Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 180

Revenge Bears Interest Episode 180 (180/200)

Episode 180

2024.01.27.

Leah felt the impact of the May Queen Department Store’s opening keenly. The effects were still ongoing.

Since May Queen targeted the upper class, it stocked many expensive products, clearly aiming to satisfy the Lubeck nobility’s desire for prestige.

However, problems soon began to surface.

“Isn’t this against commercial ethics?”

Terrun, who had visited May Queen with Leah, was visibly angry.

Leah had invested considerable effort in selecting the department store’s location, sourcing its goods, and even overseeing its decoration. Now, May Queen had simply taken her ideas and copied them.

To be precise, they had enhanced the foundation that Leah had painstakingly built.

“They copied it cleverly, didn’t they?”

Leah, too, felt a surge of indignation.

Not only had they replicated the store’s decor almost exactly, but they had also poached employees from Fantasia.

“The Valliere people are shameless. At least Louis had some principles. When did they start criticizing the nobles for engaging in such vulgar business practices…!?”

“The Marchioness put her younger sibling forward as a figurehead, but ultimately, they’re doing business together.”

“What’s Fantasia’s sales rate this month?”

“What do you think? It’s been cut in half.”

Leah urgently summoned her employees.

The expressions of the employees arriving at the Duke’s residence were uniformly anxious.

Pauline and Tom looked particularly grim.

Chanel and Sonia’s custom-made clothes were largely unaffected due to their established clientele, but the ready-to-wear section was in chaos.

“Pauline, Tom, I expect you to manage the employees effectively.”

“I’m sorry, May Queen secretly contacted our staff and offered better conditions than we could.”

“Didn’t you anticipate that? An unusually large number of employees left the ready-made clothes section.”

Leah rebuked Pauline sternly.

“Grace, don’t get so worked up. If an employee doesn’t have company loyalty, there’s no need to retain them, right?”

That ever-present military spirit.

Terrun firmly believed that loyalty was paramount. But a department store wasn’t an army.

“Terrun!”

Company loyalty was an emotion reserved for Fantasia’s executives, not the rank-and-file employees.

They were motivated by better offers.

“Wouldn’t it be beneficial for the president to establish a system for improving employee treatment at this juncture?”

Luke stepped forward with this suggestion. But Leah sighed deeply.

She was the president of Fantasia, but she couldn’t handle everything herself. Leah paused, lost in thought.

‘What would my father have done?’

Leah thought of the Hamilton Merchant Guild [a powerful trade organization].

Richard made the major decisions, but the Merchant Guild was structured with a clear division of responsibilities.

Domestic market, trade management, accounting, personnel management.

‘Yes, we need a personnel department. A department dedicated to managing employee morale, welfare, and benefits.’

“Regardless, we can’t continue like this. We need to adapt.”

At that moment, Chanel made an unexpected suggestion.

“Sister, it’s almost time to prepare for the fall and winter sales anyway. Why don’t we hold a sale? Instead of keeping the goods as inventory, we can sell them at a discount before the new products arrive. We could also do large-scale promotions.”

“A sale?”

Selling the remaining inventory at a discount would minimize losses and attract more customers to the department store.

“Good idea. Let’s proceed with what we planned last time. Luke, when will the new car arrive?”

“It’s arriving in three days. Benjamin Crint has been very accommodating.”

Leah’s heart ached at the thought of her father.

She had imagined him growing vegetables in the New World [the Americas], but that wasn’t the case.

Richard ran a car factory in Lomerica [a fictionalized version of America].

So, she had placed a special order with him, and he had gladly accepted Leah’s offer.

“Is Fantasia’s counterattack finally beginning?”

Terrun’s eyes gleamed with anticipation.

“Watch, I will definitely win back the lost customers.”

Leah clenched her fist with determination.

She had promised to create a business that would surpass the Hamilton Merchant Guild in ten years. That’s what Richard Hamilton’s daughter was capable of.

She wanted to earn her father’s recognition, but more than that, she wanted to defend her pride, having pioneered so many ‘firsts’ in this land.

‘I’ll show you who the god of business is.’

“Luke, I need young men and women with striking looks.”

“Yes? Are you planning to use them as department store models?”

“No, they’re the people who will showcase the new car.”

“I understand.”

* * *

After the meeting, Leah and Terrun returned to their roles as parents.

Only after bathing the children, reading them fairy tales, and putting them to sleep could they have time for themselves.

“I realized something for the first time today.”

Terrun said with a slight smile.

“What is it?”

“I didn’t know that mothers and fathers could read fairy tales to their children. And I didn’t know that parents could provide all the other care.”

His expression was tinged with sadness. Leah squeezed Terrun’s hand reassuringly.

Having never received parental care himself, he had assumed that employees should handle childcare.

However, he was surprised to learn that parents typically took on these responsibilities.

“Which is better?”

“Of course, parents should raise their children. You’re not a parent just because you give birth to them. You have to invest love and care to foster affection.”

“What about our Ilena and Killian?”

“They are my life. And you are my life.”

Warmth flooded Leah’s heart. She wanted to confirm something else.

“What about the car?”

“That’s…”

Terrun hesitated, then spoke with some difficulty.

“The car is my lover.”

“Oh my! That lump of iron?”

“Grace, ‘lump of iron’ is a bit harsh, don’t you think? Who’s obsessed with big general stores?”

“It’s a department store. Not a big general store!”

The two bickered playfully, which eventually led to a passionate kiss and ended only after they made love.

Leah nestled her cheek against Terrun’s chest as he gently stroked her hair.

“When will Luke and Chanel get closer?”

“I thought Luke would be happy with Chanel’s transformation. But instead, he’s closed himself off.”

“It just takes time. Luke still loves Chanel.”

“Really?”

“Luke endured all the criticism and ridicule when he chose Chanel. His love for her was so strong that he couldn’t let her go. Luke needs time to move past the old Chanel.”

“Now that you mention it, you’re right.”

It was a mistake to underestimate other people’s love.

People’s feelings don’t change easily.

“Stop talking about other people. Let’s do it one more time, before the little villains invade.”

Before she knew it, Terrun had pinned Leah beneath him.

“Again…?”

“Didn’t you know? I’m not human in bed.”

“You’re a beast.”

“Yes, and I’m going to devour you deliciously. Get into a good position for me to eat.”

“Eek! You’re vulgar!”

Leah scrambled to the end of the bed, but Terrun’s large hand seized her ankle and pulled her back.

* * *

Leah implemented an aggressive sales strategy to compete with May Queen.

She advertised the sales in newspapers and plastered placards announcing the launch of the new car all over Levon [the story’s setting].

Consumers, unfamiliar with the concept of ‘discounts,’ flocked back to Fantasia. Moreover, rumors about May Queen Department Store were circulating.

“What kind of department store is that? It’s a luxury boutique.”

“It means ordinary people like us shouldn’t even set foot in it.”

“That’s right. If that’s the case, they should only cater to wealthy clientele.”

“Fantasia is holding a new car exhibition. They imported them from Lomerica, and they have everything from cheap cars to luxury cars.”

The department store was bustling with customers eager to take advantage of the limited-time discounts.

The new car exhibition in front of the department store was a major attraction.

The young men and women Luke had hired generated an explosive response as they showcased the cars.

“Terrun, I told you before, someone who can rival our Emperor will emerge.”

“Was that person Empress Theresa?”

“Yes.”

Theresa was very impressed with the new car exhibition.

She was particularly pleased that the name ‘Theresa’ was engraved on the highest-end car instead of the brand name.

“If Your Majesty wishes, we will engrave the Galdenia Imperial Family crest.”

“Then, what is the name of this car?”

“It’s the Theresa I. It’s the only custom-made car in the world.”

Theresa laughed heartily at Terrun’s explanation.

She especially loved the cream color more than the black car. The thought of having the imperial crest engraved on that magnificent car and calling it the Theresa I thrilled her.

“The car will also be sold as ‘Theresa’ in Lomerica. We’re also promoting the prestige of owning a car driven by the Emperor of Galdenia.”

“Duke, you’ve become quite the businessman. I’ll sign the contract right away.”

Theresa was also impressed by Leah’s idea of hosting a new car exhibition in front of the department store, even though the department store itself was already impressive.

Leah filled the car with Theresa’s favorite flowers and gifts as a token of appreciation for her purchase.

If Emperor Carl found out about this, he would soon come running.

Theresa went to browse Fantasia with her lover, followed by Leah and Terrun.

“I never imagined this kind of life.”

Terrun said, looking at Leah as if making a confession.

“Me neither. I was in so much pain, but I was saved by a man who loved me, and I started a new life.”

“I was saved from death. I returned from the battlefield, still breathing, but I was like a living corpse. I had no hope, no joy, and no future to dream of. I struggled with regret and pain every day.”

Leah stopped walking and took Terrun’s hands in hers.

“We saved each other?”

“That’s right. From now on, I’m going to accumulate interest on happiness. I’m going to make happiness so abundant and give it all to you.”

“Interest on happiness?”

Leah felt a thrill course through her body.

Until now, she had lived consumed by revenge against Allen. Revenge alone wasn’t enough; she had added interest and ruthlessly destroyed him.

But the man she loved was promising to give her happiness with interest. Her heart overflowed just hearing those words.

Ah! I want to say something wonderful to him at times like this…

“Terrun, I love you. You know you are my everything, right?”

“I’m sorry, but I have another ‘everything’ besides Grace. We can’t forget our beautiful daughter, Ilena, and our wonderful Killian.”

“I completely understand.”

Terrun approached Leah, cupped her face in his hands, and kissed her gently.