Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 195

Revenge Has Interest – Side Story 15: That I’m Not Just Trapped in My Own World (195/200)

Side Story 15: That I’m Not Just Trapped in My Own World

2024.02.11.

Duncan Baker hesitated, head bowed. What should he say?

“Honestly, our bakery’s customers have decreased since the department store opened.”

The boy mumbled in a small voice.

“So, has your bakery tried to adapt and change?”

“That’s… !”

The boy looked at his father, his face showing he didn’t know how to answer.

But Jim Baker just wore a troubled expression and couldn’t speak.

“Your thought isn’t wrong.”

Terran surprised everyone, especially the boy.

“But it’s also not entirely right.”

“Why is that?”

“As time passes, people don’t stay the same. The world is constantly changing. People naturally seek a better life. So they turn to department stores with clean and attractive restaurants rather than humble bakeries. You’re right to blame the department store, but put your hand on your heart and think about whether you’ve truly done your best to keep your customers.”

Duncan Baker initially looked embarrassed, but soon understood Terran’s words and nodded vigorously.

“Then, I should change in the future too?”

“That’s right. To be exact, it should be called development – growing and evolving.”

Only then did the boy scratch his head, abashed, and grin. Meanwhile, Jim Baker read the contract and was startled.

He looked back and forth between the contract and Leia, his expression questioning if he was seeing things correctly.

The contract contained both significant responsibility and great hope.

“I tasted a deep, rich flavor in Mr. Baker’s bread.”

“Yes?”

“Especially the fermentation seemed well done. My stomach felt comfortable even after eating it.”

“Thank you for the compliment. It’s a fermentation method passed down in our family for generations… But…”

Jim Baker found it difficult to say what he really wanted to say.

Even after solving the problems of food, clothing, and shelter, half of his salary would be taken for debt repayment, but there was flexibility to adjust the contract according to sales volume.

If the bakery did well, he could pay off the debt early.

Moreover, he would get a decent job at Fantasia.

Most of all, the part he liked the most was that it would give his son Duncan time to go to school.

“Mr. Baker, how many generations have you been running the bakery in front of the station?”

“Four generations.”

“I thought so.”

Leia nodded and smiled. Although it was her first time eating rye bread, she felt that the skill in making it was extraordinary.

This was someone who could be entrusted with a store. She could trust the dedication and diligence of someone who had only made bread his whole life.

“Duncan Baker, you have something else to do every weekend.”

Terran, who had been silent all along, spoke to the boy.

“What is it?”

“It’s the same as your father paying for your mistakes. So, you should go to the orphanage in Levon every holiday and volunteer for five hours.”

“Yes? Volun…teer?”

“Do you dislike it?”

“No. People need to develop and change. Above all, I want to reflect on the mistakes I committed.”

“Every week, get a stamp from the orphanage director confirming your volunteer hours.”

“I understand, Duke.”

Thus, the Fantasia arson incident was resolved well. He didn’t want to let the outside world know, but it was published in the capital’s newspaper the next day.

It was an article praising Duke Courtois’s leniency and mercy.

Leia linked arms with Terran and looked around the department store.

“Terran, I admire you.”

“What?”

“I’m starting to doubt if you’re the same man I knew.”

“Well, I used to be a bit reckless.”

“That’s how people grow up. Going through hardships and adversities, forming families, raising children, and learning about the world. If it were me in the past, I wouldn’t have just said let’s take care of the child. But without realizing it, I’ve come to distinguish between public and private matters and judge right and wrong.”

“My biggest change is that I’m no longer just trapped in my own world.”

“Still, it’s not easy to accept losses.”

“Accept losses? What are you talking about?”

Terran asked Leia with a puzzled face.

“Weren’t we just discussing not asking the Baker family for financial compensation for the damage?”

“Ah! Still, someone has to compensate for the damage. I have fire insurance. The money will come from the insurance company soon.”

“Ah… I see.”

“I’m not the old Terran Courtois who only had ‘heose’ [empty boasting] and didn’t know anything. I’m a cold-blooded businessman.”

Terran’s words implied a lot. The man who fought, won, and occupied suffered alone, enduring the pain.

But now, he had become a man with the generosity to embrace others. On top of that, he had acquired practical business skills.

It was then. Terran, who had been walking well together, suddenly stopped and stared blankly out the window, and Leia followed his gaze.

“What’s wrong, Terran?”

Even as Leia asked, he silently watched the pigeons flying out the window.

“Pretty birds, beautiful flowers, luxurious ornaments are things you want to show off to others.”

“That’s right.”

“You can show them off.”

“Yes?”

“Make a large window in the east wing so that the inside is clearly visible. Show them the process of making bread and people eating it deliciously. People outside are bound to envy those who are leisurely drinking tea and enjoying desserts inside.”

“A ‘tongchang’ [large window]… Ah! You mean decorate it like a greenhouse.”

“Something like that.”

“I love it, Terran!”

Leia saw Terran in a new light. He was already a shining man, but he looked even more ‘meosiseo’ [cool/stylish] today.

She couldn’t hold back any longer and jumped up, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him.

The two kissed passionately for a long time, not caring about the people around them.

“Am I being loved?”

“You have always been loved.”

Leia was very happy that a long-standing concern had been resolved.

The first floor of the east wing, which had remained a flaw in the perfect Fantasia, would soon become the core of the department store.

* * *

After Terran and Leia’s decision, full-scale construction began.

There was enough time before the President and First Lady of Romérica came. Tom decided to take charge of helping Baker adapt to the department store.

Of course, Duncan also volunteered at the orphanage every holiday and was inspected by Terran.

“Terran, have you decided on a name?”

“Not yet.”

“Aiden ‘orabeoni’ [older brother] and his wife are coming this afternoon, so why don’t we decide together?”

“Let’s do that.”

Terran was surprised to hear that Aiden was suddenly visiting the duke’s residence in the capital.

He had sent him a car a long time ago, but he had never come to Levon. The two were happy and curious.

“I have to go to the kitchen. My ‘orabeoni’ is coming after a long time, so I have to prepare a feast.”

“I’ll have James prepare some good wine.”

“Okay.”

In fact, she didn’t show it, but she was ‘seoun’ [disappointed] that Dr. Frank hadn’t delivered any news for a long time.

However, it was a sensitive issue to ask first, so she was ‘gunggeum’ [curious] even though she was ‘kkeungkeung alhko man isseotda’ [secretly worrying].

If his treatment had been successful, he would have ‘dallyeowasseul tende’ [rushed over].

‘I even left a hospital space in the department store.’

If Dr. Frank came with him this time, he should discuss the opening of the hospital in earnest.

In the afternoon, the duke’s residence was busy. Finally, cars lined up in front of the main building.

Terran and Leia were excited to prepare to welcome Aiden and his wife.

Soon, an employee opened the car door, and Aiden got out of the car on two legs.

Although one was a prosthetic leg, his movements did not look awkward at all.

“‘Orabeoni’!”

Leia approached without hesitation and hugged Aiden.

“Grace.”

“Why are you so tanned?”

“Well, that’s because I’m a farmer. Anyway, our Grace looks very healthy.”

Aiden greeted Leia and then hugged Terran. It was even more touching because it was the first meeting in years.

In particular, Terran’s heart welled up at the sight of Aiden standing on two feet, even though he had a prosthetic leg.

He had a prosthetic leg before, but his movements were unnatural, so he couldn’t bear to look at him straight.

But whether medical technology had advanced in the meantime, Aiden’s movements were not ugly now.

But the ‘banjeon’ [plot twist] was shown not by Aiden but by someone else.

Everyone shouted the same thing when they saw Reina getting out of the car holding Aiden’s hand.

“Oh my gosh!”

People exclaimed, perfectly in sync. Everyone’s eyes widened and their mouths couldn’t close. Because Reina was pregnant.

“Why, why…?”

Eventually, Leia stammered. Dr. Frank hadn’t given any indication so far.

Given his personality, if his treatment had been successful, he would have ‘yeolbyeoneul tohaesseul tende’ [given a passionate speech], boasting about the new treatment as much as possible.

“Did everyone see a ghost?”

Aiden joked as if it were nothing. Then Dr. Frank got out of the car that followed.

“Hello, Duke and Duchess!”

“Dr. Frank!”

The person who could properly explain the current situation had appeared. They were equally surprised, but their expressions were all the same, with their mouths ‘jjijeojige utneun’ [splitting into a wide smile].

“Let’s all go inside first.”

Thanks to James, who ‘jeongrihan’ [organized] the situation like a veteran butler, everyone moved inside the duke’s residence. Even in the midst of all this, Aiden never let go of Reina’s hand.

* * *

At the banquet hall, everyone’s attention was on Dr. Frank.

The arduous process by which he treated Aiden’s infertility was a novel.

“The electrical treatment itself was successful. It wasn’t dangerous either.”

Everyone was relieved at his words. Moreover, pregnancy was not very difficult.

The problem was that Reina had two miscarriages, which caused Aiden great mental shock.

Usually, women have a hard time with miscarriages, but in Aiden’s case, he blamed himself a lot, and Reina worked hard to comfort him.

“Seeing that, women are stronger.”

Terran shook his head at Leia’s words.

“It’s not because they’re women or because they’re men. It’s because they love each other so much.”

At Terran’s words, people ‘ibeul kkuk damulgon’ [pressed their lips tightly] and the banquet atmosphere became ‘sukyeonhaejyeotda’ [solemn].

“In conclusion, Aiden Vizak’s infertility has been completely cured by my genius medical skills.”