Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 196

Extracurricular 16: The Moment Announcing the End and the Beginning (196/200)

2024.02.12.

How long has it been since I felt this kind of joy?

Even when Terrence was always smiling, a small knot remained in one corner of his heart, but not today.

Since the war, has Aiden ever smiled so purely as he does now? I felt like I was going to cry.

No, if I kept looking at him, my heart would feel so mushy that I would show an unsightly appearance, so I quickly raised my wine glass.

“Dr. Frank, how are you going to open your hospital?”

Leah also asked, now that she had put down all the burdens in her heart.

“You said you wanted to become a doctor who creates beauty, right?”

“Well, I’ve been thinking deeply about it lately. I’m confused about what is the right choice as a doctor.”

“Why?”

“Creating beauty is rewarding, but helping patients who can’t get treatment even when their bodies are hurt and sick is also urgent. I’m thinking of taking some time to travel and clear my head.”

He seemed to be joking with a frivolous smile, but deep anguish was reflected on his wrinkled face.

In addition, he looked very exhausted, perhaps because he had been running non-stop.

“Dr. Frank, you need a rest too.”

“Thank you for your concern, Duchess.”

Dr. Frank expressed his gratitude for Leah’s kind words. Leah soon asked about Reina.

I had felt that Reina was carefree before, but after she became pregnant, it felt like her maternal instincts were maximized.

In particular, she couldn’t take her eyes off the chattering Ilena and Killian.

“Grace, it’s so amazing.”

“What is it, Sister?”

“How can they be so much like alter egos?” [Alter egos are like another version of themselves.]

Reina giggled as she looked at Ilena and Killian. Leah immediately understood what she was saying.

She herself was sometimes surprised when she looked at Ilena.

Not only that, but there were more than a few times when she saw Terrence in the expressions of young Killian.

“You’ll experience it soon, too, Sister.”

“Really? If it’s a wonderful son like Aiden……!”

“Conversely, it could be a lovely daughter like you, Sister.”

“Grace, you only say what’s right.”

The banquet hall was filled with laughter. The food was delicious, the music was lively, and the people were in high spirits.

The women headed to the dress shop to show off Reina’s custom maternity clothes, and Terrence and Aiden went out to the yard with glasses of wine.

“Terrence, how long has it been since we drank alone like this?”

“We drank every time we went to Bern, didn’t we?”

“Not like that.”

“Comfortably… without being conscious of others?”

Even if it wasn’t being conscious of others, all that could be seen was the moon illuminating the night, the sound of insects breaking the silence, and the sound of the bushes being swept here and there whenever the wind swept through the fields.

Although it wasn’t the same as the battlefield at the time, the atmosphere was quite similar.

“Yeah.”

Aiden’s answer suddenly made the atmosphere between the two men somber.

“Terrence, I was always okay. You were always the one who had a hard time.”

“Because I felt sorry.”

“I told you to get away from it, but you’re so persistent.”

Aiden gave a self-deprecating laugh. It was time to save Terrence from his guilt.

“Terrence, can’t I go to battle for you instead?”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden? Why *can’t* you go to battle for me? And you did go.”

“Yes, we’re in a relationship where it’s not strange at all to fight for each other. I’m willing to risk my life for you. But I guess you don’t feel the same way, Terrence Courtois.”

“That’s not true.”

“So, you’ve been having a hard time because of guilt.”

“That’s…….”

It was only after experiencing that reality and ideals are completely different that I realized it. Aiden only knows one thing and doesn’t know two [A common idiom meaning Aiden is simple and straightforward.].

Because we were so precious to each other that we were willing to risk our lives, the guilt was that much greater.

Terrence poured the remaining wine into his mouth in one gulp.

I have to end this vicious cycle of unsolvable worries. The time has finally come to put an end to this heartache.

“The deeper my feelings for Grace became, the more guilty I felt about you, but I don’t like it anymore. I’m going to end it all.”

“Yeah, end it. I didn’t say it, but every time you felt sorry for me, my pride was at rock bottom. You can’t even imagine how miserable I was.”

“What?”

“So, let’s not make things complicated between you and me today.”

As a thick tear fell from Aiden’s eyes, Terrence shed tears as if he had been waiting for it.

It was definitely tears of joy. Tears were pouring from his eyes, but his face was filled with joy.

“Terrence, you may not believe it, but I wasn’t unhappy even before I met Dr. Frank. Of course, I’m happier now than before.”

When Aiden said he was happy, Terrence found peace and his past anguish was resolved.

It was as if the regrets piled up in his heart were swept away by a strong wind.

“Terrence, I’ll never have any worries in my life.”

Aiden said in a somewhat excited tone. Before he knew it, the serious atmosphere had disappeared.

“Really?”

“My grandchildren will receive a huge pension every year. It’s very lucrative. I can play and eat for the rest of my life.”

Terrence burst into laughter at Aiden’s joke.

Do you even have the right to play and eat? The nobleman who dreams of being a farmer is busy selling his harvested crops at the market every season.

Still, it was good to see him living a healthy and energetic life. Aiden sang about becoming a farmer even when he was on the battlefield.

“You’ve achieved your dream, Aiden Vizak.”

“That’s right. Oh, right! Have a good truck sent over when a new one comes in.”

“There’s no such thing as free.”

Aiden answered with a serious face at Terrence’s firm reply.

“Have you forgotten? I’m a person of national merit in Lubeck. Get the truck price from the Emperor.”

“Ah! That’s right. Buy the most expensive one if possible.”

Only then did the two men look at each other and laugh loudly. It was a moment when the wounds that had been cherished and hurt for a very long time were finally resolved.

The two men would have completely different lives in the days left like iron filings [A metaphor for being drawn together by a strong force, like magnets.]. They shared a very important moment announcing the end and the beginning.

* * *

Aiden and Reina plan to stay at the Duke’s residence for a few days and visit the car company and Fantasia in turn.

Yesterday, they went to Terrence’s car company and bought two cars.

Terrence said they extorted them.

He said he hated the way they picked out only the latest models, but according to Luke, Terrence deliberately introduced them to the best cars.

“Am I too good for my brother?”

Leah pouted her lips and said, Terrence smiled, revealing his teeth.

“No one should drive a better car than me.”

He said it like a rascal, but his face was full of satisfaction.

“Terrence, one rival, His Majesty, is enough. No more……!”

Leah shook her head, and Terrence nodded, saying he understood.

Terrence had no desire to have a childish competition with Aiden. Rather, he wouldn’t mind giving him everything he had.

“Oh! My brother and his wife have arrived.”

Terrence followed Leah’s gaze. Leah had given Pauline a heads up in advance. To pack everything Reina needed.

Pauline had given birth and raised children, so she would take care of her meticulously. Instead, Tom decided to pack the things Aiden needed.

“Grace, I’m going to go to the company and get Aiden’s car.”

“Okay, Terrence.”

Leah realized that she could no longer avoid spending time with Aiden. She decided that she should no longer deceive Aiden.

She had to reveal that she was not the real Grace. That way, she could return to Richard’s daughter in the future.

‘He’ll be very surprised.’

She smiled brightly and approached Aiden.

“Brother, I’ll introduce you to the department store.”

“Thank you, Grace.”

“You’ll have to walk for a long time, so use a cane.”

“Okay.”

Even though he had a prosthetic leg, she prepared it on purpose because she thought he would be tired of walking on the hard marble floor.

Leah walked around the department store with Aiden and introduced him to the various sections.

“It looks like that place is under construction?”

Aiden asked, looking towards the east wing.

“Yes, a confectionery store will be opening there, but they haven’t named it yet.”

“Confectionery store?”

“Yes, it’s a cafe that sells rye bread, salads, and healthy juices that don’t make you fat.”

“Grace, the vegetables on our farm are of very good quality. We don’t use fertilizers or pesticides.”

Leah nodded as Aiden’s eyes sparkled with interest.

There was no harm in showing high-quality vegetables to consumers in the capital.

“Okay, Brother. The construction must be distinguished [A more natural phrasing would be ‘up to standard’], so the quality of the vegetables must be guaranteed.”

“Of course. I guarantee that.”

It was a satisfactory deal for both of them. Then Aiden said, his eyes shining.

“How about ‘Wells’?”

“That’s good. It’s not too grand and it’s easy to remember.”

This is how the name of the confectionery store that will be located in the east wing was decided. It was nice because it was more friendly than a strange and difficult name.

After looking around the entire first floor of the department store, Leah was finally about to tell the truth.

“Aiden, Brother, I have something to tell you.”

Leah led Aiden to a secluded place.

“Huh?”

Aiden was surprised to see his younger sister suddenly making a serious expression.

“Well, I’m…… that is…….”

Every time she tried to speak, her tongue kept getting tangled. How could she say it so that Aiden wouldn’t be surprised?

He would be furious with a sense of betrayal when he found out the truth. It would be difficult to forgive the soul of another person who was forcibly occupying the body of his precious younger sister.

“You don’t look good, Grace.”

Aiden caressed her cheek as if he felt sorry for Grace.

More than anything, he was puzzled by her unstable, trembling blue-violet eyes.

“Do you have something to tell me?”

“Yes, I do.”

At Leah’s answer, Aiden pressed his lips into a straight line and remained silent for a while.

He just stared at Leah as if to see through her. Then he opened his mouth with difficulty.

“You’re not the *complete* Grace?”

“Brother?”