SMR | Chapter 40

~Chapter 40~

“Feel free to ask anything.”

“I’m sorry to bring this up, but I’ve heard you struggled with a skin condition in the past. But now your skin looks so good. Do you have any secrets to it?”

At this, everyone’s eyes lit up. It seemed like they were all curious about it.

“Ah, well…”

Just as Harriet was about to speak, a thought suddenly crossed her mind.

‘This is it! This is the idea!’

A way to make money for St. Clarissa Convent. A way for her to make money and gain fame.

‘I should sell St. Clarissa Convent’s soap and herbs in Genoa!’

Before, she wouldn’t have been able to catch the attention of the aristocrats, but now it’s different. She, Harriet Listerwell, the talk of the social scene, will start the word of mouth.

Harriet forced herself to hold back the urge to brag and smiled playfully.

“It’s a secret.”

“What?”

The young ladies, who were expecting an amazing answer, asked in disbelief.

Harriet smiled and teasingly replied, “I hope to share it with you soon. But right now, I can’t really talk about it.”

“Now I’m even more curious!”

“I’m sorry. I’ll save it for our next meeting.”

Harriet smoothly led them to the idea of a future meeting, and Annabel came closer, smiling.

“Will you sit at my tea table again next time?”

“If you invite me, I’d be happy to.”

Harriet was confident that she had made a valuable social connection that day.

***

After the tea party, Harriet returned to the Pellon Mansion and immediately sought out Roxana.

Roxana, who was also working as Trisha’s assistant, was a busy person, but since Trisha had instructed Harriet to discuss important matters with Roxana, she didn’t mind the visit, though she didn’t look particularly pleased.

“What is it? I have to finish checking these accounts by today, so I’m a bit busy.”

Despite Roxana’s cold tone, Harriet boldly asked, “Miss, I want to know what steps I need to take to sell local products in the capital.”

“Do we have to discuss it right now?”

“Yes, it’s urgent.”

“Sigh.”

Roxana sighed deeply but took out some paper and a pen.

“Should I just talk about the distribution and sales process?”

“Yes. The products are great, but they just don’t have a market.”

“Whether they’re great or not, that’s for you to judge, Harriet. Anyway, I’ll just answer your questions. To bring goods from the provinces to the capital, you’d have to either contract with a distribution organization or set one up yourself…”

Roxana’s explanation, which took about an hour, was as clear as usual. In short, making money requires spending money.

“So, that means I’d need to borrow money from someone?” Harriet asked.

Roxana shrugged.

“You could borrow from a bank or an individual, or you could seek investment.”

“Investment?”

“Bringing goods from the provinces to sell in the capital is a business. And businesses usually seek investment. Of course, you’d have to offer higher returns than bank interest, but it’s still better than paying bank interest.”

“Why is that?”

“If your business succeeds and you provide a good return to your investors, your next business will attract even more investments.”

Money makes more money, and success attracts even more success.

“But what if it fails…?”

“Then you’ll just be a failed entrepreneur. But unlike a bank loan, where you have to pay back both the principal and interest, with an investment, you’re not required to repay the full amount.”

“Really?”

“Investments are the responsibility of the investor. They’re taking a risk for potentially greater returns. Of course, you should try to apologize as much as possible.”

Harriet felt her head growing more and more complicated.

Getting a loan from the bank would be the easier option, but with her current credit, she wouldn’t be able to borrow enough money to start a soap-selling business.

But if she sought investment, who would trust Harriet Listerwell enough to invest a large sum of money?

‘But I’ve got nothing to lose.’

Harriet gritted her teeth.

She would have to look for investors and try her luck. If that didn’t work, then she could always try for a bank loan later.

“Thank you, Miss. This has been really helpful.”

“You seem like you’re about to get into another troublesome venture…”

“I haven’t done anything yet, so there’s nothing to be worried about.”

“True. But whatever you do, just make sure not to cause trouble for Madam Pellon.”

After saying that, Roxana sat back down at her desk and spread out the accounts, while Harriet bowed her head in greeting and left Roxana’s office.

Once she set her plan, many things started popping into her mind.

‘Before looking for investors, I need to discuss this plan with Director Catherine.’

Time was short. St. Clarissa Convent needed money soon, and Harriet also needed to act before her popularity started to fade.

She immediately went to find Trisha.

“Grandmother, I was thinking of visiting St. Clarissa Convent.”

Trisha raised an eyebrow with curiosity but didn’t ask any further questions.

“Go downstairs and tell them to prepare the carriage.”

Harriet felt reassured and packed a light bag.

***

“Harriet, Sister!”

“Director! Vice-Director!”

Harriet ran to embrace Catherine and Agnes, who greeted her warmly. They checked her from head to toe, making sure she hadn’t lost weight or gotten injured.

“I’m really doing well. You don’t have to worry so much.”

“Are you sure nothing happened? Lord Listerwell was quite intense back then.”

Catherine examined Harriet closely with worried eyes. But seeing Harriet’s clear and bright expression, she felt relieved.

“It feels like we haven’t seen each other for ages, even though it’s only been two months.”

“Right. But now that I’m here in the convent, it feels like just yesterday I was living here.”

They exchanged kind words and headed toward Catherine’s room.

There, Harriet took out an envelope and handed it to Catherine.

“This isn’t much, but I’d like to offer this as a donation. I hope it helps with your ongoing projects.”

“How could you have something like this…? You haven’t settled in the capital yet.”

“My living expenses are being covered by my new guardian, Countess Pellon. So, I want to use the money I have to help the convent.”

“My goodness! What is this money…?”

Catherine knew Harriet’s situation well. The only money she had was the 5,000 dirhams given to her by Baron Villey.

But for Harriet, it wasn’t about the money itself; it was about the good intentions of Baron Villey.

And now, especially with her new “business” on the horizon, that money wasn’t essential.

“What’s really important right now is not this small donation, Director. As I mentioned in my letter, I can’t rely on Countess Pellon’s help forever. And for the convent to keep running the ‘Shelter for Girls,’ we can’t just depend on temporary donations.”

“That’s true, but you know how little we earn from our work.”

“That’s what we need to change.”

Harriet’s eyes sparkled, and Catherine tilted her head in confusion.

“What do you mean?”

“To put it bluntly, let’s start a soap business under the name of St. Clarissa Convent.”

“What?”

“There’s potential. I’ll make it happen.”

But before Catherine could ask how Harriet planned to sell soap, she hesitated at the idea of actually engaging in business.

“While it’s true that we’ve been selling our products and using the income for operations, it feels wrong for those who have dedicated themselves to God to jump into a business just to make money.”

“Director, none of you would be starting anything new. It’s just expanding what we already do, but with more profits.”

“That’s true, but…”

Harriet moved closer to Catherine.

“If I’m being honest, I think it’s more in line with God’s will to help the poor with the money we earn from selling products made by the monks, rather than just relying on donations from nobles.”

Agnes nodded in agreement from the side.

“Harriet’s point doesn’t seem wrong, Director. Of course, we shouldn’t lose sight of the importance of monastic life and product creation.”

“But we don’t produce much, so would it be worthwhile to sell it in the capital?”