Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 156

Revenge Bears Interest 156
156. A Short Trip

2024.01.03.

Leah spent several days living as usual.

She visited Chae-ner’s workshop, Sonya’s boutique, Rapa’s general store, and finally, the newly opened cosmetics research lab.

“Who is managing the lab?”

Terrence asked with a puzzled expression.

Oliver is busy with school these days, and you can’t entrust a management position to a child.

“Alicia introduced someone. A pharmacist who used to work in the Galdenia Imperial Palace pharmacy. She seemed responsible and diligent.”

“I’m glad everyone is doing their job well.”

Leah was relieved by his smile.

She had been working to ensure that the businesses she had started could run smoothly even in her absence.

If urgent matters arose, she arranged for employees to report to Pauline, who would then contact the Hamilton Merchant Guild’s lawyer to handle the issues.

“Good job, Grace can’t manage everything herself.”

“As long as the employees do their jobs well, there shouldn’t be any major problems.”

Among other things, Leah paid special attention to reassuring Terrence.

Because this afternoon, she had to board a cruise ship to Lomerica.

Sarah had already made all the preparations, and today was the opportunity.

Today was the day Terrence attended the monthly meeting at the Imperial Palace in the afternoon.

‘It’s a perfect day for a trip.’

“I wish we could have days as peaceful as these all the time.”

“Me too.”

It wasn’t about running away from Terrence. It was just that she wasn’t traveling with him.

Since she would be returning to Terrence after the trip, she decided not to feel sorry.

Compared to what Terrence had done to her, this was nothing.

Just then, a carriage arrived for Terrence. Luke had come to take Terrence to the palace.

“Should I take you to the Duke’s residence?”

“Aren’t you supposed to go to the palace?”

“What’s a little delay?”

Terrence was sad to part with Leah so soon on such a beautiful day.

“No, I’m going to a dessert cafe with Sarah. I’m going to buy some snacks before returning to the Duke’s residence.”

“Then I have no choice.”

Leah approached Terrence and straightened his slightly loosened tie.

“Don’t worry about me. I always come back to your side.”

“That’s right. You can’t go anywhere without my permission.”

He said jokingly.

But Leah knew that if Terrence found out about the incident that would happen tonight, it wouldn’t end as a joke, so she didn’t show any sign.

She lived as usual, making sure he didn’t suspect anything even in his dreams.

“I’ll be back. See you at home in the evening.”

“Yes.”

The moment she said goodbye to him, Leah felt choked up.

She had been so calm until now, but when she was about to part with him, her heart felt heavy. But that was it.

Even on the day she decided to leave for the trip, if she felt like forgiving Terrence, she would cancel the schedule.

But even as she greeted him, she felt a piercing pain in her heart.

She desperately hoped she would be okay, but it seemed that the wound would not heal easily.

Leah moved only after watching Terrence disappear in the carriage.

If she went to the dessert cafe now, Sarah would be waiting for her.

“Stay healthy and well. I’ll have a good trip too.”

She couldn’t say it in front of Terrence, so she said goodbye while watching the carriage drive away.

* * *

Terrence was in a good mood because Leah looked particularly pretty today.

She looked happy and didn’t seem to be in pain, so he wished every day could be like today.

But Luke, who was sitting across from him, didn’t seem to be in a good mood.

“Did you fight with Chae-ner?”

“Yes…? It’s nothing like that.”

“You don’t look good.”

Since getting married, Luke had always been saying how happy he was.

“Chae-ner was nagging from the morning, so I scolded her. I feel a little bad.”

“Why scold your wife? You should respect her.”

“She said strange things. When Chae-ner whines like a child, the Young Lady [Leah], Pauline, and even James indulge her, so it has become a habit.”

Terrence tilted his head. If Luke scolded Chae-ner, it must have been a big deal.

No, Chae-ner sometimes says strange things. Still, he was curious about what she had said.

“She said the Young Lady doesn’t play with her and only likes Sarah. She was suddenly jealous.”

“What else?”

It wasn’t the first or second time Chae-ner had done that.

When Pauline was dating Tom, she used to monitor their every move every day.

Or she would eavesdrop with her ear to Pauline’s door.

“It’s moved from Pauline to Grace.”

“That’s what I’m saying. Besides, she was saying that the Young Lady is going on a trip far away with only Sarah today… She was so stubborn that she wouldn’t even go to the workshop.”

“Hahaha- It’s not far, just going to a dessert cafe, what’s the big deal.”

Chae-ner’s jealousy was already well known to the people of the Duke’s residence.

If she sees a delicious cake in the evening, her sulky heart will soon be relieved.

“How is she going to have and raise children later when she’s so childish?”

Terrence’s face stiffened at Luke’s sigh.

He hadn’t expected Chae-ner and Luke to have children already. What’s more, Pauline and Tom are married, so news of children will be coming soon.

‘I’m worried about Grace.’

She is a woman who is happier and congratulates more than anyone else when good things happen to her people, but she must be very envious.

Soon Terrence shook his head roughly.

‘I can’t put Grace in danger because of my desire for children.’

When she had a miscarriage, Vivian said that she might have died from excessive bleeding if she had been a little late.

Not to mention childbirth, how difficult would it be?

It was impossible for his weak and fragile fiancée.

Terrence tried to shake off his thoughts and rummaged through the documents. He had to review the contents before the monthly meeting.

* * *

Leah and Sarah boarded a cruise ship departing for Lomerica at five in the evening.

The people who came to see them off waved their hands, and those who were leaving were in a frenzy of tears.

So many people are taking the ship to the New World. Tomorrow, just as many people will return to Lubeck from the New World.

At that time, the port will be crowded with people who have come to pick them up.

Leah was a little worried about the ship trip. But she heard that if you travel in a first-class cabin, the trip won’t be difficult.

“I had a hard time packing lightly.”

Sarah said as she unpacked her luggage in the cabin.

“We can buy what we need there.”

“Still, women have a lot of things to pack when they leave the house.”

Sarah deliberately raised her tone as if she was excited.

From the beginning, she had agreed with Leah.

That they were not running away from Lubeck, but just taking a trip.

Once she made up her mind, she felt less guilty. Rather, she was excited to see the luxury cruise ship.

“There are parties every night.”

“Really?”

“There are shows and casinos…”

“Sarah, did you bring your party dress?”

“Of course. I can’t bring anything else, but I cherish my evening dress like my life.”

The two chatted as if they were going on a pleasant trip.

Until the cruise ship departed, they never mentioned anything about the Duke’s residence.

They would be able to talk comfortably when they were in the middle of the sea. Until then, they decided not to look out the window.

Finally, the cruise ship picked up speed and sailed through the sea.

When Lebon Port was no longer visible, she finally realized that she had run away—no, left Terrence’s side.

‘Don’t get angry, don’t search for me, stay healthy and well.’

Leah had left a letter on the bedside table. If she disappeared without saying anything, he would worry.

Then suddenly, one thing came to her mind.

“Oh my! I didn’t bring my diary. I have to write a travelogue…”

“You said we can buy what we need there. There’s a general store on the cruise ship that sells writing supplies.”

“Yes, um, how about the title ‘Lomerica Cruise’?”

“Sounds good?”

Leah and Sarah laughed excessively on purpose to shake off the tension.

But Leah wasn’t completely at ease.

‘Terrence shouldn’t see my diary.’

It was full of the anger, resentment, sorrow, and sadness she felt.

She hoped that Terrence wouldn’t be hurt by seeing it.

It was just a tool to relieve her emotions, not a record left to blame him.

‘Please, don’t look at that.’

The diary was just a tool to express her emotions.

She knew that the absence of her existence was a harsh punishment for Terrence.

But she didn’t want him to blame himself for reading her diary.

‘Is there anything more contradictory than human emotions?’

A strange wish to punish Terrence but not want him to be too hurt.

* * *

Terrence felt a strange feeling when he returned to the Duke’s residence. His spine tingled even before he set foot in the main building.

Sure enough, as he got out of the carriage, Chae-ner’s wails echoed in the lobby. Luke rushed to his wife at the speed of light, and Terrence felt uneasy for no reason.

“Chae-ner, why are you crying?”

“Grace and Sarah left. They didn’t take me with them.”

Terrence’s gaze turned to James, wondering what he was talking about, and he realized that something had happened from his stiff face.

“What’s going on, James?”

“All we know is that the Young Lady and Sarah have not returned home as of this moment.”

“It’s because of you that the Young Lady left.”

Chae-ner suddenly yelled at Terrence. Pauline, who couldn’t stand it, approached Terrence.

“She’s been repeating that it’s because of you all day.”

“Because of me?”

“She said that you gave the Empress and Grace a strange medicine to prevent them from having children.”

Terrence was speechless and stunned at Pauline’s words.

How did she know that? There’s no way Leah would know… Besides, she had never shown it to me.