Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 154

Revenge Has Its Interest 154

154. Love Can Be Cruel Sometimes

2024.01.01.

Leah, with Yena’s help, dedicated herself to trying to conceive. She focused on a healthy lifestyle, eating nutritious food and exercising regularly.

However, even as Vivian gave birth to her twins, Leah hadn’t experienced a pregnancy.

The year turned, and she celebrated her twenty-second birthday. Her wedding with Terrence was drawing near, but it seemed she wouldn’t be able to give him the child he desired.

“Miss, please have some fruit.”

Leah closed the diary she had been writing in. Yena faithfully brought her seasonal fruit every day.

Initially, they had both been enthusiastic, but as the year progressed, their hope dwindled, though neither admitted it openly.

To be precise, Leah’s disappointment was more profound.

“Thank you, Yena.”

Leah took a bite of the fruit Yena offered, her gaze drifting to the window. It seemed the time for a decision had come.

“Yena, it’s time for you to return to Galdensia.”

“Yes? But Miss is still…!”

“It won’t be easy, and I don’t know when it will happen. Honestly, I feel guilty keeping you here for so long. I heard the Crown Princess is pregnant?”

“Yes, that… that’s true, but…”

“Sarah will be back soon. So don’t worry.”

Leah knew that Yena had done everything she could for her.

There was no more effort or devotion Yena could offer. It was right to allow her to assist someone with a more pressing need.

“Then, if you ever need my help, please call me.”

“I will.”

Yena felt for Leah but didn’t know how to console her.

Leah’s physical health had improved significantly, and she was on excellent terms with Terrence… wasn’t she? Every business Leah started flourished, and she seemed to lack nothing.

If only she could be blessed with a child.

“Because you wish so earnestly, it will surely come true. So don’t give up, Miss.”

“I won’t.”

Leah’s voice was subdued. She wrote in her diary every day, almost as a form of prayer.

Rather than simply wishing for a child, she took concrete steps. Writing in her diary allowed her to express the depth of her desire.

But was it just a wish? The blessing of pregnancy remained elusive.

“Still, you have the Duke, Miss.”

Yena tried to comfort Leah, reminding her of the man who loved and cherished her. Finding such a devoted man was rare.

“I think I’m lucky.”

“Since you both cherish and love each other, you will see results, even if it’s a little late.”

“Thank you for your kind words, Yena.”

Was this God’s way of telling her not to be greedy?

‘I promised Grace.’

She was making excuses for herself, but her desire was overwhelming.

Leah considered visiting a hospital for a checkup.

Since she had been pregnant once before, she had hoped it would happen naturally without medical intervention.

But now, she decided to stop clinging to false hope. If it wasn’t meant to be, she needed to accept it quickly to minimize the pain.

* * *

A few days later, Yena departed for Galdensia Palace.

Terrence was reluctant but understood that he couldn’t insist she stay, given the Crown Princess’s pregnancy.

Leah saw Terrence and Yena off and returned with Terrence.

As always, the two walked affectionately, holding hands.

Leah glanced at Terrence’s face.

‘Terrence, are you truly happy, lacking nothing?’

There was no hint of regret or sadness on his face.

‘It seems I’m the only one who’s impatient.’

She felt weary and burdened by this unfulfilled desire.

Some might criticize her for being ungrateful.

Even though she had a perfect fiancé and a successful business, they might accuse her of insatiable greed.

But was it too much to wish to marry the person she loved and have children with him?

Leah asked herself this question countless times each day.

“Now we should have the ceremony.”

“Yes, we should.”

Terrence sighed, noticing the expression on Leah’s face as she turned her head. He knew all too well the reason for her low spirits.

“Grace is only twenty-two years old. We have plenty of time.”

“I know.”

Leah replied with a forced smile. Terrence put his arm around Leah’s shoulder and met her gaze.

“Grace, you are the most precious thing in the world to me.”

‘There he goes again.’

“I know. Terrence is precious to me too.”

Terrence was also disheartened by Leah’s somber response.

It was because she couldn’t have the child she so desperately wanted because of him.

But no matter how much he pondered it, his answer remained the same.

Even if he had to endure Leah’s resentment for the rest of his life, he couldn’t risk her life.

“I should order Grace’s wedding dress from Chenelle. With a design that no one has ever worn before. His Majesty and the Empress will hold it grandly in the palace….”

He tried to lighten the mood with an overly enthusiastic tone.

“Chenelle will want to make it herself.”

Leah smiled awkwardly, trying to match his enthusiasm.

In that moment, a doubt surfaced. They say that love can sustain you when you’re young, but as you grow older, passionate love fades.

That doesn’t mean the love disappears.

It simply means that the way you express love changes. There will inevitably be a void that only the two of them cannot fill.

Leah stopped and leaned her face against Terrence’s chest.

‘You are more precious to me than my own life, so I want to do anything for you. But I haven’t done anything yet.’

She had received so much from him, but she couldn’t think of anything she had given him in return.

* * *

Leah headed to the Imperial Palace with Terrence and Chenelle to visit Vivian.

As Chenelle had predicted, Vivian had given birth to twins, and the Imperial Palace was filled with celebration.

The Emperor’s joy was immense because two healthy princes had been born at once.

“Your Majesty, this is a small token of our appreciation.”

Leah and Chenelle had made baby supplies as gifts.

Vivian seemed genuinely pleased, making Leah and Terrence feel gratified.

Then Leah realized that one of the gifts made by Sonia was missing.

“Oh my! There’s also something Sonia and Adolf made, but I think I left it in the carriage. I’ll go get it.”

“Grace, I’ll go get it. You talk with Her Majesty.”

Terrence quickly offered, but Leah shook her head.

“No. I need to check and bring it myself. It’s the ceremonial dress for our princes’ hundredth day.”

“Oh my! The hundredth-day ceremonial dress?”

Vivian was excited just hearing about it.

“Chenelle and I will go slowly.”

“Where is the carriage?”

“Fortunately, it’s in front of the main building. It won’t take long.”

“Then, go and come back.”

“Your Majesty, Uncle, I’ll go with Unnie [older sister/term of endearment].”

Chenelle followed Leah.

Leah held Chenelle’s hand and hummed as they walked toward the carriage.

When she informed the servant in front of the main building, the carriage was promptly prepared, and Chenelle eagerly retrieved Sonia’s gift.

“Here, Unnie. I found it.”

“Okay.”

How delighted would Vivian be to see the princes’ ceremonial dress?

It was completely different from the white baby clothes Chenelle had made, so the reaction would be even more enthusiastic.

Soon, they arrived in front of the drawing-room where the Empress was, and as she was about to enter, she noticed the door was slightly ajar.

At that moment, she overheard Terrence and Vivian’s voices.

She could have simply walked past, but when Vivian mentioned her name, Leah stopped without thinking.

Leah raised a finger to her lips, signaling Chenelle to be quiet.

It would be polite to enter after their conversation had concluded to some extent. But then she heard something unexpected.

“Terrence, are you making sure she takes the medicine I gave you?”

“I’m giving it to her every day without fail.”

“If the Young Lady [Leah] wasn’t so weak, I wouldn’t want to do this. But if she were to give birth, she would bleed excessively. I had no choice because she could lose her life.”

“I understand Vivian’s good intentions. I’m grateful. Grace is more precious than any child. But what happens if she stops taking the medicine?”

“It’s been quite a while since she started taking the medicine, so even if she stops taking it now, she won’t get pregnant easily. It’s a new drug, so the effect is very strong and lasts a long time.”

At Vivian’s words, Leah covered her mouth with her hand. She also covered Chenelle’s mouth with her other hand.

“Does that mean she can’t have children?”

“I’m not sure. But the possibility of pregnancy decreases.”

Leah heard Vivian’s words as if they were thunderclaps.

She unknowingly took a step back. No, she took Chenelle and walked around the hallway for a while.

“Chenelle, we didn’t hear anything, okay?”

“Keep my mouth shut? Pretend I don’t know anything?”

“Can you do that?”

“Yes.”

Leah barely managed to say to Chenelle. She was so shocked that her voice was barely audible.

‘Me and Yena have been wasting our time until now.’

The reality was different, but it was like covering your eyes and trying to deceive yourself.

A cold chill ran down Leah’s spine, and her heart felt as if it were burning.

When she had first learned about the medicine, she could understand Terrence and Vivian’s actions.

It was because they believed they had no choice but to protect her fragile health.

But now, she found it difficult to be so understanding.

‘To make me infertile.’

To render her body infertile. No matter the reason, they should have allowed her to make the final decision herself.

For the first time, Leah felt that the two were cruel.

No matter how much you love and cherish someone, you don’t have the right to make such a decision without their consent.

“Unnie, can’t you have a baby?”

Chenelle turned pale and asked Leah. She might not have fully understood Vivian and Terrence’s words, but she seemed to grasp the essence of the situation.

“I… guess so.”

Leah’s voice trembled. She felt a sense of doubt about her love with Terrence due to the shock.

She didn’t know how she could face those two in the future.

It seemed impossible to act as if nothing had happened.

Chenelle hugged Leah, who was trembling like an aspen leaf.

“I’m here.”

At Chenelle’s words, Leah burst into tears. Love is sometimes so cruel.