Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 85

Retribution Bears Interest 85. Physical Intimacy (85/200)

Physical Intimacy

2023.10.24.

The two spent the entire night making love. A love that began with excitement surged like a storm, ultimately leading them to ecstasy and climax.

After making love with Terrence, Leah was overcome with strange emotions.

She had always believed that physical relationships were only for pursuing pleasure and had no significant meaning. But as her heart and body became one, she felt her love for him deepen even further.

It was as if a sense of fulfillment and strengthened trust had emerged.

‘It’s amazing. I feel like Terrence has completely become my man.’

She wondered if he felt the same way.

It wasn’t just about possessing each other’s bodies, but rather realizing the depth of their emotions through physical intimacy.

Leah didn’t want to open her eyes. She wanted to savor the subtle thrill that coursed through her body a little longer.

However, she reflexively opened her eyes at his touch, gently stroking her hair. Soon, she turned her head towards Terrence.

“Are you awake?”

“I never slept.”

Leah’s face turned red at Terrence’s words. She felt embarrassed, as if he had asked knowing the answer.

The best course of action in these situations was to burrow deeply into his arms.

Terrence embraced Leah, who snuggled into his arms like a rabbit, as if he had been waiting for her.

“It feels like a dream. To be with you all night.”

“It’s not a dream.”

Leah’s heart ached at Terrence’s words.

Until recently, the two had been desperately searching for each other with heartache. It hadn’t been easy to reunite, so various emotions intersected.

“Forget about the Basel incident. That’s the only way we can return to our daily lives.”

“If it were the old me, I would still be tied up in the fighting. But not anymore.”

“Then?”

“Because I have a home to return to, and people who welcome me.”

“That’s right.”

Leah’s voice choked up.

She was happy that Terrence finally seemed to consider the estate his home and her and the employees his family. He was no longer the Terrence who suffered and endured alone.

“I’m glad you broke through the barrier and came out.”

“Yeah, I think so too. I’m finally starting to see the world outside.”

Terrence kissed her forehead. He knew very well that she was the one who had broken that barrier.

“There are so many things to do. I need to check the Galdenia Crown Princess’s dress right away…”

Leah pouted, hugging Terrence even tighter, as if she didn’t like the idea of thinking about the tasks at hand. But Terrence remembered something he had momentarily forgotten.

He felt he had to tell her this.

“Grace, there’s something I need to tell you.”

Terrence said in a serious tone, slightly pulling her away from his embrace.

“What is it?”

The two sat up slightly on the bed and looked at each other.

“You said Allen McDowell’s sister is also participating in the Crown Princess selection, right?”

“Yes, I commissioned a lace dress from Chenel [Leah’s fashion house]. It’s all finished, and it’s truly fantastic.”

Leah replied in a bitter tone.

“Grace, Allen McDowell was the one who instigated Anna to damage the riding suit.”

“What? Really?”

Leah already knew, but pretended it was the first time she was hearing it.

To commission her sister’s dress and instigate such a malicious act. She had known it all along, but the more she thought about it, the angrier she became.

‘Allen, you really are the worst.’

Just thinking about Allen made Leah feel like her insides were twisting and she was about to vomit.

“Still… since we received the commission, we have to do our best.”

Leah’s voice trembled.

Do our best, my foot. If she had her way, she wouldn’t want to do anything good for such trash.

“Right. I just thought Grace should know. He doesn’t have good feelings towards me. We’ve been negatively involved since I acquired the general store.”

“Why didn’t you tell me then?”

“Because dealing with the situation was the priority at the time.”

Terrence didn’t want her to be swept away by angry emotions. Of course, he didn’t doubt that she would do well.

“Terrence is right.”

Leah was moved by Terrence’s consideration. Looking back now, she didn’t know how she had managed to complete the riding suit back then. She had persevered with the unwavering determination not to fail. But the future was the problem.

‘Libet must not be chosen as the Crown Princess.’

But as it stood, Libet was definitely the most likely candidate.

Newspapers were constantly publishing articles predicting the Galdenia Crown Princess, and Libet was always mentioned.

Some newspapers even published articles as if Libet had already been confirmed as the Crown Princess.

‘I won’t let Allen grow wings.’

To do that, Terrence’s friend’s sister, Adele, had to be chosen. She couldn’t quite grasp her charm just from the photos. Still, she had to do her best until the end.

“In my opinion, shouldn’t we seek advice from the Empress?”

Terrence gave Leah hope with his unexpected words.

He said that Vivian was a distant relative of Emperor Theresa and therefore knew the atmosphere of the Galdenia Imperial Family better than anyone else.

“I should. I need to take the dresses and show them to the Empress and ask for her advice.”

That was the only way to figure out how to plan for the future.

“Terrence, what if Allen McDowell’s sister is chosen?”

Leah said with a worried expression. If that happened, Allen would gain power and undoubtedly put even more pressure on Terrence.

“That would be fate too.”

He answered calmly.

“Fate.”

‘Conversely, not being chosen even while wearing Chenel’s perfect dress is also fate.’

Leah kept smiling at Terrence, but flames were rising inside her.

She wanted to trample on Allen right away.

She wanted to expose to the world just how vile he was and make him pay the price for his crimes. No, she would definitely do that.

‘I’ll return the favor with interest.’

* * *

Terrence introduced Grace to his new secretary. But she was quite surprised because it was someone she already knew.

“Greetings, Lady Vizak.”

“And you are?”

“Yes, I am Louis Valliere.”

She wondered why the Marquis’s son was working as Terrence’s secretary. Then Terrence told her about what had happened with him before.

[Shall we talk it out? Or settle it with fists?]

The moment he grabbed Louis by the collar, he surprised Terrence with unexpected words.

[We were rude to Lady Vizak last time. So, we met her a little while ago to apologize and even lent her a carriage to go to the estate.]

[What?]

[We made a mistake back then. She wasn’t someone we should have mentioned carelessly, and we’ll be careful from now on.]

Terrence thought that Louis and his friends had once again harassed Grace and Chenel.

But he was relieved to hear that they had apologized and even sent them to the estate in a carriage.

“Now that I think about it, you lent us a carriage to me and Chenel, but I didn’t get a chance to thank you.”

Leah also offered Louis a belated thank you.

“It’s nothing. I’m more grateful to the Duke.”

“Yes?”

Her gaze turned to Terrence. Her expression was asking what was going on.

Terrence was about to rush back to the estate at the time. But Louis followed him and made a strange request.

[Duke, would you hire me as your secretary?]

[What nonsense are you talking about?]

[Ha! You have no idea how grueling it is to listen to His Majesty’s philosophy lectures every day at the Imperial Palace. Please, save me.]

Even though Terrence was in a very serious situation, about to reunite with her after regaining his memories, he couldn’t help but burst into laughter at Louis’s words.

He wouldn’t want to listen to Carl’s boring speeches either.

[Come to the estate when you have time.]

He had just started a big project with Bertan, so he needed another secretary besides Luke.

But he didn’t expect Louis to actually come.

Just then, Chenel and Pauline came to see Terrence. More precisely, they knew that Leah was in the office and came.

“Huh? Who’s that guy?”

Chenel recognized Louis and looked surprised.

Leah briefly explained the situation, and Chenel and Pauline nodded. But Chenel surprised everyone again with another absurd remark.

“Mr. Louis Ballerina will become a great person later…”

“It’s Louis Valliere, Lady.”

“Huh? Why is the name so difficult? Anyway, Mr. Louis Ballerina will become a great person later.”

“Thank you for the kind words, Lady.”

Louis saw Chenel in a new light. Not because she said nice things to him, but because Chenel was an innocent and lovely woman up close.

In particular, her clear eyes, without any hidden intentions or schemes, were very pretty. He was ashamed of his past self for having shunned her as a foolish, lowly gypsy.

“Grace, I don’t think I’ll be able to go to the Imperial Palace with you today, what should I do?”

Terrence apologized to Leah, saying that he had a lot of pending state affairs.

He had thrown out bait to hook Allen with the Bertan Railroad project, so he had to hold an emergency meeting with related personnel.

“Don’t worry about it, Terrence.”

“Louis will go instead.”

“Understood, Duke.”

Louis looked excited about the first task the Duke had entrusted to him.

“Hey, Mr. Louis Ballerina, let’s go quickly. We’re super busy!”

Chenel said with her hands on her hips.

“It’s not Ballerina… Never mind.”

He was about to tell her his last name again but laughed it off.

‘Cute.’

He found Chenel, who was acting like she was his senior, to be cute.

* * *

Vivian admired the two dresses that Leah had brought. But the dresses themselves had completely different vibes, so it was difficult to make an assessment.

“Empress, which outfit do you think the Crown Prince and His Majesty of Galdenia would prefer?”

When Leah asked directly, Chenel, Pauline, Sonia, and even Marie all looked at the Empress’s mouth.

Everyone’s faces were stiff with tension.

“I heard that this selection is entirely up to the Crown Prince’s judgment. In that case…”

“In that case?”

Everyone held their breath and was swept up in tension.

“If I were the Crown Prince, I would probably…”

Vivian waved her finger, teasingly.