IRER 81

Chapter 81

 A New Man

A sliver of doubt crept into Brody’s heart.

Could it really… could it really be that? Could that reason have been because of this?

The more she thought about it, the more her doubt solidified into certainty.

She finally spoke, needing to confirm it.

“Your Highness… surely… you didn’t ignore me all this time because of this, did you…?”

At her question, Aidan jumped.

“Ignore you? I ignored you? What are you talking about?”

Brody’s question, however, focused on a different point entirely.

She wanted to ask: could it be that he had unconsciously been ignoring her?

“You avoided talking to me, slept uncomfortably on the sofa or chair at night… You changed so obviously, and yet you claim you weren’t ignoring me?”

“W-well…”

Aidan scratched his hair, disheveled, clearly embarrassed.

After a deep sigh, as if realizing this was not something to avoid, he finally spoke.

“I wasn’t trying to ignore you. I… I thought I was doing it for your sake…”

“For my sake?”

Brody’s voice immediately rose at how absurd that sounded.

Rolling her eyes in disbelief, she turned to sit sideways on her horse, fixing her gaze on Aidan.

“Heehee!”

Startled, Aidan pulled the reins, stopping Kaise abruptly.

Brody snapped her head around, staring straight at him. From her gaze, the man atop the horse couldn’t escape anywhere.

“What do you mean by saying ignoring me was for my sake?”

“…I said I wasn’t ignoring you.”

“Really?”

Aidan sighed and closed his mouth.

‘Wait… don’t people usually explain after sighing?’

Frustrated, Brody tugged at his sleeve to get an answer.

“So, you mean…?”

At her insistence, Aidan finally decided to give one of the more rational reasons.

He hesitated before speaking.

“I… I mean, I can’t hold you like that.”

“….”

Of course. The moment of doubt had now solidified into certainty.

‘Because if a child were to come…’

That was why he had been avoiding her.

‘But there’s already been a time we were together. He didn’t seem to worry back then. And he was always the one to push first.’

Brody narrowed her eyes. With her half-lidded gaze, she glared at Aidan in annoyance.

Under her piercing stare, Aidan’s face flushed. He stammered as he continued his explanation.

“W-well, naturally. You’re not my wife.”

“…I am your wife.”

“A contract wife.”

Brody blinked in surprise before responding.

“You weren’t even back then, though?”

She pointed out that they had already been intimate before. If it was okay back then, why not now?

But Aidan replied confidently.

“This is different. Back then… you were a woman who would become my wife.”

“…? …So you’re saying now I am your wife.”

“No. You’re a woman who won’t become my wife.”

“….”

Brody tried to piece his words together in her mind.

‘So, back then, he could treat me like a wife because I was a woman he would marry. But now… even though I am technically his wife, in three years, I won’t be. So he can’t treat me like a wife.’

Wow… really, I’d like to applaud…

She never would have guessed it was for that reason.

Come to think of it, the point when he started acting distant must have been after signing the contract. The timing matched perfectly with his reasoning.

“So… it’s not that you wanted to avoid me to spare yourself grief when we split in three years… but because I’m a woman who won’t become your wife?”

Aidan furrowed his brows deeper, answering with a slightly irritated tone.

“What are you talking about? I never tried to avoid you. Maybe I struggled because I couldn’t control myself…”

“….”

Brody’s eyes widened.

He didn’t avoid her emotionally—he simply kept his distance because he couldn’t stop himself if he got close?

And he only does things all or nothing? Why no middle ground?!

‘What am I supposed to do with this man…’

Brody was speechless, staring blankly, while Aidan continued confidently, as if he couldn’t fathom her suspicion. Clearly, it bothered him that she had thought that way.

“If I don’t restrain myself, you’ll end up in trouble. If a child were conceived…”

“….”

“You’d be forced to stay here against your will, leave the child behind, or take it and raise it alone. None of those options are easy.”

Brody couldn’t help it—she covered her mouth with her hand.

‘Wow, I feel like trash.’

She had been using contraception, though she hadn’t told him.

So even if they split in three years, maintaining the current relationship wouldn’t be a huge problem.

They had already spent nights together; a few more wouldn’t matter.

By nature, he wouldn’t have pushed first, but if the situation arose, he would have chosen the same as he always had.

‘Yeah… I should have realized. After spending the night with me and deciding without wavering that I would become his wife, I should have noticed then.’

Beyond imagination—he is that rigid.

And he is…

‘…also a kind person.’

Exhausted, Brody leaned against Aidan’s chest.

“Haah…”

The pain of his distance, the frustration of realizing it was her own doing, all felt suddenly pointless.

Aidan didn’t know what to do as Brody leaned against him, sighing deeply.

He decided he had to do something and pulled Kaise to start moving again.

The sun sank below the horizon, and darkness quickly enveloped the surroundings. Stars began twinkling across the sky.

Kaise walked calmly, each step methodical, slowly soothing the tense hearts of both riders.

Brody had Kaise walk slowly, savoring the moment, but the journey was coming to an end.

In the distance, the village of Potato came into view.

“Your Highness… but…”

“Hm?”

Brody’s voice broke the long silence, startling Aidan into responding immediately.

Noticing he was conscious of her, she smiled slightly.

“There’s contraception, right? So… the problem you were worried about should be resolved, shouldn’t it?”

“No. There are still moral concerns.”

“….”

So, because she is a woman who won’t be his wife, it’s hard to act like a couple. Keeping some distance now would continue, even though they want to be close.

“Then at least stay friends. If you avoid me so obviously, how are we supposed to work together?”

At her natural request, Aidan groaned in displeasure.

“Friends? How am I supposed to treat you like a friend?”

“Don’t you have even a shred of camaraderie? Was it all just a romantic thing between us?”

“Not at all. But asking me to only give you friendship is too cruel.”

“….”

Brody sighed again and leaned closer into him.

His sturdy arms holding the reins framed her view.

‘A man who keeps his distance because he likes me too much. What am I supposed to do…’

Brody’s heart began to race. She had fought it for so long.

She resisted the urge to grab his arm several times. Doing so might have led to… more.

Finally, she closed her eyes tightly. Her heartbeat grew louder in her ears.

‘Ahh! Please! I’m going crazy!! Focus, Brody!!’

Fortunately, they arrived at the village before losing their minds.

At the entrance, guards and several others crowded the area.

Seeing a dozen or so well-dressed people, Brody guessed an important figure had arrived.

Aidan immediately recognized the approaching silver-haired man.

The man noticed Aidan and approached with proper etiquette.

“I… I am here to see Your Highness.”

He stammered slightly, nervous, but his elegant and measured movements showed he was a well-trained noble.

“Long time no see. I’m glad to see you’re well.”

Aidan dismounted, accepting his greeting.

The man raised his head and smiled gently.

“I told you to call me by my name, not Your Highness, yet nothing has changed.”

“How… could I call Your Highness by your name?”

The two lightly tapped each other’s shoulders after a brief embrace.

Though dark, Brody noticed the silver-haired man’s eyes glimmering slightly in the torchlight.

‘They seem close.’

Brody observed from her horse.

The silver-haired man seemed in his early twenties. His delicate features and refined attire suggested he was of high status.

What stood out most were his eyes: red against silver hair, striking like red coral.

Brody couldn’t help but stare.

Pale skin, delicate features, perfectly sculpted face. Silver hair, red eyes. Women would likely be drawn to him.

Aidan was handsome, but this man had a different aura—a beautifully sculpted porcelain doll look.

Their eyes met briefly, and the man flustered, unsure what to do.

He asked Aidan to introduce Brody.

“This… this lady is…”

“Oh.”

Aidan stepped forward, bringing Brody closer. She instinctively trusted his guidance.

When Brody touched the ground, the silver-haired man approached at an appropriate distance.

“She’s my wife.”

At Aidan’s concise introduction, the man widened his eyes and bowed.

“I am Claude Coral, a viscount of the Coral family. It is an honor to meet you, milady.”

“….”

Brody, having never received such a formal noble greeting in this world, was slightly taken aback.

She masked her surprise and extended her hand, following proper etiquette.

Claude carefully took her hand, pretending to kiss it, his own trembling slightly.