Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 145

Revenge Has Interest 145

145. Kidnapped Louie

2023.12.23.

The betrothal ball was finally held. Queen Theresa was very pleased with the dresses made by Sonia and Adolf.

When she appeared in the ballroom, people were beyond surprised; they were astonished.

They had heard about the Emperor removing her veil in the newspaper, but they didn’t expect her to appear in a dress instead of a uniform.

Praises for Theresa’s beauty were heard from all directions.

Theresa looked at the masked guests and said,

“I sincerely welcome the guests who have participated in the selection of a consort.”

The guests responded with applause to Theresa’s greeting.

“Everyone, please look around.”

As she said this, the guests looked around the ballroom. Men and women wearing unique and splendid masks were abundant.

“Among these many people is my princess. Gentlemen who have participated in the selection can bring the lady they believe to be the princess before me.”

People buzzed at the Emperor’s words.

“Is she telling us to play hide-and-seek?”

“How are we supposed to know who the princess is?”

“I know, there’s no clue at all.”

“It would be simple if the princess and the Emperor just chose the person they liked, as usual.”

As there were many complaints about the newly attempted selection method, Theresa spoke again.

“There is a reason why I have masked everyone.”

Everyone focused on Theresa.

People were curious as to why she was making the selection so difficult.

“I masked you in the hope that the wonderful gentlemen gathered here would find their own princess. To do so, you must have a good conversation and a good feeling. Even if you don’t find the real princess, I hope that unmarried gentlemen will find their match.”

Only then did people understand Theresa’s intention and applaud.

In addition, Theresa said that many aristocratic young ladies from Galdenia had participated in the masquerade ball.

Of course, the young ladies did not reveal their identities and played a role in promoting confusion until the end.

In the end, the purpose of the masquerade ball was not only to find a husband for the princess but also to find a suitable partner for unmarried men and women.

“Uncharacteristically for Your Majesty, this is a very mellow event,” Terun said, looking at Leia.

“She is not the same Majesty as before. I’m glad. Her Majesty has become generous to everyone.”

“Well, she must be happy since she’s been freed from a long period of suffering.”

“Happy people want to spread happiness to those around them.”

“That’s the first time I’ve heard that.”

“I read it in a book a long time ago.”

“Then did Grace spread happiness to the Emperor?”

“Well, that’s… !”

Leia’s face turned red. That wasn’t what she meant by such grand praise.

She just said it because she liked seeing Theresa happy.

“I’m curious who will find the princess,” she said, quickly changing the subject. Then Terun took off the mask Leia was wearing.

“I can’t have a man mistaking my woman for a princess.”

Leia also took off Terun’s mask.

“It’s the same for me. I can’t have the princess falling head over heels for my man.”

Terun and Leia decided to fully enjoy the ball.

They intended to dance together and drink sweet champagne, enjoying the amusement offered to them.

* * *

Allen was trying to find the princess as Emily had told him. But there was already a troublemaker by his side, which was the problem.

He didn’t know the man’s identity because he was wearing a mask. He was just waiting for the secretary who went to get information to come back.

Because he needs to know which aristocratic family he is from.

‘He doesn’t even suspect that she’s the princess. Still, I shouldn’t let him bother me.’

Just then, the secretary returned.

“He is said to be the heir of the Valier Marquis family of Lubeck. He has become very close to Roberto and spends most of his time with him when they meet.”

“The heir of the Valier Marquis family?”

Allen stared intently at the gentleman next to the princess again.

Come to think of it, he remembered seeing him at the clothing 품평회 [tasting event]. He appeared before the nobles wearing a suit for 품평회 [tasting event].

Not only that, he knows that he works as Terun’s secretary.

‘Wherever I go, those guys associated with that bastard are interfering with my work.’

If he participated in the selection, he should hurry up and find the princess.

Could it be that he already knows who the princess is? If so, it was very difficult.

“The heir of the Valier Marquis family.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Get him out of here.”

At Allen’s words, the secretary’s gaze turned to Louie. He was curious as to why he was bothering him.

“He’ll be looking for the princess soon anyway.”

Then Allen whispered softly in the secretary’s ear. Soon the secretary turned pale.

“How many bouncers did you bring?”

Allen expected Terun and his party to come to Bellucia, so he hired a large number of men who could use their strength.

Just in case he might have a fight with Terun.

No, if he gets a chance, he intends to pay Terun back in the same way for ruining his face.

“There are five people.”

“Whether you throw him into the water, lock him up somewhere, or half-kill him, I don’t care, just get him out of my sight.”

“Yes, sir.”

The secretary quickly left his seat, and Allen straightened his clothes.

Now that he knows the princess’s identity, there was no need to go to the wrong women and waste his time.

Meanwhile, Chaner couldn’t take her eyes off Louie.

‘I have to see if Louie the ballerina is kissing a man again.’

Everyone was dancing and enjoying themselves on the floor, but Chaner hid behind a pillar and only watched Louie.

In the meantime, Luke went to get a drink.

Of course, he was so anxious about leaving his seat even for a while that he repeatedly told Chaner.

[Don’t move from here until I come. You can’t wander around anywhere.]

[Okay, husband. Anyway, I have to watch the ballerina.]

Chaner made glasses with her fingers and put them on her eyes to look at Louie.

But a strange man approached Louie, and Salame disappeared somewhere, leaving her alone.

‘Oh! Where is Louie the ballerina going?’

It’s going to be boring if this happens. Chaner became impatient.

She was going to make fun of him to her heart’s content if she saw Louie kissing a man again.

‘My husband told me not to go anywhere, but…’

Chaner hesitated for a moment, but her feet were already chasing after Louie.

But Louie not only left the ballroom but was also grabbed by the scruff of the neck by rough-looking men and dragged somewhere.

“Oh… Oh! This shouldn’t be happening.”

Chaner kept looking around and stomping her feet.

No one thought the men looked like good people.

Chaner jumped up and down in place, pondered, and then slowly moved her steps toward where Louie was being dragged.

* * *

Allen slowly approached Salame.

Everyone was busy looking for the princess, but he sipped champagne and enjoyed his leisure.

“Mr. Roberto, how do you do?”

When he greeted first, Salame turned his head.

“Who are you?”

“I’m Allen McDowell.”

“Ah… !”

‘He was in cahoots with Tuazo.’

Allen McDowell was the person who was always mentioned while reinvestigating the Hamilton Trading Company case with the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Agency.

He was the fiancé of the dead Leia Hamilton and the person who took away their assets in one fell swoop.

Currently, he is investigating Leia Hamilton’s carriage accident, but he probably doesn’t know anything about it.

“Mr. McDowell, did you also participate in the selection?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t know if you’ve found the princess.”

Even while asking Allen unnecessary questions, Salame hoped that Louie would return soon.

Because today is too precious to be with a criminal suspect.

“I’ve been looking for a long time.”

“Did you find her?”

Salame was surprised and put down the champagne he was about to drink.

Salame felt goosebumps as he looked at Allen, who was staring at him. He had a bad feeling for some reason.

‘Salame, calm down.’

He took a sip of champagne leisurely and smiled brightly on purpose.

“Even if you find the princess, it’s useless if the other person refuses.”

“Refuse…? You have to make sure they can’t refuse.”

“Haha- I guess you have a great secret to captivate the princess.”

“If you hold my hand, you will become a princess in a fairy tale, but if you refuse, you will become a mentally ill person who commits strange things.”

“What do you mean?”

“Not only did she pretend to be a man and flirt with women, but she also enjoyed a lewd private life. Not only that, she is a perverted sexual orientation that does not discriminate between genders. If this fact is not refined and becomes known to the world, the honor of the Galdenia imperial family will go to the gutter.”

Salame looked around with a pale face.

Louie should come back soon. He was nowhere to be found.

“Mr. McDowell, I’ll be on my way. I hope you find the princess and succeed in the selection. I have to go to where the beautiful young ladies are.”

Salame spoke calmly to get away from Allen and immediately turned away from him.

“Where are you going, Princess?”

At Allen’s call, Salame froze in place as if his feet were stuck to the floor.

* * *

Luke was worried because he couldn’t find Chaner no matter how hard he looked. He thought she might have gone to Terun, but Chaner wasn’t there either.

“Luke, what’s wrong?”

Leia was surprised to see Luke’s hardened expression and asked.

“Chaner has disappeared.”

“What?”

Terun and Leia immediately set out to find Chaner with Luke.

The outside of the ballroom was right next to the canal, so he was worried that she might have fallen into the water.

“She doesn’t even know the geography here.”

Luke’s complexion turned black, and Terun patted him on the back.

Even though Chaner is like a child, she has a clever side, so she will definitely come back.

At that time, Salame also came running to Terun when he saw him, as if he was looking for Louie.

“Have you seen Louie?”

“Louie was with Mr. Roberto, wasn’t he? We’re looking for Chaner,” Leia answered worriedly.