Revenge Comes with Interest - Chapter 69

Allen was startled by his secretary’s report and checked the facts once more.

“Are you saying Duke Courtois is jumping into the Bertran railway project?”

“Yes, sir. It’s news sent via telegram from the ducal mansion.”

“What does that bastard know about business? He should just focus on preserving the wealth he already has.”

“The thing is…”

The secretary reported the telegram received from the spy planted in the Courtois mansion along with the results of his own investigation. He explained that there was a man named Viscount Martinpolo who explored unknown continents; he supposedly possessed more information about Bertran than high-ranking Imperial officials, and his credibility was very high.

“Viscount Martinpolo? Isn’t he famous for being an eccentric?”

“He is, but he is a source of information who travels to the remote areas of Bertran and knows the local public sentiment well. He reportedly said that Buttan, a prince of Bertran, will soon ascend to the throne.”

“What?”

Allen fell into a state of panic. This was something he hadn’t even heard from the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He had only heard that the struggle for Imperial power among the Emperor’s sons was fierce.

“They say that once Prince Buttan takes the throne, he intends to start by laying railways across the entire continent of Bertran.”

“So, is Duke Courtois planning to monopolize that project?”

“I don’t know the exact details. What is certain is that not only Imperial officials but also the heads of great merchant guilds are entering and leaving the ducal mansion every day.”

Thud! Allen slammed his fist onto the desk. He must have overheard the conversation between Allen and the Minister at the Bellis banquet. Otherwise, it made no sense for him to suddenly jump into the Bertran railway project.

‘He thinks he can block my path? Despicable bastard!’

Who did he think would just hand over the business rights so easily? Now that Allen knew, that would never happen.

“Find out everything about the companies bidding for the Bertran railway project.”

“Understood, President.”

‘You only know how to kill people on the battlefield; you know nothing about making money, yet you dare to act up.’ He found it laughable that someone who was nothing without the wealth inherited from his parents dared to try and best him.

‘If only I had the Hamilton Merchant Guild’s memoirs right now, I’d have wings.’

Though it was a bit disappointing, there was no need to be impatient. Given that Sarah hadn’t been seen lately, it seemed she was working hard in her own way to find the memoirs.

‘Terran Courtois, I’ll teach you a lesson. You won’t be so cocky once you’re a pauper living barely on an Imperial pension.’

Allen rose from his seat and walked toward the window. However, he hated seeing the long lines in front of the Hamilton general store.

‘That damn riding habit.’

The riding habit was innovative, but Grace Vizak’s sales strategy was also worthy of praise. Not only had she published photos of Empress Vivian of Lubeck winning the Royal Equestrian Competition in the newspapers, but she had also lowered the price for the general public. Rumor had it she had even set up a workshop, making the supply of goods very fast.

‘Well, it doesn’t matter. Grace is going to help make Rivette the Crown Princess anyway.’

Since he had commissioned Rivette’s dress from her, she would live up to expectations this time as well. It would be a great benefit for her as well to have a Crown Princess created by her own hands. The problem was Terran.

‘This is the perfect opportunity to turn Terran into a beggar.’

Allen punched the wall with his fist.

Lea went to see James as soon as day broke.

“They aren’t in the study.”

“Oh my! I am so sorry.”

James apologized so profusely, even turning red in the face, that Lea felt sorry instead.

“As I get older, my mind just slips like this. I’ve thought it over carefully, and the Duke told me to throw them in the incinerator a few days ago.”

“So, did you burn them?”

“No, My Lady. We don’t incinerate every day. Besides, it rained a few days ago, so they’ll likely do it today.”

“Thank you, James.”

Lea headed straight for the incinerator. However, she felt a strange sensation as she walked. Was James perhaps teasing her?

‘No! James isn’t that kind of person.’ He was someone who held discipline strictly and was incredibly respectful to his employer. It must be as he said—doing one job for so long had caused his memories to get jumbled.

This time, Lea headed to the incinerator with Chenera instead of Pauline.

“Chenera, we just need to find a bundle of letters tied with string, okay?”

“Yep, Sister!”

Chenera, having found a small shovel from somewhere, kept digging through the ashes of the incinerator. The problem was that the ash was blowing in the wind toward Lea.

“Cough! Chenera, could you try not to kick up so much dust?”

“Oh? Sorry!”

But when Lea looked up and saw Chenera covered in soot, she couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Chenera looked so cute, working so hard at whatever she did.

“Oh, right! I finished the lace dress!”

“Really? I’ll have to go to the workshop to see it. Good job, our Chenera.”

“I’m the one who’s thankful to you, Sister. Because I give my Grandpa a lot of money, Grandpa and the other misters have become nice.”

“How?”

“They don’t cut off people’s arms anymore, they don’t sell strange medicine, and they even got married.”

Lea’s heart suddenly felt heavy at Chenera’s words. That wasn’t a result caused by her, but a happiness created by Chenera’s blood and sweat.

The two searched the incinerator thoroughly for the bundle of letters. During the search, Chenera suddenly stopped and began to cry.

“Why are you crying?”

Lea was greatly flustered. She had never seen Chenera cry so sorrowfully before.

“Sister, I’m not having a baby.”

“What?”

Lea’s legs gave out, and she stumbled. Who dared to touch the innocent Chenera? If she caught them, she would make them pay dearly. Was this how a brother with a younger sister felt? Her heart felt like it was breaking.

Lea grabbed Chenera’s shoulders with all her strength and asked fiercely.

“Who is it? Who is the bastard who touched you?”

Despite the question, Chenera just kept crying with tears and a runny nose, unable to answer properly.

“Brother Luke.”

“Luke?”

‘I thought he was a good man, but he seduced an innocent child into doing that?!’ Lea’s limbs trembled with rage.

“Tell me everything Luke did to you.”

This wasn’t something to let slide. If Luke had done something terrible to Chenera, she intended to throw him in prison for sure.

“He kissed my forehead, but I’m still not having a baby. I have to have a baby to marry him.”

“!?”

Lea sank powerlessly to the ground like a curtain whose cord had snapped.

“Chenera, let’s… just go. It doesn’t seem to be in the incinerator.”

The two, covered in black ash, just stared at each other and blinked.

Lea went back to James, still covered in ash, and he was absolutely horrified.

“James, they aren’t in the incinerator.”

James’s face turned pale at the sound of Lea’s exhausted voice, as if he were someone guarding a secret that must not be told. He paced busily back and forth, retracing his steps, before finally seeming to remember correctly and striding toward Lea.

“I truly remember this time, My Lady.”

“Yes, you must.”

She had no strength left, and her mental energy was half-spent because of Chenera, so she had no energy to even respond.

“It’s in the bottom drawer of the Duke’s bedside table. I put them there just in case. I thought you might want to read them when you had time.”

Seeing the glint in James’s eyes, it seemed he was telling the truth this time. Lea summoned her strength again, took Chenera’s hand, and headed to the bathroom. With the help of the maids, Lea and Chenera bathed for over an hour. Afterward, they ate frantically like people who had skipped several meals.

‘There is no strength in Grace’s arms and legs.’

Lea trembled with the muscle pain that overwhelmed her entire body. Chenera, who had shoveled alongside her, had returned to normal after eating, but Lea had no strength left to even speak. Lady Armand, unable to bear the sight, pleaded through her tears.

“Lady Vizak, please don’t look anymore. Because of me…”

‘Don’t cry. I feel like my head is going to explode, Lady Armand.’ Of course, these were words she couldn’t say out loud. Still, she had to say something to her.

“I’m doing this because I feel it’s something I must do.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s just something. Well, later, if I face a difficult situation, then you—no, Marie—can help me then.”

“Of course. Even if I have to give my life, I will surely repay the grace you have shown me.”

‘There’s no need for that. I just want to punish the bastard who abandoned his wife. Call it vicarious satisfaction.’

After midnight, Lea headed to Terran’s bedroom alone.

‘The bottom drawer of the bedside table.’

She could catch a glimpse of the sleeping Terran in the bed. Lea headed toward his bed on tiptoe, barefoot and without slippers. She soon pressed her body to the floor and crawled slowly on her elbows. In times like this, she realized how beneficial Grace’s small body was. Lea reached out her arm and pulled the handle of the bottom drawer.

Creeeeak—! A loud noise shattered the silence.

‘No!’

At this rate, she’d have the inconvenience of opening the drawer inch by inch. Still, she couldn’t give up, so she opened the drawer very slowly. It seemed to take almost twenty minutes to open it silently. When the drawer was finally open, she reached in without hesitation and felt around inside.

‘Love letters, please be here.’

However, she felt nothing. Then, a single piece of paper stuck to the bottom of the drawer caught her hand.

‘Is this it?’

It didn’t matter if it wasn’t a bundle. As long as even one page was a love letter, her goal would be achieved. She prayed it was what she was looking for. Lea pulled out the paper and checked the content.

<You worked hard to get all the way here, my Grace.>

‘Huh? What is this?’

In her bewildered state, her body was suddenly hoisted into the air and tossed onto the soft bed.

“Ah!”

Her fragile body was pinned between Terran’s knees. This meant Terran hadn’t been in the bed from the beginning. He must have been watching this ridiculous scene from somewhere.

“I didn’t call for Grace this time. You came here voluntarily on those two little feet.”

Terran spoke while touching Lea’s bare feet.

“Terran, about that… there’s a reason.”

As Lea struggled to get up, Terran gave a short laugh and stripped off his shirt in one motion, revealing his massive shoulders.

“There is only one thing for a man and a woman to do in the middle of the night. We’ll listen to the reason after that.”

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