Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 148

Revenge Has Its Interest 148

148. It Doesn’t Matter If It’s a Man or a Woman

2023.12.26.

As Terrun predicted, the Brassel Daily broke the exclusive story.

Leia was speechless as she read the article with Terrun.

The article, filled with sensational language, painted Salame as utterly depraved.

“It must be an article Allen instigated,” Leia said.

Leia didn’t believe the article. It was true that Salame pretended to be a man, but she wasn’t dissolute or corrupt.

‘Who is the corrupt one!’

“I even knew that the Princess gave up being a woman because she was so shocked to see Empress Theresa suffering from smallpox.”

‘Did I want to know the secret history of another country’s imperial family?’ Emperor Caldo also participated in the war with Wales at the time.

I had many conversations with him while ambushing together during the battle, and I unintentionally heard about Theresa’s tragic family history, who was Vivian’s cousin.

I knew the secret, but I didn’t care much because it wasn’t my concern, and I didn’t tell anyone.

But now the whole world knows.

Leia felt like she understood why Salame made such a decision after hearing Terrun’s words.

Of course, everything would become clear only after hearing directly from the person involved. It wasn’t right to interpret it arbitrarily in any way.

Just then, James came to see Terrun.

“Duke, Marquis Valliere and his wife have arrived.”

“Seeing them come so early, Louis must be fine.”

“Where is he now?”

“They are at the hotel cafe.”

“James, prepare to return to Lubeck. I’ll leave as soon as I finish my business with the Marquis.”

“Yes, Duke.”

Terrun prepared to meet the Marquis. Leia tied his tie and carefully brought up the topic.

“Can’t I come with you?”

“Why, do you think I’m going to get grabbed by the collar by the Marquis?”

“I can’t say you’re wrong.”

They must have come after seeing the newspaper. In addition, they must have heard something separately from Louis. They must have come to question, confirm, and put an end to it.

Terrun headed to the hotel cafe with Leia.

As expected, the Marquis and his wife greeted them with strained faces.

They exchanged greetings politely, but the tension was palpable from the start.

“Duke Courtois, I have one question. What is the real reason you had our Louis participate in the selection of the Emperor’s Consort?”

“You know the real reason, don’t you? I recommended Louis because he was perfect as the Princess’s husband.”

“Did you know the Princess’s identity in advance?”

The Marquis’s wife slammed the newspaper on the table, her anger evident.

She questioned whether the Duke had used Louis for his personal advancement.

“Advancement? As the first nobleman of Lubeck, the only place I can go higher is the throne. What would I gain by using a youngster like Louis? You’re exaggerating.”

“Our Louis’s reputation has plummeted because of you, Duke. He was involved in an unfortunate incident yesterday, and rumors are already spreading in society.”

The Marquis’s wife resented Terrun.

When they returned to Lubeck, it was obvious that Louis would become a groom that the aristocratic society would avoid. He was played by a crazy princess.

“Hmm, Louis’s biggest problem is his parents,” Leia interjected.

Leia, who couldn’t stand it any longer, took a sip of coffee and gave the couple a sharp remark.

“That’s too much, Young Lady.”

“It’s true that the Duke recommended Louis to be the Emperor’s Consort, but it was Louis’s will to make the final decision and to get close to Sir Roberto. And I think you two are acting very rashly right now.”

Without even knowing the inside story of Louis and Salame.

Why don’t they know that they need an excuse to make to the nobles when they return to Lubeck, so they deliberately came to make trouble?

“Anyway, we will no longer entrust Louis to you, Duke.”

The Marquis stood up and declared.

“Tell Louis to quit my secretary position. Tell him to come and express his resignation in person.”

As Terrun answered leisurely while drinking coffee, the Marquis and his wife turned red and stormed out.

“It’s certain that Louis and Roberto, no, the Princess’s reputation has been tarnished because of the newspaper article.”

Leia was even angrier because she knew Allen’s intentions.

He must have thought that if he couldn’t become the Emperor’s Consort, he would overturn the game.

“He has no fear. Or is it that he’s desperate because he’s cornered?”

Terrun said in a bitter tone.

“Are you talking about the Marquis couple?”

“No, what fault do they have? It’s natural to react sensitively to their child’s affairs. I’m talking about Allen McDowell. The news must have reached Empress Theresa’s ears by now.”

“News?”

“Arthur will step in from now on. The Princess has also been reinvestigating the Arthur and Hamilton Trading Company case for some time. They’ve also secured Tuazo’s testimony, I heard. And his secretary has been caught…….”

Leia’s heart beat rapidly. Has the time finally come to punish Allen?

Leia felt a thrill all over her body. She had to watch Allen collapse.

“Sarah will have evidence about the Hamilton Trading Company.”

“That would be helpful too. But let’s trust Empress Theresa and wait. You’ll soon find out how scary she is. We won’t be able to do anything to Allen right now.”

For Theresa, regaining her daughter’s tarnished reputation and lost happiness would be more urgent than Allen’s case.

It’s true that Salame deliberately approached many women to look like a man.

She did that to Leia too.

To overturn the article, there would need to be a reasonable basis. That’s how the twisted situation can be corrected.

‘I need to prepare when I return to the Duke’s residence.’

Leia knew that Allen’s downfall was near, so she was planning to consult with Sarah and sort out the evidence.

‘You’re going to go to Reef Island, Allen McDowell.’

Her heart pounded wildly.

* * *

The carriage carrying Marquis Valliere and his wife and Louis left Bellucia and headed for Lubeck.

Fortunately, Louis regained consciousness as soon as he arrived at the hospital yesterday, and now only scars remained on his face.

However, Louis was very angry when he heard that his parents had visited Terrun.

[Why did you handle it unilaterally without asking for my opinion?]

[Why is it unilateral for parents to step in on their child’s affairs? You are the only son of the Valliere family. I will not tolerate anyone treating you carelessly.]

Louis was sick and tired of his parents’ overprotection.

Becoming Terrun’s secretary was his own struggle to escape his parents’ control.

But they didn’t give him even a shred of decision-making power. He hated the arrogance of handling his life as they pleased under the guise of doing it for his child’s sake.

[Just stay put when you get home. We’ll take care of everything.]

The Marquis urged his son. But Louis was heartbroken that he couldn’t meet Salame. She desperately saved him from drowning.

[I, I have something I want to say to Louis.]

Salame was desperate even though she was in a hazy state of consciousness.

It was ambiguous whether it was a dream or reality, but it seemed like she had received a confession from him.

[I like Louis too. Let’s be together in the future.]

Just as he was about to say yes, he unfortunately lost consciousness and couldn’t answer properly.

‘Salame must be waiting for me.’

Louis clutched the newspaper his mother had handed him.

He was surprised when he first saw the article, but he vowed not to believe anything or have any doubts until he heard directly from Salame.

The Salame he experienced had many secrets, but she wasn’t dissolute or engaged in bizarre behavior.

Even when they played billiards for a bet and she wore women’s clothes as a punishment, he rather encouraged her, but Salame was very reluctant.

‘I was surprised because she was so lovely.’

He was so surprised when she came out of the dressing room wearing a dress and acting awkwardly. At the time, he even regretted that Salame wasn’t a woman.

‘It doesn’t matter if it’s a man or a woman. It’s okay as long as it’s Salame.’

First, he had to return to Lubeck and find a way. Communication wouldn’t work with his parents, so the conflict would only escalate.

Louis stared out the window. He felt heartbroken as if he had left only Salame in Bellucia. At that time, the well-running carriage suddenly stopped.

“What’s going on?”

The Marquis was surprised and shouted at the coachman and eventually went out of the carriage.

He wondered what was going on, but an army waving the flag of Galdenia was blocking the road in front of the carriage.

And at the forefront was Empress Theresa riding a black horse.

“Is that Marquis Valliere?”

Theresa’s atmosphere was quite different from the night of the ball. She was wearing a uniform and had a sword and gun on her waist.

“What brings the Emperor of Galdenia here?”

“I’ve come to take my son-in-law.”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

“I mean I’ve chosen your son as my son-in-law.”

“Haha- Your Majesty is good at joking……!”

“Do you think I’m joking?”

When Theresa became stern, the Marquis shut his mouth.

He knew too well that it wasn’t a joke, so he was just trying to avoid it.

He heard that Empress Theresa was as generous as a man, but he didn’t know she would lead an army and chase after him like this.

“We were on our way back to Lubeck.”

The Marquis pretended not to know and acted suspiciously. If he went against the Emperor’s will, he would lose Louis as he was.

“Leave my son-in-law and go.”

She was a woman who didn’t understand words anyway. No matter how much of an Emperor she was, there was a limit to ignoring other people’s opinions.

“We have no intention of accepting the selection, Your Majesty.”

“Accept it now.”

“Yes?”

“Because I don’t want to see innocent blood.”

He didn’t know that Empress Theresa was someone who could threaten to kill people so casually.