I Plan to Repay Kindness with Enmity (1 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 12

“Only two Imperial citizens came, but that includes the Imperial Prince himself. It’s unprecedented—no one from the Imperial family has visited in decades. And….”

Flinch.

My cheeks sting.

When he couldn’t finish his sentence, everyone’s eyes turned toward me. I calmly took a sip of my tea, pretending utmost composure.

Pretending not to notice their stares. Pretending ignorance. Playing the obedient role.

My unusual behavior lasted only a single day; afterward, I returned to my usual quiet and docile self, so no one suspected anything strange about me.

“Would you like another cookie, Igraine? I ordered your favorite.”

It wasn’t the buttery taste of the cookie that stood out, but Hubert’s gentle voice—sweet enough to melt hearts, accompanied by an even sweeter gaze.

For a moment, it even seemed as though he worried I might have been hurt by Madam Emern’s words.

‘I’m going to be sick….’

I shook my head with a touched expression. Still, he insisted on placing a cookie into my hand.

His eyes refused to leave me.

‘Persistent fellow.’

Hesitating, I finally popped a piece into my mouth, and his eyes crinkled in approval. Though I couldn’t blush deeply, I lowered my head slightly in feigned shyness.

“There aren’t any strawberry cookies.”

A sulky voice rang out just then.

Though it was quite soft, the parlor was so quiet that it carried unusually well. Hubert’s attention immediately shifted that way.

“Oh dear, what should we do? When I placed the order, those were already sold out.”

“It can’t be helped. The other cookies you bought are delicious too, Hubert.”

“Is that so?”

“Of course, strawberry ones are the tastiest!”

Aris stuck out her tongue with a coy expression.

Hubert smiled warmly.

“I’ll definitely get some next time.”

I chewed the remaining cookie in my mouth and watched them indifferently.

Aris couldn’t stand seeing Hubert being affectionate toward me.

I’d thought she’d been unusually quiet this time, but apparently her patience had run out—she couldn’t tolerate me sacrificing myself in her stead any longer.

Watching her act like a wronged first wife whose husband had been stolen, I scoffed inwardly.

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Night deepened. The chandelier’s candlelight flickered, casting shadows on the floor.

“The carriage is ready.”

Jenny addressed me with an uncharacteristically stiff expression. I set down my barely-touched teacup and rose to my feet.

All eyes turned to me. My raised gaze took in the entire scene of the parlor at once.

Madam Emern dipping biscuits into black tea, Hubert holding a book with pages turning unusually slowly, Aris embroidering an image of the Water Goddess.

The main members of House Lorenst—excluding the Viscount, who had gone to visit friends at the brewery.

“Then I shall be off to the ‘Royal Library.’”

Hubert’s eyes changed in a peculiar way. I recalled our conversation from the previous day.

[I heard the Royal Library just received a large shipment of Dupeng’s new works.] [Dupeng’s new works?]

Why Dupeng, of all people? The sudden topic left me bewildered.

Because of the Prince’s welcome reception, Hubert seemed preoccupied. I was already wary of what cunning scheme that clever mind of his might be plotting—then he abruptly brought up Dupeng.

Dupeng.

He was both a novelist and a theologian. Though popular, did Hubert actually like him?

[Princess Lalatu is a huge fan of Dupeng’s. It’s said His Highness even pressured the Minister of Finance to secure copies.] [There’ll probably be many people wanting to visit the library soon, given Dupeng’s new release. Maybe we can borrow it comfortably in about a month.] [No need to wait.] [What?]

Hubert’s arm reached toward me.

Click.

The door cracked open slightly, and the stale, stuffy air characteristic of an unventilated room seeped through the gap behind me. Before me lay Hubert’s gentle green eyes.

[I’ve already made a reservation through the librarian, so you’ll be able to borrow it first.]

Creak. The door opened a bit wider.

[Ig, since it’s come up—how about visiting the Royal Library with me tomorrow?] [Tomorrow… you say?]

Wasn’t tomorrow the day I was implicitly supposed to meet the Prince? Why the sudden library visit?

At that moment, my eyes met Hubert’s. Those overly gentle green eyes seemed artificial precisely because they were too kind.

‘Ah.’

Now I understood.

‘This bastard’s creating an escape route for himself.’

Unlike in my past life, I now held the status of a princess—no longer a disposable pawn to be used and discarded.

With more watchful eyes upon me than when I was merely a countess, it was clear he wanted to handle this matter discreetly.

Should things go wrong and the repercussions reach his family, the Royal Library would serve as their perfect alibi.

“My younger sister must have gone to the library. Could she have done something wrong?”

I could vividly picture him saying exactly that, wearing an innocently pleasant expression without batting an eye.

Contempt surged within me—but admiration rose alongside it.

Hubert truly must be his mother’s son. It seemed he, not I, had inherited the con artist’s blood.

[That sounds good.] [There’ll be someone to guide you once you arrive at the palace.] […] [It’s your first time at the Royal Library, so you’ll need help.] […] [You understand what I mean, right?] [Yes. I understand. Don’t worry—I’ll do exactly as you wish.]

Wearing the mask of the perfectly obedient family member, I smiled coldly.

‘I didn’t lie. I do understand—I must go to the library.’

“Have a good trip.”

Madam Emern said this while wiping her fingers with a handkerchief, though her lips still glistened greasily.

Those lips were just as unrefined as those of the commoner wives she so despised.

Aris cheerfully waved.

“Have a safe trip, sister! If you find any interesting books, bring one back for me too! Oh, and take Georgiana along.”

She truly seemed to believe I was actually going to the library.

“Why Georgiana?”

Aris stuck out her tongue playfully.

“Why? Surely you don’t plan to carry those heavy books yourself, do you?”

“How thoughtful of you, Aris. That’s a good idea.”

Hubert chimed in. Apparently, he needed Georgiana attached like a tail to feel reassured.

“If it’s Dupeng’s work, I’d love to read it quickly too, but I’ll let you have it first. I should read other books for now anyway.”

Hmm. As far as I knew, Aris treated books only as toys for stacking games. There was no way someone like her would genuinely enjoy Dupeng, whose scholarly style sharply divided readers.

Yet Hubert beamed as if watching a magnanimous, generous child.

“You’re such a good girl.”

When he ruffled her hair, Aris smiled sweetly.

It was obvious, practiced coquetry—yet Hubert seemed utterly charmed by it.

It was strange; he wasn’t unintelligent, yet this baffled me.

Sometimes I even wondered if he deliberately doted on Aris with ulterior motives.

Regardless of my thoughts, the two of them cooed and fussed like white and gray mice.

“I must get Dupeng’s book for Aris’s sake.”

“Really? My friends will be so jealous! I knew I only have you, Hubert.”

Wouldn’t buying her a top-tier dress be better than books?

I absentmindedly wrapped my arms around my elbows—then startled. Goosebumps had risen on my skin.

They were far too calm.

Too unnervingly calm about sacrificing someone as a pawn.

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“How may I assist you?”

“Here is my library access permit.”

“Ah, confirmed. The library is this way.”

The carriage passed the royal guards. Jenny, who had peeked slightly through the curtain before quickly letting it drop, took a deep breath.

“Are you alright, Jenny?”

She gave a small nod.

“But is this really acceptable? For me, of all people, to pretend to be you, my lady?”

Indeed, Jenny was wearing my clothes, while I wore hers—we’d switched immediately upon entering the carriage.

Her words brought a bitter smile to my lips; once, I’d thought the same way myself.

Whether I, of all people, deserved to bear the name of House Lorenst.

A pointless worry.

“You’ve taken care of everything I prepared, right?”

“Yes. I’ve loaded it all into the bottom compartment of the carriage.”

“Good.”

“What about Georgiana?”

I thought for a moment before replying.

“When you step out of the carriage, draw Georgiana’s attention briefly.”

“And then? She’ll follow me, and she’ll surely notice something’s off.”

“Order her to deliver the gift we brought to the Prince’s side.”

“Me?”

“Yes. Remember—you’re me now. The Countess. Just act confidently.”

“Yes!”

“It’d be best to use the excuse that you don’t trust palace staff. And you’ll stay at the Royal Library, pretending to read books. Don’t worry about the royal attendant Hubert assigned—he’s just an ignorant guide who knows nothing.”

“Should I shake him off like Georgiana?”

“No. Keep him close and stall for time. He’ll serve as our witness.”

In my past life, that witness had become proof that I’d been the Prince’s plaything.

‘But this time, I’ll use it differently.’

Jenny stepped out of the carriage first.

“Georgiana! Come here for a moment—help me adjust my dress!”

Pressing my ear to the carriage wall, I listened as she spoke exactly as I’d instructed.

“But isn’t Jenny here?”

“She’s been feeling unwell since earlier and took to her bed.”

“Goodness, what a careless girl.”

Since it was nighttime and Jenny mimicked my speech patterns as closely as possible, Georgiana seemed to notice nothing amiss.

“You’re awfully slow. Stop lazing about and hurry up.”

Jenny replied curtly to Georgiana’s not-so-subtle jab.

I chuckled inwardly.

‘She sounds furious, doesn’t she?’

Taking a deep breath as their footsteps faded away,

‘Now comes the crucial part.’

My previously trembling hands had already stilled.

I peeked slightly out the open carriage door. No one was around.

Before the palace servants arrived, I quickly slipped out of the carriage.

Finding the luggage Jenny had pre-stashed wasn’t difficult. I opened the lid of the largest box among them.

‘Hubert. I’ll put your excuse to good use.’

Muttering, I climbed into the empty box.

‘After all, I really am going to the library.’

Well, technically it would be Jenny wearing my clothes—but still.

Regardless, by tomorrow, everyone would know one thing for certain:

Igraine Lorenst had officially visited the Royal Library to read books.