiliar. Cedric didn't seem inclined to comfort him, but Harriet decided to step in.

"Don't decide things based on assumptions. I'll meet Daphne and ask her directly." Edgar nodded slightly, his face caught between hope and anxiety.

"If she says I'm bothersome or that she has no intention of being serious with me, you don't need to soften it. Please tell me exactly what she says."

"All right." That same day, Harriet went ahead and made plans to meet Daphne. When they met again at a cafe in the busy district, Daphne still radiated her pure lily-of-the-valley-like beauty. Though Daphne must have had her own worries, she first checked on Harriet.

"There have been so many articles about her lately. Are you holding up?"

"Every time I see one, I worry."

You're getting hurt again. Not hurt, angry. But Bella doesn't matter to me anymore. There's no reason to let myself be shaken by someone who ruined her own life. I'm glad you feel that way, and I hope you do, too, Daphne.

I heard Jameus Chzlo contacted you. Harriet had expected Daphne to show disgust, but instead a blush spread across her cheeks. "Uh, well, no, Daphne. Have you already forgotten how that man humiliated you?"

"No. No, of course not. How could I forget? I don't want any connection with him at all. It's not that." Daphne started to say something, then closed her mouth again. Harriet felt frustrated, but didn't push her. Daphne was always careful with her words. Still, she wished Daphne understood that her carefulness could hurt someone else.

"Daphne, I don't know what you're thinking, but if you don't feel that way, please don't give Mr. Dawson too much hope. He may look carefree, but he seems to be hurting inside."

"What? Did Mr. Dawson say something?"

"He didn't complain. Just he's worried that you don't feel the same and that he's following you without realizing it. He even said he might be no different than James Chzlo."

"That can't be true." Daphne jumped to her feet. "He's far too good for me and yet he's kind and funny. He makes me feel like I'm not insignificant at all."

Seeing Daphne's trembling voice, wavering eyes, flushed cheeks and ears, Harriet finally smiled. "You don't need to explain that to me. I think there's someone else who's desperately waiting to hear those words. But we've only met again. A true friend wishes for the other person's happiness, even if that means letting go of a love that has finally come so it doesn't slip away."

Daphne smiled shily. She looked like a peony blooming in the spring sunlight. "Then, if you'll excuse me, I should go."

"Yes, take care." As Harriet waved, Daphne ran outside like a fluttering butterfly, as if she were a fairy carrying spring to Edgar.

Just then, the waiter brought the tea and pastries they had ordered. "Um, where should I set these?"

"Right there, please." Harriet had the untouched tea placed where Daphne had been sitting. She lifted her own teacup and gently clinkedked it against the other. "Let's all be happy." Even drinking alone, the tea was wonderfully fragrant.

Chapter 199.

The renovation and redecorating of the Listister well escape were finally completed at the end of July. Even though they rushed as much as they could because the wedding was set for mid August, they only barely managed to finish before August began. During that time, Harriet moved back and forth between the Pelen estate and the Kyus estate. Roxanna had smoothly persuaded Trisha, saying since the wedding is so close and she'll be living at the Ducal residence anyway, it would be better for her to move in early, arrange her room, and get familiar with the servants. Thanks to that, everything worked out. She had been extremely busy, yet strangely, the days also felt slow at the same time.

"So this day really did come," Harriet murmured. On a midsummer morning, when sunlight seemed to reach everywhere, she stepped into the Lististerwell estate. There was no trace left of fire damage and no lingering presence of her uncle's family.

"It looks like it was arranged exactly the way you wanted," Cedric said.

"Yes," Harriet replied softly. Cedric followed her inside, looking around the estate that Harriet had devoted herself to for nearly two months. She had tried to preserve the memories of the house where she once lived with her parents, though it could never be exactly the same as back then. Still, the painting hanging on the wall of the staircase to the second floor clearly showed what the house now stood for. It was a portrait Harriet had found in storage, the one she had clutched and cried over for a long time. It showed Arthur and Lillian Lististerwell with their small, lovely daughter, a warm and peaceful family scene. Harriet and Cedric stood in front of the painting for quite a while.

"You really resemble your father," Cedric said.

"Yes, people often say that. Honestly, if it weren't for this painting, I might not remember his face so clearly. But now I can see it. I still don't understand why your uncle destroyed every single keepsake so thoroughly."

"Oh, I heard about that, too," Harriet said with a bitter smile. "Apparently, a fake shaman told him that since his brother and sister-in-law died, leaving only a daughter behind, their spirits could cling to their belongings as evil ghosts. He was told to destroy everything without leaving a single item."

"Did John Lististerwell admit that himself?"

"No, my aunt did. When she begged me to reduce the compensation for Bella's arson, we negotiated. In exchange for me not demanding damages, she agreed to answer everything I asked."

Cedric let out a quiet laugh. "To them, you must have looked like a villain."

"What kind of villain is this generous?" That negotiation revealed many things: why Jon destroyed his brother's keepsakes, how much property he had squandered while acting as head of the family, where he invested, who he associated with, and why Bella had hated Harriet so deeply.

"When she was young, Bella admired you," Miriam had said. "You had everything she dreamed of. She envied your toys and pretty clothes, but more than that, she said you looked like a princess because everyone naturally gathered around you. And that's why she bullied me."

"She wanted to become you. She always said there couldn't be two identical things in the world. That might be why." It was absurd. But Harriet had no choice but to believe it now. There was no way to hear Bella's side anymore.

"Bella was transferred to Dover Castle, wasn't she?" Cedric asked.

"Yes. At first, she was treated like any ordinary prisoner, but it seems someone bribed the guards on her behalf. I hear she's now staying in a fairly decent cell."

"Who would do that?"

"I don't know, and I don't care. Even if her situation improves a little, the stain on her reputation won't disappear. That's enough for me. Bella's life had fallen apart the moment she refused to repent. Whether she fully understood that was another matter. Even if someone spent money to get her parole later, her return to high society was nearly impossible. The position she once held can't be reclaimed without money, title, and beauty."

Harriet said, "That's true. That's true. At best, she might end up as the second wife of some wealthy noble, but parole would take at least 5 years. Will her beauty still be the same by then? 5 years in prison would feel like 10 years compared to the life she lived before. Without good cosmetics or devoted maids, it probably will. So, the best future Bella could hope for is marrying some foolish man who devotes himself to her. Even then, she would live blaming others and suffering over what she lacked, likely dying lonely."

"I could imagine that future all too clearly."

"What about the collateral relatives?" Cedric asked, changing the subject. After experiencing betrayal by his closest family, he couldn't stop thinking about those who testified against her.

"They contacted me as soon as the verdict was announced."

"And what did they say?"

"The usual excuses, that they didn't know anything, that it was hard to go against my uncle, things like that." But Harriet hadn't let them off easily. "I told them to keep doing exactly what they'd always done, to be careful not to fall out of favor with the Lististerwell count."

Cedric laughed at that. This time Harriet couldn't deny his earlier comment that she sounded like a villain.

Just then someone called from behind her. "My lady, I'm sorry to interrupt, but all the servants have gathered." At the new butler's respectful notice, Harriet lightly elbowed Cedric, who was still smiling, and headed down to the lobby. As the new head of the estate, she had replaced most of the servants. She couldn't risk leaving behind anyone connected to Jon or Bella. However, those who had worked faithfully for years were rehired. One of them was Terry Haymon, the coachman Bella had fired.

Seeing the elderly man standing politely in one corner of the lobby, hat in hand, Harriet greeted him warmly. "Uncle Terry, it's been a long time, my lady."

Harriet ran and hugged him. "Oh dear, your clothes will get dirty."

"Thank you so much. I should have brought you back sooner."

"Not at all. Thanks to the money you sent, I rested comfortably. For the first time in my life, my wife and children and I lived without worry. You should continue to do so. From now on, please take charge of the Liststerwell stables and carriages. Thank you for granting my request." Though just past 60, Terry had declined other offers and asked only to continue working for the Listister Wells. He said he didn't want to retire yet and wanted to work until all his children were married. Harriet assigned him to manage the stables and carriages instead of driving them himself, allowing him to work more comfortably with stable pay for the rest of his life.

After Terry, she personally shook hands with everyone, including the butler and head maid. "I'll be going back and forth between here and the Kilus estate. The house may be empty at times, but I trust you'll take good care of it." The servants promised eagerly. One day, one of Harriet's children would inherit the Lististerwell title. Until then, the estate would be used like a villa, just as her parents had. She planned to build precious memories throughout the house.

Harriet turned her gaze toward the garden outside. For a moment, she thought she saw her parents figure standing among the vivid green that almost hurt her eyes. "Mom, Dad, I'm back." It had taken a long time, but she had finally reclaimed to the place where she belonged. As the daughter of Arthur and Lillian Lististerwell, as Trisha Pel's Grant niece, as a former sister of St. Claresa Convent and the founder of Claresa who became hope for orphaned girls and nuns and as the one and only love of Duke Cedric Kyus and an undeniable force in high society and as Harriet Lististerwell, a woman who no longer depended on or was controlled by anyone. Having lived her life constantly explaining scandals, she would now live as the topic itself.

Chapter 200.

"Ooh, it's hot outside, but it's cool in here. Our seats are towards the front, right, mother?" Wiping her forehead with a handkerchief, Emma led Catherine and Agnes through the crowd. St. Paulo Cathedral, chosen for the wedding venue for Harriet and Cedric, was packed with an overwhelming number of guests. In an ordinary building, it would have been unbearably hot. But this ancient and massive religious structure maintained a cool temperature even in midsummer as if by a miracle. Still, Emma broke out a cold sweat while searching for their seats.

"Is it not this way?" As she nervously bit her lip near already occupied seats, a young man noticed their attire and approached them with a welcoming smile. "You're from St. Clarissa Convent, correct? Please come this way." Black hair neatly combed back, sharp features, clear blue eyes like the sky, and precise movements. Emma had never seen such a handsome man in her life. "So, the capital really is different. There are men like this here," she thought. Of course, Cedric was even handsomemer, but to her, the Duke of Kilus felt like someone from a completely different world. Every time the man glathed back while guiding them, Emma unconsciously smiled foolishly, then blushed in embarrassment when she realized it.

After leading them to their seats, he added kindly, "You may sit here. Countest Lististerwell instructed us to ensure you're completely comfortable. I'll be nearby, so if you need anything, just raise your hand slightly."

"Um, chapter 200. Um, your name, I mean, how should we address you?"

"Oh, how rude of me not to introduce myself first. My apologies. My name is Henry Jensen. I work as a footman for the House of Kilus."

"Ah, yes. Thank you, Mr. Jensen."

"Please feel free to call me Henry, if you'll excuse me." He smiled, then moved to stand near a pillar where he could be seen just by turning one's head. Emma kept sneaking glances at him when Agnes, who had been watching quietly from the side, cleared her throat and whispered, "He's handsome."

"Yes, he is. And he doesn't look that much older than you."

"He looks maybe 3 or 4 years older than me. That's the perfect age gap." Emma was about to ask what exactly was perfect about that when the music began, and she forgot all about it as she turned her attention forward. The grand music echoed powerfully through the high ceiling chapel, as if urging everyone to take their seats. Guests who had been greeting acquaintances hurried to sit down, and the priests who would officiate the wedding appeared at the altar. As the noise settled, the choir seated behind the orchestra rose all at once and began to sing in voices that sounded almost heavenly. "Bless them. We, your devoted and obedient servants, praise you. Let joy and glory fill this place today."

To that sacred and solemn music, the groom and bride, both dressed in white ceremonial attire, appeared at the far end of the long aisle. "I know it's a hassle, but there are some formalities in this world that are better done properly. I really think something like this only needs to happen once in a lifetime. I won't allow it to happen twice," Cedric joked softly to calm Harriet's nerves, then took her hand and stepped forward. Despite the countless people gathered, the chapel was filled only with the choir singing and the soft sound of Harriet's dress brushing against the floor.

"You look truly beautiful today."

"Stop it. Someone might hear." Though she scolded him in a whisper, Cedric couldn't stop smiling. When he first saw Harriet in this dress, he had been genuinely stunned. "Mother's taste really is impeccable," he thought. The dress from Servage that Jeremiah had brought even before the formal proposal suited Harriet exactly as promised. The pale silver gay bodice revealed her straight collar bones and defined shoulders delicately embroidered with tiny beads. The full sleeves and skirt were made of smooth silk. The veil draped over her dark brown hair was as translucent as fairy wings, and even the shoes hidden beneath the skirt were set with diamonds. Of course, the dress was beautiful because Harriet was wearing it.

"We now proceed with the wedding ceremony of groom Cedric Kilus and bride Harriet Listwell. Under the blessing of Yahw, the union of these two." As the long blessing continued over their heads, the guests began whispering among themselves.

"Sir Deer, when did you first realize their relationship?" Gerard, Cedric's aid, quietly asked Herbert the butler.

"H probably when Countest Lististerell brought uninspected wine. any other person would never have been allowed past the ducal gates with it. But his grace drank it together with her that day. I found it strange from the moment his grace ordered us to help with the opening of St. Clarissa soap and Herbs. Honestly, it made no sense at the time." Recalling those moments that now felt so distant, the two men looked fondly at Cedric and Harriet.

Meanwhile, seated in the bride's family section, Trisha gently held Roxanna's hand. "Now all that's left is to see you get married too."

"Mother, I don't say it's impossible. Does it make sense that that wild child Harriet began the ducus of Kyus? You said from the beginning that you thought they'd work out. I'm still surprised it actually happened." Roxanna knew that beneath Trisha's sharp tone lay affection and concern, and she knew that no one here was happier about Harriet's marriage than Trisha herself.

"To me as well, Harriet is no different from your own daughter."

"Of course. Do you know how carefully I raised her?" Tears welled in the eyes of the normally cold and stubborn woman. She had never imagined she would experience such joy in her later years, and that made it all the sweeter.

Jeremiah, seated in the groom's family section, felt much the same. "If the groom's mother cries like this, people may find it strange."

"Jeremiah, I know, I know, but even as Samuel tried to comfort her, she couldn't stop the tears. Is it really all right for me to be this happy at my son's wedding?"

"Of course, your son is marrying the woman he loves. As a mother, it's only natural to be happy, right? His father would have cried, too, if he could see this."

"He is seeing it, and I'm sure he's just as happy as you are." Samuel gently covered her hand with his own.

Not far from there, Emperor Drain glanced over at the scene and whispered to Anastasia beside him, "We should arrange something for Jeremiah and Count Weaver soon."

"That's a wonderful idea. Jeremiah is far too young to live alone, and I've never seen someone as devoted as Count Weaver." Though their second son's engagement had been broken, that was no reason not to bless another's marriage. They exchanged looks filled with mixed emotions, then nodded quietly.

Harriet's close friends were seated near the front as well. Viviana, peeking towards where the emperor and empress sat, whispered to Daphne beside her. "I think I'll never be surprised at any wedding again after this. How do you top something like this?"

Daphne smiled softly. "But it must be exhausting for Harriet herself."

"Exactly. I stopped by to say hello yesterday, and she looked miserable. She said she'd just pretend she was dead for the day and endure it." At that, the men escorting them joined in. "Just opening all the wedding gifts will probably take days. By the way, what gift did Mr. Dawson send?"

"I sent silverware in my and Daphne's names. What about you, Mr. Everett?"

"Um, Viv and I sent a vase. I hope they like it." Jerome Everett, Viviana's fianceé, felt honored to be acquainted with the future Duke and Duchess thanks to his partner. But it was a double-edged sword. If he ever made Viviana cry, the new Duchess would certainly not let it slide.

As everyone expressed their own emotions, the priest's blessing reached its end. "And thus, as Armonia and Tig did once, may they prosper with many descendants and live forever in happiness under God's mercy." With the conclusion of the blessing, the ring exchange began. Cedric slipped a dazzling diamond ring on Harriet's finger. Though the stone was smaller than the engagement ring of a certain infamous woman once gossiped about in high society, its value was far greater, an elegant and refined jewel.

"Some say that giving a ring symbolizes sackles and restraint. I rather like that interpretation."

Harriet shot him a sideways glance. "I won't make it scary."

"That sounds like you'll do whatever you want as long as I don't notice. You're getting sharper." Not knowing whether he was joking or serious, Harriet discreetly poked his side with her elbow. The pokes had been getting stronger lately, but Cedric only laughed harder, enjoying it immensely. Many who knew him would have been shocked to see the sight of him.

The priest stood on either side of them, sprinkling holy water and offering further blessings. One priest's words stood out. "May fathers rejoice and mothers bless the union of Cedric Kilus, a father's son, and Harriet Lististerwell, a mother's daughter." Listening quietly, Harriet spoke to Cedric. "It feels like they're watching us somewhere."

Cedric didn't ask whom she meant. "They're probably here. My father would be standing stiffly trying to look dignified. Your parents, though, would be crying tears of joy. My dad would cry even more than my mom." Thinking of the parents they had lost too early, they looked at each other.

"I will love you even more for everything they couldn't give you."

"And I will too." Without paying attention to what the priests were saying, they were naturally drawn together and shared a deep kiss. Such behavior wasn't permitted during a cathedral wedding. The priests looked flustered while the guests erupted in cheers, half shocked, half impressed.

"I was planning to stop being a scandalmaker. Sorry, I couldn't help." As Harriet pulled back, she knew people would start talking about them again. But she wasn't afraid anymore. No matter what happened, she now had a man who would face it with her.

Sunlight streamed through the stained glass of the chapel, and the bells rang, announcing the end of the ceremony and the beginning of the reception. The dance of the bride and groom would continue late into the night.

The end.

The end. Thank you for wandering through today's tale in the novelish universe. If the story moved you, don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe to join our growing realm of dreamers. Until we meet again, keep your heart open and your mind enchanted.