Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 53

Wet Desire

Terun, while sipping tea with Grace, cautiously initiated the conversation.

“Didn’t I work hard yesterday?”

“You did.”

“Enough to be touching?”

‘More like infuriating.’

“I appreciate Terun’s efforts.”

Leah responded with a smile, not wanting to childishly reveal her jealousy. Her pride wouldn’t allow it.

“Then, shouldn’t you sign the grape?”

Leah almost blurted out “Yes” because Terun’s sulky face was too adorable.

She nearly succumbed to his petulance, despite him being taller and more robust than the average man.

‘Whew! That was close. I’m still upset. Get a grip!’

“I wasn’t that impressed.”

Terun seemed utterly shocked by Grace’s words, his mouth agape as he stared at her.

He swore he had worked diligently yesterday, even sharing his obstacle-crossing techniques with utmost dedication.

“In what aspect, specifically?”

“That’s for Terun to ponder.”

He was bewildered by Grace’s firm response. Being told to reflect on his mistakes felt like the most challenging task in the world.

‘I stood out too much yesterday.’

He didn’t need to show off his flamboyant horsemanship. Concentrating everyone’s attention on himself instead of Grace was a misstep.

Even if women were skilled riders, they couldn’t match a soldier like him. He had needlessly interfered, diminishing Grace’s standing.

“I’ll take my leave first, Terun.”

Leah abruptly rose from her seat. Discussing yesterday’s events with Terun reignited the jealousy she had felt then.

He had whispered to Mary, massaged her calves, and even ridden horses together. Moreover, they had exchanged such affectionate smiles.

‘Ugh! This is infuriating!’

She had assumed the feeling would dissipate overnight. Seeing Terun so oblivious only fueled her anger. She wanted to confront him about every little detail.

‘He can forget about getting his grape signed.’

As Leah briskly walked out of the greenhouse, Luke greeted her politely from the opposite direction.

Yet, she passed him by indifferently, as if she didn’t even see him.

‘Why is she so upset?’

Luke had never seen Grace’s expression so sour. What could have made her so angry that she couldn’t even recognize someone right in front of her?

‘There he is.’

Luke sighed as he watched Terun finishing his tea. He quickly approached Terun.

“Did you two have a fight?”

“No.”

Terun replied, looking puzzled.

“She seemed very upset, though.”

“Huh?”

He looked utterly clueless. Grace had been consistently affectionate towards him.

Perhaps she seemed slightly cold when she told him to consider why she wouldn’t sign the grape.

Still, they hadn’t argued enough to warrant such anger…

“Luke, about yesterday…”

Terun recounted everything that had happened yesterday to Luke, feeling that his hunch might be correct.

* * *

Leah frowned as she reviewed the orders coming into the general store. Since they had started mail-order sales, the volume of orders had exploded.

Moreover, Leah’s cherry-red cape had become a huge hit, with orders pouring in from all over the country, even from abroad. As a result, her bank balance had grown significantly.

‘It’s too much for Chanelle to handle alone.’

Currently, she was busy making Rivette’s dress, leaving her no time to create other items. However, she couldn’t break her promises to the customers.

Knowing she needed to come up with a solution, Leah summoned Chanelle and Pauline.

“It seems impossible for Chanelle to handle all the lace work by herself,” Leah began.

Pauline clapped her hands in agreement.

“It’s gone beyond a simple side job.”

“So, I was wondering, what if we set up a workshop in the city and hire people? People with some level of skill in lace making, of course. We could have a three-month probationary period, and only hire those who can match Chanelle’s skills.”

“That’s a great idea. What do you think?”

Pauline asked Chanelle.

“That’s good, but I’m lacking, so people will make fun of me.”

Leah and Pauline’s hearts sank at Chanelle’s words.

They had always assumed she was cheerful and didn’t have such worries. It was upsetting to realize that Chanelle had been suffering in her own way.

They wished they had recognized her feelings sooner.

“Who would make fun of you! Chanelle Bizac, the Young Lady of the Baron! You’re not a gypsy anymore!”

Pauline exclaimed, getting worked up.

The image of Grandpa Rapha crying upon hearing the news that Chanelle had become a noble lady was still vivid in her mind.

Meanwhile, Leah needed to devise a more practical solution.

“I have an idea.”

Chanelle and Pauline stopped their bickering at Leah’s words.

“Pauline, stop being my maid.”

“What? Are you… abandoning me, Miss?”

“That’s not it!”

Leah believed it was time for Pauline to grow. She felt guilty asking her to remain her maid indefinitely. She wanted to give her the opportunity to develop her own life.

“You’re going to be the workshop manager. Pauline will be in charge of Chanelle’s lace business from now on.”

“Yay!”

Chanelle cheered first.

However, Pauline, the person in question, simply stared back and forth between the two with a blank expression.

Leah gently explained Pauline’s responsibilities.

She would be guaranteed a share of the profits as the workshop manager, and if she further developed her skills, they would be willing to negotiate her salary.

Pauline had dealt with many noble ladies, so she had excellent etiquette and the appropriate way of speaking.

Conversely, having served others for so long, she was well aware of the hardships faced by subordinates, making her the perfect person for the job.

“Then, what about you, Miss?”

“There are so many employees at the Duke’s residence. They can just select another one.”

Pauline seemed to be experiencing a mix of emotions, both touched and disappointed. She stood there blankly, tears welling up in her eyes.

Leah approached Pauline, grasped her shoulders, and met her gaze.

“Pauline, it’s time to grow up and enter society. You know that women can also run businesses.”

“I know. I learned it from watching you, Miss. I used to think that women could only survive by getting married, but that’s not true anymore.”

“That’s right.”

“Do you think I can do it well? What if I encounter people who cunningly steal Chanelle’s skills and run away? I’m not confident.”

“Pauline, you’re more than capable. And leave the task of judging people to Chanelle.”

Leah and Pauline simultaneously looked at Chanelle. People might call her lacking, but Chanelle had a discerning eye. She possessed a mysterious ability to observe things and see into people’s souls.

“I’ll try, no, I’ll work hard.”

“I love being with Pauline, too!”

Chanelle ran over and embraced them both.

Leah’s heart swelled with emotion. Sarah’s betrayal, by someone she had believed to be a sister, had left her deeply disillusioned with people, but she had been healed by meeting Pauline and Chanelle.

They probably didn’t know how grateful she was to them.

* * *

Terun slapped his knee upon hearing Luke’s words. He had been enthusiastically barking up the wrong tree all along.

[Why are you fondling another woman’s legs? And what’s with the whispering? If Lady Grace had done that with another man, there would have been murder on the spot.]

Terun felt as if he had been struck hard on the head by Luke’s words. He had never imagined that such unexpected actions were the reason.

[And on top of that, putting another woman in the front seat of your horse? That’s just the worst. It’s practically grounds for breaking off an engagement. The Lady might even be considering breaking off the engagement because she thinks you’re a playboy.]

[Break off the engagement?]

His intentions had been pure. He simply wanted to properly teach her the techniques for overcoming obstacles so she could win the competition.

He had never dreamed that his sudden surge of competitiveness would upset Grace.

[How should I apologize?]

Even though Luke’s advice had never worked out well, he was the only one who could help him right now.

[Speak honestly. Tell her you had no such intentions at all.]

Terun went to Grace’s bedroom that night.

He wanted to have a heartfelt explanation with her alone at a quiet time. Just as he arrived in front of her room, Pauline opened the door and came out.

“Duke?”

“Is Grace in?”

“Yes, she is.”

“I see.”

Pauline sensed that he had come to apologize from Terun’s stern expression.

‘Oh, right! I didn’t tell the Duke about that.’

Pauline stopped as she was about to leave.

‘This will be fun.’

Pauline made sure that Terun entered Grace’s bedroom before she moved.

Terun knocked and entered her bedroom. Immediately, the fragrant scent of soap stimulated his nostrils.

His feet moved involuntarily, following the scent, and at the end of it sat a fairy who had just emerged from bathing in the lake.

She was wearing a chemise [a simple garment worn close to the skin, often under other clothing], her bare face as pure as egg white, and water dripped from her long, loose, wet hair.

Her white calves and pretty bare feet, slightly revealed beneath her skirt, stimulated his eyes.

Grace was as innocent as a wildflower drenched in rain. Her slightly exposed shoulders and arms looked as soft as delicate petals.

“What brings you here at night, Terun?”

Leah was sitting on the bed, drying her wet hair with a towel.

“I have something to say.”

He had clearly come with a purpose, but he felt as if his mind had been emptied by Grace’s fragrance. Especially Grace in her defenseless state was enough to stimulate any man.

‘Am I crazy? Why am I getting excited over wet hair?’

He couldn’t understand the surging desire at all.

It wasn’t as if Grace had seductively tempted him. He was the only one getting stimulated and making a fuss.

At that moment, Grace gathered her hair and swept it to one side, revealing her smooth nape [the back of the neck].

‘I’m going crazy.’

Terun swallowed dryly without realizing it. The desire to kiss her was greater than his desire to explain himself, and he didn’t know what to do.