IRER 72

Chapter 72

The Tracker

“If you’re worried about me, then do as you please.”

Brody leaned in and offered her cheek to Aidan, who had dragged her into the next room—his own quarters.

There were fresh, small scratches on her cheek, left from stopping Caleb just moments ago.

“……”

The meaning behind Brody’s action was obvious.

She wanted him to lick her wounds, the way he always did, to heal them—and in turn, ease his headaches.

But Aidan silently fetched a first-aid box and held it out to her.

“Treat it… properly.”

Brody didn’t take it. Instead, she simply stared at him.

He averted his gaze.

As expected.

She hadn’t really believed he would bend his stubbornness anyway.

“Forget it. A scratch or two is nothing.”

She turned sharply, intending to leave the room.

But Aidan blocked the door and shook his head.

“Brody… please.”

His pleading expression shook her more than she expected.

Because… for the past few days, as they kept their distance, Aidan had looked utterly dejected.

To others, he might still appear like a grim and menacing Grand Duke, his brow perpetually furrowed. But Brody saw the truth—him fidgeting, glancing nervously, utterly restless.

Sigh… what am I supposed to do? I really am weak to that face.

And so she gave in. This was her chance to heal his headache and break through the awkward wall between them.

She could never be his lover, but at least she needed to be his partner. For the sake of the North, they couldn’t continue like this.

So, swallowing her pride, she offered her cheek.

But once again, Aidan took a step back.

Ugh, stubborn man. If that’s how it is, then stop looking at me altogether. Why do you keep appearing in my line of sight?

Whenever she thought they had grown distant, she’d feel his gaze while going about her day—catch him lurking at a corner, behind a pillar, beside a tree stump. Always watching.

And whenever something happened, he would suddenly appear out of nowhere, as if he knew trouble was coming.

Actually, this is strange. Even if he is watching me, the timing is too precise. If he’d stationed someone to report to him, there should’ve been a delay. But he always shows up instantly.

Brody narrowed her eyes at him.

Aidan, still clutching the first-aid box and blocking the door, refused to meet her gaze, cold sweat beading at his temple.

“Your Highness.”

Her suspicious tone made him wince. He nodded for her to continue.

“How did you know to come here?”

His hand on the doorknob tensed.

Huh?

She noticed his unusual reaction and pressed him.

“I know you’ve been watching me. Don’t deny it. We’ve locked eyes plenty of times, haven’t we? But even if you were keeping an eye on me, you couldn’t have known what was happening inside the building. Right?”

Aidan’s lips twitched as if to answer, then pressed shut again.

Brody continued relentlessly.

“Did you assign someone to spy on me? No, the timing is too perfect for that. You’d need time to get reports. Yet you appeared right away. Today, and that day in the kitchen when the chief aide was attacked—you knew the exact place. You rushed to the kitchen then, and today you jumped through a second-floor window.”

“……”

“So? What is it? Some kind of power? Is this also an ability of the ice spirit…?”

“Cough, ahem, cough—”

Flustered, Aidan actually started coughing.

Brody stepped closer, her brows raised.

“This feels like a pretty big deal. Out with it.”

Aidan, trapped between her and the door, looked down with a troubled face.

“If you won’t tell me…”

Brody grabbed his cloak at the collar and yanked him closer until their breaths mingled.

Her clear green eyes sparkled beneath her lashes as she stared up at him.

Sensing his rigid shock, she smiled faintly. Her lips brushed dangerously near his jaw as she whispered:

“I’ll put my wound right up against your lips.”

“……”

What kind of threat was that? It would benefit him anyway—her wound would heal, his headache would vanish. A win-win “threat.”

But Aidan panicked.

“Brody, please…”

“If you’re going to push me away, then do it. I’ve already been thrown once. The second time, I’ll handle it better.”

Finally, he cracked.

“Fine… I… I can track things… thanks to the blessing of the ice spirit. Here in the North, the spirit’s power is strong enough that I don’t even need ice nearby…”

Poor man. He lacked the guile to invent excuses in situations like this. The weight of eventually having to confess had always been with him anyway.

Brody frowned, trying to process his words.

“You can track me with the ice spirit’s blessing?”

Her eyes widened.

“In the North, even without ice? So the range covers the entire North…?”

She gaped, startled by the scale.

At last, she understood how he’d found her that very first night after she tried to escape.

And more mysteries unraveled in her mind.

“If you don’t need ice here, does that mean with ice, you could track me anywhere…?”

Her eyes narrowed.

And suddenly, she realized.

How Aidan had found her in the South.

“Iced coffee…”

His shoulders jerked. Proof enough.

Now she understood why he had apologized.

“In the South, you were with Jax, weren’t you?”

If Aidan hadn’t been able to locate her, Jax wouldn’t have either.

Her deductions fell perfectly into place. Aidan froze, his expression blank, sweat running down his back.

“Hmm? Then when I asked for time to think—not running away, mind you—you followed me even in the South. But there was no ice around then… so how? Ice, ice… wait…”

She thought it through rapidly.

“Ice-sea stone?”

Bullseye again.

The bracelet with the Ice-sea stone—his gift to her, a token only the Grand Duke of the North could bestow. Now their shared pledge.

And that very stone had become his tracker.

What the hell…? You gave me a gift that’s basically a tracking device?!

Brody released his collar and looked down at her wrist. The gem shimmered in tranquil blue.

She stared between the stone and Aidan, dumbfounded.

Knock, knock. A voice came from outside.

“Your Highness. Lady Connie wishes to consult you about the palisade. Is now convenient?”

“Ah—yes, I’ll be right there.”

Grateful for the interruption, Aidan turned toward the door.

But before leaving, he turned back.

Brody blinked, confused, as he suddenly closed the distance.

“Ah—”

His lips brushed her cheek.

Not just once, but several times, until a cool sensation spread and her wounds vanished.

After all that resistance, now he did it.

What, you’re swallowing your pride just because you feel guilty?

Her heart was in turmoil, but the warmth of him so close left her frozen in place.

When at last he pulled back, she stared at him with trembling eyes.

But he avoided her gaze and muttered,

“At least the bleeding’s stopped.”

“……!”

And with that, he strode out.

The door shut with a sharp thud, leaving her alone.

Brody touched her cheek absentmindedly. Smooth, unmarked skin.

Her eyes widened.

“What the—? Now it’s gone, people will wonder! You said even the chief aide doesn’t know about this!”

Muttering, she quickly covered the area with a bandage, carefully.

Caleb’s seizures and fainting spells repeated over time.

Through it all, River calmly read his documents, unbothered by the commotion.

Brody watched him, then leaned closer curiously.

“What are you doing?”

Annoyed, River glared at her.

Brody smirked.

“Teach me, Chief Aide.”

“…Excuse me?”

His voice rose, incredulous. Without hesitation, he shook his head.

“No. Above all, Madam, you are not authorized to see these documents.”

She had tried to be polite, but his words about “authorization” pricked her pride.

“And what exactly is that authorization?”

“You are not yet the Grand Duchess.”

“Oh, I see. So I’ll only have the right after marrying His Highness?”

River frowned and nodded.

Brody tilted her chin smugly.

“Well, it seems I already have that right.”

She slid her arm between him and the documents, showing off her bracelet.

The Ice-sea stone gleamed.

“What is that supposed to mean…?”

“Exactly what you think.”

“…Don’t tell me… already…?”

“Yes.”

River let out a long, heavy sigh and buried his face in the papers.

Unbelievable. They carried out something this important without even consulting me? This isn’t some village couple! Have they lost their minds?

Aidan had never been reckless before, so River could hardly adapt to such colossal, state-level recklessness now.

Brody gently tugged the papers out from under his head.

“You’ll crumple them. Careful.”

“That’s not the issue!”

“It is right now. My marriage is either a past or future issue, don’t you think?”

“……”

If only she’d stop talking…

But the fact remained—if the marriage was true, then Brody was undeniably the Grand Duchess, his superior.

Grinding his teeth, River muttered,

“Leave the papers. I’ll confirm the marriage contract and discuss this with His Highness… and the matter of an heir.”

The word heir slipped out in the quietest possible voice. He was restraining himself from saying something far harsher.

Brody shrugged innocently.

River decided it was time for a direct confrontation with Aidan. Enough delays.

Instead of summoning a servant, he suddenly bellowed,

“Ah! Madam! You’ve fallen so hard! Blood everywhere! Your forehead is split open!!”

“What the—? Has he gone mad?”

Brody jumped at his absurd outcry, but then the door burst open and she understood his ploy.

“How badly must you have fallen to split your forehead open?!”

And there stood Aidan, storming in.