SMR | Chapter 70

~Chapter 70~

“I can’t say for sure—it depends on how the business does from now on. If sales stay as they are, maybe four years? But since a lot has already been sold, the profit in the first quarter this year might drop. And if the brand’s value falls, sales could drop by half—or worse.”

Harriet nodded in understanding, but deep inside, she thought, This business must not fail.

 More than huge success, steady income was what really mattered. She needed to maintain the brand’s image and value.

“I understand. Thank you for organizing everything so thoroughly. And… you know this must stay confidential, right?”

“Of course! I wouldn’t risk my neck for that. Hahaha!”

One of the most important terms of their contract was that the accountant had to keep two things secret:

 That Harriet Listerwell was the actual owner of the business, and that the sole investor was Cedric Kailas.

Of course, since the accountant was recommended by Cedric, she trusted him not to break that rule.

***

Looking at the large amount written in her account book—71,205 dirham and 72 cents—was something she could probably enjoy seeing for hours.

Still, she only looked at it five more times before tucking it into a drawer. Then, she invited Trisha—who had just woken up from her nap—for afternoon tea.

“It feels like it’s been a while since we had tea together.”

“We just had tea two days ago.”

“When I first came to live here, we used to sit down and have tea three or four times a day. Back when neither of us had much to do.”

“That’s true.”

Harriet gave a sheepish smile when Trisha looked a little disappointed.

Since starting the business, Harriet really had gotten busier. She would leave in the morning and return by dinnertime, so it was harder to find time for tea together.

But honestly, even when she was home, Trisha was often too tired, or meeting a doctor, or resting. So even if they were both in the house, they didn’t always share tea. Still, instead of pointing that out, Harriet just took the blame herself.

She knew Trisha was aware of it too.

‘I really hope she gets better soon.’

Recently, Roxana had quietly explained Trisha’s health to Harriet—deciding there was no point hiding it anymore.

“Her lungs aren’t doing well, and her energy overall is low. Luckily, we found medicine that suits her, so the coughing has eased. But now she sleeps more. It’s nothing to worry about—rest is important for recovery. But please don’t tell anyone outside.”

If people found out that the head of a noble family was ill—especially without a named heir—it could harm the family’s reputation.

Harriet had planned to keep the secret anyway. But with Trisha sending her to events in her place more and more, she worried it was only a matter of time before others noticed.

Don’t think too negatively. The medicine’s working, right? It’s just taking longer because she’s older. She’ll recover eventually.

Trisha was the Iron Lady, the “Lioness of House Pellon.” She wasn’t someone who would fall easily.

While Harriet tried to smile and chat about the weather, the butler André entered the room, pushing the tea tray.

Harriet thought maybe Trisha had called for him, but Trisha looked surprised too.

“André? You’re bringing the tea yourself today? You must have lots of free time.”

“Yes! I am free today, but I also wanted to prepare the tea myself.”

“That’s unusual.”

“It’s because yesterday, we received a tea called Carver Hills Dragon. I brew that tea better than anyone.”

Trisha laughed heartily at that.

“Haha! That’s right. You’re from Carver Hills, aren’t you?”

“There’s nothing in that little mountain town except tea fields. So when the Count and Countess of Pellon visited back then, it was the luckiest day of my life.”

Despite their difference in status, Trisha and André felt more like old friends.

Before serving the tea, André walked over and started the phonograph. As the disc spun with a soft crackling sound, a famous soprano’s aria began to play.

🎵 “Oh, the sun is setting. But I’m not afraid.
Even if night comes, the stars will shine and guide my way.” 🎵

The song was titled “There Are Stars in the Night Sky.”

It was sung by a character who was slowly going blind. The song was meant to comfort their sad family and friends, expressing that even without sight, they could still live on because of love.

I can’t even imagine what someone feels when singing something like that…

Harriet thought she might be able to guess, just a little. But trying to fully understand that pain was too much. So she didn’t let herself think about it too deeply.

Even as music played softly in the background, Harriet found herself listening closely to Trisha and Andre’s conversation—and what they were saying was surprisingly personal.

‘Sir Andre used to be a poor farmer from Carver Hills?’

Like most people from that region, he had been the son of a rented farmer growing tea on rented land. His future seemed set—he would likely remain a renter for life. But his fate changed when, at age fifteen, Oster Pellon and his wife, Trisha, visited Carver Hills shortly after their wedding.

“We weren’t some angels sent to save you,” Trisha said with a laugh. “We were just looking for a shortcut to the Duravel iron mines.”

“But you took in a poor mountain boy just for helping you find a road. That is saving me, madam.”

Andre had acted as their guide, knowing the mountain paths well and helping carry their supplies. The Pellons liked him—he was polite, quick-witted, and asked to come with them to the capital. They agreed.

Andre had started working for the Pellon family at age fifteen. Now, 43 years later, he had worked his way up from the bottom and was promoted to head butler 18 years ago, at the age of 40.

‘Sir Andre must know this household inside and out.’

No wonder Trisha trusted him so deeply, right alongside Roxana.

Just as Harriet was thinking that, Andre gently poured tea into her cup.

“This is Carver Hills Dragon—a tea made from the very first leaves picked in the season. They say the tips of the leaves look like a dragon’s wings, which is how it got its name. Sounds fancy, doesn’t it?”

The color of the tea was a clear, bright brown—like his eyes.

Harriet lifted the cup and took a sip.

It had a slightly bitter first taste, a gentle acidity, a mysterious sweet aroma, and a clear but full-bodied finish. A truly famous tea.

“It’s just as wonderful as its name.”

“That’s because I brewed it perfectly,” Andre joked.

The three of them laughed warmly.

That’s when Harriet decided it was time to bring up what she had on her mind.

“Um, Great-Aunt…”

Trisha raised an eyebrow and glanced at her.

“You always say you don’t need anything, but… I want to repay even a small part of what I owe you. Would you let me?”

“I heard your accountant came by. Sounds like your income’s looking pretty good, huh?”

“W-well… It’s probably a small amount to someone like you, but…”

Harriet replied shyly, but Trisha suddenly set her teacup down and said in her usual firm voice,

“You’re right—it is a small amount to me. Do I look so poor that I need to take your money?”

“No, it’s not like that. It just… it would mean a lot to me to give something back. I even thought of giving you a gift, but I didn’t know what you’d like…”

“Harriet.”

Trisha leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs. She didn’t look like someone sick at all—she looked every bit like the lioness of House Pellon. Just hearing her name spoken made Harriet shrink her shoulders a little.

“Don’t get cocky just because you made a little money. You should be thinking about how to grow it, not how to spend it.”

Harriet bit her lip. It hurt a little—Trisha didn’t seem to understand her feelings—but she also couldn’t deny that Trisha had a point.

“If you want to show off so badly, then at least spend it on something that brings real value. Either way, I don’t need a single coin of your money. Got it?”

“By ‘value,’ you don’t just mean money, right?”

Trying to soften her with a playful tone, Harriet gave her a smile—but Trisha wasn’t buying it.

“No, not necessarily. But you should remember why you came to me in the first place, asking me to be your guardian. You’ve still got a long road ahead. Just because things seem quiet doesn’t mean John has forgotten about you.”

The mention of that name jolted Harriet back to full awareness.