IRER 42

Chapter 42 

One’s Own Will

Despite Aidan’s firm rebuke, the imperial princess’s entourage didn’t budge.

The thirty soldiers, clearly not intending to move a single millimeter without an explicit order, stood like statues.

Not even the statement that “Brody is already the Grand Duke’s wife” swayed the princess or Jax.

‘They intend to take her with them, regardless of any justification.’

Aidan instinctively knew that this confrontation was inevitable.

The princess spoke.

“How strange. A man of the Grand Duke’s stature marries, yet not a single person is invited?”

Jax followed up.

“Grand Duke, I mean no offense and wish to respect your honor. However, this concerns my precious sister, and I cannot treat it lightly. Would you allow me, as her brother, to see the sacred marriage certificate?”

A proper marriage requires the priest’s blessing, witnesses, a token of the vow, and the couple’s union.

Even if the final step were set aside, once the couple pledges their vows before witnesses and exchanges vow tokens, the priest formalizes it in writing.

Only then is the marriage considered legitimate.

But Aidan and Brody had gone through no such formal procedures.

So of course, there was no marriage certificate.

Aidan replied coolly.

“Does a nobleman always carry his marriage certificate on him? I’ll let you verify it later. For now, return with the dignity befitting a knight.”

“Then show us the vow token. Surely that, at least, is something you carry with you?”

At Jax’s comment, Aidan’s brow furrowed.

A moment of silence followed. Jax gave a smug nod, as if expecting an answer—but was promptly cut off by Brody.

“Duke Jax. The proof is right here.”

Jax frowned in confusion. Brody slowly touched her chest with her hand and spoke calmly.

“What could be clearer evidence than myself?”

Looking straight at the two, Brody enunciated each word deliberately.

“I am this man’s wife.”

Clench. Aidan’s grip on Brody’s hand tightened.

Perhaps because she felt that warmth, Brody’s tone suddenly lifted with emotion.

“I chose to stay by His Grace’s side. Not because I was hastily given the title of your sister.”

—Of her own will.

The princess fixed her golden eyes on Brody, a strange word having just come from a woman’s lips.

But Jax replied with a sneer of disbelief.

“Brody, mind your words. Would you turn your back on the one who took you in?”

“I was treated like dust for twenty years, then became Your Grace’s sister for about a week. Would you kindly clarify which part I’m supposed to be grateful for? The dust? Or the sister?”

“……”

Brody had struck a nerve, openly criticizing Jax for registering her as family just to use his authority over her. Whether the others understood the implications didn’t matter—Jax was clearly incensed.

Still, Brody’s gaze kept drifting—not to Jax, but to the princess beside him.

The woman, likely Jax’s co-conspirator, met Brody’s stare with an unflustered and dazzling smile.

Why is she looking at me like that? Flustered, Brody cleared her throat and continued.

“Anyway, I’m not being kidnapped. I’ll be going with His Grace. No need to worry—please return now.”

Brody spoke while avoiding the princess’s piercing gaze.

But despite Brody’s rightful assertion, Jax didn’t drop his condescending expression.

Instead, he spoke in a tone used to scold clueless children.

“Brody, my dear sister. A woman’s judgment is like a swaying reed—it can falter at any time. That’s why guardians exist. No matter what you claim, it carries no weight. Until you show proper proof, I cannot cast off my burden of responsibility for you.”

His voice was gentle, but his words crushed her. He didn’t treat Brody as a person, but a possession.

And clearly, the thirty soldiers standing behind him felt the same.

Their concern lay only in one thing: Who had the right to determine Brody’s fate? Was it the Grand Duke, as her husband? Or Jax, as her brother and legal guardian?

Such were the rules of this time.

Brody bit her lip in frustration and asked,

“If I show you proof, will you leave without another word?”

“Yes, if you truly married the Grand Duke.”

“Can you swear that as a knight?”

Jax hesitated briefly, then dramatically placed his hand over his heart.

“Of course. A man doesn’t go back on his word.”

Strangely, the princess seemed to glance at him with pity.

Brody, refocusing herself, turned her attention away and braced herself.

She reached out and firmly grasped Aidan’s hand.

“Brody, what are you planning?”

There was no way they had any sort of vow token.

But Brody didn’t answer. Instead, she raised their joined hands.

Chime.

As the sleeve fell away, a bracelet glinted in the light.

Around Brody’s wrist was a pale blue gem—Ice-Sea Stone.

And on Aidan’s wrist, a flower-like gem shimmered emerald—Gempior.

Ice-Sea Stone was a rare treasure from the north.

And Gempior, a crystalline flower that hardened upon blooming, was also incredibly rare.

Aidan’s eyes widened.

‘When did this get here…?!’

The bracelet was something Brody had just conjured from a freshly bloomed flower.

She had tried to think of something—anything—that could serve as a symbol. But since she hadn’t given Aidan anything yet, this was her only option.

‘I can’t believe I’ve given him nothing till now. How embarrassing.’

Suppressing her awkward feelings, Brody stood tall and declared,

“We exchanged our most precious possessions as tokens of our vows. That’s proof enough, isn’t it?”

Ice-Sea Stone and Gempior—both rare, meaningful, and valuable—were more than suitable as vow tokens.

Especially the Ice-Sea Stone, a northern treasure traditionally given by the Grand Duke during marriage vows. It added credibility to the claim.

Sure, Jax might have known Brody could fabricate the Gempior easily with her plant magic. But what could he do?

He couldn’t exactly call her out and reveal her identity as a plant-wielder in front of so many witnesses.

Thus, the two noble gemstones had more than enough persuasive power.

Brody spoke triumphantly.

“Now, as promised, please go back.”

Jax had expected there’d be no vow token and tried to trip them up.

But now, caught off guard, having already sworn on his honor, he was in a bind.

Jax glanced toward the princess for help.

But she didn’t even look at him—instead, she smiled softly and said,

“Very well, Lady Brody. I shall acknowledge that you are the Grand Duke’s wife.”

“Your Highness…?”

Jax whispered, trying to stop her. Wasn’t she going too far by conceding like this?

But the princess kept her gaze fixed on Brody.

“But I find your earlier words even more admirable.”

Step.

The princess took a step forward, her tone turning unsettlingly gentle.

Brody’s brow furrowed. She tightened her grip on Aidan’s hand.

Aidan, who had been distracted by the Gempior’s gleam, snapped back to awareness at the princess’s movement and Brody’s tension.

Brody asked warily,

“What do you mean by my earlier words?”

Smiling brightly, the princess replied,

“Lady Brody. I mean when you said you would decide, of your own will, where you belong.”

Whoosh. A warm breeze passed between them.

‘Warm breeze? In the middle of winter…?’

Brody stiffened. But there was no need to question it—the energy came from the princess.

A cold bead of sweat trickled down Brody’s back.

She steadied herself and declared,

“In that case, I’ve already said I’m going to the north—of my own will.”

The princess narrowed her eyes, clearly amused that Brody remained composed even in her presence.

“Don’t go to the north, Brody. Your rightful place is not the frozen frontier, but the warm capital. We—no, I—can give you everything you need. So…”

The princess’s golden eyes flared, locking onto Brody’s with intensity.

Brody suddenly found she couldn’t look away.

“Choose me. Say it yourself.”

The air shimmered, as if the searing heat of midsummer had taken form.

Aidan braced himself.

He knew what the princess was trying to do.

“Say it—say, ‘I want to return to the Empire!’”

BOOM!

The moment she shouted, waves of heat surged toward Aidan and Brody.

At the same time, a freezing chill burst outward from Aidan, crashing into the wave of heat.

Brody’s hair whipped around her face as she kept her eyes wide open, watching the clash.

And in that moment, her eyes locked with the princess’s.

“Ugh!”

“Ack!”

Both Jax and the princess let out startled cries.

And then—they were stunned into silence.

On both of their tongues, toxic plants had bloomed.

Flicker—

The princess’s energy wavered.

“Now, Your Grace!”

At Brody’s signal, Aidan yanked the reins and spurred the horse forward.

He didn’t know exactly what Brody had done—but he knew it was something.

The princess, wincing from the pain in her tongue, turned and watched them ride off.

But on her face was not anger—but a strangely cold thrill.

She burned away the poisonous plants with her power and gestured behind her.

The thirty soldiers snapped to readiness, bows in hand.

Or at least, they tried.

“Neighhh!”

“Aghhh!”

Suddenly, the horses all reared in panic, whinnying and bucking.

Soldiers fell or clung to their mounts, unable to raise their weapons.

Brody glanced back over Aidan’s shoulder.

Her plan—to sprout thorns in the horses’ shoes and startle them—had worked perfectly.

‘Sorry, horses.’

She apologized silently to the beasts suffering under bad masters.

Aidan asked,

“Can you tell me what you did?”

“Ah, um… a bit of poison plant and some thorns…”

Even that much was enough for Aidan to understand.

He’d known Brody had power as a plant-wielder, but seeing her in action—this was another level entirely.

She had executed a silent, efficient attack with stunning precision.

This wasn’t something just any plant-wielder could do.

Her clever planning, quick judgment, bold execution, and calm control—

He felt reassured… and chilled.

If she had ever sided with the Empire…

He probably wouldn’t even be alive right now. From the very beginning, she’d had many chances to kill him.

“You really did… spare me, didn’t you?”

“Huh? What did you say?”

With the wind howling and hooves pounding, Brody didn’t quite catch his murmur.

Aidan looked down at her.

Her vibrant curls, tied in a single ponytail, had come loose and were whipping around her flushed face.

He pulled her closer and said quietly,

“I said… thank you for sparing me.”