Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 108

Revenge Has Interest 108

108. The Noble Lady’s Life is Ruined

November 16, 2023

Luck was on Sarah’s side; the train to Lubeck pulled into the platform just as she rushed through the ticket gate.

She had been planning to go to Lubeck anyway, as she had something she needed to take care of there.

Sarah only felt truly relieved after paying the train fare to the station attendant.

Lubeck was where Grace, the woman Allen was infatuated with, and Terrence, who was always trying to outdo Allen, resided.

‘They’re people who have nothing to do with me anymore,’ she thought.

She had felt awkward and self-conscious when she was Allen’s woman, but now she felt no need to care about them.

Sarah left Lubeck Station and headed aimlessly towards the market. She was hungry and wanted to find a decent, clean inn.

She could easily afford a hotel, but Allen would find her quickly if she did.

A secluded inn would be much safer.

Sarah covered her face with a hood and moved cautiously, surveying her surroundings. Then, she bumped into a group of women.

The collision itself wasn’t the problem; she was surprised to see a familiar face among them.

‘It’s Grace Bizac.’

But the atmosphere was tense.

Two women were holding Grace’s arms, and another woman walked ahead, seemingly leading the group. On the surface, it looked like friends chatting noisily, but Grace dropped something, and they ignored it, suggesting she was being dragged along against her will.

Sarah quickly assessed the rough-looking women.

‘She’s fallen in with a bad crowd.’

Grace looked completely out of place among them.

They were clearly women who lived on the fringes of society.

If the Hamilton Company hadn’t taken Sarah in, she might have been in a similar situation.

From a young age, they were the type who wouldn’t hesitate to pick pockets, steal, scam, or even sell their bodies.

‘Why is a noble lady wandering around alone and getting into this kind of trouble?’

Sarah hesitated, wondering whether to help or not.

‘I have no reason to help. What does it matter to me? It might even be good for her. She should experience the harsh realities of life.’

When she thought about it, Allen’s affections had shifted to Grace, causing her current predicament. So, in a way, Grace was also responsible for her situation. Sarah decided to pass by without intervening.

‘I can barely take care of myself; how can I possibly help anyone else?’

At that moment, Grace’s urgent voice rang out.

“Let go of me! Who are you people? Why are you doing this to me?”

It was obvious what would happen if she was dragged away by those women.

There would surely be men backing them. Trouble always comes in packs.

‘Noble lady, your life is about to be ruined.’

Sarah sighed and turned away.

* * *

Terrence reported to Carl and Vivian about the Crown Prince of Galdenia’s upcoming wedding.

“We should have attended, but Vivian is pregnant.”

Carl held Vivian’s hand and looked at her affectionately.

“Empress Theresa also graciously understood. She even asked me to convey her congratulations.”

“I knew our Bizac sisters would come through! I’m so proud I could do a shoulder dance [a celebratory dance].”

Vivian felt a surge of pride that the talents of Lubeck had contributed to the selection of the Crown Princess of Galdenia.

“Duke, please tell Miss Bizac to visit the palace soon. I would love to have tea and chat with her.”

“I understand, Your Majesty.”

Terrence answered with a smile, but there was something he wanted to ask Vivian. However, he hesitated.

He was afraid that his anxieties would be confirmed.

Still, Vivian was the only one who could provide a credible answer right now.

So, after completing the official report, he spoke with Vivian privately.

“It’s a beautiful spring day. Look at those flowers. They’re so lovely, aren’t they?”

The two walked along the long corridor, admiring the flowers in full bloom in the garden.

Terrence didn’t want to upset Vivian, who was as radiant as the flowers themselves.

But he couldn’t ignore the matter, as it was far from trivial, so he finally broached the subject.

“Your Majesty, there was a secret agreement between Grace and Empress Theresa.”

“A secret agreement?”

Terrence explained the circumstances of the two women’s clandestine arrangement to Vivian.

Women with vastly different positions were engaging in a dangerous gamble.

“What happens if Grace doesn’t satisfy Empress Theresa?”

Terrence asked Vivian if Empress Theresa was truly as ruthless as rumored, capable of killing even her favorite maid.

“Well, I can’t claim to know what’s in Theresa’s mind. But when I look at Miss Bizac, I often feel like she’s an adventurer. She never settles comfortably and always leaps towards something new, risking everything in the process.”

Vivian replied in a somber tone.

Originally, Theresa had been a kind and easygoing person, but Vivian was saddened that she had become a completely different person due to a difficult marriage and a bout with smallpox.

“I hope Miss Bizac succeeds.”

Terrence was surprised by Vivian’s words, but he felt a mix of futility and worry.

As long as he was around, he wouldn’t allow Theresa to harm Grace.

But it was clear that a major conflict with Theresa was inevitable.

“Duke, trust Miss Bizac. She’s smart, so she’ll definitely succeed.”

“I hope so too.”

In an instant, Terrence’s tone changed, becoming stiff and cold.

He looked at Vivian with a chilling expression and said,

“If, by any chance, the worst happens, I will risk my life to protect Grace. I will not hesitate to wage war, and if I have to kill Empress Theresa, I will do so.”

“Calm down, Duke. Rash actions are forbidden.”

Vivian patted Terrence on the shoulder.

She had noticed it before, but Terrence and Theresa had many similarities.

They both carried deep wounds, were stubborn, and held strong opinions.

Lastly, they were alike in that they always followed through on their words.

So, she could only hope that Grace would impress Theresa.

* * *

Leah was dragged to a dilapidated slum.

It was currently uninhabited, and a factory was slated to be built there soon.

She was thrown onto the dirt floor and beaten mercilessly by the women.

They trampled, kicked, and stole all her money and belongings.

{Even a noble can’t do anything. She’s just rolling on the ground helplessly,}

A woman grabbed Leah’s hair and shouted. Blood was already flowing from Leah’s nose and mouth.

{Should we just kill her? She looks like she’ll die if she gets hit a few more times?}

They were speaking in Landes language, not the common tongue.

Leah realized that Alicia had come to Lubeck to retrieve Oliver.

{Our big sister will be here soon. Wait!}

The big sister they were referring to was probably Alicia. As soon as she said that, footsteps echoed from the distance.

{Big sister! We caught the thief who stole Oliver.}

{We stayed up all night in front of the Duke’s residence to catch this bitch.}

{We were just waiting for a chance, and she went to the market alone without any fear.}

The women were eager to impress the woman they called big sister.

Leah struggled to lift her head to identify the big sister.

‘It was Alicia after all.’

Moreover, two burly men were guarding her.

But the problem was that this wasn’t the same Alicia she had seen at the Vangsong Grand Duke’s residence.

Where she had once been elegant and dignified, like the most refined courtesan of Landes, she now looked like a common delinquent with heavy makeup and a cigarette in her hand.

It seemed the saying that a courtesan changes her appearance like a chameleon, depending on the man she is with, was true.

{Stand her up.}

At Alicia’s command, the men roughly pulled Leah to her feet.

She extinguished the cigarette she was holding and approached Leah.

{Let’s start with a beating.}

Alicia mercilessly slapped Leah’s cheek.

Blood flowed freely, as if Leah’s mouth had burst.

{How dare you steal Oliver?}

“I… didn’t steal him. Oliver wanted to escape from your abuse.”

“Shut up, bring Oliver back, and add three million gold. Do you know what damage I suffered because of your crippled sister? I was robbed of the chance to be next to the King of Landes.”

“I can’t give Oliver to trash like you!”

Leah glared at Alicia with her bloodied face. Then Alicia kicked Leah’s abdomen with full force.

“Heu… Ugh!”

Leah was in so much pain that she couldn’t breathe for a moment, then her head dropped.

“What? Is she dead?”

Alicia grabbed Leah’s head and shook it.

“Throw her away!”

At her command, the men threw Leah back to the ground.

“Kids! Trample that bitch’s lower abdomen so she can’t get pregnant later.”

{Yes, big sister.}

The three women rushed towards the fallen Leah.

Just as they were about to raise their feet and assault Leah, a gunshot rang out in the distance.

“What!”

Everyone, including Alicia, flinched. They frantically looked around to see if the police had arrived.

Then a woman appeared, holding a gun.

“The police will be here soon. I already reported it.”

Of course, she hadn’t reported it. She was in a dangerous situation herself.

She didn’t understand why she was interfering. Whether Grace was in trouble or not, it shouldn’t concern her.

She had come all this way because she felt she couldn’t simply stand by.

“Who is that bitch? You scared me for nothing.”

Alicia flew into a rage.

“Hey! Drag her over here too.”

She shouted at the men, and they strode forward to seize Sarah.

Bang, bang. Sarah shot both men in the legs.

“Ugh!”

As the men collapsed and writhed in pain, the women scrambled to get out of the way.

“Grace, can you hear me? Get up, quickly!”

Sarah pointed the gun at Alicia and approached Leah.

“Don’t move a finger, or I’ll put a hole in your heads!”

Sarah shouted at Alicia and raised Leah with one hand.

“Ugh…!”

Fortunately, Leah quickly regained consciousness. She realized that someone, whoever it was, had come to help her.

“Stand up and lean on me!”

As Sarah continued to rouse Leah, she did her best to stand.

Sarah supported Leah and slowly backed away, still pointing the gun at the delinquent women.

“Don’t even think about following me.”

“What are you doing? Why aren’t you catching those bitches?”

Alicia yelled at her younger cohorts, but the women were afraid of the gun, and no one dared to step forward.