Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 152

Revenge Has Interest 152

152. Revenge Isn’t Sweet (152/200)

December 30, 2023

Allen’s rampage caused a commotion in the hall that lasted for a long time.

“How can we allow such a person to live?”

“He should be executed immediately. How many people have suffered and died because of him?”

“To think they’d let a man who killed his own bride live, it’s absurd.”

Contrary to the people’s vehement reactions, Leia thought the punishment Allen received was justified.

She had worried he might be sentenced to death immediately, but she was relieved that the punishment would hold him accountable for his sins for a long time.

‘Being alive will be the same as being dead. Even if you try to die, you won’t be able to. No matter where you look, it will be the ocean. That’s right in front of the gates of hell. I hope you suffer terribly and die over the next 50 years, Allen.’

Leia closed her eyes and fell into thought.

She vividly recalled everything from her childhood when she first met Allen, to their love and marriage, and the moments when she writhed in hellish despair.

However, she still didn’t know why she didn’t feel completely satisfied even after taking her revenge. Her soul must have been so wounded that it couldn’t be healed easily.

‘I’ve finally taken down Allen McDowell.’

Leia looked at Terrence with a touched expression.

She could never have done it without him. She never imagined she would get her revenge this quickly.

She wanted to shower kisses on the back of his hand to express her gratitude. Instead, Leia took Terrence’s hand and gazed at him intently.

“There’s no one to torment Grace anymore.”

Terrence comforted her as if he knew everything.

“That’s right. It’s all thanks to Terrence’s help.”

She wanted to express her gratitude even if it felt vague. But Terrence only chuckled and didn’t say anything more.

He simply hoped that Leia would quickly escape from the wounds of her past.

Terrence quickly looked around. Because it was a major incident that occurred in Galdenia, reporters from all the newspapers had come to cover it.

They were busy writing their draft articles in their notebooks, and not a single one of them left their seat.

‘Now their pens will be aimed at the Emperor.’

Since the opportunity to dig into the scandal-ridden Imperial Family had come, even he would be curious.

Now, everyone’s attention was focused on Theresa.

Leia was also anxious about what Theresa would say to the people.

She had many aspects that were difficult for ordinary people to fathom.

Soon, Theresa rose from her seat.

As she moved, people’s gazes followed her intently. Theresa stood on the platform prepared in the courtroom.

“As Emperor, I feel a heavy responsibility after watching the previous trial. It is my fault that a proper investigation was not conducted to ensure that no innocent people were wronged at the time. From now on, the Ministry of Justice will be separated to guarantee its independence.”

The audience stirred at her words.

Separating the law meant that she would be relinquishing that much of the Emperor’s authority. The reporters were busy recording Theresa’s words.

Their interest was no longer in the Allen McDowell case, which had already been judged.

They were focused on the Emperor’s explanation of Princess Salamera Roberto’s identity and eccentric behavior, which were still the center of attention.

At that moment, a reporter asked Theresa a question.

“Your Majesty, you revealed your face with the newly attempted makeup, but why are you wearing a veil today?”

It was something everyone was curious about. Leia and Terrence were also waiting for Theresa’s answer with tension because they didn’t know the reason yet.

“Is there a problem with the cosmetics?”

“Or has there been a change of heart?”

“Are you shocked by the issue of Princess Salamera?”

“Why did the Imperial Family cause controversy in society with immoral and dissolute behavior?”

The reporters’ questions poured out. They were more interested in the Emperor attending the trial than in Allen’s case.

Theresa, who had been listening intently, raised her index finger to signal them to be quiet, and only then did the barrage of questions from the reporters stop.

“It is all my fault. So, I must make explanations and apologies.”

The noisy hall became quiet at Theresa’s words. Everyone waited.

How would their Emperor try to appease the angry public sentiment? At that moment, Theresa brought her hand to her veil.

“What is it?”

Even that small action made people restless.

Leia and Terrence were equally surprised. Was Theresa going to take off her veil in front of all these people?

But what they had only imagined became a reality. Theresa threw off her veil without hesitation.

Soon, Theresa’s scarred face was completely revealed to the people.

“Oh my God!”

“Is that what her face looks like without makeup?”

“No wonder she wears a veil.”

“Tsk, tsk, how did her face become like that?”

The people were shocked, and Leia was so surprised that she covered her mouth with her hand. She almost screamed.

“Ha! Your Majesty is really surprising people.”

Terrence also turned pale and looked at Theresa.

“This has been my long-standing pain and inferiority complex.”

Leia thought she knew the intention behind Theresa revealing her flaws to the world.

It must be because she no longer hated herself as she used to.

Flashes from cameras burst everywhere with a pop.

The reporters were desperate to take even one more picture of the Emperor’s bare face.

Yet, Theresa was not afraid or hiding her face. She was more confident than when she wore makeup.

“Princess Salamera clearly watched her mother’s pain from a young age. The scars of her mother, whom she considered the epitome of a woman, shook the young princess’s soul and made her make a big decision.”

The atmosphere of the people gradually became solemn at Theresa’s words.

“Even I don’t fully understand why that child made such a decision, but I cannot deny that I did not take good care of my daughter because I was struggling with my pain. Salamera thought that living as a woman hurt me, and from then on, she chose to live like a man.”

Sighs erupted from the audience.

For a young daughter to understand her face-lost mother through the eyes of a woman.

“She seemed to think that her beautiful growth would cause her mother a sense of loss and pain. As if there was a mother in the world who would be jealous of her daughter.”

Theresa’s voice sounded sad for the first time. At that moment, Leia responded loudly.

“She wanted to understand her mother and share her sadness.”

Leia thought it was amazing that young Salamera had made such a decision.

“Because she was still a young woman, even though she was a mother. Wasn’t it that the princess wanted to share the pain of her mother, who was carrying an unbearable wound?”

“The princess said so too. That’s why she pretended to be a man on purpose. But Salamera said that she had never been corrupted even once. She confessed that she had just been acting so that people would forget the princess’s existence and believe she was just a man of the Imperial Family… Whatever the reason, it is undeniable that she caused confusion in society and deceived the people of the Empire, so I apologize on her behalf.”

Theresa’s voice was sincere.

Leia pondered how to end the criticism towards Salamera. She rose from her seat and turned to face the audience.

“If you have confirmed Her Majesty’s pain, please stop tearing the princess apart any longer. If you felt the daughter’s sadness towards her mother, please don’t just criticize her, but try to understand the princess from now on.”

Leia knew that her words would not be of great help.

But she wanted to let people know that there were people who understood the princess.

That way, public opinion would not be biased to one side.

Now that they knew why that person had no choice but to do so, they needed to seriously consider the other person as well.

Terrence took Leia’s hand. Furthermore, he deeply realized the importance of family.

Theresa had a daughter who understood her, so she was able to muster the courage to shake off her fears and take off her veil.

‘Terrence, I want to build our family too. But that’s not too greedy, is it? There’s nothing more valuable than that.’

Leia hoped that her intentions would be conveyed to Terrence, who was holding her hand tightly.

* * *

A few days later, Sarah voluntarily surrendered to the police station. She insisted on paying for her crimes in conspiracy with Allen and would not budge.

Sarah had to go through several trials, and Terrence provided her with a competent lawyer.

“What will happen to Sarah? Will she serve a prison sentence?”

“She pulled out early and submitted critical evidence, so I don’t think she’ll get a prison sentence.”

“I hope so.”

When her father was released, he needed someone to replace her.

She would only feel relieved if that person was Sarah. More than anything, she had to allow Sarah to atone to her father.

“When will Richard Hamilton be released?”

“It won’t be long.”

“That’s a relief.”

She was excited and hurt at the thought of being able to meet her father.

The Leia Hamilton he missed was dead, and all that was left was a grave.

However, she couldn’t appear before him right away.

Terrence still didn’t know that Leia’s soul was inside Grace’s body. If she were to decide the order in which to tell the truth, she should tell Terrence first.

“We’ve already arrived at the palace.”

“That’s right.”

Leia came to the palace with Terrence to say goodbye to Theresa. She had to meet her once before leaving Galdenia.

Above all, Leia had things left to resolve with Theresa.

But before Leia and Terrence met Theresa at the palace, they witnessed an incredible sight.

Salamera and Louis were holding hands and taking a walk.

“Is that Lord Roberto wearing a dress?”

“I think so.”

Salamera’s appearance had changed so much that they almost didn’t recognize her.

Her hair was also so long that it was hard to believe she was a man now.

“Duke, Young Lady!”

Louis recognized Leia and Terrence first.