~Chapter 64~
“Have you been well, Emma?”
“Of course! Everyoneâs been doing well. Itâs all thanks to you, Sister Harriet!”
Harriet waved her hand, embarrassed by the praise.
She knew it wasnât just her doing.
The convent, which used to look worn-down, now looked clean and organizedâclearly thanks to increased income.
And perhaps it was just her imagination, but there seemed to be a new sense of energy in the air.
Then she realized:
âOh! The children from the EpĂšre Orphanage mustâve arrived!â
With those lively little souls now staying at the convent, it made sense that the atmosphere felt brighter.
“How are the girls from the orphanage doing? Are they adjusting well?”
“Yes. A few of them were sick when they came, but theyâve gotten much better. And the older girls are already helping with daily tasks.”
“What about the construction of the Girlsâ Refuge building?”
“Itâs almost done. By the first week of the new year, the girls should be able to move into their new rooms. Weâll also start theology and basic education classes.”
Everything at the convent was moving forward just as planned.
Not just the shelter for the orphan girlsâthe soap and herb workshop had been expanded solidly.
Even the carts and tools used at the olive and herb farms were all replaced with brand-new ones.
There still wasnât much extra money left over, so things were tight.
But soon, the monks and nuns would start receiving proper salaries.
âThis means women who have nowhere else to go can have another option besides becoming a nun.â
Since they had no living expenses while staying at the convent, the salaries they earned could be saved upâgiving them the chance to imagine a life outside.
Being a nun was a noble and honorable calling, but if it wasnât something you chose for yourself, it could feel like punishment.
âSomeone like me, who was once abandoned at a convent, might get the chance to change their life too.â
Harriet clenched her fist, remembering how hopeless her past used to feel.
***
âSister Harriet!â
Catherineâs voice sounded familiar but also strangely excited.
âHave you been well?â
âIâve been busier than before, but I feel happier and more at peace than ever. And thatâs all thanks to you.â
âWhy does everyone keep saying that? Honestly, it was Duke Kailas who made all this possible.â
The words tasted bitter as they left her mouth.
She knew nothing about running a business when she started.
All the real success was thanks to Cedricâhe was the one who made things work.
Without him, how would she have gotten such great shop locations?
Where would she have found all the talented workers?
She knew it deep downâ And every time she had to admit the truth, that he was the real owner of this business, it made her chest ache.
But Catherine shook her head firmly.
âNoâit was you, Sister. Weâve been making soap and herbal products for years, but no one ever thought of turning it into a proper business.â
âSheâs right. If you hadnât suggested it, Duke Kailas would never have taken an interest.
Even though we didnât recognize the potential in what we were doing.â
Agnesâs words made Catherine frown with regret.
âIâd like to apologize for doubting your insight, Sister. You were trying to find a way to help us, but I was just afraid of change.â
âOh no! It was only possible because of you, Mother Catherine!â
Harriet waved her hands, flustered as if she might jump out of her seat.
But even so, it was hard to ignore the warmth building inside her chest.
Being recognized by someoneâ That feeling had been long forgotten. It nearly brought tears to her eyes.
To stop herself from crying, she quickly changed the subject.
âOh, and this! Itâs not much, but please use it for the sisters and monks whoâve been working so hard.â
She pulled out the donation she had prepared.
Just as she said, it wasnât a large sum.
Even though the business was successful, they hadnât been able to finalize any proper accounting yet.
Still, the moment felt deeply meaningful.
Visiting a religious institution during the year-end Holy Week and making a donationâ It was something a noble could feel proud of.
Just six months ago, this had only been a dream.
Catherine accepted the envelope with great care.
âThank you so much. Is there any specific area youâd like us to focus on with this donation?â
This kind of question was common when receiving donations.
Harriet had expected itâand had already made up her mind.
“Please use it to buy underwear and socks.”
“Please buy things like underwear and socks. I think everyone is too polite to ask for those, but I know many are wearing patched, worn-out ones.”
Undergarments wear out quickly from frequent washing, but no one dared ask for new onesâthey thought it would be selfish.
Harriet clearly remembered the time when Emma was trying to hide her torn underpants while washing them.
She could still see the bright red face full of embarrassment, the eyes almost filled with tears.
They were both women, yet the shame was so deep.
It was then that Harriet realized how lucky she was.
Even though she had been cast aside, she was still a noble, and her underwear was always clean and soft, never torn or patched.
“I know modesty is a virtue for religious people,” she continued,
“I know modesty is a virtue here, but wearing torn underwear is uncomfortable and could even cause health issues, especially for women. Please donât see it as luxury.”
“Ah…”
Catherine swallowed her emotions and closed her eyes.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she held the donation envelope.
“Your thoughtfulness… I donât even know how to thank you.”
“Itâs nothing grand. If I had brought more money, I would’ve asked you to buy everyone new clothes. But this isnât that much.”
Harriet smiled playfully, but the deep emotion didnât fade from Catherine and Agnesâs faces.
In truth, this was the kind of request only Harriet could make.
Other nobles didnât care about the personal, private needs of people in convents.
But Harriet had lived here for a whole year, sharing life with them.
She knew that nuns and monks were just like anyone elseâand she understood the struggles they couldnât even speak aloud.
Catherine soon smiled brightly and nodded.
“Thanks to you, I might finally wear new underwear again.”
At that, all three women burst into laughter.
Such fulfilling joyâHarriet felt truly thankful to be alive for the first time since her parents died.
Which is why she couldnât stop here.
“Mother Cathrine,” Harriet said seriously,
“If we want this kind of joy to last, our business needs to grow and continue. Money, when used right, can lead to even greater good.”
Catherine didnât argue anymore.
Now that the convent had some financial freedom, they didnât have to keep begging the church authorities for support, and they could help even more people in need.
Money itself wasnât something to fear. What was dangerous was human greed. But for Catherine, even feeling that fear was a luxury.
“We donât really know much about business,” Catherine admitted.
“But if you can give us a plan, weâll do everything we can to help.”
Their eyes were filled with trust, and it made Harrietâs heart swell.
“I want to turn ‘St. Clarissaâs Soap & Herbs’ into a bigger brand called ‘Clarissa.’ The fact that these products are handmade by religious monksâthatâs a unique charm no other brand has.”
“Is that really a big deal? These days, many products are mass-produced, but handcrafted items still exist, too.”
“But who makes the product is very important. Especially in our country, where religion holds such a high place in peopleâs hearts.”
Trust is one of the most valuable thingsâand hard to earn.
It felt wasteful to use it only for selling soap.
“What if we added a story to our conventâs productsâlike herbs, honey, beeswax, candles, olive oil, and pickled olives? We already know the quality is great, right?”
To that last question, both Catherine and Agnes gave a proud nod.
They had sold their goods cheaply for a long time.
And even though the money they earned was little, what made them sigh wasnât greed.
It was guiltâfor all the hard work the monks and nuns put in.
Making a single candle, pressing clean olive oil, preparing delicious pickled olivesâ All of it took so much effort.
“Weâve always tried our best to make the best products. Itâs the only way we know. We are truly confident in the quality.”
“Good products, consistent quality, a beautiful design that ties the brand together, and a meaningful storyâif we get those things right, I believe Clarissa will be a great success.”
Harriet spoke with confidence, and Catherine felt her heart race with excitement.
