IRER 79

Chapter 79 

The Desolate Mountain

‘Where is he taking me?’

After galloping across the plains for a long while, Kais began climbing up the slope.

The trees, which once must have boasted lush green leaves, now stood gray and withered, shriveled up as if lifeless.

Had it not been for the snow piled up, the sight would have felt unbearably desolate.

Even Brody, who once sat before Aidan on the great black horse, soaking in the fresh winds of the vast North, felt her heart slowly weighed down by the bleak atmosphere.

‘Just what is he going to say…’

While she was feeling embarrassed for having indulged in daydreams of a pleasant stroll amidst this famine-stricken wilderness, Aidan stopped his horse at the cliff’s edge.

“Whoa, whoa.”

He silently helped Brody dismount, loosely tied the reins to a nearby tree, and returned to her side.

Meanwhile, Brody looked out past the cliff.

‘…’

Perhaps, she thought, there might be some breathtaking scenery. But again, disappointment pressed her down—there stretched only barren, lifeless land.

She pulled her cloak tightly around her shoulders, shivering.

“Cold?”

“…I’m fine.”

Her answer made Aidan’s chest ache. That simple “I’m fine” reminded him again of the line Brody had drawn between them. Ignoring her words, he went back to the saddle, fetched a blanket, and returned.

Fortunately, Brody didn’t refuse when he draped it over her.

Already drowning in a cloak that dragged along the ground—his own—she now looked ready to topple over, swaddled in the thick blanket. Her curly hair was pushed up by the layers, puffing out wildly.

Her face relaxed, showing clear satisfaction at the warmth. Watching her, Aidan let out a quiet, secret laugh.

“Aren’t you cold, Your Grace?”

Brody asked as she watched him gather dry twigs, lighting a fire and setting water to boil.

Clad in only a thin shirt and light armor, he looked cold to anyone’s eyes.

“Not at all.”

And indeed, Aidan seemed to feel no chill. Perhaps the cloak he usually wore wasn’t for warmth, but rather to uphold the dignity of a Grand Duke.

Soon, he returned with a cup of hot milk.

“You carry things like this around?”

Brody turned her back on the bleak scenery and accepted the steaming cup.

“Mm. Outside the fortress, one never knows what might happen.”

“Ahh…”

Warming her hands on the cup, she blew softly on it before taking small sips.

But the milk cooled far quicker than she expected.

‘Why exactly did he bring me here? He said he wanted to talk, but he hasn’t even started.’

Brody kept her gaze on the cup, letting time slip by.

Normally, one would admire the view in a place like this, but she had no desire to turn back toward that desolate horizon.

Thankfully, Aidan was the first to break the silence.

“…I’m sorry.”

What? A sudden apology? For what exactly?

Bewildered, Brody peeked at him over the rim of her cup.

His profile was turned toward the scenery beyond the cliff.

Without looking her way, he continued,

“When we made our contract, I never intended to keep its terms as written.”

“…?”

At his sudden confession, Brody’s head snapped up in surprise.

Though he didn’t meet her eyes, she felt him urging her to listen.

“I vowed to protect you, and in return, you would work for the North. But the truth is—I never planned to make you work.”

“So you only included that line to spare me embarrassment?”

“…Something like that. Even without a contract, I would have protected you.”

Brody lowered her gaze.

It was touching, the way he wanted to protect her unconditionally.

‘So even if I did nothing, he would have gone through with the contract marriage and sent me away safely after three years? Bearing all the consequences alone?’

She was grateful, but his constant tendency to shoulder every burden by himself didn’t sit well with her.

Brody wasn’t a fragile glass doll—she was a living person, capable of working for the North. Even if she wasn’t enough, she could at least do what she could.

She didn’t want to be a woman bound beneath him, but someone who could stand at his side.

Someone he could lean on, when the weight grew too heavy.

Aidan sensed why her expression had fallen.

Having spent enough time with her, he understood Brody’s pride and self-respect. That was why he had kept his thoughts hidden until now.

So he explained further.

“It’s not that you’re useless. I just meant… even if you did nothing, it would be fine. Simply having you by my side—that alone is enough.”

Turning away from the distance, Aidan faced her.

His piercing blue eyes caught the burning orange glow of the sunset.

Step. He moved closer.

His careful hand reached out, brushing against her wheat-colored hair that reflected the red light.

His shadow stretched long as he spoke, voice low.

“Brody… just being with you makes me happy.”

“…”

Brody couldn’t answer. Her deep green eyes only trembled as they locked onto him.

He didn’t step back, but lowered his gaze instead.

His dark hair slid down naturally, tickling her forehead.

With a white puff of breath, his hesitant, low voice followed.

“But it shames me… to show you this North, so barren.”

Behind his closed eyes flashed the wasteland they had just seen.

“They call you the Grand Duchess, but what good is such a title? In truth, it only burdens you with a heavy weight. From the start, I’ve had little to offer you.”

“Your Grace… that isn’t true. Right now, you’re protecting me—”

Aidan shook his head, cutting her off.

“Protecting you? I only created the situation that forced you to need protection. When you ran away, I should have let you go. But I wanted you. I wanted you too much. And so I—”

If he hadn’t gone searching for her, she might still be living freely, safe from Jax’s eyes.

The vibrant southern landscape came back to him—her radiant smile as she held a chilled drink, sweat glistening under the trees, surrounded by friendly plants, her home nestled in the branches.

And he had taken that away.

“I couldn’t even tell you the truth. Afraid you would resent me, I hid it. So I told myself protecting you wasn’t a reward—it was only what I owed you. As for the North receiving your help, I never dared hope. You only ever wanted peace, didn’t you? That’s why I wished for you to spend these three years in comfort. No worries, no burdens—as if you were on a retreat.”

Brody blinked.

She understood what he was saying, and why he thought that way.

‘But as for me…’

She recalled the moment she’d learned how Aidan had tracked her down with the ice crystal’s power.

It had been absurd, even ridiculous. He could locate her anywhere because of it.

‘But when Jax captured me, it was thanks to that crystal that you could find me. Otherwise, I might have been dragged off to the Empire and lived like a puppet.’

The more she thought about it, the less upset she felt.

She lifted her eyes to him.

His face, etched with regret and torment, tilted slightly in the fading light.

‘This really is serious.’

Looking at him like this, she couldn’t even stay angry.

His looks, his aura—everything about him was her weakness.

‘That’s why I keep losing to him…’

Back in the South, hadn’t she only felt flustered? Normally decisive and firm, she found herself entangled emotionally whenever it came to Aidan.

She hadn’t been able to push him away, even allowing him into her nights.

And every time he drew closer, her heart shook.

Brody reflected on her feelings and smiled bitterly. Her expression was complicated as she spoke.

“Then what do you want me to do?”

“…”

Aidan hesitated, so she pressed further.

“Shall I spend the next three years aloof from you, soaking in baths, humming to myself, while this barren North wastes away outside?”

“Urgh…”

He groaned, covering his face with a hand.

Already plagued with headaches, the deep furrow between his brows only darkened further.

“…I’ve no excuse.”

His faint, low reply made Brody flare with sudden anger. She grabbed the hand covering his face.

“Your Grace, please. Being sorry is one thing, but stop being so stubborn—”

“Yes. I know it’s stubbornness.”

He clasped her hand firmly, surprising her with the strength and warmth of his grip.

Lifting his head, he met her gaze.

Though his expression still carried torment, his eyes now burned with resolve.

He began.

“At first, I didn’t want your help. Honestly, the state of the North was humiliating. What could I ask of you—a plant sorceress? To revive every inch of this land? How much could such power even achieve? The North is—”

His voice rose, then paused as he drew in a deep breath.

“The North is my domain, my responsibility as Grand Duke. This ruin is mine to fix. I thought I could do it alone. That I must do it alone. So I refused your help, telling myself I didn’t need it. Pride, nothing more.”

“…”

“And yet, after today’s council, I realized… I was arrogant. I knew so little of you.”

He gave a sheepish smile.

“Neither River nor I could ever achieve what you can. And only a fool would fail to see what a chance this is for the North. As its lord, I cannot ignore such an opportunity.”

Brody understood where he was leading. Her heart pounded as she brought her free hand to her chest.

His eyes trembled with heat as he gazed at her.

Such a brilliant, wise woman. How could he not admire her? How could he not love her?

Solemnly, he spoke.

“So I want to ask you again, honestly.”

“Ah…”

Brody gasped when he suddenly dropped to one knee.

He looked up at her once, then bowed his head, pressing his forehead to the back of her hand.

He lingered, hesitating.

How could he not? This choice was fraught with conflict. To acknowledge her will was to let her walk closer to danger for the North’s sake.

But he steeled himself, refusing to let his anguish spill onto her. His voice rang steady.

“As Grand Duke of the North, I beg of you. Your help is desperately needed. Please, Brody—help the North.”

“….”

Whoosh—cold northern winds swept over the cliff.

His dark cloak, draped over her shoulders, billowed out.

Her hair flared like golden fire in the sunset’s last rays.

A fragile woman’s noble silhouette, and a towering warrior’s humble shadow—it was a scene out of legend.

Brody looked down at the great Grand Duke of the North, kneeling before her.

And at last, her lips parted.

“How the North fares… has nothing to do with me.”