Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 181

Side Story 1: Faded Love?

2024.01.28.

Channer’s transformation sent shockwaves through the Rebon social circles.

She became a frequent subject of gossip, but it was clear that she could no longer be ignored.

Channer attended every party, showcasing her changed self to the upper class.

“I thought it was just a rumor, but it’s true.”

“How can someone change so much overnight?”

“She’s an incredibly intelligent woman.”

“There’s even a rumor that she deliberately acted foolish.”

There was much debate about Channer. However, the prevailing opinion leaned towards the idea that Channer had been pretending to be a fool.

They were unaware of the strange changes caused by the lunar eclipse that Channer had experienced, and even if they knew, they wouldn’t easily believe it.

“Grace, the rumors aren’t true, are they?”

Empress Vivian was equally taken aback and asked Leia while Channer was briefly away.

“Are you referring to the rumor that she was pretending to be a fool?”

“Yes.”

“No. Channer suffered from a very high fever and was ill, and she changed after that.”

“Is that so? Well, medical research is needed. I actually miss the old Channer.”

“I sometimes feel that way too, but it’s a great blessing for her, so Your Majesty’s sincere congratulations will be a great help.”

“Of… course. I consider it a good thing.”

Leia knew Vivian’s true feelings all too well. Even she felt that way.

It was hard to readily accept Channer, who had changed in an instant without any warning.

It was unbelievable because she seemed like a completely different person, and she often felt awkward, not knowing how to act.

But there were definitely things that hadn’t changed. Channer’s clear and innocent eyes were the same as before.

“Sister…”

In the carriage returning from the palace, Channer looked out the window and called to Leia.

“Yes.”

“I think I might get a divorce from Luke.”

“What?”

Channer’s tone was very nonchalant as she spoke of divorce.

“Has your love faded?”

“No. I haven’t changed, but Luke’s feelings have faded.”

“He’s just surprised, and the change is shocking, so he needs time to collect his thoughts.”

“No.”

Channer, who had been looking out the window, stared straight at Leia. The light had disappeared from Channer’s eyes.

“Luke doesn’t love me anymore.”

“That’s not true, don’t jump to conclusions! Channer.”

“I thought about it from Luke’s perspective. He must have thought a lot and mustered the courage before choosing the old me. And he loved me, not as a normal person, but as someone foolish yet innocently pure.”

Channer didn’t want to force Luke to love her.

“I have a different opinion. Just because you’ve changed doesn’t mean you’re not as pure as before.”

Leia’s mind was in turmoil, as if caught in a whirlpool of confusion.

If only she were skilled in romance, she would give advice readily, but she felt more immature than others and unable to help Channer much.

Then, a woman came to Leia’s mind.

‘Wouldn’t Alicia have the answer?’

There was no woman who knew men as well as she did. From men’s psychology and desires to the push-and-pull of dating, Alicia’s experience was unmatched.

Before that, Leia wanted to make one thing clear to Channer.

“Channer, can you live without Luke?”

Leia held Channer’s shoulders with both hands and asked seriously. Then, Channer’s eyes trembled, and clear tears welled up.

“N… no, from the first time I saw him, my heart has been only for Luke.”

“Then, be brave.”

“How?”

“Make him fall in love with you again.”

If he fell for Channer’s childlike innocence before, now it was time to make him love the mature Channer.

* * *

Leia urgently summoned Alicia from Galdenia. After hearing all the circumstances, she sighed deeply.

“Young Lady, no, Mrs. Perry…”

“Just call me Channer.”

“Channer, it’s time to become an adult. Don’t worry about whether your husband is stuck in the past or not. No, you shouldn’t get swept up in it.”

Alicia said that Channer was the one who needed to recognize and accept the change first.

Channer deeply agreed with her that her husband was even more confused because she herself had not found her identity.

Soon, Alicia asked Channer what kind of woman she wanted to be.

“I…”

Only then did Channer realize that she had not seriously considered it, even though it was her own issue.

She had vaguely thought that she wanted to be like Grace, but she wasn’t sure if that was what she really wanted.

“If he can’t accept Channer’s change, then that love is only that far. But do your best. Tell me what kind of woman you want to be.”

That wasn’t all.

Alicia told Channer not to put too much pressure on herself to please her husband, even if he was her husband.

She advised her to be true to her own desires first.

“Men don’t like easy women. So don’t give anything too easily. Whether it’s your heart or your body…”

Channer flinched as if Alicia had hit the nail on the head. Honestly, she had been living while being mindful of Luke’s feelings.

She worried and fretted all day. But she wondered if Luke had liked that side of her. Wouldn’t he have been frustrated with the stagnant relationship?

“Channer, establishing your own identity comes first now. Others come after that.”

“Yes, I think so.”

“Channer, what kind of woman have you always wanted to be?”

At Alicia’s question, Leia, as well as Sarah and Pauline, perked up their ears.

“Femme fatale [an attractive and dangerous woman]?”

After a moment of silence at Channer’s answer, Pauline burst out laughing. Then, Channer glared at Pauline with a blank look.

“You want to be a sensual woman?”

“She’s in her mid-twenties.”

Alicia taught Channer various techniques to help her become a mature woman.

At that moment, everyone was so serious that even their breathing couldn’t be heard.

They were deeply immersed, not wanting to miss a single word from Alicia.

Alicia meticulously taught her everything from how to adorn her appearance to elocution, gait, party etiquette, and how to smile, and she didn’t forget to teach her techniques to use only at night.

“I’ve lived my life in vain.”

Pauline looked at Leia with a hollow face.

“Why?”

“I think I’ve lived too haphazardly. I wish I had taken a special lecture from Alicia.”

Leia agreed with that.

As a courtesan who dominated Randes’s social circles in the past, there was nothing to simply dismiss from her teachings.

According to Alicia, the only man she couldn’t seduce was Terrun.

“Living like me is artificial. Your lives are right. I’m just telling Channer this because it might be a way for her at this point, but my experiences aren’t the answer.”

Channer’s face brightened as if she had finally found the answer. She rejoiced like someone who had found a solution after a long period of anguish.

* * *

Terrun was frustrated with Luke for distancing himself from Channer. Because he himself had experienced it.

When he found out that Leia Hamilton’s soul was in Grace’s body, he fell into great confusion and even ran away.

At the time, Luke was the one who gave him great advice, so he felt sorry for the current situation.

“You said you would love her no matter what she looked like.”

“Yes? Yes… I did.”

Of course, the situation was slightly different.

Luke said that it would be even more difficult if the childlike Channer suddenly became an adult. But it turned out that he was right.

“Luke, if you still love Channer, you have to accept the change.”

“I know, but it’s not working.”

Luke’s expression darkened.

“Aren’t you afraid?”

Terrun tilted his head with a chilly look.

“What do you mean?”

“Aren’t you afraid that the Channer you loved was only yours, but now she’s going to be a woman loved by everyone?”

Luke was embarrassed by Terrun’s words. It was hard to deny it completely.

He had witnessed people being greatly surprised by Channer’s change at first, but gradually gathering around her.

He was also slightly disappointed by Channer’s ability to defend herself so well that she no longer needed him by her side.

“You’re just full of yourself.”

“Yes?”

“Doesn’t indirect experience give you any enlightenment? Well, it’s hard for humans to empathize unless it’s their own problem.”

Terrun thought Luke would know better than anyone.

Because he was the one who had watched him suffer when Leia left for Greymon.

But he didn’t know why Luke was so confident that Channer would always be by his side.

‘You have to experience it to know.’

Then Luke began to confide his feelings to Terrun.

“Honestly, it’s hard to approach Channer because she’s unfamiliar. No matter how hard I try to find her old self in Channer, I can’t find it. Then I even feel a sense of doubt about who I wanted so much until now.”

“You don’t love Channer anymore?”

“That’s…!”

Luke was only surprised by Terrun’s blatant question and couldn’t answer easily.

He just sighed and moved his gaze distractedly. Then, he opened his mouth with difficulty as if he couldn’t avoid it any longer.

“I think so.”

“What?”

Terrun’s face turned pale instead.

He had firmly believed that he would at least answer, ‘I do love her,’ but it was as if he had been hit hard in the back of the head. But the problem was that there was someone else who was more surprised by Luke’s unexpected answer than Terrun.

‘Does that mean he doesn’t love me anymore?’

Channer, who had come to the office with Leia, felt like the sky was falling at Luke’s words and ended up collapsing on the spot.