SMR | Chapter 09

~Chapter 09~

Ding-. Ding-.

The sound of the bell from the tower echoed, waking the monastery that was still shrouded in darkness.

Dawn was approaching, but it was still so dark that without a lamp, you couldn’t even tell the front from the back of your clothes. Harriet sluggishly got out of bed.

“Ugh, I’m so stiff.”

As she stretched, her bones and joints creaked from being pressed against the hard bed. She wanted to sleep more, but she knew if she lazed around, she’d miss breakfast and only get glares from others.

Harriet quickly washed her face with the water she had prepared the night before, then wiped it again with some rose water she received from the monastery.

‘Ah, it smells so good.’

She tapped her face gently with her fingers and took a deep breath. The lavender scent from the rose water always made her feel calm. The herb farm attached to the monastery produced not only rose water but also potpourri, medicines, and oils. At first, Harriet thought these products wouldn’t be as good as the ones she used before, but to her surprise, they worked really well on her skin. So, without shame, she even asked for more oil and potpourri.

‘They give it out for free to people staying at the monastery, so it feels like hitting the jackpot!’

She thought she might even miss this monastery life because of these products when she eventually left.

Harriet put on her nun’s robe over her chemise, tightened the waist belt just enough, and brushed her hair, tying it into a simple ponytail.

‘It’s so convenient not having to worry about makeup or fancy clothes. When I go back, it’s going to be hard to adjust for a while.’

It took her only five minutes to get ready and leave her room. Of course, the other noble ladies staying at the monastery were different. They didn’t wear nun’s robes and even applied light makeup every morning. They also stayed in rooms much bigger and better than Harriet’s, with some even bringing their maids.

At first, Harriet thought it was unfair, but after some time, she found her own situation more comfortable and kept quiet.

‘I’m staying longer than them anyway.’

The other noble ladies would only stay for a few weeks, at most three or four months, and then leave. They were treated like guests, but since Harriet would be here for a year, she was treated more like a half-nun.

‘At least they don’t treat me like a full nun. I get more free time than the others.’

Harriet wiped the few pieces of furniture and window frames with a cloth she had soaked in the washing water. After tidying up the basin and cloth, she headed to the dining hall.

She offered a short prayer to the holy statue hanging above the door before entering the dining room. The monks who were lining up at the serving counter nodded their heads in greeting.

Today’s breakfast was dry bread, cheese, olives, a glass of milk, and half an apple. At first, Harriet thought it was too much to eat before dawn, but now she finished everything, not even leaving a single olive.

If she didn’t eat enough, she’d have a hard time completing her morning chores.

After finishing her meal, it was time to head to work. Harriet had been assigned to the soap workshop.

“Sister Harriet! You don’t need to come this early.”

Sister Sophia, who was in charge of soap making, waved her hands as she welcomed Harriet warmly. In her early 40s, Sophia had a gentle face and was a very kind person. Thanks to her, Harriet’s fears about the monastery had lessened a lot.

“There wasn’t much else to do. What should I work on today?”

Harriet asked as she helped Sophia take out the tools.

“Hmm… how about you try making the soap yourself starting today?”

“What? Really?”

Until now, Harriet had only done small errands, so she felt a little overwhelmed to finally be recognized as part of the soap-making team. However, Sophia looked a bit concerned and gave an apologetic smile.

“To be honest, it might be a bit tough for someone from a noble family. If it gets too hard, just let me know, okay?”

“I’ll do my best.”

Harriet replied confidently, and Sophia looked at her curiously.

“Sister…”

“Yes? Did I make a mistake?”

“Oh, no. It’s just… you’re different from what I expected.”

Harriet froze for a moment. She wondered what Sophia must have thought when she heard that a noble lady had been exiled to the monastery for a year because of some scandal in high society. Maybe she imagined Harriet to be arrogant and self-centered.

But unlike the other workshop leaders, who were hesitant to accept Harriet, Sister Sophia had welcomed her.

“Our workshop is actually one of the easiest. I’ll make sure the work doesn’t get too tough for you, so just try your best.”

Harriet pushed down her excitement and smiled lightly.

Making soap was hard and sometimes dangerous, but to Harriet, who was trying everything for the first time, it was all fascinating.

Soon, an experienced monk who had been asked by Sophia, began explaining the tasks for the day with a strict attitude.

“We’ll be boiling olive oil, water, and soda in this pot. You’ll need to keep stirring it, but be careful—it’s easy to get burned if you’re not paying attention.”

“It’s amazing how you can make soap with oil. No matter how many times I see it, it’s still fascinating.”

“If you purify high-quality olive oil without any impurities and solidify it, it becomes a treasure that’s worth more than anything.”

The monk held up a white, milky bar of soap. It was the same kind of soap Harriet had been using.

“By the way, this soap is really good.”

The monk’s face brightened.

“You understand the value of this soap!”

Grabbing Harriet’s hands in delight, the monk suddenly lowered her voice and whispered.

“I’ve tried offering this soap to other ‘guests,’ but they didn’t like it at all.”

“Really? Was it not suitable for their skin?”

“If they had at least tried it before making a judgment, it wouldn’t have been so discouraging. But they all said they use far better soap and didn’t need this.”

That was a shame for those ladies.

Harriet had been suffering from random rashes and acne, but just one use of this soap had worked wonders for her skin.

“I can guarantee it. This is the best soap I’ve ever used. It’s gentle, cleans well, and doesn’t leave my skin feeling tight afterward.”

“Exactly!”

“And it helped with my acne, too.”

Harriet had been mocked many times for the pimples that dotted her face. But ever since she started using this simple white soap and the refreshing herbal rose water, her skin had been improving. The red patches were shrinking, and her complexion was getting clearer.

“Haha! I’m glad you love our soap so much. With this motivation, let’s make another great batch today!”

“Yes! I’ll work hard.”

Harriet rolled up her sleeves with a bright smile. The fact that there was someone who liked her made her feel happy, and she didn’t think the work would feel hard today.

***

But by that evening, Harriet collapsed onto her bed.

“Oh… I’m so tired…”

She had acted tough in the soap workshop, but standing all day and stirring the pot was backbreaking work. Her shoulders, arms, wrists, lower back, and legs—everything hurt.

“How many more days do I have to do this…?”

She felt like she might pass out.

With such an exhausting process, no wonder the soap’s quality was so good.

“It’s a method that’s been passed down for over 200 years. These days, factories use chemicals to make soap quickly, but I believe our way is still the best.”

Sister Sophia and the monks in the workshop, even though they sometimes coughed from the fumes, took great pride in the soap they made.

In today’s fast-changing world, people might dismiss their method as outdated.

But for Harriet, the results had been real.

‘If people in Genoa knew about this, it would be really popular.’

Harriet quickly shook her head.

‘But nobles won’t like soap that has no fancy colors, no scent, and no brand.’

Modern noble brands were all about promoting themselves as “the best products used by celebrities.”

There was no way nobles would open their wallets for soap from a poor monastery known only for its exile. Plus, the cheap price would only make them look down on it more.

It was a pity, but nothing could be done.

More importantly, Harriet was realizing that life in the monastery wasn’t as bad as she had expected.

‘Actually, I think I’m enjoying life more now. The bed is still uncomfortable, but the food is decent… Hmm? Now that I think about it, I haven’t had any stomachaches since I got here.’

The thought suddenly popped into her head, and Harriet’s eyes widened.