Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 119

Revenge Has Interest 119

119. Fiancée Obsession

2023.11.27.

The secretary detailed the information he had gathered.

“Before Her Majesty contracted smallpox, the Princess resided in the Imperial Palace. Of course, she was too young to attend official events at the time. But after Her Majesty began wearing a veil and disguising herself as a man, she completely disappeared from the palace.”

“That’s right, I remember now. I believe they released prisoners for the Princess’s birthday.”

“According to our information, some say Her Majesty hid the Princess abroad to shield her from the epidemic, while others claim she was sent to a rural school run by a convent.”

“Is that all?”

“No. The Princess is currently in the Imperial Palace.”

“Bribe someone within the Imperial Palace. Tell them I’ll reward them handsomely if they uncover information about the Princess.”

“Understood.”

As soon as the secretary departed, Allen unfolded the newspaper. An article immediately caught his attention.

‘Hamilton Company’s Fall/Winter Fashion Show?’

‘Now she’s not just staying in a general store, but has created a clothing company?’ Allen mused.

“How much profit can one realistically make selling clothes?”

Just as Allen was about to click his tongue in disapproval, a line in the article made his eyes widen.

The article stated that Grace earned 1 billion gold a year from dressmaking, and next year’s sales were projected to more than triple that amount.

And that wasn’t all.

The silk and porcelain that Terran imported from Bertan were so backlogged with orders that he was planning to increase imports.

‘Did I misjudge the situation? Should I be importing silk or luxury goods from Bertan now?’

Allen’s mind raced. He realized it was a mistake to underestimate Grace simply because she was a woman.

‘I thought she was just a pretty doll, but she’s remarkably clever.’

Who would have guessed that a noble young lady would possess such keen business acumen?

To generate such substantial profits from scraps of lace that others deemed worthless.

Well, Rivette’s dress was undeniably exquisite to anyone who saw it.

So, even though Rivette wasn’t chosen as the Crown Princess, he couldn’t entirely fault Grace.

‘A fashion show… I have to see it with my own eyes.’

He could no longer dismiss Grace’s work as a mere hobby conducted at home.

The concept itself was innovative. Most people simply visited their favorite boutique to acquire the latest dresses.

To invite noble ladies and appeal to their vanity was a stroke of genius.

For upper-class women, dresses and accessories were perpetually in demand. Landes, after all, set the fashion trends for the entire continent.

Lubeck’s social scene was less vibrant than other countries due to the prolonged war.

A woman who could cause such a stir in a place like this was truly remarkable.

‘I’ve desired her since the moment I first saw her. If only I had recognized sooner that it wasn’t solely due to Grace’s appearance.’

‘I’ll see just how impressive she is.’

And it would be even more advantageous if he could encounter Sarah while he was there. Allen retrieved a gun from his drawer.

‘I need to eliminate you this time, so you don’t obstruct my path.’

Sarah was like a ticking time bomb and had to be neutralized.

‘Sarah, you still harbor feelings for me. So please, die willingly.’

* * *

Terran hosted a tea party for Leah. Sarah, Pauline, Chenelle, Luke, and Louis were also in attendance.

Sonia and Adolf were still occupied in the atelier, working to complete the garments for the fashion show.

Everyone was astonished by Terran’s initiative in organizing a tea party.

They could scarcely believe the news and had to confirm it multiple times.

“What is all this, Terran?” Leah inquired, voicing everyone’s curiosity. Cherry-colored pudding was served in crystal goblets placed before each guest.

“It’s a dessert for Grace. They say it’s very beneficial for her health.”

At that moment, Chenelle picked up a silver spoon and tapped the bouncy pudding, her eyes lighting up.

“This looks absolutely delicious. I wonder if it’s cherry flavored? Or perhaps plum?”

Chenelle was visibly excited, her mouth practically watering at the sight.

“There are seven of us, but why are there only six puddings?” Louis wondered, counting the servings. He noticed that there was no pudding in front of Terran.

“Oh, I don’t particularly care for desserts.”

“Eat with us, Uncle. It’s not right for us to enjoy it alone.”

“I’m quite alright.”

Terran’s response carried a hint of sternness.

“Everyone, please eat. It’s packed with nutrients, so don’t leave any behind.”

Terran took Leah’s spoon instead, as he enjoyed feeding her.

Everyone cautiously took a large spoonful of pudding, their expressions curious, and placed it in their mouths.

The sound of savoring filled the air, but Terran’s gaze remained fixed on Leah.

“Ugh…! What is this taste?” Leah frowned after taking a bite. It didn’t resemble any pudding she had ever tasted.

Normally, pudding should be juicy, refreshing, and sweet.

“I think I need to eat more to discern the flavor,” Chenelle said.

“I concur,” Pauline added.

“It’s… unique,” Louis commented.

Everyone offered their opinions, but no one dared to stop eating, mindful of Terran’s reaction.

Leah, however, was struggling the most.

“Terran, this is far too fishy. What are the ingredients?”

It didn’t taste like fish, so was it pudding made of meat? In an instant, a myriad of food ingredients flashed through Leah’s mind.

Of course, she didn’t suspect that Terran would intentionally feed her something unpleasant.

Since the miscarriage, he had been more attentive to Leah’s diet than anyone else.

Terran smiled contentedly only after Leah had finished all the pudding.

“How does it taste, everyone? Doesn’t it feel like you’re becoming healthier?”

He appeared more than satisfied.

“Please tell us now, what kind of pudding is it?” Louis, who had made a variety of faces while eating, finally asked Terran.

He had endured and finished it because it was the Duke’s order, but he felt uneasy for some reason.

“Ah! This is a dish from the East Continent. It’s called ‘Seonji’ [Korean blood curd], and it’s very effective for anemia.”

“Seonji?” Everyone repeated in unison.

“What is that? I don’t think it’s a fruit.”

“Cow’s blood.”

For a moment, silence descended upon the group. They simply blinked at Terran, their expressions blank.

“Blood…? How do you make pudding with that?” Pauline, unable to contain her revulsion, turned pale and asked.

“When blood congeals, it takes that form.”

“Yes?”

Without a word, they all leaped to their feet and vomited the pudding they had consumed.

Leah, however, merely trembled her purple lips and refrained from vomiting. She clearly perceived Terran’s implicit warning that she would be scolded if she threw up the pudding she had eaten.

“No, why do we have to eat cow’s blood?” Luke, unable to bear it any longer, protested to Terran.

“If we all eat it together, won’t Grace be more inclined to eat it too?”

“Do we have to consume things like this in the future for the sake of the young lady?”

“Perhaps.”

Terran ignored their cries of disgust and rose from his seat with Leah.

The two decided to take a stroll through the spruce forest.

“Grace, how about shark dishes next time?”

“Shark?”

She had witnessed a massive shark dish on the table when her father hosted political and business figures in the past.

Even then, she hadn’t been particularly eager to eat it. It had simply seemed like a decoration.

“I’ve been reading a book called 《World Health Foods》 lately. There’s nothing I wouldn’t consider eating, from turtles to monkey brains.”

Leah couldn’t endure it any longer.

His efforts were commendable, and she appreciated his concern, but consuming turtles and monkey brains was out of the question.

“Terran, are you so worried about me? Are you afraid I won’t be able to conceive again?”

“Not at all.”

“Yes?”

“I simply want you to be healthy. Children are not that important.”

“I’m sorry, I’m too weak and only cause you worry.”

“Just do as I say.”

“I… I will.”

Terran stopped walking and surveyed their surroundings. He then turned his back to Leah and sat down.

“Get on my back. It’s too far to walk back to the main building.”

“It’s okay!” Leah exclaimed, startled.

Surely, it was too much to mistake his fiancée for a child?

“Hurry up!”

At Terran’s stern command, Leah could no longer resist and climbed onto his back.

“Why are you so light?”

He resolved to feed her even more nutritious food.

Leah glanced around to see if anyone was watching, but she soon began to enjoy being carried on his back.

Leaning her face against his back, she felt more at ease than she had anticipated. His warmth, overflowing affection, and unwavering protection.

All of this could be summarized as love.

‘I am loved.’

It was genuine, not feigned.

Love was boundless joy, and for him, she would even eat cow’s blood as pudding as often as he desired.

* * *

The Hamilton Company’s Fall/Winter Fashion Show was held at the Imperial Family’s summer palace.

It was a picturesque area with a beach called Asen, located approximately two hours from the capital, Lebon.

VIP seats were arranged on either side of a long, wide corridor overlooking the sea, and models in dresses were scheduled to walk through the passage in the middle.

Leah was incredibly busy in the lead-up to the grand event, which even the Emperor and Empress would be attending.

Sir Salame Roberto was also invited. His presence alone was enough to ignite a fierce competition among the young ladies.

However, the problem was that Asen was unusually hot, more like summer than spring.

‘This is a major issue; the models have to wear thick clothes…’

Leah instructed Sarah to provide the models with cool drinks.

As a result, she didn’t even have a moment to drink a sip of water herself. Or so she thought, but she was mistaken.

“It’s watermelon juice. Drink it quickly.”

Terran followed Leah around with a cup in his hand, constantly offering her juice and water.

Regardless of who was watching, he disregarded all social conventions.

He was, after all, the Courtois Duke, the most prominent aristocrat in Lubeck.

“It’s alright. You can simply remain politely in the VIP seat, or perhaps entertain His Majesty,” Leah said.

It was Leah who was self-conscious.