Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 175

Revenge Comes with Interest 175

175. Hope Can Be Found Even in Despair

2024.01.22.

Lea’s sobs echoed in the carriage as they returned to the Duke’s residence.

Despite her best efforts to stifle them, the image of her father’s retreating figure haunted her, causing waves of emotion to surge within her.

All Terrence could do was hold Lea in his arms and comfort her, unable to offer any words.

He couldn’t bring himself to ask why she hadn’t revealed the truth.

It must have been difficult for a man who had abandoned his entire past to start a new life to speak so easily. Even he wouldn’t be able to do that.

“Grace, there is a right time for everything.”

Lea was too busy crying to respond to him immediately.

“Only after some despair has been managed can something be accepted.”

“I feel the same way as Terrence.”

Even with her father right before her eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to speak.

She could see too clearly the door to her father’s heart, firmly locked with chains.

“I think it’s fortunate that Mr. Hamilton has a new family. That will be his will to live and his hope.”

“That’s right.”

“So, don’t be impatient. Once the wounds in his heart have healed, he will accept your words without question.”

Terrence was certain that after every difficult ordeal in the world, a period of gradual forgetting would come.

Richard might now be disgusted with Galdenia, but there would come a time when he would miss it.

“I’m so glad you’re by my side, Terrence.”

Clear tears streamed down Lea’s cheeks. Terrence wiped away her tears with his finger, as if catching dewdrops.

“That’s what I want to say. I’m lucky to have you by my side.”

“I’m being such a child, aren’t I? Just crying.”

“No, you were too mature. That’s why you knew how to keep it buried in your heart.”

“Still, I was happy. To be able to see my father. And……”

“And?”

Terrence was curious about Lea’s other feelings.

“If I only tell the truth to my father, then Aiden will lose his sister.”

“That’s a stretch.”

“It’s not.”

If she didn’t say anything, Aiden would have no way of knowing, but she knew too well the guilt that Terrence couldn’t let go of, so she didn’t want to carry the same burden.

“I’m going to live as Grace Courtois. That’s the right thing to do.”

“Yes, if you live like that, the right time will come.”

Only then did Lea stop crying. Then she remembered the little girl who had called Richard ‘Dad.’

How similar she was to her younger self. She couldn’t forget the look in her father’s eyes as he looked at the child and his wife.

‘I’m living a new life as Grace too. Father will do well too.’

Lea decided to slowly let go of her sad and heavy heart.

Because as Terrence said, the time might come someday. Until then, she wanted to live diligently.

But when she returned to the Duke’s residence, Sarah was not there. James said she had gone out early, but her whereabouts were unknown.

‘Sarah must have been upset too.’

Because she was living with a guilty conscience towards her father more than anyone else.

When she came back, she would tell her not to have a hard time anymore. But Sarah didn’t return until almost midnight, so she couldn’t meet her.

“Where’s Terrence?”

Lea asked as she came out of the bath, but he was nowhere to be seen.

“He’s in the young lady and young master’s room.”

A smile bloomed on Lea’s face as if she had never cried.

Terrence had a habit of always visiting the children’s room to check on them when he returned from going out. Sometimes he would fall asleep with the children and not return to the bedroom until dawn.

“James, I never knew Terrence would be such an affectionate father.”

“I expected it.”

“Really?”

“Because I’ve never seen such pretty babies.”

“Oh! James is wearing rose-colored glasses too.”

Lea laughed loudly. Then she suddenly remembered herself crying sadly in the carriage.

People were amazing beings. They could cry as if the world was ending and then laugh at other things like this.

She also realized that she could endure pain because she had a family. Her young children, her husband, and the people in her company were a great source of strength.

“Last time, I saw a different side of our Duke, you know?”

Lea turned her head at James’s words.

“A different side?”

“I went to the palace with the Duke. But the Duke and His Majesty, well……”

She could imagine the rest without him saying it. Both men were fathers of twins, so they must have been busy bragging about their children. The age gap wasn’t that big, so there must have been even more competition.

Besides, Terrence had a strong competitive spirit, so he would never try to lose. Talking with James like this made her sad heart disappear.

“I was feeling down today, but you cheered me up, James.”

“Really? But why were you feeling down?”

“Just because.”

It wasn’t complete despair. When she thought about it calmly, both her father and she were alive and well, so there was no reason to cry.

“I’m happy.”

Then suddenly, Lea knew what to say when she met Richard again in the future.

‘I will definitely tell Father that I am happy.’

* * *

Sarah lingered at the Lebon Hotel late at night. She had to meet Richard before he left for Lomerica [a fictional country].

She guessed that Lea wouldn’t have said a word to Richard about her identity.

‘If we part like this, I don’t know when we’ll meet again.’

That feeling grew so strong that she came all the way to the hotel, but she didn’t have the courage to meet Richard.

Because she wasn’t sure if it was right for her to step in.

She was confused as to whether she was just adding to his confusion. Then she met Richard in the lobby.

“Master!”

“Sarah.”

Only after seeing the little girl in Richard’s arms did Sarah come to her senses. That wasn’t all. Richard also had a wife.

“I came to say goodbye because I heard you were leaving soon.”

“I see, thank you.”

Richard handed the child to his wife and took Sarah to the cafe.

He had sent him several letters apologizing for the misdeeds he had committed in the past, so there was no need to talk about it again.

The important thing was whether or not to tell Richard that Lea was alive.

But unexpectedly, Richard spoke about Grace first.

“Sarah, did you tell the Duchess about the general store?”

“What are you talking about the general store?”

When Sarah asked back, Richard seemed surprised and then stopped talking.

“No. It’s something anyone could guess.”

Richard gave a self-deprecating laugh.

“Master, I have something to tell you.”

“What is it that makes your face so pale?”

Richard asked worriedly at Sarah’s pale face.

“Actually, you know, Miss Lea……actually.”

“Yes?”

“Actually, Miss Lea is in this world……”

“Are you saying she didn’t die and is alive?”

“!?”

When Sarah was too surprised to say anything, Richard, who had been looking serious, finally laughed.

“It’s an impossible dream, but it’s nice to even imagine it. I think I know enough about your heart to comfort me. But you don’t have to try anymore.”

“Yes?”

“I’m fine. I’m sorry to the dead Lea, but I have a family to take care of. So you don’t have to worry about me anymore.”

Sarah had nothing more to say. No, her will disappeared.

Somehow, it felt like Richard was drawing a firm line with her. She felt that he didn’t want her to be conflicted about Lea’s affairs anymore.

“I understand, Master.”

Sarah quickly said goodbye and got up from her seat.

* * *

As Richard said, the vacant lot at Lebon Station was transferred to Courtois’s name. Lea headed to the vacant lot with Terrence.

“We’re going to build a bridge connecting to Lebon Station here so that people can come to the department store.”

Lea excitedly walked around the vacant lot.

“Grace, you have to get permission from the Imperial Family first.”

“Ah, my husband will take care of getting it.”

Lea winked at Terrence and joked.

“Freebies aren’t allowed. You have to give me proper compensation to make me want to work.”

“Should I give you twins again?”

“What?”

Terrence feigned anger. Then Lea laughed, enjoying his reaction.

“What’s the name of the department store?”

“How about ‘Fantasia’?”

“Good. Fantasia for women—it’s the perfect name.”

Terrence smiled as if he had never been angry.

Lea couldn’t help but come over and hug his waist.

No man would refuse when his wife knew how he was feeling and clung to him.

“We have to get permission from His Majesty at our children’s 100th day party this time.”

“We have to. I’m going to emphasize that our Lubeck is the first department store to be built on the continent.”

“Then our competitive Empress will not be able to stand not allowing it.”

“That’s right.”

“Oh! Emperor Teresa is also coming to this party.”

Terrence and Lea were suddenly embarrassed. Something unexpected had happened before.

After Teresa’s face improved with makeup, each media outlet created Teresa and Vivian as rivals and published articles comparing everything.

They knew it was a trick to increase newspaper sales, but people helplessly fell for the vulgar trick.

“Terrence, be as careful as possible……!”

Just as Lea was saying this, Terrence’s gaze turned elsewhere. Soon Lea also followed where his gaze was going.

‘Why is Father……? He said he was leaving right away.’

Lea and Terrence were speechless at Richard’s appearance. According to plan, he should have already been on a cruise ship to Lomerica.

But they didn’t know why he was in front of them. Richard politely greeted the two of them first.

“Aren’t you leaving for Lomerica?”

“I’ve delayed my schedule, Duke.”

“I see.”

“Are you planning to build a department store here?”

“That’s right. It’s my wife’s dream.”

Terrence’s gaze naturally turned to Lea.