~Chapter 150~
“Do you know what rumor I’ve heard recently?”
Melody asked with a look of contempt toward Bella, and everyone around her looked curious.
“Well, several people saw Bella Listerwell sticking close to Duke Kailas. I guess Lord Cheslow isn’t enough for her.”
Harriet felt a sudden pang in her chest, as if something sharp had stabbed it. She didn’t know why it hurt, but it did.
After a moment, Harriet hesitated before adding, “I also saw the two of them go out onto the balcony at the Duke’s party, and then come back inside.”
“Really?”
“Yes. It was a balcony that wasn’t very crowded, and they seemed very close, which surprised me.”
“My goodness! Bella, has she lost her mind?”
Daphne’s friends began to criticize Bella, shocked by her actions.
It wasn’t just that she had stolen someone else’s fiancé; now she was trying to seduce another man while still engaged to James. This kind of scandal was something only the most brazen noblewomen would dare to create.
The shock was even greater because Bella had always been seen as an angel, admired by society.
As the group murmured about Bella, Daphne gently grabbed Harriet’s hand and whispered in her ear, “Are you okay?”
“Me? I’m not sure what you mean by ‘okay,’” Harriet responded, puzzled.
Daphne awkwardly smiled, “I just thought that talk might upset you.”
“No… I’m more worried about you, Daphne.”
“I’m really fine. James doesn’t mean anything to me anymore. But I’m more worried about you and Duke Kailas…”
Before she could say more, Lord Laurel appeared, interrupting their conversation.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, but there are people Daphne needs to greet.”
Though he was trying to appear kind, Harriet could tell from the way he was acting that Lord Laurel still disliked her.
Feeling uncomfortable, Harriet decided to leave first.
“Go ahead, Daphne. I’m a bit hungry, so I’ll go get some food.”
“Alright. I saw some delicious-looking dishes over there.”
“Thanks, I’ll go ahead then.”
Harriet politely greeted Lord Laurel, waved at Daphne, and walked toward the food tent.
She wasn’t fully accepted by Daphne’s group, so no one followed her.
Harriet felt a little lonely but reminded herself to stay strong and put some food on her plate.
When she waved at Daphne earlier, she hadn’t felt particularly hungry, but now, seeing the neatly arranged food, she started to feel the hunger.
‘This apple pie looks delicious. I should add some ham with it. Maybe I’ll take two cookies?’
Her plate now had a slice of golden-brown apple pie, two thin slices of ham, three types of cheese, one raspberry cookie, and one chocolate chip cookie.
‘It looks like they’re grilling beef over there, should I try a piece?’
Since leaving the monastery, she had been avoiding meat, but on a special day like today, she felt it might be okay to eat a little more than usual.
As she watched the barbecue tent with the sizzling meat, someone laughed beside her.
She turned her head to find Bella standing alone nearby.
“Harriet! If you keep eating like that, you won’t be able to fit into that dress next time. Your stomach is already sticking out a bit, isn’t it?”
Bella spoke with a bright, innocent smile, but Harriet immediately recognized it as one of Bella’s old tricks—a mocking remark disguised as a joke. She’d heard it many times before.
Without hesitation, Harriet replied, “What’s wrong with gaining some weight? It’s better than forcing myself to eat and getting sick like I did at your house.”
At those words, Bella’s smile cracked. Harriet enjoyed seeing the cracks in Bella’s perfect façade. It felt like the day when Bella’s mask would finally come off was getting closer.
“Shouldn’t you be thankful you weren’t starving?”
“That wasn’t something you did for my sake. I have no reason to listen to you after you stole everything from me.”
Harriet gritted her teeth and forced a smile. As expected, Bella didn’t show any guilt for the past. Harriet could see it in Bella’s face, which only showed those expressions when no one was watching.
“You must be feeling proud now that you’re carrying an old woman on your back. But watch yourself. That old woman will die soon, and when she does, you’ll be nothing.”
Bella’s words, laced with venom, came with a smirk. Harriet had heard it all before—whenever Bella hurt someone, her smile grew even bigger.
Harriet was done allowing Bella to enjoy such lowly pleasures.
“Not at all.”
“Not at all, huh?”
“That’s just your wishful thinking. You’re the one who’s nothing.”
“What are you talking about? Are you out of your mind?”
Bella’s voice and laughter were full of mockery, but Harriet maintained a calm smile.
“I’m Harriet Listerwell. I’m the daughter of Arthur Listerwell and Lillian Listerwell, a businesswoman, the landowner of Perillas, and a sister of St. Clarissa Monastery. I have many ways to prove who I am.”
Harriet pointed at Bella with her finger.
“On the other hand, you’re a monster filled with vanity, jealousy, and inferiority. You’re the one who’s nothing, because you can’t even show your true self to anyone.”
Bella’s face twisted in anger. The person who had been praised as the angel of Genoa, the Golden Rose of society, now had a look that no one would have expected.
But Bella wasn’t easy to deal with either.
She quickly fixed her mask and smiled sweetly, saying, “Well, enjoy this moment. When I marry, someone like you won’t even be able to look at me.”
“Hmm. Do you think I’ll be scared just because you’re going to be called ‘Countess’?”
Bella laughed as if it were the funniest thing she’d ever heard.
“Well, we’ll see. You’ll find out who you end up bowing to.”
She turned without a second thought and walked away.
Harriet’s gaze on her retreating figure was cold.
***
The Hunting Competition
The hunting competition ended successfully.
The men who went out to catch the foxes returned proudly, starting to give the foxes they had caught as gifts to their lovers or families.
It was then that a large male fox’s body was brought to John, who had no close friends among the hunters.
“What’s this?”
He asked, shocked, looking at the servant who had brought the fox.
“This was sent by Duke Kailas. He asked that it be delivered to Sir John Listerwell, but there were no other instructions.”
“Wait, what? Duke Kailas sent this?”
“…Yes.”
The servant looked at John strangely before bowing and walking away.
John’s face, left alone, began to fill with joy.
“B-Bella!”
He silently cheered, but tried not to show it in front of others. When he saw Bella, who was praising James as he returned from hunting, he couldn’t contain his excitement and called her over.
“What’s going on, Dad?”
“Bella, you clever girl!”
“Huh? Why are you acting like this?”
He pointed to the dead fox with a big smile.
“It’s a fox, isn’t it? Who gave it to you?”
“Guess.”
“What is it? Tell me quickly.”
“Hehehe!”
John couldn’t hold back his greedy laugh and whispered in Bella’s ear.
“It was sent by Cedric Kailas!”
“Really?”
John nodded enthusiastically.
“I received it, but why would he send something like this to me? He clearly wanted it delivered to you.”
He was right. Cedric had no reason to send a fox to someone like John without a connection.
“Cedric is quite clever. If he sent it directly to you, it would have looked odd.”
“Exactly. My, Cedric really…”
“Shh! Keep it down, Dad. This is something that should be shared subtly, not loudly.”
Bella smiled sweetly as she looked at the fox’s fur.
The fox was a large male, but the fur wasn’t as fine as expected, though the size was impressive.
“I should have the fur made into a scarf by a craftsman.”
“Ha ha! Of course! But what about James?”
“He caught five foxes, and he’s sending three of them to us.”
“Ha ha! I’ll have to find a furrier when we get back!”
John was thrilled, as was Bella.
Looking at the dead fox, Bella thought to herself, ‘The progress was slow, but I take it back! He’s much more direct than I thought.’
She hadn’t expected Cedric to send a fox so openly like this. She had thought he’d send it secretly in a day or two.
‘The more I see him, the more I’m attracted to him. I like how he doesn’t hesitate and acts without overthinking…’
Of course, the part she liked most was his title, power, wealth, and appearance.
Now that he had made his move, it was time for her to respond.
“I should prepare a nice gift in return. I heard he likes wine. Please get something good.”
John nodded happily at her request.
