Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 134

Revenge Has Interest 134. Goodbye, Grace (134/200)

134. Goodbye, Grace

2023.12.12.

Leah drifted off to sleep while waiting for Terrun.

He had traveled all the way to Landes, so he probably wouldn’t be back until late. She knew this, but she still wanted to wait up for him, though the champagne made her drowsy.

In her dream, she saw a flower garden filled with yellow freesias.

The sky was a brilliant blue, and the white clouds looked like carelessly tossed cotton balls – so pretty.

Far away in the picturesque scenery, as if she had stepped into a fairy tale, she saw a blonde woman wearing a white chemise [a simple, loose-fitting garment].

Leah ran towards her.

‘Grace!’

When Leah called her name, Grace turned around with a bright smile.

‘Leah!’

They shared one body but couldn’t meet easily. That’s why she was even happier to see her.

Grace, as seen through Leah’s eyes, was petite and beautiful, like a fairy.

So much so that it was hard to tell the difference between the freesias and Grace.

Grace held out her small, white hand to Leah.

‘What is it?’

‘It’s a gift from me, Leah.’

When Grace opened her hand, a pair of pearl earrings sparkled.

‘They’re so pretty. Can I have them?’

‘Take good care of them, Leah.’

Grace took the pearl earrings and put them on Leah’s ears.

Grace looked at Leah with a very satisfied expression.

‘I have a favor to ask, Leah.’

‘I’ll do anything. If it’s something I can do…’

‘When you get married, have a pretty daughter and a strong son.’

‘Pardon?’

Leah blushed with embarrassment.

‘I can’t, but Leah, you’re a strong woman, so you can do it.’

For some reason, Grace’s face looked sad. It didn’t feel good, as if she was leaving forever.

Honestly, being with her helped me understand Terrun.

Sometimes she was confused as to whether the feelings she had for him were her own or Grace’s, but hadn’t she received help from her at every crucial moment?

‘Leah, I was so happy. Thanks to you, I also learned about Terrun’s heart. He didn’t hate me.’

‘That’s right. Terrun doesn’t hate Grace. It’s just that he has so many scars that he doesn’t have the *余裕* [yoyuu – Japanese for ‘capacity’ or ‘余裕’] to take care of someone.’

‘You’re the one who made him realize that. So I was happy with Terrun, even if it was short.’

Grace spoke as if she were leaving a will.

Leah began to feel uneasy.

What if Grace isn’t by my side? The thought alone filled her with despair.

‘I have to leave. But I’m sorry for leaving Leah with trials.’

‘What? What are you talking about?’

‘My body is weak, so it will be hard to endure. But I believe Leah’s soul is strong, so she will definitely overcome it.’

Only then did Leah realize that Grace was saying goodbye to her.

‘I’m the one who’s leaving. Grace is the owner of this body.’

‘No! My soul has already reached the end of its life anyway. So Leah is Grace. We’re one, did you forget?’

‘Grace.’

‘Why, Grace?’

As she spoke, Grace’s soul gradually became blurred and transparent.

It was so precarious that it seemed like it would disappear like smoke if the wind blew.

‘I have no regrets in life anymore because I’ve been fully happy. Goodbye! Grace!’

Leah reached out as far as she could to grab Grace, but her soul completely disappeared, and only her voice echoed.

‘Don’t go!’

‘You have to be happy for the rest of your life! Grace!’

Her last words were carried on the wind from the distant sky.

Leah sobbed like a child.

At first, she felt alienated by the fact that two souls existed in one body, but at some point, she came to rely on Grace.

Moreover, she was grateful to her.

Thanks to Grace, she was able to gradually heal her life, which was full of regrets.

‘Can’t I see Grace anymore?’

No matter how loudly she called her, there was no answer. Did Grace really go to heaven?

She didn’t know why she felt so sad. Complex emotions rushed in all at once, and her heart ached.

She felt sorry for Grace, grateful to her, and sad that she couldn’t see her again.

Leah cried incessantly. She didn’t know how much time had passed when a welcome voice called her.

‘Grace, did you have another nightmare?’

‘Terrun!’

At his voice, Leah opened her eyes wide. At that moment, the clock struck three in the morning.

Leah looked at him with tearful eyes.

‘Did you cry because I wasn’t here?’

Seeing him smiling brightly, revealing his white teeth, she was overwhelmed with sorrow. Leah got out of bed and hugged him.

‘Why are you so late? I waited so long.’

‘Sorry, I tried to come sooner.’

‘It’s okay. It’s enough that you’re back.’

After Leah woke up, she felt that Grace’s soul, which had been inside her, had disappeared.

She couldn’t express it in words, but she used to vaguely feel her presence, but now one side of her chest felt empty.

‘I promise, I’ll live the rest of my life as Grace. I’ll live happily as you can see.’

Terrun and Leah kissed without either of them saying anything first. Her hands hurriedly took off his clothes, and she was consumed by a desperate love.

Terrun also revealed his impatient lust, eager to compensate for the longing he had felt while he was away from her.

‘Ah……!’

When he pushed into her, she felt relieved. How should she express this strange yet electrifying sensation? Soon, he filled Leah completely.

He possessed Leah to the point where she couldn’t think of any other distractions besides Terrun.

Leah entrusted herself to the raging waves of Terrun and was shaken haphazardly and shattered.

She endlessly called his name, hoping that he would take her to the pinnacle of pleasure she had never been to before.

The two loved each other to their heart’s content, burying each other deeply in each other’s bodies and souls. But even while loving, Leah vowed to keep her promise with Grace.

‘I’m going to live happily with Terrun for a long, long time. I’ll have our children and watch them grow up.’

She repeatedly promised herself and Grace, who had gone far away.

* * *

Chenel and Luke arrived at the Galdenia Imperial Palace. As soon as Chenel entered the lobby, she ran around and shouted.

‘Grace *unnie* [Korean term for ‘older sister’ or ‘close female friend’]! I’m here!’

The courtiers looked at Chenel strangely, but she didn’t care at all.

Of course, Luke, who was carrying the luggage, didn’t stop Chenel either. Rather, he seemed to be trying to accept her as she was.

‘Chenel!’

Leah also ran to greet Chenel. The two, who finally met, hugged each other.

It had only been two weeks since she left, but Chenel was so happy to see her, as if it had been months.

‘Where’s Pauline?’

‘She’s working! And she’s busy doing a……! A……! with Tom every night!’

Leah hurriedly covered Chenel’s mouth with her hand.

‘Let’s greet His Majesty first.’

No sooner had Leah finished speaking than Chenel waved her hand at someone and shouted.

‘I missed you too, mister!’

Chenel smiled brightly as she looked at Terrun, who was leaning against the railing on the second floor. Of course, Terrun glared at Luke.

He told her to correct the word ‘mister,’ but she stubbornly didn’t. But Terrun was also happy to see Chenel again.

He was slowly missing the Duke’s residence, but thanks to Chenel, he felt like he was home.

Leah took Chenel to Theresa. It was a good opportunity to greet the maids because it was tea time.

‘You have to greet Her Majesty politely, okay?’

Leah touched Chenel’s hair and clothes and asked. Luke was also standing next to her with a nervous face.

‘Miss, why does Her Majesty want to see me?’

‘I told her that you two are getting married.’

‘Ah, I see.’

At this rate, the rumor that they were getting married would spread to every country on the continent.

Still, it was an honor for the family to have a personal audience with Empress Theresa.

‘Duke, where’s Louis?’

Luke had been curious all along. What he found most puzzling when he entered the Imperial Palace was that Louis wasn’t by Terrun’s side.

‘He’s having an affair, with Roberto.’

‘Now he’s having an affair with a man?’

‘Luke, I want you to assist me. Louis has to participate in the selection anyway, so I can’t use him as much as I want.’

‘Can you use me as much as you want?’

‘Isn’t that obvious?’

Luke grumbled, but he felt good.

There were good things about staying at Chenel and the Duke’s residence, but he was constantly worried about Terrun.

He even suspected that he was a bit of a workaholic.

But then an invitation arrived from the Galdenia Imperial Family, and he cheered.

He felt like he was being treated like a very important person when he rode in the carriage sent by the Galdenia Imperial Family.

Finally, Leah winked at the servants standing in front of the reception room, and the door opened.

Leah took Chenel, and Terrun took Luke inside.

‘Your Majesty, Chenel has arrived.’

Leah said to Theresa. But Luke couldn’t find Theresa at all.

But Chenel was different. She walked without hesitation and stood in front of a woman and bowed.

‘Hello? Your Majesty!’

‘It’s amazing that you recognized me right away.’

Even her vassals were confused, but Chenel didn’t hesitate at all.

‘Because you’re shining, Your Majesty has rainbow colors.’

‘Light?’

People who knew Chenel weren’t very surprised, but those who saw her for the first time looked at her strangely.

‘Alicia succeeded.’

‘Please don’t call me *ahjumma* [Korean term for ‘aunt’ or ‘middle-aged woman’], young lady.’

Alicia trembled while drinking tea. Then Terrun smiled and said.

‘I’m an uncle, so isn’t it natural for Alicia to be an *ahjumma*?’

‘Duke, you’re too much!’

*Ahjumma* is a title that women can’t easily adapt to even as they get older.

Only after Leah glared at Terrun did he close his mouth with an awkward expression.

Then Leah introduced Luke to Theresa.

‘Greetings to the Emperor of Galdenia. I am Luke Perry.’

‘Is he the man who is marrying Chenel?’

‘Yes, he is.’

Theresa carefully examined Luke.