Revenge Comes with Interest - Chapter 86

Vivian looked back and forth between the two dresses before speaking.

“I do not know. They are so evenly matched.”

“Pardon?”

Disappointment was evident on the faces of everyone who had been full of expectation. To be fair, it was a difficult choice for anyone.

“Young Lady, did you not share many conversations with Her Majesty Teresa while dancing at the Belice banquet?” Vivian immediately returned to a serious expression.

“Yes, I did.”

“Well, I think the answer might lie in Her Majesty’s words.”

Leah’s mind suddenly became complicated. What had Empress Teresa said to her? All she could remember were skeptical remarks. Still, she had to recall them.

She said love has an expiration date and that men will change, so I should not give my whole heart.

At the time, Leah had not felt great because the Empress seemed to view her relationship with Terran only with skepticism. But to think the answer was hidden in those words. Suddenly, a flash of insight struck Leah’s mind.

Empress Teresa is a pessimist. At least regarding love.

If so, the answer was already clear. Of course, the problem was that it was a strictly personal opinion and lacked objective credibility.

“Just do your best,” Vivian’s advice was not particularly special either.

What if I do my best and Rivette is selected?

The mere thought was horrifying. It was obvious how Allen would react if his younger sister became the Crown Princess. Truly, she did not want to see that disgusting sight.

“This dress is very similar to Sister Teresa’s wedding dress. If that is the case, recreate it perfectly,” Vivian said meaningfully while looking at the lace dress Chenera had made.

“Perfectly?”

For a split second, Vivian’s expression was very ambiguous. Realistically, if either of the two were selected, it would be advantageous for Leah’s business. It was what came after that mattered.

“Empress, would it be possible to see a painting of Empress Teresa’s wedding?”

“I do not have one. I only remember it.”

Vivian described the scene of Teresa’s wedding in words. She explained it in such detail that the wedding scene was practically painted before Leah’s eyes. Leah listened to Vivian until the end before finally reaching a decision.

Let us leave it to fate.

If it were Rivette’s destiny to become the Crown Princess, she would be selected even if Leah did not do her best. Fate would ensure even a maid scooping ash from a fireplace was chosen. However, Vivian’s words lingered in her mind.

Recreate it perfectly?

For some reason, she wanted to bet her luck on those words. Leah decided not to worry any further.

The Bertan Project

Terran was very pleased with the news that Allen had finally been selected for the Bertan railway project. He had exerted no small amount of influence from the sidelines to make it happen. As desired, Terran was able to secure the import rights for silk and ceramics.

Allen had interfered until the very end to stop Terran from getting those rights, but word was that the negotiations with the Bertan Imperial family had gone well.

“The McDowell Company plans to proceed with the railway project immediately.”

“It will cost an astronomical amount of money.”

“Our side has agreed to import ceramics and silk in bulk.”

Unlike the brooding Terran, the executives were busy reporting the results. Terran participated actively at the start of the meeting, but his mind gradually became hazy. Memories of the night spent loving Leah blurred his reason. Her soft touch, her delicate moans, and the way he had lost himself in pleasure.

The more he recalled, the more his body actually heated up. He was filled with a longing for her to return from the palace and a desire to share that love again. He had loved Leah before, but he realized he was even more deeply infatuated with her now.

I miss her.

Even though they were apart for only a short time, he yearned for her. Despite knowing she would return home safely in a few hours, he was restless. His head was filled with the erotic imagination of spending all day in bed with her, ignoring the meeting and everything else.

“Duke?”

When Terran continued to show no response, one of the executives called out to him.

“Hm? What did you say?”

“We were discussing the political situation in Bertan.”

“Right. So, how is it over there?”

“There are no particular signs yet.”

“Viscount Martin Polo said the Imperial power would be jeopardized before long.”

The executives nodded at Terran’s words. While Bertan was a country of great potential, it carried an equal amount of risk.

“The wealth gap in Bertan is a growing trend.”

“That will soon become a pretext for revolution.”

“Furthermore, they say many people oppose the railway project.”

“Why is that?”

“Cultural differences, likely. Many believe it is an ill omen to lay iron tracks into the earth.”

That was not his concern. Still, once the railway was built and trains began to run, they would surely marvel at the convenience. Of course, the key was whether the tracks could be laid successfully.

“President McDowell is jumping in very aggressively.”

“Mm. Keep an eye on it for the time being.”

From the start, Terran’s goal in Bertan wasn’t to make money. The goal was to ruin Allen. That resolve remained unchanged. Then, Terran thought of Leah again. Just imagining her made it feel as if her scent were lingering at the tip of his nose. He instinctively turned his ear toward the window. He hoped she might return at any moment, wishing to hear the sound of her carriage.

“The silk samples sent from Bertan will arrive around tomorrow.”

“Is that so?”

She would be very happy if he gave them to her as a gift. Terran smiled contentedly, connecting everything to her.

“If the silk is good, we will import it in bulk.”

Once it was imported, Leah would take care of it. Whether she made clothes to sell or made curtains did not matter. It was all for the sake of seeing her happy.

Just then, the sound of a carriage was heard. Terran bolted upright and walked to the window to check.

She is back.

Seeing her step down from the carriage, his heart thundered like a war drum.

“Let us end the meeting here for today.”

“Pardon? Understood.”

Terran headed immediately to the lobby to greet her. He had not realized the joy of waiting for and meeting a loved one could be this sweet.

“Are you back?”

“Terran.”

As expected, she smiled radiantly and called his name. Terran did not care whether people were watching or not. He urgently grabbed Leah’s hand and headed upstairs.

“Why? Is something wrong?”

Leah was the one who was flustered. It was strange for Terran to suddenly come down to the lobby and lead her away point-blank. Even though Leah asked for the reason, Terran simply kept walking.

Thud! As the bedroom door closed, Terran pinned Leah against the wall and kissed her thirstily. Though startled, Leah soon became intoxicated by his longing and wrapped her arms around his neck. Only a few hours had passed, but Terran had been on her mind constantly. Her heart had swelled at the thought of going to him after finishing her work.

“I want to love you.”

After the kiss, Terran whispered in a hungry voice, and before Leah could even answer, the two were already lying on the bed.

“Am I being savage?”

After thoroughly disheveling Leah, Terran looked down at her and asked. He asked if she found his irrational behavior unpleasant.

“I like it savage. Be rough with me.”

Leah’s low voice subtly stimulated his instincts.

“The ‘me’ is gone now. Only the beast remains.”

Lifting the corner of his mouth in a crooked smirk, he yanked off his tie and unbuttoned his shirt. At that sight, Leah swallowed hard. Terran pinned Leah down with his sturdy thighs. Leah stared blankly as Terran removed his clothes one by one.

She didn’t just have goosebumps; a thrill ran through her entire body. As his massive upper body was revealed, her hands caressed him as if indulging.

“I like the beast.”

Between her lips, which were swollen from the kiss, her red tongue peeked out slightly, tempting him.

The Return of Luke

Chenera had her ear pressed against Terran’s bedroom door.

“Hmph! I hate Sister and Mister.”

Chenera was jealous of the two, who had become much closer lately. They were always disappearing together. Her grumbling was short-lived, however, as Pauline inevitably grabbed the back of Chenera’s neck.

“How ill-mannered!”

“Sister Leah and Mister are making a baby. I have to listen carefully.”

“That is a bad thing to do, Chenera.”

“It is not bad. They play by themselves and don’t include me.”

Pauline sighed at Chenera’s stubbornness. It seemed the time had come to give Chenera some adult education. Along with that, she had to deliver the happy news that had just arrived.

“Chenera, Luke is back.”

“Really?”

Chenera’s eyes went wide, and she went clattering down the stairs as if she had never been spying on someone’s room. Pauline shook her head and followed after her.

“Brother Luke!”

Before she had even reached the bottom of the stairs, she shouted upon seeing Luke standing in the lobby.

“Chenera.”

Luke was no longer using crutches, but his leg was still in a splint. He looked at Chenera as she ran down the stairs, calling him with a tearful voice. Just then, Louis was greeting Luke while heading up the stairs.

“Brother Luke! Agh!”

Chenera, running down the stairs heedlessly, slipped and was about to tumble forward. At the moment her scream rang out, Louis caught her.

Chenera was startled. Her feet had definitely left the stairs and she was flying through the air, but a pair of sturdy arms and a chest had caught her easily. Suddenly, Chenera was held in Louis’s arms.

“Eh? Mr. Louis Ballerina.”

“Are you alright, Young Lady?”

Louis asked in a flushed voice, seemingly more startled than Chenera. Chenera, on the other hand, just blinked her wide eyes and looked at Louis. It was as if time had stopped for the two of them. Meanwhile, Luke was swept by a strange emotion.

That is a relief.

It was a relief that Chenera wasn’t hurt, but for some reason, he felt strange.

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