Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 178

Revenge Has Interest 178

178. Times Change, People Change

January 25, 2024

All three raced towards the phone, but Pauline was the fastest.

Pauline answered the phone but couldn’t speak a word, panting heavily.

She just listened and then hung up. Soon, everyone’s eyes were on Pauline.

“She… she made it through the crisis.”

At Pauline’s words, Leah slumped onto the sofa.

The others, including Terrence, also breathed a sigh of relief. Then Leah burst into tears.

“Why are you crying?”

Pauline came over, hugged Leah, and cried with her.

Chae-ner was special to both of them, and they were terrified, as if they were holding a bomb in their hearts.

They couldn’t bear the thought of anything happening to Chae-ner.

“I can’t even imagine the estate without Chae-ner.”

Leah said, tears streaming down her face, and Terrence wiped them away with the back of his hand.

“Chae-ner is a strong woman. She’s like you.”

“That’s right.”

Pauline nodded vigorously, crying.

Just then, Oliver came in with the children, and the emotion vanished like the tide.

The twins running around distracted the adults so much that normal conversation was impossible.

Still, Terrence couldn’t hide the smile on his face.

He was especially relieved that Elena wasn’t frail like Grace. She didn’t resemble her at all. Sometimes, he was even worried because she was more mischievous than Killian.

“Daddy will wash you today.”

“Wow! Best Daddy ever!”

Terrence picked up one child in each arm and headed to the bathroom. He hoped Leah would calm her startled heart.

“But it seems like Chae-ner won’t be back soon.”

Pauline said to Leah, revealing what she hadn’t been able to say earlier.

“Why?”

“Luke said she needs to rest more.”

“I guess so. She overcame a crisis. That’s enough.”

She knew too well that wanting more was greedy.

She could only hope that Chae-ner would return healthy someday.

Leah headed to the children’s room.

She hurried, wanting to join Terrence, who said he would bathe and put the children to sleep. But she met Terrence right in front of the door.

“The kids are asleep.”

“Really?”

“Grace, you were very surprised, weren’t you?”

Terrence approached and cupped Leah’s face in his hands.

“Yes.”

“Me too.”

“You too, Terrence?”

“I think I’ve come to think of Chae-ner as my sister. When I heard she might die, everything went black.”

“Really?”

Leah was very surprised by Terrence’s words. She didn’t know he had such feelings because he didn’t usually express them.

Indeed, even though the two had bickered from the beginning, they always smiled at each other when they met.

Especially when she went to Graymon, she heard that Terrence relied on Chae-ner a lot.

Not because of her precognitive abilities, but because of the bright energy she had, always saying positive things.

“No one is unimportant.”

“That’s right. Everyone is precious. Even Grandpa Rapa.”

Leah regained her composure in Terrence’s arms. Today was definitely a great lunar eclipse she would never forget.

* * *

A few days later, Luke returned to the Duke’s estate. But he didn’t bring only good news.

He said that Chae-ner’s body had recovered, but she only slept every day.

“Does she recognize Luke?”

Leah asked worriedly.

“She doesn’t recognize me. She just eats with a dazed, blank face and falls asleep right away.”

“Why is she like that?”

“Grandpa Rapa won’t tell me for sure. He just tells me to wait….”

‘Wait?’

“She acts just like a newborn. Babies eat and sleep, you know.”

“Still, it’s a relief she’s safe.”

Leah comforted Luke.

She was so grateful that she hadn’t died. But Luke seemed a little sad that she didn’t even recognize her husband.

“Chae-ner will shake it off and get back on her feet. She likes Luke so much.”

“Thank you for your words of comfort, Madam.”

Only then did Luke’s mood improve, and he smiled.

Now, all they could do was wait for Chae-ner to return in good health.

* * *

Leah went to the department store with Sarah.

Even if she couldn’t come every day, she couldn’t neglect it. But a small argument broke out in the women’s clothing department.

“Give me a refund. Now that I think about it, I, a noble, can’t wear the same clothes as commoners.”

“Ma’am, refunds are only possible if you bring the clothes back before wearing them. You’ve worn them so much like this….”

“No, do you know how embarrassed I was when I wore this dress to the park? I met a woman wearing the same dress. And she wasn’t even a noble.”

“I’m sorry. Once you’ve worn it, a refund is not possible.”

“See, department stores are not the place to be. Anyone with money, even dogs and cows, can wear the same clothes and buy the same things as nobles.”

It wasn’t that she hadn’t anticipated this situation, but continuing it wouldn’t be very helpful for business.

So Leah stepped in.

“Ma’am, we can’t give you a refund, but how about a custom-made dress that suits your dignity? Our Fantasia Department Store has tailors who are in charge of the Emperor and Empress’s clothes.”

“Really? How much is a dress?”

“It’s not much. 1,000 gold would be enough to match your dignity.”

“1,000 gold? Now that I see it again, this dress suits me perfectly. You don’t have to give me a refund.”

The customer took the dress and hurried out of the store.

Leah watched the noblewoman’s retreating figure for a while.

“The problem with ready-made clothes isn’t completely nonexistent.”

Sarah hit Leah right on the mark.

Nobles still wanted to differentiate themselves from commoners.

But as industrialization progressed, there were more merchants and commoners with a lot of money, so the boundaries of status became blurred.

It was an inevitable change, so they would have to accept it. But the privileged class seemed reluctant to accept it easily.

“Ask the customer if she wants to change the design of the dress a little. It would be nice to add lace or modify the sleeves or neckline for a small alteration fee.”

Leah told the clerk about a new sales method.

Even she would feel a little embarrassed if she met a woman wearing the same dress in the park.

Regardless of status, it was natural to want to monopolize something, even if it was trendy.

So, selling clothes with slight modifications was also a method.

“That’s a good idea.”

Sarah actively agreed, as if she liked Leah’s method.

Until now, clothes were tailored to suit people’s appearances, but with the advent of ready-made clothes, people were fitting themselves to the clothes, which had the side effect of losing individuality.

But Leah’s method would provide some differentiation. Just then, Pauline came running.

“You’re here?”

“Pauline, a noblewoman requested a refund a little while ago.”

Leah told Pauline about her sales method.

It would be easier to manage if she knew it. Pauline carefully wrote down what Leah said in her notebook. But Pauline brought surprising news.

“Um, a department store is opening in downtown Lebon.”

“What are you talking about? Fantasia is the only department store in Lebon.”

“The Marchioness Valier’s younger sister is a very wealthy woman, and she saw the Fantasia Department Store and said she wanted to try it herself. She has already obtained imperial permission and purchased the building. She is currently doing interior construction.”

“Really?”

Why did she find out about this important information so late? Terrence hadn’t said anything. If Pauline heard about it, it meant that the story had already spread to those who should know.

“The department store name is already out.”

At Pauline’s words, Leah and Sarah asked at the same time. They were curious about what the department store name was.

“‘May Queen,’ they say.”

It wasn’t a bad name. If it was a ridiculous name, she would have scoffed at it.

“Moreover, they said they would focus on the upper class to create a luxury department store image.”

“We should expect a drop in profits.”

Sarah’s voice was low, as if she was worried.

“It can’t be helped. It’s a natural change. When the first cafe was opened, people asked who would pay to buy coffee and tea. They thought coffee and tea were something to drink at home. Now there are too many cafes. Would department stores be any different?”

“Still, it’s the method that Madam thought of first.”

Sarah’s voice was full of anger, as if she was somewhat upset.

‘I still don’t get along with the Marchioness Valier.’

Leah was smiling, but she wasn’t in a good mood.

* * *

Terrence didn’t react much to Leah’s words. He already knew that the May Queen Department Store would be built.

“You should have told me sooner?”

“I didn’t want you to worry. And Fantasia will win anyway, so what’s the point?”

Terrence took a sip of his tea and put it down.

“As the owner of a department store, you should know that kind of information faster than others.”

“I knew it faster, so what’s the problem? There can’t be a monopoly in a free competitive market, Grace.”

“I know, but if a competitor appears, it’s true that profits will be affected. You should have given me a hint so I could set up a sales strategy.”

“I gave it to you now.”

“Ah, I see.”

For some reason, Terrence was particularly annoying today. She didn’t know how to retaliate to turn Terrence inside out in times like this.

‘Ah, I’m so frustrated.’

Leah was angry, but it was even harder to have to put on a nonchalant expression.

Sometimes, Terrence showed excessive confidence to the point of being very innocent, which was a problem. This must be the difference between someone who has run a business and someone who hasn’t.

Then, a presence was heard from the door.

“Duke, a new car company has been established in Lebon.”

At the familiar voice, Leah and Terrence turned their heads, and there were Chae-ner and Luke.

“Chae-ner.”

“Sister, I’m back.”

“Yeah.”

But somehow, Chae-ner seemed to have returned as a different person.