Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 94

Revenge Comes with Interest 94

94. My Sister is an Angel

2023.11.02.

The evening banquet wasn’t as crowded as expected.

It included the Wellington family, who were now connected to the Crown Princess, the Imperial family, and Leah’s entourage. A few important officials from the Ministry of Political Affairs were also present. However, Terrence did not attend the banquet.

[Grace, something urgent came up, so I don’t think I can make it to the banquet.]

[Did a band of thieves show up again?] Leah asked, looking concerned.

[No, I’ll tell you later, so don’t worry. Let’s meet at home tonight.]

‘What could be so urgent that he left the Imperial Palace, leaving me behind…?’ Leah was once again overcome with unease.

Still, it was a relief that her group was there. But even Count Salamé was nowhere to be seen in the banquet hall.

“Your Majesty, I apologize. The Duke had an urgent matter and was unable to attend the banquet,” Leah said to Theresa on his behalf.

“There’s no need to apologize. Duke Courtois asked for my understanding in advance.”

“I see.”

‘Terrence isn’t the type to be so rude,’ Leah thought.

“Hmm, Grace and her family? What should I call you?”

“You can call us whatever you’re comfortable with.”

“I have a favor to ask of Grace and her staff.”

Everyone perked up their ears at Theresa’s words.

“We plan to hold the Crown Prince’s wedding in a month. I would like Grace and her staff to make the wedding attire for the Crown Prince and Crown Princess…”

“Pardon?”

They were surprised, but everyone seemed pleased.

To be commissioned to make the wedding attire for the Crown Prince and Princess was a great honor.

“We will do our best,” Leah said, thanking Theresa on behalf of everyone.

Meanwhile, the Crown Prince and Adele were engrossed in conversation all day, as if they had known each other for a long time. They seemed to be mainly discussing books.

‘It’s a relief that they get along so well.’

Theresa seemed to like Adele as well, often looking at her.

“I heard that Miss Rivet McDowell’s lace dress was made by one of Grace’s staff?”

“That’s correct.”

“The dress itself was very excellent.”

“That’s because Chanelle made it by hand, stitch by stitch.”

Theresa was taken aback, as she had assumed that several skilled people had worked on it. To think that someone had created such a highly technical dress all alone.

“I’m curious to know who it is.”

“It’s me!” At Theresa’s question, Chanelle raised the fork she was holding high, a large chunk of meat skewered on it.

“Chanelle, you should put the fork down,” Leah quickly corrected her posture from the side.

“This is my younger sister, Chanelle Vizak,” Leah formally introduced Chanelle to Theresa and briefly explained Chanelle’s condition [likely referring to a developmental or intellectual difference].

“A lovely young lady.”

“Is the Emperor more pwetty?” Chanelle said casually, chewing on the meat.

The banquet hall was soon filled with silence. No one dared to speak.

“Hahaha. Miss Vizak, can you see my face?” Theresa’s hearty acceptance quickly eased the tense atmosphere.

“People’s eyes are in their hearts too. So, the Emperor is a pwetty person. But you’re not happy.”

“Chanelle, stop!” As Leah tried to stop Chanelle, Theresa raised her hand to stop her. She seemed to want to hear more of what Chanelle had to say.

“Miss Vizak, why do you think I’m not happy?”

“Because that veil gets in the way when you eat meat. That’s why you’re not happy.”

It was difficult to know whether to laugh or keep silent.

Chanelle said what no one else dared to say to Theresa without a second thought.

“Then, would I be happy if I took off this veil?”

Chanelle didn’t answer that question for a long time. As if she hadn’t heard, she was busy cutting the meat and putting it in her mouth.

Leah was busy wiping the sauce from Chanelle’s mouth with a napkin.

Then, Chanelle put down her fork and knife for a moment and stared straight at Theresa.

“Ask my sister. She’ll probably take off the veil for you. Don’t worry. My sister is an angel. Even when people threw stones at me, calling me stupid, she loved me. And she helped me do what I’m good at, so I made a lot of money. So the Emperor will help my sister too.”

Chanelle was clearly speaking with a bright expression, but the atmosphere was very somber. Even Sonia was sniffling.

“My husband and I were exclusive tailors for the Saint Petersburg Imperial family. We met Miss Grace when we were wandering from country to country after the fall of the Empire [likely referring to the Russian Revolution]. She paid for our hotel bill when we were arguing because we couldn’t pay.”

Sonia sobbed as she told the story of the past.

“I asked her what she saw in us, having never met us before, and she said she recognized our skills by looking at the clothes we were wearing. That day, we became members of the Courtois Duchy and even had the honor of dining with Your Majesty.”

Leah really didn’t know what to do. ‘These cheesy compliments are so awkward,’ she thought.

It was all just that I chose them because I needed them, and they succeeded not because of my ability but because of their skills.

“Miss Grace is a very good person. I hope she will bring happy days to me as well.”

Leah almost choked on the meat she was chewing.

It sounded like praise and expectation, but the others didn’t know that there was a secret agreement between them.

* * *

Terrence looked at Salamé and the Metropolitan Police Agency representatives and began to speak.

If Pauline hadn’t urgently told him that story, there would have been no reason to be alone with Salamé, who wasn’t even close to him.

[Duke, I happened to overhear President Allen McDowell and Metropolitan Police Chief Touazo talking.]

The story Pauline told him was very interesting: Allen and Metropolitan Police Chief Touazo’s dirty relationship, the Metropolitan Police Agency riddled with corruption.

He could have just ignored it as it was another country’s affair, but he was intrigued by the mention of Allen’s involvement. It was also a very good thing that there was an upright Metropolitan Police Chief candidate.

[Pauline, keep it a secret from Grace. I’ll take care of it myself.]

[That’s why I told the Duke. Even when I was invited to the McDowell family’s banquet in the past, how much those two men drooled over our lady… Ugh! It makes me shudder just thinking about it.]

[Drooled?]

Then, even more so, he couldn’t just let it go. He would destroy them one by one and throw them into the abyss.

“Roberto, why don’t you gain the Emperor’s trust by rendering meritorious service to Her Majesty?”

Terrence told Salamé the whole story of the incident: the Metropolitan Police Agency’s weapons were being sold to the outside, and Touazo was gambling with public funds.

“To entrust national affairs to such a guy!” Salamé was also furious. The Metropolitan Police Agency is an important institution that protects the safety of the capital.

He was furious at the fact that the head of the Metropolitan Police Agency was taking the lead in committing crimes.

“You must not act rashly. There will be smuggling in a week, so dispatch someone you can trust to monitor it.”

“Duke, do you think I’m a child? I know that much.”

“Since you know it well, I hope you will catch them all at once. You can demonstrate your ability this time.”

“I won’t let it go. I will definitely show the strictness of the national law.”

Terrence was surprised that the public officials of the Gardencia Empire were more severely corrupt than he had thought.

There are bound to be such people in any country. If Lubeck were to be shaken, several public officials who commit corruption would come out. But there was still something that remained questionable.

“I know that the Hamilton Merchant was not a person with a bad reputation, but why did you destroy the family without a proper trial?”

“Because the evidence was clear. The Mother, no, the Emperor, extremely hates opium smuggling. Our Emperor is the one who doesn’t give you a second chance if you disappoint her even once after doing well ten times.”

“But isn’t it a bit strange?” Terrence questioned Salamé.

“President McDowell and Metropolitan Police Chief Touazo were all involved in destroying the Hamilton Merchant, weren’t they?”

Salamé couldn’t answer easily, perhaps realizing it now. Even if he didn’t tell him in detail, the scent of a mastermind was evident.

“Anyway, I hope you will set an example as a member of the Imperial family this time.”

Salamé couldn’t hide his bitterness at Terrence’s advice.

It was not a pleasant thing that a foreigner knew about and reported that his country was rotting first.

* * *

When Terrence returned to the Duke’s residence, Leah was brushing her hair after taking a bath.

She saw Terrence reflected in the mirror and got up from her seat and ran into his arms in an instant.

“Why are you so late?”

“Did you wait?”

“I always seem to be the only one waiting for you. Even when I lost my memory.”

“I don’t think that’s the case.”

“Yes?”

“How long did I wait and endure to fill all the grape seeds?” [referencing a previous event where Terrence had to perform a tedious task as a form of apology].

“Wait a minute!” Leah stepped away from him. When she calmly thought about it, it seemed like she had gotten over the fact that Terrence had forgotten her too easily.

“I think I’ve been too lenient. Terrence erased me from his memory.”

“I didn’t erase you.”

“This time, I’m going to draw corn kernels instead of grape seeds,” Leah said, implying she would make him do an even more difficult task.

As Leah wiggled her lips sulkily and moved backward, Terrence approached her with an expression that said it was impossible.

“I’ll eat you up in one bite first!”

“Kyaa!”

In the blink of an eye, Leah was caught by Terrence and thrown onto the bed.

Terrence, dressed in black, pounced like a black panther and swallowed Leah’s lips.

Hot breaths and soft touches intertwined, madly exploring each other.

Before she knew it, Leah’s chemise was stripped off and thrown out of the bed, and Terrence, consumed with desire, moved frantically to deeply feel her body.

“Do you know that?”

“Huh?”

“That I only react to your body.”

“Tch! Lies.”

“How many times do I have to punish you to make you understand? I’ll have to punish you with the fiercest and strongest part of my body.”

“Ah! Disgusting!”

“Disgusting?” At his question, Leah blushed slightly and turned her head.

“It’s also slightly cute, and also good…”

Terrence’s excitement was about to explode at Leah’s pretense.