Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 100

Revenge Has Interest 100

100. Love Involves Conflict

November 8, 2023

The Crown Prince of Galdenia’s royal wedding banquet was held.

Terrence, Grace, and all the staff were invited, and everyone enjoyed their last night in the imperial palace.

Leah went to greet Adele.

“Congratulations, Your Highness the Crown Princess.”

“That title is so awkward, Miss.”

Adele was very embarrassed.

“You’ll have to get used to it now. And you’ll need power to establish a library in the capital that anyone can use, regardless of status or gender.”

“Can I do well?”

Adele asked Leah.

“The outcome will depend on what Your Highness does.”

At Leah’s words, Adele looked at her maid, Marie.

“You must now be dignified, befitting the Crown Princess.”

Marie’s opinion was no different from Leah’s. Building legitimate authority and power was something only Adele could do.

Just then, the Crown Prince came to find Adele, as the first dance of the ball was reserved for the Crown Prince and Princess.

Leah and Marie were left alone.

“Marie, do you know anything about Duke Vincent’s mistress?”

“Well, Duke Vincent is the de facto ruler of the Landes Kingdom. His young nephew is on the throne.”

Leah realized that she surprisingly lacked information about the political situation of neighboring countries.

She only knew that Landes was a small kingdom that did not claim imperial status, but it was a country where culture and art flourished and had economic power.

“Doesn’t Duke Vincent have a wife?”

“He does. But thanks to having a very famous courtesan as his mistress, his wife has become, well, a forgotten figure, so to speak.”

Marie made a bitter expression.

She also said that the courtesan was skilled at handling men, knowledgeable, and able to read the flow of the political situation.

Above all, she added that she was thorough in self-management and always made an effort.

“Miss, you’re going to Landes, aren’t you?”

“How did you know?”

“You’re a businesswoman, Miss. And…”

Marie roughly guessed the situation but decided to keep it an unspoken secret.

She knew why Leah was interested in beauty without having to say it herself.

‘I need to talk to Terrence about this. Galdenia and Landes aren’t far, so let’s visit for a while.’

Was I too buried in work? Leah felt a throbbing headache coming on.

Just then, Terrence came to escort Leah, and the two went out to the dance floor.

“Oh my! Our Chenelle is dancing with Louis.”

“Didn’t you know?”

“She dances quite well, doesn’t she?”

“Louis is a good leader.”

However, there was also a man watching the scene with a dark expression.

Luke kept drinking champagne and couldn’t take his eyes off Chenelle and Louis.

It was a pity, but since he had made the choice, Luke was the one who had to bear the regret.

“Terrence, I’m happy.”

Leah looked up at him, who was much taller than her, and said.

“When you’re happy, you should make love.”

“You beast!”

“Doesn’t saying you’re happy mean you want to do it?”

As expected, there was a difference in the sensibilities of men and women.

Even when feeling the same emotion, Terrence seemed to be satisfied only when he ended it with physical intimacy.

No matter how they accepted the feeling of love, the two enjoyed the ball to the fullest. But the problem was that Terrence wouldn’t let Leah dance with other men.

“Look, Her Majesty is coming? She seems very drunk.”

Leah was surprised that Theresa was staggering slightly. It was somewhat unfamiliar to see her disheveled appearance for the first time.

It was a day to welcome the Crown Princess, so it was only natural to celebrate.

“Miss Vizak, I also want to dance with a handsome duke.”

“I will gladly yield, Your Majesty.”

Leah smiled and stepped back. The sight of Theresa in uniform and Terrence in a ball gown dancing was very striking.

As expected, the eyes of the audience were focused on Theresa and Terrence.

“What’s going on? Her Majesty is dancing.”

“Let’s savor this moment. It’s not easy to see such a precious sight.”

“Is that gentleman Duke Courtois of Lubek?”

“That’s right. He raided the smuggling site of the Touazo Police Chief this time.”

“He’s really a wonderful person.”

The noble ladies fluttered their fans and looked at Terrence in awe.

Meanwhile, Leah rested, drinking a beverage with Chenelle.

“Duke, Chenelle says that Miss Vizak will help me take off my veil.”

“Is that so?”

“So I promised Miss Vizak.”

“!?”

“I told her to find a way to cover the scars on my face, and I told her to do so.”

“Hahaha, what if Grace can’t do it?”

Even Terrence didn’t take Theresa’s words very seriously at this point. He just regarded it as a joke from a drunken emperor.

“Well, a long time ago, I had a maid whom I cherished very much. She was a very bright and passionate lady in everything, just like Miss Vizak. One day, she felt sorry for my scars and said she would find a way.”

“She didn’t find it.”

“That’s right.”

If she had found it, Theresa would not still be covering her face with a veil.

“But do you know what happened to that maid?”

“!?”

“I killed her. No matter how much I cherished her like a blood relative, she saw my face and couldn’t keep her promise, so there was no reason for her to exist in the world.”

At that moment, Terrence stopped dancing and just stared at Theresa. Soon, Terrence turned around and searched for Leah.

* * *

Terrence dragged Leah out into a deserted corridor.

Leah was chatting with Chenelle while drinking a beverage when she was abruptly pulled away.

Without knowing why.

“Grace.”

What on earth was going on that Terrence was so sharp like a blade?

Leah looked around, and in the distance, Chenelle, Luke, and Louis were watching with worried faces.

“Is it true that you promised Empress Theresa? That you guaranteed to cover the scars on Her Majesty’s face?”

“That’s… right… it is.”

“Why would you make such a huge promise without consulting me?”

Terrence shouted at Grace, and Chenelle was surprised and immediately came and grabbed Leah’s hand.

“Chenelle, go back.”

“No!”

Even though Terrence was scolding her fiercely, Chenelle glared and resisted.

“To dare to gamble with your life without my permission is something I cannot tolerate!”

“Then what should I do? I inadvertently saw Her Majesty’s face. We can’t afford to be at odds with Her Majesty, even because of Hamilton’s General Store in Galdenia!”

“What’s so important about that general store! I’m going to sell it right away. And Grace, don’t do anything anymore!”

“What!”

Leah was speechless.

“I’ll take care of Empress Theresa, so don’t step forward and stay still.”

She was confused as to whether this man was the Terrence she knew.

The man in front of her was acting like a typical man of this era who was self-righteous and looked down on women.

That damn Hamilton’s General Store? It was like life to her.

Besides, the size of the business was not small enough to be easily closed. Terrence knew that very well.

But it was natural for Terrence to be angry. Leah hadn’t expected Empress Theresa to reveal the secret agreement between them so easily.

“I don’t want to.”

“You don’t want to? Didn’t you say you loved me enough to die?”

“That’s right. That’s how big my love for Terrence is. And neither of us died.”

As expected, there was conflict in love.

“If you love me, you have to stop everything you’ve started now.”

Terrence threatened fiercely. Then Chenelle stepped forward and shouted.

“Men are all liars! What my grandfather said is all true. There’s no one in the world to trust.”

Chenelle’s gaze was directed at Luke, who was standing over there, and he looked embarrassed before approaching her.

“Chenelle, this is not your place to be. Let’s go.”

When Luke gently grabbed Chenelle’s arm, she shook it off roughly and said.

“You said I was pretty and kissed me, and then you got engaged to another woman, you scammer!”

“That’s… I couldn’t help it.”

“Liar! It’s because you’re ashamed of me. Men are all like that. They think women are toys. Humph! Humph!”

“Chenelle, what are you doing in front of the Duke?”

Luke was also angry and grabbed Chenelle’s arm roughly. Then another hand stopped Luke.

“Don’t treat Chenelle carelessly.”

Louis confronted Luke with a stern face. Rather, Leah and Terrence were in a position to watch their fight.

“Louis, don’t give Chenelle false hope either. You can’t take responsibility like me.”

“That’s my business.”

The two men faced off tensely.

Terrence shook his head, holding his forehead. How did things get so twisted?

Leah decided that she had to sort out the situation.

“Terrence, I will never quit my job.”

At Leah’s declaration, Chenelle grabbed her hand again. The two women moved away from the three men.

“Since we’re on the subject, I’ll say everything. I have to go to Landes because of work… So Terrence, go back to Lubek first.”

“Don’t say ridiculous things. Do you think I’ll allow it?”

“Terrence’s permission is not needed.”

“You must know that a woman can’t even travel alone without the permission of a guardian, right?”

“That’s the principle, but everyone does it anyway.”

She had run away to Galdenia with Pauline before, so what was the problem? Still, at every crucial moment, the shitty law grabbed Leah’s ankle.

The fact that Terrence wouldn’t let her go was a bigger problem than the law. Leah quickly turned her head.

A situation where she can’t even travel without a guardian. But I don’t have a chaperone to replace my guardian.

Above all, it was dangerous for a woman to travel alone.

“Terrence, let’s have a match.”

If she couldn’t go alone, she had no choice but to go together. But she had no intention of holding hands affectionately.

Her feelings for Terrence were too hurt to do that.

“Do what?”

Terrence burst out laughing.