Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 24

Revenge Comes with Interest 24. Teron’s Wrath (24/200)

24. Teron’s Wrath

2023.08.24.

The Duke’s residence was once again thrown into chaos. Pauline returned close to midnight, collapsing before Teron in tears.

“I saw it clearly. It was the Duke’s carriage.”

Pauline had recounted the entire story countless times. The carriage that came to pick up her and Leah bore the Duke’s crest.

It was an exact match, leaving no room for doubt. However, the real carriage was waiting at the originally agreed-upon location.

“When I went out to find the parasol, the carriage had vanished without a trace.”

Teron ran a hand roughly through his hair. Just who dared to kidnap Grace?

“Was it Allen McDowell?”

He asked Luke in a testy tone.

“He has already left Lubeck.”

“Then, who could it be?”

“That’s…”

“Enough! Seal off Levon City and inform the Chief of Police. No, no, summon all the soldiers under my command, now!”

“Yes, sir.”

Luke hurried out to carry out Teron’s orders, and Teron headed to the second floor to gather his weapons.

He donned his uniform, strapped on his sword, and gathered both his rifle and carbine. Then, unable to suppress the rage rising in his throat, he roared.

“Ugh!”

This was clearly the work of a god jealous of his happiness. Was he resentful that he had escaped from hell, and so sought to trample his only hope in this way?

Teron hated those who frowned upon him even basking in a sliver of light.

He inwardly cursed the sinister forces that, though unseen, sought to manipulate his life like a puppet on strings.

‘I’ll kill them all.’

He quickly finished his preparations and rushed downstairs.

Pauline was waiting for Teron again, as if she had more to say.

“Your Grace, I just remembered. There was a strong scent of musk, no, a unique spice, in the carriage.”

“Musk?”

“That’s not the scent that comes from our carriage.”

Teron began to deduce rapidly.

Who in Levon City would dare to replicate the Duke’s carriage? It was a feat that would be unthinkable without extraordinary audacity.

Nobles knew how grave a crime it was to impersonate another family. Yet, these individuals brazenly created a counterfeit.

Moreover, the scent of musk and spices not used by the Duke’s family…

“Where have I smelled that before?”

A glint returned to his eyes.

“Hahaha—”

Teron, who had been greatly enraged, suddenly burst into mad laughter.

The servants watching him were all bewildered, and only Pauline and James, who saw the look in Teron’s eyes up close, were gripped by fear.

“Control all the outer roads of Levon City and intensify the search!”

* * *

Rafa and Maddox congratulated themselves on the successful kidnapping of the Duke’s fiancée. Now, all that remained was to send the carriage with the woman directly to Galdenia.

“The shop transfer rights?”

Rafa had bought the general store from Allen at a rather low price. Still, he had to be sure, so he wouldn’t send the carriage until he saw the transfer rights.

“Here it is.”

Maddox brought the transfer rights and showed them to Rafa.

Only then did a smile bloom on Rafa’s face. Finally, all the Hamilton general stores throughout Galdenia belonged to Rafa.

“I’m deeply moved.”

Rafa was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes. Soon, he changed his expression completely and asked Maddox.

“The Duke doesn’t know, does he? That we kidnapped his fiancée.”

“He’ll never know. How could he?”

“Then that’s a relief.”

“Boss, let me ask you something. Why did you suddenly buy the Hamilton general store?”

Maddox had always wanted to ask Rafa. They were making plenty of money from smuggling, even without running a general store.

“Our Chenel will soon be doing big business. She’s made some good friends. Even if I live like this, my granddaughter…”

Maddox shook his head at Rafa’s words.

Chenel, who was mentally deficient, doing business? Rafa must be losing his mind as he got older.

“Does that make sense? What business could Chenel possibly…”

“Hey! You son of a bitch! What do you know?”

Foul language burst from Rafa’s mouth.

How long would they have to live being treated like gypsies? The times were changing, and selling only bad goods like rats in the sewers wouldn’t last forever.

“I was wrong. Forgive me.”

“Just try looking down on Chenel one more time. I’ll slit all your throats.”

The commotion subsided only after Rafa vented his anger. Maddox changed the subject to soothe his mood.

“Aren’t you curious about what the Duke’s amazing fiancée looks like?”

“Did you see her?”

“She’s incredibly beautiful. She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Shouldn’t we take a look at her face before sending her to Galdenia?”

“She can’t be that pretty.”

She was bound to be less attractive than Chenel’s friend. He had thought his granddaughter was the prettiest in the world, even if she was lacking, but his mind had completely changed after seeing that friend.

To think there would be a beauty in Lubeck even greater than Empress Marie Antoinette of Landes.

Just then, Chenel woke up from her sleep, crying and looking for Rafa.

“Chenel, why are you crying?”

“Grandpa! I had a scary dream.”

“You had a nightmare?”

“Yes, I dreamed that Grandpa and all the Rafa people were hanged. Everything here was on fire. And that pretty lady kept appearing in my eyes.”

“What? Why are you suddenly talking about that lady here?”

Rafa and Maddox were speechless for a moment at Chenel’s words.

Even though Chenel was mentally deficient, she was born with the gypsy ability to predict the future or see people’s souls [a common trope in fiction, referring to a character’s innate ability to foresee events or understand hidden truths].

In an instant, Rafa was shocked as if he had been hit hard on the head.

“Maddox, is the fiancée that pretty?”

“Yes, she is, why?”

Goosebumps ran all over Rafa’s body. Surely that couldn’t be the case, but even so, it was too much to call it a coincidence…

“Let’s see her face.”

Rafa rushed outside with an agitated look.

* * *

When Leah opened her eyes in the carriage, it was the middle of the night. She was alone in the empty carriage.

She knocked on the door and called for Pauline, but no one came.

‘Why am I here alone?’

She retraced her memories. She had been waiting for Pauline after getting into the carriage.

But the last thing she remembered was being intoxicated by the strange scent in the carriage.

‘Was I kidnapped?’

That was the only deduction she could make. But it was definitely the Duke’s carriage.

Leah repeatedly shook the handle, trying to open the carriage door.

“Please open the door!”

She knocked on the window and shouted loudly, but no one answered, as if no one was there.

Then, the outside became noisy with the sound of people’s footsteps. The surroundings of the carriage became as bright as day, as if they were approaching with torches.

Knock, knock, Leah thought this was her chance and knocked on the door.

“There’s someone inside the carriage!”

The tightly closed door burst open as Leah shouted.

“!?”

What was going on? Why were these people here?

Leah was startled when she saw Rafa staring at her with a pale face. And even Chenel was there.

“Sister!”

Chenel jumped into the carriage and hugged Leah.

“Grandfather, what’s going on?”

Leah asked in an uneasy tone. But Rafa didn’t say anything and shouted at the people.

“Quickly, take this person home!”

“Why? Why are you sending her back when we finally caught her?”

Maddox questioned as if he didn’t understand.

“Do as I say without arguing. If you want to keep your neck, do it now!”

At his roar, Maddox and his men moved quickly.

But the problem was Chenel. After seeing Leah, she wouldn’t leave her side.

“Miss, I’m sorry. I’ll explain everything later, so just go home today.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Chenel, get out of the carriage now!”

“No! I want to be with Sister.”

“Damn it!”

Rafa tried to separate Chenel from Leah, but it was no use.

He had to put Leah in front of the Duke’s residence without anyone knowing before the Duke arrived, but Chenel wasn’t helping.

The more Rafa tried to separate them, the more Chenel stubbornly grabbed Leah and cried.

At that moment, the outside became brighter, and the sound of horses’ hooves and soldiers’ shouts were heard loudly.

* * *

Teron pieced together the information from his men and deduced the situation.

According to the shop owners that Grace and Pauline frequented, two Duke’s carriages had been seen passing by in succession.

The Duke’s carriage was custom-made and very expensive.

But today, strangers had come to the carriage workshop, brandishing the crest of the Courtois Dukedom and asking them to attach it to a carriage.

Also, the men who ordered the carriage reeked of strong musk and spices.

‘Ignorance is bliss. But they’re incredibly foolish.’

His prediction was right on the mark.

Those who disregarded the national laws. The sloppiness of committing crimes without any guilt, while leaving behind a trail of evidence.

And the only ones who would hold a grudge against him were those guys.

In front of Rafa’s building stood the same carriage as the Duke’s. As if they knew he was coming, all the gang members were out.

“This makes things easier.”

Teron got off his horse and walked towards the carriage.

He glared at Rafa, the head of the organization, standing in front of the carriage door.

“Was this your doing?”

Teron asked, barely suppressing the anger engulfing him. At that moment, Grace’s voice was heard from inside the carriage.

“Teron?”

“Grace!”

Teron immediately jumped into the carriage and looked for Grace. She was with some woman.

Fortunately, it seemed that Grace hadn’t been harmed by them.

Teron took Grace out of the carriage. Of course, Rafa forcibly separated Chenel from Leah.

“What’s going on?”

“That old man kidnapped you.”

“What? That can’t be. Why would Chenel’s grandfather do that to me?”

“Because that old man is the head of the Rafa organization.”

“!?”

Teron entrusted Grace to Luke and walked towards Rafa.

But Rafa kept moving his lips as if he had something to say. However, there was no room for excuses as the kidnapping of Leah was an undeniable fact.

“Hey! You gangster bastards! I won’t forgive you twice.”

At Teron’s words, Rafa squeezed his eyes shut. Soon, he shouted at the soldiers.

“From this moment on, the Rafa crime organization will be eradicated. Burn down the building and take those criminals to the police station jail!”

“Yes, sir!”

At Teron’s command, the soldiers moved in perfect order. Soon, Rafa’s building was ablaze.

The gang members tried to resist the soldiers, but they had no chance of winning against the armed men.

“After a summary trial tomorrow, they will all be executed.”

No one resisted Teron’s chilling command.