Revenge Comes with Interest - Chapter 24

The Duke’s estate was thrown into chaos once again. Pauline didn’t return until midnight. She collapsed in front of Terran and burst into tears.

“I swear I saw it clearly. It was the Duke’s carriage.”

She had already repeated the situation several times. The carriage that came to pick up her and Lea had the Courtois family crest.

There was no room for doubt. It was identical. But the real carriage had been waiting at the designated meeting spot the entire time.

“When I came back out with the parasol, the carriage was completely gone.”

Terran ran his hand roughly through his hair. Who had the audacity to kidnap Grace?

“Was it Allen McDowell?”

He asked Luke with a sharp tone.

“He has already left Lubeck.”

“Then who was it?”

“I am not sure, sir.”

“Forget it. Lock down the entire city of Rebon and notify the Chief of Police. No, bring in all of my soldiers. Right now.”

“Yes, sir.”

Luke ran off to follow orders, and Terran headed upstairs to prepare for battle.

He changed into uniform, strapped a sword to his waist, and took both a rifle and a shotgun. But his rage rose so high in his chest that he could no longer keep it in.

“Arrgh!”

This had to be the cruel game of a god jealous of his happiness. Was it not enough that he had finally climbed out of hell? Was this their way of crushing the one glimmer of hope he had left?

Terran hated them all. The unseen forces trying to manipulate his life like he was a puppet.

He cursed them silently.

I will kill them all.

He finished preparing and raced back downstairs.

Pauline was still there, waiting. It seemed she had remembered something else.

“Your Grace, I just now remembered. There was a strong scent inside the carriage. Musk. Or maybe some kind of unusual spice.”

“Musk?”

“That is not the scent we use in our carriage.”

Terran began piecing things together quickly.

Who in Rebon would dare replicate the Duke’s carriage so perfectly? No one would attempt something like that unless they were out of their mind or incredibly bold.

Any noble would understand how serious a crime it was to impersonate another house. And yet someone not only had the nerve to do it, but also filled the carriage with a scent the Duke’s family never used.

Where have I smelled that before?

His eyes lit up with clarity.

Suddenly, Terran let out a loud laugh. It was filled with madness, sharp and terrifying.

The staff looked on in confusion. Only Pauline and James, who were close enough to see the look in Terran’s eyes, were struck with fear.

“Seal off all the outer roads of Rebon and tighten every checkpoint. Search everything.”

Rapa and Maddox were celebrating the successful kidnapping of the Duke’s fiancée. All that remained was to send the carriage with the girl inside to Galdensia.

“What about the ownership papers for the general store?”

Rapa had bought the Hamilton general store from Allen for a very low price. Still, he wasn’t about to let the carriage go until he had those papers in hand.

“Here they are.”

Maddox handed over the deed, and Rapa checked it carefully.

At last, a smile spread across his face. All Hamilton general stores across Galdensia now belonged to him.

“This is truly emotional.”

Rapa was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes. He quickly composed himself and looked at Maddox.

“The Duke has no idea, right? He doesn’t know we were the ones who kidnapped his fiancée.”

“He’ll never know. How could he possibly find out?”

“Good.”

“Brother, can I ask something? Why did you suddenly decide to buy the Hamilton general stores?”

Maddox had always wondered. With all the money they made through smuggling, they had no real need to run stores.

“Our Chenera is going to start a big business. She’s made some good friends. Even if I go on living like this, I want a better life for my granddaughter.”

Maddox shook his head.

Chenera? Running a business? She was slow-witted and didn’t seem capable of managing anything. Maddox was convinced Rapa was starting to lose his mind with age.

“That makes no sense. What kind of business would Chenera possibly run?”

“You filthy idiot. What do you know?”

Rapa exploded, his voice filled with curses.

How much longer would they be treated like worthless gypsies? The world was changing. Selling cheap stolen goods from the shadows wouldn’t last forever.

“I was wrong. Please forgive me.”

“If you ever insult Chenera again, I’ll cut your throat myself. And anyone who stands with you.”

Once Rapa’s anger had settled, the tension finally eased. Maddox, trying to lift the mood, changed the subject.

“Aren’t you curious what the Duke’s precious fiancée looks like?”

“You saw her?”

“She’s stunning. The most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Want to take a look at her before we send her off to Galdensia?”

“Beauty means nothing.”

She could never be more beautiful than Chenera’s friend. Even though Chenera was lacking in many ways, Rapa had always believed his granddaughter was the prettiest in the world. That changed when he saw her friend.

To think a woman more beautiful than Empress Marie Antouarte of Landes lived in Lubeck.

Just then, they heard Chenera crying and calling out for Rapa. She must have woken up.

“Chenera, why are you crying?”

“Grandpa, I had a scary dream.”

“A nightmare?”

“Yes. I dreamed you and all the Rapa people were hanging by your necks. Everything was on fire. And that pretty lady kept flashing in front of my eyes.”

“What are you talking about? Why would that girl show up in your dream all of a sudden?”

Rapa and Maddox didn’t respond for a moment.

Even if Chenera was slow, she had inherited the gypsy gift of seeing into the future or sensing spirits.

Rapa felt as if someone had hit him hard on the head.

“Maddox, is the Duke’s fiancée really that beautiful?”

“I told you she is. Why?”

Rapa felt a chill crawl down his spine. Surely it couldn’t be what he feared. It was too specific to be just coincidence.

“Let me see her face.”

He stormed out of the room, his expression tense.

Lea woke up inside the carriage in the middle of the night. She was alone.

She knocked on the door and called out for Pauline, raising her voice, but no one answered.

Why am I alone in here?

She tried to remember. After she had entered the carriage, she had been waiting for Pauline to return. Then there had been that strange scent that made her feel dizzy. After that, she remembered nothing.

I have been kidnapped.

That seemed like the only explanation. But the carriage had clearly been one from the Duke’s estate.

She grabbed the handle and shook it, trying to open the door.

“Please, open the door!”

She knocked on the window and shouted, but still, there was no answer.

Then she heard footsteps approaching. The area outside lit up as people with torches surrounded the carriage.

Now’s my chance.

She started banging on the door.

“Someone is inside the carriage!”

At her cry, the locked door finally opened.

What is going on? Why are they here?

Lea stared at Rapa’s pale face in shock. And standing next to him was Chenera.

“Sister!”

Chenera ran into the carriage and hugged her tightly.

“Grandpa, what is happening?”

Lea asked, her voice shaking. But Rapa said nothing. Instead, he turned and shouted to the others.

“Hurry and take her home.”

“What? After everything we did to capture her, now we’re just letting her go?”

Maddox looked confused.

“Stop talking and do as I say. If you want to keep your head, move.”

At Rapa’s angry voice, Maddox and the others quickly sprang into action.

The real problem was Chenera. She clung to Lea and refused to move.

“I’m sorry, Miss. I’ll explain everything later. Just go home for now.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Chenera, get out of the carriage now.”

“No! I want to stay with her.”

“Unbelievable.”

Rapa tried to pull Chenera away, but she refused to let go.

They needed to return Lea to the front of the Duke’s estate before anyone noticed. But Chenera was making it impossible.

The harder Rapa tried, the more Chenera sobbed and clung to Lea.

Suddenly the area outside grew even brighter. The sound of hooves and shouting soldiers filled the air.

Terran had gathered the reports from his men and put together the pieces.

According to the shopkeepers Lea and Pauline had visited, two identical Duke’s carriages had been spotted moving around the city.

The Duke’s carriage was custom-made and very expensive.

One workshop reported that strangers had shown up that afternoon, demanding a carriage with the Courtois family crest.

Those same men had given off a strong smell of musk and spices.

Fools act bold when they are ignorant. But this is just pathetic.

Everything fit.

People who treated the law like garbage. People who committed crimes without hesitation but left obvious evidence behind.

And the only ones who might hold a grudge against him were them.

In front of Rapa’s building stood a carriage identical to the Duke’s. Somehow, the gang knew Terran would come. Every one of them was outside waiting.

That makes things easier.

Terran got off his horse and walked straight toward the carriage.

Rapa stood near the door. Their eyes met.

“So it was you.”

Terran asked, keeping his rage under control. Just then, a voice came from inside the carriage.

“Terran?”

“Grace!”

He rushed into the carriage and found Grace inside with another girl.

Thankfully, she didn’t appear to be hurt.

Terran helped Grace out of the carriage. Rapa managed to pull Chenera away from Lea.

“What is going on?”

“That old man kidnapped you.”

“What? That can’t be true. Why would Chenera’s grandfather do that?”

“Because he is the leader of the Rapa gang.”

Grace stared at him, stunned.

Terran handed her to Luke, then turned and walked toward Rapa.

Rapa’s lips trembled as if he wanted to say something, but the truth was undeniable. There was nothing he could say to explain away the kidnapping.

“You scum. I never forgive twice.”

Rapa closed his eyes tightly. Then Terran turned to his soldiers and gave a clear order.

“From this moment on, dismantle the Rapa gang. Burn the building. Arrest every one of them and take them to the city prison.”

“Yes, sir.”

The soldiers moved in perfect coordination. Flames rose from the building.

Some of the gang tried to fight back, but they were no match for the armed troops.

“Tomorrow they will face a military tribunal. Every one of them will be sentenced to death.”

No one dared resist Terran’s ice-cold judgment.

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