Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 124

Revenge Has Interest 124

124. A Negotiation on the Line

2023.12.02.

Leah arrived at Terrence and Lebon Tower. Alicia and her gang were imprisoned within.

As Leah entered the tower, she was immediately struck by the chilling sound of the prisoners’ wails.

It seemed the saying, “better to die than be trapped in Lebon Tower,” held true.

Leah and Terrence waited in the reception room for the criminals to be brought in.

“My opinion hasn’t changed,” Terrence said, slowly removing his leather gloves.

“What do you mean it hasn’t changed?” Leah asked.

“I’m saying I still want to execute those who assaulted you.”

To be honest, he didn’t know if seeing them again would change his mind. Even the thought of them so mercilessly assaulting the pregnant Leah, despite their claims of ignorance, fueled his murderous intent.

After a short while, the sound of an iron door opening and footsteps echoed through the hall. Soon, Alicia and her gang were led in, bound by ropes. They were almost unrecognizable, likely having suffered greatly. Alicia, in particular, was devoid of her usual arrogance, her eyes now filled with fear.

“Jus… just kill us,” Alicia said, the first words she spoke to Leah.

“That’s what I intend to do,” Leah replied.

Bang! Terrence slammed his fist on the table, the force of the blow cracking the wooden surface.

“Terrence, please step outside for a moment. You’re too agitated,” Leah requested earnestly. Terrence immediately agreed to wait just outside the door.

Leah was grateful for Terrence’s unusual restraint, as he seemed on the verge of completely losing control.

“I had a miscarriage because of you,” Leah said after Terrence left. Alicia’s face paled, a sense of dread washing over her. She now had the ominous feeling that she wouldn’t be granted a quick death, but would instead rot in the hellish Lebon Tower for the rest of her life.

At that moment, the other three women burst into tears, begging for forgiveness. They reached out to Leah, pleading for their lives.

However, Alicia remained defiant, refusing to beg, as if clinging to the last vestiges of her pride.

“Alicia, don’t you have something more precious than your life?” Leah asked.

Alicia looked up, surprised, as if Leah had struck a nerve.

“Money and honor,” she admitted.

Alicia was taken aback, as if Leah had read her mind. The honor of being the most sought-after courtesan in Landes was invaluable to her.

The news that she was imprisoned in Rubek and confined to Lebon Tower meant the end of her career.

“I haven’t revealed what crimes Alicia and her gang committed in Rubek, nor where they are imprisoned. Why do you think I did that?” Leah asked.

Alicia’s expression was complicated. Her profession relied on understanding people’s thoughts and intentions.

“You need me?” she ventured.

“That’s right. I need Alicia. But I don’t really need the others,” Leah confirmed.

The three women cried out again.

“Alicia, shall I give you a chance to change your life…?” Leah offered.

“A chance to change my life?” Alicia repeated, incredulous.

A chance to change her life, after decades spent as a high-class prostitute catering to royalty and nobles? Such a thing would require an astronomical sum of money. No matter how influential Grace Bizac [Leah’s alias] was, it seemed impossible.

“Answer me first. If I give you a chance, will you accept it?” Leah pressed.

“Before that, how can you change my life?” Alicia countered.

“Hmm, it’s a chance to live a rich life using only a woman’s abilities, without relying on a man,” Leah explained.

Alicia was silent for a moment, then burst into laughter. The idea seemed absurd in this era.

Women had no suffrage or inheritance rights. Furthermore, they couldn’t easily travel abroad without a guardian’s permission.

“You don’t believe me? Then there’s nothing I can do. My fiancé is very angry right now…” Leah said, rising from her seat. Alicia was taken aback.

“Tell… tell me! What should I do? No, I’ll do anything,” she pleaded.

Leah lifted Alicia’s chin with her index finger and asked, “Then, would you like to be my dog?”

* * *

A few days later, Leah and her staff were gathered in one place. Oliver, looking very nervous, was also present, because Alicia was standing right in front of him.

Before starting work, Alicia apologized to Oliver. “Oliver, forgive me. I will never bother you again.”

Oliver was convinced that Alicia had completely changed and been reborn. She had always spoken to him in a frosty tone.

“It’s… it’s okay,” Oliver stammered, accepting the apology and sticking close to Channer.

Channer then put the lollipop she was eating into Oliver’s mouth.

“Tell me what’s wrong,” Terrence said, his voice cutting through the air. Everyone’s eyes turned to him as he sat on the sofa with his legs crossed.

Leah had even begged him not to attend the makeup demonstration, but he insisted on seeing it with his own eyes.

“Just because you have cosmetics doesn’t mean you’re good at it. Above all, the tools must be good,” Terrence stated.

“Tools?” the others echoed. Alicia spread out the cosmetic tools she had requested from Leah in advance on the table.

“You need a brush made of the finest weasel hair. That way, you can maximize the performance of the cosmetics,” Alicia explained, skillfully preparing for the demonstration.

Leah brought in someone with poor skin condition to assess Alicia’s skills.

“Makeup is important, but you shouldn’t neglect your daily skin care. You also need to massage and pack [apply a facial mask], and use mild soap,” Alicia advised.

Before applying makeup, Alicia carefully wiped the model’s face and applied cream. Only after that process was completed did she begin to conceal the scars.

She skillfully applied makeup, using several brushes.

Leah couldn’t believe her eyes. The technique of filling in the sunken wounds one by one with a small brush was astonishing. When she applied powder, the skin looked flawless, as if the scars had never existed.

The onlookers burst into applause, captivated by her skill.

Terrence was also surprised, unconsciously straightening up on the sofa.

‘Since she has such skills, she was able to cover up wrinkles,’ he thought.

At forty, her skin resembled that of a woman in her twenties, an artificial creation rather than a natural result. Of course, daily skin care must have played a part, as she had mentioned.

‘Okay,’ Terrence conceded.

Leah felt a thrill of excitement. As expected, her hunch had been right. Alicia was a woman who had dedicated her life to self-care, so Leah believed her makeup skills would be exceptional.

Fortunately, the prediction was correct, and she had overcome a major obstacle.

* * *

After the demonstration, everyone left the hall, and Terrence, Leah, and Alicia moved to the office. The Duke’s attorney was already waiting.

“Alicia, I’m thinking of sending you as a lady-in-waiting to Emperor Galdenia,” Leah announced.

“Yes? Me?” Alicia exclaimed, surprised. She knew that Empress Theresa had a fatal flaw.

“If you succeed, you’ll know that what I said wasn’t a bluff,” Leah continued. Alicia could live a proud life using only her abilities, gaining honor, wealth, and even some power.

“But you’re still a criminal in Rubek,” Terrence interjected, pouring cold water on Alicia’s hopes.

“If you become Grace’s dog and devote yourself to loyalty, I won’t stop you from rising in the world. But if you have other intentions or do something stupid, you’ll die without anyone knowing,” he threatened, his eyes filled with menace.

The lawyer held out the documents to Alicia. There were too many risk factors to completely trust her, so she had to be bound by contract.

“I won’t betray you or do anything stupid. This is a breakthrough in my life,” Alicia vowed. She was sick and tired of living as a courtesan, disgusted by the life of having to sign contracts with men she didn’t like in order to survive.

“Then sign it. It’s a contract that gives us the right to your life and death,” Terrence explained, outlining the terms.

He told her that the moment she betrayed them, the suspended execution of her crimes would be reinstated, and articles would be published in all the newspapers on the continent.

Alicia’s face paled.

Terrence added that they had allies within the Galdenia Imperial Family, so she should be careful about her actions. However, he didn’t reveal that it was Armand, the Crown Princess’s lady-in-waiting.

“I will sign it. But I have a request,” Alicia said.

“What is it?” Leah asked.

“Could you give my siblings jobs too?” Alicia requested.

“I’ll think about it. But there’s something Alicia must keep in mind,” Leah said in a serious tone.

“Please tell me,” Alicia replied.

“Alicia’s master is not Empress Theresa, but…” Leah began.

“My master is Young Lady Grace Bizac,” Alicia finished.

“That’s right, don’t forget it. It would be better to engrave it in your heart,” Leah emphasized.

Alicia was moved to tears.

“It’s too early to cry. There’s one more thing to do,” Terrence said.

“What else is there to do?” Alicia asked.

“If you gain the Emperor’s trust this time, we will use Alicia as a model for the cosmetics released by the Hamilton Trading Company. Your face will be on national newspapers, and we plan to give you model fees based on the cosmetics’ sales,” Terrence explained.

“Oh my!” Alicia exclaimed, clasping her hands together and tearing up.

“Then, am I now a lady-in-waiting to His Majesty the Emperor of Galdenia, not a courtesan?” she asked.

“Not yet. It’s possible if you satisfy the Emperor,” Terrence replied.

“I will practice hard until that day. I will do my best to gain His Majesty’s trust,” Alicia declared, filled with enthusiasm despite Terrence’s cold demeanor.

“Oops! I left out something very important,” Terrence said, walking towards Alicia with a menacing expression.

“Empress Theresa never leaves alive anyone who has seen her face.”

“!?” Alicia looked at Leah with wide, surprised eyes. Leah nodded, confirming the truth.

“So you’ll have to do it with your life on the line. Whether you live or die is in her hands.”