Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 69

Revenge Comes with Interest Episode 69: Setting a Trap (69/200)

Episode 69: Setting a Trap

October 8, 2023

Allen was startled by his secretary’s report and double-checked.

“Did you say Duke Courtois is jumping into the Bertan Railroad project?”

“Yes, sir. The news came via telegram from the Duke’s residence.”

“What does that guy know about business? He should just protect the wealth he has.”

“Well, that’s…”

The secretary then relayed information Allen didn’t know. The information came from a spy planted in the Courtois ducal residence.

Apparently, there was a man named Baron Martin Polo, an explorer of unknown continents, who knew more about Bertan than even high-ranking officials in the Imperial Family. His credibility was very high.

“Baron Martin Polo, isn’t he known as an eccentric?”

“That’s true, but he’s an informant who knows the local sentiment well, having traveled to the remote regions of Bertan. He said that Bhuttan, the prince of Bertan, will soon ascend to the throne.”

“What?”

Allen fell into a panic. He hadn’t heard that, not even from the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He had only heard that the imperial sons were in a fierce battle for the throne.

“Prince Bhuttan said that if he ascends to the throne, he will build railroads throughout the entire continent of Bertan.”

“So, Duke Courtois is trying to monopolize the project?”

“I don’t know the details. What is certain is that not only imperial family members but also major merchant leaders are frequenting the Duke’s residence every day.”

Bang! Allen slammed the desk with his fist.

‘He must have overheard the conversation between me and the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Bellis banquet. There’s no way he would suddenly jump into the Bertan Railroad project otherwise.’

‘You’re going to block my path? You despicable bastard!’

Who did he think would easily give up the business rights? Now that he knew what was at stake, that would never happen.

“Find out everything about the companies bidding for the Bertan Railroad project.”

“Yes, sir.”

‘He has only known how to kill people on the battlefield his whole life, yet he dares to act up, knowing nothing about making money.’

A being who is nothing without the wealth inherited from his parents dared to try to beat him. It was laughable.

‘If only I had the Hamilton Merchant Guild’s memorandum at times like this, I could spread my wings.’

It was a bit of a shame, but there was no need to be impatient. Seeing that Sarah hadn’t been visible lately, she seemed to be working hard to find the memorandum in her own way.

‘Terrence Courtois, I’ll teach you a lesson. You won’t act up if you become a beggar and barely survive on the pension from the Imperial Family.’

Allen got up from his seat and headed towards the window. But the line in front of Hamilton’s General Store was an eyesore.

‘That damn riding suit.’

The riding suit was innovative, but Grace Vizac’s sales strategy was commendable.

Not only did she publish a photo of Empress Vivian of Lubeck, who won the Royal Equestrian Competition, in the newspaper, but she also lowered the price to sell it to the public.

Rumor had it that she had even set up a workshop, so the supply of goods had become very fast.

‘No, Grace is going to make Rivette the Crown Princess anyway.’

He had commissioned Rivette’s dress from her, so she would meet his expectations this time as well. It would be a great benefit for her to make the Crown Princess with her own hands.

The problem was Terrence.

‘This is the perfect opportunity to make Terrence a beggar.’

Allen punched the wall with his fist.

* * *

Leah went to find James as soon as it was light.

“He’s not in the study.”

“Oh, my! I’m sorry.”

James apologized with a flushed face, making Leah feel sorry instead.

“I’m getting old, so my mind isn’t what it used to be. When I think about it carefully, His Grace told me to throw it in the incinerator a few days ago.”

“So, did you burn it?”

“No, we don’t incinerate every day. Besides, it rained a few days ago, so we’ll probably do it today.”

“Thank you, James.”

Leah headed straight to the incinerator.

But even as she headed to the incinerator, she felt strange. Could James be trying to trick her?

‘No! James wouldn’t do that.’

He was a person who valued discipline more than anyone else and was courteous to his employer.

As he said, having done one job for a long time, his memories must be mixed up, causing confusion.

This time, Leah headed to the incinerator with Chenelle, not Pauline.

“Chenelle, we need to find a bundle of letters tied with string, okay?”

“Okay, sis!”

Chenelle was holding a small shovel, which she had gotten from somewhere, and was constantly digging through the ashes in the incinerator.

But the problem was that the ashes were flying towards Leah on the wind.

“Cough, Chenelle, can you not kick up so much dust?”

“Huh? Sorry.”

But when Leah looked up and saw Chenelle covered in ashes, she couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

It was because Chenelle, who worked hard at everything, was so cute.

“Oh, right! Is the lace dress all done?”

“Really? I have to go see it at the workshop. Good job, our Chenelle.”

“I’m grateful to you, sis. Because I give a lot of money to my grandpa. Grandpa and the uncles have become nice too.”

“How so?”

“They don’t cut people’s arms off anymore, they don’t sell strange medicine, and they got married.”

At Chenelle’s words, Leah suddenly felt a lump in her throat.

That wasn’t the result of her actions, but the happiness created by Chenelle’s blood and sweat.

The two searched the incinerator thoroughly again to find the bundle of letters. Then, Chenelle stopped abruptly and started crying.

“Why are you crying?”

Leah was very embarrassed. She had never seen Chenelle cry so sadly before.

“Sis, I can’t have a baby.”

“What?”

Leah’s legs gave way, and she staggered.

Who dared to touch the innocent Chenelle? If she caught them, she would have to make them die young.

Was this what a brother with a younger sister felt like? Her heart was breaking.

Leah grabbed Chenelle’s shoulders with all her might and asked fiercely.

“Who is it? Who touched you?”

But Chenelle just cried, tears and snot running down her face, and couldn’t even answer properly.

“It’s Luke, oppa [term of endearment for older brother or male friend].”

“Luke?”

She thought he was a nice guy, but he seduced an innocent child and did that!? Leah trembled.

“Tell me everything Luke did to you.”

This was not something to just let go. If Luke had done something terrible to Chenelle, she would definitely put him in jail.

“He kissed me on the forehead, but I still can’t have a baby. I need to have a baby to marry oppa.”

“!?”

Leah collapsed on the spot like a curtain with a broken string.

“Chenelle, let’s… go. I don’t think it’s in the incinerator.”

The two, covered in black ashes, just blinked at each other.

* * *

Leah went back to find James covered in ashes, and he was appalled.

“James, it’s not in the incinerator.”

At Leah’s weak voice, James’s face turned pale, like someone with a secret that shouldn’t be revealed.

He paced back and forth, retracing his memories, and then, as if he had finally remembered correctly, he strode towards Leah.

“I really remember this time, miss.”

“Yes, you have to.”

She had no strength and her mental strength was half-depleted because of Chenelle, so she didn’t have the energy to answer.

“It’s in the bottom drawer of His Grace’s bedside table. I put it there in case, so you could read it later when you have time.”

Seeing James’s eyes shining, it seemed like it was real this time.

Leah regained her strength, took Chenelle’s hand, and headed to the bathroom.

Leah and Chenelle took a bath for over an hour with the help of the maid. After the bath, they ate like people who had been starving for several meals.

‘Grace’s arms and legs have no strength.’

Leah trembled from the muscle pain that covered her whole body.

Chenelle, who had shoveled with her, had returned to her old self after eating, but Leah didn’t even have the strength to speak. Seeing the situation, Mrs. Armand cried and pleaded.

“Miss Vizac, please don’t look for it anymore. Because of me…”

‘Don’t cry. My head is about to break, Mrs. Armand.’

Of course, those were words she couldn’t say out loud. Still, she had to say something to Mrs. Armand.

“I’m doing this because I feel like I have to.”

“Yes?”

“There’s something like that. Well, if I have a hard time later, then Mrs. Armand, no, Marie, can help me, right?”

“Of course. I will definitely repay the grace that Young Lady has shown me, even if it costs me my life.”

‘There’s no need for that, I just want to punish the son of a bitch who abandoned his wife. A proxy satisfaction, you could say.’

After midnight, Leah headed to Terrence’s bedroom alone.

‘The bottom drawer of the bedside table.’

She could see Terrence, who was asleep, at the bed. Leah walked barefoot to his bed without even putting on slippers.

She soon pressed her body to the floor and slowly crawled on her elbows.

At times like this, she didn’t know how beneficial Grace’s small body was. Leah reached out and pulled the handle of the bottom drawer.

Squeak! A loud noise that broke the silence.

‘No!’

This would lead to the inconvenience of having to open the drawer in seconds. Still, she couldn’t give up, so she opened the drawer very little by little.

It seemed to take almost twenty minutes to open it silently. When the drawer was finally open, she reached in without hesitation and groped inside the drawer.

‘A bundle of letters, come out quickly.’

But nothing was touched.

Then, a piece of paper stuck to the floor caught her hand.

‘Is this it?’

It didn’t matter if it wasn’t a bundle of letters. Even one love letter would achieve the goal.

She hoped it was what she was looking for. Leah took out the paper and checked the contents.

‘Huh? What is this?’

In the midst of her bewilderment, her body floated into the air, and she was thrown onto the soft bed.

“Eek!”

Her slender body was caught between Terrence’s knees. So, Terrence wasn’t in bed from the start.

It seemed that someone had been watching this ridiculous scene from somewhere.

“This time, I didn’t call Grace. She came voluntarily on these little feet.”

Terrence said, touching Leah’s bare feet.

“Terrence, you see, there’s a reason.”

As Leah struggled to get up, Terrence chuckled and threw off the shirt he was wearing in one swift motion, and soon his muscular shoulders were revealed.

“There’s only one thing a man and a woman do at night. We’ll hear the reason later.”