IRER 63

Chapter 63 

Rewarding

“Something good happen to you?”

At Aidan’s question, Brody, who had been humming cheerfully, spun around.

Already teetering, she accidentally stepped on Aidan’s long cloak and nearly fell.

“Careful.”

If Aidan hadn’t caught her, she would’ve hit the ground.

Even as she almost stumbled, Brody kept grinning like a fool, as if something had made her incredibly happy.

Aidan let out a sigh and took her hand.

Her thin hand was completely engulfed in Aidan’s large one.

Brody seemed to enjoy the warmth of it, and she tightened her grip on his hand.

“You’ve asked that twice today, haven’t you?”

“Indeed. Though you seem even happier now than earlier.”

Brody looked down at the ground, as if trying to step carefully, and replied.

“That’s right. This is really the first time something like this has happened.”

“The first time for what?”

“Um, promise not to laugh?”

She smiled brightly and placed her index finger in front of her lips.

“……”

Aidan was curious about what she meant—but it was hard to focus when she kept smiling like that. His heart tickled in a dangerous way.

Then Brody continued.

“This is the first time I’ve had so much fun. I was worried I wouldn’t know how to enjoy myself… but once it started, I had such a great time.”

Haa… she brought her hands up to her cheeks to cool her flushed face.

But since her left hand was still holding Aidan’s right, the back of his hand ended up brushing her cheek instead.

Without missing a beat, she rubbed her cheek against it like a child seeking comfort.

Aidan felt a shiver run through his whole body.

“Br… Brody.”

But she ignored his flustered voice and spoke again.

“Do you like parties, Your Highness?”

“Uh, well… not particularly. Balls aren’t exactly enjoyable.”

“I figured. Especially the ones in Ferden. But next time, let’s create one that’s more fun. A party you can enjoy too.”

“……”

Next time. Us. One word filled Aidan with hope. The other brought a pang to his chest.

Us—we could be an “us,” you and I. If you’re by my side, I wouldn’t need any kind of celebration.

But next time… Would there even be a “next time”?

His heart weighed heavy, and instead of answering, Aidan changed the subject.

“I understand why I wouldn’t enjoy such things, but have you really never had fun before either?”

“I guess not. I’ve always been focused on work, studies, more work… no time for friends. That says it all, doesn’t it?”

“……”

He tried to change the subject to ease his heart, but her words only hurt more.

Jax, you bastard. A duke, and yet you worked her like a servant just because she’s not of your blood?

He could imagine her life. Work and study, work and study.

It was a life he knew well. So maybe that’s why she could stay beside him without complaint—because she didn’t know anything different.

“I’m sorry.”

“Huh? For what?”

“For not being someone who can make your life more enjoyable.”

“Oh, come on. I’m the same way.”

No, you’re not. You’re fun. Just watching you makes me happy. Sure, sometimes you’re unpredictable and it makes my heart race—but being with you brings me joy.

He couldn’t say it aloud, though.

Unaware of his thoughts, Brody went on.

“But we work well together, don’t we? As work partners, I think that’s what matters most. I mean, we should be realistic.”

“……”

To Brody, it was about her being uninteresting and unable to provide joy.

But Aidan interpreted it differently.

She doesn’t expect anything from me. Not even happiness.

So… being with me really isn’t fun for her, is it…?

What did it matter if he was the Grand Duke who carried the weight of the North?

If he couldn’t bring joy to the person beside him… what good was any of it?

Maybe letting her go wasn’t just about protecting her from danger.

If she wasn’t happy with him—if she wasn’t smiling at his side—then didn’t he have even less right to keep her close?

He’d thought he’d lived with purpose. But this made him feel helpless—more than even the famine that once struck the North.

His shoulders sagged under the weight of it.

Just then, Brody gave his hand a little shake.

She peeked up at him with curious eyes, clearly wanting to say something.

Drunk Brody is dangerous, he thought, his heart racing from the intensity of her gaze.

“D-Do you want to say something?”

She nodded enthusiastically.

“Go ahead.”

She didn’t hesitate.

“Your Highness… did I do well?”

“Hm? Do well…?”

“With the potato field, I mean.”

She came to a stop.

Instead of waiting for his answer, she lifted her head and looked into the distance.

Was she lost in thought?

No… she was staring out at the field she had cultivated with her own hands.

Her flushed cheeks contrasted the composed gleam in her emerald eyes. Her expression was serious, almost noble.

Her curls danced in the cold night wind.

She stood there in silence, looking across the land she had brought to life.

Aidan understood—she wasn’t just looking at the field. She was seeing something beyond it.

“I’ve always been told that my efforts were just… expected.”

Maybe it was the wind, but her wheat-colored lashes trembled faintly.

“Seeing people this happy because of me… hearing them express it… it’s all so unfamiliar.”

Her thoughts drifted beyond the field, back to her past life in the other world.

She had lived for her family. But her efforts had always been treated as expected—just part of her duty.

And she accepted that too.

I’m smart. I’m strong. I know how to work hard. If I don’t do it, who will?

All the way until the end.

But what hurt more than the hard work…

…was realizing she was never really part of the family. Never seen as a person. Just a tool.

If just one of them—Mom, Dad, her brother—had said:

You worked so hard. Thank you. Because of you, everything changed. Now we can all start over.

Even just once…

So, you felt the same way, Doyeon thought.

She finally understood Brody’s resentment, that complicated tangle of affection and betrayal toward Jax.

Now that I’ve received a bit of that recognition here… I finally get it. Why I longed so desperately to be alone in this world.

Why she didn’t want to try anymore. Why she ran from responsibility. Even though she liked Aidan, even thought she loved him, she ran from the title of Grand Duchess.

She couldn’t bear to go through it all again—pouring in everything only to be told it was expected.

Maybe she was wrong. But she was too tired to try again.

How ironic… I tried so hard to escape the North, and yet… it gave me exactly what I was looking for.

Brody realized it.

The feeling she had while talking with Connie, the emotion during the toast at the banquet—

It was fulfillment.

To have someone recognize the value of her efforts. The incredible sense of satisfaction in that.

Not just the women in the potato fields.

The people of Ferden, the Wolf Knights—and Aidan, most of all—had always given that to her.

She quickly wiped away the tears forming in her eyes.

Then turned to Aidan and asked,

“Are you happy too, Your Highness?”

He understood the emotion behind her question.

To have her hard work dismissed as ‘just expected’… how weary she must have been.

He looked into her moist, gleaming eyes.

Such a precious person. Such a lovable person. How could anyone treat her carelessly?

He raised a hand and gently brushed back the hair at her forehead.

“Of course I am. I could thank you for the rest of my life and it still wouldn’t be enough.”

Her eyes began to shimmer again.

Moonlight rippled over those green jewels, just like light over a pond.

Brody slowly closed her eyes.

A single tear spilled down her cheek.

A solitary stream of water traced its way over her flushed skin.

Aidan gently wiped the tear away.

Then her eyes fluttered open.

Beautiful.

The overwhelming emotion in her expression made Aidan’s heart race again.

He had to restrain himself from pressing a kiss to her closed eyelids. He couldn’t look away from her gaze.

Then, her delicate expression softened.

“Your Highness.”

“…Yes?”

“Will you trust me?”

“…?”

What was she trying to say now?

Truly an amazing woman. Even when he promised to let her go in three years. Even when she had every reason to just accept help and leave—she still insisted on doing things the hard way.

Aidan admired her strength. That unwavering pride. That fierce will.

“I can do it. Really.”

Her warm, languid smile shook his heart again.

He had to steel himself not to promise her everything.

With lowered brows, he replied,

“It’s not that I think you can’t. I just don’t want you to be in danger.”

Brody immediately retorted,

“I’m not so weak that you need to worry. You saw me in the South. And in front of the Ferden fortress.”

Aidan looked down.

That’s true. I know how strong you are.

But he couldn’t say it aloud.

Because acknowledging her strength would mean accepting the danger that came with it.

Then she met his eyes again and said,

“And when I can’t do it alone, you’ll protect me. Just like you always have.”

His blue eyes trembled with sorrow.

No, Brody… the real danger is me. And this North itself.

He’d inherited the strongest ice spirit power of any predecessor. And Brody… was a plant-type sorceress.

Ice and plants. Just like Hieldieta and Gloria.

The deeper she got involved, the worse it would become.

He held her arms, looked into her endlessly gentle face, and leaned his forehead toward hers.

Only the ends of his black hair brushed her skin.

If hearing her words meant putting her in danger…

What was he supposed to choose?

In pain, he murmured,

“Brody… I…”

But before he could finish,

“Well now, don’t you two look picturesque.”

Startled, they both snapped their heads toward the voice.