Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 105

Revenge Has Interest 105

105. Know Thyself

2023.11.13.

Terran went to the garden to find Grace.

He thought he saw her with Alicia from afar, but Grace was gone when he got closer.

Instead, Alicia blocked Terran’s path.

“Duke Courtois, it’s an honor to meet you.”

“Ah! Yes. But where is Grace?”

“She had some business to take care of. She’ll be back soon.”

Alicia scrutinized Terran with a more intent gaze.

She thought he was handsome when she first saw him, but seeing him up close, she liked his youthful good looks and sturdy physique.

Besides, she heard that the Courtois family had quite a bit of wealth.

‘Two years was long enough. I’m tired of taking care of an old man who makes boring jokes and burps. I thought he’d become king soon, but that’s not happening either.’

The moment Alicia saw Terran, she thought it was time to change her life.

“Shall we wait together until the lady returns?”

“Sure.”

Terran readily agreed. It would only take a few minutes anyway.

“Duke, Lady Bizac seems desperate for my cosmetics recipe?”

“Desperate? Did Grace say that to you, Miss Alicia?”

“Yes, she begged me.”

“Does Miss Alicia have no intention of granting Grace’s request?”

“Well, if you help me, Duke, I’d be willing to grant the lady’s request.”

Alicia smiled gracefully and turned to him. Soon, Terran saw her dress was unbuttoned.

He quickly looked away from Alicia’s exposed skin.

“Women are touched by very small things. How happy would she be if her fiancé solved a difficult problem for her?”

In other words, if he buttoned her up, she would grant Grace’s request.

Leah watched the two from behind a tree. It would have been nice to hear what they were saying.

She couldn’t understand their conversation at all.

All she could see was Alicia’s flirtation to seduce Terran.

‘Terran, resist! Please!’

Leah wanted to rush out and stop Terran immediately. Meanwhile, Terran was conflicted.

If he just buttoned her up, Grace would get what she wanted.

As Alicia said, if he solved a problem that Grace was having, he would save face and she would be happy.

Then Alicia raised her little finger seductively and slowly swept her black hair aside, completely exposing her neck and back.

“!?”

Terran chuckled at her actions and said to Alicia with a serious expression.

“Miss Alicia.”

“Yes?”

She turned her head gracefully to the side. Alicia seemed to know that her profile was more alluring than her front.

An action that a proper lady would never do.

To show her white neck and back by moving her hair….

Should I praise her for her dedication to her profession?

“Grace takes pride in her work. She is also capable.”

Alicia turned away as if she had never flirted when she heard Terran’s stiff tone.

“It’s not something I should solve for her.”

“Oh my! I thought you were a chivalrous gentleman, Duke. Was I mistaken?”

“I am not a gentleman. That’s my chronic disease. This body only reacts to my woman.”

Terran nodded slightly to Alicia, expressing his apology.

Leah thought it was the perfect time to step forward.

Ten minutes had passed, so it was her turn.

Leah walked towards Terran and Alicia with a relaxed attitude.

“Terran, when did you get here?”

“About ten minutes ago?”

Leah wanted to shower Terran with kisses.

‘Our Terran is so admirable.’

He didn’t fall for the subtle seduction that only women know. Terran deserved praise.

Leah said to Alicia, who was flustered and didn’t know what to do.

“Will you tell me the cosmetics recipe?”

“Y-Yes, I will.”

“Before that, gambling involves equal rewards and punishments, right? Since I won, please accept my rudeness, Miss Alicia.”

Before Alicia could answer, Leah slapped her cheek hard enough to make a loud ‘smack!’ sound.

The sound was so loud that Terran, who was next to her, blinked in surprise.

“How dare you treat my man like a toy?”

*Smack!*

Leah slapped the other cheek as well.

“Didn’t you expect this much when you did such a low-class thing to my man?”

Alicia covered her cheeks with both hands and glared at Leah fiercely.

Leah didn’t think her actions were excessive at all.

She wanted to make Alicia realize how rude and arrogant it was to seduce and steal another woman’s man.

“The reputation of being the best courtesan in Landes is just a facade. Miss Alicia, you were like a cheap prostitute.”

“Don’t you need anything from me? How dare you treat me like this?”

Alicia shouted at Leah, also enraged.

“Hmm, I just realized. I don’t want to use a method taught by a cheap prostitute for a noble person. Don’t mistake that you are the only one in the world who knows the secret. Of course, how could I, the fiancée of Duke Courtois and the daughter of Baron Bizac, be less capable than you?”

Leah watched the two from behind the tree and had an epiphany like a sage.

What kind of mistake she had made… And she regretted it bitterly.

She was ashamed of herself for making a cheap bet with a woman who only wanted to seduce men.

“Terran, let’s go.”

Leah took his hand and left the garden. Her chest heaved roughly, as if she was still angry.

Leah, who was leading Terran, suddenly stopped and turned to him.

“Is this how you felt?”

“What?”

“When I asked the soldier for an absurd favor at the border.”

“That’s why experience is important.”

Terran smiled, revealing his white teeth.

[Didn’t you expect this much when you did such a low-class thing to my man?]

‘My man…’

She didn’t like that they bet on him, but she didn’t know her possessiveness would be so thrilling.

Leah was nervous that Terran might button up Alicia’s dress.

At the same time, she was trembling with jealousy. At least Terran didn’t hit that soldier.

She was the one who was impatient, became a jealous fiend, and even laid her hands on her.

“What are you going to do now? It seems impossible to get the cosmetics recipe?”

“I’m going to study. I’ll visit cosmetics workshops and read reference books. It’s my fault in the first place. I tried to easily obtain someone else’s technology with money without any effort. If I ask around, there will be people who specialize in this field.”

“Are you going to study like that to keep your promise with Empress Theresa?”

Terran’s voice sounded low for some reason.

‘My words must sound like pie in the sky. I feel frustrated just saying it.’

That’s because Theresa wouldn’t have tried to fix her face for years.

She would have tried to find talent specialized in makeup using her position as empress.

Moreover, she said she had tried every method, whether it was folk remedies or science.

But she still can’t take off her black veil.

“I’m not doubting Grace’s enthusiasm. I’m….”

“I know. What Terran is worried about.”

Leah covered his mouth with her hand. It was a request not to bring down her morale any further.

Terran doesn’t know that a person who has died and come back to life has nothing to fear.

“Terran, why didn’t you button up Alicia’s dress?”

Leah suddenly wondered why.

“Did you forget? I am Duke Courtois of Lubek. I am not someone who buttons up a courtesan’s dress.”

“Is that all?”

“Too lazy.”

“Huh?”

“Didn’t I say? I’m not such a kind man. I only act like a beast in heat to Grace. I’m not interested in arguing with other women.”

When I thought about it carefully, Terran wasn’t a very kind man.

Especially to women. It was strange that such a man clung to her like a child at times.

“I trust Terran. Terran trusts me too, right?”

“No! Not at all!”

“Pardon?”

Leah was dumbfounded.

In such a heartwarming atmosphere, shouldn’t we show trust in each other and end with a kiss of faith?

“Why don’t you trust me?”

“What did Socrates say?”

“‘Know thyself.'”

“That’s it.”

Terran smiled mischievously and teased Leah, then walked ahead, and she kept tilting her head.

‘Know thyself.’ What does it mean?

‘Troublemaker lady.’

She doesn’t know where she’ll go, and she’s the best at making things happen. She’s also a pro at making people worry.

‘But I love you.’

Terran stopped and held out his hand to Leah, who was standing there blankly.

She soon smiled brightly and ran to take his hand.

* * *

The next day, Leah hurried to return to Lubek.

But just as everyone was about to leave, Grand Duke Vincent stopped Leah and Terran.

“Duke, His Majesty the King has passed away.”

“I offer my condolences. And congratulations. Your Majesty King Vincent.”

When Terran paid his respects, everyone, including Leah, knelt before the Grand Duke.

“So, I want to take Chenelle as my mistress.”

Everyone was surprised by the Grand Duke’s words, which they had never imagined.

The most shocked person was, of course, Alicia.

“You’re taking another mistress? I still have a contract with you?”

“Alicia, I can’t bring you into the palace. The public opinion of the kingdom is also like that.”

Terran could see the Grand Duke’s intentions.

He was trying to show the kingdom’s people that the king was taking care of Chenelle, who was more abnormal than the famous Alicia.

He had to show that he was a king full of love for the people in order to gain the support of the kingdom’s people.

“Then is that idiot okay?”

“Idiot? Watch your words. Chenelle is a dove that brought me luck. No, it’s God’s revelation.”

Leah and Terran, who were watching the conversation between the two, realized that the Grand Duke was greatly mistaken.

No, even if it wasn’t a misunderstanding, asking for Chenelle, who was like his daughter, to be the Grand Duke’s mistress was nonsense.

“Duke, if you give me Chenelle, I will give you a generous reward.”

The Grand Duke’s eyes sparkled as he looked at Chenelle.