Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 48

Retribution Bears Interest Episode 49. The Fiancée-Obsessed Man (48/200)

Episode 49. The Fiancée-Obsessed Man

2023.09.18.

Leah returned to the mansion with Terrence and found the lobby carpeted with expensive roses.

Roses with such a subtle blend of white and blue would cost a fortune. And there weren’t just a few; they covered the lobby like a plush carpet.

“Grace, make sure you trample them.”

“Terrence, it feels wrong to step on flowers like this…”

It felt wasteful. More than that, stepping on living flowers felt like killing them.

“It means you’ll only walk a flowery path from now on.”

“A flowery path?”

Before he said that, she had felt resistant, but she couldn’t refuse the thoughtfulness of him laying flowers in her path.

Leah slowly took a step. She squeezed her eyes shut as the lush petals were crushed beneath her feet, but she didn’t want to reject the flowery path Terrence had laid out for her.

“I… I want to walk only a flowery path.”

Leah gently lifted her skirt and stepped lightly across the carpet of flowers. Soon, Terrence followed, stepping on the flowers as he walked toward her.

“I feel sorry for the flowers, but it feels like I’m in a flower garden with Terrence.”

A radiant smile bloomed on Leah’s face.

Seeing Grace smiling brightly amidst the flowers, Terrence’s heart fluttered once more.

‘The dove that flew far away has returned to my arms. So lovely.’

What could be more beautiful than flowers? He seemed to have found at least one. And Terrence fervently wished that they both would walk only flowery paths like this for the rest of their lives.

“Terrence, did you prepare these flowers to surprise me?”

“You could say that. Does it matter?”

“Thank you.”

‘Thank you? Those flowers were sent by that bastard Allen McDowell. I can’t ignore his sincerity, can I?’

A shameless man who relentlessly pursues a woman who already has a fiancé.

‘He’s just asking for trouble.’

Terrence enjoyed strolling through the flower garden with Grace.

* * *

Grace introduced Sonya and Adolf to Terrence.

Terrence, having already investigated them, expressed his intention to hire them. The couple was overjoyed at the prospect of resuming their work.

“I’ll prepare a small separate annex for you to live in.”

Terrence spoke favorably to them, but Sonya and Adolf were wary of him.

“If we succeed with the Empress’s riding suit this time, I plan to entrust a boutique in the city to you both.”

“Is that… really true?”

Adolf’s eyes welled up with tears. Opening a boutique under his own name was his lifelong dream.

Being a tailor for the imperial family was honorable, but it couldn’t compare to owning his own business.

“Of course, that’s only possible if you both understand my intentions and deliver satisfactory results.”

“Naturally.”

After hearing their response, Leah unfolded the clothing sketches she had designed before them.

However, Sonya and Adolf’s expressions darkened, as if they were shocked.

“Are you suggesting we dress the Empress in men’s attire?”

Adolf asked, looking at the sketches again.

“Yes, but not a complete suit. I want you to make a black jacket that comes down to the waist, but the waist should be fitted to accentuate the curves of the female body.”

“Then we’ll need to use a fabric that’s easy to move in.”

Adolf put on his glasses and carefully examined Leah’s sketches. Leah then turned her gaze to Terrence.

“Terrence, what happened to the camel hair you brought from Turqui [a region known for its fine textiles]?”

“I had it prepared as Grace ordered.”

As he rang the bell, James immediately entered the office.

“Bring the fabric we brought from Turqui.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

However, Sonya’s expression wasn’t very good.

She understood modifying men’s shirts and ties to wear under the jacket, but the problem was the bottoms.

“Young Lady, surely you’re not planning to have the Empress wear pants? A lady spreading her legs to ride a horse?”

“Sonya needs to make the bottoms. Culottes…”

“Culottes?”

“They need to be designed so that it’s not obvious she’s spreading her legs to ride a horse. But the problem is mobility. To perform various equestrian skills, the culottes can’t be too cumbersome or get caught on her legs. Please create riding culottes that are luxurious and elegant. In particular, the undershorts shouldn’t be visible when they flutter in the wind.”

Sonya repeatedly tilted her head, showing her reluctance at Leah’s words.

“It would be a disgrace if the Saint-Theoburg imperial tailor couldn’t even make something like that, wouldn’t it? If you want to give up, say so early. My personal tailor is quite skilled as well.”

Terrence interjected, rebuking Sonya.

No one would acknowledge their glamorous past careers just by hearing about them.

Terrence’s harsh words silenced Sonya for a while, her face crestfallen. She probably thought he was challenging her pride.

However, this time, Leah didn’t think Terrence was wrong. They had always claimed to have extensive experience, so they needed to actually demonstrate it to be recognized.

“I will make culottes from the same material as the jacket. I’ll add knife pleats at the waist so they don’t look like pants when sitting in the saddle. However, the skirt length should only come down to the shins.”

Sonya actively shared her ideas, as if she had never shown reluctance. At that moment, Leah recalled an item that Hamilton Merchants used to handle.

“We can wear long boots made of deerskin. And gloves too. Then there’s no chance of underwear being exposed, and it will look very chic.”

Adolf’s eyes lit up at Leah’s words. Deerskin was as soft as human skin, making it an excellent material for riding and hunting.

Just then, James entered with a roll of fabric.

“This fabric is a blend of Turqui camel hair and wool. It’s thin but has excellent insulation.”

“Look at this sheen.”

When Leah showed Sonya the fabric James had brought, Sonya’s face brightened.

At that moment, Terrence, who had been reading the newspaper, shared surprising news with everyone.

“Almost all the royals from the continent are participating in the Royal Equestrian Competition in Velis. There’s news that Empress Theresa of Galdenia will also be attending.”

“Really?”

Empress Theresa of Galdenia was famous for rarely engaging in external activities. Of course, no one had ever seen her face.

All that was known about her face were portraits.

Rumor had it that she had severe scars on her face due to smallpox she contracted in her late twenties, and she had been covering her face with a black veil ever since.

“That’s a very big event.”

Adolf wrung his hands nervously. The task given to them was more challenging than they had anticipated.

“I hope you both don’t disappoint me, do you?”

Terrence folded the newspaper and threw it down, speaking in a stern tone.

“We will do our best to ensure that the Empress is not disappointed.”

“No, not the Empress.”

“Yes? Then who?”

“I’m saying, don’t disappoint Grace. Of course, I trust Grace’s judgment in bringing you here.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Sonya chuckled inwardly. The Duke had been watching the situation with fierce eyes throughout the meeting.

But his gaze was fixed solely on his fiancée, Grace. The only feeling she had at that moment was:

‘He’s a man obsessed with his fiancée.’

In fact, the design sketches that Grace had presented weren’t much of a problem. She was confident she could create them with her skills.

What bothered her was the Duke’s gaze. Whenever Grace spoke, he would cover his face with the newspaper, revealing only his eyes as he watched her.

She could sense his desire to not miss a single one of Grace’s expressions, not even a stray strand of hair falling down her neck.

Well, it was understandable. Grace was not only beautiful but also a very intelligent lady. A rare and progressive woman in recent times.

“The fitting is only a month away. Please do your best.”

Grace encouraged the two.

Sonya and Adolf bowed politely and were about to leave the office with the fabric when they suddenly turned around and spoke to Grace and Terrence.

“Thank you for taking us in when our country was ruined and we had nowhere to go.”

They were sincere. Who else would recognize their value at once and readily pay for their hotel expenses? Moreover, entrusting them with such a big task. Meeting Grace was a great stroke of luck.

“No need to thank us.”

Terrence replied nonchalantly.

“If Grace isn’t satisfied, I can just fire you.”

“Terrence!”

Leah glared at him. There was no need to upset people who were expressing their gratitude.

* * *

It wasn’t until after dinner that Terrence was finally alone with Grace.

He had sent Chane and Pauline away, and only the two of them were in her bedroom.

“Grace, come to my bedroom now.”

They had confirmed their feelings for each other in the prison, so there were no more obstacles between them.

“Are you suggesting we share a bed?”

“Yes.”

His hand gently caressed her face.

Even though he had eaten dinner, he felt empty inside. A desperate desire that couldn’t be filled with food surged up whenever he saw Grace.

“Terrence, now that we’re on the topic, let’s sort things out properly.”

“Sort out? What?”

“Terrence, you were too much. You put me in prison for attempted murder.”

That was to show her how desperate his feelings were. And it was true that he almost died because of Grace.

“Do you know how scared I was? I was imprisoned in a place I never had to go to in my life, terrified.”

Leah teared up, and Terrence didn’t know what to do.

“What kind of fiancé in the world throws his woman in jail?”

No matter how much she thought about it, it was too outrageous and absurd. Even if it was just for a moment, she had even doubted Terrence’s sanity.

“That’s because I wasn’t in my right mind.”

Terrence admitted it. He had acted like a person driven mad by love, and even Luke, who had heard his story for the first time, had looked at him strangely.

“So I’ve prepared a way to repay Terrence’s atrocities against me with love.”

Leah handed Terrence two pieces of paper.