Revenge Comes with Interest - Chapter 57

A miracle occurred. Among the servants, there were as many as two people who knew how to use a sewing machine.

They were brothers named Paul and Tom. Their parents ran a leather workshop in the countryside and had brought in a sewing machine a few years ago. The brothers had watched and learned how to use it whenever they had the chance. Now, all they needed was for Terran to safely return with the machines.

“We must be careful not to mix up the patterns of the garments.”

Lea spoke to the servants about the precautions to take when cutting the fabric. Just then, Sonya and Adolf approached and shouted at the employees.

“Everyone, hands off! This is not a work of art that you can handle carelessly.”

At Sonya’s words, the maids looked at Lea, gauging her reaction.

“We cannot leave our work in the hands of others,” Adolf said firmly to Lea.

It seemed they had finally made up their minds. Their lives must be precious to them as well. How unfair would it be to leave a fallen country, come to a foreign land, and end up facing the gallows?

“Sonya, Adolf, thank you. However, we still need people to assist, so please instruct the maids.”

Lea respected their professional pride.

“What a relief, My Lady.”

Pauline also looked tearful, seemingly relieved. It had been incredibly stressful seeing the people who should have been working immediately sitting idly by. Lea patted Pauline on the shoulder and headed toward the window.

It was already afternoon. She waited and waited for Terran to return, but there was no sign of him.

‘I believe in Terran.’

Lea composed her anxious heart and called Paul and Tom over. She needed to hear their explanation of how the sewing machine worked.

“By the way, why did you come to Rebon instead of taking over the family business?”

“Even in the countryside, people didn’t welcome the sewing machine. It was only okay because it was the only leather workshop around.”

“The income wasn’t enough for a family of four to work in one small shop,” Paul and Tom answered in turn.

It was the same reason the Hamilton Merchant Guild had been unable to sell the machines.

“I’m counting on you two.”

When Lea made her sincere request, Paul and Tom blushed. At that moment, the sound of Chenera’s footsteps thumping down the hallway could be heard.

“Sister! The Mister is here! And my brother is coming, too!”

“Really!”

Chenera, who had been waiting for Luke while riding the swing in the garden, was the first to notice and came running. Lea quickly rushed out to meet Terran. She hurried so much she couldn’t even remember how she reached the first floor. She was already passing the lobby and heading toward the yard.

“Please!”

Lea waited for him with her hands clasped. Soon, Terran and Luke arrived on horseback. Behind them, a cart carried objects covered in shrouds.

‘He succeeded. Terran truly is a problem solver.’

Lea’s heart felt full. However, as Terran drew closer, something seemed a bit off. There were scratches on several parts of his face as if he had been grazed, and bloodstains were vivid on his uniform.

‘Is he hurt?’

Her heart sank and began to pound.

“Terran!”

Lea called out to him with all her might. Before she knew it, Terran had dismounted and was striding toward her. Lea ran without hesitation and jumped into his arms. Terran caught her and spun her around.

“Thank you for coming back safely.”

“Sorry I’m late.”

“Late? Not at all. But are you hurt?”

Lea pulled back slightly from his embrace. She carefully touched the scratches on his face with her hand.

“There was a bit of a commotion.”

“A commotion?”

“It was nothing. You don’t need to know the details.”

“I need to apply medicine to these wounds.”

Lea took Terran’s hand and headed toward the main building. Meanwhile, Luke ordered the soldiers to move the sewing machines inside. However, Terran, who had been walking well while holding Lea’s hand, suddenly stopped and looked at her seriously.

“What is it?”

“How many grapes is this worth?”

Terran asked with a world-class serious expression. Even though Lea let out a small laugh, Terran still looked at her with total gravity.

“It should be more than ten.”

“Of course.”

Only then did Terran smile contentedly and resume walking in step with Lea. Meanwhile, Chenera ran to Luke.

“Brother, did the Mister fight?”

“How did you know that?”

Chenera occasionally made people feel a bit eerie like this. Sometimes she acted like a child, but other times she spoke like a prophet.

“Because there are scratches on his face and his clothes are covered in blood.”

“Oh… right.”

Luke ended up laughing awkwardly, feeling like he had overthought things. It was a situation anyone could have predicted.

However, the fight between Terran and Sarubi had been truly remarkable. Unlike Sarubi, who showed off flashy sword skills, Terran didn’t move easily. He crouched like a predator stalking its prey and struck a single blow when the moment was right. Less than ten minutes after the fight began, Sarubi’s sword flew into the air. Instead, Sarubi was seen flailing like an overturned turtle under Terran’s military boot.

[It has been seven years. Seven years that I’ve spent rolling around in fields of corpses. I’ve seen countless times where cannonballs fell right in front of me and blew soldiers’ bodies to pieces.]

Terran spoke with an impassive face, but the tip of his sharp blade was pointed at Sarubi’s throat. Even though Luke was just a spectator, he felt the thrill of the victor. Of course, Terran didn’t seem particularly pleased until the sewing machines were revealed. Only then did a smile bloom on his face.

“So, did the Mister kill him?”

“No, the Duke does not engage in innocent killing.”

“Aha, I see. But that’s not the smell of the Mister’s blood.”

Luke got goosebumps again at Chenera’s words. Had she reached the point where she could distinguish the smell of different people’s blood? No, she probably just guessed and got it right.

“The Mister is very kind.”

“He is merciful. It was a bet that was supposed to end in death, but he spared him. He just beat him up enough to make him wish he were dead and ended it there.”

“Ugh! How boring. Usually, you’re supposed to gouge out eyes or cut out tongues.”

“What?”

Usually, in this situation, women would scream or cover their faces, saying how horrific it was.

‘What on earth has that old man Rapa been showing this kid?’

Luke cupped Chenera’s face with both hands and spoke very seriously.

“Chenera, you shouldn’t say things like that so carelessly from now on. You’re a lady. You should only use proper and beautiful words. Do you understand?”

“I’ll promise if you give me a kiss.”

“A kiss? Where?”

“Anywhere is fine.”

For the first time, Luke saw Chenera looking shy. Something must have come over his eyes, because she looked as beautiful as an angel.

“Promise me first. That you won’t use bad words.”

“Yeah. I promise.”

Chenera hooked her pinky with Luke’s. Soon, Luke kissed Chenera on her forehead. Suddenly, as if struck by lightning, a tingling sensation ran through his whole body, and he saw Chenera differently. The freckles on the bridge of her nose were cute, and there wasn’t a single unattractive spot on her.

‘Was Chenera always this pretty?’

Just as he was feeling startled and embarrassed, Chenera ran toward the main building and shouted.

“Sister Pauline! I kissed Brother Luke! I might have a baby!”

Luke’s legs wobbled.

‘Of course. It’s my fault for expecting too much from her.’

As soon as Terran returned and finished his bath, he went to bed. Lea applied medicine to the wounds on his face and was about to leave the bed when she was caught by the scruff of her neck. Thus, Lea had to stay in Terran’s arms by his side until he fell asleep.

Her nerves were focused elsewhere, to the point where she wished she could sing a lullaby so he would fall asleep even a second faster. Then, suddenly seeing the scratches on his face, her heart ached.

‘Every time, because of me…’

She didn’t know what he had gone through today, but it certainly wouldn’t have been easy. That was why he fell asleep so quickly. She felt ashamed of herself for being impatient for him to sleep. She carefully stroked Terran’s face with her hand. At that, his lips curled up nicely. He seemed to like feeling her touch even in his sleep.

‘Cute.’

At that moment, Lea felt a sense of full happiness for the first time. The tragedies she had experienced and the revenge she had to carry out in the future disappeared from her mind for a moment. It felt as if her heart, which had been a mere shell, was being filled with warmth through her connection with Terran. If she could be as happy as this moment, her life would be one without regrets.

‘Thank you. Because of you, I’m not lonely.’

Lea’s eyes welled up with tears. She stayed by Terran’s side until he was completely asleep. When Terran’s breathing became deep, Lea quietly left the room. However, a rattling sound could be heard even in the hallway. It was the sound of the sewing machine operating.

Lea ran toward the workshop. When she finally stepped inside, Paul and Tom were hard at work sewing.

“My Lady, you’re here?”

“Yes. What about Sonya and Adolf?”

“They took the parts that require hand-sewing back to their quarters.”

“Don’t mind me and carry on.”

Lea went to the sofa and watched the two of them work. Then, Paul smiled brightly and said to Lea.

“You can come and watch. It’s not a distraction.”

He seemed to have noticed Lea’s face sparkling with curiosity.

“Is that okay?”

Lea picked up a chair and sat by Paul’s side, watching him sew. She couldn’t take her eyes off the amazing sight of the needle rattling through the fabric as he pumped the pedal with his foot.

‘Is this the power of science?’

Hand-sewing was wonderful, but the sewing machine had the advantage of giving people more leisure time by shortening their labor hours.

“It’s so amazing. At this rate, you’ll finish everything in no time. Plus, you’re very skilled at sewing.”

“You flatter me. Well, it won’t take that long, My Lady.”

Paul also smiled brightly, appearing to enjoy being encouraged by Grace. Just then, the workshop door opened, and the sound of the sewing machine stopped abruptly. It was because they saw a person standing at the door.

‘This is driving me crazy, really.’

Lea saw Terran and realized her mistake.

“Terran, why did you come out instead of sleeping?”

As Lea looked flustered, he looked back and forth between her and Paul with a grumpy face.

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