I Plan to Repay Kindness with Enmity (1 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 13
Kichef thought.
‘I hate this country.’
The vibrating floral scent was unfamiliar, and the maids here—who responded curtly whenever spoken to—were hardly likable.
But above all else, what displeased him most was—
“That pale, smug face was so infuriating I couldn’t help clenching my fists. What good is a grand welcome banquet when they’re scheming something so vile behind our backs?”
The royal court.
The palace of Riorsa, which he’d only heard about in tales, was dazzlingly splendid and beautiful—but reeked of corruption.
“Never forget the oasis, even when blinded by gold.” He couldn’t count how many times he’d repeated that old imperial proverb to himself.
“They plainly thought we’d be delighted by their hospitality. And how slickly they spoke! Did you see the look on their face when they claimed the princess couldn’t attend due to illness? Even theater actors would weep in envy.”
“The king seems quite fond of his daughter.”
As Giovanni removed his jacket, Kichef quickly took it and crumpled his face in frustration.
“Fond? Of course he is—so fond he dares play reckless games with His Imperial Highness. They must not fear the empire’s wrath at all.”
“It’s not the empire they don’t fear—it’s me.”
Giovanni spoke with an expression devoid of emotion.
“Your Highness, that’s… that’s not what I meant at all….”
Kichef, who had flared up a moment before, now trailed off gloomily.
Roderick’s faction had long suppressed Giovanni’s influence. Yet sheer size of power alone couldn’t make one emperor.
Though Roderick’s forces were numerous, many were chaff; Giovanni’s, though fewer, were all solid grain—so he wasn’t entirely without a chance. His supporters clung to hope, but Giovanni’s indifference made Kichef burn with impatience.
‘If only Your Highness showed a bit more interest in the throne, so much would change.’
As Giovanni sat down on the sofa, Kichef hurriedly placed water and fruit before him.
“Oh, I understand.”
Though Giovanni hadn’t said a word, Kichef nodded and poured crimson wine into a small cup, presenting it respectfully.
Giovanni blinked slowly once, then fixed his gaze on Kichef—his eyes clearly saying, “Are you serious?”
“You know what this is, right?”
“Well, yes, but…”
“A first lieutenant like me can read Your Highness’s mind just from your eyes.”
Kichef grinned.
“You’ll have a drink and then sleep, won’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Have this too.”
“What is it?”
The basket Kichef pulled out was filled with translucent sky-blue fruit.
“The king’s steward sent it specially. They say it restores vitality—locals even call it ‘the Messenger’s Gift.’”
Despite the grand title, Giovanni showed no particular enthusiasm, so Kichef added hastily,
“It’s also said to help desert-dwellers against the local illnesses they often suffer here in Riorsa. Just try a little. Don’t expect miracles, of course.”
It was a closely guarded secret that imperial bloodlines weakened upon entering Riorsa’s lands.
‘They must have figured out at least that much.’
Even without knowing details, they likely suspected the Doverrakan royals were vulnerable to the kingdom’s endemic diseases.
And to some extent, that was true.
Kichef recalled the king’s gaze—pretending indifference while carefully watching Giovanni, clearly checking whether he was unwell.
“How can this country’s king be so brazen? If Khan decided to send his army, erasing a tiny nation like this from the map would be no trouble at all.”
Giovanni, slowly tilting his wine cup, replied,
“But he also knows the empire won’t act so easily.”
“…”
“As long as the grain from this land feeds the desert’s people, the empire won’t touch the kingdom.”
“…”
“But Roderick apparently wants the entire royal granary.”
An odd thought struck Kichef.
An eldest brother with excessive greed, and a youngest brother with none at all.
Which of them was more fit for the imperial throne?
As Giovanni lay down on the bed, Kichef began extinguishing the lamps that lit the room, then absentmindedly muttered,
“But what did that mean, anyway?”
From the darkness, Giovanni’s low voice quietly resonated.
“What are you talking about?”
“The king’s last, meaningful remark—that he’d send a gift to make our night pleasant.”
“He must have meant the Messenger’s Gift.”
“But usually, in the desert, that phrase is only used when bandits send women to their guests…”
Just then—
Knock knock.
A voice called from beyond the door.
“I’ve come bearing a gift, by order of the steward.”
Kichef froze.
“Surely they didn’t actually send a woman?”
A flicker of irritation crossed Giovanni’s previously impassive face.
Roderick often sent women to his room, calling them “fine gifts.”
Among them had been stunning beauties, graceful dancers, poison-wielding assassins, and women concealing sharp blades in their jewelry.
Worried the same old imperial troubles might repeat themselves here in the kingdom, Giovanni sighed and sat up.
“What should we do?”
“If the king sent her personally, we can’t turn her away outright. Just accept her greeting and send her off.”
“Yes!
Giovanni felt his drowsiness vanish completely.
Should he have another drink and try to sleep?
As he briefly pondered, Kichef returned, scratching the back of his head with an awkward look.
“I must’ve misunderstood. They said it’s a gift from some noble house. I assumed it was definitely a woman.”
“You’re quick.”
At Giovanni’s suddenly colder tone, Kichef spoke more carefully.
“They said it’s from House of Count Lorenst. Sounds familiar, but I can’t place it. Must be a famous family?”
Unlike Kichef, who rolled his eyes, Giovanni gave a faint smile.
“Lorenst?”
“You know them?”
“It’s the surname of the woman to whom King Hermannon granted the title of princess.”
“Really?”
Kichef’s expression instantly twisted in disgust.
“What audacity! I’ll throw it out immediately!”
“Leave it. The king is surely watching.”
Kichef glanced regretfully at the gift.
“I’ll take my leave. Rest well.”
Soon, the room sank into darkness and silence.
Giovanni didn’t lie back down. He slowly closed his eyes, facing straight ahead, then opened them again.
‘I can’t sleep.’
He’d never been one for much sleep, but this bed was excessively soft—offering no support for his back or waist, leaving him uncomfortable.
How could the kingdom’s people sleep comfortably on such beds?
Eventually, he gave up and rose.
Lighting a single candle, Giovanni walked over to the sofa.
Gurgle.
Another drink seemed to ease his taut nerves.
Clack.
As he set the cup down and turned, his eyes caught the gifts Kichef had left behind. His usually indifferent eyes narrowed slightly.
He’d been about to return to bed without even opening them.
“…”
He stopped dead.
His gaze fell upon the pile of gift boxes.
“…”
A faint sound—too quiet for an ordinary person to hear—reached his trained ears.
Giovanni’s eyebrows shot sharply upward.
All traces of his earlier languid demeanor vanished, replaced by dry, focused eyes.
‘An assassin?’
It wasn’t unexpected.
He’d anticipated at least one attempt on his life once he left the empire’s watchful eyes.
‘Has Roderick allied with House Lorenst?’
He couldn’t be certain yet.
‘If it were Roderick, he’d have sent the Shadow Veil.’
But assassins of the Shadow Veil never made foolish mistakes like breathing audibly during infiltration.
The more he thought, the more questions arose.
‘I’ll find out once I catch them.’
Shhk.
He drew the dao from the wall and aimed it at the box.
“Come out.”
Giovanni waited for the assassin to leap forth.
Desert assassins were infamous for their bizarre tactics—blinding victims with sudden clouds of poison dust was all too common.
He planned to evade their tricks and counterattack.
After a moment, movement stirred inside the box—clumsy for an assassin.
It was awkward, but regardless, this was an intruder. Merely hiding inside proved malicious intent.
Just as he raised his blade to strike—
“How did you know?”
Hesitation.
A clear, high-pitched voice.
Nothing like the rough, raspy tones typical of assassins.
‘A woman?’
Giovanni frowned, halting his swing.
Click.
The box lid opened, and a head popped up abruptly.
At the absurd sight, Giovanni was momentarily speechless.
The girl’s eyes blinked, then darted around—finally landing on the dao in his hand.
“Are you going to kill me?”
“…”
“If that’s your plan, could you reconsider?”
The ‘assassin’ sat up inside the box.
Giovanni’s pupils widened.
Her skin was pale and translucent—utterly unlike the sun-baked desert complexions he knew.
She wore a sheer, sky-blue garment like insect wings, revealing the curves of her body beneath.
Her calm, golden-brown hair and watery eyes were rare sights in the arid lands.
Emerging from the box, she resembled less a human and more a nymph said to appear near desert oases.
Yet the unmistakable vitality radiating from her—so unlike the hollow aura of non-human beings—snapped him back to reality.
She was human.
He froze, stunned that he’d been momentarily entranced. He, who had never before been distracted by anything—person or object.
Curiosity gave way instantly to sharp wariness.
Had she truly been an assassin, that moment of distraction would have been her perfect chance.
Giovanni stepped back one pace, his expression blunt.
“Who are you?”
‘No, this isn’t what I intended at all.’
How had it come to this? Despairing, yet with no one to appeal to and no time to spare.
He couldn’t tear his eyes away from the figure before him—simply couldn’t.
In the darkness, the blade’s faint gleam carried a chilling killing intent, as if ready to scatter his blood at any moment.
Thump-thump.
His heartbeat pounded like a drum.
He could vividly feel cold sweat gathering on his brow.
Swoosh!
The guillotine’s blade descending with the wind—and then darkness.
His head felt ready to split open; his stomach churned.
That would have been my death.
‘Ever since then, I’ve hated blades.’
“Who are you?”
The blade pointed at me demanded an answer.
Everything went black.
He absolutely never wanted his first meeting with the imperial prince to turn out like this.
Male lead is a clingy little husband
One-line summary: The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
Introduction:
One day, Lu Yuner’s soul transmigrates into a female-dominant world. She enters the Imperial Academy and takes up the position of a doctoral instructor, teaching classes and grading schoolwork.
One day, she encounters the young prince Su Qingwan secretly skipping class from the male academy.
As a result, Su Qingwan is punished.
From then on, Su Qingwan sees Lu Yuner as a “thorn in his side”.
But before long, this “thorn” becomes the person he cherishes most, and he goes to great lengths to win Lu Yuner’s affection.
Mini scene 1:
One day, the sun is high in the sky but Su Qingwan still hasn’t gotten up for class.
Servant Xiaoyuan: “Young prince, it’s time for class. You’ll be late otherwise.”
Su Qingwan says arrogantly: “I’m not going. I am the esteemed prince, my status is so noble, why should I suffer this hardship? Besides, isn’t learning all this just to please women? Hmph, they’re not worthy!”
Mini scene 2:
After Su Qingwan falls for someone, he completely changes. He no longer skips class and diligently learns how to be a good husband and father. But he discovers that Sister Yuner is always surrounded by admirers.
Drunk and overcome with jealousy one day, he clings to Lu Yuner, crying beautifully like a pear blossom in the rain.
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan likes Sister Yuner.”
Lu Yuner: “Young prince, you’re drunk.”
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan isn’t drunk. Qingwan likes Sister Yuner, likes you so much, likes you to bits…” Before he can finish, Lu Yuner’s eyes flash with emotion and she leans in closer.
[Reading Guide]
1. The female lead is gentle, gracious, humble and polite but not weak. The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
2. 1v1, a bit torturous in the beginning but definitely sweet later on.
_____
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