Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 38

Revenge Comes with Interest, Episode 38: Not an Excuse, but an Explanation (38/200)

September 7, 2023

The tea party proceeded smoothly in a cordial atmosphere.

Even as the scheduled time passed its midpoint, the topic of the Chenel lace had yet to surface. Leia sensed that the noble ladies were cautiously observing one another.

It was as if they were engaged in a subtle battle of wits, each waiting for someone else to broach the subject of the incident.

‘Perhaps I was too sensitive.’

It was, after all, just a tea party. She had been needlessly tense, imagining some great calamity might occur.

Leia finally relaxed and enjoyed her tea. But it was a fleeting moment of peace, and Leia was mistaken.

“Miss Vizak, shouldn’t you offer some explanation regarding the newspaper article?”

A middle-aged noblewoman sitting across from Leia spoke up.

‘Which family was she from again? Ah, right.’

Fortunately, Leia remembered. She calmly set down her teacup and surveyed the gazes fixed upon her.

“Madam Valliere, I will not offer an excuse.”

“To say such a thing after seeing the newspaper.”

“Is she being brazen? Or is she simply shameless?”

Even the quiet whispers of disapproval directed at her reached Leia’s ears.

Leia briefly rose from her seat, nodded towards the Empress as if seeking her understanding, and then addressed the noble ladies.

“Instead of an excuse, I will provide an explanation.”

Leia’s words caused a stir throughout the greenhouse. The doubts that Madam Valliere had initiated now burst forth like a dam breaking.

“Ask your questions, and I will answer,”

Leia replied in a composed tone. Madam Valliere, as if waiting for this moment, raised her voice.

“Is it true, Miss Vizak, that the Chenel lace we bought was made by a deranged Gypsy?”

Madam Valliere’s words were quite blunt, not at all befitting the refined tone of a noble lady.

However, Leia found the Empress’s reaction more intriguing. She observed the situation with an indifferent air.

“The term ‘deranged Gypsy’ is not an expression that Madam should use.”

Leia’s rebuttal caused some of the ladies to fan themselves rapidly, while others nodded in agreement.

“She is a young lady whose manners are not fully developed. Please refrain from using vulgar terms such as ‘deranged,’ ‘foolish,’ or ‘deficient.’”

“Miss Vizak is right. Refrain from disparaging others’ disabilities.”

The Empress, agreeing with this point, sharply rebuked Madam Valliere.

“Then, how will you explain the ‘lowly Gypsy’ part?”

This time, another lady, a friend of Madam Valliere, questioned Leia.

“It is true that she was a Gypsy in the past.”

As Leia admitted this, everyone exclaimed as if they had expected it. Some even expressed outrage, accusing her of passing off lace made by a ‘lowly’ Gypsy as a luxury item.

However, Leia opened her handbag, took out a piece of paper, and handed it to the attendant beside her. The attendant then presented the document to the Empress.

Soon, all eyes shifted from Leia to the Empress.

“She is not a Gypsy. She is Miss Chenel Vizak, of the barony.”

The Empress smiled and handed the document to a noble lady beside her. Soon, the paper was passed from one to another.

As soon as Leia brought Chenel to the Duke’s residence, she wrote a letter to Aiden, asking him to register Chenel in the baronial family register [a formal record of births, marriages, and lineage].

Fortunately, Aiden granted her wish without asking any questions.

It was a precaution Leia had taken, anticipating that Chenel’s Gypsy background would one day become a hindrance to both of them.

At that moment, Madam Valliere stepped forward with a rebuttal.

“Just because you’ve laundered her identity doesn’t change a person’s roots.”

“That’s right, once a Gypsy, always a Gypsy.”

“It’s disgraceful that such a Gypsy has become one of us, a noble.”

Madam Valliere’s allies simultaneously criticized Leia, resorting to blatant hypocrisy and harsh words.

Yet, Leia remained unshaken, accepting all their words. Just then, an elderly lady at the end of the table spoke up.

“Ladies, why are you all so harsh?”

It was Countess Harold. Leia hadn’t recognized her at the banquet, but Pauline had discreetly informed her in time.

“Baron Aiden Vizak, like Duke Courtois, is a war hero of Lubeck. He lost a leg fighting for our country. If such a man has registered a Gypsy girl with an unsound mind into his family register, shouldn’t there be a good reason? If you ladies respect Baron Vizak, you should at least not denigrate his intentions as base.”

At the Countess’s words, the noble ladies, who had been bristling like angry hedgehogs, cleared their throats and looked embarrassed. Then, the Empress stepped in.

“I agree with Countess Harold’s opinion. The Vizak barony is a family with a long history.”

To raise objections despite this would imply a lack of recognition for the Vizak family’s contributions.

“Of course, we respect him. But we must examine this matter thoroughly.”

Madam Valliere’s voice was subdued, as if her spirit had been broken.

“Well, there must have been a reason for Baron Vizak’s choice.”

“It’s not just any family, it’s a family of war heroes. Criticizing them seems harsh.”

The ladies’ attitudes were divided.

Leia felt that now was the time to introduce Chenel to everyone.

She took Chenel’s hand from behind her and brought her into view for all to see.

“This is my sister, Chenel Vizak. She is a genius who can weave this lace cape in just two days.”

“Heavens!”

People were amazed. Of course, there were still those who did not look kindly upon Chenel.

“Chenel, greet the Empress.”

Leia led Chenel to the Empress’s side. However, instead of offering a greeting, Chenel simply scanned the Empress from head to toe.

Even Leia, who had been composed until now, was greatly flustered by this.

The tension in the greenhouse reached its peak, like a tightly stretched piano string.

“Empress, you’re so pretty!”

“!?”

*Tang!* As if a piano string had snapped, the ladies burst into laughter.

Contrary to what the ladies had expected, Chenel did not appear base at all. Instead, she seemed innocent.

There was nothing about her that suggested she was a Gypsy. Rather, her clumsy speech was endearing.

“Thank you for the compliment, Miss Vizak.”

The Empress smiled gracefully and returned the greeting to Chenel.

Leia led Chenel back to her original spot and prepared to say her final words to everyone.

“Chenel may be immature, but she is a genius. These beautiful laces are created from her two hands. You ladies have keen eyes and were the first to recognize and choose these fine items. Who made them is important, but please focus on the excellent results that captivate people’s hearts.”

Leia spoke her mind gently.

If their hearts did not change even after she had said this much, it was beyond her control. The choice was entirely theirs.

“And…”

Leia looked at the Empress.

“Gypsies, homeless people, orphans, and patients in mental hospitals are all citizens of Lubeck. I am proud that Chenel is a citizen of Lubeck.”

Leia tried her best to speak steadily until the end, but she ended up choking up at the last moment. At that moment, Countess Harold chimed in.

“We must not be swayed by articles in the Galdenia newspaper that seek to denigrate Lubeck. They are simply jealous that our country has such talent.”

“Now that you mention it, the Lubeck newspapers have been quiet.”

The noble ladies’ reactions changed noticeably. The Empress drove the point home.

“Miss Chenel Vizak?”

“Yes? Your Majesty.”

Chenel sprang up like a coil, causing another burst of laughter.

“Do you think that crimson cape would suit me as well?”

The Empress pointed to the outfit Leia was wearing.

“No! For the Empress… a green cape would match your hair color.”

“Is that so? Then I shall order one. A green lace cape.”

“Because the Empress is pretty, I’ll make it even prettier for you. But there’s no such thing as free. I’ll give you a small discount because the lace I make is a luxury item that no one else can imitate.”

The atmosphere became hushed at Chenel’s words. They had thought she was ignorant of everything, but her pride in the lace she made was immense.

The Empress wore a satisfied expression, took a sip of her tea, and said to everyone,

“I recognize Chenel Vizak.”

The noble ladies responded with applause to the Empress’s words. More than the words of many others, the Empress’s support and recognition were decisive in bringing the controversy to an end.

Of course, there were still some ladies who wore dissatisfied expressions. However, there would no longer be any more noise caused by Chenel’s origins.

* * *

Terran and Luke were on their way out after having an audience with the Emperor. In fact, even during his conversation with the Emperor, Terran’s mind was preoccupied with thoughts of Grace.

‘Is she doing well?’

She would need to have the strength to captivate the noble ladies and the Empress of Lebon. Just then, the young masters they had seen earlier approached, chattering noisily.

“I’ve got my eye on Grace Vizak.”

“Don’t be ridiculous! Whoever gets her into bed first wins.”

“Isn’t she the prettiest of all the noble ladies?”

“I’m curious what kind of sounds that woman will make in bed.”

“Then, shall we bet on who among us will have her first?”

Crude conversations about Grace were exchanged, and they unmistakably reached Terran’s ears.

“Hey! Miss Vizak is engaged, you know?”

When Louis Valliere spoiled their fun, they all grumbled at him.

“So what if she’s engaged? You’re talking like an old fogey. This is an era where people do everything even after they’re married.”

Finally, they came right in front of Terran.

Terran quietly took out his leather gloves and put them on. This time, even Luke didn’t stop him.

Instead, he blocked their path. The young masters were bewildered by the sudden appearance of the two men.