~Chapter 5~
Cedric seated Benedict and naturally took the head of the table, nodding at the butler. Then, the servants who had been waiting began placing delicious-looking dishes on the long table, and the atmosphere in the banquet hall became lively.
Cedric waited for wine to be poured into everyone’s glasses before he spoke.
“I’d like to thank everyone once again for attending my father’s funeral and paying your respects. Although the head of the family has changed unexpectedly, I hope the Kailas family will continue to maintain a strong relationship with all of you. As long as nothing goes wrong, of course.”
Everyone stifled a laugh at his playful condition. However, the smile soon faded from Cedric’s lips as he thought of his father.
“My father was thoughtful, sincere, and thorough in everything he did. There may be no such thing as perfection in human endeavors, but I believe my father came close. Compared to him, I’m still just a novice with much to learn.”
He truly respected and loved his father, who was a steadfast knight and the devoted head of the family, always willing to give everything to his son.
However, things didn’t always go Cedric’s way, and some secretly disregarded and deceived Roan, who was reserved and sparing with his words.
Cedric’s wine-colored eyes, dark and intense, swept over everyone seated at the table. Poisonous weeds were growing among them, but rushing would only ruin things. Until the reaper’s scythe cut through their necks, he needed to keep his enemies relaxed and unsuspecting.
“Therefore, I’ll face future challenges with a humble attitude, learning from all of you. Please don’t be too hard on me, even if I seem a bit slow.”
Another round of light laughter followed.
For now, this was enough. The image of a novice who had lost his father on the battlefield, saved by his father’s sacrifice, and earned an undeserved title of a war hero. Just that much.
‘It’s better that no one knows what’s hidden behind the back of this novice just yet.’
With a mischievous grin, Cedric raised his glass high and shouted.
“Let’s toast! To an eternal bond!”
“To the bond!”
The loyal retainers echoed in unison, raising their glasses and wetting their throats with the fragrant wine.
If only they had known that the wine had replaced someone’s blood and tears, they might not have drunk it so merrily.
***
The sound of birds chirping greeted the morning, echoing from all corners of the garden. Flowers had just begun to open their petals, and the grass, still glistening with dew, sparkled in the sunlight.
Harriet looked around the garden of Listerwell Manor. Memories lingered in every corner, tugging at her heart.
‘Why does it feel like this is the last time, even though I’ll be back in a year?’
Her heart felt empty, and her feet were reluctant to move. But perhaps her hesitation seemed like she was delaying as John spoke up.
“There’s no point in delaying. If we want to get lunch on the way, we need to leave now. Terry! Are you ready yet?”
John seemed anxious, worried that Harriet might change her mind about leaving. He hurried them along.
“Here’s your admission letter for St. Clarissa Convent. Keep it safe and don’t lose it. I saw the cook packing breakfast for you earlier, so eat that in the carriage. No need to show your face everywhere.”
“Yes…”
“Don’t take what your uncle says the wrong way. It’s all for your own good. A grown lady traveling alone will only invite gossip.”
“Yes…”
Satisfied that he had said enough, John didn’t try to comfort his niece further. Following his orders, the coachman took Harriet’s luggage and loaded it onto the carriage.
Harriet had chosen the largest suitcase allowed, but it still looked smaller than one for a two-week trip, even though it held everything she would need for a year.
She had only packed a few items of clothing: a couple of outfits for going out, a few casual dresses, and some pajamas. Knowing the winters at the convent would be cold, she also packed some thick undergarments.
‘Just in case, I brought all the jewelry I have… Was that unnecessary?’
It wasn’t much, just a small handful, but knowing she had something that could be turned into money was a small comfort.
She also packed a framed family photo, a rosary her mother had passed down to her, and two pairs of shoes for the convent. That was enough to fill the suitcase, leaving no room for cosmetics or books.
As she looked at the suitcase with concern, John urged her again.
“Stop dragging your feet and get going!”
“Yes… I’ll see you in a year, then.”
Harriet climbed into the carriage with heavy steps. She hadn’t realized that John didn’t respond to her final farewell.
***
“Mother Superior, Miss Harriet Listerwell, who applied to join us earlier, is expected to arrive this morning,” Agnes reported.
At the news, Catherine sighed deeply and set her glasses down on the desk. Her hands, though dry and wrinkled, were strong as they skillfully fingered her prayer chain.
“She’s supposed to stay for a year, isn’t she?”
“Yes. It’s quite a long time for a young lady coming here for ‘reflection.’”
Agnes hesitated briefly before adding another comment.
“It’s a bit awkward to say this, but the donation that came with her, which is meant to cover her living expenses for the year, was quite generous.”
Catherine’s frown deepened at that.
“If the convent’s finances weren’t so strained, we could have refused such an unwelcome visit.”
“Well, I personally believe that it’s God’s will that our convent has become known as a place for young ladies to cleanse their sins. Thanks to that, we can help those in need and take in abandoned daughters.”
Agnes, young and devout, tried to see the situation in a hopeful light.
Saint Clarissa Convent was a place where only female monks and nuns lived, located relatively close to Genoa. Because of that, it had become a convenient hideaway for noble young ladies seeking refuge under the guise of reflection after causing trouble.
“If only the Vatican understood our situation better, we wouldn’t have to bear the shameful nickname of being called an ‘exile place.’”
Catherine clicked her tongue and stood up.
Each time the convent had to play the role of a cleansing ground for noble young women’s scandals, she couldn’t help but resent the Vatican. Why was the funding for male convents always sufficient, while female convents were given half the amount, with excuses like “donations are low this year” or “don’t you have attached businesses at the convent?”
“How much money do they think we can make by selling soap…”
It was absurd.
The convent was assigned side businesses to help cover operational costs. While male convents engaged in religious tasks such as copying scriptures or creating holy artwork, female convents were mostly given secular work unrelated to faith.
At Saint Clarissa, there was a farm full of olive trees and various herbs. The nuns and monks harvested these crops and made products to sell.
“How do they expect monks who spend all day working to have time to memorize scriptures or study theology? And then they criticize us for not being as good as the male monks?”
Thinking about it always made her blood boil. But voicing such complaints only led to rebukes, questioning her faith.
“The Vatican and other convents have their own struggles. Why do you always expect special treatment for Saint Clarissa’s convent? Have you prayed earnestly to God for a solution?”
Because of this growing resentment, the Saint Clarissa convent was given even less funding than other female convents. The pressure was essentially telling them to give up running the place, but Catherine couldn’t abandon the young girls and nuns who depended on her.
In such a situation, it was difficult to refuse the donations that came with taking in a ‘problem child’ for a few days.
“What kind of trouble did Miss Harriet Listerwell cause?” Catherine asked, sounding half resigned.
Agnes, looking a bit uncomfortable, replied, “She’s quite the scandal maker in Genoa’s social circles.”
“So, another young lady involved in a love affair scandal?”
“It seems she pretended to be her cousin and lured men in. That cousin is said to be the most beautiful woman in the social scene.”
“Well…”
Catherine let out a short, incredulous laugh.
But it seemed a bit excessive to exile someone for a whole year over something like that. Even young ladies caught having affairs with their fiancé’s friends only stayed for a few months.
“There must be more to it.”
“There is. The real trouble is that at a recent victory banquet, the young lady stole a brooch belonging to the Duke of Kailas and wore it as if it was hers. That’s what angered the Duke.”
Catherine’s eyes widened at this revelation.
