PRKE 09

CHAPTER 09…………………..

Jenny nodded even as she shed tears as large as chicken droppings.

“You are strong, yes, but…”

“…”

“But this has nothing to do with strength. No matter how strong you are, if you’re thrown into a horde of barbarians, who knows what will happen.”

I shook my head, as if to say she didn’t understand.

“You only know half of it.”

“Sorry?”

“Think about it. I’d be a royal princess. A princess, Jenny.”

“That is an honorable thing, but still—still! Marrying a barbarian? What kind of princess is that? That’s… that’s just…”

She couldn’t bring herself to finish. I simply watched her.

“You mean no different from a woman in a brothel?”

Her face went ghastly pale. My choice of words shocked her so much she even trembled. I grabbed her elbow before she could drop to her knees.

Why make such a fuss?

In the underworld—on the streets of Amtein—some of the friends I made had worked under abusive pimps.

Stealing from those pig-like men to slip a bit of money to the girls had been my small hobby.

I stared blankly at Jenny’s youthful face reflected in the mirror.

“If Mother hadn’t died for the Count, I would’ve been sold off long ago to some poor farmer. She hated me. As long as there was money, she would’ve sent me anywhere.”

“No way! You’re far too important in this household for that!”

Once, I used to think so too. That despite being low-born, I was necessary to the Count’s estate.

All an illusion, though.

I shrugged.

“Anyway, you’re the Count’s heiress now!”

“That’s Mother’s inheritance. Not something she wanted to leave me.”

Jenny faltered, flustered by my cynical tone.

“The Count cares about you.”

“Does he look like it?”

“My lady…”

Jenny looked at me with sorrow. I answered calmly.

“I’m sure he feels some affection since we grew up together.”

Pathetically shallow affection, though.

Jenny’s expression darkened.

“If that’s how you feel… why are you sacrificing yourself for the family?”

“Sacrificing?”

I laughed at that, making Jenny widen her eyes. When I finally stopped laughing, I shook my head.

“I have no intention of doing that.”

“Then why?”

I opened my mouth to answer—

Knock, knock.

Jenny and I exchanged looks. There was only one person who would knock on my door at this hour.

Jenny hurried to open it carefully.

Hubert stepped inside.

“Igrein.”

Jenny closed the door behind him, looking anxious—as if afraid he’d overheard our conversation. How typical of her.

I shifted my gaze from Jenny, seen through the mirror, to Hubert. He was staring at me with an unreadable expression—only then did I realize what I was wearing.

A sheer slip as my nightgown, my body line visible.

I threw a thin robe over myself. Hubert cleared his throat and stepped closer.

“What is it at this hour?”

“I need to talk.”

We sat across a round table. He avoided my eyes for a long moment.

Jenny was watching with hopeful eyes. I almost clicked my tongue.

Did she really think he came to take back the decision to send me as the princess?

If she hoped for that, she needed to learn to judge people better.

Not that I’m one to say that.

Hubert Lorenst—a hyena wearing the feathers of a peacock.

“Aren’t you leaving early for the royal palace tomorrow?”

Meaning: If you have something to say, say it and leave.

He finally looked at me.

And suddenly, his appearance stood out again—soft blond hair, intelligent green eyes, pale skin. The perfect nobleman, the gentle image that made people believe he was truly kind.

That same face had once made my young heart race.

He noticed me staring and cleared his throat.

“I want to talk about today.”

“Go on.”

“Were you serious?”

“…”

“Do you understand what this means?”

His green eyes searched mine.

You idiot. You think I said it without knowing anything?

Was he asking out of worry?

No. He’s probing me.

He was quick-witted. He didn’t know I had died once and returned, but he wasn’t easy to fool. I lowered my gaze.

“What do you want me to say?”

“What?”

I looked at his perfectly kept hands resting on the table.

“Young master.”

It had been a long time since I called him that.

“Do you want me to become the princess in Lady Aris’s place?”

He said nothing. I wondered what he’d answer.

After a while, his tidy lips parted, and I unconsciously listened.

“You have no idea what I’m feeling right now, Igrein.”

Hearing my name spoken gently stirred faded memories.

The cast-off daughter of the nursemaid and the kind young master—our relationship that I’d mistaken for something “special.”

The adult Hubert’s voice overlapped with the soft voice that used to shield me from Mother’s scolding.

“It hurts.”

“…”

“To hear those words from you.”

“…”

“You asked if I wanted to send you instead of Aris? Igrein, how could I ever want that?”

His expression darkened. A heavy sigh escaped him.

“The noble council is in turmoil. They’re desperate for a scapegoat. And His Majesty… he expects help from our house. In such circumstances, it was impossible for our family to strongly refuse.”

“So… you need my help? Instead of Lady Aris?”

Now he’ll start sugarcoating it…

His pleading voice from my past echoed in my mind.

Help me, Igrein.

But—

“No.”

Hubert shook his head.

“I came to tell you there’s no need for you to become a mere puppet princess.”

“What do you mean? Earlier you said I had to step forward.”

“That was Lady Emmern’s opinion. She wasn’t wrong, but how could I push you into such a place? You, my benefactor? Even if the family is at risk, it’s impossible. I should’ve come sooner. Forgive me for coming so late—I was agonizing over this.”

He took my hand. I looked at our joined hands with distaste.

“You must’ve been so upset.”

“…”

“Don’t worry. I promised to protect you.”

I’ll protect you, Igrein!

He had seized the opportunity given by Mother’s sacrifice—scheming and manipulating because I liked him and dreamed of marrying him.

I blinked. With each blink, the old sentiment faded, and I finally saw the man in front of me clearly.

A gentle smile—but a tired face.

Almost as if he wanted me to notice.

A strange artificiality in his demeanor hit me like cold water.

Right. This is who he really is.

Hubert Lorenst, who would choose respecting his adopted sister’s will over securing the princess title that would bring glory to the family.

If this became known, it would become another touching tale.

You sly bastard.

I had lived for Hubert. As a worthless maid, and even after my status changed—I had given everything I could.

Now I knew better. Even if I refused to become princess, the end result would be the same.

He would simply maneuver things until I accepted it on my own.

Not this time, young master.

I lowered my eyes, just as I had during the family meeting.

“But then you’d suffer.”

“…Huh?”

I kept staring at the rug, giving him an obedient-looking posture.

The Lorenst family might treat me politely in public, but deep down, they were most comfortable when I acted like the maid’s daughter they looked down on.

“If I refuse, Lady Aris has to become the royal scapegoat. That would hurt you, wouldn’t it? Kind as you are.”

Was it time?

I slowly lifted my head. Hubert’s eyes widened at my unexpected answer.

I gave him a sad, fragile smile.

“I don’t want you to suffer. If I can prevent that, I don’t mind becoming the princess.”

“But then you would—”

He trailed off, uncharacteristically flustered. I lightly held his hand.

“Think about it. Who proposed this marriage alliance?”

“Lord Lackey Doveracan.”

“Was the imperial emperor’s seal on that letter?”

Hubert frowned.

“Of course not. Only the Crown Prince’s.”

“Then it’s fine.”

“What is fine?”

“This is likely the Crown Prince acting alone. He’s trying to check the Fifth Prince, who threatens his power. The aging emperor is merely turning a blind eye. But even if the Fifth Prince has less influence than the Crown Prince, he’s still a potential successor, isn’t he?”

He gave a cautious nod.

Encouraged, I continued.

“If that’s the case, the Fifth Prince’s faction wouldn’t bother with such a ridiculous proposal. And isn’t he rumored to be gay?”

“That’s what they say.”

“Even if he isn’t, what would an imperial prince gain by marrying a princess of the kingdom? If the marriage actually went through, that would create all sorts of political and diplomatic issues.”

“…”

“His Majesty is only making another princess in case it does go through. As a backup.”

“…”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

Hubert murmured with a strange expression:

“That’s exactly what I thought.”

Of course it is. It’s what you said in my last life.

Outwardly, I feigned innocence.

“Really?”

“You’re right. His Majesty may be raging, but it’s only for show. He doesn’t actually believe the alliance will happen.”

Hubert’s lips curled—almost in a smirk.

“The imperial family can have multiple wives—Cartoons, they call them. His Majesty is worried that if the alliance does happen, Princess Laratute will end up like a concubine.”

“Then that benefits us.”

“Benefits us?”

“Yes. If the alliance collapses, our family becomes a house with an extra princess without any loss. His Majesty would look more favorably on a loyal house that stepped forward in a crisis.”

Hubert tilted his head, thinking.

“But what if the marriage really does happen?”

I fell silent. In my past life, the duke’s daughter killed herself and the alliance was canceled.

If the Empire truly wanted the marriage, Princess Laratute would’ve been sent instead.

She wasn’t.