Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 191

Revenge Has Its Interest: Extra Story 11 The Revenge Is Over

Extra Story 11 The Revenge Is Over

2024.02.07.

Sarah never imagined she would hear these words from Allen.

“Sarah, I sincerely apologize. I was sorry.”

He called her as he used to, for a moment.

Maybe her eyes were deceiving her, but Allen’s eyes looked clear. A surge of emotion welled up in her heart.

Time certainly changes many things.

Then Allen offered Sarah a handshake, and she stared at his hand for a moment before cautiously taking it.

In that moment, Sarah realized.

‘I think I’ve finally gotten true revenge.’

She was confident that she would no longer be angry when she thought of Allen. And then he delivered unexpected words.

“If I am given the opportunity, I will definitely visit Leah’s grave. I need to apologize to Leah, too.”

“Please do.”

“I don’t want to be ashamed of myself anymore.”

“I hope you live well.”

Sarah turned away from Allen after those words. Instantly, the feeling of carrying a stone in her chest vanished without a trace.

How could she feel so lighthearted? No emotions or regrets remained.

‘I can finally laugh to my heart’s content.’

Sarah headed to where her husband was waiting. It felt like she had accomplished a major task that had been put off for so long.

She finally felt like she could pursue happiness. In the past, she thought true revenge was returning the favor as much as she had been wronged, or even with interest.

But after carrying out retribution stained with blood and evil, her soul was as barren as a drought-stricken wheat field.

The revenge she had planned for catharsis had instead become an arrow that returned to her. Sarah clutched her heart with her hand.

‘I pulled out the arrow with my own hands.’

* * *

Sarah started working at the Lubeck Imperial Hospital with Charles.

Since she didn’t have much practical experience yet, she needed to gain experience at a large hospital for a few years. So, Charles worked as a doctor, and Sarah worked as a nurse, leading busy lives.

Still, they never missed regularly visiting Leah.

“Eat a lot. I heard the hospital work is very hard, Sarah. Charles, too.”

Leah treated Sarah and her husband warmly.

“Thank you for your concern, Duchess.”

“Miss, where is Chae-ner? I don’t see her today.”

“She’s pregnant and has severe morning sickness, so she went down to Luke’s territory [estate]. I think she’ll be staying there for a few months.”

Leah shared news that Chae-ner was getting along well with her husband’s family.

Of course, this was thanks to Chae-ner’s endless efforts, and Luke’s strength in solidifying his love with her was also very significant.

“Really? That’s great.”

Sarah unknowingly clapped her hands while eating. The amicable mealtime flowed on.

As the meal was nearing its end, Terrence shared another piece of news with Sarah. This might even surprise Leah.

“There’s been contact from the Galdenia Imperial Family…….”

At Terrence’s words, all eyes turned to him.

“Allen McDowell is doing a very good job as a teacher.”

“Really?”

Leah was taken aback. In fact, she had been living for months with Allen erased from her mind.

Sarah was just as surprised. Even while being chased by hospital work, she often thought of Allen. She was worried about whether he was doing well, but it was truly a relief.

“The children are following Allen well, too. Some of them have even gone on to higher-level schools in the capital.”

“Oh my! That’s admirable. Reformatory [school for juvenile delinquents] children are devoted to their studies.”

Leah was happier than Sarah. Soon, Charles held Sarah’s hand tightly. But it seemed there was more surprising news to come.

“Empress Theresa has released Allen’s family. They will soon return to Galencia from the vassal state [a state subordinate to another].”

“Allen will pay for his sins until he dies anyway. More than anything, Allen wants that.”

Sarah’s heart was full. After emptying the greed that had always been unfulfilled and forgiving her enemy, her heart was filled with joy.

Hating someone for a very long time is a very difficult thing.

“Duke, I felt this when I went to the countryside this time, but farmers also need cars. Cars that can carry a lot of luggage.”

When Charles brought up the topic of cars, Terrence’s eyes sparkled.

“I’ve already imported trucks that can carry luggage.”

“But can farmers or laborers properly pay for expensive cars? I think the country needs to provide subsidies.”

“I’ve discussed it with His Majesty, and we’ve decided to provide cars by subdividing the support stages.”

“That’s great.”

While the men were engrossed in talking about cars, Leah and Sarah headed to the drawing room for a cozy tea time.

“Sarah, are you thinking about having children?”

Leah was always curious. Women in this era considered it their duty to have children as soon as they got married.

She herself could not escape such temporal notions.

“Well, Charles and I have decided not to have children.”

“Why?”

Sarah told the story of the decisive opportunity that allowed Charles to cure Allen’s tuberculosis.

He was now in a period of accelerating the development of antibiotics more than anyone else, and she could not afford to raise children, even to help him.

“Won’t you regret it?”

“Miss, I don’t think everyone has to have children to be happy. People each have different values of happiness that they pursue.”

“That’s a good point when I hear it. I was too old-fashioned.”

“No. If my mind changes later and I feel like I need a family, I’m going to try adopting like you, Miss. You don’t necessarily have to give birth to know, do you?”

Leah was moved by Sarah’s words.

“Miss, do you know when I decided to become a nurse?”

“Well, I was really curious about that.”

“I felt rewarded when I took care of you in Graymon. It was a fateful feeling. I was convinced, ‘This is what I’m going to do in the future.’”

Leah got up from her seat, approached Sarah, and hugged her tightly.

“Sarah, I’m so proud of you.”

“If we’re talking about being proud, wouldn’t you be the one?”

Without saying much, Leah’s tenacious vitality and the tenacity to live a hard life were unmatched by anyone.

“Miss, let’s live happily.”

“Yes, we should.”

Leah’s voice choked up.

* * *

The weather was unusually sunny today. Leah was suddenly overwhelmed by the urge to visit the cemetery.

She was going to go with Terrence, but he was very busy meeting with his secretaries. This is because a cargo ship owned by the Duke’s family is entering Lebon Port today.

‘They imported a large number of cars called trucks.’

I guess I should go with Pauline today.

“I’m so happy. It’s been a while since I’ve been to an amusement park with you, Miss, no, Madam.”

“Pauline, can’t you just call me Miss?”

“Oh my! A woman with two children is so greedy.”

“I want to be called Miss forever.”

The two looked at each other and giggled. Soon, Leah headed to the church cemetery with Pauline.

It was clear that it was a place where she could not easily move her feet, even though it was where her body was buried.

Compared to Sarah, who visited and checked every time she came to Lebon, or Terrence, who had the servants tidy up the grave, she, the owner of the tomb, was busy pretending not to know.

‘It’s time to let Leah go. Let’s not be so distressed anymore.’

“The weather is so nice. The cemetery looks like a park.”

Pauline also seemed to be enjoying the outing after a long time, humming a song even in the cemetery.

Leah headed to her grave with a bunch of freesias [fragrant flowers].

But someone was already there. There was a man in a black suit and someone watching him from a short distance away.

“Pauline, wait a minute!”

Leah took Pauline and hid behind a tree.

‘Who is it?’

She had already roughly guessed, but she couldn’t believe it.

‘Allen?’

She could tell it was him just by looking at his back. He carefully placed freesias in the vase in front of the tombstone.

He used to be quite sturdy, but he had lost a lot of weight in the past few years. He knelt in front of Leah’s grave and bowed his head.

It would be nice to know why he came here.

But she could tell without having to hear his voice. The sight of him kneeling and his shoulders shaking told her everything.

‘He’s crying.’

Allen’s repentance was conveyed to where Leah was. It was not a fabricated emotion or a pretentious reflection.

She couldn’t watch him right next to her, but she knew enough.

The person who knows the most about all of Allen’s actions is herself. Leah collapsed to the ground, feeling weak.

“Miss, what’s wrong?”

Pauline was surprised that Leah suddenly sat down and started crying.

‘In the end, what I wanted from Allen was an apology.’

Not sweet flattery that he spewed out like a tongue in his mouth, but the word sorry and tears shed while sincerely repenting his sins.

It wasn’t that she wanted a great apology…… It took too long to get here.

To be honest, she didn’t feel refreshed even after punishing Allen. In the past, she believed that if she could destroy him, all the regrets in her would be resolved.

But it wasn’t at all.

‘Revenge is not cathartic. Rather, it’s another wound.’

Leah wanted to be like Sarah, who had escaped the cycle of revenge and felt relieved.

The moment she saw him repenting, she knew that she had become that way too.

Because even when she looks at Allen, her heart is no longer as hot as if it were burning with fire.

Leah felt the sediment in her being swept away by the wind.

“Pauline, let’s go back.”

“Yes? To the cemetery?”

“Someone else put flowers there like that.”

“But who is that person?”

Pauline didn’t recognize Allen even after seeing him. It seemed that he had changed a lot from before.

‘Allen, talk to Leah openly.’