Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 44

Revenge Comes with Interest 44. The Place I Missed (44/200)

The Place I Missed

2023.09.13.

Leah unpacked her luggage with Pauline at the Brasel Hotel.

“Did you arrange accommodations for the coachmen as well?”

“Yes, I told them to stay at the hotel, but they adamantly refused. They’re planning to go to an inn.”

“An inn?”

“It’s obvious, isn’t it? They’re going to drink and meet women.”

The moment Leah set foot on Galdenian soil, she was overwhelmed with emotion.

Just six months ago, she had fled this place in a white wedding dress, never dreaming she would return as a completely different person.

Moreover, the unique scent of Brasel and the familiar streets stirred her heart.

The streets she had walked countless times since childhood, the shops she frequented, and the neighbors who greeted her warmly, inquiring about each other’s well-being—she missed them all.

[Miss Hamilton, I heard you’re marrying the most handsome nobleman in Galdenia? Congratulations!]

[Thank you, Aunt Eva. Will you come to the wedding?]

[So many distinguished guests will be there; how can I go smelling of fish? I’ll just congratulate you in my heart. Instead, I’ll give you a fresh fish as a wedding gift today.]

They were such kind and generous people, but now, even if she sought them out, they wouldn’t recognize her as Leah.

Soon, Leah’s nose tingled, and her eyes welled up.

“Miss, I’ve finished unpacking. There wasn’t much to organize since you didn’t bring much luggage.”

At Pauline’s voice, Leah quickly composed herself.

“I have somewhere to go for a moment, Pauline.”

“Shall I call a carriage?”

“No, it’s not far, so I can walk.”

Brasel was so familiar that she knew the way even with her eyes closed. Compared to Lebon, the security was better, so it wasn’t very dangerous unless she ventured into a secluded area.

“But, Miss, isn’t this your first time in Brasel?”

“Oh? Th-That’s right. I studied the city in advance. I need to know where the general store is.”

“I see.”

The two left the hotel and headed for where the Hamilton Trading Company *used* to be. It was perfect to look around the Hamilton General Store nearby.

However, Pauline was amazed that Leah found her way without hesitation. It was as if she were a local.

There had been more than a few times when she herself was at a loss for directions in Lubek.

Anyone would mistake her for a Brasel native.

About ten minutes after leaving the hotel, Leah stopped walking. It was a very familiar building. However, Leah’s face hardened at the unfamiliar sign.

“McDowell Trading Company?”

Pauline read the sign and tilted her head.

She didn’t know why Leah wanted to come here. It was just a building.

Seeing the changed sign, Leah felt a fire rising in her chest. Now she knew exactly why she had returned to Brasel.

‘Leah Hamilton, this is your reality.’

This was not the time to be swayed by sentimentality and engage in emotional battles.

Leah was trembling with injustice and resentment.

She wanted to kill Allen with Terrun’s gun, which she always carried in her handbag. It was a good thing she hadn’t returned the gun to Terrun.

‘Everything the Hamilton family built has disappeared because of me.’

Leah’s breathing was irregular, as if a whirlwind was blowing in her chest.

Seeing it with her own eyes, her desire for revenge against Allen surged like red-hot lava.

‘Everything you took from me, I will take it all back.’

That wasn’t the end of it. Instead of her father, she would make sure to throw Allen into the Reef Island prison [a notorious prison known for its harsh conditions and isolation].

So that he couldn’t live or die, she would make him crave death.

At that moment, Pauline pointed ahead.

“Oh! That gentleman looks like the one who came to the funeral.”

At Pauline’s words, Leah turned her gaze.

It was perfect timing—to meet such trashy lovers at once.

Pauline kept chattering, saying she had seen him outside the church. Because of that, Leah couldn’t avoid Allen. Allen’s gaze accurately landed on Leah because of Pauline’s voice.

“Lady Vizak!”

He was greatly surprised, roughly shaking off Sarah, who was holding his arm. He strode towards Leah, and Sarah quickly came over and took his arm again.

“Sarah, please step aside for a moment. I have something to discuss with the Lady.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Sarah.”

At Allen’s stern and low voice, Sarah moved a few steps away.

On the other hand, Allen couldn’t believe that Leah was in front of him. He had been planning to visit Lubek to see her.

“It’s been a while, Mr. McDowell.”

Leah responded in as calm a tone as possible. It was quite difficult to control her emotions because she met him when her anger towards him was soaring.

“Lady Vizak, what brings you to Brasel?”

“There’s a Hamilton General Store here, isn’t there? I came to look around.”

“Ah! The Hamilton General Store…….”

Allen recalled that Terrun had taken over the general store. Things had gone terribly wrong.

“Lady Vizak, I have many things to explain. I’m sorry for the incident involving the Rapa organization and for making you uncomfortable at the hotel last time.”

His long-winded excuses—no, lies—were packaged as if they were the truth.

Allen confessed that he had only tried to sell the general store to the Rapa organization and had no other intentions.

He asked Leah if the Rapa organization had any resentment towards the Courtois ducal family, defending himself as innocent. It was a very plausible story.

‘Allen, your way with words is still the same.’

No one could follow him in piecing things together and rationalizing them. He seemed to be born with the qualities of a con artist.

Leah pretended not to know about the events that had occurred between the Rapa organization and Allen.

“Lady Vizak, even at the hotel……. The Duke must have told you the wrong date.”

“Does the date matter? I understand. It’s not unusual for upper-class men to have one or two mistresses. Of course, you have no intention of marrying your mistress, do you?”

Leah raised her voice a little so that Sarah could hear. Soon, Sarah’s face turned red and blue.

“Mr. McDowell, I must be going now.”

Leah found it difficult to face him. Her hands were trembling, and she felt the urge to take out the gun in her handbag.

“Lady Vizak, there will be a dinner party at my house tomorrow evening at six o’clock. Please come.”

“I don’t know if I’ll have time.”

“I’ve invited many of Brasel’s leading figures. The Tuazo Police Chief and the McDowell Freight Ship Captain will also be there. Since there are many Courtois-owned general stores here, it might be a good opportunity to build connections with them.”

‘The Tuazo Police Chief and the Freight Ship Captain are coming. All three of the villains are gathering.’

Leah suddenly wanted to see their faces.

What kind of faces would the devils who had framed one person and brought them down be making now?

“Mr. McDowell, I will accept your invitation. However, only if my maid, Pauline, is treated as a guest as well.”

“Of… course.”

Allen couldn’t hide his joy at Leah’s acceptance.

* * *

Terrun returned to the Duke’s residence soaked in winter rain on the day Leah disappeared.

Although he couldn’t find Leah himself, he immediately sent a pursuit team and obtained information that the carriage carrying her had gone to Galdenia.

‘Is she going to check on the general store? Thank goodness, she’s going where I expected.’

It was fortunate that she wasn’t a woman who acted without reason, even when she was angry. There was enough reason for Leah to go to Galdenia.

The first thing he did upon returning was to order Rapa to protect Leah in Galdenia. He couldn’t leave Leah unattended until he arrived in Galdenia.

‘I need to bring her back right away.’

However, Terrun had a serious problem. Whether it was the price of feigning illness or not, he had caught a real cold. He had been suffering from a high fever and cough for days.

“You must take your medicine regularly and get plenty of rest.”

Dr. Wilson had practically sentenced Terrun to confinement.

“It’s just a cold. Don’t make a fuss. I can’t leave Leah there.”

Terrun was about to leave for Galdenia.

“If you go like this, you may never see the Lady again. I won’t stop you if you don’t care.”

It was the first time Dr. Wilson had subtly pressured him. He would have ignored him if he had just nagged that it was absolutely impossible.

Moreover, James and Luke joined forces and opposed him so strongly that it was difficult to have his way this time. So, he just slept while taking medicine.

“Uncle, do you hurt a lot?”

Chanel was by his side when Terrun woke up.

“You’ll catch a cold; stay away.”

“It’s okay. I’m strong.”

Chanel’s complexion was not good. It must have been because Leah and Pauline had disappeared without a word. So, she must have come to ask him.

“Leah will be back soon.”

“I came because I was worried about you.”

“What?”

“We’re family. So, it’s natural to worry.”

“Thank you so much.”

Who knew Chanel’s words would be comforting.

It was a relief that she didn’t cry or whine. If she told him to find her sisters right away…….

‘I want to get up right away, too.’

He missed Leah even more desperately than Chanel did. It had only been a few days since they had been apart, but he missed her as if he hadn’t seen her for years.

“Grace went home.”

Terrun burst into laughter at Chanel’s words.

How naive; there was no way Leah would go to Bern. He had already grasped her destination and was receiving telegrams every day.

“She originally went home.”

Chanel only repeated incomprehensible words. But Terrun suddenly wanted to ask Chanel.

“Why did Leah leave?”

“Because she was scared.”

He shouldn’t have asked. Leah must have left because she misunderstood his relationship with the Empress……. She must have been greatly disappointed in him.

“She’s scared of love. But if you’re not there, she’s very sad.”

‘Nonsense; so she ran away to Galdenia without a word.’

It was better to just ignore Chanel’s words. She was pure, but she couldn’t think like adults.

“Shall I tell you a way? I know how to make her not angry at you.”

“No, thanks.”

Terrun waved his hand at Chanel, but on the other hand, he was curious about even childish words.

Because Terrun didn’t know how to treat Leah right now.

He was angry enough to not forgive her for running away without a word, but he was also sorry and anxious because he was the one who caused it.

“You have to give her trust. So that she completely trusts you.”

Terrun’s heart stung at Chanel’s words.

Come to think of it, he had only tried to confirm her feelings in a childish way, but he hadn’t given her trust in him.

“Ahem! I’m going now. I’m sleepy.”