IRER 27

Chapter 27
Embarrassed

Aidan spoke in a calm, low voice.

“I called for a healer, but since this is a remote village, I’m not sure how skilled they were. If you check your own condition and prescribe something, I’ll go and fetch it.”

Brody, leaning against his body, found the resonating hum from his chest strangely comforting. She was absorbed in that thought before finally registering what he’d said and replied,

“Oh, if that’s the case, I can just make it myse—”

“No. Absolutely not. Until your body recovers, using your powers is strictly forbidden.”

At his firm tone, Brody raised a brow and gave a faint smile.

Still, now that she had regained consciousness, leaving the rest to Aidan made her feel reassured that she wouldn’t die.

Letting out a breath, she said,

“I’d like some explanation, if you don’t mind…”

Aidan nodded solemnly.

“Of course. Ask me anything.”

Feeling pressured by his serious demeanor, Brody deliberately spoke lightly.

“First, can we get something to eat?”

“Oh—yes, of course!”

He had been so anxious for her that seeing Brody act like she’d just woken from a nap made Aidan feel oddly sheepish.

But when she made that cheerful request, his heart eased. Smiling, he reached for the bronze bell handle on the table and gave it a shake.

A clear chime rang through the room.

The sound’s vibration made Brody wince in pain, but not wanting Aidan to worry, she forced a smile instead.

Moments later, someone who looked like a servant knocked and entered.

Seeing Brody, the woman gasped and cried out joyfully,

“Oh my, you’re awake!”

Aidan nodded and replied quietly,

“Could you bring something easy to digest? As I requested before.”

Sensing that he didn’t want a fuss, the servant simply nodded and exited.

Once the door closed, Brody asked,

“Is your hand okay?”

Turning her head, she looked at the right hand that was supporting her.

Aidan rotated his arm so she could see from every angle.

“Completely fine. No problem at all.”

It didn’t sound like an empty reassurance.

His arm was clean, and he looked perfectly healthy.

Even though he had neutralized the poison quickly and precisely, it had still been deadly.

An ordinary person would have been bedridden for a week. Yet he was perfectly fine.

Brody smiled at him, half in amazement, half in relief.

Seeing her smile, Aidan felt an ache in his chest.

“You really shouldn’t be worrying about others right now.”

“I know. But this is…”

‘Because it’s my fault.’ Brody swallowed the rest of her sentence.

But Aidan understood. He let out a sigh.

“It was my own foolishness for letting Jax get away. This is on me. So don’t even think for a second that it’s your fault.”

At his words, Brody gave a conflicted smile.

This man—he acted like it was always okay, no matter what she did.

Remembering her dream, her nose tingled with emotion. She bit her lip to hold it in.

A quiet silence settled in until a knock broke it. The servant had returned with a neatly arranged meal.

The savory aroma made Brody feel nauseous and hungry at the same time.

The servant, moving with practiced grace, set the meal on a low table right next to the bed and left.

Aidan pulled the tray closer, scooped up some soup, and blew on it to cool.

“You… plan to feed me?”

“Yes. You’re still too weak to sit upright on your own.”

After a moment’s thought, Brody realized that while she could lift her hands, sitting up and bending forward felt impossible. So she accepted his help.

The broth, made from simmered meat and vegetables, was rich and comforting.

It tasted good on her tongue, but the long-empty stomach fought back. Brody turned her head, gagging.

Encouraged by Aidan to try a bit more, she managed to eat about a third before raising her hand in surrender.

“Sorry… I can’t eat anymore…”

“No, you did great.”

He gently brushed her shoulder, as if acknowledging the effort she made.

That tender touch brought a wave of drowsiness.

Even though she had woken up, true recovery was only just beginning.

Brody drifted in and out of sleep, slipping into short naps and then waking again.

Each time she opened her eyes, Aidan was there beside her, holding her hand.

It felt strange to be so devotedly cared for by someone, but perhaps because she was sick, his presence felt more reassuring and comforting.

Then one dawn, under the pale moonlight, Brody opened her eyes—and was startled.

Aidan’s face was right in front of her.

Not that his presence was unexpected, but…

The problem was the sensation of his body touching hers.

‘This isn’t a dream?’

They were both in robes, wrapped in each other’s arms under the blanket.

It wasn’t their first time like this, yet Brody found herself more embarrassed than ever.

She was unsure whether to wake him or not, when he stirred with a groan and opened his eyes.

“It’s still night. Go back to sleep.”

“But… Your Highness, this is…”

Brody hesitated, curling into herself slightly.

But Aidan pulled her closer and kissed the crown of her head.

“Your body temperature is too low. This region doesn’t have heating in the rooms. For a normal person it’d be fine, but for you… it’d be dangerously cold.”

It was true—he felt warm like a hot water bottle.

If she pushed him away, the chill might actually return, so she lay frozen in place.

Trying to soothe her, Aidan patted her back and whispered, “Shh, sleep now.”

It was like he was caring for a child, but she could clearly feel the strong beat of his heart, pounding in his chest where her ear rested.

Knowing all too well how persistently he had clung to her before, Brody could tell he was holding himself back.

And perhaps because of that, she couldn’t push him away. It felt like rejecting a sincere act of care.

If this wasn’t a dream, then it likely wasn’t just one night or two.

Surrendering to the moment, Brody closed her eyes.

Her exhaustion overcame her tension, and she fell asleep again almost instantly.

After a few more days, Brody’s condition had improved significantly.

She could now sit up against the bed on her own, and her mind was clearer, her thoughts sharper.

And the first thing that popped into her head—

‘This man has been by my side 24/7… Is that really okay?’

Even with the most devoted caretaking, one would expect occasional absences. But Aidan was always there.

Always holding her hand. Always by her side.

The sheer persistence of his physical closeness began to raise questions.

“Your Highness, I think you can let go of me now…”

Aidan frowned slightly.

“We must be prepared for anything. Until we cross the Ferdan Fortress, we can’t relax.”

“Didn’t Duke Jax… flee?”

He hesitated, then sighed.

“He did. But now he’s lingering in the area again. Probably…”

He trailed off.

It seemed he was debating whether or not to tell Brody the rest.

When she gave him a look that said “go on,” Aidan opened his mouth, looking pained.

“I think… he’s trying to confirm whether you’re dead or not.”

“…”

Brody stiffened.

Right. That man not only threatened her, but also shot her with an arrow.

The reality she had momentarily forgotten while focusing on recovery now returned, tightening around her neck.

She had never experienced someone trying to kill her so directly.

If he couldn’t kidnap her, he’d rather see her dead. Despite all the years they’d spent in the same household.

How could someone be so cruel?

Brody trembled involuntarily.

Aidan’s grip on her hand tightened.

“Don’t worry, Brody. I’ll protect you.”

He got up and wrapped her in his arms.

“I can protect you. I won’t let them lay a finger on you.”

His left hand patted her back, while his right gently brushed her long, milk-brown hair again and again.

Her shaking slowly subsided, and her breathing returned to normal.

Brody, awkwardly embraced, gently pushed him away.

“I’m okay. I’ve calmed down now.”

“Mm.”

He gave her a faint smile as he pulled away, but even then, he smoothed down the hair that had fallen over her face.

Brody clenched her jaw.

The trembling had stopped, but reality still felt grim.

She didn’t like this situation.

“Isn’t there a way to make him give up?”

Aidan slowly shook his head, his face grave.

“It won’t be easy. Seeing him use magical artifacts… it’s likely the princess is behind him.”

She had suspected it, but hearing it confirmed was infuriating.

Jax’s original plan to steal her accomplishments and marry the princess had fallen through, so now he was trying to trade Brody herself.

‘Your Highness, she’s very loyal to me. If I persuade her, she’ll follow without question and serve you for life.’

He must’ve said something like that.

And when it didn’t work out, he tried to kill her instead.

He must’ve decided that giving a dangerous plant-user to the North was too risky and opted to eliminate her.

That man… after all the years they’d spent together, he didn’t even treat her as well as a servant.

Brody rubbed her face slowly.

She was seething.

Not long ago, she had basked in the warm sun, lazily enjoying delicious fruit and feeling happy.

Now, those glittering memories danced like taunting shadows in her mind.

The bright future she’d nearly grasped was slipping away.

Brody felt the ground beneath her feet shaking.

The Central Region, the South, even the North—there was no place where she could rest peacefully.

‘All I wanted was to live quietly without any worries…’

Covering her face, Brody let out a bitter smirk.

‘To think I believed I could hide and live alone with this ability. What a naive dream.’

While she laughed bitterly at herself, her eyes drifted toward Aidan.

‘I ran so desperately to escape him…’

And now, she needed the strength of Grand Duke Aidan—the very person she had tried to flee from.

Brody reluctantly, and gloomily, admitted that truth.