IRER 88

Chapter 88

 The Day They Were Caught

The audacity of those thieves who dared to block the Grand Duke of the Ice Wall and his black horse, Kaise!

At best, they could be called “thieves,” but in reality, they were nothing more than a gang of vagrants.

“Argh!”

One of them, having been shoved and stumbling awkwardly, abruptly stopped, turning pale as he crouched in front of Kaise’s raised hooves, clutching his head.

It was a dangerous situation, yet the horse stopped nonetheless. Then, as if on cue, a dozen or so people emerged from the bushes.

Kaise’s speed was no ordinary pace, and yet these people risked their lives to try to stop him. They seemed desperate, acting in a rush.

The thieves noticed there were only two people on horseback and couldn’t hide their excitement.

“What luck is this? Nice horse, and the woman in front looks like a noble?

A noble wandering around without any escort at such a dangerous time… must be running from something. Perhaps eloping with a knight in secret?”

Even better—if they suffered harm, no one would know where to report it.

The man looked strong, which was a little concerning, but surely, with numbers on their side, they could handle it.

Their exchanged glances were obvious to Aidan and Brody.

Aidan frowned deeply at the absurd group of thieves.

“Your Highness,” Brody whispered anxiously upon seeing his expression.

“Shh.”

Aidan cut her off.

Fortunately, a quick scan of the surroundings revealed no hidden enemies.

Still mounted, he asked, “Which village are you from?”

“…?”

Caught off guard by the unexpected question, the thieves blinked in surprise.

One of the bolder ones spoke.

“And what would you do with that? Go and tattle?”

Snickers erupted from the others.

Yet, surprisingly, Aidan nodded at their jeering.

“It would be best if you were tried in your home village.”

“…?!”

From that moment, everything happened in the blink of an eye.

Aidan enveloped Brody and Kaise in a blue aura and dismounted.

From that point, the thieves sensed something was wrong—but it was far too late.

Thud, thud, thud.

Over a dozen blows rang out in quick succession.

The thieves fell one by one, each struck by a sword, and were immediately bound in a neat, circular line.

Capturing them wasn’t difficult; the real issue was what to do with them afterward.

Taking them to the village would slow their journey. A trip that would take one or two hours on Kaise could easily stretch to half a day on foot.

They’d arrive late, delaying the schedule by a day. More importantly, Aidan did not want to walk a mountain path at midnight with this group.

What dangers might lurk? Alone, perhaps he could handle it—but Brody was with him.

While pondering, Aidan retrieved a small whistle from his pouch and blew.

From somewhere, a hawk descended and perched on Aidan’s arm, familiar with him. He tied a message and sent the bird off.

Luckily, knights had already arrived at the next village. Soon after, reinforcements came riding in.

“Ah, these rascals. They harassed us last time too and gave up. Should’ve caught them then.”

“Bring them all back safely, don’t leave anyone out.”

“Yes, sir!”

Hearing the conversation between the knights, the thieves finally realized the identity of the formidable man who had captured them all at once.

“Tch, you lot. At least size up your opponent before charging.”

Already frustrated from being caught, the thieves scowled further at the knights’ scolding.

The man who had shouted first when confronting Aidan now spoke first again.

“It’s all because of him!”

At this moment, Aidan had climbed behind Brody again.

The man spat venom at Aidan.

“You mess up the North like this and still have the nerve to show your face?”

“Whoa, this guy…”

A knight tried to restrain him, startled by the sudden outburst, but he was relentless.

Caught, knowing they attacked a duke, and destined for trial in the village anyway, the man thrashed violently, veins bulging.

“We can’t even eat properly, yet you chase women around? You think we want to steal? It’s your fault for being favored by the Emperor! If you’d been more considerate, my mother and my wife wouldn’t have starved!”

Brody saw the reins in Aidan’s hand tighten.

She couldn’t see his face, but imagining his expression and emotions was easy enough.

She bit her lip in frustration.

Then came Aidan’s calm, monotone voice from behind.

“Yes, continue if you have more to say.”

“Your Highness!”

The knights straightened at his words. They knew too well who their lord, the Duke of the North, Aidan, truly was.

“Don’t bother listening! No matter what Your Highness does, they’ll whine anyway!”

The man, defiant against the knights’ threatening gestures, could not meet Aidan’s gaze.

Perhaps he was struck by Aidan’s cold expression and the weight of his low, commanding voice.

“Fine… fine. Whatever. I’m already doomed, so do as you wish! I have the right to curse and die!”

At last, his speech shifted from informal to polite.

Aidan’s response was still calm.

“Yes, you have that right.”

Though the man shouted louder, Aidan’s calm voice drowned it out.

A moment of silence followed.

Brody felt a surge of emotion at his reply.

Was he even tolerating this absurd rant from a thief? If this continued, they’d probably blame the local goats’ milk shortage on the Duke too!

Her lips twitched as she bit down. Without Aidan speaking, she feared she might blurt something rude.

But Aidan spoke first.

“However, if you are punished, it will not be for insulting me. Understand clearly that it will be for trampling the weak because you found your own life difficult.”

“…!”

The thieves flinched at his normal tone, and even the knights paused.

“No more delays. Move ahead. I trust you to watch their rear.”

Aidan spoke calmly and spurred Kaise onward.

The black horse and its riders charged forward like a storm.

❖ ❖ ❖

Today, without a doubt, had been deliberately chosen as the day to make things difficult for Aidan.

From the moment they entered the village and faced the headman and the villagers, Brody sensed it immediately.

The wrinkled, hunched headman greeted them with a stubborn expression.

“Ahem… cough, cough. You could have sent only knights. Thank you for making the journey yourself.”

Not a welcoming sight by any means.

The villagers’ eyes were curious, but more so, filled with dissatisfaction.

Throughout the walk in the village, people whispered around them—not loud enough to speak directly, but enough for Aidan and Brody to hear.

“Not give it right away, make us work first?”

“Who do they expect to get this? Will we have anything next spring?”

“They say food was brought from the Empire, but what will happen to it all?”

“If you work, you get it.”

“My family has no one to work. I carry the child, the loads… have to go to that far place?”

“What did you hear? Houses without workers get more. The problem is a house with one able-bodied person like ours.”

“Eh, but will they really give it to those who work? Maybe the nobles are lying to keep it.”

“Hey, that’s not how the Duke operates.”

“Maybe he doesn’t know? Could be changed. He didn’t chase women before.”

“Not just women, he saved the North by planting potatoes.”

“He had to win the war. But we’ve seen the results? Nothing for us while we starve.”

“Yeah, I’m starving.”

Brody frowned at the voices around her.

She understood their words and anticipated such reactions—already discussed with River—but it was still disheartening.

Brody herself could endure it. She had expected it. But Aidan… she could not imagine him being so unaffected.

Already burdened with self-blame for his own helplessness, he nonetheless endured the excessive duties without complaint.

Though he tried not to show it, the deepening crease in his brow revealed his inner struggle.

Regardless of the villagers’ reactions, Aidan continued as he always had.

He visited the cemetery to pray for the dead, listened to the headman’s report, then surveyed the village to address any needs.

The villagers, sensing his sincerity, gradually softened their hostile atmosphere.

Yet, as night deepened, the knights returned with over ten captured thieves, causing the village to stir once again.

“We’re short on food, and now these thieves?”

Some had been injured by the thieves, others lost work due to halted trade, and starvation from being unable to forage in the forest was rampant.

Even the subdued thieves snarled and mocked, adding to the tension.

Finding empty homes, the knights confined all the thieves and wiped sweat from their brows before reporting to Aidan.

“It’s difficult to keep them in this village. But don’t worry. Punish, assign labor, or send them elsewhere—we can handle it. Your Highness, continue your schedule as planned.”

As expected, the wolf knight, Aidan’s direct subordinate, handled it admirably.

Aidan nodded in gratitude at the knight.

The knight spoke again.

“Your Highness, you know Ice Spring, right? A small spring has formed recently from the snow. If you wish, you could bathe there.”

Brody’s face paled beside him.

Ice Spring? In this cold, bathing in a spring? Is that even humanly possible?

But late that night, Aidan asked her if she would accompany him to bathe.