Interest Compounds on Revenge - Chapter 28

Once again, Lea inevitably needed Terran’s help.

To be precise, it was closer to seeking permission. Lea asked Terran for the date they couldn’t finish last time. He readily agreed, and the two headed to the park they often visited with Pauline.

“Terran, it’s autumn.”

“Indeed.”

The lush green scenery of the park had changed.

Pampas grass sprouted around the lake, and the leaves and grass changed color. It had a different charm from the clear summer days.

Terran wanted to stroll through the park holding Grace’s hand. But today, too, she didn’t readily offer her hand.

“You have something to tell me, don’t you?”

Terran was quick to notice.

“Yes. Actually, I need your permission for something.”

Lea explained the sales method she had come up with.

It involved taking a picture of herself wearing Chainer’s lace and placing an advertisement in the newspaper.

“You’re planning to do mail-order sales?”

“Yes, when someone contacts us to buy lace, we’ll charge for shipping and deliver it by courier.”

“How will you handle provincial areas?”

“For big cities, we’ll deliver the same way, but for rural areas, we could have the goods sent to the post office and let the consumer pick them up. If they don’t like the item after seeing it, they can return it on the spot by paying a small return fee.”

Terran nodded and listened attentively to her words.

“That’s a very convenient method. To think people could buy things just by reading the newspaper and sending a letter from home.”

“Grandpa Rapha will open the first Hamilton General Store in Levon. We can receive consumers’ letters there. Of course, Grandpa Rapha’s subordinates will handle the deliveries.”

Terran stopped walking and silently stared at Grace. As time passed, Grace kept surprising people in various ways.

Most people go to shops in person to examine goods and only open their wallets if they like what they see.

But she wanted to do the opposite? To stimulate the desire to purchase just by seeing an advertisement, without even looking at the actual item?

“Is that possible? People are very skeptical.”

“On the contrary, they’re also very curious. The first time might be difficult, but if the goods are good, it won’t be hard after that.”

Terran listened to Grace’s words, but there were a few things he didn’t like.

Grace taking pictures herself for the advertisement meant her face would be known throughout all of Rubeck.

“It’s not a good method.”

Terran firmly opposed, and Lea was shocked by his unexpected negative reaction.

She wondered why the person who had promised to be her helper in whatever she did suddenly changed.

“My fiancée’s face will be known nationwide.”

“We can’t make money while being overly cautious.”

Although they couldn’t broadcast the fact that a noble was doing business, she believed that as the actual owner of this business, she should do at least this much.

Being a model for newspaper advertisements might draw criticism from others, but it could also give the impression of spreading beauty and leading fashion trends.

Changing perceptions was also her role.

‘At first, it might become gossip. No, a lack of reaction would be a failure. If you’re going to do business, you have to overcome this.’

Since the consumers were mostly nobles and upper-class people. Then, taking pictures should be perfectly fine.

“Do you have to make money by selling your face?”

“Selling my face?”

Lea was appalled by his words. How could he say such a harsh thing…

She was trying to do business legitimately. The photo wearing the product was a form of sales method, not a vulgar tactic to sell her face.

Lea tried to persuade Terran. Even for mail-order sales, she said, you need to show at least what the product looks like.

However, Lea’s efforts didn’t seem to work very well.

Terran was adamant and seemed even more angry.

“Isn’t it unfair? Grace tries to do everything she wants, while neglecting me.”

Now that he mentioned it, he hadn’t properly received her attention since Grace started her business.

Was this the kind of loneliness Grace had felt towards him before? Was she punishing him now? He had such suspicions.

His desire for her kept growing, but Grace wouldn’t even let him hold her hand properly. So he couldn’t even hope for a kiss.

It was as if she was telling him to just look and appreciate, pushing a person’s patience to its limit.

“I’ve never neglected you, Terran.”

“This childish conversation is disgusting, let’s stop.”

‘Disgusting?’

Lea was furious. In the end, Terran was just like other men, arrogant and self-centered.

Just because they were engaged, he was trying to control her life as if it were his own. Her initial thought of gaining his support was wrong from the start.

After all, this was something she had planned and started on her own. She should have overcome the difficulties by herself too.

“This is my business. From now on, I’ll handle it myself.”

“Are you saying you don’t need my help?”

“Yes.”

“I see.”

The date that was meant to be enjoyable had turned into a disaster. After that, Lea didn’t talk about business with Terran anymore.

* * *

Lea inquired about the best photographer in Rubeck.

Although people were still not used to photographs, it was good that you could print multiple copies from a single shot.

Above all, there was nothing better than a photograph to show Chainer’s lace to people who couldn’t see it in person.

However, when the photographer arrived at the ducal residence, Terran seemed quite surprised. He must have thought she would abandon her plans since he had opposed them.

“I think it would be good to take the picture here on the reception room sofa.”

Pauline led the photographer to the reception room as per Lea’s instructions. But the photographer had so much equipment that it took quite a long time to set up the camera.

Meanwhile, Lea did her makeup and hair, and wore a simple dress with a lace shawl made by Chainer.

“Wow! Our sister is so pretty!”

“Really? Then, shall we go take this thing called a photograph?”

Lea headed to the first-floor reception room with Chainer.

As she entered, the photographer stood motionless with a dazed expression.

“It’s… an honor to capture such a beautiful person with my camera.”

“Nice to meet you. You should make this lace shawl stand out more than me.”

Lea made sure the photographer understood her requirements several times.

“My lady, please sit on that chair over there.”

The photographer pointed to a chair in front of a curtained wall. Lea sat down demurely as he instructed.

At that moment, the sound of several people approaching was heard from outside.

Lea was startled. Terran had appeared in the reception room, leading Luke and James. But that wasn’t all.

Terran sat on the sofa behind the photographer with his legs crossed, staring at Grace sitting across from him.

Lea suddenly felt tense and overwhelmed with nervousness.

‘Did he come to glare at me like that?’

While Luke and James looked on with curious faces, Terran seemed to be looking at her as if she were his mortal enemy, ready to kill her at any moment.

“Now then! I’m going to take the picture.”

The photographer covered himself with a black cloth and focused the camera.

Lea forced an unnatural smile until her cheeks cramped.

She realized too late that it was impossible to take a natural photograph in front of Terran.

But then the photographer stopped what he was doing and walked towards Lea.

“Face this way, tilt your head back a bit more. And your shoulder…”

As the photographer touched Lea’s face and hair to adjust her pose, another hand roughly pushed his away.

“Don’t touch her carelessly.”

Terran, who had appeared without notice, grabbed the photographer’s wrist and threatened him.

“That’s not it, I was just trying to correct her posture.”

Only then did Terran release the photographer’s wrist, almost throwing it away. But that wasn’t the problem.

Terran seemed unable to control his anger, putting his hands on his hips and breathing heavily.

‘Ah, this is driving me crazy.’

Lea felt anxious. At this rate, they wouldn’t be able to take a proper photograph. It had been so difficult to bring this photographer here.

The photographer’s face was already flushed red. She worried he might leave, saying he couldn’t take the picture.

“I’ll do the adjustments, just tell me what to do.”

Terran spoke to the photographer while forcibly suppressing his anger. It seemed he was trying hard to control himself.

Still, Lea didn’t like his behavior.

“Tilt your chin slightly to the left, straighten your shoulders a bit more. Please pull your hair back so the lace is more visible.”

Terran adjusted Lea’s posture according to the photographer’s instructions.

Even while doing so, his eyes smoldered with resentment towards her.

The surprising thing was that despite being so angry, his touch was meticulous and gentle.

He seemed to savor her chin with his fingertips, and when he pushed her hair back, he lightly brushed the back of his hand against her white nape.

Lea saw the desire of a hungry man in his face. A man who couldn’t take his eyes off her, satisfying his craving with his eyes and hands.

Lea involuntarily shivered when his tender touch reached her.

“Good, now I’m going to take the picture.”

Satisfied with Lea’s adjusted posture, the photographer covered himself with the black cloth and counted energetically to three.

“Hey, how about taking a picture of the two of you together? For keepsake.”

Both Terran and Lea were equally surprised by the photographer’s unexpected suggestion.

“No, it’s fine.”

As Lea waved her hands and stood up, Terran sat her down on his lap.

“Let’s take it.”

“Terran, this pose is too embarrassing.”

Lea’s face turned red. But the photographer, along with Luke and James, welcomed it with applause.

Lea had to sit on his lap and smile awkwardly for the photograph.

“James, have the photographer take pictures of all the employees of the ducal residence.”

“Yes? Understood, Your Grace.”

The photographer’s mouth spread into a wide grin at Terran’s instruction.

* * *

Terran took Grace to his study. She thought his mood had improved, but he just walked briskly without a word, holding Lea’s hand.

When the door closed with a bang, he let go of Lea’s hand.

“Grace Bizac, have you forgotten? That I am your guardian.”

“I know.”

“You know, yet you think you can just go out without my permission?”

“I’m not just going out recklessly.”

“I’m warning you, your photograph will not appear in the newspaper. I won’t stand by and watch my woman’s face being sold across the country.”

Lea was infuriated by his high-handedness. If he had agreed to help, he should keep his promise.

She couldn’t understand why he was changing his words now. She had explained everything thoroughly beforehand.

“I don’t need Terran’s permission. My photograph will be in the newspaper.”

Lea clenched her fists and confronted him.