I Plan to Repay Kindness with Enmity (1 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 9
Jenny nodded her head jerkily, tears like chicken droppings streaming down her cheeks.
“You are strong, that’s true…”
“…”
“But this has nothing to do with strength! No matter how capable you are, Miss, if you’re thrown into a horde of barbarians, who knows what might happen to you!”
I shook my head as if to say that wasn’t it at all.
“You only know one thing but are blind to the rest.”
“Yes?”
“Think carefully. You’d become a princess of the royal house—a princess, I say, a princess.”
“That’s an honorable position, but still, but still! To become a princess just to marry a barbarian? What kind of princess is that? That’s… that’s just…”
Jenny couldn’t bring herself to finish. I stared at her quietly.
“You think it’s no different from being a woman in a brothel?”
She turned pale. Shocked by my choice of words, she even trembled violently. I grabbed her elbow just as she was about to drop to her knees.
‘Is this really worth such a fuss?’
Among the friends I’d met in the underworld streets of Amteine were women who’d been ground down under cruel brothel keepers.
Stealing coins from those pig-like pimps and secretly passing them to those girls had been one of my small pleasures.
I gazed blankly at Jenny’s youthful face reflected in the mirror.
“If Mother hadn’t died for the Count, wouldn’t I have long since been sold off to some poor farmer? Since she disliked me, she’d have sent me anywhere as long as the price was right.”
“Impossible! You’re far too important here—why would she ever do that?”
Once, I’d thought the same—that though my status was lowly, I was indispensable to the Count’s household.
‘But it was all an illusion.’
I shrugged my shoulders.
“And anyway, you’re now the Countess!”
“Only because of Mother’s legacy. She certainly never wanted it for me.”
My cynical remark left Jenny flustered and stammering.
“And the Count holds you dear as well.”
“Does he seem to?”
“Miss…”
Jenny looked at me with sorrowful eyes. I replied casually.
“Of course, there’s affection from having grown up together.”
Though even that was pitifully shallow.
Jenny’s expression grew gloomy.
“If you think that way, then why are you willing to sacrifice yourself for the Count’s household?”
“Sacrifice?”
I burst out laughing at the word, making Jenny’s eyes widen in surprise. I barely managed to stop laughing and shook my head.
“I have no such intention.”
“Then why?”
Just as I was about to answer—
Knock knock.
Our eyes met. At this hour, only one person would knock on my door.
Jenny hurried over and carefully opened it.
Through the doorway, Hubert entered.
“Igraine.”
Behind him, Jenny closed the door. Her innocent face was filled with nervous anxiety, clearly worried about our just-finished conversation.
I glanced at Jenny through the mirror, then shifted my gaze. Hubert was watching me with an unreadable expression. Only then did I realize how I was dressed.
Wearing only a translucent slip as nightwear, my silhouette was clearly visible.
I quickly pulled on a light outer robe. Hubert cleared his throat awkwardly and stepped closer.
“What brings you here at this hour?”
“I wanted to talk.”
We sat facing each other across a round table. He avoided my gaze and remained silent for a long while.
Seeing Jenny’s hopeful look, I nearly clicked my tongue in spite of myself.
Could she really believe he’d come to take back his decision to send me off as a princess?
If that was her expectation, Jenny needed to learn better judgment of people.
‘Not that it’s my place to say.’
Hubert Lorenst was a hyena adorned with the beautiful plumage of a peacock.
“Didn’t you say you’d be heading to the royal palace early tomorrow?”
So if you have business, say it quickly and leave.
He finally turned his eyes toward me.
And then, his appearance struck me anew.
Soft golden hair, intelligent green eyes, fair skin—a gentle noble bearing that fulfilled every aristocratic ideal. Truly, his beauty was remarkable enough to make anyone mistake him for genuinely kind.
I stared blankly at that face which had once made my young heart flutter.
Hubert, who’d been watching me just as intently, cleared his throat.
“I came to talk about what happened today.”
“Go ahead.”
“Are you serious?”
“…”
“Do you understand what this means?”
His green eyes searched mine.
‘Idiot. Do you think I spoke without knowing anything?’
Yet he asked anyway—was he truly worried about me?
‘No. He’s just probing my intentions.’
Quick-witted as always. Though he couldn’t know I’d died and returned, I lowered my eyes to hide my thoughts.
“What do you want me to do?”
“What?”
I kept my eyes on his perfectly smooth hands resting on the table.
“Young Master.”
I used the title I’d called him by in childhood, after a long time.
“Do you want me to become the princess in place of Miss Aris?”
Hubert said nothing. I was curious what he’d reply.
After a moment, his impeccably composed lips parted cleanly. Unconsciously, I leaned in to hear his voice.
“You have no idea how I truly feel right now, Igraine.”
Hearing my name spoken so tenderly stirred faded memories.
The wet nurse’s unwanted daughter and the kind young master—a relationship I’d once foolishly believed was ‘special.’
His adult voice overlapped with the gentle tones of his youth, the same voice that had shielded me from Mother’s scolding.
“It pains me.”
“…”
“That such words would come from your lips.”
“…”
“You asked if I’d rather send you to the palace instead of Aris? Igraine, how could you think I’d ever do that?”
His expression darkened. A heavy sigh escaped through his slightly parted lips.
“The mood at the nobles’ council is ominous. Everyone’s desperate to find a suitable scapegoat. And His Majesty himself—he’s counting on our house’s support. In such a situation, it was nearly impossible to firmly refuse offering someone from our own family.”
“So… you need my help? To take Miss’s place?”
‘Now he’ll try sweet-talking me into it.’
His pleading voice echoed in my mind.
[Please help me, Igraine.]But—
“No.”
Hubert shook his head.
“I came to tell you that you don’t have to become a hollow princess.”
“What are you talking about? Just earlier, you said I should step forward.”
“That was Madam Emern’s opinion. And yes, her reasoning made sense. But even so, how could I possibly push you into such a position? You, my benefactor? Even if our house were in danger, that would never be acceptable. I should have come sooner, but I was lost in thought—forgive me for visiting so late.”
Hubert took my hand in his. I looked down at my hand held within his pale one, feeling uneasy.
“You must be deeply hurt.”
“…”
“Don’t worry. I promised I’d protect you.”
[I’ll protect you above all others, Igraine!]Why else would I have schemed so desperately—though I knew it was absurd—seizing upon Mother’s sacrifice, if not because I loved him and dreamed of marrying him?
I blinked. With each blink, the old sentiment faded, and I saw the man before me clearly.
His gentle smile, yet his face looked somehow weary.
As if deliberately showing it to me.
At that moment, sensing something oddly artificial about him, I snapped awake as if doused with cold water.
‘Right. This is exactly the kind of man he is.’
Hubert Lorenst, who respected his adopted sister’s wishes over his family’s ambition for a princess title.
If this story got out, it would surely become another celebrated tale of virtue.
‘You cunning bastard.’
I had lived for Hubert. Whether as a lowly maid or after my status changed, I’d given him everything I could.
But now I understood: even if I refused to become a princess as he’d just suggested, the outcome would be the same.
Because Hubert would make me accept it willingly.
‘This time, it won’t be so troublesome for you, Young Master.’
I lowered my eyes again, just as I had during the family meeting.
“But if I refuse, won’t it make things hard for you?”
“…Huh?”
I kept my gaze fixed on the rug-covered floor without lifting my head. I probably looked quite obedient like this.
Though he treated me well for appearances’ sake, deep down Count Lorenst was uncomfortable with my being a maid’s daughter—this was precisely the image people found most satisfying.
“If I refuse, Miss Aris will have to become the royal sacrifice instead. And that would pain your kind heart, wouldn’t it?”
Was it time yet?
I judged the moment, then slowly raised my head. Hubert was staring at me wide-eyed.
Seeing his surprised, flustered expression, I gave a faint, sorrowful smile.
“I’d hate for you to suffer. If it helps, I don’t mind becoming the princess.”
“But then you’d…”
I gently took his hand, which uncharacteristically fumbled over his words.
“Think about it—who proposed this political marriage?”
“Lord Roderick Doverrakan.”
“Was the Imperial Emperor’s seal stamped on that letter?”
Hubert frowned.
“Impossible. Only the Crown Prince’s seal was there.”
“Then it’s fine.”
“What do you mean, ‘fine’?”
“This is likely the Crown Prince’s unilateral move—to restrain the Fifth Prince, whose power threatens his own. The aging Emperor is merely turning a blind eye. But even if the Fifth Prince is weaker, he’s still a potential heir, isn’t he?”
I asked carefully, as if merely verifying my thoughts to avoid suspicion. Hubert nodded.
Encouraged by his look to continue, I spoke cautiously.
“Then the Fifth Prince must have considerable influence himself—he wouldn’t agree to such an absurd arrangement. Besides, isn’t he rumored to be homosexual?”
“That’s the gossip.”
“Even if that’s untrue, what would the Imperial Prince gain by marrying a kingdom’s princess? If the marriage actually happens, it’ll cause problems—diplomatically and politically.”
“…”
“His Majesty probably wants to create an extra princess just in case this marriage goes through. As a sort of spare.”
“…”
“Why do you see it that way?”
Hubert muttered with a strange expression.
“It’s exactly what I thought.”
‘Of course—it’s what you said in my past life.’
Outwardly, I feigned innocence.
“Really?”
“You’re right. Though His Majesty appears furious, it’s just for show. Deep down, he doesn’t truly believe this imperial marriage will actually happen.”
Hubert’s lips curled slightly. It looked almost like a sneer.
“The Imperial royal family can take multiple consorts—what they call ‘Kartuns’ there. His Majesty worries that if the marriage proceeds, Princess Lalatu might end up in a position like a concubine.”
“Then it’s to our advantage.”
“Our advantage?”
“Yes. If the marriage falls through, our house gains the status of having a princess without any loss. And won’t His Majesty favor a loyal house like ours even more? After all, we’re the family that stepped forward loyally in a crisis.”
Hubert fell into thought for a moment, then tilted his head.
“But what if the marriage truly goes ahead?”
I paused briefly. In my past life, the Duke’s daughter had committed suicide, and the marriage had been called off.
If the Empire had truly wanted this union, Princess Lalatu would have stepped in—but that never happened.
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
_____
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