Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 138

Revenge Has Interest. 138. Luke and Channer’s Wedding (138/200)

138. Luke and Channer’s Wedding

2023.12.16.

Allen woke up with a splitting headache.

He’d started with one drink the night before and ended up polishing off two bottles.

He’d reached a point where he needed that much alcohol just to fall asleep.

After throwing on some clothes, he was about to head to his office when he heard the noon bell.

‘Pathetic. I have a mountain of work to do, and I’m just drinking myself into oblivion.’

He stood on the stairs, consumed by regret.

‘I don’t even know when the selection [referring to a competition or event] will take place.’

Suddenly, a surge of anger coursed through him.

When he entered his office, his secretary, who had arrived earlier, was reviewing documents and looked up to greet him.

“You’re here, sir?”

“Are there any urgent documents to deal with?”

“The second construction payment from Bertan hasn’t arrived. Are we still planning to receive it in cotton fabrics this time?”

“No, they were supposed to exchange it for gold and deposit it. Hasn’t it arrived yet?”

“No, there’s no deposit record in the account.”

At the secretary’s words, Allen sighed. He hadn’t even moved the cotton fabrics received in the first payment from the warehouse.

The textile factory owners in the capital had protested to the parliament.

They argued that if cotton fabrics from the East Continent were sold cheaply, it would devastate the domestic market, so the parliament prohibited the sales.

In the end, the cotton fabrics from Bertan became worthless.

“Send a letter of demand to Bertan. Contact our managers stationed there.”

“I’ve already contacted them. There’s no reply….”

“Keep contacting them until you get a reply.”

“Understood.”

Allen felt suffocated. How much money had been poured into the Bertan railroad construction?

If something went wrong with the construction, it was only a matter of time before McDowell Trading Company went bankrupt.

Of course, that wouldn’t happen. According to the reports sent by Viscount Martin Polo, there were no major incidents in Bertan.

So, the immediate problem to solve was his ruined face.

“Get Doctor Frank out on bail.”

“The bail is quite substantial. Moreover, King Vincent has just ascended the throne and is paying close attention to security.”

“There’s nothing money can’t solve. Find out how much it will cost to release Doctor Frank. We can deduct it from his success fee anyway.”

“Understood, sir.”

As the secretary left, Allen collapsed onto the sofa.

These days, he had no motivation. He was sensitive and irritated by everything.

It had been quite a while since he had avoided looking at his face in the mirror.

‘That bastard, is he taking out his inferiority complex on me?’

Allen’s anger towards Terrence surged.

‘He must have been bothered by my handsome face. He was afraid that Grace would come to me because I was better than him. Still, how could a man be so vile as to touch my face?’

The more he thought about it, the more fire blazed in his chest.

Now more than ever, he needed to appear in front of him, looking as good as new.

‘I need to bring Doctor Frank back.’

That was the only way. Just then, there was a knock.

“Come in.”

“We have a guest.”

Allen was annoyed at the butler’s report. He had said he wouldn’t meet anyone for a while.

“She insisted on meeting you, sir, so I couldn’t prevent it.”

The butler seemed to be making excuses, sensing his mood.

“Who is it?”

“Miss Leah Frank.”

“What?”

In that instant, all of Allen’s thoughts stopped.

Why would that woman come all the way here? His vision blurred, and his mind went blank.

Just as he was becoming disoriented from the shock, Leah Frank was already standing before him.

“How…?”

No matter how he looked, she looked exactly like Leah. It was beyond just resembling her.

Anyone who saw her would mistake her for Leah Hamilton, returned from the dead.

“I’ve come to return the surgery fee.”

The woman’s voice echoed through the air. Her every action seemed to move in slow motion.

“My father won’t be released for several years.”

He couldn’t quite hear what she was saying.

Then, his ears perked up, and the woman’s voice became very clear.

‘You devil who killed me! Allen McDowell, I will never forgive you.’

“You… are?”

He didn’t know if it was a hallucination or reality. The ghost of Leah Hamilton, who had suddenly appeared, was wandering around him, cursing him.

“Leah is dead!”

Allen shouted madly, consumed by madness. But Leah’s ghost did not disappear. Instead, it tried to approach him.

“Don’t… come! Get out, disappear from my sight!”

Only after he roared did Leah disappear, and Allen fainted.

* * *

It had been a week since everyone returned to the Duke’s residence, and today was the wedding day of Channer and Luke.

As Luke wished, the only invited guests were the people of the Duke’s residence. However, it wasn’t as if no dignitaries were invited at all.

Emperor Carl and Empress Vivian were in attendance.

“Channer, you look so beautiful.”

Surrounded by the women, Channer blushed as she held a bouquet of daisies.

“I’m glad the dress suits me.”

Channer’s wedding dress was made by Sonia and Adolf. It was a typical Sainte-Bourg dress [a style known for its opulence], extremely ornate, in contrast to the innocent daisies.

“Did my grandpa come?”

“Of course, he did.”

Leah reassured Channer.

They couldn’t invite all the people from Lafa, but they did invite the grandfather who had raised Channer.

“What about Oppa’s [Korean term for older brother or boyfriend] mom and dad? What about his brothers?”

“Well, you should check that yourself.”

Leah was careful with her words. However, she was surprised to see Channer recognizing that it was her wedding and becoming nervous.

If it were the usual Channer, she would have been running around without a thought. But soon, she realized the reason.

“I’ve been brainwashing her for a week.”

Pauline said triumphantly.

She was worried that Channer might do something strange in front of the guests, so she even made her practice.

Above all, Pauline repeatedly told Channer about the meaning of marriage until she was sick of it.

“Channer is an adult now, you know?”

At Leah’s question, Channer nodded, but her pretty face was full of tension.

It was slightly worrying. Sure enough, Channer’s lips trembled, and she began to cry.

“I miss Oppa. I think I’m scared. I need to pee too.”

As Channer cried, Pauline jumped around trying to soothe her, and Sonia ran off to find Luke.

Soon after, Luke, dressed in formal attire, arrived, and only then did Channer stop crying.

“Wow! You look like the squad leader!”

“Channer looks like an angel. Very pretty. So, you mustn’t cry. Okay?”

Luke hugged Channer and patted her.

But why were all the people watching crying…? Pauline was crying the loudest of all.

“Is this how it feels to marry off a daughter?”

Leah deliberately joked, trying not to cry.

Looking at the bride and groom, memories of being together from the day she first met Channer until now flashed through her mind.

“Let’s go, Channer.”

“Okay, husband.”

Channer linked arms with Luke and headed to the wedding hall.

The few guest seats were full, and finally, the wedding began.

Today, all the employees of the Duke’s residence came out to celebrate the marriage of the two.

Among them, the Emperor and Empress, sitting under the white awning, stood out the most.

“Oh? Oppa’s family came too?”

Channer was amazed that Luke’s family had attended. Then, Luke smiled and said to Channer.

“We can do well today, right?”

“Yes, husband.”

Perhaps Luke’s words worked like magic.

Channer was very demure, like a shy bride.

She didn’t laugh excessively or say strange things, and she was very calm when walking down the wedding road.

Leah was moved by the touching sight and kept shedding tears.

“Save your tears, my goddess?”

Terrence wiped Leah’s tears with a handkerchief.

“What about Luke’s parents?”

At her question, Terrence pointed his chin at Vivian.

Indeed, no noble could disobey the Empress’s orders. Although there was coercion, she was grateful to Vivian.

“It seems we’ll have to have a wedding in the Imperial Palace after all.”

“Why? It’s better to have it at the Duke’s residence.”

“It’s His Majesty’s order. He wants to prepare our wedding at the Imperial Palace.”

Leah couldn’t refuse because she knew the Emperor and Empress’s intentions.

She had heard that the Emperor felt indebted to Terrence. He was sorry for making him live on the battlefield for so long.

Even for Aiden’s sake, he expressed his intention to hold Grace and Terrence’s wedding as grandly as a state wedding.

Leah couldn’t refuse. If she only thought of herself, she could have a small wedding, but she couldn’t ignore the Emperor and Empress’s feelings of guilt and hardship.

“Let’s do that. My brother will like it too.”

“They’re just doing it to make themselves feel better. We should just pretend we can’t win against their insistence.”

Even though Terrence spoke as if he was annoyed on the outside, he didn’t seem to dislike the Emperor’s consideration on the inside.

* * *

The wedding ended, and the banquet began. Today was a joyful day regardless of status.

The employees also congratulated the two to their hearts’ content, and Luke and Channer thanked the guests one by one.

Leah was amazed at how mature Channer was. She had completely turned into a different person, as if she had been enchanted.

Just as everyone was enjoying themselves, Louis came to Terrence with a serious face.

“Duke, I have something to tell you.”

Terrence frowned at Louis’s serious attitude. He would prefer to talk about it tomorrow if possible.

“Are you drunk?”

Louis’s eyes were slightly unfocused, as if he was drunk.

“Speak.”

“I… I won’t be participating in the selection of the Duke’s consort [referring to a competition to find a wife for the Duke].”

“Why? Why not?”

Terrence’s voice grew increasingly agitated, and Leah gently grabbed his arm.

If he got angry on such a good day, it would ruin the atmosphere.

“I have someone I like.”

“Who is it? If it’s a woman I can accept, I won’t force you.”

Terrence threatened, ready to sew Louis’s mouth shut if he said Grace again.

“Duke, I think I have a serious problem.”

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

Terrence was as quiet as possible when he was angry.
The Emperor and Empress were there, so he couldn’t vent his anger as he pleased. Leah also tried to control the situation, watching the guests’ reactions.

“I think I like men.”

“What?”

Terrence, who had been holding back well, burst into a shout.