IRER 85

Chapter 85 

 Why Is This Happening?

As Brody passed through, the murmuring villagers bowed deeply in respect.

Brody, who had been staring blankly, gradually realized something was off. Especially when even Mrs. Connie, without a word, lowered her head in greeting.

“Mrs. Connie?”

Brody grabbed her shoulders and helped her straighten up. When their eyes met, he smiled and asked,

“What is this event?”

“Eh? Event? Ah… hahaha.”

Only when she began speaking did Connie see Brody as the usual Brody she knew.

She answered with a peculiar feeling.

“It’s because my lady is beautiful. Everyone’s greeting comes straight from their hearts.”

Because she’s beautiful? Brody froze momentarily, stunned by Connie’s compliment.

Then he nodded and turned to Caleb.

Caleb, who had been attending closely at her side, was startled to meet her gaze. Her look seemed to praise him silently, as if saying, “Well done, Caleb!”

Was this really the time to credit himself?

Taken aback by the unexpected gesture, Caleb barely managed to hide his surprise, slightly bending his knees in acknowledgment of Brody’s gaze.

“Well, then, I’ll take my leave, Connie. Thanks to you, I’ll leave in good spirits.”

Approaching the carriage, Brody gave a final farewell. They would accompany each other to the branching point, after which they would part according to their respective duties, so the carriage was ready.

Connie pinched the bridge of her nose, perhaps overcome with emotion, then brightly replied,

“Do come again, my lady! I will make sure everything prospers in the meantime!”

“Prosper?” Brody chuckled.

“Yes! Just wait and see!”

The villagers had come outside the gate to see the duke’s party off.

Connie stood at the front, vowing that next time she served them, she would prepare accommodations as grand as the lord’s lavish bed, waving her hand energetically.

❖ ❖ ❖

At the branching point came the second farewell.

Viscount Coral Claude seemed reluctant to part with Aidan, looking rather downcast.

“Please take good care of the greenhouse.”

“Yes, yes. I will do my best for the North. Your Grace, please return safely.”

Aidan patted his shoulder as if to reassure him.

Claude and Brody exchanged polite gestures in farewell.

Perhaps it was only his imagination, but Claude still seemed to find Brody difficult to approach.

Does he dislike me? Or is he just like that with strangers?

When they first met, Brody had hesitated, unsure whether to trust the Coral family due to the strange atmosphere. But after hearing from Aidan about her “connection with the Coral family,” the situation looked different. The relationship between the viscount’s house and the duke’s house did not seem to be a matter of trust.

Even so, if Claude genuinely disliked Brody, it was understandable.

A mysterious woman from the Central Province suddenly appearing as the Duchess—his reaction might have been perfectly ordinary. Just as Brody had anticipated upon entering the North.

Since she had expected it, the emotional damage wasn’t severe, but it was still a problem to address in the future.

After seeing off Viscount Coral, the party prepared to disperse.

“You must keep your promise.”

River gave Brody a stern warning, meaning she should not let the southern trade plans be disrupted.

Feeling sorry that her own situation had caused this, Brody nodded solemnly, reassuring River.

After River departed, Caleb approached.

“My lady, I know it’s hard to dress alone, but please maintain decorum as much as possible.”

“Yes, I’ll do my best.”

Brody’s assurance put Caleb at ease.

Yet, perhaps sensing her reluctance, Caleb added with worried eyes,

“I’ve requested His Grace’s help just in case.”

Hmm… is it really that important? Dressing herself? Enough to involve His Grace?

Brody, who had intended to improvise once out of Caleb’s sight, nodded, feeling the weight of responsibility.

With the knights and River’s party departing, only Aidan and Brody remained.

For a moment, there was silence.

Aidan did not look at Brody, stroking only Kyce’s neck. Brody clasped her hands and quietly watched him.

Why is he doing that?

It must feel awkward. It had been a while since they traveled alone together.

Aidan, who had feared contact with Brody, might have found this journey an unpleasant exercise in patience.

They had no choice but to move quickly together.

But we were just outside the village together recently. It feels unnecessary to be so formal.

A sound broke the silence—a soft rustle.

A tree shook, and something flew up, scattering its leaves. Looking up, she saw an eagle soaring in the sky above the treetops.

Aidan narrowed his eyes at the sky, then lowered his gaze.

“Shall we go?”

Finally. They would go. Brody nodded and moved closer to him.

Because her outfit was uncomfortable, she couldn’t mount alone and needed his escort.

Seeing Aidan’s chest rise slightly, it seemed he exhaled lightly.

He reached for Brody’s waist, as if to lift her onto the horse as before.

Aidan’s warmth came close in an instant.

As he lifted her, his chin brushed against Brody’s hair.

“You are beautiful, Brody. Hardly bearable to look at properly.”

“…!”

It was a small, low voice, scattered by the wind. Yet it tickled Brody’s ears and flushed her cheeks.

Before she could respond, she was lifted and gently seated on Kyce.

For a brief moment, Brody’s eyes met Aidan’s as she held onto his shoulders.

He quickly turned away and climbed behind her, as when she had been a prisoner or when he fetched her from the South to the North.

Aidan held her close.

Why did her heart race every time she was with him?

Their bodies attuned to each other’s presence, yet they pretended to remain composed.

After confirming Brody’s posture, Aidan urged Kyce forward.

The horse, blessed by the spirits, galloped south like a whirlwind.

❖ ❖ ❖

There was no time to indulge in romantic daydreams.

They had to maintain their schedule and travel quickly.

Kyce was an exceptional horse, and Aidan carefully managed Brody as they rode.

But galloping at such speed against the midwinter wind was no easy task.

It felt like riding a sports car with no roof.

Snow began to fall, and Aidan frowned in concern.

They reached the first village as the sun was setting.

The other parties, having set off for their destinations, were likely preparing to camp. Aidan’s speed was astonishing.

Brody felt slightly nauseous, resting again against Aidan.

The villagers had come to greet them, and Brody had to maintain her dignity.

She attempted to stand elegantly beside Aidan, only for him to brush snow off her head and cloak without ceremony.

The villagers murmured in confusion, and Brody rolled her eyes at Aidan, silently demanding he stop.

But Aidan ignored her cues, only turning to the villagers after straightening her attire.

“Your Grace!”

An elderly man with a staff rushed forward. He appeared to be the village chief.

Aidan recognized him immediately.

Though he didn’t know his name or that he was the chief, he realized the man had been taken hostage on the city walls of the capital plains not long ago.

The man had tried to resist, but age and weakness had spared him, and he had survived.

“You look healthy.”

The Duke of the Ice Wall remained stoic, but his gaze was warm.

The old man blinked in surprise.

“Do… you know me?”

“I didn’t know you were the chief. I am truly grateful you survived back then. Thanks to you, the North held its courage to the end.”

The man stammered, astonished that the duke recognized him.

“I… I am only ashamed to have survived.”

“If you had died then, I would have been ashamed. Say no more.”

The old man bowed with teary eyes, and Aidan reassured him.

The surrounding villagers now looked at Aidan with deep respect.

Following the limping chief, they slowly moved into the village.

The state of the village was tragic.

Although the region should have been fertile, no plants had grown properly.

The famine had driven people to scrape even tree roots bare.

Brody followed solemnly, observing carefully.

There were far too few people for the number of houses.

Adult men were sparse, and mostly women and children remained.

Even so, there weren’t many women or children. The children were particularly few, likely the first victims of the famine.

Considering the southern forts, Perdane, and Poteto Village, Brody had only seen a small portion of the North.

Yet even here, the situation was grim.

The relief supplies from the empire would have been insufficient, likely temporary, and hard to sustain, especially if the famine lasted another two or three years.

The chief glanced at Aidan, Brody, and Kyce as he walked, worried that their small party and light baggage would be unable to bring the needed aid.

Aidan, understanding his concern, spoke:

“The relief supplies are expected to arrive the day after tomorrow. Please understand, the schedule was unavoidable.”

“Ah, the day after tomorrow… yes, understood.”

The villagers murmured in disappointment.

“What? Not today? My stomach’s going to eat itself.”

“But they’re coming the day after tomorrow… what should we do until then…”

The heavy air of disappointment pressed down, though it wasn’t yet hostile.

Soon, under the chief’s guidance, they arrived at the village’s communal cemetery.