Revenge Comes with Interest - Chapter 28

Once again, Lea had no choice but to ask for Terran’s help.

More accurately, it was something like asking for permission. Lea invited Terran to go on the date they had postponed last time. He gladly agreed, and the two of them went to the park they used to visit often with Pauline.

“Terran, it feels like autumn now.”

“It does.”

The scenery of the park, once filled with lush greenery, had changed.

Around the lake, silver grass had begun to grow, and the leaves and grass had taken on autumn colors. It had a different charm compared to the clear summer days.

Terran wished he could walk through the park hand in hand with Grace. But even today, she didn’t offer her hand to him.

“You have something to say to me, don’t you?”

Terran was quick to catch on.

“Yes. Actually, I need your permission for something.”

Lea explained the sales method she had come up with.

She wanted to wear Chainer lace, take a photo of herself, and publish it in a newspaper advertisement.

“You want to do mail order?”

“Yes. When someone contacts us to buy the lace, we’ll charge a delivery fee and send it by courier.”

“What about rural areas?”

“For big cities, we can offer delivery. In smaller towns or the countryside, we can send the items to the local post office and have the customer pick them up. If they don’t like the item, they can return it on the spot by paying a small return fee. They don’t have to buy it.”

Terran nodded while listening carefully.

“That’s a very convenient idea. Buying something by simply reading a newspaper and sending a letter from home.”

“Grandfather Rafa is planning to open the first Hamilton General Store in Rebon. We can receive the customers’ letters there. Of course, his workers will handle the deliveries.”

Terran suddenly stopped walking and looked at Grace in silence. The more time passed, the more Grace surprised him with her ideas.

Most people go to a store, look at the product, and only then decide whether to buy it.

But she wanted to do the opposite. She planned to spark customers’ interest through advertisements without showing the product in person.

“Do you really think that will work? People tend to be suspicious.”

“But they’re also very curious. The first time is the hardest. If the product is good, it gets easier after that.”

Terran listened, but there were parts he could not accept.

Lea wanted to use her own photo in the ad, which meant her face would become known throughout all of Lubeck.

“I don’t think this is a good idea.”

Terran spoke firmly, and Lea was shocked by his reaction. She didn’t understand why the man who promised to support her in everything was now suddenly against her.

“My fiancée’s face would be seen nationwide.”

“You can’t make money while hiding behind safety.”

She couldn’t publicly declare that a noblewoman was running a business, but as the real owner of it, Lea felt this much responsibility was necessary.

Being in the newspaper ad might draw criticism, but it could also make her seem like someone who spreads beauty and leads trends.

Changing how people saw it was also her responsibility.

At first, it would probably become gossip. Or worse, there would be no reaction at all, which would mean the business had failed. If she wanted to succeed, she had to overcome that.

Most customers would be nobles or people from the upper class. So showing a photograph was reasonable.

“Do you really need to make money by selling your face?”

“My face?”

Lea was shocked. How could he say something so harsh?

She was trying to run a respectable business. Using a photo of herself wearing the product was part of the sales method. It was not some cheap trick to sell her appearance.

Lea tried to persuade Terran again. Even for mail order, customers needed to see what the product looked like.

But it didn’t work very well.

Terran stood his ground and seemed even more upset.

“Don’t you think this is unfair? You go ahead and do everything you want, but you leave me behind.”

The truth was, ever since Grace started her business, Terran had never felt like he had her full attention.

Was this the same loneliness Grace once felt toward him? Was she trying to punish him now? He started to wonder.

His feelings for her kept growing stronger, but she didn’t even let him hold her hand. Hoping for a kiss was out of the question.

Was he just supposed to admire her from afar? It was pushing his patience to the limit.

“I never ignored you, Terran.”

“This conversation is childish and disgusting. Let’s stop.”

Disgusting?

Lea was furious. In the end, Terran was no different from other men. He was arrogant and selfish.

Just because they were engaged, he acted like he could control her life. Thinking she needed his approval had been a mistake from the start.

She had come up with the plan and started the business on her own. She would face the challenges on her own too.

“This is my business. From now on, I’ll take care of it myself.”

“So, you’re saying you don’t need my help anymore?”

“That’s right.”

“I see.”

What was supposed to be a pleasant date had turned into a disaster. After that, Lea never discussed her business with Terran again.

Lea searched throughout Lubeck for the best photographer she could find.

Photos were still unfamiliar to many people, but once a picture was taken, it could be printed many times, which was a big advantage.

Most importantly, for those who had never seen Chainer lace in person, nothing worked better than a photograph.

But when the photographer showed up at the duke’s mansion, Terran looked surprised. He had thought that since he objected, she would give up on the idea.

“I think it would be best to take the photo here, on the drawing room sofa.”

Following Lea’s instructions, Pauline guided the photographer into the drawing room. However, the photographer had brought so much equipment that it took a long time just to set it up.

While he worked, Lea did her makeup and hair, then draped a simple dress with a shawl made of Chainer lace.

“Wow, you look so pretty, sister!”

“Really? Then shall we go take some photos?”

“Yes, let’s go!”

Lea headed to the first-floor drawing room with Pauline.

When she stepped inside, the photographer froze in place, stunned at the sight of her.

“It is an honor. To capture someone so beautiful with my camera…”

“Nice to meet you. But please make sure the Chainer lace shawl stands out more than I do.”

Lea repeated her request to the photographer several times.

“Miss, please take a seat over there.”

The photographer pointed to a chair set in front of a backdrop. Lea quietly followed his instructions and sat down.

Just then, the sound of footsteps came from outside.

Lea flinched in surprise. Terran had arrived, bringing Luke and James with him. And that was not all.

Terran sat down on the sofa behind the photographer with his legs crossed, staring directly at Grace.

Lea suddenly felt her body tense. A wave of nervousness swept over her.

Was he here just to glare at me like that?

Luke and James watched with curious eyes, but Terran looked at her as if she were his mortal enemy.

“Alright. I am taking the photo now.”

The photographer pulled a black cloth over his head and began to focus the camera.

Lea forced a stiff smile, her lips twitching from the strain.

She realized too late that posing naturally in front of Terran was impossible.

Then the photographer suddenly stopped what he was doing and walked over to her.

“Please turn your face this way. Tilt your head back a little. And your shoulders…”

As he reached out to adjust her posture, another hand suddenly slapped his away.

“Do not touch her without permission.”

Before anyone noticed, Terran was standing right beside him, gripping the photographer’s wrist with a warning glare.

“I was only trying to help her adjust her posture.”

Only then did Terran release the man’s wrist with a flick. But that wasn’t the real issue.

Terran was so angry he put his hands on his hips and let out a deep, shaky breath.

This is insane.

Lea was filled with anxiety. At this rate, they would never get the photo taken. She had gone through so much effort to bring this photographer here.

The photographer’s face had already turned bright red. She worried he might walk out and refuse to take the picture at all.

“I will adjust her posture myself. Just tell me what to do.”

Terran tried hard to suppress his anger as he looked at the photographer. He seemed to be holding back a lot.

Still, Lea was not happy with his behavior.

“Turn your chin slightly to the left. Straighten your shoulders a bit more. Move your hair back so the lace is more visible.”

Following the photographer’s directions, Terran helped position Lea.

Even in that moment, his eyes were full of unspoken frustration.

What surprised her was that despite his anger, his touch was careful and gentle.

He brushed her chin softly with his fingers, and as he pushed her hair back, the back of his hand grazed her pale neck.

Lea saw the desire in his eyes. He could not take his gaze off her, using his eyes and hands to express what he could not say aloud.

When Terran touched her with such tenderness, she could not help but tremble.

“Excellent. Now I will take the photo.”

Satisfied with the pose, the photographer covered his head again and counted down with energy.

“How about the two of you take a picture together? Just for keepsake.”

The unexpected suggestion made both Terran and Lea hesitate in surprise.

“No, that’s alright.”

Lea stood up quickly and waved her hands to decline, but Terran pulled her down into his lap.

“Take the picture.”

“Terran, this pose is too embarrassing.”

Lea’s face turned bright red. But the photographer, along with Luke and James, welcomed it with claps and laughter.

Lea had no choice but to sit on his lap and smile awkwardly for the photo.

“James, take a picture of all the staff here at the duke’s estate.”

“Yes, Your Grace. Right away.”

At Terran’s command, the photographer’s face lit up with joy.

Terran took Grace with him to his office. It seemed like he was in a good mood, but instead of saying anything, he just held her hand and walked quickly.

When the door slammed shut behind them, he finally let go of her hand.

“Grace Vizak. Did you forget? I am your guardian.”

“I know that.”

“And you still went ahead and did all this without my permission?”

“It’s not like I was being reckless.”

“Let me make this clear. Your photo will not be printed in any newspaper. I will not sit back and watch my woman’s face being spread across the entire nation.”

Lea trembled with anger at his arrogance. If he promised to help, he should have kept his word.

She couldn’t understand why he was suddenly going back on everything. She had explained it all clearly beforehand.

“I do not need Terran’s permission. My photo will be published.”

With both fists clenched, Lea stood up to him.

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