I Plan to Repay Kindness with Enmity (1 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 10
So this whole affair was practically the Imperial Crown Prince’s childish prank.
Just as a frog might die from a stone carelessly tossed by a child at play, the kingdom had merely been toyed with.
“If that happens, not only our family but all of Riorsa will be dragged into war. Then it won’t just be House Lorenst’s problem anymore, will it? Surely His Majesty will lend us his aid.”
“How absurdly optimistic you are.”
Hubert clicked his tongue. Inside, I flinched.
Had he noticed my half-hearted excuse?
My heart pounded, fearing he’d immediately pull his hand away from mine. Yet Hubert only gripped my hand tighter.
“But thanks to you, I feel as if my head has cleared. It was such an overwhelming situation that I lost my composure and panicked.”
He shook his head as if embarrassed, then looked back at me—his eyes warmer and gentler than before.
“I never realized you were this thoughtful.”
A noble house of scholarly lineage.
That was the pride of the Lorenst family. Hubert, raised with such values, tended to treat those who reasoned well with respect.
Hearing him speak so, I simply accepted his words at face value. Even when I had opinions of my own, I couldn’t bring myself to voice them.
‘Because I thought it would be presumptuous of me.’
I was merely a maid from a background of petty thievery; bowing subserviently before nobles was simply how we lived. That wasn’t something easily changed—
unless, of course, one experienced a shock profound enough to return from death’s very threshold.
“I’m not a child anymore. I can think things through at least this much.”
“Well, you still look awfully young to me—you sweet, adorable Igraine.”
I suppressed the urge to let my lips twitch into a smile at his honeyed tone. My expression must have seemed odd, for Hubert looked at me with concern.
“You look pale—are you all right?”
Seizing the moment, I placed a hand on my forehead.
“I’m feeling a bit unwell. I suppose I’ve worried too much.”
“You were quite shaken by today’s events.”
I had indeed overexerted my mind.
Pretending to stagger slightly, Hubert quickly steadied me.
Instantly, goosebumps prickled from the crown of my head to the tips of my toes.
‘This guy is disgustingly clingy!’
Even after personally escorting me to bed, he refused to leave.
“I’ll wait until you fall asleep.”
“You don’t have to. You must be tired too.”
“Not as much as you are.”
‘No, seriously, just go away already.’
His face, fixed intently on me with such tender worry, made my already queasy stomach churn even more.
Behind me, Jenny stood beaming with delight, utterly oblivious to my turmoil.
I truly felt dizzy now—like I was the only one living in a different world.
Just then, a knock sounded—a timely rescue.
Jenny, bewildered, opened the door at my glance.
The late-night visitor was Georgiana, Aris’s handmaiden.
At the sight of her, Jenny’s expression instantly soured—as if she’d already anticipated what Georgiana would say.
“My lord Count.”
Georgiana bowed deeply, her face shadowed.
“What is it?”
“Lady Aris hasn’t been able to sleep at all tonight—she seems to have indigestion from dinner. As you know, she’s too delicate to rest properly without you.”
“Oh dear, indigestion again?”
Hubert sprang up from his seat, then paused and turned toward me.
His face showed clear worry—he desperately wanted to rush to Aris but feared I might be upset.
‘Upset? Hardly!’
I almost wanted to grab Georgiana’s hands and thank her for coming.
Forcing a kind, understanding expression, I said,
“She must have been quite frightened today. You should go to her quickly.”
“Are you sure you’ll be all right?”
“She’s frailer than I am. She needs your encouragement.”
“Thoughtful Igraine.”
He murmured softly, bowing his head toward me.
Before I could stop him—
the fleeting brush of his lips against mine. It felt like a caterpillar crawling on my skin—I nearly shuddered in revulsion.
Biting back my disgust, I forced a strained smile. Hubert whispered gently,
“Take good care of yourself, my lady. Call for me if you need anything.”
‘As if you’d actually come when called.’
I gave a small, wry smile.
“Thank you, Hubert.”
Now please just leave.
[This is the timeline separator]In the royal palace’s grand hall, a princess investiture ceremony was held—lavish… well, not exactly lavish, but suitably arranged to meet formal expectations.
The royal steward, entrusted with the king’s authority, solemnly announced,
“Igraine Lorenst, daughter of House Lorenst, is hereby honored with the title of Princess for her devoted service alongside Hubert Lorenst to the realm, and granted the royal surname.”
A servant sprinkled water over my head and placed a small tiara upon it.
I struggled hard not to roll my eyes upward.
‘Am I really allowed to keep this? It looks like real diamonds.’
My heart fluttered with excitement—it could easily fetch enough to buy a decent mansion if sold to a fence.
“Isn’t this happening too quickly?”
“His Majesty must be in quite a hurry.”
Whispers drifted from the crowd around me.
‘It is rather fast.’
Less than a month had passed between the first mention of an honorary princess and this ceremony—
as swift as roasting beans in a lightning flash.
In my previous life, around this time, the duke’s daughter’s suicide had thrown the nation into chaos—but this was entirely different.
Clap, clap, clap!
People applauded in celebration. I felt neither nervous nor proud.
It was like stumbling upon a mysterious lump of gold while walking down the street.
Madam Emern, standing nearby, held her head high with smug satisfaction.
Everyone knew precisely why this investiture was being held—but a princess was still a princess.
The royal bloodline had long been thinning, making royal daughters precious. Now my name joined their rare ranks—and naturally, House Lorenst’s prestige soared accordingly.
I smiled inwardly.
‘How long this will last, I can’t say.’
The prosperity of House Lorenst no longer concerned me.
Thud, thud.
Just then, someone approached me.
“Lady Lorenst.”
It was the king’s steward.
‘Finally, here he comes.’
I’d suspected someone would soon arrive to instruct me on what to do next—and sure enough, here he was.
With one hand behind his back, he glanced briefly at me—tiara glinting, red sash tied—and a flicker of mockery crossed his eyes.
‘Ah yes, of course. I must seem ridiculous to him.’
“You’re aware that the Imperial delegation arrives in a month?”
“Yes.”
“His Majesty commands that, as a member of the royal family, you host them.”
“Host them?”
“Normally, Princess Lalatu would fulfill this duty, but she is far too frail to attend this event.”
I immediately grasped the king’s intention.
He planned to hide his cherished daughter away while the Imperial delegation stayed in the capital.
After all, it would be disastrous if his precious princess caught the eye of those uncouth barbarians.
I remained silent for a moment, saying nothing. My delayed response drew an impatient glare from the steward.
“Is there something troubling you?”
“It’s… rather sudden.”
“You’ve hosted many gatherings for a count’s household, haven’t you?”
“……”
“Well, of course a minor count’s banquet can’t compare to a royal reception—but it’s not so difficult that you need to fret. The royal maids and I will assist you.”
Though meant as a reassuring formality, his words grated unpleasantly on my ears.
“What exactly do you mean?”
The steward looked down at me with arrogance.
“It will be sufficient for you, as Riorsa’s new princess, simply to grace the occasion with your presence.”
‘So I’m not expected to do anything—just show my face.’
They wanted to introduce the new princess to the Imperial delegation—specifically, the Fifth Imperial Prince.
‘Do they honestly believe the delegation will accept me as a true princess just because of this?’
Curious despite myself, I studied the steward closely. His blank expression carried an odd air of confidence—as if everything would unfold exactly as the royal court intended.
‘They’re treating the Imperials with remarkable disdain.’
The Empire occupied a peculiar position in the kingdom’s eyes.
Its status as the continent’s supreme power was undeniable—but beyond that? Didn’t their culture and refinement still lag far behind ours?
A brutish nation strong only in raw force.
That was how Riorsa viewed the Empire.
Having actually met the Empire’s famed warriors, I knew this attitude was mere arrogance—but apparently, this steward did not.
‘Still, aren’t they underestimating the Desert Emperor a bit too much?’
To a petty thief like me, royalty and imperial nobility were equally formidable—but clearly, these lofty lords saw things differently.
Setting aside my confusion, I replied obediently,
“Understood.”
I’d treat this as an opportunity to expand my connections.
When word spread that House Lorenst’s adopted daughter had become a princess, rumors flew everywhere.
Yet one fact mattered above all: the royal family had honored Count Lorenst’s household by bestowing a reward upon its daughter for loyal service.
Ordinary citizens, unaware of the truth, praised the royal family’s generosity and Hubert Lorenst’s virtue.
Igraine Lorenst remained, in their eyes, a fortunate woman blessed with an admirable family.
[This is the timeline separator]“I’m asking you, Igraine.”
‘I knew it. Did you really think becoming a princess would change anything?’
Hubert pressed one hand to his face while gripping my hand tightly with the other—a gesture heavy with anguish.
“What do you want?”
My voice trembled slightly.
Perfect.
His jaw muscles clenched hard enough to grind teeth.
‘Seeing him like this, he really is something else.’
The sheer distress in his manner as he made this request—even knowing this was the second time around—was convincing enough to fool anyone.
“Go into the prince’s chambers. Make sure he doesn’t take any interest in Princess Lalatu.”
“So you want me to serve as that man’s nighttime companion?”
“I know how shameless this request is—especially from someone like you, who’s already agreed to become a princess.”
“……”
“But there’s simply no other way. And Aris certainly can’t do it—she wouldn’t endure it.”
In my past life, hearing these words, I’d wondered:
What about me?
Back then, I hadn’t dared ask—too afraid of the answer.
I let out a dry chuckle.
My neck had already been severed once. What could possibly be more terrifying than knowingly reliving a future I already knew?
“What about me?”
“Huh?”
“Do you think I can endure it?”
“You’re…”
He fell silent for a moment, then whispered,
“I think you’re strong.”
I nearly scoffed aloud.
Ex-husband Wants Reconciliation
One-line summary: Chasing the wife to the crematorium (making an effort to attract someone who has become indifferent), the female lead doesn’t look back, the second male lead takes the position.
Intro:
To repay the kindness of the older generation, Su Mu crossed into a female-dominated world and became a live-in daughter-in-law of the Yan family, single-handedly saving the Yan family from fire and water.
But her husband, Yan Jiyue, the eldest son of the Yan family, treated her with sarcasm and never showed her a good face.
It wasn’t until after Su Mu’s death that this pampered and arrogant young master shed a few fake tears and pretended to want to die for love.
This life’s kindness was enough. If there was a next life, she would definitely kick Yan Jiyue away.
Who knew that the heavens would be so kind as to allow her to be reborn, returning to the time when she had just married into the Yan family.
Su Mu glanced at the Yan eldest son, who still spoke coldly to her, and threw a divorce letter in front of him.
“Let’s divorce!”
***
Yan Jiyue never imagined that he would be reborn. He happily went to find Su Mu, wanting to make up for the mistakes he had made in his ignorant youth.
Wasn’t the reason the heavens allowed him to be reborn to let him reconcile with Su Mu?
But when he pushed open the door to Su Mu’s room, the person lying on the bed was another man.
Su Mu’s personal attendant, Xie Yi.
Yan Jiyue hated him so much that his teeth itched. In front of Su Mu, Xie Yi was a gentle and considerate whisperer of sweet nothings, but in reality, he was vicious-hearted and deliberately sabotaged their husband and wife relationship.
In the previous life, it was he who secretly hid in Su Mu’s coffin and committed suicide, stealing a step ahead of him to be buried with Su Mu.
Yan Jiyue’s eyes were filled with hatred as he cursed, “What kind of thing are you? Your background is lowly, what right do you have to occupy Su Mu?”
Xie Yi looked at the sleeping Su Mu and no longer pretended to be a whisperer of sweet nothings.
He proudly stuck out his belly, “I have the right because my belly is capable of giving the Wife-master a daughter.”
***
Yan Jiyue was consumed with jealousy. He spread rumors that Xie Yi had once been branded with the mark of a “harlot” on his chest.
But on the night Xie Yi cut off the flesh bearing that mark, Su Mu suddenly realized something was amiss.
“How did you know the exact moment I was poisoned? And why did you show up a month early?”
Xie Yi remained silent, blood from his wound soaking through his robes. His sapphire eyes brimmed with anguish – or was it just a flawless act?
Between a once-arrogant husband now seeking redemption, and a gentle soul willing to die for her – who truly held the darkest secrets? And could it be that Su Mu and Yan Jiyue weren’t the only ones given a second chance at life…?
[Reading Guide]
1. True divorce, chasing the wife to the crematorium, the female lead doesn’t look back, the male lead is Xie Yi.
2. The ex-husband did not cheat, he just realized too late and didn’t realize that he liked the female lead.
_____
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