Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 40

40. The Unseen Emotional Battle

2023.09.09.

Leah was bustling about for several days after the tea party.

She had Luke issue a rebuttal and correction to the article reported in the Galdenia newspaper. She also took a photo of herself wearing the purple lace cape and posted an advertisement.

“It got cut off again.”

Now, she could only laugh when she looked at the newspaper.

At first, she felt repulsed by the strange-looking photo, but considering how uncomfortable it would be if her face became widely known, Terrence’s idea was right from the start.

“Grandpa Rapa contacted me and said people are starting to visit the general store again.”

“Really? That’s a relief.”

That wasn’t all. Orders for the cape that Leah showcased at the tea party were also flooding in. But every single request was the same:

> Please have Miss Chenel Vizak choose a color that suits me and make it for me.

The question was whether Chenel remembered the faces of all the noble ladies who came to the tea party.

Leah was going to return the order form, thinking it was an unreasonable request, but Chenel looked confident, saying she could do it.

“I remember everyone. Both their names and faces. And I know what clothes they wore then, too.”

“Really?”

Leah and Pauline shouted at the same time. They thought Chenel was only a genius with her hands, but perhaps Chenel was more intelligent than others.

“Let’s organize this. Chenel will make the capes ordered by the Empress and the noble ladies for the time being. Pauline and I will look for someone to make riding clothes.”

“Okay! I’ll work hard, sisters.”

‘Chenel is taken care of. Now, the problem is riding clothes…….’

No matter how much Leah thought about it, she couldn’t think of anyone to make riding clothes.

There are many boutiques and skilled dressmakers in Lebon, but it was questionable whether they could make riding clothes.

Then Pauline looked at Leah with sparkling eyes.

“Miss, there’s no need to entrust the clothes to a female dressmaker. For riding clothes, wouldn’t a tailor who makes men’s clothing be better?”

“That’s a good idea, Pauline.”

“Ask the Duke for help. There must be a tailor dedicated to the Duke’s residence.”

“Let’s do that.”

But the problem was that she felt a little awkward with Terrence. He always treated her the same, but the problem was herself.

After meeting the Empress, she had a great liking for her, but jealousy shook her heart uncontrollably.

Compared to the Empress, who was Terrence’s first love, she felt inferior, and doubts about why he didn’t get engaged to the Empress intertwined and confused her mind.

And greed also sprouted. She wanted to become a woman who was superior to the Empress in everything.

‘That elegant gait, that relaxed demeanor.’

She was so perfect that even a woman would fall for her.

“Pauline, there’s something I want to ask.”

Leah suddenly stopped on her way to Terrence. She wanted to confirm if it was just her impression.

“Pauline, what did you think of the Empress?”

“What’s there to say? She’s the perfect image of a woman.”

“Re……ally?”

“She was the most wonderful woman I’ve ever met in my life.”

Pauline clasped her hands together and wore a blissful expression. On the other hand, Leah was seized with a sense of defeat.

Clearly, she also liked the Empress. As Pauline said, she was wonderful, beautiful, wise, and anyway, she was a perfect Empress beyond words.

But one side of her chest ached. She felt not only regret that she couldn’t be such a woman, but even self-loathing.

“Still…… the Duke likes you more, Miss.”

Pauline’s problem was that she was too quick-witted. She comforted her with unnecessary words, as if she could see through her heart without her having to say anything.

‘It’s not a matter of whether Terrence likes me more or not. I’m the problem.’

Leah shook her head repeatedly to shake off her complicated thoughts.

* * *

Leah took a walk with Terrence in the spruce forest path after a long time. She talked about the orders the Empress had given her and the things she wanted Terrence to help her with.

“He’s a skilled tailor, so he’ll do a good job.”

“Thank you for readily helping me.”

“It’s Vivian asking, not someone else, after all.”

‘Still Vivian?’

A man who is trapped in old memories and calls the Empress by her name. Leah couldn’t react casually, no matter how hard she tried.

“Vivian has dark brown eyes, so brown or beige suits her really well.”

“!?”

“She rides so well, and now she’s going to participate in a riding competition. That’s so Vivian-like.”

Terrence was passionately talking about the Empress.

“Vivian has slender arms and legs, and her feet are small compared to her height. It would be good to keep that in mind when making riding clothes. Oh, and her head is small, so the brim of the hat should be short.”

Leah was speechless.

It felt like her mind was collapsing and her heart was freezing coldly. She lost interest in riding clothes and everything else.

She was dumbfounded by Terrence’s affectionate expression and melancholic eyes when he talked about the Empress. She didn’t know until now that the woman he really liked was in the Imperial Palace.

“Terrence, why did you get engaged to me? You had your first love, the Empress.”

Leah blurted out her true feelings without realizing it. But she tried her best not to be agitated.

“Because Vivian was betrothed to His Majesty…….”

“Why didn’t you pursue her? She was your first love.”

“Should I have?”

“Yes, if I were you, I wouldn’t let go of a man I liked so much.”

“Then, what kind of man am I? Am I a man you like a lot?”

He kept dodging the question like a loach. Leah was seized with the urge to punch Terrence because he was so annoying.

“I don’t know.”

Leah also avoided answering. But she didn’t know why her eyes were getting hot. She struggled not to cry.

Because if she cried here, she would feel too miserable.

“You got engaged to me because of Aiden, right?”

She continued her attack on Terrence.

“I thought that was all settled last time? I didn’t.”

“I’m just sorry. That Terrence couldn’t be with his first love.”

“Are you serious?”

Terrence’s voice was very subdued.

“Of course, if I had been mature at the time, I would never have held onto Terrence. I don’t want a man who doesn’t love me either. It’s not too late now. We’re not married yet.”

“What?”

“Ah! The Empress might be a bit difficult. Then Terrence should find a woman who can fulfill the longing of his first love.”

Leah was too immersed in the unseen emotional battle with Terrence. No, she was madly jealous. She hated the very fact that he had separate memories with the Empress.

She was the one who kept pushing him away, saying she would never love Terrence and wouldn’t afford such luxury, but she was being pathetic for lashing out at him for bringing up some old memories.

She knew she shouldn’t be doing this, but she was caught up in childish spite and couldn’t control herself.

‘Leah Hamilton, you’re a hypocrite. You’re selfish and pathetic.’

But not everything she said was just empty words. She would be happy for Terrence if he met a woman like his first love, even now.

“Just one question.”

Terrence was not okay. He blocked Leah’s path and looked down at her menacingly.

“What is it?”

“Since we’re not married, you can go to another man at any time?”

Leah couldn’t answer right away. The reason was obvious.

Because she couldn’t go anywhere leaving Terrence behind now. The boundary she had created for fear of him intruding had already collapsed.

But her pride wouldn’t allow her to change her words now.

“Of course.”

“Of course?”

Terrence seemed greatly shocked.

“Terrence, I should go see James. I have to meet the tailor. I’ll go first.”

Leah fled from him and left the spruce forest.

She walked forward, leaving Terrence, who was in shock, in the middle of the forest.

* * *

Terrence stared at the spot where Leah had left, without moving.

“Damn it, Luke.”

He said that jealousy was the best way to find out a woman’s feelings, so he spouted words he didn’t mean, but Leah was calm. Rather, he found out something he shouldn’t have known.

‘It’s okay if it’s not me?’

As expected, Leah is trying to distance herself from him under the guise of trying.

This only confirmed that the little bird in his cage is constantly looking for a chance to fly away. But his heart ached as if it was tearing apart.

He can’t live without Leah now, but she’s trying to create ways to escape in many ways.

Is the reason why she’s developing the ability to do anything alone perhaps because she’s trying to get away from him?

‘Is she sick of me?’

He was so cruel to Leah in the past. Perhaps the memories of that time remain as scars and she’s trying to repay them all.

‘Leah, don’t you love me anymore?’

Terrence imagined for a moment, Leah leaving him and loving another man.

“Khuk……!”

Just imagining it made his heart burn black with jealousy. At that moment, murderous intent rose from his solar plexus like smoke.

‘How dare anyone take you away from me.’

He once heard that true love is about blessing the other person’s well-being.

‘Bullshit.’

He has to use any means and methods. If her heart has left him, he just has to bring her back.

‘Leah, love me. That’s the only way we both can live.’

Terrence didn’t even know that he would be so terribly obsessed with one woman.

His insides are so full of her that there’s no room for anyone else…….

Only then did Terrence come to his senses. He saw Leah walking away, leaving him far behind.

‘Don’t leave me behind!’

Terrence ran quickly after Leah.

For some reason, he couldn’t bear the ominous feeling that he shouldn’t let her go like this.

Terrence finally grabbed Leah’s arm as she walked ahead.

“Terrence!”

“You can’t love anyone but me!”

Terrence shouted at Leah. On the other hand, Leah wanted to shake off his hand that was holding her arm tightly.

“It hurts!”

“Don’t forget, you’re my woman!”

Leah was angry at Terrence, who was shouting with a scary face.

“Terrence is a liar.”

Leah also shouted at him.