IRER 45

Chapter 45

 The Dangerous Chief of Staff

‘In a way, maybe it’s for the best.’

Aidan thought so.

The embarrassment of being misunderstood lasts only a moment, but a mistake could be irreversible.

If he had kept holding Brody, he would’ve lost control soon enough.

Especially after holding back for so long.

But Brody, unaware of his inner thoughts, was inwardly panicking and apologizing.

‘Ahhh, I’m sorry, Your Highness!’

Trying to smooth over the situation, she spoke brightly to Madam Murphy.

“Wow! It smells amazing!”

“…It’s potato soup. I blended it smooth since I thought anything else might be hard to eat.”

Oh, thankfully, a good topic to shift to.

“Potatoes? They’ve already started being supplied in the fortress?”

“No, not quite. I just brought a small amount.”

“I see. Not enough for distribution, then. Farming must be over now that it’s winter.”

Madam Murphy nodded.

Brody, matching the woman’s usual concise style, nodded slightly in response.

It was a subtle signal: You can go now. No—this time, it meant: Please leave quickly.

But just as Madam Murphy turned to grab the doorknob, she hesitated.

“…?”

Then, awkwardly, she turned her head slightly and spoke.

“Everyone’s been waiting for My Lady to wake up. They made such a fuss about serving the best potato soup…”

She trailed off and, without another word, gave a polite bow and left.

Brody blinked, bewildered again.

Is this some kind of hidden camera prank? Or a conspiracy?

She had braced herself for scolding—but instead, kindness?

“Your Highness, I’m not the only one who thinks this is weird, right? I mean, it’s a good thing, but still… what’s with this reaction?”

Aidan sighed and stirred the potato soup Madam Murphy had left. It seemed he was trying to cool it down so Brody could eat it more easily.

‘Is he going to feed me?’

Brody remembered the time she’d fainted from Jax’s attack in the south and had woken up in an unfamiliar inn.

But unlike back then, Aidan now handed her the tray and said:

“River. He’s behind this.”

Ah. As expected… Brody was a little disappointed, but more than that, surprised by his answer.

“River, the Chief of Staff? He said good things about me? …Why would he?”

The aroma was more tempting than she expected, so Brody picked up the spoon while waiting for an answer.

But her hand lacked strength.

The hand holding the spoon trembled, and the tray on her lap wobbled. Soon, a large hand reached over to help.

Aidan moved the tray aside, scooped some soup, and brought it to her lips.

“……”

…So he’s doing it after all.

But it was different from back then.

In the south, Aidan had nervously hovered over her, wanting to help whether she needed it or not. Now, it seemed purely for caretaking.

‘So… I have to be seriously sick for him to be this kind?’

His help was warm, but it left a bitter feeling.

‘If only my hand wasn’t shaking, I could’ve eaten on my own.’

Feeling both touched and embarrassed, she accepted the spoonful.

As the warm soup slid into her long-empty stomach, her gut reacted slightly in protest.

Wincing a little, Brody looked at Aidan.

“…?”

To her surprise, he was also frowning.

‘Hmm, was he like this earlier when I was leaning on him? I couldn’t see his face, so I didn’t notice…’

Tap. Feeling strangely annoyed, Brody took the spoon from his hand.

She appreciated the help, but didn’t want to feel indebted.

“I’ll eat by myself.”

“Ah… okay.”

Aidan looked at her, slightly puzzled by the sudden change.

Knowing her independent nature, he assumed she found his actions burdensome, so he didn’t insist and stepped back.

Contrary to her assumption, he was lost in entirely different thoughts and hadn’t even noticed her reaction fully.

He was thinking about River.

‘I should’ve expected it. When he didn’t reprimand me for being away so long, I should’ve known…’

Aidan began grimly.

“River spread the word about your new crop.”

Brody, trembling as she tried to eat the soup, froze. She tilted her head and looked at him, and he continued.

“That’s not all. He said you fled because you were worried your background would be a burden to me. That you left to find someone who had helped the North, portraying you as a noble soul full of loyalty and love.”

Her tilted head now nodded. Of course. He framed it that way. Very like Chief River.

“I do feel a little guilty, but… thanks to that, things will go smoothly now.”

“Guilty…?”

Aidan scoffed.

Brody, Brody. You really don’t know River at all.

That’s why she could stay so relaxed.

“River didn’t do this for you. He used you.”

Brody pondered his words.

He was right. River wouldn’t do something for her.

If she had no value, he would’ve sent someone to silently eliminate her, so she wouldn’t be near Aidan.

River was that kind of man.

“Still, it’s impressive. He granted the Duke’s wish to act freely without punishment and even framed it positively for the North. He must really care about you.”

“He doesn’t care about me. He cares about the North. He still thinks I’m useful for the North.”

His cold, immediate reply made Brody blink.

What’s the relationship between those two?

What she had seen between them didn’t seem like a typical superior-subordinate relationship.

If it were strictly professional, River’s attitude would’ve crossed lines. He had overstepped in ways only someone close—like a brother or an old friend—could get away with.

Yet Aidan’s tone made it sound like there was nothing between them but the North. It felt strangely… sad.

Seeing Brody’s unsure expression, Aidan shook his head and went on.

“So I’m saying—don’t feel grateful.”

Still, no matter River’s intentions, the outcome wasn’t bad. Brody couldn’t take things as seriously as Aidan.

“Then I won’t feel indebted. I’ll make the most of this setup to work for the North.”

At her words, Aidan sighed again.

It didn’t seem like his message had gotten through.

“Brody, that’s not what I meant. The situation is already too extreme.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“People are calling you the ‘Goddess of Fortune.’”

“Ah, uh… cough cough.”

Brody choked in surprise, and Aidan handed her a handkerchief.

How embarrassing… all this because I grew some potatoes…

She wiped her mouth, muttering,

“Yeah, that’s… a bit much.”

“Back during the war, it was used as a fleeting joke. But not anymore. Do you know what it means? It means they expect you to live up to that title. They have high hopes for you.”

Brody pressed the handkerchief to her lips, falling into thought.

She was used to expectations.

In her past life, she had carried her family’s burdens.

So she knew… how expectations could eat away at a person.

‘In my past life, I lived according to others’ expectations… but now, it’s different. I’m ready to betray all those hopes and live how I want.’

She had decided that—even at the cost of death.

She wouldn’t live like a fool again.

This time, she’d live for herself. Freely.

These three years were the price she had to pay for that.

After three years, she could just leave.

People might badmouth her, but she wouldn’t be around to hear it. She’d be living peacefully somewhere far away. No problem.

“Brody, you plan to leave after three years, right?”

Thump. Her hand froze over the soup bowl. It felt like he had read her mind.

Keeping her gaze lowered, she answered calmly.

“Yes, Your Highness. That’s why… it’s fine. I’ll leave after three years.”

Aidan shook his head.

Was that denial?

“Do you really think you’ll be free after three years?”

Brody looked up in surprise.

What is he saying? Is he planning to break the contract?

Seeing her bite her lip, Aidan could guess her misunderstanding.

Her resolve to leave seemed unchanged.

‘What a contradiction… I’m trying to let her go, yet…’

He knew it well. But having it confirmed still hurt.

He spoke with a heavy heart.

“Yes, of course I’ll keep my promise. But River—and the North—do you think they’ll let you go? They’ve decided to use you. If he plays hardball… who knows what will happen in three years.”

“…Ah.”

Brody felt relief—and guilt.

He was worrying about her.

But I…

She’d been focused only on herself while leaning on his kindness.

‘Just because I want freedom, doesn’t mean I should use others to get it.’

So Brody made up her mind.

At the very least, she wanted to help him. To help the North.

Lifting her head again, she met Aidan’s eyes squarely and spoke firmly.

“Your Highness, that’s a problem for later. Right now, we need to deal with what’s in front of us.”

Aidan’s sharp gaze wavered at her words.

‘What’s in front of us now…’

He thought of the Imperial Princess.

She was nothing like the emperor—an indulgent, bloated man who couldn’t even carry his own weight.

The princess had ambition. She was ruthless.

She also seemed intelligent—and could wield spirit magic.

‘Was it really wise to give her a three-year grace period?’

Maybe they should’ve destroyed the Empire completely back then.

But if they had, they would’ve lost the people on the walls, the grain stores across the Empire—doomed everyone to mutual destruction.

The princess… she was capable of choosing that brutal path.

Even if she burned with it, she would burn others too—Mayla Riley, the Imperial Princess.

She looked extremely dangerous.

As Aidan fell silent, grim-faced, Brody got up and gently took his hand.

“Your Highness, what we need to worry about right now—is the North.”

Aidan flinched but didn’t pull away.

She was right.

He listened quietly as she spoke.

“You know me, Your Highness. I can do this. I can help your North.”

His heart pounded.

Not from hope—but from fear.

‘Help the North… as a plant sorcerer…’

He suddenly remembered what the princess had said at the fortress:

“Have you thought about what it would mean to take her to the North?”

“Of course she looks desirable now. She’s a rare talent.”

“But can she truly be happy in the North?”

His pupils began to tremble and dart around.