I Plan to Repay Kindness with Enmity (1 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 3
‘Still, I almost succeeded.’
When Mother died in Hubert’s place, and discussions about compensation for her sacrifice began, I moved faster than ever before.
I gathered every book and newspaper related to ‘marriage’ and placed them around me, and even hired unknown actors to pose as passersby who casually dropped hints about marriage.
It was all to plant the idea of ‘marriage’ into everyone’s subconscious.
Thanks to my efforts, talk eventually arose about taking me in as Countess as a form of recompense.
In truth, I had even bribed members of House Lorenst with money to suggest it themselves—but at least it had been discussed.
‘If only the king hadn’t interfered.’
Once, I truly believed that. If not for the king’s opposition, who knew what might have happened?
‘But looking back now, that was just another show. After the newspaper article about the proposal came out, I was vilified while Hubert was praised.’
No matter how outrageously I acted, I could never become Hubert’s wife—just as no amount of devotion could ever make me part of this family’s bloodline.
I pulled out a golden-brown loaf of white bread from the oven and wrinkled my nose. The delicious scent of butter lifted my mood.
‘Is it really okay to adapt this quickly?’
It made sense—the space and actions felt far too familiar.
“That’s enough, Miss. I think I can take over now.”
The kitchen maid, wearing a white apron stained here and there with egg wash, spoke up.
“Miss?”
I carelessly tossed the freshly baked bread from the oven onto a plate.
“The food has already gone out. You can take your time.”
“But there wasn’t much, so more will need to go out soon.”
Ignoring the worried maid, I fetched a cool pitcher of water from the cold storage and handed it to her.
“Oh dear, thank you!”
However accustomed I was, the heat still got to her—the maid’s face glowed crimson like a heated stone as she drank.
As soon as she finished, she looked at me again with anxious eyes, clearly wondering why I hadn’t left yet.
With such obvious urging, I couldn’t very well stay put.
This was precisely why, after waking up in my bed following my beheading, I’d slipped straight back into ordinary routine without even pausing to marvel at being alive or returned to the past.
I truly grasped that I’d come back to the past while carefully plating dishes in the kitchen.
As I wheeled the tray toward the dining room, an odd feeling settled over me. My steps slowed, heavy like a drowsy bear’s. I felt no urgency to hurry.
Upon entering the dining room, unlike the kitchen, a fragrant floral scent greeted me.
On the round dining table sat plates still holding leftover dishes; the empty ones had apparently been cleared away by waiting maids.
Sweet, intimate chatter between lovers pierced my ears like the unwelcome fluttering of insect wings.
“Hubert, try this. It’s absolutely delicious.”
“You should eat more than I do. How can you wander around the temple and study doctrine looking so thin? That’s exactly why I worry and can’t even send you to the Temple Academy.”
His gentle, tender voice brimmed with concern.
‘Didn’t you run away from the Temple Academy because it was boring?’
I thought this as I set down the dish I’d brought onto the table.
Aris was slender, yes—but healthy enough that the whole household fussing over her like an invalid seemed excessive.
If I had to diagnose her condition, perhaps “situational migraines”? She suffered headaches triggered solely by her surroundings and mood.
‘That’s actually a pretty accurate diagnosis.’
In other words, she was faking it.
I placed the oven-baked bread on the table. Immediately, a man’s pale but thick-fingered hand reached out and took it.
He sliced it in half with a knife, spread fig jam on one piece, and offered it to Aris’s lips.
“I spread your favorite jam. Now you’ve got no excuse. Go on, eat quickly.”
“Oh dear, how can I possibly finish all this?”
“Just drink it with milk! And if you don’t eat, you’ll get scolded.”
“Chui, how exactly will you scold me?”
“Shall I show you? Are you prepared?”
“No! Fine, fine—I’ll eat, I’ll eat.”
Hearing their playful bickering stirred that strange feeling in me once more.
Glancing around, the maids serving at the table wore utterly indifferent expressions. Understandable—they were far too used to this scene to react anew.
My gaze soon settled on Aris.
Aris Dorencia.
Beautiful yet ignorant, blessed yet selfish—a noble young lady through and through.
She was both the ward of Madam Emern, former Countess and current Viscountess, and a collateral blood relative of the Lorensts.
I remembered vividly the day they first set foot in this Count Lorenst estate.
At the time, I’d been tasked with ensuring the new household members felt no discomfort.
The ornate carriage they arrived in, the path paved with white stones, the flower beds bursting with blooms—all had been arranged by me.
Had I not been formally adopted into the comital family, I might well have ended up as this household’s butler by now.
A sudden, hollow laugh escaped me—it struck me as absurdly funny.
‘What difference does it really make?’
Only my status had changed; the work itself remained nearly identical.
‘A thief nearly rose to nobility.’
I lowered my eyes to my hands carrying the dishes—food I’d prepared with care to feed Hubert and Aris, though I myself hadn’t eaten a bite.
Perhaps I should title this “My Final Dish Offered to My Enemies”?
‘It’s so ridiculous I can’t even laugh.’
I didn’t particularly intend to seek revenge. But still…
“Ha ha, oh dear.”
Seeing them like this twisted my insides.
Wrongs should be repaid with wrongs, kindness with kindness. Yet I’d already repaid their kindness in full during my previous life—I’d given them far more than the worth of a single loaf of bread.
‘Isn’t it time now to settle the score with my enemies?’
I raised my head to watch Hubert and Aris dining leisurely.
‘It’s still unbelievable.’
The two people I’d cursed with my dying breath stood perfectly unharmed right before my eyes.
It felt stranger than when I’d first seen my younger face reflected in the mirror.
Had I foreseen this in a dream? Or was it all just nonsense?
The fleeting doubt that crossed my mind upon waking vanished completely after I saw Leo’s spirit stone—once radiant blue, now dull and rough.
That beautiful spirit stone I’d stolen recklessly from the temple was now no different from an ordinary roadside pebble. At that sight, tears burst forth uncontrollably.
The rusted blade of the executioner’s axe, surely soaked in countless lives.
The crowd hurling accusations at me.
The nobles sneering in disdain—and among them, Hubert Lorenst accusing me, with Aris Dorencia nestled securely in his arms.
Leo, who vanished in my stead.
Everything had truly happened.
‘And it’s also what’s yet to come.’
Ah—our eyes met.
Hubert smiled gently.
“Good work, Igraine.”
“……”
“For dessert, please bring Aris’s favorite cherry sorbet.”
His words jolted me awake as if I’d been struck from behind.
‘Look at this!’
He acted more conscienceless than a common thief stealing cursed goods.
‘Wait—why am I even cooking for these shameless wretches?’
Staring at the beautifully plated dishes on the table, I felt like a pot boiling over.
‘Ugh, but what should I actually do?’
I was slightly confused.
Part of me wanted to overturn the entire table, but my body refused to move—bound by the identity of a count’s adopted daughter turned servant.
“Sister.”
Just then, Aris called out to me.
“…Hm?”
I forced my neck to turn. Aris frowned, her lovely eyebrows creasing like lightning bolts.
“This is too salty.”
Her finger pointed to the marinated beef.
The moment I saw the dish, details about the meat flooded my mind.
Premium ingredients specially sourced because Aris preferred tender veal.
‘I went through so much stress negotiating with that finicky merchant.’
I even recalled secretly pocketing his prized fountain pen out of sheer frustration…
“The meat itself is tasty, but the marinade isn’t great. You made this, didn’t you, sister?”
Those words snapped the last thread of my restraint.
I sharply pulled my hand away from the plate and walked straight to the seat opposite Aris and Hubert.
Thud.
The thick layers of my dress caused a loud rustle as I sat down—an almost dusty sound.
The maid serving nearby shot me a glare.
Georgiana.
Though she appeared simple-faced, she constantly compared Aris and me, always reminding everyone how flawed and inadequate I was to be a true young lady of the comital house. She was one of Aris’s maids.
Beside her stood Rosa, Georgiana’s friend and a kitchen maid.
‘However you look at it, I’m still your superior—how dare you glare at me like that.’
“What are you doing, Igraine?”
A displeased voice reached me. I turned my head from the maid toward Hubert. Everyone was staring at me, startled by my sudden action.
“I’m going to eat. It’s mealtime, isn’t it?”
“……”
“What? Is that not allowed?”
Aris’s mouth fell open as if she’d heard something unthinkable. She seemed genuinely shocked by my behavior—and oddly, that gave me a flicker of satisfaction.
The comital household was elegant and refined, yet stifling at times.
Whether as a noble’s maid or an adopted daughter, my status had changed—but my nature remained that of a street thief.
After a brief silence, Hubert spoke.
“There’s nothing stopping you.”
“Right. I’ve been working since morning—I need to eat something. I can’t just serve others forever.”
I naturally ignored Aris’s expectant look, which clearly asked, “Isn’t serving exactly your job?” and instead snapped my fingers toward the side.
“Georgiana?”
“Y-yes?”
Watching her eyes widen, I haughtily gestured toward the tray.
“Bring me a plate. And place the salmon pie right in front of me. Today I feel like seafood more than meat.”
“A-alright.”
Georgiana reluctantly replied as she carried over the plate, casting quick glances between Hubert and Aris—as if expecting, or rather hoping, they’d reprimand me.
I almost laughed, yet felt utterly baffled.
‘What exactly did I do?’
The count’s adopted daughter simply sat down mid-service to eat and ordered a servant around. That was all.
Georgiana’s reaction revealed that, in her mind, I ranked closer to hired help than a true young lady of the house.
I scooped some of the salmon pie Georgiana placed before me onto my plate.
Its savory aroma made my mouth water. One bite, and rich flavor burst across my tongue.
‘Delicious…’
So delicious it brought tears to my eyes.
Salmon was a rare delicacy—even the comital household couldn’t procure large quantities. Unlike Aris, who’d grown tired of seafood from eating it too often, I rarely got the chance despite loving it.
All this time, I’d been serving Aris salmon pies without appreciating their value—while never getting to taste them myself. Fury surged anew.
Swallowing my anger, I stuffed a large piece into my mouth.
Silence blanketed the dining room—an icy, brittle quiet. Everyone froze, staring at me without moving.
Male lead says he’s pregnant — and it’s female lead’s child
Something seems a bit off about this world.
Wang Zhao thought as she watched a pregnant man walking towards her…
Intro
Female lead finds herself in a world where the men who possess the ability to bear children.
As she navigates this unfamiliar reality, she is caught off guard by the sudden appearance of her boyfriend, who reveals that he is pregnant.
Is this truly her boyfriend?
Why can’t she recall any details about their time together?
She begins to doubt whether the child her boyfriend is carrying is even hers.
Is there a hidden reason behind her amnesia, or could it be a side effect of her sudden arrival in this strange new world?
Just when it seems the protagonist’s life couldn’t become any more entangled, her ex-boyfriend makes an unexpected appearance, raising questions about the protagonist’s past.
__________
Please help me, I want to bring you the best possible things.
If you find any chapter or novel with poor translation and editing quality, let me know by commenting directly under that novel or chapter. I will retranslate it as soon as possible.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
Most Commented This Week
The Villain Has Gone Mad For Me (Completed Main Story)
I’m The Lowest-Ranking Daughter Of A Martial Arts Villain (2 Chapters Left to Complete)
I Became the Assassin Family’s Foster Daughter (Completed Main Story)
The Duke Only Needs My Child (Completed Main Story)
Men of the Harem (137 Chapters Left to Complete)
At the End of Ruin, There You Are (56 Chapters Left to Complete)
She’s a Villainess but her Husband is Handsome (Completed Main Story)
People Aren’t Meant to Be Fixed! (4 Chapters Left to Complete)
My Discarded Fiancé Returned (Completed Main Story)
Summer Must Die (16 Chapters Left to Complete)
I Received The First Time Of My Extraordinary Superior (9 Chapters Left to Complete)
Regret With All Your Might (Completed Main Story)