50.
Even with that thought in mind, sitting across from Cedric in the drawing room of the House of Kaylas was a strangely tense experience.
Benedict spent over thirty minutes merely inquiring about my well-being, before pretending to share his own updates while maneuvering the conversation toward the people around him.
“And, are you familiar with a Viscount Livingston?”
“I believe I have heard the name. He has built some assets by dabbling in construction.”
“Ah, so you know him? It seems his son runs a logging company, and they say his skills are quite remarkable.”
“Is that so?”
When Cedric didn’t easily take the bait regarding the reclamation project, Benedict had no choice but to begrudgingly make the request himself.
“……By the way, is logging required for this Alkines reclamation project?”
One would have thought he would have picked up on the implication if the topic of the project followed the talk of a logging company, but Cedric simply nodded lightly.
*Arrogant brat. If an uncle says this much, shouldn’t he be quick-witted enough to answer accordingly?*
Benedict fought the urge to click his tongue in annoyance, holding his composure.
“If a contractor hasn’t been decided yet, what about that company from the House of Livingston? Viscount Livingston is a truly trustworthy man, and they say his son is also well-versed in the field.”
“I’m not sure. One cannot judge a firm solely by reputation.”
“I’m not just anyone; I’m your uncle, and I’m recommending him. What more do you need?”
He was asking me to sign a 3 million Dirham contract based solely on his word. Cedric couldn’t tell if his uncle was naive, or if he viewed Cedric as being this naive himself.
*Likely the latter.*
Without breaking his calm expression, he spoke as if it were a matter of course.
“Have them bring a business proposal.”
“A business proposal? Why would you need something like that? The reclamation project is your plan; those people just need to cut the wood.”
“Haha, Uncle, you still have a great sense of humor. There is quite a lot of substance that goes into a business proposal.”
Cedric asked in a light tone, as if playing along with Benedict’s joke.
“What will they use to cut the trees? Where will they source the laborers? How will they transport the felled timber, and where will it be applied? Just thinking about it, those are the basics. Since it’s a company with such great skills, surely they wouldn’t be ignorant of such procedures.”
“W-well, I suppose so. I just meant, is there a need to waste time?”
“The Alkines reclamation project isn’t an urgent matter. Please pass the word along to Viscount Livingston. Tell him that since there is a couple of months’ time, he should prepare a proper business proposal and apply for an audience.”
At Cedric’s roundabout refusal, Benedict’s face stiffened awkwardly.
“Yes, I will do that. Though, I imagine Viscount Livingston will be quite disappointed.”
“Is there a reason to be disappointed? Since he has your introduction, I will certainly accept his request for an audience. He should know that is a significant privilege in itself.”
By speaking as if he were doing a great favor to save his uncle’s face, Cedric forced Benedict to acknowledge that he was not an easy man to handle.
*He acts like he knows nothing while being as cunning as his father.*
Unlike when he arrived, he left the drawing room with a noticeably rigid face.
And as Cedric watched his back, he chuckled once his footsteps had all but faded away.
“People who aren’t even as capable as Harriet Listerwell are out there trying to play at business.”
I already knew about the successor to the House of Livingston.
Why would the son’s company be struggling when that family had plenty of cash and a known name in construction? It was because they were incompetent enough that even their father’s name wasn’t enough to secure them work.
As Cedric shook his head, thinking of Benedict and the House of Livingston, his aide approached.
“The logging company is almost settled as Wellburns; shall I put that on hold?”
“No, there is no need. I doubt the House of Livingston will even come to visit.”
The aide nodded and turned to leave, but then spoke as if something had just occurred to him.
“The store construction on Sevioll Street is complete. Lady Harriet checked the final results yesterday.”
“She’s quick.”
“She is swift and precise. Honestly, at first, I thought she was just a young lady who knew nothing, but……”
“She isn’t a person to be ignored. Look. A man who has run a business for five years tries to resolve things with mere solicitation, yet she presented me with a business proposal and even a non-disclosure agreement.”
With only her boldness and sincerity, she had pushed the tilted scale of negotiation back to zero. How could one not be curious about how it would end?
“Sir Austin, manage it personally. Report to me if anything happens.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Cedric rose from his seat, entrusting Harriet’s affairs directly to his closest aide.
* * *
Harriet’s tea party was held in the garden of the Felon Estate on a day in late August when the sweltering heat had finally subsided.
White fabric shades were draped around the gazebo, and four tea tables decorated with flowers and splendid refreshments were set up underneath. I had originally planned for three, but since the number of guests who announced their attendance was higher than expected, I added one more.
*I thought it would be fortunate if even two or three people came, but you were all quite eager, weren’t you?*
It was a surprising achievement that five of Bella’s group attended today’s tea party. Harriet smiled secretly as she scanned them, as they were intentionally sitting scattered apart.
Feeling self-conscious, they pretended not to know each other and just fluttered their fans, but the young ladies I had met at Annabelle’s tea party filled most of the seats, creating a cheerful atmosphere.
“Thank you so much for attending today. It’s my first time hosting a tea party, so there may be many shortcomings, but please be generous.”
As Harriet greeted them, Annabelle and her friends applauded.
But even without their goodwill, when young ladies of a similar age gather, there is always plenty to talk about, so the party proceeded smoothly. The tea poured by the servants and the three-tiered refreshments were also quite delicious.
Of course, they hadn’t come just to drink tea.
“By the way, Lady Harriet.”
Unable to bear the nudging of the young ladies around her, Annabelle finally stepped up.
“Are you really not going to tell us?”
“Pardon? What do you mean?”
“Oh, come on, why act like you don’t know? You promised to tell us how your skin improved when we met again.”
“Ah, that?”
Harriet clapped her hands as if she had forgotten.
However, instead of answering immediately, she signaled the maids in the distance, and the maids brought over beautifully wrapped gifts and distributed them to each of the young ladies.
“Actually, I was going to give these out toward the end of the party, but since you’re curious, I’ll hand them out now. What I’ve just given you is the secret to my improved skin.”
“What? What is this?”
The young ladies opened the packages with curious expressions. Inside was a bar of soap wrapped in parchment paper and a small glass bottle of toner.
“It feels as though my time at St. Clarissa’s Convent was guided by Yawar. My hives and acne, which I had suffered from for over seven years, disappeared within three months of using the soap made at the convent.”
“Oh, really?”
Harriet nodded vigorously.
“Of course, my dietary habits changed a lot, too. I think that is important as well. But if it weren’t for this soap and toner, I probably wouldn’t have fully recovered.”
Even as she spoke, the young ladies were busy smelling the soap and touching its surface.
However, a few who had used various luxury products wore skeptical expressions at Harriet’s words.
“I’ve seen great effects with a face wash from , but I’m not sure if this will be better than that……”
“That’s true. I’ve even used products from or , but I didn’t get better as dramatically as you did, Lady Harriet. And to think it’s just soap, not even a product from a professional cosmetics company……”
It was a reaction I had already anticipated.
Harriet nodded as if she understood and picked up the soap placed in front of her.
“When I first received this soap at the convent, I thought the same thing as you all. I tried to console myself by being grateful that such provisions were even provided. Since I couldn’t even bring my own soap.”
The soap, which Sophia would have meticulously cut with a cutter, was a simple hexahedron shape, with the seal of St. Clarissa’s Convent stamped in the center.
It was obvious it would look more primitive than the round, smooth soaps in pretty colors used by noblewomen.
“But I worked in the workshop where this soap is made. So I can tell you with confidence. This is practically a work of art.”
“What? You worked in a soap workshop, Lady Harriet?”
“Yes. The convent encourages labor as a method of devotion. It is not forced upon the nobility, but I threw myself into the labor to settle my mind and reflect on my past.”
That was an even more shocking story to the guests than the efficacy of the soap.