SMR | Chapter 51

~Chapter 51~

Manual labor was almost like a line that separated commoners from nobles. Publicly admitting to doing such work was like confessing that you had fallen to the level of a commoner.

But Harriet was not ashamed at all.

 “Of course it was hard. But while stirring the soap ingredients in the pot for days, I was able to reflect on God’s words. I realized my foolishness and sincerely repented.”

 Everyone admired her honest confession about something she might have wanted to hide. 

They seemed to truly believe that Harriet had really changed.

 Harriet paused for a moment, then smiled brightly.

 “I’m getting off topic. Anyway, I saw the entire soap-making process myself. All the ingredients come from the monastery’s farm, and there are no strange chemicals at all.”

 She picked up a butter knife nearby and shaved off a thin slice of the soap’s surface.

 “So like this.”

 Then she popped it into her mouth.

 “Oh my! Harriet!”

 “What are you eating right now?”

 Everyone was shocked and horrified, but Harriet just smiled gently.

 “You can eat it. Though I don’t recommend it as a meal replacement.”

 “Good heavens…!”

 “You’re all so surprised. But the nuns in the soap workshop always taste the soap this way to check if it’s made properly. They say it has a special flavor and scent only good soap has.”

 Harriet expected to be mocked as some kind of animal. But she thought this was necessary to leave a strong impression about the soap.

 “Anyway, please try the soap I gave as a gift. I even washed my hair with it, and my scalp got healthier. The lotion that comes with it has lavender oil. You can use it to wipe your skin, and if you spray some on your pillow before sleeping, you’ll sleep deeply.”

 The guests nodded, opened the lotion bottle, smelled it, and smiled. The fresh scent of lavender oil naturally made everyone smile.

“If you try it yourself, you’ll smile even more. And you’ll want it badly.”

Harriet was sure word about the product would spread. She knew because she had personally experienced the surprise.

 When they almost used up the soap, everyone would be desperate to ask where to get more.

 And after waiting a few more days, the soap would start selling in Genoa.

***

“What? Everyone went to Harriet’s tea party?”

Carolyn nodded nervously, sensing Bella’s surprise.

 “It was probably just temporary curiosity. Or they went to check if Harriet was talking nonsense again.”

 “Don’t talk nonsense yourself.”

Bella gave a bitter laugh.

 Her friends, who were called her personal guard and who used to gather and insult Harriet, how could they have gone to Harriet’s tea party? This was betrayal!

‘Could it be that Harriet planned to steal all my friends like I once stole hers?’

She thought about how Harriet was left all alone after losing her friends one by one, and a chill ran down her arm.

“There are so many places holding tea parties these days. Why there? Are they out of their minds? Are those really my friends?”

Bella angrily asked, and Carolyn had no choice but to tell the truth.

 “Harriet said she would reveal the secret to her good skin.”

“Hah! So, was there some great secret?”

 “She said she used soap made at the monastery, and it made her skin better. And she gave that soap as a gift to everyone.”

“Trying to win people over with gifts? Tsk tsk. Still stupid.”

Bella shook her head.

 The boast that could easily attract people was clever, so that was ‘praiseworthy’ in a way. But trying to gain favor by giving gifts was pathetic and somewhat reassuring.

“What can you do with just soap? The people who went to the tea party must have been really disappointed.”

 “Y-Yeah, probably. So don’t worry too much. The girls were just caught up in Harriet’s words because they were jealous of your skin. They probably feel sorry to you.”

 “Yeah, I hope so.”

Bella decided not to think too deeply, just as Carolyn advised. There were plenty of soaps in the world, and soap made at a monastery wouldn’t attract the attention of young ladies her age.

 But reality went completely against Bella’s expectations.

 “That soap was really good, wasn’t it?”

 “Viviana felt the same way! I really thought it was great too!”

 Especially Viviana Dellus, one of Bella’s friends, was someone who saw great results.

 “Harriet told me to cut down on greasy or sweet foods, but that was hard. Still, just using that soap made my skin this much better. See?”

 She showed her friend the area under her chin where acne scars remained. Her friend, who knew Viviana usually hid that spot under thick makeup, was surprised to see the lighter makeup and much less redness on Viviana’s skin.

 “Wow! At this rate, it’ll clear up completely in a month or two.”

 “Right? But the problem is, I don’t have much soap left. Would you sell it to me if you’re not using it?”

 “Ah… Sorry, I’m still using it well myself…”

 Viviana nervously bit her lip. She was trying to use the soap sparingly but felt like she would finish it in just a few days.

 ‘Bella seemed upset when I said I went to that tea party…’

 That excuse was only two weeks ago.

 But she couldn’t stay quiet anymore. If she could just get rid of this awful acne, she felt like she could do anything.

 So Viviana begged her father first.

 “Father! That soap is made at St. Clarissa’s Monastery. Please get some for me.”

 “There are cosmetic shops all over Payton Street and Sebiol Street. Why bother?”

 “It has to be that monastery soap. It’s urgent!”

 The Marquis Dellus was annoyed but eventually gave in to his daughter’s whining.

 ‘I’ll just make a decent donation and get the soap.’

 But the servant sent to the monastery returned with a refusal letter.

 “Our monastery products are already under an exclusive contract, so we cannot give them away freely. It will likely be sold in Genoa soon, so please wait a little longer.”

 It was common for famous holy items to be sold in the city, but news of a small monastery’s product being sold under an exclusive contract was unheard of.

 Still, it was good news.

 “Vivi, it’ll be sold in Genoa soon. So wait a bit.”

 But if she could wait, she wouldn’t have begged her father in the first place.

 “The soap I used before made my acne sting and itch again.”

 It was the first time her acne had improved a lot since it started. The thought that it might get worse again was driving her crazy.

 Viviana nervously worried about Bella finding out, but finally went to see Harriet.

 Since Vanderbilt had caused trouble at a party before, she worried Harriet might refuse to see her, but Harriet surprisingly welcomed her warmly.

 “Welcome, Miss Viviana! How have you been?”

 “Thank you for your hospitality…”

 Viviana smiled awkwardly and sipped the tea the servant brought her. If she were visiting another house, she might have praised the garden or mansion interior, but Harriet was staying here temporarily, so such compliments might seem rude.

 “Um… about that soap you gave as a gift that time…”

 Fidgeting nervously, Viviana glanced at Harriet, who was waiting for her to speak, and finally said,

 “The soap from St. Clarissa’s Monastery?”

 “Yes! That one. I was wondering if I could get some more. Of course, I’ll pay a fair price! My father sent someone to the monastery, but they said there’s some exclusive deal, and they can’t just give it away…”

 Harriet smiled gently. The bait she had set was finally taking a nibble.

 “An exclusive contract means the monastery’s products are only sold in one place.”

 “Y-Yeah. But you have to know where to buy it… By the way, how did you get that soap, Harriet?”

 Was this finally someone questioning how Harriet had gotten the soap she was giving away?

 But there was nothing to hide. It wouldn’t be a crime to give answers to people who were struggling with no way to get it. Even if she made a little profit from it.

 Of course, she didn’t have to reveal everything.

 “I received a lot from the monastery head when I left the monastery.”

 “What? So you don’t even know where to buy the soap?”

 “Well, actually, after news spread that I was giving the soap as party gifts, the company with the exclusive contract contacted me. But before the sale starts, I can’t say where it is sold.”

 Viviana looked shocked.