Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 123

Revenge Comes with Interest Episode 123. Different Happiness (123/200)

Episode 123: Different Happiness

December 1, 2023

Leah was now focused on creating cosmetics with Oliver.

Meanwhile, the success of the fashion show kept everyone else extremely busy.

There were already countless cosmetics on the market.

But Leah needed to create something exclusively for one person.

The key was to formulate cosmetics without dangerous ingredients like mercury, lead white, and zinc oxide.

“Oliver, the cosmetics we’re making need to be different from what’s usually applied to the skin,” Leah explained.

She detailed the specific skin condition the cosmetics would be used on.

The goal wasn’t to make Alicia’s skin look twenty years old despite being in her forties, but to enhance her natural beauty.

“Powder is important, but I think we need a correcting cream that can cover facial scars.”

“Correcting cream? What’s that?”

“Think of it as liquid powder.”

“Ah, I see.”

Leah nodded.

Oliver’s knowledge of cosmetics was more extensive than she had anticipated.

He made soap with egg whites and skin-nourishing creams with aloe, natural beeswax, and olive oil.

And that wasn’t all.

He also soaked rice flour, which was difficult to find in Lubeck, in water, steamed it, then ground and sifted it to create a fine powder.

“Is this for the powder?”

“No. I’m going to add a little cocoa powder to match the skin tone. Whitening makeup is out of fashion now.”

“That’s right.”

Oliver also used centella asiatica [a medicinal herb known for its healing properties] and various herbs with antibacterial properties, and used birch sap and rose water as the base for the cosmetics.

‘Alicia’s skin must be so good because she uses cosmetics made with such high-quality ingredients,’ Leah mused.

“You can get natural beeswax from beekeepers. That’s what increases skin adhesion [how well the makeup sticks to the skin].”

Leah had thought beeswax was only used to seal envelopes.

But now it was being used for cosmetics. Just then, Sarah came into the lab with a tray full of food.

“Oliver, have a snack.”

“Thank you, Sarah.”

Oliver happily ate cookies and drank milk, while Leah took the medicine Sarah offered.

“Sarah, how long do I have to take these supplements?”

“You have to take them consistently.”

Sarah didn’t feel good every time she gave Leah the medicine.

Theron had come up from the countryside, and the first person he looked for after Leah was Sarah herself.

[This is a contraceptive. Grace’s life would be in danger if she had a baby. In short, she can’t even take care of herself.]

[Are you saying I should trick her into thinking it’s a supplement?]

[Do you not want to deceive her?]

[No, it’s not that, it’s just that Miss is desperate for a child.]

[I can’t lose Grace to have a child.]

Sarah felt the same way. The problem was how long they could deceive the perceptive Leah.

If they waited for a pregnancy that never came, she would suspect the first medicine she took.

‘Still, it’s better than dying. It’s not the same as the old Leah anymore.’

* * *

Leah and Theron spent a certain amount of time together every day.

But Leah felt that Theron had become more mature than before.

Not only did he actively cooperate with everything she did, but he also encouraged her to work hard.

“Are you not upset that I only work?” Leah asked while taking a walk with Theron.

“You have a bet with Empress Theresa. Shouldn’t we get good results somehow?”

“I guess so.”

‘I have to be absorbed in work so I don’t think about children,’ she thought.

“Theron, still, the baby between us……!”

Before Leah could finish speaking, Theron coughed, cutting her off.

“When can we go to Gardencia?” he asked, changing the subject.

He meant whether she had finished making the cosmetics to give to Theresa.

“I’ve made them all. Now I just need to test them on women with similar skin.”

“You have to be careful. The imperial family and the emperor are not forgiving of even the slightest mistake.”

“I know.”

‘Theron seems to be worried about Empress Theresa,’ Leah observed.

Well, it was a bet with his life on the line. What could be more important than that?

Theron suddenly stopped walking and stared at Leah intently.

“You are the most precious person to me.”

“Why so suddenly?”

“I mean, don’t forget. No matter what happens later, don’t doubt that.”

“I don’t doubt it.”

Her dream was to have a normal family and live happily with Theron after all the revenge was over.

She could have such a dream because of his unwavering love for her.

Also, she could trust Theron infinitely because he didn’t keep secrets from her.

Just then, James hurried towards them.

“Duke, a letter has arrived.”

“From whom?”

“From Baron Martin Polo.”

Theron hurriedly tore open the letter.

He desperately hoped that the letter sent from distant Bertan contained the news he wanted.

As if his earnestness had worked, a light shone in Theron’s eyes as he read the letter.

“Finally, a rebellion has broken out in Bertan.”

The corners of his lips turned up on one side. Theron had long known that the Bertan imperial family was already hopeless.

‘Allen’s downfall will begin soon,’ he thought with satisfaction.

“Call Luke, James.”

“Yes, Duke.”

“Theron, now is the chance. The imperial family will try to raise money by disposing of luxury goods,” Leah suggested.

“That’s right, we might be able to buy them at a bargain price. It’s like a thirsty person digging a well [doing something when it’s already too late].”

Theron was about to move quickly.

He would have to finish all the work before the rebellion in Bertan broke out and the imperial power collapsed officially.

“Oh, Theron, do you have any information about the Gardencia princess?”

“Well… it’s so top secret.”

‘I know, it’s a problem because I know too well,’ he thought.

He didn’t want to keep it a secret from Leah, but if the fact that the princess’s secret was leaked outside reached Theresa’s ears, it would be very troublesome.

So it was wise to pretend not to know even if he knew.

“Empress Theresa only has that princess as an unmarried child. Rumor has it that another selection order [a call for noble candidates to marry into the royal family] will be issued soon.”

“That’s right.”

Suddenly, a good idea came to Theron’s mind.

When the selection order was issued, Allen would not stand still.

Since his sister had failed to become the crown princess, he would try to become the prince consort [husband of the ruling queen].

For example, there were rumors that public sentiment in the northern region of Gardencia was turbulent because the potato harvest was poor last year.

Allen was the first to move, taking advantage of that opportunity.

He reportedly provided free food to the north as a calculation to look good to Theresa.

A mere trading company did what the country could not easily solve, so even the emperor, who had turned away, could not treat Allen coldly.

“Then we should also respond to the selection.”

“Who?”

Leah didn’t understand Theron’s words right away.

Luke was about to marry Channer soon. Then there was only one person left.

“Are you thinking of Louis?”

“Louis is great. He has a good personality, family, and character.”

Theron said pleasantly, then made a slightly worried expression.

“It’s only possible if Grace takes off Empress Theresa’s veil [reveals the princess’s secret].”

“I know.”

The burden on Leah’s shoulders became heavier.

Still, she couldn’t just watch Allen become a member of the Gardencia imperial family, so she had no choice but to do her best.

Moreover, Allen had failed once, so he would be preparing with his teeth grinding.

Theron guessed that Allen had already sent people to find out the princess’s identity.

‘You can’t find the princess even if you die,’ he thought.

“Grace, let’s get married right after you take off the emperor’s veil.”

Theron said, gently cupping Leah’s cheeks.

“Okay. Let’s get married.”

Leah readily agreed.

She herself desperately wanted it, but she also wanted to give a great gift to Grace, the owner of the body.

‘Grace said she doesn’t have much time left.’

She was willing to marry for her soul, which might disappear at any time, and for herself, who loved Theron.

“I’m happy, Theron.”

When Leah teared up, Theron wiped her tears with his thumb.

“It’s too early to say you’re happy like this. Did you forget that I promised to let you walk only on flower paths in the future?”

“I’m confident that I can make Theron happy too.”

Leah wanted to give Theron a son who resembled him and a daughter who resembled her.

Now there were only two of them, but if there were four family members, the happiness would double.

Also, how great would it be if she could give her children the love that Theron had not received from his parents when he was young.

There would be no such happiness anywhere.

Theron and Leah looked at each other affectionately, and then their lips naturally met.

* * *

Leah completed all the cosmetics with Oliver’s help.

She recruited women with more severe scars on their faces than Theresa and called them to the Duke’s residence.

Then, she chose the employee who was best at makeup at the Duke’s residence and had them do makeup for the women.

Everyone held their breath and waited for the results.

After applying the correcting cream made by Oliver and patting on the powder, they only applied color makeup to the eyebrows and lips.

“Miss, I’m done with the makeup.”

The employee’s voice was low. Finally, the moment everyone checked the results.

“!?”

Leah and everyone else were speechless.

“The scars aren’t covered at all.”

At Pauline’s words, Oliver looked like he was about to cry.

“It’s… strange. It worked perfectly on Madam Alicia.”

“That woman didn’t have any scars on her skin.”

Sarah comforted Oliver by stroking his hair.

What could be the problem?

Leah had to find out why she couldn’t get the full effect even after making good cosmetics.

Then Oliver said something meaningful.

“Madam Alicia had a lot of wrinkles when she didn’t wear makeup.”

“She had wrinkles?” Leah asked Oliver.

She had seen her up close, but Alicia’s face was taut without any wrinkles.

Then there was only one reason.

‘Just because you have good fabric doesn’t mean anyone can make a dress. Makeup might be the same principle,’ she realized.

“I think makeup requires skill,” Leah said to everyone in a serious tone.