Revenge Comes with Interest - Chapter 84

The breath exhaled by the two warmed the cold air.

As her face grew chilly from the unceasing flow of tears, Terran cupped her cheeks with both hands.

“I did it because I did not want to forget you.”

Terran’s eyes were filled with guilt toward Leah.

“The moment I felt myself becoming intoxicated by the smoke, I was terrified that I would forget you. In the end, I did forget, but…”

His voice was infinitely sad. It was too painful for Leah to see Terran looking as if he were about to cry.

“It is all alright. You came back alive, and that is enough.”

“But I did something terrible to you.”

Stabbing the woman he loved with a sword was a nightmare he would never forget. The agony would turn into regret and remain as an indelible remnant of memory, tormenting him for a long time. Even if he had not been in his right mind, to Terran, it was a sin he could never wash away.

Terran bit his lip hard and turned his head away. He did not have the nerve to face her directly.

“Terran, do not turn away from me.”

At her earnest plea, Terran turned his head back toward her.

“When I saw you alive in that hut, I thanked every god in existence. I can forget the fact that you stabbed me as many times as it takes. But if you had died, Terran, I would not have been able to live.”

Leah shed tears until her face turned red. Terran did not know what kind of existence he was to her. He had become the light of her dying life. Although she could not be honest with him yet, he was the savior who reached out his hand so that Leah Hamilton could rise from her terrible ordeal.

“When I realized I had tried to kill you, I truly wanted to die.”

“No, if you did that, I would not be able to get a signature on the last grape.”

At Leah’s words, the serious Terran finally burst into laughter.

“Let us not be separated from now on. Promise me you won’t go to a battlefield and leave me behind.”

“I promise.”

“I love you, Terran Courtois.”

“I love you, my Grace.”

Their lips overlapped again. This time, tears of joy flowed. As if shaking off all past trials, they felt each other’s warmth and were grateful to be alive.

“Let’s go. I need to get that signature on the last grape.”

After the long kiss ended, Terran spoke with a playful smile.

“I never said I would sign it?”

Leah spoke with a deliberate pout, smiling through her tears.

“You will.”

Terran swept Leah up into his arms and carried her into the ducal mansion.

A Celebration at the Mansion

A party was held at the mansion. It was a party only for the people of the ducal house, attended by everyone from the master, Terran, to the coachman. The largest ballroom was filled with food, wine, and drinks. At Terran’s consideration, musicians were also called. He wanted everyone to have a peaceful time for just this one day.

“I thought I would die from holding my breath,” Sonya lamented about the recent emotional distress.

“Thank you all for enduring. You all did your jobs so resolutely,” Leah said with a smile, while Terran looked at her and beamed.

“My Lady, I think we need to bring in more sewing machines. Orders for riding habits are pouring in, and it’s too much for just the two of us,” Paul and Tom began their appeal.

“At this rate, we might have to set up a clothing factory,” Adolf added, looking pleased.

“The riding habits will be sold under the names of Sonya and Adolf, so do not complain too much about using the sewing machines. Place a job advertisement in the newspaper tomorrow. Is that alright, Adolf?”

At Leah’s words, Sonya and Adolf looked embarrassed. At first, they had jumped in protest, calling it a ridiculous machine, but as the riding habits spread to various countries, their names became famous as well. Knowing they could not have achieved such results by hand-stitching, they could no longer ignore the sewing machine.

“Duke, can our employees drink, dance, and have fun tonight?” Pauline asked, glancing at Terran.

“Of course.”

As Terran answered readily, James cleared his throat and spoke.

“For the employees to eat, drink, and play comfortably, it is polite for the superiors to vacate the area early.”

James looked back and forth between Terran and Leah, and Pauline, Marie, and Sonya all looked at the couple at once. Even if they didn’t say it, it was clear they were telling the two to go spend some private time together.

“Grace, I think we should leave?”

“Shall we?”

The moment Terran took Leah’s hand to leave the party, Chenera followed them crying.

“Sister, don’t go!”

Perhaps because Luke was absent, Chenera threw a tantrum, but Pauline immediately ran over and pulled her back by the collar.

“This sister will introduce you to a man much cooler than Luke.”

“There is no such man!” Chenera said seriously after scanning the employees. The ballroom soon erupted into laughter.

The Last Grape

Leah came to Terran’s bedroom. She applied her lip rouge and pressed a lip stamp onto the last remaining grape.

“Finally, it is full.”

Terran looked at Grace with a proud face. He felt a surge of emotion over something so simple. His heart swelled.

“Promises are meant to be kept…”

Leah began to undress in front of Terran. She felt grateful to him for keeping his promise to the end, even over a single, silly piece of paper.

“Grace, it is still too soon.”

Terran was startled and tried to stop her. Surely the wound in her side from the sword had not fully healed yet.

“It is alright. The stitches are out and the wound is closing.”

“Even so.”

He seemed hesitant. But Leah did not stop. At her bold behavior, Terran could not control his thumping heart and swallowed hard.

“Today, I want to seduce you.”

As her golden hair, which had been neatly tied up, was loosened and flowed down to her waist, his patience crumbled. Leah approached him in her undergarments, gave him a soft kiss, and whispered in his ear.

“Finally, we are becoming one.”

Her breath tickled Terran’s ear sweetly. Overwhelmed by her words, Terran pulled Leah into a tight embrace. Leah burst into a giggle at the warmth. They teased and tickled each other playfully until they finally settled onto the bed.

Terran marveled as he looked at Grace lying on the white bed with her golden hair spread out. She was as perfect as a divine creation.

“You are beautiful, Grace.”

He couldn’t quite bring himself to say she was breathtakingly beautiful because he felt a bit shy. Gazing at him with a captivating look, she was temptation itself. No man in the world could refuse Grace in this moment. Of course, no man but himself would ever stand by her side; he would not allow it.

“I want to see your body, too.”

Terran wouldn’t know, but it was the first time she had felt a man’s body was beautiful. In truth, she hadn’t seen another man’s body. Even so, she knew Terran’s broad shoulders and perfectly proportioned physique were flawless.

As Terran took off his shirt, the sturdy chest and shoulders Leah had been waiting for were revealed. She unconsciously stroked his shoulder with her hand.

“Terran, your body is beautiful, too.”

Had anyone ever looked at him with such love? As her eyes, full of affection, gazed at him, Terran’s heart raced once more. He wanted to rush in and whisper deep love to her right now. But Terran’s gaze caught the scar on her side.

“Phew!”

He sighed, looking at the blemish he had made on her white skin. Where on that tiny waist was there even room to be stabbed?

I am a bastard.

Terran felt so sorry for her, like she was a wounded dove. He didn’t know how he could ever erase the sin he had committed. He instinctively brought his lips to her wound. If only he could make it disappear, he wanted to ask for forgiveness this way.

“Ah!”

As his lips touched her waist, a low moan escaped her. Terran’s action was meant to soothe the pitiful wound, but to Leah, it was like opening a door to sensation. The tender kiss made Leah’s heart flutter and, eventually, made her want him even more.

Terran, too, was seized by a desire to color her completely as his own at her reaction.

“Love me, Terran.”

At her complete permission, the reins of his long-held instincts were finally released.

“I love you, Leah.”

That word was just the beginning. Some things are unknown unless said, but in Terran’s gaze and touch, his deep heart was felt entirely. Terran explored Leah like a spring breeze. From her luscious lips to her long, slender neck, he panted at her rounded shoulders.

Leah wasn’t afraid of any of it; rather, she was so expectant she was breathless. She wanted to give him her everything.

“Everything about you is lovely.”

Terran seemed to cover her with all sorts of sweet words. Leah also wanted to whisper that she loved him. But she couldn’t keep her senses amidst his touch and words. Her arms caressed his back, which rippled with muscle. At that small touch, Terran laughed with joy and leaned down, asking for more.

Finding him cute, Leah let out a small laugh. Entranced by that smile, Terran was swept by a desire to feel her from head to toe. That thought became action in an instant. As Terran held Leah tightly in his arms, a low moan escaped her lips.

“Is it difficult?”

At his question, Leah shook her head. Instead, she pressed her body closer to him, as if afraid he might pull away.

“Hold me tighter.”

Terran smiled brightly, as if the request were a delight. Finally, the two became one and loved each other to their hearts’ content.

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