Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 92

Revenge Comes with Interest, Episode 92: The Crown Princess Selection (92/200)

Episode 92: The Crown Princess Selection

October 31, 2023

I heard that a total of ten young ladies would participate in the selection. Each one would enter the audience chamber to be presented to the Emperor and the Crown Prince.

“Lady Elena Delphi is here.”

As the first candidate appeared, people’s attention focused on her. The young lady was smiling, her lips raised as much as possible, but extreme tension was evident on her face.

“Terran, am I right?”

“Coincidentally, perhaps?”

From the first candidate, she appeared in a white dress with a large feather on her head.

Her gait seemed very unnatural as she walked towards the head table.

‘She must be very nervous.’

Leah sympathized with the burden the young ladies must be feeling.

She wouldn’t be any different if she were in that position. As the young lady greeted the Emperor and the Crown Prince, a moment of silence fell.

The Emperor’s expression was hard to gauge because his face was covered by a veil. Moreover, the Crown Prince didn’t seem to be someone who easily showed his emotions on his face.

Quite the opposite of Salame. His blue eyes, visible through the gold-rimmed glasses, looked fierce.

“I don’t like it.”

Leah sighed and blurted out her true feelings to Terran.

“You mean the way they choose a lifelong partner?”

“Yes, they examine and scrutinize them like objects.”

“The Crown Princess is destined to become the Empress in the future. Political interests take precedence. She represents her family, so honor is also important.”

“I know, but it’s not very pleasant. That young lady has no choice.”

Leah smiled as she looked at Terran for a moment.

“Why are you doing that?”

Terran was happy that she smiled at him, but he was puzzled by the sudden look of sadness on her face.

“I’m lucky. I can marry the man I love.”

Terran’s eyes sparkled at her words. In fact, he had been thinking the same thing.

Moreover, he was glad that she wasn’t from Galdenia. Otherwise, she might be standing in that position right now.

Terran felt the urge to kiss his lovely fiancée, but he settled for kissing the back of her hand instead.

After that, several young ladies entered the audience chamber in turn.

“Grace’s prediction is accurate.”

Indeed, as if they had made a promise, they were all adorned with white dresses and fluttering lace. There was even a young lady wearing a white cloak.

It seemed that everyone had the same desire to look like a pure and noble saint.

‘It’s Libet’s turn now.’

Leah waited for Libet to appear.

She wondered how people would react if she appeared in a wedding dress, even if it was the same white color.

Above all, she wanted to see Empress Theresa’s expression the most.

‘Oh, right, I can’t see it because of the veil.’

What a shame. Just then, the chamberlain called Libet’s name.

As the door opened, all eyes in the hall turned to the door at once.

“Oh my!”

“Wow! She’s so beautiful!”

“It’s like a saint has descended.”

“She could get married to His Highness the Crown Prince right away.”

“But doesn’t that young lady look like the former Emperor?”

There was a lot of talk about Libet’s appearance. The reaction was hotter than with the other young ladies.

No one here could have predicted that she would appear in a wedding dress. When it came to beauty, she was definitely number one.

Libet wore a confident expression. Her gait was more relaxed and elegant than the other young ladies.

“I have to admit, Channer’s skill is undeniable.”

Terran clicked his tongue as he looked at the dress Libet was wearing. Right now, every woman must be wondering the same thing in her head.

‘Where did she get that dress made?’

“I’m amazed that people can weave lace so intricately by hand.”

Leah was also impressed with the dress. But it was strange that Empress Theresa was resting her chin on one hand and tilting her head.

Perhaps she was surprised to see her former self.

This was also part of Libet’s thorough plan. She wore the same dress and accessories that Empress Theresa wore at her wedding, even holding a bouquet of marigolds.

“Lady Libet McDowell.”

Theresa called Libet’s name.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Why did you participate in the selection wearing a wedding dress?”

The voice of Theresa asking the question was quite stern. It was the opposite of what people had expected, that she would be impressed.

“I wanted to present Your Majesty with the most dazzling day of your life.”

“Who said that the most dazzling day of my life was my wedding?”

Theresa’s voice grew more and more agitated, and the atmosphere in the hall became as cold as if cold water had been poured on it.

“Well, for a woman, the wedding is the most shining day and remains in her memory.”

“Bullshit!”

“!?”

Everyone was shocked as if they had heard something they shouldn’t have. The Emperor openly rebuked her, saying ‘bullshit’.

Soon Libet turned pale, and Allen’s expression hardened as he looked at his sister.

“The young lady is very arrogant. She’s not very smart either. She doesn’t have the humble charm like the other young ladies.”

“I’m sorry!”

Libet sat down on the spot and bowed her head.

It was clear that her attire had angered the Emperor.

“Weren’t you too confident that you would be selected?”

Even the Crown Prince, who had been silent all along, criticized Libet.

Wearing a wedding dress as if she were the bride, even though the selection had not been confirmed, was arrogance.

Theresa waved her hand as if telling Libet to disappear from her sight.

Leah watched Allen’s reaction.

‘Too much is a problem, Allen.’

Only then did Leah understand the meaningful words Vivian had said to her. Since she had already made a wedding dress, she told her to recreate it perfectly.

‘The Empress knew. That Theresa’s married life was not happy.’

Leah felt sorry for Channer’s dress that Libet was wearing.

If Libet had been a little more restrained, the result would have been different. No, how could she stop Allen and Libet from being so greedy?

In any case, it was certain that Libet was excluded from the selection.

‘It’s a relief; it would be a disaster if Allen had wings of power [achieved a powerful position].’

Leah felt joy. A small pleasure that started in her solar plexus quickly spread throughout her body.

“Now only Adelle is left.”

At Terran’s words, Leah put her joy aside for a moment. Soon, the chamberlain called the name of the last participant.

“Lady Adelle Wellington is here.”

The chilling hall stirred again. They must all be hoping that the last young lady would not offend the Emperor’s sensibilities.

Leah watched the door slowly open. And there, Carmen appeared, wearing a red top and a full black skirt.

Until now, there had not been a single young lady wearing a dress with red and black colors.

“Attractive.”

Leah couldn’t help but admire Adelle. She doubted her eyes whether it was the shy bookworm Adelle she knew.

Adelle was a completely different person. Above all, light flashed from Adelle’s fingertips every time she moved her hands.

It wasn’t a dress that anyone would wear to the Crown Princess selection, but it strangely captivated people’s attention.

Adelle walked towards Theresa and the Crown Prince, staring at them straight on, and bowed politely.

“Could it be Carmen?”

This time, the Crown Prince jumped up from his seat and asked Adelle.

“That’s right. I was wondering what it would be like if Carmen from the opera appeared in the Imperial Palace.”

“Why Carmen? She’s a gypsy, a prostitute, and a bad woman.”

“She’s also a charming woman. I can’t actually become such a woman, but I wanted to recreate it like this.”

At Adelle’s words, Theresa laughed loudly.

One wore a wedding dress and now one appeared as the main character in a play.

On the other hand, the Crown Prince showed favor to Adelle. He couldn’t take his eyes off her all the time.

“Young lady, the Crown Princess selection is not a joke. I don’t want to see a cheap farce.”

“Your Majesty and Your Highness, I sincerely participated in the selection. Of course, I don’t expect to be selected. If so, I didn’t want to waste the opportunity that I would never have again in my life.”

“You didn’t want to waste it?”

“I wanted to enjoy it. I know very well that it is a terribly scary and difficult position. But rather than leaving it as such a memory in my life, I wanted to make it a regretless and enjoyable memory.”

Adelle spoke her true feelings as they were.

What’s more interesting is that every time she moved her hands while speaking, people’s eyes followed the flashing light.

That was the same with Theresa.

“Who is the young lady’s chaperone?”

At Theresa’s question, Sonia, who was behind her, bent her knees and bowed.

Theresa soon found women wearing the same turquoise silk dress that Sonia was wearing.

Grace and a few women. If her hunch was correct, it was Grace’s work, just like when she made Vivian’s riding suit.

“Whose work is that dress?”

At Theresa’s question, Adelle pointed to Sonia and Grace, and the Courtois family members stood up from their seats for a moment and greeted the Emperor.

Cheers and applause followed. Then the Crown Prince came down from the head table and headed to Adelle.

“Young lady, your attempt to recreate a fictional character was very innovative.”

“I’m honored, Your Highness.”

“If the young lady is selected as the Crown Princess, what would you like to do?”

At the Crown Prince’s question, everyone held their breath and waited for Adelle’s answer.

“I would like to build a public library in the capital so that anyone, regardless of status or gender, can use it to their heart’s content.”

“That’s a great idea.”

People didn’t show any particular reaction, but the Crown Prince was very pleased.

Even while smiling, Leah watched Allen standing across from her. His face was pale blue as he despaired.

‘Did you think everything in the world would go your way?’

Leah mocked him to her heart’s content.