SMR | Chapter 98

~Chapter 98~

‘This isn’t my business. The Duke of Kailas can handle it himself. He has enough money—he’ll find a way to get it back.’

Harriet sat inside the carriage heading home, staring out the window in a daze, trying to calm the whirlwind in her heart.

She told herself Cedric must have a plan. He wouldn’t give up his father’s keepsake so easily. Maybe he already had a way to recover it.

But… what if it wasn’t part of a strategy? What if that decision had cost him the kind of pain that felt like someone had torn out a piece of his soul?

‘Stop thinking about this. It’s not my place to interfere.’

She shook her head, trying to get rid of the useless thoughts.

And just as she sighed and turned her eyes back to the street outside—she saw someone familiar.

A man was sitting at a café terrace, sipping coffee and reading the newspaper.

‘Wait… he might know about that party!’

Her body moved before her mind caught up.

Without even fully thinking it through, she knocked on the wall near the driver’s seat.

“Could you stop here for a moment? Quickly, please!”

As the carriage slowed and the horses settled, Harriet hastily straightened her outfit and smoothed her hair.

Then she stepped down from the carriage with all the confidence she could muster and walked into the café, as if this had all been part of her plan.

“What a surprise to see you here, Lord Roark.”

The man lifted his head—it was Tez Roark. He was well known in high society as a shameless playboy who never missed a wild party, and who always had the latest gossip at his fingertips.

“Miss Harriet! What a coincidence!”

“I was just out for coffee, but it seems all the good seats are taken. Would you mind terribly if I joined you?”

“If this is the kind of luck the gods grant today, I must thank them! Please, sit down. This place is famous for its café au lait—shall I order one for you?”

“Oh, let me—I’d hate to force it.”

“Believe me, this is the kind of force I welcome.” He waved over a waiter with a grin.

Tez seemed genuinely pleased to see her again and quickly ordered another drink.

As they sat across from each other, Harriet could feel the glances from nearby customers. Two of society’s most talked-about figures sharing a table—it must look like a scandal waiting to happen.

She sipped her coffee slowly, observing Tez behind her cup.

He, too, watched her carefully from over the edge of his cup.

“I’m sorry about before,” Harriet said finally. “I think I overreacted a little.”

“As I told you then, I understand. And I’ll continue apologizing if that’s what it takes to earn your forgiveness.”

Harriet didn’t know what expression to make at that, so she just offered a small smile.

“Let’s not dwell on the past. It’s a beautiful day. I’d rather enjoy our time with fun conversation.”

“A delightful idea,” Tez said, scooting his chair a little closer.

Harriet wanted to pull back, but she couldn’t afford to retreat. She needed something from him.

So she steered the conversation toward light, trendy topics: the most fashionable cafés in the capital, seasonal foods, the fight between two countesses over a coveted jewel, chessboards in salons, and the newest card games making rounds in noble circles.

Finally, as the coffee cups began to empty, she gently dangled her bait.

“Sigh… I wish there were something more exciting to do. Maybe it’s the season, but everything feels a little dull lately. I need something thrilling.”

She casually sipped the last of her coffee and silently begged.

‘Come on… take the bait.’

And perhaps fate heard her prayer.

Tez looked around, leaned in slightly, and lowered his voice.

“I might know about a rather exciting party.”

Harriet’s heart skipped a beat. But she kept her face cool—this wasn’t her first negotiation.

“Another party?” she said lightly. “Aren’t they all the same? Drinks, dancing, and if it’s ‘spicier,’ you flirt with someone and sneak off. Boring.”

“If that’s boring, then I really do have something you’ll like. This one happens on a boat that arrived at the port.”

“On a boat?”

Tez grinned. “Have you heard of something called Angelique?”

“Of course. Who hasn’t?”

Harriet had never tried the drug, but she laughed dismissively, as if it were nothing special.

That did the trick.

Tez leaned closer, his tone turning shady.

“On that ship, you can do things that would be forbidden on land. No one cares what you’re wearing—or not wearing. You can do whatever you want with whomever you want. You’ll be worshipped all night long.”

Harriet felt a wave of nausea but quickly covered her mouth—Tez must’ve thought it was anticipation.

“With just a few tablets of Angelique, even a woman can go all night long—again and again. People love it. Once they attend, they always come back for more.”

“If the party’s that outrageous,” Harriet said slowly, “why haven’t I heard more about it?”

“That’s the point,” Tez said. It’s not legal. What happens at those parties wouldn’t fly under normal laws. So, secrecy is vital.”

He pulled a small envelope from inside his coat.

“You can’t board the ship without an invitation.”

“An invitation…”

“Or,” he added with a smirk, “you go as someone’s guest.”

There it was.

The offer.

And Harriet understood exactly what he was implying.

But going with Tez could complicate her real goal: recovering Cedric’s brooch. It would also mean having him close by while she tried to sneak away.

Not to mention—there was no way she’d participate in that kind of party.

“…Wouldn’t that be awkward?” she said, showing fake discomfort. “If you’re supposed to enjoy yourself with anyone, why bring a ‘partner’?”

“Oh, once you’re inside, the term ‘partner’ means nothing. It’s just for entry. Everyone does as they please after that.”

Harriet swallowed.

Tez reached out and lightly touched her cheek.

“Come with me, Miss Harriet. This time, I’ll keep your secrets safe.”

A chilling echo from the past.

He was referring to the time he’d covered up Bella’s wild behavior and thrown Harriet under the carriage instead.

Whether he meant it or not, the words cut deep—but they also sharpened her resolve.

“In that case… I’ll accept your generous offer. Is there anything I should prepare?”

“Just bring a mask,” he replied. “As long as you’re wearing one, everyone will pretend not to recognize you. That’s the unspoken rule.”

Of course. That’s why no one exposed Bella back then—even when they knew.

Harriet smiled sweetly. “Got it. And when is it?”

* * *

News that Harriet had met the Empress spread quickly through high society.

It was no wonder.

After all, who was Harriet Listerwell? A disgraced girl with a scandalous past—someone said to have copied her cousin out of jealousy and even driven away her kind uncle.

And then, at the Laurel House party, hadn’t she acted indecently again, caught doing something shameful with a man?

Now that girl was having tea with the Empress?

It sounded impossible.

But once people confirmed it was true, their attitudes changed like the wind.

“Maybe that story about the Laurel party was exaggerated. No one saw it firsthand, after all.”

“Right? And really, the Empress wouldn’t bother speaking with a girl of bad manners unless there was something more to the story.”

“Well, I talked to Miss Harriet once, actually. Through Countess Pellon. She was polite and clever. I liked her.”

Receiving a private tea invitation from the Empress was a rare privilege—even noble ladies didn’t get it easily.

No one knew exactly why she’d been summoned, but if the Empress had chosen to meet Harriet, people wisely decided it was best to avoid judgment until they understood her reasons.

“I told you,” Trisha said with a triumphant smile, sipping her tea. “Everything would change once you returned.”

Harriet still looked confused across from her.

“I didn’t expect it to change this much.”

After the Laurel party, her reputation had taken another nosedive—but now, it had recovered at lightning speed.

Praise, invitations, and friendly letters flooded in.

“Even though the Kailas family has a good relationship with the royal court, arranging your meeting with the Empress was risky,” Trisha added. “Your name still isn’t completely clean. The Empress wouldn’t have met with you unless she truly believed in you.”

Harriet couldn’t deny it. Whether she liked it or not… she owed Cedric for that opportunity.

But she would repay that debt in full.

Starting with getting that brooch back.