Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 136

Episode 136. The Empress’s Man

December 14, 2023

Emily visited the most renowned boutique in Brasel, the capital of Galdenia.

After being rejected by Allen, she became the mistress of an older, wealthy merchant. Though he was of lower status and advanced in age, he possessed considerable wealth and was generous with her.

‘Still, Allen was the best.’

Allen McDowell, the most handsome and wealthy man in the capital, seemed destined to remain Emily’s unattainable desire.

“Madam, a purple organza evening dress would look stunning on you, don’t you think?” The boutique owner presented a roll of fabric to Emily, who was sipping tea.

“It’s lovely. But the boutique is rather quiet these days. It used to be bustling during the Crown Princess selection process.”

“Indeed, other establishments must be thriving. However, everyone seems to be struggling due to the lack of information about the princess.”

As expected, the boutique proved to be a valuable source of information.

The owner readily shared various rumors about the princess.

The prevailing theory was that the princess had a compelling reason for concealing her face, much like Empress Theresa.

“There are widespread rumors that Empress Theresa has unveiled herself, haven’t you heard?”

“They say a famous merchant company created remarkable cosmetics that completely concealed Her Majesty’s scars. They say her skin looks even better than a normal person’s.”

“Really?”

*Which* famous merchant company could it be? Emily was intrigued by the company that had developed such effective cosmetics.

However, the palace maintained strict secrecy, and no details were available.

Just then, the boutique door jingled open, and someone entered.

“Welcome!” The owner greeted the customers cheerfully. Surprisingly, they were young men.

“Ugh! I’m never playing betting billiards again. I didn’t realize I’d receive such a humiliating punishment.”

One of them grumbled, while the taller man laughed with his arms crossed.

“Betting on drinks is too boring, isn’t it? Cross-dressing is what makes it fun.”

“Still, how can losing at billiards lead to wearing a dress? I’d rather take another punishment.”

“No. Today, I will definitely create a dark history for you that you’ll never forget.”

Emily listened to the two men’s conversation while drinking tea, amused.

*They’re at the age where they’re full of mischief.*

They must be around twenty years old. But the shorter of the two men looked familiar.

‘Where have I seen that young man before?’

*It would be stranger if I remembered right away. I’ve been to so many parties that one man blends into another… Anyway, I don’t know.*

“Madam, fortunately, we have a finished purple organza dress. Would you like to try it on? Just to see if the color suits you.”

“Shall I?”

Emily put down her teacup and headed to the dressing room with her maid.

There were three dressing rooms, so which one should she go to? The maid, walking ahead, abruptly opened a dressing room curtain.

“What is it? I… didn’t mean to!”

“I’m sorry.”

Because the maid mistakenly opened the curtain, Emily inadvertently saw a man changing clothes. And she saw a very surprising sight.

‘A chest binder…’

Emily stared at the man’s face and quickly scanned his body.

‘A disguise, how bizarre. I’m sure I’ve met him somewhere before.’

After apologizing, Emily entered another dressing room, her mind racing.

Then, as if a light bulb had illuminated her thoughts, she remembered.

‘That’s right! I saw him there! Wait…’

Emily rolled her eyes and pieced together the complicated situation. Then, she gasped and covered her mouth with both hands.

‘Could it be! Was that it?’

Emily hastily changed her clothes and emerged.

* * *

Theresa’s second selection of maids officially began.

The ten candidates selected by Alicia in the first round stood in a row.

Alicia felt relieved. No matter how she looked, there was no man Channer had mentioned.

‘No matter how well he does his makeup and imitates a woman, how could I not recognize a man?’

Not only herself, but others didn’t seem to have found a man among the candidates. Of course, Channer was an exception.

“There’s a man here.”

At Channer’s words, everyone scrutinized the candidates.

Even if a man wears makeup and women’s clothes, there’s bound to be a sign due to his skeleton or physique.

But the problem was that there were no particularly suspicious candidates.

“Lady Channer, can you identify the man among them?”

“If I find him, will I get a reward?”

“Of course, I’ll give you any reward you want.”

“Promise me.”

Channer ran to Theresa, held out her little finger, and she laughed and linked fingers with her.

Leah found the current situation both amusing and tense.

It had become a hunt for illegally applying male candidates, rather than a test to select a maid skilled in makeup.

“Who, who is the man? Guess it! Ding Dong Daeng Dong!” [Sound effect, often used in Korean variety shows when someone guesses correctly.]

Channer munched on cookies, wandering around the candidates.

But her actions seemed more like child’s play than a sharp investigation.

“Found him.”

Just when everyone was about to give up hope due to the playful song, Channer pointed to the most feminine and pretty candidate.

“She’s the most like a woman.”

Alicia muttered to herself, and honestly, Leah agreed with her. But she couldn’t ignore Channer’s intuition.

“Alicia, investigate.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Alicia approached the candidate Channer had pointed out and examined her closely. Then, just in case, she tugged at her hair, and a long wig was partially dislodged.

“Oh my!”

Leah and Alicia couldn’t help but be shocked. The candidate whose wig was removed quickly ran to Theresa and bowed her head.

“I’m sorry. Please forgive me, Your Majesty.”

“Wait! Before I judge your actions, I have a question. Lady Channer, how did you find him?”

“Because the beginning and the end are connected.”

At Channer’s answer, Leah chuckled and nodded. *The extremes meet.* [A philosophical concept suggesting that seemingly opposite ideas or things can converge.]

Does that mean that the person who looks most like a woman could end up being a man?

It would be beneficial if it meant that you could find the answer by slightly altering your fixed prejudices.

Channer predicted in advance that there was a man among the candidates. That was clearly a spiritual ability.

“It was such a desperate dream for me that I applied with the determination to die.”

“Still, men are not allowed. Go out to the hallway and await Her Majesty’s punishment.”

Alicia firmly rejected him.

“Men can also do makeup well. Why do you keep saying it’s not allowed?”

The man was upset and protested without leaving. Theresa watched the scene with great interest.

“It’s not that it’s not allowed because you’re a man. Her Majesty is a woman, and if you become a personal maid, you have to assist with bathing.”

The Empress couldn’t reveal her naked body to a male servant.

Theresa had barely shown her bare face to her, and even now, she didn’t like hiring three maids.

Because the fewer people who know your secrets, the better.

But a man? No matter how flexibly she thought about it, there was no solution.

Then Channer said while eating cookies.

“Isn’t it the same as people calling me a stupid idiot? I’m the best at knitting lace anyway. My sister saw into my heart.”

Channer said everything she wanted to say while eating cookies and running around.

Then Theresa smiled and asked Channer.

“Lady, I have to give you a reward, what reward do you want to receive?”

“I want to see how well that person does makeup.”

At Channer’s words, Theresa smiled contentedly and said to the man.

“What’s your name?”

“It’s Lesti Lauder. I’m thirty-five years old, a commoner, and still unmarried.”

“Lesti Lauder?”

Leah’s name sounded familiar. It felt like déjà vu, like when she met Oliver Young.

It was catchy, and it felt like it would be frequently used in the future.

“Prove your ability.”

Theresa spoke in a solemn tone, and Leah and Alicia were startled.

Because they knew what the next words would be.

“I will prove it, Your Majesty.”

“I will show you my bare face. But if you can’t do makeup as perfectly as Alicia, you won’t escape death. Will you still do it?”

Suddenly, the air in the audience room turned cold.

Other candidates turned pale and gave up one after another.

“I scared you too much. I won’t kill you. But I’ll just cut off your tongue. So that you can’t reveal my secrets to anyone.”

At her words, Leah sighed. It would have been better not to add that.

Cutting off the tongue… According to her experience, that was more terrifying.

As Theresa finished speaking, everyone’s eyes turned to Lesti Lauder.

His fate would be determined by his answer.

“I will do it. I’ll bet my life, not my tongue.”

“Awesome! Totally cool!”

Channer shouted with cookie crumbs on her face.

“Alicia, send that man to the dressing room.”

“But, Your Majesty…”

“I have to verify it. Didn’t Alicia bet her life on me too? You need to know that this position is not easy, so you can realize the weight of what you said.”

Leah also bet her life, so she agreed with Theresa’s opinion.

She thought it was right to evaluate based on skill rather than excluding him because he was a man.

Soon, Alicia took Lesti Lauder to the dressing room. Now it was Theresa’s turn to go to the dressing room.

She got up from her seat and said to Channer.

“I’ll leave the remaining two to you.”

“Why? Those people might hate me.”

“You can see their hearts like your sister.”

Then Channer made glasses with her fingers and put them on her eyes.

“Huh? I can’t see their hearts. I’ll just pick them.”

“Do that.”

Theresa went to the dressing room, and Leah judged Channer and the remaining candidates.

There were only six people left because many had given up, so her and Channer’s responsibility was heavy.

* * *

It was a tiring day for Leah. She returned to the mansion and looked forward to being with Terun.

“I missed you all day.”

She wrapped her arms around Terun’s waist and whined, and he buried his face in Leah’s abundant hair.

In fact, Terun also had a busy day.

Bertan’s situation was rapidly changing, and he had to meet with diplomats so that the Rubek imperial family could move quickly for the future.

Since it was still unofficial, not many diplomats knew about the fall of the Bertan imperial power.

‘Allen’s downfall is not far off either.’

Right now, Allen is only experiencing about 40% of the trials that will come to him. Soon, the remaining 60% will engulf him like a massive storm.

“Did you select all the personal maids?”

“Yes, two women and one man.”

“Did you say a man?”

Terun also looked surprised. No, he was amazed that Theresa had allowed it.

Wasn’t Empress Theresa the one who blocked all approaches due to her scars, preventing anyone from getting close?

“It’s a significant change in a short time.”

“It’s difficult to open a tightly closed door, but once it’s opened, it doesn’t close easily.”

Theresa, who had only hidden her face, seemed to have released a burden on her heart once she bravely revealed it.

It wasn’t just because of makeup.

It must have been thanks to overcoming the difficult process of unveiling herself.

“Her Majesty has decided to take the risk rather than remain isolated.”

“So I won’t give up either. About our child.”

Leah revealed her determination to Terun.