Interest Compounds on Revenge - Chapter 50

Terran blinked repeatedly as he looked at the two pieces of paper in front of him.

“Is this one grapes and this one corn?”

“I’ll sign a grape cluster every time Terran moves me.”

“So, to fill all these grape clusters with Grace’s signature, I have to sleep with you?”

“Yes.”

Terran’s face crumpled miserably. They had confirmed each other’s sincerity and apologized, so it could have been let go. This woman had developed a strange habit of nitpicking everything.

“There are too many grapes.”

“Then would you prefer corn?”

The corn next to it had so many kernels that it was impossible to count. If counted carefully, there would probably be hundreds.

“Is there no other way?”

Lea still got goosebumps just thinking about the gloomy prison. It was a place she never wanted to experience again.

“No. What Terran did to me was a terribly awful memory.”

‘Ha! This is absurd, I’ve never done this even as a child.’

“Let’s just get married tomorrow instead.”

Terran looked at Grace with sparkling eyes. It was the only legal way he could sleep with her.

“This has nothing to do with marriage. Don’t avoid the issue.”

‘Atone for your sins?’

He quickly counted how many grapes there were. Oh no, there were fifty. If it were about thirty, he could finish it within a month.

“If I complete all of this, there will be no more complaints.”

In fact, Terran also had a strong desire to atone for surprising Grace.

“Of course. But.”

“But?”

“No kisses or hugs until this is all filled. I’ll hold your hand though.”

Terran nearly tore the paper to shreds. He had no idea Grace was such a grudge-holding woman.

Suddenly, Terran felt a surge of indignation.

“Fine. But you know what, Grace? You need to make a promise to me too.”

After all, a fair negotiation should never be one-sided.

“Never leave my side without a word again. If you break this, I don’t know what I might do.”

There was not a hint of laughter in Terran’s voice.

Lea swallowed hard, feeling tense. He was indeed a man who could do unimaginable things.

“There’s more.”

“More?”

“Don’t smile carelessly at other men. Look only at me.”

‘He seems to be quite mentally ill.’

Lea could only laugh awkwardly in bewilderment. Moreover, her competitive spirit rose. His demands shouldn’t apply only to her.

“Terran, don’t smile carelessly at other women either. Please look only at me.”

“Gladly.”

Seeing his confident expression, she felt it wasn’t quite fair. Because Terran didn’t usually smile at others to begin with.

‘Somehow, I feel like I’ve been outwitted by Terran.’

No, what reason would she have to smile brightly at men other than Terran? There was so much work to do.

At that moment, Lea thought of Rivet, Allen’s sister. Should she tell Terran about making her dress?

“Terran, I have something to tell you.”

It seemed too dangerous to keep secrets from him.

“Allen MacDowell’s sister commissioned Chainer for a lace dress, saying she’d wear it to the Crown Prince’s bride selection. Of course, I accepted the commission.”

Terran remained silent for a long time after hearing Lea’s words. He just stared at her as if trying to gauge her intentions.

“Grace, you must have had your reasons for accepting.”

“Terran…”

She had expected him to furiously oppose it. She thought she’d get an earful about why she was getting involved with that Allen fellow, but to think he would move her like this.

“I just wanted to separate business and personal matters.”

“I’m sure. I respect your decision.”

Barely listening to Grace’s words, Terran approached her desk, dipped a quill pen in ink, and brought it over.

“I just moved you, didn’t I?”

“Yes.”

“Then sign a grape.”

Terran placed the pen in Grace’s hand and brought over the paper. Lea signed one grape, somewhat bewildered.

“I’m definitely going to sleep with you. In the same bed every day.”

Lea wondered if it was necessary to show such strong obsession about sleeping with her.

“I have something to tell Grace too.”

Terran continued speaking while looking at the paper with satisfaction.

The gist of it was that he had a friend in Galdensia whose sister was also going to attend the selection banquet.

The problem was that although the friend’s family was noble, they weren’t very well-off.

“I decided to support all the expenses. If she gets selected, her title will rise and she’ll be granted territory. Above all, we’ll be making the Crown Princess with our own hands.”

“Of course we should help.”

This was what Lea had hoped for. She had agreed to make Rivet’s dress, but had no intention of making her the Crown Princess of Galdensia.

After all, the fate of becoming royalty is something one is born with. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to slightly twist the path so that fate leans in one direction.

‘I need to know the Crown Prince of Galdensia’s taste in women first.’

Lea’s worries deepened.

* * *

Allen received unexpected news from Police Chief Tuazo who visited him at the hospital where he was admitted.

“We’ve caught one of the men who terrorized President MacDowell.”

“How did you catch him?”

It must have been difficult to identify anyone since they were all wearing black clothes and masks.

“There are only so many places those ruffians frequent. You’re bound to catch one of them at a bar, brothel, or gambling den.”

“Did he confess willingly?”

“That’s a work secret, so don’t ask any further.”

“Please tell me who’s behind this.”

Allen was anxious. He absolutely needed to know who had the audacity to terrorize him in Brassel.

However, Tuazo kept stroking his curved mustache and hesitated. It seemed he had more to say to Allen.

“My daughter is marrying a foreign nobleman, but they’re demanding an unreasonable dowry.”

Tuazo was a commoner who had risen to become the Police Chief. So he was more obsessed with career advancement and social climbing than anyone else.

‘What a greedy human, his greed knows no bounds.’

He had already made a hefty profit while destroying Hamilton Trading Company. He must not want to give up that wealth for the dowry.

Allen felt disgust towards Tuazo. At this rate, he would suck his blood like a leech for life.

“It’s quite an unexpected figure, President MacDowell would be surprised to know.”

‘Could it be as I expected?’

Allen gritted his teeth. He wanted to know, but he absolutely hated the idea of having his wealth extorted by Tuazo.

‘But I need to know. I could be targeted again.’

“Your daughter marrying a foreign nobleman is such a joyous occasion, I shouldn’t be left out of it.”

Allen smiled and accepted his demand. Tuazo immediately burst into laughter, showing his satisfaction.

“It was Duke Courtois behind it. In my opinion, he seems to be extremely wary of any man hovering around his fiancée.”

“Duke Courtois? I merely invited Lady Bizac to dinner. Besides, you know I had the pure intention of commissioning Rivet’s dress, don’t you, Chief?”

“Of course I do. There are widespread rumors that Duke Courtois is not in his right mind due to post-war trauma.”

Tuazo agreed with Allen’s words, but inwardly he didn’t sympathize at all. At that dinner, Allen was desperate to make Grace his own.

But he messed with the wrong person. Duke Courtois was not an opponent to be trifled with.

“I’ll be going now, take care of yourself.”

Tuazo hurriedly left the hospital after taking care of his business.

On the other hand, Allen was on the verge of exploding, unable to contain the anger rising to his head.

‘Terran Courtois, I will surely eliminate you.’

* * *

Terran was in a serious meeting with James and Luke. Several books were piled up like a tower on the office table.

“No matter how much I search, I can’t find a method.”

Terran threw a book in frustration.

Luke was itching to speak, finding Terran’s behavior exasperating.

‘If he’s looking for ways to move a woman, he should just do the opposite of what he usually does.’

At that moment, James, the eldest, stepped in. The only option was for the most experienced person among them to advise.

“First, you need to hide your forcefulness. If your intention to move her is obvious, women tend to distance themselves. Pretend to be indifferent, act like you’re not interested, and then help like a savior when she’s in trouble.”

“Hmm, James has a point.”

After all, anything forceful and blatant is unsightly.

“You need to make it so the young lady can’t resist signing on her own.”

“Can you give a specific example?”

“An example? Well…”

Even James hadn’t thought that far.

“How about helping with the young lady’s work?”

This time Luke chimed in. Well, is there any special method? Women are moved by small considerations.

“For example, if she’s making clothes and can’t find a certain material, you could suddenly procure it for her.”

“Hmm, that’s not bad either.”

“For now, you should help the young lady successfully make the Empress’s riding habit.”

Terran fell into contemplation for a moment.

How should he help Grace with her work? It was impossible for him to directly participate in making clothes.

‘A riding habit…’

For a woman, not a man, to demonstrate various equestrian skills, she would be quite restricted by her clothing.

When it came to equestrian skills, few knew as much as he did. Suddenly, Terran realized what he needed to do.

‘The ideal and reality are different after all.’

A satisfied smile spread across Terran’s face. He immediately took out paper and pen, and began writing without hesitation.