Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 50

Revenge Comes with Interest 47. The Three Enemies (50/200)

The Three Enemies

2023.09.16.

Leah paid the hotel employee 50 gold. The two men and women looked quite surprised that a young lady they didn’t know had paid for their hotel bill.

“I am Grace Bizac, from the Bizac barony of the Rubek Empire. My fiancé is Duke Terrence Courtois.”

“Ah! I see.”

Leah deliberately introduced herself in detail, figuring that if they were indeed the Sainte-Bourg Imperial tailors, they would surely know the two families of Rubek. The couple quickly assessed Leah’s appearance.

“Baron Bizac and Duke Courtois, who contributed greatly in the war with Wales. We know them well.”

“You were the Sainte-Bourg Imperial tailors?”

“Yes, I am Sonia.”

“I’m Sonia’s husband, Adolf.”

They began to explain their situation to Leah.

They started by emphasizing that they weren’t usually the type to skip out on hotel bills, and then recounted how prestigious their position used to be.

The couple seemed very proud and possessed strong self-esteem, having served the Emperor and Empress of the Sainte-Bourg Empire.

Even in their current circumstances, they seemed to resist acknowledging that the empire had fallen and that they were now wandering in a foreign land.

“My goodness! I’m so fortunate to meet the Sainte-Bourg Imperial tailors like this.”

Leah placed her hand on her chest and spoke with a touched expression.

People who couldn’t let go of their past glory needed time to accept reality. She knew this well from personal experience.

“Teachers? You flatter us, Lady Bizac.”

“Can I call you Sonia and Adolf?”

“Of course.”

“By the way, did you make the clothes you’re wearing?”

Leah needed one last confirmation. If they were truly the Sainte-Bourg Imperial tailors, then the distinctive clothes they were wearing must also be their own creations.

Sainte-Bourg was renowned for its high-end lace, embroidery, riding clothes, and suits. Especially since it was a cold country, the winter clothes made in Sainte-Bourg were considered top-notch.

“Of course, we never entrust the making of our clothes to others.”

Sonia’s face was filled with pride.

Leah had a feeling that this couple would be of great help to her.

“Sonia, Adolf, would you like to work with me?”

Leah briefly told them about her business, explaining that she had general stores all over Galdenia, and in Rubek, she had received a request to make clothes for the Empress.

“Really…?”

A strange light flickered in Adolf’s eyes. People who had been affiliated with the Imperial family for a long time found it very difficult to become independent.

It wasn’t because they lacked independence or skills, but because of the solid reputation and prestige they had built up.

Even so, they were at a crossroads and needed to make a quick decision.

“Alright.”

Sonia and Adolf accepted Leah’s offer.

“I’ll arrange a carriage for you to go to the Courtois ducal residence in Rubek. When you arrive, give them my name.”

“Thank you, Lady Bizac.”

* * *

Leah and Pauline finally left Galdenia.

Unlike Pauline, who was humming a song because she was happy to go home, Leah gazed out the window.

‘I’ll come again.’

She soothed her disappointed heart. Brasel, a place as familiar to her as a security blanket, was now receding into the distance.

Leaving that place felt heavy. Still, she was able to pull herself together, partly thanks to the Hamilton general stores visible everywhere.

“Pauline, how was this trip? Were you tired?”

Leah felt sorry for Pauline, whom she had dragged along.

“No. It was fun. McDowell’s mansion was especially impressive.”

“Really?”

“It made me realize how powerful the Hamilton Merchant Guild really was. But to go bankrupt in an instant…”

Pauline couldn’t forget the Hamilton Merchant Guild’s mansion, which was comparable to a ducal residence.

How could a merchant, not even a noble, have so much money to live in such a place? It made her realize the power of money once again.

“But those three were really annoying.”

Pauline frowned, recalling Allen, Touazo, and the cargo ship captain.

Ignoring women was one thing, but they were so arrogant and boastful. In particular, she hated the way all three men looked at Grace with lecherous eyes.

“Those three men framed the Hamilton Merchant Guild. That’s why the guild went bankrupt.”

Leah said it without thinking.

“Really? How do you know that, miss?”

“Uh…? I saw it in the newspaper.”

Of course, there was no such content in the newspaper. Pauline didn’t read the newspaper, so she just made it up in a hurry.

‘Was there such content in the newspaper?’

Pauline tilted her head. Then Pauline had another question.

“Can we trust the Sainte-Bourg people?”

“My guess is right.”

After experiencing many people and seeing many things, you naturally develop the ability to gauge others. She learned this from her father as well.

“Even if it’s not, helping someone in need isn’t a bad thing.”

“They could be scammers, right?”

“If they’re scammers, would Terrence leave them alone?”

“Ah! I guess they can’t scam even if they want to, not if they know what kind of person our Duke is.”

“That’s right.”

Leah’s heart was complicated when she thought of Terrence. She hated her situation, where she couldn’t completely push him away or fully accept him.

Even though she had come to Galdenia as if running away, there wasn’t a single moment when she didn’t miss Terrence.

In addition, she was constantly bothered by the fact that she had left without seeing him fully recovered.

‘Will he be angry? Or will he ignore me?’

Leah was curious about how Terrence would react when she returned. Seeing that he didn’t send anyone to follow her, it seemed like he had given up.

‘I don’t regret it.’

She thought it was a good thing that she had left him so suddenly. When conflicts arise, it’s wise to create some distance and think rationally.

“Miss, can I say something?”

Pauline looked at her seriously, noticing Leah’s worries.

“Of course.”

“Um, the Duke likes you, not the Empress.”

“Why do you think so?”

“Just like you recognized the value of the Sainte-Bourg people at once, I’ve been working under others for a long time, so I have a sense of what’s going on.”

They often saw aspects that the parties involved didn’t realize.

Subtle expressions, gradually changing eyes, emotional changes, etc., can be judged fairly accurately from a third-party perspective.

To exaggerate a little, she could see people’s emotional changes.

Pauline’s words were convincing enough. But Leah’s face was still gloomy.

‘Pauline, I’m not the real Grace. I’m a fake. Grace’s soul is asleep somewhere in this body. And I don’t know when my soul will be kicked out of Grace’s body.’

She herself didn’t know how she had entered Grace’s body.

She was even more unaware of what would happen afterwards. So she wasn’t in a position to like someone to her heart’s content.

* * *

Allen was hospitalized. He suffered fractures to his ribs, leg bones, and shoulder bones from the sudden terror attack. He was diagnosed with needing to be hospitalized for at least a month.

‘Damn it! Which bastards did this?’

He ordered his secretary to investigate the group that had attacked him.

‘Could it be that a group loyal to Leah’s father remained?’

They were the only ones who would harbor resentment towards him. Besides, it was strange that they knew his every move.

‘Still, it’s a relief that my face wasn’t badly damaged.’

His face was a great asset to him. It was with this face that he seduced Leah Hamilton and took over the Hamilton Merchant Guild.

‘Could it be the work of that Terrence Courtois?’

He was a cruel and extreme person who could calmly commit terrorism and get away with it. But there’s a part that doesn’t make sense.

‘It’s suspicious that he left Grace to go to Galdenia alone.’

As he saw last time, Terrence’s eyes towards Grace were very dangerous. Full of uncontrollable obsession and possessiveness, it was like…

‘He was like a madman.’

As Allen’s head was filled with complicated thoughts, his secretary arrived.

“Did you find out?”

“I’m sorry, it seems it will take time to investigate because they didn’t leave any traces that could be clues.”

“Damn it!”

Allen burst into anger. Who dared to touch the president of McDowell Trading Company without fear?

“Where is Grace?”

“She left for Rubek.”

“Annoying.”

He felt pathetic that he couldn’t produce any results with Grace right in front of him. Then suddenly Terrence came to mind.

“Didn’t Duke Courtois instigate the terror attack?”

“I sent a telegram to that side, and I got a reply right away.”

“The Duke has the flu and is very sick. He has been focusing on treatment at home for several days.”

Then the conclusion is that it wasn’t Terrence’s doing.

That’s right, his body is sick, so he couldn’t follow Grace around.

“Find them no matter what. I won’t let them get away with it!”

Allen said, gritting his teeth.

* * *

The carriage carrying Leah and Pauline arrived in Lebon late at night.

Though she didn’t know when she had left, when she came back, she felt comfortable, as if she had come to her own home.

“Miss, if you go a little further, it’s the Duke’s residence.”

“Okay.”

Leah’s mind, which had been complicated for a while, was also relieved.

Now, all she had to do was meet Terrence and find a way to resolve the conflict well. Then Pauline looked out the window and turned pale.

“The city is full of police officers.”

“Really? What’s going on?”

As the two were wondering, the carriage stopped, and soon police officers in uniform approached the carriage and opened the door.

“Officer, this is the Courtois ducal family’s carriage.”

Pauline said confidently to the officer.

Normally, this would never have happened.

“I know, please get out of the carriage.”

“Yes?”

Leah and Pauline looked at each other with bewildered expressions.

What on earth was going on that the police stopped the Duke’s carriage and even conducted a search?

The two got out of the carriage with flushed faces. Then a police officer approached Leah and asked.

“Are you Grace Bizac?”

“Yes, it’s me. Why?”

At Leah’s answer, the police officer said with an expression that the problem had finally been resolved.

“We are urgently arresting Grace Bizac for attempted murder.”