I Plan to Repay Kindness with Enmity (1 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 1

The rumor that had stirred the kingdom for a while was finally put to rest a few days later by a follow-up article.

“Of course.”

People scoffed, as if it were only natural. Girls who had dreamed of a sweet romance sighed in disappointment.

It should have ended as a simple misunderstanding, but the rumor spread wildly like ivy.

In a rather strange direction.

“Yes, the count is the epitome of a gentleman.”

“Precisely my thought. He’s going to make the daughter of an assassin his family’s mistress just because she saved him? If it were me, I’d have given her a generous sum of money and called it a day. Their stations are simply too different.”

“I heard the nurse’s daughter isn’t even pretty or clever.”

“And that’s not all—her father supposedly lived by thievery! As for her mother, well, she was a con artist!”

“How could someone like that ever work as a nurse in the count’s household?”

“They say she was moved by the count couple’s virtue and repented of her sins. Especially since she cared for the current Count Lorenst as if he were her own child. Perhaps that’s why she was willing to sacrifice for him.”

“How touching.”

“Truly a compassionate family.”

Praises for the handsome and kind-hearted count echoed everywhere.

Most of the rumors were true—except for a few details.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Help me, Igraine.”

With soft golden hair and fair skin, Hubert Lorenst, a renowned scholar of the goddess Marta, was an exceptionally handsome man with a gentle demeanor.

And also my childhood friend.

I stared blankly at him as he clutched my hand. It felt strange that his hand, touching my cold one, still felt warm.

“That’s absurd.”

Hubert hung his head, his face pained. Seeing him like that made my heart ache.

He was the one who had shared warm bread with me when I was tormented by my mother for reminding her of my late father.

‘I swore back then I’d never steal anything of yours.’

That vow had only grown stronger over time, eventually leading me to center my entire life around him.

Hubert’s soft golden hair fell forward.

His slightly long hair was tied back, secured with a blue ribbon that seemed oddly out of place on him.

It wasn’t me who had tied it—he had someone else who tended to his hair.

“The King cannot defy the barbaric Empire’s demands. And I cannot defy His Majesty’s command….”

His anguished voice pleaded with me.

‘Don’t look at me like that—it makes my heart waver.’

“The fate of my house rests on you.”

Should I feel proud?

That the fate of a noble house now depended on me—a girl once branded a thief.

“When the prince arrives, slip into his chambers at night.”

To be honest, his request didn’t shock me as much as it should have.

I was the daughter of a thief and a con artist. Though I’d been formally adopted into the count’s household and pretended to be well-behaved, my true identity remained that of a lowly thief.

I’d always expected to be used by the family and then discarded.

I’d even made what I thought was a rather noble resolution for a thief: to accept that day willingly when it came.

But why, then—

Did tears suddenly threaten to spill?

‘Did I ever imagine I’d be used like this?’

If Hubert were falsely accused, I’d have gladly risked my life to steal the jail keys. But I never imagined I’d be offered to a barbarian.

They say the Empire has a custom of offering a woman from the host’s household to honored guests.

Alongside his proposal of a royal marriage, the imperial prince demanded that, per this ancient custom, the kingdom provide a woman to attend to him during his visit.

The prince specifically desired Princess Lalatu of the royal family.

Naturally, chaos erupted in the palace.

The King was furious and decided to accept only half of the prince’s proposal.

Instead of the princess, they would send another woman.

And by the King’s order, my childhood friend chose me.

‘I hate this kind of use.’

I’d gladly give my life for a piece of warm bread—but not for this….

“His Majesty never commanded you to offer your own family as entertainment for guests.”

At my words, Hubert suddenly lifted his bowed head. His green eyes sharpened.

“Then should I send Aris to the prince? That girl wouldn’t survive his rough treatment. Besides, she’s a priestess—how could I let her suffer such disgrace?”

‘And what about me?’

Am I to be sent in place of your beloved Aris to that brutal prince?

Hubert lifted my hand and kissed the back of it.

“Just this once, help me, Igraine. For my sake, he won’t dare treat you harshly. You needn’t worry about anything else. I won’t abandon you. I’ll repay your devotion to me and my house for the rest of my life.”

If my heart wavered at the word “lifetime,” would everyone throw stones at me?

‘They’d say the Amteins are fools.’

“Help me.”

Looking into his trembling green eyes, I couldn’t utter a single word.

I closed my eyes. But closing them wouldn’t make the problem disappear.

「Are you stupid? So you’re really going to do what he says?」

Leo, in the form of a translucent wolf with the color of water, leapt up and circled me rapidly. Watching his furious pacing, I couldn’t help but let out a faint, dazed chuckle.

“Stop jumping around—it’s giving me a headache. What choice do I have? He says the house will fall if it’s not me.”

「What is this nonsense about being a good kid? The same girl who stole me and acted shamelessly—why are you acting like this now? If you’re so soft-hearted, how did you even manage to steal me?」

“I told you—back then, you sparkled so brightly! Like a gem. How could I possibly pass you by?”

The ordinary-looking stone I’d stolen from an ancient temple had contained a spirit.

“You used to rage at being called a thief—why worry about me now? Didn’t you once say it shamed you that I could even look at you?”

At my quiet laughter, Leo clicked his tongue sharply.

「You fool!」

He stomped around, hurling every insult he knew. But as a noble spirit, his repertoire of curses was limited to “idiot” and “fool,” so his words barely tickled my ears.

The next day, I was sent to the royal palace in a carriage.

I wished Leo could have come with me.

「The imperial bloodline belongs to the people of sun and fire. In my current state, I cannot go.」

Remembering Leo’s gloomy expression, I lifted my head.

Before I knew it, we’d arrived at the palace. Following directions, I entered the room where the prince was resting.

“Who are you?”

The “brutal imperial prince” Hubert had described looked at me coldly as I entered, wearing only thin garments.

My first impression: a man whose expressionless face exuded overwhelming authority. Towering in stature, with pitch-black eyes and sun-kissed skin that carried the scent of the sun itself.

He was a man who held the sun within him.

“Has your tongue gone missing?”

His imposing presence sent chills down my spine. Surely he wouldn’t harm me just because I didn’t please him?

‘Just try it. I’ll steal your eyeballs clean out.’

I bristled like a small animal puffing itself up before a predator—though only in my mind.

“I am Igraine Lorenst. I’ve come to attend to you.”

Despite my resolve, my heart pounded wildly.

Regret surged through me. Even if it was Hubert’s request, some things simply shouldn’t be done.

‘Maybe I should’ve jumped out of the carriage.’

But each time I’d considered it, Hubert’s face flashed in my mind, stopping me.

‘Surely I won’t really have to sleep with this man… today?’

“Leave.”

As I imagined myself crushed under his massive frame, a blunt voice cut through the air.

I snapped my head up.

“Yes?”

“I told you to leave.”

I responded dumbly.

“Where to?”

His eyebrows twitched slightly. Though he seemed annoyed, that tiny movement alone sent my body into flight-ready stance.

But his next words were surprisingly ordinary.

“Why did you come here?”

“I was ordered to attend to you.”

“Ordered….”

He muttered softly, then let out a quiet sigh.

“Then rest here or do as you please.”

‘Huh?’

The infamous brutal prince turned and walked toward the sofa, showing me only his broad back.

Stunned by the unexpected turn of events, I stood frozen—half relieved, half suspicious. Fortunately, the prince left the room and didn’t return.

When my calves began aching, I walked over and sat on the bed.

The lingering warmth where the prince had lain felt strangely awkward. It was an odd sensation.

‘What’s going on? Did the prince not know about this?’

It was the imperial crown prince who had demanded a woman.

[Beware—the crown prince might have ulterior motives.] [He didn’t request a woman for his brother’s sake?] [Right. Maybe it’s mockery. There are rumors he doesn’t even like women.]

‘Could that actually be true?’

Either way, it was fortunate for me.

‘Hubert should be satisfied now.’

Yet after spending the night in the palace, my situation grew worse than before.

Contrary to his promise not to abandon me, Hubert barely spoke to me.

He frequently enjoyed tea with Aris, whom he clearly cherished, and rumors even reached me that he’d stayed up all night in her room reading her books.

Still, I tried to force myself to understand him.

Though adopted into the count’s household, I’d never been treated as a true daughter—more like another servant. But I didn’t mind; I’d never expected otherwise.

But this—this was different.

Unable to contain my frustration, I abruptly stood up.

“You look unwell. Are you feeling alright?”

“I need to talk to you, Hubert.”

“What about?”

“Nothing happened with the prince. Truly.”

Hubert looked at me as if he couldn’t believe it. Anger flared inside me.

“Do you think I’m lying?”

“No. I believe you, Igraine. If I can’t trust you, who can I trust? If you say nothing happened, then nothing happened.”

But his words contradicted his eyes.

He was lying to me.