PRKE 16

CHAPTER 16…………………………………….

“For hours? Really?”

“Lady Aris.”

“I didn’t know you liked books that much, you know? You never acted like that at home.”

“I have a lot to do.”

When I replied calmly, Aris frowned.

I murmured a bit sadly.

“For years I’ve been handling all the family affairs, so I’ve had no time for myself. I suppose you wouldn’t know, since you frequently attend parties. I’ve always loved reading. And since Dupin’s books are so hard to find, I was really happy when the Count suggested I go to the library. I meant to read just one volume and borrow a few more, but I couldn’t get up and ended up sitting there for hours. I’m sorry for startling you.”

“Wait. That’s not what I meant—”

“But don’t worry. I borrowed lots of books for you too. Once you open the first page, you’ll understand how I felt. This young boy’s journey back and forth across the desert and sea is so thrilling! The author has always been wonderful at descriptive writing, but this new work is on another level! I borrowed them all even though the librarian glared at me. You won’t be mad that I read Dupin’s new work before you, right?”

I rambled on without giving her a chance to interrupt, and Aris’s expression twisted in frustration.

I smirked inwardly.

‘Of course. She won’t even know where to start nitpicking.’

Aris is the type who can’t stand it unless all attention is on her wherever she goes.

Not just her looks—she wants to be recognized as the best in personality and ability, too.

So my remark—“Unlike you, who spent your time leisurely, I was busy working as a Lorence”—must have struck a nerve.

Aris seemed ready to speak again, but Madam Emmern suddenly shouted.

“That’s not it!”

“…….”

“It doesn’t matter if it’s Dupin or whatever! Why do you keep saying strange things! Igraine, were you really at the library?”

“Yes.”

Her impatient question shot back immediately.

“Then what about the prince?”

“The prince?”

I widened my eyes on purpose.

“Yes! The Fifth Prince who came with the delegation this time!”

I pretended to think for a moment and answered.

“I sent him a gift.”

I let confusion show clearly on my face.

‘Even I sound stupid saying it.’

As expected, Madam Emmern shot to her feet.

“That’s it?”

“Isn’t that what you told me to do?”

I looked around as if I didn’t understand what the problem was.

‘I hope I look naïve.’

As I thought that, Madam Emmern snapped.

“A gift wasn’t what I meant…!”

Perhaps she couldn’t bring herself to utter something vulgar, being a noblewoman, so she shut her mouth and snapped open her fan. A rough breeze swept out.

“Who would’ve thought she’d be this lacking!”

She turned toward Hubert.

“Count, isn’t this a big problem? His Majesty surely gave you advance notice, but all he received was some random gift bundle—won’t he be furious? Besides, the gifts were only meant for show in the first place.”

Her last words were quiet, but everyone nearby still heard them.

Aris, who had been half-convinced and half-doubting, went pale at that.

She shot me a look like I was some useless creature and snapped irritably.

“Georgiana!”

Georgiana, who had been shrinking her shoulders the whole time, slunk forward.

“Yes, my lady.”

“What happened? You said you didn’t see my sister.”

“I didn’t see her.”

Aris glared at me.

“But she says she was in the library reading the whole time.”

“Well…”

“Say it again. Are you sure you didn’t see her?”

In front of petite Aris, Georgiana looked like a fox caught in a trap.

“M–maybe I did see her.”

I nearly burst out laughing at her limp reply.

For someone with such a gentle face, Georgiana had a nasty temperament, but not enough brains to handle a situation like this.

Aris’s eyebrow twitched.

“So you saw her or you didn’t?”

“She kept moving around… I followed, but eventually I lost sight of her…”

“Is that even an answer? Speak so I can understand!”

“Enough.”

Aris, who looked ready to devour her maid, closed her mouth.

Hubert, with an arm around Aris’s shoulders, spoke gently.

“The palace library is famously confusing, you know. Don’t bully your poor maid so much.”

Georgiana looked at him with teary gratitude. Aris’s expression, on the other hand, contorted.

“How can you say that? You think I’m bullying her? I was just shocked and— and confused—”

Tears instantly welled in her large eyes. How she could cry that fast, I didn’t know. I silently admired her extraordinary ability to control her bodily fluids at will.

‘No matter how I look at it, she has real talent for being a con artist.’

“There’s no need to get so worked up.”

Hubert took out a handkerchief and dabbed her eyes.

“You’ll collapse again at this rate.”

His gentle tone eased Aris’s expression.

Then his gaze turned toward me.

Our eyes met briefly.

“Igraine.”

“Yes.”

“You should go to your room.”

His voice was as gentle as always. Soft, yet somehow cold.

I didn’t know whether he believed my story or not, but he was definitely disappointed.

‘Oops. He shouldn’t be making that face already.’

I felt that internally, but outwardly I made a devastated expression, like my world had collapsed.

I hurried to my room as if being chased and poured water from the pitcher onto my hands, wetting my eyes and cheeks thoroughly.

“Haa… Thank goodness they didn’t catch on.”

Jenny, who had been breathing nervously, widened her eyes when she saw me.

“What are you doing, my lady?”

“Hm? Pretending I cried.”

“…Pardon?”

“Look. Does it look like I cried pitifully?”

Jenny came closer, confused, then shook her head.

“It’s just water.”

“Ugh, really?”

I sat on the bed and widened my eyes, trying not to blink. Soon my eyeballs stung and tears welled up naturally.

I looked in the mirror—bloodshot eyes and wet skin. Passable for someone who cried.

I looked at Jenny. She nodded.

“A little more.”

I squeezed out tears for a while.

Knock, knock.

At the sound of a knock, Jenny rushed to the door.

“It’s the Count.”

At her hushed whisper, I quickly bowed my head and buried my face in my hands.

The door opened, and Hubert entered.

“Igraine… Igraine?”

Hubert, who came in rather coldly, stalled, then slowly approached me.

A glance—I checked the tips of his shoes through my parted fingers.

“Why are you crying?”

I sniffled in response to his troubled voice.

“Hubert… when you told me to go to the royal library… did you mean that?”

“……”

“I really—hic—really didn’t know. You said Dupin’s books had arrived and that I should go read them. I thought you were being considerate. Since you didn’t mention the prince, I thought entering his chambers was no longer required…”

“Sigh… Igraine.”

“I was so touched that you cared about me, you know? So I picked out the gift so carefully, hoping the prince would look kindly on our family. But that wasn’t it, was it?”

A note of hurt slipped into my voice.

“So I was supposed to pretend to go to the library and then sneak into the prince’s room?”

I said it like I couldn’t believe it.

My head tilted as Hubert pulled me into his arms with a sigh.

Resting my forehead against his abdomen, I thought quickly.

‘Things have already reached this point. He still needs to make use of me, so he’ll try to win me back.’

“That’s not it. I don’t know what everyone misunderstood, but what I told you was truly what I meant.”

‘Bingo.’

“Really?”

I lifted my head slightly to look at him. My tearful reflection shimmered in his green eyes.

Hubert’s face twisted in confusion, then softened into a gentle smile.

“Of course. Don’t worry. Everyone will clear up the misunderstanding soon.”

“As long as you believe me… that’s enough.”

I clutched his shirt and buried my face again. Hubert stroked my hair tenderly.

My lips curled up in a smile he could not see.

The next morning.

When I removed the bandage, the still-red flesh revealed itself. I carefully smeared white ointment over it.

The prince had given it to me when I left at dawn. I’d used it generously, so the container was nearly empty.

The moment the cold medicine touched the wound, pain shot through me and I winced.

‘A blade wound doesn’t heal easily.’

I couldn’t relax my expression as I wrapped a fresh bandage around it.

“My lady.”

I hurriedly pulled down the clothing I had lifted just as the canopy curtain was drawn back.

Seeing her eyes widen, I swiftly greeted her first.

“Good morning, Jenny.”

“You’re already awake.”

Jenny, face slightly puffy from whatever she ate last night, placed a washbasin before me.

“I’ve been waking up earlier lately. You’re diligent as always.”

I washed my face and wiped it with a cloth. I glanced sideways.

“What’s with your expression?”

Jenny flinched like someone with something to say.

The moment I saw that reaction, I knew.

‘Something happened.’

After hesitating, Jenny finally spoke with difficulty.

“Madam Emmern asked that breakfast be brought to your room.”

“She always does when I oversleep. Why mention it now?”

“Because the Count and Lady Aris also…”

At that point, Jenny’s face crumpled.

“The Count is so strange! He comforted you so much yesterday, so how could he today…”

She glanced at me again, as if the rest were hard to say.

I said casually,

“Oh. So they’re having breakfast somewhere else without me again?”

“That’s not it!”

Jenny quickly denied it.

‘Sure it is.’

But I didn’t bother pressing her and just shrugged.

Even after I wiped my face completely, Jenny didn’t leave my side. When I looked at her, she asked with a careful expression,

“Are you alright?”

“Yeah. It’ll actually be comfortable today. I don’t have to fill that huge table with people. Let’s just prepare everything as usual.”

Even with my light tone, Jenny still looked worried, but I truly didn’t mind.

‘It’s not like this is the first time.’

Whenever I did something they didn’t like, Madam Emmern often excluded me from meals out of spite.

‘Aris surely pushed for it too.’

Either way, I felt rather relieved at the thought of eating peacefully without those unpleasant people.