I Plan to Repay Kindness with Enmity (1 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 16
“That… for several hours?”
“Miss Aris.”
“I had no idea you loved books so much. You never seemed to at home.”
“I’ve been busy.”
Aris frowned as I spoke calmly.
I muttered somewhat sadly.
“For years, I’ve been handling the family’s affairs and haven’t had any personal time. You wouldn’t know, Miss, since you’ve always been busy attending parties. I actually used to love reading very much. Since it was a rare book by Dupeng, I was genuinely delighted when the Count suggested I visit the library. I only meant to read one volume and borrow it, but I ended up sitting there for hours without even getting up. I’m sorry for startling you.”
“Wait. That’s not what I meant.”
“But don’t worry. I borrowed plenty of books for you too. Once you open the first page, you’ll understand how I felt. The tale of a young boy journeying between deserts and seas was utterly thrilling! The author has always had a graceful style and vivid descriptions, but this new work is even more refined! I borrowed every copy I could, even under the librarian’s disapproving glare. You won’t be angry that I got to read Dupeng’s new release before you, will you?”
Aris looked exasperated as I rambled on without giving her a chance to interrupt.
I suppressed a smirk inwardly.
‘Of course. She wouldn’t even know where to begin correcting me.’
Aris was the type who needed everyone’s attention wherever she went.
She craved recognition not just for her looks, but also for her character and abilities.
My comment—that while she idled away her time, I was busy working as a Lorenst—must have rubbed her the wrong way.
Just as Aris opened her mouth to speak again, Madam Emern suddenly shouted.
“That’s not it!”
“…….”
“It’s not about Dupeng or any of that! Why do you keep saying such strange things! Igraine, were you really in the library?”
“Yes.”
Her impatient question came back sharply.
“Then where’s the prince?”
“The prince?”
I deliberately widened my eyes in feigned surprise.
“Yes! The Fifth Prince who came with the delegation!”
After pretending to think for a moment, I replied.
“I sent him a gift.”
Making sure my expression showed clear bewilderment.
‘Even I sound foolish hearing myself.’
Predictably, Madam Emern shot to her feet.
“Is that all?”
“You told me to do exactly that, didn’t you?”
I glanced around as if puzzled by what the problem could possibly be.
‘I hope I look convincingly innocent.’
Just then, Madam Emern snapped angrily.
“That’s not what a gift is supposed to be…!”
As a noblewoman, she couldn’t bring herself to say anything vulgar outright, so she clamped her mouth shut and sharply snapped open her fan. A gust of wind blew roughly.
“Who would’ve guessed she was such a hopeless fool!”
She turned toward Hubert.
“Count, isn’t this a serious problem? The King must have given you prior notice, yet all the prince received was some random bundle of gifts! He’ll surely be furious. Besides, that gift was merely for show anyway.”
She lowered her voice on the last sentence, but everyone nearby still heard it clearly.
Even Aris, who had been skeptical until then, turned pale.
Aris shot me a look as if I were utterly useless and snapped irritably.
“Georgiana!”
Georgiana, who had been hunched up with her shoulders drawn in, shuffled forward reluctantly.
“Yes, Miss.”
“What happened? You said you didn’t see my sister.”
“I didn’t see her.”
Aris glanced at me.
“She claims she was reading books in the library the whole time?”
“Well…”
“Say it again. Did you really not see her?”
Before tiny Aris, Georgiana turned ashen, like a fox caught in a trap.
“I… I think I might have seen her.”
Her feeble reply nearly made me burst out laughing.
Though Georgiana had a gentle face, her nature was far from kind—but she wasn’t clever enough to navigate situations like this with finesse.
Aris twitched her eyebrows.
“So, did you see her or not?”
“You kept moving around, and I tried following you, but I couldn’t catch up in the end…”
“Is that even an answer? Speak clearly!”
“Enough.”
Aris, who had been scolding Georgiana as if she wanted to devour her, fell silent.
Hubert, his arm draped gently over Aris’s shoulder, spoke softly.
“The Royal Library is famously confusing, isn’t it? Don’t be too hard on your poor maid.”
Georgiana looked up at Hubert with tearful gratitude, while Aris’s face twisted in displeasure.
“How can you say that? Do I seem like I’m tormenting her? I’m just so shocked and confused…”
Tears welled up instantly in her large eyes. Honestly, her ability to summon tears so quickly was impressive—I silently applauded her special talent for fluid regulation.
‘No matter how I look at her, she’s got exceptional con-artist potential.’
“There’s no need to get so worked up.”
Hubert pulled out a handkerchief and gently patted the corners of Aris’s eyes.
“You’ll collapse again if you’re not careful.”
His gentle tone softened Aris’s expression.
After a moment, his gaze shifted to me.
Our eyes met briefly.
“Igraine.”
“Yes.”
“You’d better stay in your room.”
His voice was as gentle as ever—soft and gentle, yet somehow cold.
I couldn’t tell if he believed me or not, but his disappointment was unmistakable.
‘Oops. He shouldn’t be making that face already.’
Inwardly, I thought this, but outwardly, I wore an expression of utter heartbreak, as if the world had collapsed around me.
[This is the timeline separator]I practically fled back to my room and splashed water from the pitcher onto my eyes and cheeks.
“Phew, thank goodness I wasn’t found out.”
Jenny, who had been holding her breath anxiously, stared at me with wide eyes.
“What are you doing, Miss?”
“Huh? Pretending to cry.”
“What?”
“Look, do I seem convincingly heartbroken?”
Jenny approached me with a bewildered look and shook her head.
“There’s only water on your face.”
“Oh, really?”
I sat on the bed and stared wide-eyed, trying not to blink. Soon, my eyes stung and tears welled up.
Glancing in the mirror, I saw bloodshot eyes and damp skin—passable enough for someone who’d been crying.
I looked at Jenny. She nodded.
“Let’s add a little more.”
Just as I was squeezing out more tears—
Knock knock.
At the sound of knocking, Jenny hurried to the door.
“It’s the Count.”
At Jenny’s urgent whisper, I ducked my head and buried my face in my hands.
The door soon opened, and Hubert stepped inside.
“Igraine… Igr?”
Hubert, who had entered coolly, paused briefly before slowly approaching me.
Peeking through my fingers, I spotted the toe of his shoes.
“Why are you crying?”
In a voice tinged with awkwardness, I whimpered.
“Hubert… did you mean that when you told me to go to the Royal Library?”
“…….”
“I really, really didn’t know. You said Dupeng’s book had arrived and told me to go read it at the library. I thought you felt sorry for me and were just being kind. Since you didn’t mention the prince, I assumed going to his room was completely off the table.”
“Sigh, Igraine.”
“I was so touched by your consideration that I worked incredibly hard choosing a gift… hoping the prince would look favorably upon our house because of it. And now you’re telling me that wasn’t it at all?”
My voice carried a hint of reproach.
“You meant for me to sneak into the prince’s room under the pretense of visiting the library?”
I murmured with disbelief and bitter irony.
At that moment, my head tilted as Hubert pulled me into his embrace and sighed.
Resting my forehead against his chest, I shook my head slightly.
‘It’s already come to this. He’ll need to use me again, so he’ll try to win back my trust.’
“That’s not it. I don’t know what everyone’s misunderstanding, but my words were exactly as I meant them.”
‘Bingo.’
“Really?”
I lifted my head slightly to look at him. My tearful reflection shimmered in Hubert’s green eyes.
His expression grew complex, then softened into a tender smile.
“Of course. Naturally. Don’t worry. Everyone will clear up their misunderstanding soon.”
“All I need is for you to believe in me…”
I buried my face in his shirt, clutching the fabric. Hubert gently stroked my hair.
The corners of my mouth curled upward.
[This is the timeline separator]The next morning.
As I unwrapped the bandage, raw, reddened skin was revealed. Carefully, I applied a white ointment over it.
The prince had given it to me before I left at dawn. I’d used it so generously that the jar was already running low.
The moment the cold medicine touched my skin, a sharp pain shot through me, and I winced involuntarily.
‘Since it was a blade wound, it won’t heal easily.’
I couldn’t lift my face while wrapping it with fresh bandages I’d prepared earlier.
“Miss.”
I quickly pulled my clothes back down. At the same time, the canopy was drawn aside.
Beating her to the greeting, I smiled at her wide-eyed expression.
“Morning, Jenny?”
“You’re already up.”
Jenny set down the washbasin before me, her face slightly puffy as if she’d eaten something odd before bed.
“My morning sleep has shortened lately. You’re up early again too.”
After washing and drying my face with a cloth, I glanced sideways.
“What’s with that expression?”
Jenny, who had been fidgeting as if she had something to say, jumped in surprise.
From her reaction, I instantly knew.
‘Something happened.’
Jenny hesitated before reluctantly speaking.
“Madam Emern asked to have breakfast sent to your room.”
“Even though she’s always done that because I sleep in, why the sudden fuss?”
“Well… the Count and Miss Aris are also…”
Jenny’s face scrunched up after saying that much.
“The Count is really strange! After comforting you so sweetly yesterday, why is he acting like this today…?”
Jenny glanced at me again, clearly struggling to continue.
I replied casually.
“Oh. So they’re having breakfast in another room again, leaving me out?”
“It’s probably not like that.”
Jenny quickly denied it, startled once more.
‘Sure it isn’t.’
I didn’t press the point, merely shrugging my shoulders.
Even after thoroughly drying my face, Jenny still hovered by my side. When I looked at her, she asked cautiously.
“Are you alright?”
“Yeah. Today’ll be nice and easy—no need to fill that huge dining table. Let’s just prepare everything as usual.”
Though I spoke lightly, Jenny’s worried gaze didn’t waver. But truly, I wasn’t bothered at all.
‘It’s not the first time something like this has happened.’
Whenever Madam Emern was displeased with me, excluding me from meals was one of her favorite petty tricks.
‘Aris’s influence probably played a part too.’
Either way, the thought of eating peacefully without having to see those unpleasant faces put me entirely at ease.
Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.
The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.
Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.
The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”
When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…
The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced
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