IRER 47

Chapter 47 

 A Contract Marriage in a Day

At his words, Brody blinked a few times. It took a moment for the meaning to fully register in her mind, and then she opened her mouth in disbelief.

“A wedding ceremony?”

“Yes. After all that commotion we caused, they’ll probably request an official marriage contract. I thought it would be best to get it done as soon as possible…”

Brody nodded.

She was just surprised because this was her first wedding ever—whether in her previous life or this one.

It was sudden, but she had always known this day would come eventually.

At the latest, it was bound to happen within three years anyway.

“A wedding… It’s really sinking in now. We’re going to be married… Even if it’s just a contract.”

Brody quietly pondered for a moment before speaking again.

“But, Your Highness… Are you okay with this?”

“What do you mean, am I okay with it? Me?”

If anyone should be flustered by the sudden schedule, it should be Brody. So why was she asking if he was alright?

Aidan looked at her curiously.

“It’s just… It’ll be your first wedding, won’t it?”

Her words made Aidan flinch.

“Wait… You mean it’s not your first?”

Brody frowned, as if wondering what he was even talking about.

“No, no, that’s not what I meant. I asked for this because of my situation, but… You don’t have to go through with it. I mean, it must be a hassle and a burden for you…”

She recalled Aidan’s recent rejection.

He had seemed so burdened by her—could they really go through with a wedding like this?

“We signed a contract.”

Trying not to pout, Brody rambled on.

“Yes, we did sign a contract, but I’m offering you one last chance to back out. I feel like I’ve been thinking only about what’s convenient for me. Ah, so—! I mean, there are other ways to go about this, right? Like, I could hire someone to act as a fake husband, and we’d just draw up a marriage certificate. Then I could serve under you as a subordinate, and that might still work.”

“……”

It was a clever idea. And technically, it made sense.

She only needed a husband in name—he didn’t necessarily have to be Aidan.

But Aidan felt oddly irritated. He didn’t like that suggestion one bit.

“That’s not an option.”

“…Excuse me?”

Unable to contain his rising emotions, he abruptly stood up.

Brody looked up at Aidan’s face as he rose.

His cold blue eyes were laced with a strange intensity.

‘What the heck, why’s he acting like this?’

At first, she frowned in confusion. But gradually—thump, thump—her heart began to pound under his gaze.

Seeing her emerald eyes blinking in surprise, Aidan composed himself.

Even after reconsidering, his feelings remained the same.

He spoke again, more firmly this time.

“I said, that’s not an option.”

Even if it was only on paper, the thought of her becoming someone else’s wife—it was unbearable. Even if he ended up as a Northern Duke who got divorced, he needed to be the one standing beside her.

He shook his head and knelt down.

As his face lowered below hers, Brody’s eyes followed his movement.

Aidan knelt before her.

He gently took her hand and said,

“Brody. I’m not doing this out of pity for your situation. I want to do this.”

The way he knelt—it looked exactly like a proposal.

No, it wasn’t just the posture. His eyes. His words.

He genuinely seemed to want her.

Brody, flustered by the sudden emotional shift, looked at him.

‘Why? I thought he didn’t have feelings for me anymore?’

Seeing the way her cheeks flushed red, Aidan internally winced.

‘I want to do this. No—honestly, I want to be with you for the rest of my life. This wedding may be in name only because of the contract, but… it still makes my heart flutter.’

—Was what he wanted to say. But he couldn’t.

Regretting his impulsive actions, he furrowed his brow and looked down, trying to hide his true feelings.

“You’re valuable to the North. That’s why I agreed to the contract.”

“……”

And with that, he spoke words that betrayed his real thoughts.

“Besides, think about it. After making such a scene bringing you here, how would it look if you suddenly became someone else’s wife? How could we explain that to people?”

“Ah… That’s true.”

“Yes. River prepared such a grand welcome for you. If you hadn’t returned, maybe it’d be a different story, but now that you’re here, not marrying me would be difficult to justify.”

His logical points made Brody’s lips curl slightly.

“Right. That’s true.”

Sigh… what is this.

‘I don’t have feelings for you anymore. But I still want your talents for the sake of the North.’
Why say something like that on your knees, all serious?

Could this be the coldest proposal in the world?

She felt almost toyed with—though, knowing his personality, he probably didn’t mean to.

It just confirmed one thing: what remained between them was only the contract.

With a bitter heart, she gently pulled her hand away from his.

❖ ❖ ❖

Have you ever imagined getting married a day after setting the date?

Even in cases of accidental pregnancy, nothing moves this fast.

‘Is my imagination just lacking? I can’t think of any other situation that would lead to a wedding in a single day.’

From early morning, Brody was stuck in Madam Murphy’s hands.

If Murphy had been a talkative woman, Brody would’ve heard nagging all day long. But since she was quiet, she only expressed her disbelief with looks.

‘You could at least say something. I know this is crazy.’

The wedding was to be held at their lodging.

They didn’t want anyone knowing about the ceremony, so it was kept under wraps, with no other location options.

‘Yeah, announcing it wouldn’t help. We already told the princess’s party it happened, so it’d be weird to do it again.’

Thus, the location was their lodging.

The officiating priest: Ratua.
Assistant priest: Adonia.
Two minimum witnesses: Madam Murphy and Teddy.

And now, Madam Murphy was dressing Brody.

She had initially expressed rare emotion at the impossible task of preparing a wedding in a day. But thanks to Teddy, who was a master of odd jobs, they managed to acquire ceremonial clothes.

Ah, of course Brody and Aidan had said they didn’t need special outfits—it was the “marriage certificate” that mattered.
But Teddy insisted, no way, no how, and fetched them anyway—for their honor, let it be known.

Brody’s wedding outfit was unusually a deep blue.

The bride wore blue with silver accessories.

The groom wore green with gold.

That was the tradition for northern wedding attire.

The outfit Teddy brought was a bit loose on Brody, but Madam Murphy adjusted it on the spot with needle and thread.

“You know how to sew too, ma’am?”

“My daughter’s good at this kind of thing. I picked it up from watching her.”

“Oh, you have a daughter?”

“Technically not mine, but I raised her like one. I only have two big, dark sons.”

Even as they chatted, Murphy’s hands never stopped, and the dressing came together quickly.

“Are you ready to begin?”

Knock knock.
Right on time, Adonia called cheerfully from outside the door.

For the first time in all her lives, Brody was wearing a flashy dress, adorned with jewelry she’d never even dreamed of.

Fragrant oil was applied to her hair, which Madam Murphy carefully styled.

Looking down at the dazzling beads and embroidery decorating her torso, Brody gulped.

She didn’t know what to do with herself.

‘Don’t be nervous. You only get nervous if you expect something. You were lying sick in bed until yesterday—no one’s going to think anything of you. This is just a formality. A contract. It’s nothing.’

Click. The door opened. The two priests, Teddy, and Aidan entered.

‘Oh.’

Brody had to mentally force herself not to slap a hand over her mouth.

The groom.

He looked absolutely breathtaking.

‘What is this, a Bogue magazine photoshoot?’

The moment she saw him, all her nerves vanished.

Her mind went blank at his beauty.

‘My heart… might explode.’

Not her own heart—Aidan’s chest, to be exact.

The green tuxedo Teddy found must’ve been a bit tight on him.

Well, of course. His build was anything but average.

Finding clothes to fit him on such short notice? Mission impossible.

His broad shoulders and toned arms.

His full chest emphasized the fact that humans exist in three dimensions.
His slim waist created a striking contrast.

And down below…

‘Oh, no. I shouldn’t be eyeing him top to bottom. Get a grip, Brody.’

His usually tousled hair had been styled into a neat half-up look.

He looked good messy, but styled like this? Even better.

His sharp features were almost too well-defined…

“Ahem. His Grace does look quite dashing, doesn’t he? I told you, Your Highness—your good looks are wasted on your usual appearance.”

Apparently Teddy was the stylist—and proud of it.

At his cough, Brody snapped out of it, her dazed gaze finally returning to focus.

‘Was I gawking too obviously?’

Ratua looked embarrassed. Adonia and Teddy were giggling.

‘Oh no. He’s really handsome. He’s exactly my type…’

Mumbling to herself internally, Brody finally managed to avert her eyes. Her cheeks were already flushed.

Aidan scratched his neck and approached her.

“Sorry. I stared too much. I know it’s rude…”

Huh? Isn’t that my line?

Brody looked up, puzzled.

As their eyes met, she saw Aidan’s face had turned red too.

With an awkward smile, he reached out and lightly stroked her cheek.

It was a featherlight touch—barely more than a brush—but his hand trembled…

Her heart felt like it might burst. This time, it was Brody’s heart.

“…You look beautiful.”

And so, their blushing wedding began.

With the sun behind him, Ratua stood solemnly in his priestly robes.

It was a fake wedding. She’d been upset by yesterday’s cold “proposal.”

But now, dressed in ceremonial clothing and standing by Aidan’s side, her heart pounded helplessly.

“Do you, groom, swear to love the bride through joy and sorrow, and never waver?”

At Ratua’s question, Aidan’s deep voice answered without a hint of hesitation.

“I swear.”

Why’s he answering so seriously? It’s not even a real marriage…

To the same question, Brody, feeling a pang of guilt, mumbled quietly:

“…I swear.”

Her downcast lashes trembled.

Fortunately, the few guests could still hear her. They just assumed she was being shy.

“You may now exchange your vows.”

At the priest’s signal, they turned to face each other.

Aidan took a step closer.

Brody lifted her heated gaze to meet his.