SMR | Chapter 48

~Chapter 48~ 

‘Yeah, even if Harriet got prettier, she’s still just Harriet. Who would care about an ugly girl? People are only annoyed because a scandal maker like her had the nerve to come back.’

But she didn’t realize her friends’ true feelings. It wasn’t that they couldn’t keep up with Bella that bothered them—it was that someone they used to look down on, like Harriet, had changed so much. They were more curious about how she became pretty.

No matter how much they copied Bella, they couldn’t be as beautiful as her. But if “ugly” Harriet used a method and became this pretty, wouldn’t that method work for them too?

Harriet, who clearly understood this kind of thinking, waited until Bella left with Carolyn before approaching Bella’s friends again.

“Oh? Where did Bella go?”

They seemed startled at Harriet’s sudden appearance but quickly gave her cold, snide answers.

“Bella is busy.”

“Yeah, unlike some people, she has a lot to do.”

Harriet nodded calmly.

“You all look bored, but don’t be too hard on Bella. It’s nothing new for her to be invited everywhere.”

Bella’s friends didn’t bite back and say that the “someone” they mentioned earlier was Harriet.

 After all, they were just sitting around fanning themselves too—just as free as she was.

Smiling innocently like she held no grudge, Harriet made a suggestion.

“I’m planning to host a tea party soon. Would any of you like to come?”

They all scoffed.

“Who knows? Would anyone go?”

“Bold of you to even ask.”

But Harriet didn’t flinch at all.

“It just seemed like you were all curious about something… so I thought I’d share it.”

At those words, their eyes changed. They obviously wanted to ask what she meant, but no one dared speak first, afraid of how the others might react.

Harriet smiled like she had no choice and dangled the bait like a fisherman.

“I’ll send out the invitations anyway. Feel free to decline if you’re not interested. Since it’s my first tea party, I’ve prepared lots of gifts, so come by if you’re free.”

She gave a polite farewell and walked off. But Harriet was nothing like the “scandal maker” or “ugly girl” she once was. Bella’s friends couldn’t take their eyes off her mature and graceful figure as she left.

‘Alright, I’ve baited the hook.’

As she walked back to her seat, Harriet smirked, thinking of how wide-eyed Bella’s friends had looked.

If they really didn’t want to come, they would’ve said so the moment she mentioned sending out invitations. But not a single one did.

‘I bet two or three will show up.’

Bella’s group had ten people total, including Bella and Carolyn. They held some influence in the circle of young ladies thanks to Bella’s popularity. If even one of them started talking about what happened at the tea party, it’d be the best kind of publicity Harriet could ask for.

‘Since you all hated me so much, I hope you talk a lot, girls.’

Harriet smiled softly.

She thought her work for the day was done—but maybe that was a bit premature. Partway through the event, someone quietly approached her.

“Ahem!”

She turned at the sound of a cough—and oh no. She recognized the face, but it wasn’t a welcome one.

“Sir Julian…! You don’t seem drunk today. Don’t tell me you’re here to pick a fight again?”

It was Julian Pace, the man who’d stirred up trouble at the Vanderbilt party by bringing up her past. The memory still annoyed her, so her words came out sharp. She thought he’d get angry, but instead, he turned red and lowered his head.

“I was drunk that day and made a mistake. I wanted to apologize, but I couldn’t find the chance…”

“Well, that’s what letters are for, right? Especially for someone like you, who used to send plenty of them. I doubt you didn’t know that.”

“Yes, I know. I just thought it would be better to apologize in person.”

Harriet frowned and looked him up and down. He wouldn’t meet her eyes, so he must’ve known how shameful his behavior had been. But for someone supposedly just offering an apology, he seemed to be dragging things out a bit too much.

“Fine. In a world full of people who never apologize, it is admirable that you’re owning up to your mistake and asking for forgiveness. I accept your apology. Now then… have a nice day.”

She didn’t want to get tangled up with him, so she tried to leave quickly. But he blocked her path again.

“Wait! There’s something else I want to say.”

Honestly, she didn’t want to hear it. Whatever it was, she had a feeling it wouldn’t be pleasant.

But she couldn’t just walk away, so Harriet forced a polite smile, even though her expression was about to crumple.

Julian stared at Harriet’s face seriously before finally speaking.

“It’s not really something I wanted to say… It’s more that I have something to ask you.”

“Then go ahead.”

“I mean… really, not even a little bit…”

“What are you trying to say that’s taking so long?”

Harriet tilted her head, and Julian’s face turned red again—like he was… embarrassed.

“Do you really… truly… not have any feelings left for me?”

He said the last part so quietly, Harriet barely heard it. She wondered if she’d misheard and asked again.

“You’re asking if I don’t have any feelings left for you, Sir Julian? Is that what you meant?”

“…Yes.”

How was she supposed to take that? Was he trying to start a fight? Or… could it be?

“Wait, are you asking if I still like you?”

Instead of answering, he gave a small nod.

Harriet looked at Julian—his face red, yet not looking away from her—and honestly wanted to open up his head to see what was going on in there. What in the world was he thinking?

But since it wasn’t a hard question to answer, Harriet shrugged and replied plainly.

“No, I don’t have any feelings left. Nothing at all. You don’t need to worry that I’ll ever cling to you again. I mean it. I’ll be extra careful to make sure we don’t even run into each other.”

The more she emphasized that she had no feelings, the more Julian’s face looked like he was about to cry. Then suddenly, as if shocked, he grabbed her wrist.

“Y-You don’t need to do that!”

“Excuse me?”

“I mean…!”

He held onto her wrist tightly, and with his other hand, nervously ruffled his own hair in frustration.

“Could you please let go of my hand…”

“I haven’t been able to forget you!”

“…Huh?”

Harriet looked up at him, completely dumbfounded by his sudden confession. He looked like he had made up his mind about something serious.

“First, I want to apologize for the past. I’m truly sorry. I regret insulting and lashing out at you when you were just a young girl.”

“Wait, hold on—”

“Please forgive me for not recognizing your worth back then. But the letters we exchanged, that innocent love—none of it was fake. I still have those letters.”

“Why in the world would you keep those…!”

“The moment I saw you again the other day, all those feelings came rushing back. Honestly, I wanted to talk to you then, too—but I’d had too much to drink…”

Harriet felt like the back of her neck was going numb.

So this man—who once clearly despised her—was now saying he had feelings for her?

‘I must really have gotten prettier.’

She thought maybe she could expect good soap sales after all.

But first, she needed to deal with the situation. Julian’s loud outburst had already drawn attention from nearby guests.

Just as she was about to say something to smooth it over, a new thought popped into her head.

‘Wait. Do I really need to run away from this?’

 Hadn’t she come to this bazaar planning to make a splash anyway?

 Julian Pace might actually be useful.

Once she had that thought, her mouth started moving on its own.

“Oh, I see. I almost misunderstood you. But now that I think about it, you were always kind and gentle.”

“Harriet…!”

“I don’t think we’re quite close enough for you to use just my name yet.”

“…Miss Harriet.”

It was a very unfamiliar experience—to see someone flustered in front of her like this.

Harriet wasn’t the type to enjoy making others uncomfortable, but just this once, she felt oddly satisfied.

 It was like the pain of that day—when she had to apologize over and over for something she hadn’t even done—was starting to fade a little.

“First, could you please let go of my hand? It’s starting to hurt.”

“Ah! I-I’m sorry!”

“You must’ve been in a rush. I understand. But please be more careful next time. You see, when you grab my wrist, it’s me who gets called indecent and troublesome—not the one doing the grabbing.”

At that, Julian looked more hurt than anyone.