Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 91

Revenge Has Interest 91. The Real Owner of the Pearl Necklace (91/200)

91. The Real Owner of the Pearl Necklace

October 30, 2023

Leah’s eyes widened as she looked at the box Pauline handed her. It was definitely something she recognized.

‘This is……!’

With trembling hands, she opened the box, and there it was, just as she had expected.

“A pearl necklace?”

Pauline admired the pink pearls. It was a gift from Allen, and the pearls were exceptionally radiant.

‘Father gave it to me as a gift for my eighteenth birthday.’

She remembered how happy she had been to receive the necklace back then.

She had treasured it so much that she kept it in her dressing room, and now he was giving it to another woman.

‘It’s a relief he gave it to me, though. This was originally mine.’

Leah was overwhelmed with emotion as she looked at the necklace.

It felt like her father’s will. After going around in circles, it had finally found its way back to its rightful owner.

Just then, Terrence appeared, and Leah was startled, quickly shoving the necklace into a drawer of the vanity.

“Why? Is there something I shouldn’t see?”

Terrence asked, noticing Grace and Pauline’s flustered expressions.

“N-nothing like that. Pauline just got the dress payment from Allen McDowell.”

“I should get going.”

Pauline fled as if running away. But Terrence clearly remembered the item the two women had been looking at together just moments ago.

‘That’s not it. There was something else besides money.’

Could she be hiding something from him?

Even as he told himself it was impossible, the vanity drawer where Leah had hastily hidden something bothered him.

Terrence was momentarily suspicious but quickly dismissed it.

‘Grace knows what kind of person Allen is, so there’s no way she’d hide anything from me. I’m just being paranoid.’

A smile returned to Terrence’s face.

“Nervous? Tomorrow’s the big day, isn’t it?”

“Yes, I’m nervous. And I’m desperately hoping Adele is chosen.”

Leah hugged Terrence tightly around the waist, resting her face against him.

Terrence buried his face in her abundant blonde hair. The suspicion from moments ago vanished.

“Grace, when we go to the Galdenia Imperial Palace tomorrow, you’ll see Allen.”

“I won’t get close to him. I’ll just offer a greeting. Showing too much caution might make things more dangerous.”

“Alright.”

The two shared each other’s warmth and heartbeat.

“I should ask Chenel. Tell her to make the dress the May bride will wear.”

“Chenel hasn’t been in a very good mood lately. Ever since Luke went down to the estate, got engaged, and came back.”

“Luke couldn’t help it, apparently. His parents were adamant.”

“I know. Love can’t be achieved with just one person’s feelings. Chenel will give up soon.”

“You know what’s even more interesting?”

At Terrence’s words, Leah looked up at him. What could be more interesting?

“Luke is jealous.”

“Jealous? Of whom?”

“Between Chenel and Louis, I mean.”

“No way! That can’t be true. Luke has no interest in Chenel.”

“That’s true, but……”

“But?”

“Never mind. Grace is right.”

Terrence felt he understood Luke’s feelings a little.

Just as he had never expected Grace to come all the way to the Basel Forest, Luke must have been greatly surprised that the person who saved him from the tree was Chenel.

‘The person you meet before you die is special. Especially if they’re your savior.’

But Luke didn’t choose Chenel.

Whatever the reason, his wishes should be respected.

“Grace, shall we take a bath together?”

“Well, if it’s just a bath, then yes.”

“Did you want to do something other than bathe?”

“Huh……? No.”

“I didn’t know people did anything other than bathe in the bathhouse?”

Why did she keep getting caught up in Terrence’s wordplay?

“Okay.”

At her acceptance, Terrence took Leah’s hand and headed to the bathhouse.

It wasn’t as large as the Duke’s mansion bathhouse, but it was big enough for the two of them. Terrence, considerate of Leah’s fear of water, held her tightly in his arms as he entered the tub.

‘I’m actually a good swimmer.’

Because the soul of Grace inside her was so afraid of water, she couldn’t move rashly.

Still, it was an enjoyable bath. But Terrence couldn’t shake his beastly nature, even in the water.

“Swindler, beast!”

“If Grace doesn’t like it, I won’t lay a finger on you.”

Leah was speechless at Terrence’s sudden seriousness.

“You said we were just going to bathe……. Mmph!”

She couldn’t argue further because his lips cut her off.

Terrence didn’t lay a finger on her, as promised. Instead, he tormented her with his most fearsome body part, which was the problem.

* * *

Allen had kicked Emily out. He didn’t care whether she had seduced Count Armand and ruined his family.

But he couldn’t stand the fact that he was Terrence’s second choice.

He couldn’t forgive a mere mistress for trampling on Allen McDowell’s pride.

What if he had taken Emily to the selection banquet? Terrence would have laughed at him.

“Damn it! Bitch!”

Allen cursed, still unable to calm his anger. He had been suspicious of Armand’s wife bringing Rivet’s dress.

The name was familiar. But he was surprised that the wife was with Grace.

Allen was about to go to his bedroom when his gaze stopped at the end of the hallway. It was the room where Sarah had stayed.

‘Sarah left too.’

He found himself heading towards Sarah’s room. As expected, the room was neatly organized.

With Sarah gone, all traces of Leah Hamilton had disappeared. He felt relieved, as if he had finally put down a heavy burden.

Then, he noticed something on the bedside table next to the bed.

‘What is it?’

It looked like a necklace with a string.

Allen picked up the necklace that had been left there as if to mock him, and a chill ran down his spine.

‘This is Leah’s key necklace, isn’t it?’

No matter how he looked at it, it was the same shape as that necklace. But there was no sign of the Hamilton Merchant Guild crest or intricate engraving. Moreover, it was a perfectly new necklace with no signs of age.

Then, he saw a small note on the table.

‘Who does she think she’s fooling!’

Who was it that found it and ran away? Now that he thought about it, Sarah had something to rely on. That’s why she had readily accepted when he told her to leave.

Allen grabbed the key and ran out of the room.

It was certain that Sarah had already found the memorandum and run away, but he needed to know where she had found it.

‘Sarah, are you deceiving me?’

He had to find her and take back the memorandum.

Not only that, but no matter how he looked at it, Sarah had to disappear from this world for his safety.

* * *

Finally, the day of the Crown Princess selection banquet had arrived.

Leah and Terrence headed to the Galdenia Imperial Palace. Inside the carriage, Leah readjusted Terrence’s tie.

“You look handsome, Terrence.”

“Grace is dazzling.”

Grace, wearing a dress made of silk the same color as her eyes, was especially beautiful.

“The vest you’re wearing looks great too. It suits you very well.”

The turquoise silk vest perfectly matched Terrence’s intellectual and cold image.

“Just watch. The ladies participating in the selection will all be wearing white dresses, as if they had made a promise.”

“Hmm, do you think so?”

“You’ll see.”

Finally, several carriages stopped in a row in front of the Imperial Palace. The ladies participating in the selection had gone to the palace two hours earlier, so their families were arriving one after another.

“Who is Adele with?”

“Sonya has agreed to be Adele’s chaperone today.”

“That’s a relief. You need an experienced person for such a big event.”

The selection was held in the Grand Reception Hall.

Inside the reception hall, chairs were placed on both sides for the VIPs to sit, and a luxurious carpet was laid in the central aisle where the ladies would pass.

And seats were prepared at the head table for the Emperor and the Crown Prince.

Leah carefully examined the people arriving at the reception hall. Everyone seemed tense, and fewer people were smiling than expected.

But by chance, her eyes met Allen’s across the room, and Leah nodded slightly in greeting.

However, Allen made a point of coming over to greet them.

“Good afternoon, Duke and Lady Vizak.”

“Good afternoon, President McDowell.”

Leah greeted him, but Terrence only nodded, saying nothing.

“Lady Vizak, I hope you liked the gift I sent. It’s a rare pink pearl necklace.”

“Yes? Ah, I l-like it. You didn’t have to get me anything, thank you.”

Leah glanced at Terrence, answering with difficulty.

‘You son of a bitch!’

Just looking at his face made her want to curse.

Allen leisurely returned to his seat, but Terrence’s expression wasn’t very good.

“He said he sent a gift because he liked the dress. It’s nothing much……”

“You don’t have to explain.”

“Pardon?”

“If it was nothing much, you would have thrown it away.”

Terrence smiled at Leah. It was as if he was saying, ‘I hope you threw away the gift that bastard gave you.’

‘I can’t throw it away, how can I throw away something my father gave me as a birthday present.’

“Did you throw it away?”

“Yes……? Of course.”

Leah lied.

As the selection time approached, a fanfare sounded, announcing the arrival of Emperor Teresa and the Crown Prince.

The VIPs all rose from their seats and applauded the two. Soon, Emperor Teresa and the Crown Prince, wearing black veiled uniforms, appeared.

“His Highness the Crown Prince looks like Prince Salame.”

“Does he? Not to my eyes. Salame looks like a girl.”

Terrence’s words seemed to have a thorn in them.

The Crown Prince neatly combed back his hair and wore gold-rimmed glasses. Which made him look even more fastidious.

“We will now begin the selection of the Crown Princess!”

The chamberlain’s words caused a stir among the people.