Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 131

Revenge Has Interest 131. Two People’s Tears (131/200)

131. Two People’s Tears

2023.12.09.

The Head Chamberlain backed away from the black panther that was slowly approaching him.

He feared the Iron Lady Theresa, but he was also intimidated by the murderous aura emanating from Duke Courtois.

“Escort me to Her Majesty, now!”

“If I did that… my head would be the first to go.”

“Shall I twist that head off right now?”

“Ugh! For someone who knows better, why are you acting like this?”

The Head Chamberlain trembled and sobbed.

How did the Imperial Palace become infested with wild beasts? It was already overwhelming enough to assist Theresa, but now even foreign dignitaries were badgering him.

‘What an unlucky day.’

Terran grabbed the Head Chamberlain by the collar.

“I need to check on my fiancée’s safety. Right now!”

The moment Terran lost his temper, the door opened and footsteps were heard.

“Duke! Stop harassing the innocent Chamberlain.”

Terran turned his head at the familiar voice, and there stood someone he knew.

“Lord Roberto can take me to Her Majesty then.”

Only then did Terran release the Head Chamberlain’s collar and walk towards Salame.

He didn’t know which corridor it was, but Salame was standing at the entrance, where shadows were darkly cast.

“It’s been five hours, and we still can’t find Grace. How can I not go crazy?”

His eyes were darkened with worry for his woman. Terran had long lost his reason.

If not the Head Chamberlain, even Salame, if they didn’t grant his request, he didn’t know what he would do.

“Is your fiancée everything to you, Duke? To the point of losing your noble dignity and reason?”

“Shut your dog-like mouth! Noble dignity and reason? What is that? Grace is the only humanity I have left.”

“Hahaha, the Lady is fortunate. To have a man so crazy about her. As a woman, there’s no greater luck.”

Salame jested as he listened to Terran’s words.

But Terran couldn’t even take that kindly.

Instead of joking around and scratching at his nerves, he should be taking him to the Emperor as quickly as possible.

“Salame, Grace lost the child in her womb while trying to keep her promise to Her Majesty.”

“What… are you saying?”

“Others may think what Grace has achieved looks easy, but it’s not. Grace has poured everything she has into it. How can I not be out of my mind? What does it matter to me if others live their whole lives behind a veil, risking their lives!”

Terran’s desperate anguish seemed to dye his surroundings black.

Salame couldn’t respond for a while.

Because Terran’s words were all true.

People don’t know what difficult hurdles Leia had to overcome to achieve today’s results.

They only see the result.

Terran told Salame everything that had happened between Leia and Alicia.

“Where does such great power come from in such a small and delicate woman’s body?”

Only then did Salame understand Grace’s anguish.

He almost scolded Terran for overreacting without knowing, but he was glad he knew now.

“Lady Vizak has done well. So put your worries aside.”

Salame gave Terran hopeful words.

“I won’t believe it until I see it with my own eyes. You know that woman is an Emperor with no blood or tears, right?”

“I know, she’s someone who mercilessly takes lives if she thinks you’re disrespecting the Emperor.”

“So let me meet Her Majesty, or rather, Grace. Lord Roberto.”

At Terran’s words, Salame stepped out of the shadows. He raised his head to look at Terran.

“Did you call me Salame Roberto?”

“Is this the time for jokes…?”

Terran couldn’t finish his sentence as he was engulfed in chaos. Something was wrong.

“Why don’t you believe my words that Lady Vizak has succeeded? Even though the Duke is seeing it with his own eyes.”

In that moment, Terran’s thoughts stopped. As his pupils busily moved, Salame completely came out of the shadows and revealed himself.

‘It’s not Salame. Then who?’

Why did he only notice now? He prided himself on having animalistic senses, but he was completely mistaken.

No, he couldn’t have imagined it wasn’t Salame.

‘The voice is the same, but the tone is different.’

Terran unknowingly took a couple of steps back.

He looked up and down at the person in front of him as if he had seen a ghost.

No matter how he looked, he looked exactly like Salame. But there was a sense of incongruity with Salame.

A more mature and serious face and attitude.

‘Did Grace succeed?’

“Your Majesty has a knack for surprising people.”

“Of course, only trying to be like Lady Vizak.”

“What on earth did Grace do to Your Majesty?”

Terran looked at the person in front of him again, piece by piece.

Salame had red, curly hair that was short enough to slightly cover his ears.

But the person in front of him had the same red hair, but neatly styled upwards.

“She did something very enchanting and mysterious.”

Moreover, the uniform was different. The shoulder straps symbolizing the Emperor. Why did he only see it now?

Terran sighed with a look of dismay.

He put his hands on his waist and wandered around the lobby. Then he quickly approached and said.

“The saying ‘don’t be fooled by makeup’ will remain true even after decades.”

At his words, Theresa laughed heartily. Just then, the door opened and the sound of heels clicking was heard.

Terran instinctively turned his head, and there stood Leia and Alicia.

“Grace!”

“Terran!”

Leia ran to Terran and hugged him.

Anyone who saw it would think it was a family reunion after a long time.

The only difference was that the one who went to the battlefield was not the husband but the wife.

“We did it.”

“Did you cast a spell or something?”

That was the only way to explain it, Theresa’s face was as smooth as a peeled egg white.

Moreover, she looked so young that it was impossible to guess her age, and he even mistook her for Salame.

Was it a coincidence? The real Salame appeared.

He looked at Theresa with a dumbfounded expression.

“Your Majesty, or Mom…?”

Already, thick drops of tears were falling from Salame’s eyes.

“Yes, I am the Emperor of Galdenia and your mother.”

At her answer, Salame hugged Theresa and burst into tears.

The two of them looked like a true family reunion.

The face of his mother that he had forgotten for a long time.

He always missed his mother from his childhood, even though she was always by his side.

His mother, who had changed when he was at an age when he wanted to be spoiled, was only an Emperor. But he couldn’t blame her.

Because she was a mother who had lived a more wounded and unfortunate life than anyone else, it pained him to watch her by her side.

But suddenly, she returned to her old self, it was like magic.

Something that only existed in fairy tales happened to him. He couldn’t believe it even as he was held in his mother’s arms.

“Salame, have you become a child again?”

“Mom….”

Salame burrowed into Theresa’s arms and cried even more sadly.

Leia and Alicia, who were watching the scene, also wiped away tears.

“Um, should we excuse ourselves for a moment…?”

At Alicia’s words, Terran and Leia suddenly came to their senses.

The three of them hurriedly left the lobby.

* * *

He should have allowed the mother and son to enjoy the touching moment for a long time.

But Alicia gradually fell behind and didn’t move with her head bowed.

Leia let go of Terran’s hand for a moment and approached her.

“Alicia, it must have been hard for you, right?”

How could she not know the burden and pressure she felt? She felt the same way.

Still, it wouldn’t be as much as the person who held the brush.

Alicia immediately approached Leia and Terran.

“Duke, I’m sorry.”

Alicia bowed to Terran until her head touched the ground.

Her apology contained a lot of meaning, and Terran knew what Alicia was trying to say to him.

“Miss, thank you.”

This time, she bowed to Leia.

“Don’t do this. I’m safe thanks to Alicia too.”

Leia said, holding Alicia’s hand. Then Alicia shook her head, shedding tears.

“To be honest, I wanted to get out of the courtesan life. I only lived thinking about how to seduce and get sponsorship by searching for rich and high-ranking men. I never thought I could do something with my own hands like this… Moreover, I’m amazed that my insignificant skills can change someone’s life.”

Alicia thought that if she didn’t say the reward and joy she felt now, she wouldn’t have another chance.

She wanted to honestly thank them one more time.

“I think I can live the rest of my life without being ashamed of anyone. I’ve come to know the sacredness of work, and I love my existence so much.”

Terran, who had been silently listening to Alicia’s words, walked towards her.

“Alicia, are you saying you want to repay Grace and me after all?”

At that one word that broke the emotion, Leia wanted to hit Terran on the head if he were her son.

“Yes… That’s right. But how can I repay you two…?”

“Don’t change. That feeling you have now. Just maintain it without falling into depravity.”

“Yes?”

“You can help when Grace needs Alicia’s help, right?”

“That’s obvious.”

“It’s because what’s obvious isn’t that easy. But I’m going to trust Alicia too.”

Only then did Terran smile at Alicia, and Leia understood what he was trying to say.

“Are you saying you trust me?”

“Yeah, because Alicia is a snob. You’ve been through thick and thin, so you’re quick to calculate how to live to your advantage. But those people don’t waver easily and are experienced. I trust Alicia’s snobbish nature. If you’ve calculated correctly, you certainly won’t betray Grace and me.”

It seemed impossible to expect Terran to speak nicely.

But on the other hand, his straightforward way of speaking was comfortable.

Because they didn’t have to guess each other’s intentions and calculate with an abacus.

Alicia stopped crying and held Leia’s hands tightly and said.

“I will never forget what you said when you took me out of the Lebon Tower.”

She brought up the promise she had made with Leia at the time.

[Alicia’s master is not Emperor Theresa…]

[My master is Lady Grace Vizak.]

[Yes, don’t forget. It would be even better if you engraved it in your heart.]