IRER 36

Chapter 36: His Resolve

Adonia’s sudden prophecy was baffling, but it seemed he hadn’t been exaggerating about his divine healing powers.

Brody felt significantly better.

“My body… really does feel lighter.”

“Thank goodness! I gave you a hefty blessing, too!”

At Adonia’s cheerful encouragement, Brody tested her condition by walking and even jogging a little.

Seeing Brody now fully able to move, Aidan felt both joy and regret.

‘She won’t rely on me anymore.’

How could he not know?

Since that morning, Brody had been subtly pushing him away, attempting once again to stand on her own.

He naturally realized then that her rejection the previous night hadn’t been out of mere fatigue.

The hope he had felt when she’d called him to her bed turned into a familiar disappointment, weighing heavily on his heart.

He sensed the moment was approaching when she would once again bring up the matter of going north.

❖ ❖ ❖

Night fell once again.

As they had the night before, Brody took the bed, and Aidan lay in a sleeping bag on the floor.

Aidan stared at Brody’s turned back before shifting his gaze to the ceiling.

The endless crashing of waves against the hull stirred relentless thoughts in his mind.

He recalled what the priest had said earlier in the day:

“A chilling aura… it will freeze the lady’s entire body.”

It was a prophecy from someone not even formally recognized yet. Even Adonia had said not to take it seriously.

‘But still…’

He caught himself before sighing out loud, calming his breath—worried that the sound might wake Brody.

Frowning quietly, he shut his eyes tightly.

❖ ❖ ❖

The next day.

“Thank you for your help. Thanks to you, we didn’t lose an entire week. And I’m much better, too.”

After disembarking, Ratua bowed politely.

Other than when speaking to Adonia, he carried himself with a demeanor befitting a priest.

“Thank you so much for everything!”

Adonia, still wearing his hood, waved his arms excitedly.

The silver identity badge that once adorned a seagull’s beak now glittered in the midday sun on his wrist.

“May your journey be filled with passionate grace.”

“Passionate grace will be with you too!”

They exchanged farewells—one in the style of the ‘Adeor Grache’ faith, the other in his own lively tone—before turning and walking away.

‘What strange people… Are all priests like that?’

Though chaotic or overly relaxed, both had seemed genuinely kind.

Brody and Aidan watched them walk away in silence, then gathered their belongings.

“Well done, Kais.”

Aidan stroked the nose of his proud black horse, Blackais, who had completed the sea voyage.

Kais happily pawed the ground, seemingly glad to be on solid land again.

Having rushed from the south with the two riders, the horse had been exhausted. Aidan had hired a groom to care for him aboard the ship. Thankfully, after resting, Kais looked refreshed.

“Brody.”

Aidan called out to Brody, who was admiring the sea near the dock. She quickly walked over to him.

“Don’t wander too far.”

“Okay.”

Seeing her healthy again, he smiled warmly.

Aidan, who had earlier felt a pang of sadness at Brody standing on her own, now reflected and scolded himself for that selfish thought.

While it made him happy when she leaned on him, it made him even happier to see her moving with energy again.

“Should we buy another horse?”

“Huh? Can you ride?”

Brody flinched at Aidan’s question.

‘Right… I couldn’t ride before.’

She could now, but the time she’d learned was suspiciously short.

“Well, I guess I can now.”

It wasn’t exactly a lie, but with no way to explain it, she tried to play it off casually.

How could she explain that while her body knew how to ride, her mind didn’t? That only after riding with Aidan had her mind grown accustomed to horseback riding, allowing her to do it again?

“Were you pretending not to know how to ride?”

Aidan asked, confused.

“What? No, that’s not it.”

Flustered, Brody waved her hands.

‘If I was pretending, what would that make me?!’

It would sound like she’d feigned ignorance just to ride in front of him.

“I swear I wasn’t trying to ride with Your Highness on purpose…”

“…Ah, I see.”

Aidan’s lackluster response to her emphatic denial only made Brody more flustered.

“That—no—I mean, it’s not like I didn’t enjoy riding with you or anything…!”

“…Is that so?”

Aidan finally smiled.

“…?”

“You do like riding with me, don’t you?”

Seeing the mischievous smile on his face, Brody realized she’d been played.

“Y-Your Highness?”

Of course Brody would have hidden some things—she had been a prisoner.

If she had revealed she could ride, her captors would’ve become more cautious. So Aidan could understand why she kept it a secret.

But her rare embarrassed excuses were so endearing, he couldn’t help teasing her.

“Were you teasing me just now?”

Instead of answering her flustered question, Aidan reached out and gently brushed her blushing cheek.

He smiled down at her for a moment, then carried on as if nothing had happened.

“We’ll be pushing hard today. It might be tough for you to keep up.”

He showed her a real parchment map this time, not a palm-sized one.

‘Why is he smiling like that? My heart’s going to burst.’

Worse than the teasing was that sly smile and the way he touched her cheek—it made her face heat up even more.

Trying to hide her flushed cheeks, Brody cupped her face in her hands as she listened.

They would travel from the Tilden port to the southwestern Ferden Fortress, then to the Middle Trade City. It would take two full days.

“Middle Trade City, huh? Pretty straightforward name.”

“Indeed. It’s the main commercial hub in the central-northern region. The biggest city near the fortress.”

Brody nodded in understanding, and Aidan continued.

“The problem is, there aren’t any good towns to stop at along the way. So we’re going to ride straight there—about a day and a half without rest.”

“What? But you said it takes two days. Isn’t that pushing it?”

“Winter’s set in, and we’re close to the north. Kais is in great shape, and the spirit energy here is strong.”

Brody felt dizzy. The idea of riding nonstop for a day and a half was beyond her.

“So I think it’s best if we ride together again.”

Since she didn’t have the confidence to endure a forced march alone, she agreed. They mounted Kais and began riding again.

❖ ❖ ❖

A low hill rose beside the port.

As they ascended the ridge, Adonia suddenly turned around.

In his gray eyes, he saw the two figures riding the black horse far below.

“……”

He paused for a moment, watching them.

The unruly sea breeze tousled his white hair.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you coming?”

“Ah, yeah. Coming.”

He turned back, wearing an unreadable expression.

❖ ❖ ❖

Though they were still south of the Ferden Fortress, late November in the central-north was already bitterly cold.

Riding helped keep their body temperature up, but whenever they took short breaks, the sweat cooled in the breeze, making the chill even worse.

Each time, Aidan took special care of Brody.

Even during one-hour breaks, he tried to boil water for a hot pouch, but Brody insisted it wasn’t necessary.

While Brody could rest by sitting in front of him, Aidan never once closed his eyes as he rode.

She didn’t want to interrupt his brief moments of rest.

Besides, he didn’t seem to be feeling well…

“I think I’ll just stay like this.”

Brody squatted beside Aidan and slipped into his cloak.

Surprised, Aidan blushed slightly and drew the cloak tighter.

Naturally, Brody ended up leaning against his arm.

‘He doesn’t seem sick, though.’

It was a forced march, yes, but he looked far more energetic than she did.

‘Well, his stamina is superhuman… Then what’s wrong?’

He had simply been quiet the entire ride. Even for him, he’d been especially silent.

Brody, too, had many thoughts as they approached the north, so neither spoke much.

It was awkward, but she felt now was the time to finally speak.

She steeled herself.

“Your Highness.”

“Hmm?”

“I’d like to say what I couldn’t the other day.”

“…Hmm.”

Aidan sensed it—this was the moment he had anticipated.

“Duke Jax said he registered me into his family. That means he can decide my future, right? As the family head?”

“Yes, that’s correct. For unmarried women or minors, the head of the household has authority.”

“Ugh… Responsibility, huh. He never cared what happened to me in that house, and now he suddenly registers me? The intention is so obvious it makes my skin crawl.”

With a bitter look, Aidan pulled her into his arms.

“Can I ask… What about your parents?”

Brody took a moment before answering.

“…I don’t have any. I don’t even know who they were.”

Aidan nodded. He had heard Jax boast in the south, referring to her as an orphan.

‘To flaunt something so sensitive like that… I can imagine what kind of treatment she received growing up.’

He now understood why Brody hadn’t returned to the capital after fleeing the northern army. It wasn’t just because she had failed her mission.

Even before the battle at the capital, when he had asked if she had a place she wanted to protect, she had said without hesitation—no.

‘I worried she might want to return to the central region… but she clearly has no such intention.’

She had suffered too much in the duke’s house. She likely never wanted to be entangled with nobility or power again.

Aidan felt he was starting to understand her.

And now, she had only one path left.

Realizing this, Aidan touched the parchment tucked inside his coat, solidifying his resolve.

Brody hesitated before speaking.

“Your Highness, I think… I should go to the north alone.”

“…What?”

What was she saying now? Aidan frowned. He had considered all her likely choices—this wasn’t one of them.

“If it looks like you’re taking me north, they’ll try to put you on trial in the noble assembly. It’ll be trouble for you.”

“That’s not—”

“It’s not just about opposing the royal family. Doing something that goes against reason isn’t right. The north is too important right now for you to lose credibility.”

“Even if you go alone, it won’t change much. You’ll still be with me there. That’s the only way to avoid control magic.”

“……”

She couldn’t argue. She was only going north because Aidan had to go.

To stay by his side without putting him at risk, there was only one choice.

To marry him and become his wife. Then Jax could no longer assert authority over her as her guardian.

‘How do I… How do I explain that I only want to stay for three years? I don’t think I can persuade him…’

Brody nervously scratched his cloak.

She had to shamelessly bring it up again, but her mouth wouldn’t open.

As she hesitated, Aidan’s expression hardened.

Finally, he spoke, mustering his courage.

“Brody, marry me.”