Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 35

35. Needs to Be Alluring (35/200)

2023.09.04.

The newspaper article published in Galdenia was a bombshell.

After the article exposed the identity of the person who created Chenere lace, which had captivated women across the continent, Hamilton’s Haberdashery found itself under siege.

They faced everything from refund requests to outright attacks, with people throwing eggs and stones at the store.

“I know very well about Chenere,” James said to Terrence, who was reading the newspaper with a grave expression. Luke stepped forward, his tone laced with rebuke for James.

“There must be a spy among the Duke’s residence staff.”

“Luke, how can you say that? You know how meticulously the head maid and I train our employees!” James retorted, clearly offended. However, the article contained intimate details, from Chenere’s origins to her favorite food, even mentioning her fondness for splashing in the garden pond on rainy days.

This put James in a very uncomfortable position.

“Luke is right. A rat must be hiding within the Duke’s residence, leaking information.” Terrence’s cold pronouncement didn’t sit well.

The fact that the Galdenia Imperial Newspaper had broken the story first suggested something more sinister. Further investigation was needed, as it seemed someone’s influence was heavily involved. Conspiracy or scheme felt like a more accurate description.

James bowed his head at Terrence’s stern words.

“Find them. As soon as possible.”

“Yes, Duke.” James’ face paled. Among the rules that employees must follow, the most important was absolute discretion about the Duke’s affairs.

Now that cracks had appeared in the seemingly impenetrable Duke’s residence, the situation was dire.

“Did Grace see the newspaper too?”

“She must have by now.” Since the newspaper had been running the story for several days, she would have found out even if she just picked up an old copy.

Meanwhile, Luke hesitated, glancing at Terrence with an air of urgency, as if he had something important to say.

“The Empress has sent a letter.”

“The Empress?” Terrence quickly opened the letter and scanned its contents. A frown deepened on his forehead.

Just then, Leah arrived with Pauline to see Terrence, and Luke tactfully excused himself.

“Terrence.” Leah’s gaze fixed on the letter in his hand. The imperial crest on the paper confirmed it was from the Empress.

“Is that a letter from the Empress?”

“Indeed. More precisely, it’s a letter for Grace.” As soon as Terrence finished speaking, Leah reached for the letter. But Terrence held it back, reluctant to hand it over.

“This isn’t protecting me,” Leah said, as calmly as she could.

She already suspected the letter contained unwelcome news. But it wasn’t something Terrence could shield her from.

Only then did Terrence relinquish the letter. Leah quickly read the contents.

“The Empress is inviting me to the Imperial Tea Party.” Leah stated, trying to sound unaffected. But it was more than just a tea party; it was an event attended by all the noble ladies of Lebon.

It was a stage to formally present the lace and a platform where Grace, as the creator of Chenere, would have to answer questions.

“You realize it’s a hearing disguised as a tea party, right?”

“I know. There’s no reason to avoid it.” Leah seemed confident, almost as if she had anticipated this. But Terrence remained serious.

Offending the Empress could have severe consequences. Moreover, all the influential noble ladies of Lebon would be present. It was not an arena Grace could navigate alone.

“It would be best if I accompanied you to the palace.”

Leah hesitated for a moment. She wanted to assert that she could handle it herself and didn’t need his protection.

“Grace will have to resolve this,” he stated firmly, drawing a line.

Leah was taken aback, but she saw the resolve in Terrence’s eyes and understood his intent.

“Thank you for treating me like an adult. But please, come to the palace with me.”

“Is there anything I can do?” It might seem like a harsh question, but Terrence was offering her an opportunity.

“I have nothing to fear with Terrence by my side.” Leah’s words made Terrence bow his head. They were sweeter than any compliment he had ever received from her.

“I dislike being coddled simply because I’m your fiancée. But Terrence wouldn’t do that.”

“Because I trust you, Grace.” A faint smile touched Terrence’s lips as he looked up. He rose from his seat and walked gracefully to where Leah stood.

“Don’t forget. You are the fiancée of the Duke of Courtois.”

“I will carry that pride with me.” Her words sent a shiver down his spine. A strange heat surged through Terrence’s heart. Day by day, he was falling deeper into the swamp called Grace.

“You can’t just endure.”

“Please believe in me, so that I can overcome the first challenge that has befallen businesswoman Grace Vizak.”

‘When did she become such a strong woman?’ Terrence was delighted to witness Grace’s transformation, like a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis.

Then Leah stepped forward and gave Terrence a light kiss on the lips.

“!?”

“Thank you for going to the palace with me.” Leah turned and left the office.

Terrence, on the other hand, remained frozen in place, like a statue. He had just felt a soft breath brush against his lips.

For a moment, he wondered if it was an illusion. He raised his hand and touched the spot where Grace’s lips had been.

‘Damn, I like it.’

* * *

Leah went to see Rafa with Pauline. As expected, the store, usually bustling with customers, was eerily quiet.

“Customers come every day demanding refunds. They’re even sending goods back from the provinces, wanting to return them,” Rafa lamented.

“What’s the reason?” Leah asked, already knowing the answer.

“They claim it’s a scam, selling items made by gypsies and, what was it, mentally ill people as luxury goods.”

“Ha!” If that was the issue, it wasn’t a scam at all. The lace was a luxury item from the start.

The price of luxury goods that women covet includes the price of vanity above all else.

The feeling of being cheated stemmed from the disappointment of having that vanity betrayed.

“Rafa, at times like this…”

“I know. It involved some… unconventional sourcing, but I’ve been in business my whole life. Of course I know! Don’t worry about the shop; just make sure our Chenere isn’t hurt.”

“Chenere will be fine.”

“Yes, and I will continue to do business. I will never close the haberdashery, even if I die.”

“Thank you, Grandpa.” Leah looked around the haberdashery and said to Pauline, “Buy purple lace thread, Pauline.”

“What are you planning to make?”

“I’ve been invited to the Imperial Tea Party, so I need a formal dress.”

Pauline bought the lace thread and accessories that Leah had chosen. Rafa tried to refuse payment, but Pauline insisted on paying fairly, stating it was her lady’s order.

The two then visited a well-known dessert cafe and bought a cake for Chenere, who must be feeling down due to her lack of work.

They found a secluded spot to sit. They had to wait for the cake to be packaged.

The bell chimed as the cafe door opened. A group of women entered, laughing loudly, and sat at the largest table.

“Oh! Who are they?” Pauline seemed to recognize them.

“Do you know them?” Leah asked.

“They’re employees who work at the Duke’s residence.”

“I see.” There were many employees at the Duke’s residence, making it difficult to know them all. But Pauline kept glancing at them.

“I didn’t expect Nancy to come to a place like this.”

While the salaries at the Duke’s residence were decent, it was rare for employees to frequent such high-end cafes.

She only comes because she is serving by Grace’s side. It’s a place she couldn’t even dream of on her own because she couldn’t afford it.

Moreover, many of the employees were from the provinces and sent most of their earnings home.

“She bought cosmetics and clothes.”

“Don’t worry about it. I think the cake is ready. Let’s go.”

“Yes, Miss.” As Leah and Pauline rose to leave, Nancy and her friends, who were sitting nearby, looked startled and jumped up. Their faces turned pale, as if they had been caught stealing. Leah smiled brightly at them and walked out of the cafe calmly.

“It’s the same as lace, Pauline.”

“Yes? What is?”

“The desire of women to visit such cafes and the desire to buy luxury lace shawls are the same.”

“That’s true.”

“You can’t judge that desire itself. Because it’s their freedom.”

“But…” Pauline shook her head.

The noble lady who had lived without any shortage since she was born didn’t know the world very well.

If the salary is fixed but the appearance suddenly changes and you go to a luxury cafe, it was evidence that there was a change in the source of money.

Very rarely, there were cases where a maid became the mistress of a rich man and her situation changed drastically.

If that wasn’t the case, it wasn’t easy for a salaried person to spend money recklessly.

* * *

Leah enjoyed the dessert with Chenere and Pauline.

“Pauline, could you bring the lace thread you bought today?”

“Yes, Miss.” Pauline retrieved the purple lace thread from its envelope. Chenere grabbed the thread and exclaimed, “Wow! It’s like a ripe cherry! It’s so pretty!”

“Right?” Leah had bought the thread because she felt the same way. The day was fast approaching when she would stand before the noble ladies at the Imperial Palace tea party.

“Chenere, can you make me the prettiest cherry-like dress in the world?”

“Are you going to wear it, Sister?”

“That’s right. I need to be a little bit… alluring.”

“Yes, I will make a dress for my sister, like a princess.”

“Thank you, Chenere.” In addition, she had to appear strong, so that no one would look down on her.

To achieve that, she needed a beauty that others couldn’t ignore. She had to create something that would captivate people with the item itself, not the status of the person who made the lace, and make them unable to resist opening their wallets.

Leah needed a dress that would inspire awe and compel anyone to buy it.

Knock, knock. Pauline went to answer the door.

“Butler.”

“Tell the young lady, a document has arrived from Bern.” Pauline handed Leah a large document sealed with wax.

‘It’s finally here.’ When Chenere had come to live in the Duke’s residence, she had sent a letter to Bern [likely a city or region known for record-keeping or legal matters], and the response had arrived today.