Revenge Comes with Interest - Chapter 40

Lea had been nonstop busy for several days since the tea party.

She had Luke publish a rebuttal and correction to the article from the Galdensia Times, and she uploaded a new advertisement featuring a photo of herself wearing the purple lace cape.

“My head got cut off again”

At this point, all she could do was laugh when she looked at the paper.

At first, she disliked how awkward the photo looked, but considering how inconvenient it would be if her face became widely recognized, she had to admit Terran had been right all along.

“Grandpa Rapa sent word. People are starting to come back to the general store”

“Really? That’s a relief”

That wasn’t the only good news. The cape Lea had worn at the tea party had sparked a flood of new orders. But they all came with the same request.

Please have Lady Chenera Vizak choose a color that suits me

The problem was whether Chenera actually remembered all the noblewomen who had attended.

Lea thought the request was too much and considered sending the orders back. But then Chenera stepped forward with a confident smile and said she could do it.

“I remember all of them. Their faces and names. And even what they wore that day”

“Really?”

Lea and Pauline shouted in unison. Until now, they had only thought Chenera had genius hands, but maybe her memory was just as brilliant.

“Let’s get organized. Chenera, focus on making the capes for Her Majesty and the noblewomen. Pauline and I will look for someone to design the riding outfits”

“Okay. I’ll work really hard”

Chenera was all set. The real problem now was the riding outfits.

No matter how hard Lea thought, no one came to mind.

Rebon had plenty of boutiques and talented tailors. But she wasn’t sure if any of them had experience designing riding gear for women.

Just then, Pauline’s eyes lit up.

“My lady, why not ask a tailor who makes menswear instead? For riding outfits, that might actually be better than a dressmaker”

“That’s a good idea, Pauline”

“We should ask the Duke. His estate probably has its own private tailor”

“Let’s do that”

But asking Terran felt complicated. He always treated her with the same calm kindness, but she was the one who had changed.

After meeting the Empress, Lea had found herself overwhelmed by admiration and jealousy that shook her deeply.

She knew she couldn’t compare to Terran’s first love. That mix of insecurity and confusion over why he never married the Empress kept pulling at her thoughts.

Then came ambition. Lea wanted to be someone greater than the Empress.

That graceful walk, that calm and confident posture

Even as a woman, she found the Empress captivating.

“Pauline, can I ask you something?”

Lea suddenly stopped walking on their way to meet Terran. She wanted to know if it was just her who felt this way.

“What did you think of Her Majesty?”

“What’s there to say? She’s the perfect woman”

“Is that so?”

“I’ve never seen anyone like her. She was amazing”

Pauline even clasped her hands, her eyes dreamy. In contrast, Lea felt defeated.

She knew she liked the Empress too. She was beautiful, wise, and elegant. There weren’t enough words to describe her perfection.

But Lea’s chest tightened. It hurt to think she could never be that kind of woman. It wasn’t just disappointment. It was self-doubt.

“Still, the Duke clearly likes you more”

Pauline was too sharp for her own good. Even without Lea saying anything, she always seemed to understand and tried to comfort her with words she didn’t ask for.

“It’s not about whether Terran likes me more or not. I’m the problem”

Lea shook her head, trying to clear the weight from her thoughts.

Lea and Terran walked through the cedar forest path for the first time in a long while. She told him about the Empress’s request and asked for his help in finding someone to design the riding outfits.

“The tailor who works for my estate is very skilled. He’ll do a good job”

“Thank you for helping so quickly”

“It’s not like anyone else asked. Vivian rarely makes personal requests”

Still calling her Vivian

Terran was clearly still stuck in the past. Hearing him say her name like that made it harder for Lea to stay calm.

“Vivian has amber eyes. Earth tones like brown or beige suit her best”

“What?”

“She always rode so well. Of course she’s entering the riding competition. That’s just like her”

Terran went on and on about the Empress.

“Her arms and legs are slim, and her feet are small for her height. You’ll need to consider that when designing the outfit. Also, her head is small, so the brim of the hat should be narrow”

Lea had no words.

It felt like her mind was spinning and her heart was slowly freezing over. She couldn’t even bring herself to care about the riding outfit anymore.

The longing in Terran’s eyes and the way his voice softened when he spoke about the Empress caught her completely off guard. She hadn’t realized until now that the woman he truly loved was still in the palace.

“Terran, why did you get engaged to me? You had your first love in the Empress”

Without meaning to, Lea spoke from her heart. She did her best to sound calm, but the pain slipped through.

“Because Vivian got engaged to His Majesty”

“Why didn’t you stop her? She was your first love”

“Should I have?”

“If it were me, and I had someone I really loved, I wouldn’t let them go”

“Then what kind of man am I to you? Someone you love that much?”

He just kept avoiding the question. Lea felt a sudden urge to smack him out of pure frustration.

“I don’t know”

She avoided the question too. But she didn’t understand why her eyes were starting to sting.

She tried everything she could not to cry, because if she cried now, she would feel completely pathetic.

“You’re only engaged to me because of Aiden, aren’t you?”

Lea fired another question straight at Terran, her emotions building.

“I thought we settled that already. I told you no”

“I just feel sorry for you. That you couldn’t be with your first love”

“Do you mean that?”

Terran’s voice dropped, low and cold.

“Of course. If I’d been more mature back then, I never would’ve held on to you. I don’t want a man who doesn’t love me. And it’s not too late. We’re not even married”

“What did you just say?”

“Oh, right. Her Majesty might be out of reach. Then I guess you’ll need to find someone who can satisfy the longing you feel for your first love”

Lea had fallen deep into an emotional battle with Terran or rather, she was overcome with jealousy. She hated that he had memories with the Empress that she wasn’t a part of.

She had been the one to push him away, insisting she wouldn’t allow herself the luxury of love. Yet here she was, attacking him just for bringing up the past. It made her feel pathetic.

She knew she shouldn’t act this way, but she couldn’t stop herself. The childish pride, the foolish pride, had taken over.

Lea Hamilton, you’re a hypocrite. Selfish and ridiculous

But not everything she said was a lie. If Terran did meet someone like his first love, she truly would want him to be happy.

“Let me ask you one thing”

Terran’s voice shifted. He stepped in front of her and looked down, his expression unreadable.

“Go ahead”

“So, because we’re not married, that means you could leave me and go to someone else anytime you want?”

Lea didn’t answer right away. The reason was obvious.

The truth was, she couldn’t leave Terran anymore. The emotional walls she had built to keep him out had long since collapsed.

But her pride wouldn’t let her admit that now.

“Of course I could”

“Of course?”

Terran looked completely shaken.

“Terran, I need to go see James. I have to meet the tailor. I’ll go on ahead”

Lea turned and walked away quickly, leaving Terran behind in the cedar path.

She didn’t look back. She didn’t want to see the look on his face.

Terran didn’t move. He just stood there, staring at the spot where Lea had been.

“Damn it, Luke”

They had said that jealousy was the best way to understand a woman’s heart. That’s why he had said those things he didn’t mean.

But Grace stayed calm. And worse, now she had learned something he didn’t want her to know.

So, I’m not the only one she could choose?

Grace was still pushing him away, using her ambitions as an excuse to stay distant.

She was like a small bird in a cage, always looking for a chance to fly free. And that realization hurt more than he could explain.

He couldn’t live without her anymore, but she kept finding new ways to distance herself from him.

Was all her effort to become stronger and more independent just a way to escape from him?

Is she sick of me?

He had treated her coldly in the past. Maybe she still carried those wounds. Maybe she wanted to pay him back for all of them.

Grace, do you not love me anymore?

Terran tried to imagine it. Grace walking away from him and falling in love with another man.

“God…”

Just imagining it made his heart burn with jealousy. A thick heat rose from his chest like smoke.

Who dares to take you from me

He had heard somewhere that true love means letting someone go for their happiness.

What a load of crap

He would use any means necessary. If her heart had left him, he would just take it back.

Grace, you have to love me. That’s the only way we both survive

Terran hadn’t realized until now just how much he had come to obsess over one woman.

His whole world was filled with her. There was no room for anyone else.

Suddenly, he snapped out of it. In the distance, he saw Grace walking away, alone.

Don’t leave me behind

Terran ran after her.

Something deep inside told him he couldn’t afford to lose her. Not now.

He finally caught up and grabbed her by the arm.

“Terran”

“You can’t love anyone else but me”

Terran shouted at her. His voice was desperate and fierce.

Lea wanted to shake off the hand gripping her arm.

“You’re hurting me”

“Don’t forget. You’re mine”

His face was twisted with emotion as he shouted at her.

“Terran, you’re a liar”

Lea shouted back.

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