Revenge Comes with Interest - Chapter 27

A pitiful creature longing endlessly for love. Like a wounded cat crying while licking its own leg, he looked so helpless.

If I were who I used to be, I could have loved you freely.

But love wasn’t something she could give just because she wanted to anymore. Her soul had been shredded by Allen and left in ruins. In that state, how could she say she loved anyone?

The truth was, she was afraid. Afraid of being hurt again. The cost of love had been too high.

Instead of love, let me comfort you.

Lea steadied her wavering heart. She waited quietly until Duke Terran Courtois’s rough breathing calmed. If he could find peace, she was willing to stay and support him.

After about thirty minutes, his trembling eased.

“Terran, let’s have dinner together. It’s Chenera’s first night here.”

“Alright.”

Lea helped him to his feet and gently let go of his hand. But his large hand caught her wrist again.

“Grace, can I… have a kiss?”

She froze.

Duke Terran Courtois spoke like a shy teenager.

Lea hesitated for a moment, her mind racing. But she didn’t want to offer him a kiss that came only from pity. She softly kissed the back of his hand instead.

“Let’s go.”

At first, he looked disappointed, but then a small, tired smile broke through.

So, this is what it means to pay the price.

It used to be the opposite. Grace would cling to him, begging him to hold her, kiss her, and love her. He used to avoid it all.

Even though everyone praised her beauty, he had only seen her as an immature child. And maybe that was the problem. She reminded him too much of himself.

Still, even a kiss on the hand is more than I deserved.

He had never once held her hand back then. Compared to that, her kindness now felt incredibly generous.

Lea held Duke Terran Courtois’s hand and led him to the dining room. It was still awkward, but tonight she wanted to care for him.

“Terran, I don’t hate you.”

She said it without looking at him.

He seemed surprised.

“I just need time. So please…”

“I understand.”

His voice lightened with relief. She would be by his side now, and he could wait.

It was rare to have everyone gathered together. Lea wanted to introduce Chenera to Duke Terran Courtois, as well as Luke and James.

So, they set aside titles for the evening and shared one table.

Pauline, ever thoughtful, had already helped Chenera bathe and dressed her in clothes that matched the formality of the mansion.

She even brushed Chenera’s unruly red hair and tied it up neatly. She looked like a completely different person.

“I didn’t know Chenera was this pretty.”

It really was true. A little care could transform anyone. The traces of her life as a wanderer had vanished.

“Sister, do I look pretty?”

Chenera beamed, clearly delighted by Lea’s compliment and wanting to hear it again.

“You look lovely.”

The freckles sprinkled across her nose made her look especially charming.

Duke Terran Courtois had already heard some things about Chenera from Grace.

Twenty years old but emotionally immature?

Still, there was something about her.

Though her words were clumsy and she acted like a child, she had the presence of someone who could see right through a person. It might have just been his impression.

“Chenera, it’s time to greet Duke Terran Courtois.”

“Terran Cou… what? That’s hard. Hello, mister!”

A strange silence filled the dining hall.

Duke Terran Courtois’s face darkened. He stuck a finger in his ear as if he had heard wrong.

Did she just call me… mister?

Luke and James bit back their laughter.

“Chenera, try saying ‘Hello, Your Grace.’”

Pauline’s face had turned pale. She tried to correct her gently.

“Your Gra… What? That’s too hard. Hello, mister!”

The corner of Duke Terran Courtois’s face twitched.

Mister?

The word hit him like a dart to the chest.

Pauline pressed her lips together tightly to hold back her laughter.

Luke couldn’t hold it anymore and burst into laughter. James turned his head away, shaking with silent chuckles.

Chenera looked at Luke and asked,

“Why are you laughing, brother?”

“Brother?”

“Yes. You’re brother, and next to you is Grandpa!”

“So, Duke Terran Courtois is ‘mister,’ I’m ‘brother,’ and James is ‘grandpa’?”

Immediately, both the duke’s and James’s smiles vanished. Only Luke was still laughing as if it were the funniest thing he had ever heard.

With a sharp clang, Duke Terran Courtois tapped his fork against his plate. Luke stopped laughing immediately.

The servants began to bring in the food.

“Everyone, Chenera will be living here with me from now on. As you can see, she’s a bit slow in her speech and thinking. Please be patient with her and treat her kindly.”

Everyone nodded at Lea’s words.

But Luke, as cheerful as ever, said excitedly—

“Chenera really has a sharp eye for people.”

“Shut up and eat,” Duke Terran Courtois snapped, glaring coldly at Luke.

“How can I eat if I shut up?”

“You little…”

Duke Terran Courtois nearly cursed at Luke, who always had a way of pushing his buttons.

Mister? Is that really how I look now?

He had clearly aged faster than expected, probably from all the stress. Duke Terran Courtois silently continued eating.

“I’ll go to the barber first thing tomorrow. I’ll get a shave and maybe even dye my hair. Please excuse my absence in the morning, Your Grace,” James said as he chewed his meat.

The issue must have been his mustache and long sideburns.

“Alright. Make sure to dye it so you look as young as possible.”

Do I need to go with him? But I’m only twenty-five.

Lea sat uneasily in the now-tense dining room. It was becoming clear that group dinners like this might not be such a good idea after all.

I need to do something to lighten the mood for Terran.

At this rate, they’d all choke on their food from the awkwardness.

“But Chenera, I think Duke Courtois is the youngest and most handsome man here.”

Lea raised her voice slightly, hoping he would hear and cheer up.

Though Duke Terran Courtois was young, he carried himself with a calm, mature air, completely different from the immature men of his age. No wonder Chenera hadn’t seen him as an older brother figure.

Her compliment seemed to work. The corner of his mouth twitched.

Thank goodness.

“Sister is right! That mister is the most handsome one!” Chenera chimed in.

“What?”

She could’ve at least left out the word ‘mister’…

Even Pauline, who had been holding back her laughter, couldn’t take it anymore and dashed out of the dining room. It was clear she left to laugh in peace.

But Chenera wasn’t done.

“Mister, don’t worry. Sister Grace is going to like you very very much.”

Everyone froze in surprise. Lea realized this must be another one of Chenera’s predictions.

This time, Lea was the one caught off guard. She couldn’t lift her head in embarrassment. Meanwhile, the icy stiffness in Duke Terran Courtois’s face began to thaw.

“Sister, you have to make lots of money. That way, you can meet your father someday,” Chenera said casually as she popped a piece of meat in her mouth.

So that’s what she meant…

Duke Terran Courtois studied Chenera more carefully as she chewed happily.

That strange energy he had sensed before… It made sense now. He had heard stories about gypsies being able to see the future and read people’s spirits.

Something peculiar has entered my home.

Duke Terran Courtois chuckled softly to himself. If Grace truly came to love him, there was nothing more he could ask for.

“Chenera, what kind of woman will your brother marry?” Luke asked playfully.

“My brother? Hmm… he’s going to marry me.”

“What?”

“Pfft!”

Duke Terran Courtois and James both spat out their drinks at the same time.

Luke quickly wiped his mouth with a napkin, then burst into laughter, completely delighted.

So, this is what a real home feels like.

Duke Terran Courtois had never experienced this kind of lively atmosphere before. And he liked it.

He was used to sitting alone at the long table for meals. But eating with chatter and laughter like this wasn’t so bad after all.

Chenera completed all the lace orders within a month. The requests were diverse—scarves, clothing, shawls, head coverings, and more.

Still, she made them with ease. Lea and Pauline carefully packaged each item and arranged for them to be delivered by messenger.

Just as Pauline had suggested, they even stamped a brand mark on each box indicating that the items were made by Chenera.

“Chenera, we split the earnings seventy-thirty and deposited your share into your bank account. You got the seventy, of course.”

“Okay, Sister.”

Chenera didn’t seem too interested in money. But soon she would be earning even more. Her lace would soon be sold at the Hamilton General Store.

Management of the store would be handled by Rapa, his brothers, and their subordinates.

A portion of the store’s profits would go to Chenera.

Soon, all of Rebon will be buzzing with the news. Then, even Galdensia will place orders.

They were using the finest threads and Chenera’s unique techniques. Her lace was about to become a luxury product.

The Galdensia social season is coming up.

That meant business would boom. Before then, she had to make sure every woman in Lubeck, not just noblewomen, dreamed of owning Chenera’s lace.

It had to become a must-have item, something every woman wanted in her collection.

Should I open a shop in Rebon too?

Still, it was better to keep the maker’s identity hidden. Noblewomen were happy to pay for rare goods, but they looked down on manual labor.

They considered embroidery and lace-making a refined hobby, something proper ladies did for fun, not for money.

I don’t mind, but this could tarnish Grace and Duke Courtois’s reputation.

Then again, now that they had taken over the Hamilton General Store in Galdensia, it made sense to open a first branch in Rebon too.

Doing so would also get under Allen’s skin a little.

She needed someone trustworthy to handle the rougher tasks.

Suddenly, one person came to mind.

Of course! Grandpa Rapa!

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