Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 194

Extracurricular 14. Food That Makes You Feel Less Guilty

2024.02.10.

“I am Jim Baker. A pathetic father with a good-for-nothing son.”

Unlike his large frame, Jim’s voice was barely audible.

Soon, Terran’s attorney arrived at the office. Jim Baker seemed to realize the gravity of the situation and lowered himself even further.

“This son of mine is only twelve years old. If he goes to juvenile detention at that young age, he will never be a functioning member of society. I would rather take the punishment myself.”

“The crime he committed is too great to forgive. The property damage is significant, and more than anything, my wife almost died.”

Terran was firm.

Before he appeared, there was some pity for the boy, but seeing the root cause of the crime seemed to enrage him.

In fact, the desire to forgive the immature child lingered in a corner of his heart.

However, the memory that flickered before his eyes was just as strong.

Nothing could extinguish the nightmare of Leah almost dying. It was impossible to forgive him generously.

“I deserve to die. I will pay for my sins in prison for the rest of my life, so please, just spare my son…!”

Jim Baker repeatedly bowed his head and pleaded desperately.

Leah felt sorry for him. But it was also difficult to forgive him unconditionally as she had done in the past.

No matter how young the child was, it was a major arson, the property damage was enormous, and she, as well as many people in the department store, could have lost their lives.

It was not something that could be resolved by simply asking for leniency.

“Go back. I will handle it according to the law,” Terran said firmly and turned away. Then, Jim Baker brought a large basket and placed it in front of Leah.

Opening the linen cloth revealed a pile of golden-brown bread.

“It’s not the soft bread that noble lords eat. It’s rough, unsweetened rye bread.”

‘Rye bread!’

Leah carefully examined the bread. It didn’t look particularly special on the outside.

Rather, it was rustic. But the large size and savory smell were quite appealing.

“I know you won’t be lenient with just this bread. But please accept it as a token of my sincerity.”

Jim Baker was desperate.

He felt the desperate heart of a father who wanted to save his child by offering anything, even a piece of bread. Then Terran’s lawyer stepped forward.

“Duke and Duchess, this incident is by no means a small matter. These juvenile delinquents grow up to become the scourge of society. Therefore, they must be punished severely by the law.”

The lawyer seemed to be trying to prevent the Duchess from showing leniency in advance.

“Sigh! Everyone, go back. I will decide how to handle the case with my wife and notify you.”

Terran said, looking out the window with his arms crossed. Soon, the Chief of Police said, looking embarrassed.

“Why are you being so unlike yourself, Duke?”

Terran Courtois was a man who never involved emotions or worries in official matters, to the point of being frightening. But has he inevitably become more mellow with age?

“I told you to go back.”

He replied to the Chief of Police, who questioned his words, in a chilling tone. Only then did the Chief of Police come to his senses and step back.

“Mr. Baker, please go back as well.”

On the other hand, Leah spoke to him soothingly.

“It’s humble, but please accept this bread. It’s made with natural fermentation without milk, butter, or sugar, Duchess.”

He repeatedly bowed.

“Yes, thank you.”

Everyone left, and only Leah and Terran remained in the office.

The tension that had been built up dropped sharply, and they sat down on the sofa as if they had made a promise.

Leah pulled the bell cord as if she had been waiting, and soon a maid appeared.

“Bring tea.”

“Yes, Madam.”

“No, I’ll have milk.”

Terran stared at the bread and ordered milk, which he didn’t usually drink unless it was mealtime.

“Then, I’ll have coffee.”

Leah also ordered coffee instead of tea.

“Terran, I’ve never seen that rye bread before.”

“Is that so?”

Terran chuckled. In fact, rye bread was the staple food of commoners, or rather, the lower class.

Most upper-class people eat bread made from white flour.

It’s soft bread that melts in your mouth and is easy to digest.

But had Terran ever eaten rough rye bread?

“I’ve eaten it countless times on the battlefield.”

“Really?”

“In war, you have to survive, so there’s no choice. Actually, seeing that bread earlier reminded me of those days.”

It was a past he didn’t want to go back to, but it was also a glorious past that brought peace to Lubeck.

The two briefly forgot about the big problem in front of them and savored the freshly baked rye bread little by little.

Terran ate it with milk, and Leah with coffee. But the expressions on their faces were very contrasting.

“It tastes just like it used to.”

Terran smiled, as if the taste he had on the battlefield was coming back to him.

But Leah’s eyes sparkled with a different light.

It was definitely a rustic taste that was neither sweet nor dry. But there was something different from the existing bread.

“This might sound funny, but it’s food that makes you feel less guilty.”

“Less guilty? Do you mean it’s cheap food?”

“No. Women are always worried about gaining weight when they eat. But this bread, how should I put it… it’s like you’re getting healthier and getting rid of that guilt.”

“Hmm, then if you add high-end yogurt and salad to that bread, it would be a great health food. A dessert that’s not too sweet or too salty.”

Leah’s mind flashed at Terran’s words. It was like the wall in the east wing of the first floor of the department store, which had been blocked, was now broken through.

“That’s it!”

Leah was so excited that she babbled in front of Terran.

Even as she spoke without filtering what came to her mind, she felt frustrated with herself.

Yet Terran nodded as if he understood everything Leah was saying. Moreover, he even added his own thoughts to Leah’s plan.

“Wow! Terran, you’re really a genius!”

Leah had a near-death experience, but she was very happy to have found the answer because of it.

She ran to Terran in one breath, wrapped her arms around him, and showered him with kisses.

“To do this while eating bread… I like it too much.”

He kissed Leah with bread crumbs all over his mouth. The two embraced each other and savored their savory breaths.

* * *

A few days later, Terran and Leah called Jim Baker and his son in the presence of their lawyer and the Chief of Police.

What had changed was the look on the boy’s face as he looked at Leah.

When he threw the Molotov cocktail, his animosity towards Leah was full, but not anymore.

The boy, who was just like any other boy his age, was terrified, as if he was about to cry.

He must have been scolded by his father for the past few days and realized how big a crime he had committed.

“My wife and I have decided.”

Terran opened his mouth to everyone, and Jim Baker swallowed hard with a flushed face.

Soon, the Duke’s lawyer reported on the damage the department store had suffered due to the boy’s arson.

He also explained the cost of restoration, mental damage, and punishment.

Then Jim Baker and the boy’s faces turned pale.

First, he made them realize how serious the crime the boy had committed was and how it had become an indelible incident.

“Jim Baker, you and your son will repay it with your bodies.”

Terran said bluntly.

“Yes? What do you mean by that?”

“I will not send your son to juvenile detention, nor will I claim damages. Instead…!”

Terran raised one corner of his mouth as he looked at Jim Baker and his son, whose eyes were wide open.

“You will become an employee of Fantasia and repay the losses. Very diligently.”

Jim Baker and the boy looked dazed even after hearing it with their own ears.

“Duke, are you telling us to become slaves?”

“Isn’t being a slave better? Didn’t you say you could go to jail for your son?”

“Yes, yes, I can… That’s right, but I can’t understand your deep meaning.”

Terran laughed out loud for a while. That’s because he knows Jim Baker’s inner thoughts too well.

Although it’s not prison, the meaning of repaying by working means that Fantasia is no different from another prison.

To be honest, it was impossible for the father and son to repay the damages even if they worked until they died. Then Leah stepped forward.

“We will open a bakery selling bread and salads in the east wing where Mr. Jim Baker’s son set the fire. Of course, it’s not a regular bakery. It’s a health food bakery. It will be a special bakery for people who need a diet.”

“Then, do I just have to make bread?”

“Yes, make bread with your son. We will hire a salad expert and a barista separately.”

Even with Leah’s explanation, Jim Baker still seemed to have one very important thing unresolved.

Of course, he was prepared to go to jail, so there was nothing difficult, but in order to repay his sins in society as the Duke and Duchess said, he had to solve the immediate problems of food, clothing, and shelter.

“Lawyer, show Mr. Baker the contract.”

“Yes, Duchess.”

The lawyer gave Jim Baker the contract with a meaningful expression.

Meanwhile, Terran glared at the boy fiercely and said.

“What’s your name?”

“Dunkin Baker.”

“Dunkin Baker, didn’t you forget something?”

The boy sobbed at Terran’s stern voice.

“I’m sorry. Our bakery used to sell more than a hundred loaves of bread a day. But at some point, customers said the bread was old-fashioned and cheap… These days, we don’t even sell five a day. I was angry when I saw people going to the department store, so I…!”

“Do you still think that’s because of our department store?”

“Yes…? That’s….”

The boy couldn’t answer easily. But Terran waited persistently for his answer.