Chapter 28
So I Have to Go
‘To think I swore I’d live hidden away with this power.’
She realized just how naïve that thought had been.
She wasn’t some girl living quietly in an unknown mountain village. She’d gotten tangled with a duke, an imperial princess, and now even the Grand Duke of the North.
It was time to accept reality.
Brody glanced sideways at Aidan.
She needed the power of the Grand Duke of the Ice Wall—Aidan.
‘After all that effort to run away… how embarrassing.’
Without his help, she would either be captured or killed by Jax.
And to get his help, she had to go north.
‘In the end… I really do have to go. To the North…’
Realizing she didn’t have many choices left, she steeled herself.
From her long years living as Doyeon, she had learned the hard way that quickly acknowledging and accepting reality made it easier to plan her next move.
It was a kind of practical resignation.
Brody’s shoulders slumped.
Then she asked weakly,
“Your Highness, how was the magic cast on me lifted? I’m sure you did something.”
“Ah, well…”
Aidan hesitated, and Brody tilted her head in confusion.
Was his ‘power’ a secret? Like how she kept being a ‘plant sorcerer’ hidden?
It felt a bit unfair that he was hiding something when her power was already exposed, but she could understand.
He was, after all, the Grand Duke of the North.
“If it’s difficult to say, that’s okay. I understand you can’t go around revealing your powers to just anyone.”
“Just anyone?!”
Aidan furrowed his brows and raised his voice slightly.
“No, never. You’re not just anyone to me. I wasn’t trying to hide it because I don’t trust you.”
Brody blinked, surprised by his indignant expression.
She couldn’t imagine what other reason he might have.
With a sigh, Aidan seemed to decide he couldn’t let this misunderstanding grow, and finally opened his mouth.
“It’s… I’m blessed by the Ice Spirit.”
“The Ice… Spirit?”
Ah, that’s right. Brody remembered now—he had mentioned the Ice Spirit before, when he gave her the ‘Frozen Sea Stone’ bracelet.
Seeing the realization in her expression, Aidan quickly added,
“The imperial family is blessed by the Sun Spirit. That means they use powers with heat. I believe that’s why I could push back the magic—it conflicted with mine.”
Brody nodded.
So she hadn’t been imagining it when the hot energy was forced out by something cold.
“But… is ice really a match for the sun?”
“Well, not all suns are the same, and not all ice is either. Even fire can’t burn forever on ice.”
His tone was casual, but the faint smile tugging at his lips showed he was quite confident.
And he had directly confronted the magic inside her, so he’d be the best judge of its strength.
In any case, it was now clear.
To escape the princess’s magic, she needed Aidan’s protection.
‘But why did he hesitate to tell me this? He said it wasn’t because he wanted to hide it from me…’
Brody gave him a curious look, but Aidan only avoided her gaze briefly, then smiled—offering no further explanation.
Sigh… It’s my turn now. I have to say it. But how do I even bring this up…?
While Brody nervously shifted her gaze, Aidan’s deep, steady voice reached her.
It sounded slightly hoarse, like he had debated this for a long time before speaking.
“Brody, I know you’re still recovering, and I’m sorry to bring this up now… but would you consider coming to the North?”
“…Pardon?”
Brody blinked in surprise, too shocked to respond properly.
Aidan, thinking she was hesitating, continued in a slightly anxious tone.
“I know you might not want to. But it’s too dangerous for you anywhere else now. I don’t mean to insult someone you grew up with, but that man… I don’t think he’ll treat you kindly just because I step back.”
Brody nodded.
Of course not. What kindness could she expect from someone who saw her as an object?
But Aidan had misunderstood something.
Even if her feelings were gone now, she had once treasured Jax deeply. Deeply enough to risk her life and infiltrate as a spy for him.
To now be under threat from him—he likely couldn’t imagine how painful that was for her.
Surely… she wasn’t still hoping to earn Jax’s recognition and return to him?
Aidan shook his head slightly.
That must never happen.
“I understand it may be frightening to leave your home and go somewhere cold and unfamiliar. But I will protect you. From the North, from the imperial family—no one will lay a finger on you.”
Brody sighed.
She was grateful he had brought it up first. And the fact that he felt the need to persuade her made her feel embarrassed.
Aidan’s Adam’s apple bobbed at her sigh—he must have swallowed hard from tension.
Brody averted her gaze and asked,
“But… can I?”
Her voice was so small it was almost a whisper. Aidan froze.
He heard her clearly—his hearing was sharp—but still, he felt he had to ask again.
“…What did you say, Brody?”
Her face flushed red as she replied,
“…I asked if I could. If I… could go with you.”
“So… what you mean is…! You’ll come to the North with me?”
“…Yes. If you’ll allow it.”
“Of course I will! How many times have I asked you already? I want you to come to the North!”
“…But the situation’s changed now. I’m not just some ordinary person anymore. I’m Brody the plant sorcerer. The princess knows about my ability. If you take me in… it might stir up trouble…”
“I already severed ties with the imperial family long ago. It’s nothing you need to worry about. We’ve practically already won the war—I have nothing to tiptoe around.”
“….”
Brody let out another sigh.
“…Thank you.”
“That’s what I should be saying.”
His voice brightened for the first time in a while, his eyes softening.
Brody was amazed that his usually sharp, stoic gaze could look so gentle.
With a smile full of emotion, he brought her hand to his lips.
“I’ll take care of you. I’ll make you the happiest woman in the world.”
“…Ah.”
Hmm. Brody still had something to say—and she sighed quietly again.
She had to ruin the mood.
As Aidan leaned in to cup her cheek, she gently pushed him away.
She had to say this before things went too far.
“Um… Your Highness, I will go to the North, but…”
“…?”
Aidan nodded, gesturing for her to continue. She was agreeing to go with him—what could possibly be wrong?
If she wanted fur, he’d hunt the softest-furred Lishuras to keep her warm. If she wanted a castle, he’d build the grandest one the North had ever seen.
But even in the face of his eagerness, Brody hesitated before speaking.
“Well, I was thinking… three years.”
“Hm? What do you mean? Three years?”
“Just for three years. Please protect me for just that long.”
“…Huh? Why only three years…?”
“I think by then I’ll have found a way to protect myself.”
Aidan frowned slightly, confused.
“But… a marriage that lasts only three years…”
“Oh—no, Your Highness. What I mean is… just protection… Not marriage…”
Her voice shrank again.
Aidan’s face turned red as he realized he had misunderstood.
Feeling awkward, Brody quickly added,
“I’m not asking for protection for nothing. I’ll contribute to the North’s prosperity. My powers should be of help.”
Here was Brody’s reasoning:
She’d receive protection for three years, and in exchange, she’d help the North thrive.
After three years, the empire’s ceasefire would likely end—so the North would need to build up its strength by then.
With Brody’s abilities added to the mix, the North could flourish quickly.
And a prosperous North was good for her too.
It would give her leverage against the original story’s obsessive main characters.
And if she found a way to neutralize the mind-control magic within three years—even better.
Three years. I can manage even if it’s tough.
Doyeon and Brody had lived with grit all their lives. What was three more years?
Still, she didn’t want to give up on her ultimate goal in this life:
My final goal this life is to be a sloth. If I work hard for three years, I’ll earn my right to laze around. I just want to rest—for real, do nothing.
Serving the North during a famine as a plant sorcerer for three years—that was a fair deal, right?
It should be enough to win the Northern people’s acceptance.
Except maybe one of them…
“…So you’re saying…”
Yes, except maybe Aidan.
“…You won’t marry me.”
He looked stunned.
“Th-Then how…”
“If you give me a suitable position, I’ll serve faithfully.”
“So… not as my wife, but as a subordinate…?”
“Yes. I don’t want to get married.”
Aidan was clearly hurt by her firm, unwavering answer.
“Why not?”
He bit back the question that nearly escaped his throat: Is being my wife that unbearable?
Brody’s answer came bluntly.
“…Like you said, a marriage that only lasts three years wouldn’t be easy to pull off.”
He was relieved she hadn’t said it was because she didn’t like him.
But still—her saying she’d leave after three years felt just as heavy.
“…You plan to leave after three years.”
She looked down at his hand, which still firmly held hers.
Despite his longing expression, Brody slowly nodded, trying to hide her guilt.
“Please understand me, Your Highness. If I wanted that life, I wouldn’t have left the Northern army. My wishes haven’t changed, then or now.”
Aidan stared at their joined hands and responded,
“Freedom, huh.”
Brody nodded once more.
He let out a deep sigh and lowered his head, pressing a hand to his forehead.
An awkward silence followed—but it didn’t last long.
A booming voice rang out from outside the window, loud and familiar, like someone trained in perfect vocal projection.
“Let her go! Let her go!”
Aidan’s eyes sharpened, glowing cold.
He lifted his head and wrapped his arm around the now-pale Brody’s shoulder.
With a low, guttural growl, he muttered through clenched teeth:
“Jax…?”
The cockroach is back