Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 113

Revenge Has Interest 113

113. An Emotion Apart from Love

2023.11.21.

Terrence’s emotions were in turmoil, lost in a complex maze.

The fickleness of human emotions made him see Grace differently the moment he felt fear.

It wasn’t so much that his love had faded, but rather that he was prejudiced, seeing her as not the real Grace.

He remained silent even in the carriage returning to the Duke’s mansion.

He only habitually smiled at Grace.

Yet, he was confused whether he should even call the woman before him Grace.

Finally arriving at the mansion, James brought him news from the Imperial Palace.

“His Majesty summons you.”

He was grateful to Emperor Carl, who had called him at such a perfect time.

His heart was so complicated that he wanted to escape anywhere.

“Where do you have to go?”

Leah asked him in an anxious tone. Now, more than ever, she needed Terrence.

If things went as expected, he would never leave her side.

“What… should I do? His Majesty wants me to inspect the army with him.”

Leah was quite surprised that her firm expectation was wrong.

Until before going to the grave, he had not tried to leave her side for even a minute.

“That’s important. Then, of course, you should go.”

“I suppose I should.”

“How many days do you think it will take?”

“Well, I’ll have to go and see.”

Was Terrence the kind of person who listened to the Emperor so obediently?

Even if it was something he had to do, he should at least say that he would finish it as soon as possible and return.

“Grace, I’m sorry… I think I need to prepare quickly.”

“Ah! You… you should.”

Leah felt a sense of distance from Terrence, though it was vague. Even in the carriage returning to the mansion, he avoided her gaze and acted like someone lost in thought.

‘Could he have heard my conversation with Sarah?’

Leah had all sorts of doubts.

‘There’s no way Terrence would secretly eavesdrop on someone else’s conversation.’

He was the type of person who would openly follow her.

Leah thought she was being too sensitive.

As the chief of the Capital Defense Forces, it was natural for Terrence to participate in the military inspection.

‘Terrence has spoiled me rotten.’

Leah changed her attitude and treated Terrence with a bright demeanor.

“Don’t worry about me, and be careful on your trip.”

“I will.”

Terrence also responded with a smile. But the moment he turned away from Leah, his face hardened again.

Looking at Leah, countless thoughts tormented him.

‘Who is the real Grace, anyway?’

He loved the current Grace, but it wasn’t easy to accept the fact that her body and soul were different.

Terrence headed to the palace with only Luke.

Instead, he instructed Louie to contact him immediately if anything happened at the Duke’s mansion.

Leah saw Terrence and Luke off as they left the mansion.

She no longer felt upset or had unnecessary doubts. But Pauline’s words bothered her.

“Oh? Is the Duke really leaving? The young lady’s body isn’t fully recovered yet? Isn’t he worried?”

She was surprised that she wasn’t the only one who felt that way.

Her regret that she had been too sensitive was fleeting, and strangely, Terrence’s departing figure caught her eye.

* * *

Leah introduced Sarah to everyone at dinner. She briefly explained her current situation and that she would be living with them from now on.

Of course, the person who showed the most displeasure was Pauline.

She knew better than anyone that Sarah had been Allen’s mistress. Still, everyone else treated Sarah politely.

Leah told people that Sarah had helped her against Alicia’s gang.

Then everyone thanked Sarah. Whenever the atmosphere became awkward and tense, Chaner always stepped in.

“Sarah unnie [older sister]! That man is trying to kill unnie.”

“Pardon?”

Sarah was greatly embarrassed by Chaner’s disjointed words.

“That unnie will die if she leaves Grace unnie’s side.”

Unlike the shocked Sarah, Chaner ate her food without a care.

What surprised Sarah even more was the reaction of the others.

They didn’t seem to pay much attention to Chaner’s words. They didn’t tell her to ignore it or say it was nothing.

“Take it to heart, Sarah.”

Sonia’s kind smile as she drove the point home was even scarier.

“Sarah will be attending to me for the time being. So from now on, please treat her like family.”

“Yes.”

Pauline’s mouth turned pouty, but when Leah took her hand, she quickly smiled and relaxed.

“Wait, young lady! Why is your hand so cold?”

What she felt from Leah’s hand was an icy chill.

Come to think of it, Leah was only now realizing that her body wasn’t in good condition. She must have overdone it before her body had fully recovered.

“Your body is too cold.”

“It’s okay.”

The moment she said it was nothing and smiled, her vision blurred and all the strength drained from her body.

“See? That’s what happens when you get out of bed too early.”

Pauline scolded Leah.

“You’ll be fine after a good sleep.”

At Leah’s words, Pauline turned to Sarah.

“Grace is very weak. When her body temperature drops like this, you have to watch over her until she regains her warmth. If she’s not feeling well, tell the butler, James. Dr. Wilson resides at the Duke’s mansion.”

“I understand. Thank you for telling me in detail, Pauline.”

Sarah also treated her politely, unlike before.

From this moment on, she vowed that the old Sarah was gone. It must be a divine revelation that she met Leah again like this.

* * *

Terrence came to the farthest province from the capital with Carl.

“Duke, I didn’t expect you to accompany me.”

Carl was quite surprised by Terrence’s appearance.

“How dare I refuse His Majesty’s summons.”

“Haven’t you made a habit of refusing? Besides, aren’t you devoted to your fiancée?”

‘Devoted to his fiancée?’

He laughed in vain. That devotion was gone, and he felt very comfortable now.

Ever since he learned the shocking truth, it had been very difficult to face Grace.

His chest felt tight and he had headaches. But coming to such a distant place made him feel much better.

“Well, I understand you.”

“What do you understand?”

“Loving one woman consistently. I still like Vivian, too.”

For a moment, Terrence was curious. Could he still like Vivian even if there was another soul in her body?

“Your Majesty, may I speak nonsense?”

“Feel free. I love making silly jokes. Vivian only scolds me for being boring.”

“What if, Your Majesty, the woman you loved turned out to be another woman?”

“Huh?”

Carl repeatedly tilted his head, not understanding Terrence’s question right away. It was as if the question was wrong.

“I mean, the body of the woman you loved is the same, but the soul inside is someone else. I’m just asking as a joke. Don’t take it too seriously.”

At Terrence’s detailed explanation, Carl finally nodded.

“If it were me…”

Carl opened his mouth after a long time, and Terrence waited anxiously for his answer.

“The timing would be important. The point in time when I fell in love with the woman.”

“I see.”

Terrence quickly understood. And he pondered.

When did he start to like Grace?

It was probably when he went to Bern to meet Aiden and met a thief, spending the night together in a shepherd’s hut.

‘That’s right, it was Leah Hamilton back then. If it had been Grace, she would have been terrified and lost consciousness.’

If it had been Grace, she wouldn’t have been able to go down to the village alone to get a horse. He was very surprised at the time.

Because it wasn’t the Grace he knew. He understood the situation with his head.

But the sense of alienation in his heart didn’t easily disappear.

“I sometimes imagine this.”

Carl’s voice focused Terrence.

“If Vivian gets old and dies before me, I hope even her soul will stay by my side.”

“!?”

Terrence felt like he had been hit on the head. It was something that couldn’t be said without true love.

‘What if Grace returns to her former self?’

He imagined something similar to the Emperor.

What if Leah’s soul disappeared and she returned to the former Grace?

[Why doesn’t Terrence love Grace? He only abandons Grace every day and only works.]

She was a woman who whined like a child and could do almost nothing on her own. She chased after him, craving love so much that it was burdensome to make eye contact.

‘That’s not it!’

Terrence shook his head violently. He wasn’t confident that he could love the former Grace.

Then Carl broke his imagination again.

“Did I tell you? How reckless Vivian is? She was also a very brave woman.”

“I remember.”

During the war with Wales, Vivian even disguised herself as a regular soldier and fought in Carl’s army.

She was so good at fighting that they didn’t realize she was a woman for a very long time.

“A woman who can risk any danger for me. How many men in the world can receive such love?”

Terrence smiled gently as he listened to Carl’s words.

Vivian was very similar to Grace, or rather, Leah Hamilton. A fearless, reckless woman full of courage.

A woman who fearlessly rushes into love and work.

‘Then what’s wrong with you?’