Revenge Comes with Interest - Chapter 72

Allen finally basked in the full glory of victory. Every daily newspaper across the continent ran articles detailing how Terran had suffered a major defeat at the hands of Allen.

“Congratulations, President. The Bertran railway business rights belong to the McDowell Company.”

“Raising the bid by 50% is a bit of a concern, but we can make up for it elsewhere.”

Bertran was rich in resources and high-value cultural artifacts; there was a mountain of wealth to bring back to Galdensia. Now, all he had to do was seize the exclusive import rights for silk and ceramics that Terran was trying to monopolize, and it would be over.

‘You should know that the only thing you’re good at is fighting. You ignorant brute who only knows how to use his body!’

He criticized Terran to his heart’s content. Terran probably thought Allen had spent his time since the age of fifteen just playing around near Lea. In reality, Allen had absorbed all the information from the Hamilton Merchant Guild and studied management methods in his own way.

‘Is that effort finally coming to light?’

Allen let out constant laughs as he read the newspapers. Among them, he particularly liked the extra edition headline:

<Duke Terran Courtois Kneels Before the Sophisticated President Allen McDowell!>

He was extremely curious about what kind of expression Terran was wearing right now.

“I should throw a party today.”

Just as Allen’s mood reached its peak, a maid announced that a guest had arrived.

“Who is it?”

“She said her name is Miss Emily Lant.”

Allen mulled over the name for a moment, and once he remembered who she was, he gestured for the maid to bring her in immediately. She was the woman who had secretly given him a love letter during the Bellis banquet. From his memory, she was quite a beauty.

A short while later, a woman appeared in Allen’s office, carrying the heavy scent of perfume.

“Hello, President McDowell.”

“Welcome, Miss Lant.”

Allen greeted her formally. His memory had been correct. He had thought her a beauty at the banquet, but seeing her up close, her figure was quite voluptuous.

“Since there was no reply, I decided to visit in person.”

“Ah, I see. I’ve been so busy with business that I’ve kept a lady waiting.”

“It’s alright. A dashing man is meant to be won before he’s snatched by another woman.”

“Hahaha, you have quite a bold personality.”

Allen took a liking to the straightforward Emily. A woman like her would be clean and wouldn’t linger when it came time to part ways later. She was perfect material for a mistress. With Sarah currently gone from his sight, it wouldn’t be bad to have a partner to satisfy his needs. However, there was one issue.

“Miss Lant, I heard rumors that you were getting married to Count Armand?”

“Those are false rumors. The Count courted me aggressively, but I turned him down.”

“Why?”

“I have rather high standards. A man has to be at least at the level of President McDowell to satisfy me.”

Emily said only the things Allen wanted to hear. In truth, Emily had intended to settle down by marrying Count Armand—until she realized his true nature.

‘My goodness, to think such a cheapskate existed. His former wife was truly impressive.’

A man who offered a mere silver band as a wedding ring. And the food he served? He was nothing but a hollow shell with a polished exterior. So, she had quickly said her goodbyes and left the Count’s estate.

‘One look tells you everything; that man is a lost cause.’

She didn’t want anything to do with a miser who didn’t know how to spend a single penny on a woman.

“Don’t misunderstand. You are the only one I have ever given a love letter to, President McDowell.”

“Is that so?”

The two enjoyed exchanging pleasantries and flattery.

As soon as Terran returned to the ducal mansion from the Imperial Palace, he began preparing to leave. Lea’s heart grew frantic. Moreover, because Chenera’s prophecies had been eerily accurate so far, her whole body trembled.

“Terran, where are you going? No, what on earth is happening?”

Even after returning from the palace, he didn’t give her a clear explanation. It was only when Lea looked ready to cry that he finally spoke in a calm tone.

“Grace, do you remember when we encountered those bandits in Basel? That place is my fief. But some trouble has arisen.”

“Has there been an uprising?”

“The bandit groups have grown so powerful that they are plundering the local residents.”

“So you’re going to suppress them?”

“Yes.”

Lea remembered it clearly. At that time, Terran had fought them alone and even suffered a gunshot wound. The problem was that they weren’t mere petty thieves. Furthermore, having hidden in the woods for a long time, they were skilled in forest terrain and excellent at surprise attacks. Terran continued to dress in his combat gear as he spoke.

“Don’t worry. It won’t take long. I’ll have them all wiped out within a week.”

“A week?”

Technically, that wasn’t a long time. The problem was the sense of dread shaking her soul. She felt as though if she let him go now, she wouldn’t see him for a very long time.

“My army is the best trained. They have plenty of war experience. We can wipe out a few bandits and return in no time.”

Terran constantly tried to reassure her. As he did, he tucked a small frame containing her photo into his coat. A frame containing a photo they took together and images of each other. Seeing this, Lea’s expression grew even more rigid.

‘Why are you acting like someone who’s never coming back?’

Lea found it hard to breathe. All she could do was pray for his safe return.

“I have to go, Grace.”

“Already? It’s raining so hard outside.”

“Weather isn’t important to a soldier. Time is the greatest strategy.”

Terran left the room fully armed, and Luke was already waiting in the hallway, also prepared. As the two prepared to leave the mansion, all the servants came out to see them off.

“James, don’t go spreading anxiety. I’m only going to catch some small-time thugs.”

“Forgive me, Your Grace. It is simply the first time you have set out for battle since the war.”

Even James, who had been relaxed until now, had a flushed, tense face. Just then, the sound of thumping footsteps running down the stairs drew everyone’s attention. It was Chenera, running with a piece of candy in one hand.

“Mister! Brother Luke! If it gets dangerous, you can come over the North Mountain. Got it?”

Neither man paid much attention to the words of Chenera, whose mouth was smeared with candy. So Lea repeated Chenera’s words on her behalf.

“Terran, she said the North Mountain. Don’t forget.”

“What’s wrong with you too, Grace? Who do you take me for?”

Lea didn’t hear his teasing.

“You must return to me. Only then will I sign the last grape.”

“Ha! For the sake of finishing those grapes, I’ll have to finish this early and return.”

Lea and Terran shared a parting kiss without either having to lead. She had intended to see him off bravely without crying, but it didn’t go as she hoped.

‘It will be fine. Terran is the best soldier in Lubeck.’

There was no way he would be defeated by mere bandits. Lea decided to believe firmly that Terran would return to her in a week.

Every evening, Lea went out to the lobby to wait for Terran’s return. It had already been over a week since she started doing this.

‘You said you’d be back in a week.’

The ducal mansion without Terran and Luke was no different from usual. The servants performed their duties faithfully, Sonya was preoccupied with making dresses, and Chenera and Pauline went to the workshop every day. The one who stayed by the anxious Lea’s side was Marie Armand.

“Marie, I can’t just sit here and wait, can I?”

“I know. It’s been over a week, coming up on two weeks now…”

“I can’t take it. I have to meet His Majesty. I’ll ask him to send reinforcements to Basel.”

As Lea entered the main building to change her clothes, James blocked her path.

“My Lady, please do not go.”

“Why? It’s been nearly two weeks and there is no news. I have to request reinforcements from His Majesty.”

“Reinforcements have already been sent.”

“What?”

That meant Terran’s army was in a disadvantaged position. Lea grabbed James and interrogated him. It seemed James had been keeping track of many things that only she had been unaware of until now.

“That is the nature of those bandits. They won’t hesitate to do any despicable thing. It seems they set traps in the forest to attack the horses, burned poisonous herbs to incapacitate the soldiers with smoke, and then launched surprise attacks.”

“What about Terran? What happened to him?”

“There is no news yet.”

At James’s sorrowful voice, all the strength left Lea’s body, and her vision turned white. She heard Marie and James calling her name like an echo before she lost consciousness. This situation felt strangely familiar. When she had rolled out of the carriage and died, her soul had wandered endlessly through a pitch-black void. Was she leaving Grace’s body like this?

While she was trembling with fear, a woman’s voice reached her faintly from a distance.

‘Lea Hamilton, please save Terran.’

The voice, growing clearer, sounded familiar. However, no matter how much she looked around, there was only darkness and no form.

‘Who are you?’

‘I am Grace Vizak.’

‘Grace!’

Lea thought the owner of the body had finally appeared. To think she had to return the body at a time like this. But Grace pleaded with Lea in a mournful tone.

‘Terran is in danger. Only you can save him.’

Lea was confused. She didn’t know if Grace’s words were her own anxiety or an actual request from the girl.

‘I know I am being shameless, but please run to Terran.’

‘Grace, do you not resent me? I am occupying your body.’

In her heart, she wanted to leave to find Terran immediately. But the body containing her soul belonged to Grace.

‘I am thankful. Lea’s strong soul is sustaining my weak body.’

‘I love your fiancé. Do you not hate me for that?’

Lea had always wondered. If she could ever speak to Grace’s soul, she wanted to ask: could she forgive a being who had taken her body and was living her life instead?

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