Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 118

Revenge Has Interest 118

118. Even Grown Men Get Jealous

2023.11.26.

Terrun’s love for Leia grew stronger.

Since he decided to accept her as she was, his heart never wavered.

Rather, he was so worried about Leia that he couldn’t bear to leave her side for even a moment, which became a slight problem.

Every morning before going to work, and during their mealtime together.

Originally, it was against the Duke’s principles to eat with his subordinates, but Leia often combined meals with meetings with her staff, so eating together became a natural part of their daily routine.

Of course, Terrun had permitted it. He didn’t dislike the growing number of people who felt like family.

When morning came, the bustling scene made him feel like he was truly living.

“James, summon the chef.”

“Yes…? I understand.”

Terrun was cutting Leia’s meat when he suddenly frowned.

“Mister, why are you cutting her meat? Is she a baby?”

Chaenner found it strange that Terrun not only seated Leia right next to him but also meticulously checked her food.

Then, Pauline nudged Chaenner’s side.

“It’s my preference,” Terrun casually replied to Chaenner, focusing only on Leia’s plate.

“Your Grace, is there something wrong with the food?” Sarah asked, flustered.

“The meat isn’t cooked enough. It’s practically swimming in blood.”

‘Leia doesn’t usually like her meat well-done…’

Sarah smiled awkwardly and agreed with Terrun.

“When you’re weak, it’s best to eat food that’s thoroughly cooked.”

Listening to him, Terrun’s words made sense. Just then, the chef arrived in the dining room, following James.

“Chef, what foods are good for someone who has lost a lot of blood?”

“How about sausage made with cow’s blood or goose liver dishes?”

Leia shook her head vigorously at the chef’s words.

Just hearing about it made her lose her appetite.

“From now on, prepare meals focusing on Grace’s health. Is everyone okay with that?” Terrun’s words made Chaenner’s lips pout.

“Ew! I don’t wanna eat someone else’s liver…!”

“Chaenner, what you’re eating now is also someone else’s flesh.”

“But this is meat!”

“Then think of liver as meat and eat it.”

“Okay.”

Terrun gave a long lecture to the chef.

He instructed them to prepare only the highest quality fruits and vegetables and to create a menu focused on fish, meat, and seafood.

Leia thought Terrun was being overly fussy, but she didn’t stop him because she could guess what he was thinking.

‘He wants me to get healthy soon and get pregnant. I’m so disappointed about the miscarriage too…’

Leia wanted to change the subject.

“Today, I’m planning to visit Chaenner’s workshop and Sonia’s boutique.”

“The dresses made with silk imported from the Eastern Continent are getting a great response,” Sonia and Adolf subtly boasted that orders were flooding in.

“This is still in the planning stage, but I’m thinking of holding a showcase featuring Chaenner’s lace and Sonia’s dresses. Of course, we’ll do it a season ahead of time.”

“So, you’re saying we should make autumn and winter clothes in advance and show them to customers?” Sonia immediately understood and asked.

“That’s right. We’ll be the first to create trends for dresses, coats, hats, and other items that can be worn in winter.”

“Wait, if we do that, people who receive invitations, especially key customers, will feel special. If they know that not just anyone is invited, they’ll be even more eager to come,” Pauline chimed in on Sonia’s words. Then, Adolf cleared his throat, making it known that he was also present.

“I’d like to hold a showcase for men’s suits too, but men don’t usually come to such events, and it’ll be hard to find models.”

Adolf looked dejected at Leia’s skeptical response.

“No! Our Luke *oppa* [term of endearment for an older brother or male friend] would be a hit if he wore them. Luke *oppa* is the most handsome, tall, and has an amazing body.”

“Chaenner! Don’t say such obvious things all the time.”

“Ah! I see!” Luke reluctantly stopped Chaenner. His face was full of smiles.

At Chaenner’s words, everyone’s gaze turned to Luke and Louis. Come to think of it, there were two young handsome men.

“Well, Luke and Louis are indeed dashing. Enough to make any woman fall for them.”

When Leia responded to Chaenner’s words, there was a sound like a fork and knife being thrown down.

“It’s embarrassing for men to be so showy.”

Terrun drank water in large gulps, showing his displeasure.

Leia tilted her head, puzzled. There was no need to say it like that.

* * *

In the afternoon, Leia headed downtown with Terrun.

They were on their way to check out Chaenner’s and Sonia’s workshops, as she had mentioned in the morning.

But she was bothered by Terrun’s silence.

“Terrun, are you in a bad mood?”

She remembered that nothing special had happened in the morning. Could there have been a problem with his official duties in the meantime?

“Bad mood? I’m perfectly fine.”

Terrun shrugged at Leia, saying it was nothing.

‘Perfectly fine? Then what’s with this chilly atmosphere?’

Leia carefully retraced the events of the morning.

She wondered if there was anything wrong with her words.

Perhaps he felt left out because she was so engrossed in the meeting, excluding him.

“I’m sorry, did I talk too much about work during the meal?”

“I’m the major shareholder, so it’s natural for me to attend the meeting.”

‘Then what’s the reason? Why are you sulking?’

She had to go downtown without knowing the reason.

The first place they arrived at was Chaenner’s workshop.

The sound of whirring sewing machines and women’s laughter was cheerful.

Of course, the employees froze and didn’t know what to do at the sight of Leia and Terrun’s visit.

“The workshop is too cramped.”

“I know. When did it become such a big business?”

Terrun also didn’t look too pleased when he saw the workshop.

There were many people, but the space was very limited.

Sonia and Adolf’s atelier was in a slightly better situation.

They only handcrafted expensive dresses here, and clothes for mass production were sketched and sent to Chaenner’s workshop.

“We’ve been waiting for Your Grace to come.”

Adolf was delighted to see Terrun. He said he had made a suit just for Terrun.

Adolf took Terrun to the dressing room.

“Your Grace is the most wonderful man I’ve ever seen. If you wear my clothes to major events, it will be automatically promoted.”

“Adolf.”

Terrun suddenly called him with a serious expression.

“Yes?”

“Don’t say such things only when we’re alone… Oh? I mean it.”

Only then did Adolf nod his head vigorously and smile.

But Terrun couldn’t help but admire the new suit Adolf had made.

It didn’t deviate much from the existing suit, but it differentiated itself with the vest and tie.

“Your Grace looks good in black, but you’ll look even more noble if you use bright gray silk for the vest and tie.”

Terrun agreed with Adolf.

He always wore black clothes like a messenger from hell or a crow, so he looked somewhat dark.

But the small details that Adolf made made him look different by a hair’s breadth.

“I really like it. From now on, make my clothes as Adolf wants.”

“Thank you for allowing me. Please show it to the young lady.”

Adolf led Terrun to the atelier lobby.

Soon, Leia and Sonia couldn’t help but admire Terrun when they saw him.

“Oh my! You’re so wonderful as always.”

Sonia didn’t hold back her compliments.

Leia just stared at him with her mouth open.

She knew he was the most wonderful man, but she didn’t expect him to exude such a sophisticated and gentle side.

“Terrun, I think I’ve fallen for you.”

Only then did light return to Terrun’s eyes.

The rebellious boyishness he had shown while riding in the carriage had completely disappeared.

‘Could it be that he was sulking because I praised Louis and Luke?’

That couldn’t be it. She couldn’t even imagine that a grown man would be upset for such a reason.

Suddenly, Terrun’s words to her came to mind.

[Men never grow up until they die.]

Leia couldn’t help but laugh when she realized the reason. It wasn’t just women who were jealous.

Men were also beings who endlessly craved affection and attention from their women.

“What happens if you fall for me?”

“Will you marry me?”

“Hmm, I’ll have to think about it.”

Terrun deliberately put on a triumphant expression. But his handsomeness was expressed even on the street.

Everyone who passed by Terrun didn’t just walk past him.

They craned their necks to look at him, and even a gentleman humbled himself and came up to ask where Terrun had his suit made.

But the gazes of the women weren’t very pleasant.

“Terrun, you shouldn’t wear that outfit next time.”

“Why? It’s good.”

“I don’t like other women looking at Terrun.”

Terrun stopped walking and stared intently at Leia.

‘To think that my heart could be so full because of one woman.’

Her jealousy was chillingly thrilling. He also felt a sense of relief.

He could have lost Leia, the source of his happiness, forever.

Just thinking about that still made him dizzy.

‘I only need you.’

Terrun kissed Leia, forgetting that they were on the street.

* * *

Allen provided a large amount of food to the northern region free of charge under the name of McDowell Trading Company.

“President, aren’t you overdoing it?”

“His Majesty’s perception of me isn’t good. I need to do a good job of working behind the scenes to become a royal consort.”

“That’s true, but…”

They hadn’t even received the interim payment from Bertan. All they had received was a mere cotton fabric.

At this rate, they would be pouring all the company’s money into it until completion.

“By the way, I’ve found out a small piece of information about the princess.”

“Really? What is it?”

Allen jumped up from his seat. The imperial family had kept the princess so secret that even her name was unknown.

“Tell me everything you know.”