Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 137

Revenge Has Interest 137

137. Resembling the God of Commerce

2023.12.15.

Terrun felt a pang in his chest at Leia’s earnest desire for a child. She could conceive, but her body was not strong enough to carry a baby to term.

“I’ve said it countless times, Grace’s health is more important to me. We don’t need a child.”

“Terrun doesn’t want our child?”

“I do, but not as much as I want Grace.”

The same questions and answers were repeated endlessly.

She knew all too well what Terrun was worried about. But giving up without trying her best was out of the question.

“I will have this child, no matter what.”

Leia’s determination was unwavering.

Terrun couldn’t bring himself to tell her the truth. It would shatter Leia’s soul.

“Alright.”

“Terrun is allowing it?”

“Well, when Grace’s health improves a bit more…”

Leia hugged Terrun tightly again.

She was so grateful that he gave her even this much hope, fearing he might refuse altogether.

“Oh, I have something to tell you.”

“Something to tell me?”

“The Luke family hasn’t approved of the marriage with Chaner, right?”

“That’s right. It’s entirely Luke’s decision.”

“Then they won’t attend the wedding either?”

“Probably not.”

Leia tentatively mentioned Theresa’s proposal to Terrun.

The proposal was to hold Luke and Chaner’s wedding at the Galdenia Imperial Palace.

When she first heard the proposal, she was tempted by the honor, but there were a few things that bothered her.

“Grace, I appreciate Her Majesty’s sentiment, but shouldn’t the wedding be held in our country? And the Empress Dowager would be very upset if she found out.”

“I think so too.”

Vivian clearly adored Chaner, and she wouldn’t be pleased to learn that Theresa had hosted the wedding.

Moreover, Luke’s parents might attend the wedding, so it was right to hold the ceremony in their homeland.

“I don’t think I can stay long enough to see the selection of the Royal Consort.”

“Same here. Let’s hurry back and hold Luke and Chaner’s wedding.”

“Yes, Terrun.”

Terrun’s heart was heavy as he looked at Leia’s bright smile.

Everyone around her seemed to be having good fortune these days, but she might not achieve what she desired.

More than anything, he desperately hoped that her beautiful smile would not disappear.

‘If you asked me a hundred times, you would always be more important.’

Just then, Sarah came to find Leia. Terrun spoke to Sarah indirectly.

“Sarah, are you making sure Grace takes her supplements these days?”

“Not a day goes by. Don’t worry, Duke.”

Terrun was relieved by Sarah’s answer.

Leia would feel a great sense of betrayal if she ever found out.

Only three people, including himself, knew that her pregnancy was dangerous.

‘I’ll keep the secret somehow until you give up.’

Terrun vowed as he watched Leia enter the mansion with Sarah.

Leia hummed a tune as she walked inside with Sarah.

“How did things go at the palace? I heard Empress Theresa keeps a male attendant by her side?”

Sarah asked, recalling a remark Leia had made in passing as soon as she returned home.

Leia told her about the tense events of the day.

“He covered Her Majesty’s scars just as perfectly as Alicia. Especially his eye makeup was amazing.”

“Really? I thought only women did makeup, but a man had such talent.”

“Well, it’s like he knows which features to emphasize to bring out someone’s charm.”

Leia couldn’t forget the makeup demonstration from earlier that day.

Alicia made the skin clean and the features neat, while Lesti emphasized Theresa’s eyes, bringing out her captivating allure.

Then Sarah said something very interesting to Leia.

“There must be something unique about how a man sees a woman’s face.”

“Huh?”

It was a simple statement, but it resonated deeply in her heart.

Until now, she had been creating clothes and cosmetics from a woman’s perspective, with a woman’s hands and senses. Of course, that wasn’t wrong.

However, it was sometimes necessary to try new things and broaden her horizons.

Stuck-in-the-box thinking wouldn’t create innovative products.

Leia reflected on whether she herself had assumed that men and women had predetermined roles and tasks.

‘I need to abandon those stereotypes.’

There was already someone around her who was trying to do that.

Vivian was gathering doctors in the palace to develop medicines and research treatments for the health and medical advancement of the empire.

Then it was time for her to break away from the existing business methods and try something new.

Just like how she had placed advertisements in newspapers for mail-order sales, there might be a more convenient and popular way of doing business…

As Leia pondered, something flashed before her eyes like a vision.

A large building filled with goods and people coming and going.

‘I’ve found what I need to try next.’

* * *

Leia and Terrun entered the Imperial Palace to say goodbye to Theresa. Of course, Chaner was with them.

However, in the two days they hadn’t been to the palace, there had been a big change in Theresa.

“Your Majesty, your makeup is different again?”

“Alicia, Lesti, Sam Laurent, and Ronez each have different makeup styles.”

“It really is.”

“Your Majesty, your lips look like plums today.”

Chaner said, looking at Theresa’s red lips.

Indeed, they weren’t just red, but looked naturally ripe like plums.

“Do you have a particular makeup style that you like?”

“I like them all. Frankly, I’m not in a position to be picky. It’s lucky that I’ve taken off the veil. All thanks to the courage of Lady Bizak.”

“You flatter me.”

Just then, a maid named Sam Laurent smiled at Leia and said,

“The quality of the cosmetics made by Hamilton Trading Company is very good. It would have been impossible with cosmetics on the market.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

The others also praised Leia’s cosmetics.

Even amidst all this, Leia reminded herself of her promise with Theresa.

She had also obtained permission to use Alicia as a model for cosmetic advertisements and to use the fact that they were exclusively supplied to the Imperial Palace as a sales strategy.

Theresa, who had been listening to Leia the whole time, said in a very serious tone.

“There’s someone who comes to mind when I see Grace Bizak.”

The person who showed interest in Theresa’s words was Terrun. He asked who she was reminded of in Leia’s place.

“Richard Hamilton. He was the god of commerce.”

Leia was so startled that she felt her heart drop.

She never expected Theresa to mention her father.

Theresa expressed disappointment and regret at losing a capable person.

Leia hesitated. Now that the topic had come up, she wanted to ask what had happened to her father.

“To compare me to him is an honor. But where is the head of the Hamilton Trading Company now?”

Theresa looked puzzled at her question.

It wasn’t a question Grace would ask. Then Terrun stepped in.

“Your Majesty, although it may be premature, the Papi Flower incident of the Hamilton Trading Company needs to be reinvestigated.”

“Why is that?”

“I understand that many suspicious things have been discovered while investigating the corruption of Police Commissioner Tuajo.”

“Is that so? But the evidence at the time was perfect.”

“Yes, that’s why a reinvestigation is even more necessary. Isn’t it strange that it’s so perfect, as if someone deliberately created it?”

Theresa’s face hardened at Terrun’s words. Come to think of it, Terrun’s point made sense.

There was always a premonitory phenomenon in all corruption. Foul smells emanate from corruption.

However, the Hamilton Trading Company incident happened suddenly one day, and the evidence was perfect. To the point where there was no room for rebuttal.

Rather, that part should have been regarded as suspicious.

It wasn’t as if Richard Hamilton had neglected management and had problems.

Furthermore, he didn’t usually solicit high-ranking officials or manipulate prices by hoarding specific items.

Rather, he donated the most money to society every year.

“I’ll think about it. And Richard Hamilton was not executed.”

“If so, trust Count Arthur Wellington. Even an emperor cannot know everything about the world.”

Terrun had always wanted to say something harsh to Theresa.

“Duke, are you scolding me?”

“How could I? Isn’t it because the emperor cannot handle all state affairs that there is a Minister of State and numerous public officials?”

Leia didn’t hear a word of Terrun and Theresa’s argument.

At this point, the most important thing was where her father was.

“Your Majesty, is it true that Richard Hamilton was imprisoned on Reef Island?”

She asked very carefully.

Even though she looked calm to others, a storm was raging inside her.

“Even if Richard Hamilton did something wrong, Reef Island is too harsh. It’s not there. But I can’t tell you where he’s imprisoned.”

‘Whew!’

Leia breathed a sigh of relief. Just hearing that it wasn’t Reef Island made her want to cry.

Then Terrun, as if knowing Leia’s feelings, held her hand tightly.

“I will consider the Hamilton Trading Company case further and discuss it with the Chief of Police.”

“Your Majesty is so wise that I believe you will correct the misguided social justice.”

Terrun politely greeted Theresa, and she burst into laughter.

“The Duke is giving me excessive praise, I don’t know what to do. Hahaha.”

‘You need to get your act together so that trash like Alan can’t run rampant.’

That’s what he wanted to say.

‘My woman has solved your resentment, so you have to pay the price. Stop with the hysteria caused by your face.’

Terrun only wanted one thing.

For Theresa to return to being the spirited monarch she once was. So that she could properly judge what was right and wrong.

“We will now return to Lubeck, Your Majesty.”

Terrun and Leia greeted the Emperor.