IRER 21

Chapter 21

 Clumsy Excuse

Truthfully, there was a way to escape.

Though half-asleep and dazed, there was no way Brody hadn’t thought of it.

She could have just used a Dreamleaf.

But deep in her subconscious, she kept pushing that option away from her thoughts.

At some point, Brody realized what she was doing and let out a sigh.

“Do I… not want to run away?”

She wasn’t entirely certain.

But the fact that she was hesitating—that was definite.

And so, she missed her chance. Morning had already arrived.

“Ugh…”

Brody barely managed to push her sluggish body upright. Though the morning was a bit cool, the southern sun was still dazzling, scattering light across the trees.

“…Huh?”

As Brody looked around with dazed eyes, she didn’t see Aidan anywhere.

Wrapping herself back in the blanket, she flopped down again.

“Was it all just a dream? From the moment he appeared, was everything shown to me by the Dreamleaf?”

But then, she saw something on her wrist—an oddly blue gemstone strung into a bracelet.

“Icy Ocean Stone.”

“Icy Ocean Stone?”

Aidan had fastened the bracelet onto Brody’s wrist while hugging her from behind.

“If you go to the far north, there are glaciers that never melt all year round. Some of those that have existed for over ten thousand years form icy ocean stones.”

“Ten thousand years…”

“No human can extract them. They’re brought by spirits.”

“Spirits? Do those even exis—oh, right. They do. Haha. Then this must be extremely rare?”

“Exactly. That’s why I’m giving it to you. It will protect you in the North.”

“So… it wasn’t a dream.”

Brody rolled the mysterious gem in her fingers, thinking back on the night before.

“Awake already?”

A voice came from below.

It seemed Aidan had gone to boil water. He had sliced up some bread and fruit and prepared warm tea.

Brody rolled onto her stomach, resting her chin on her hands, and watched Aidan prepare breakfast.

“How unusual. His Grace preparing my breakfast?”

“I should be the one saying that.”

“Sorry?”

“This rare sight. You—sometimes you’re incredibly quiet and well-mannered, and other times you’re completely free-spirited.”

Ah, he must be talking about how I’m lazing around in bed like this. Well, sure—it’s probably strange to him. I am someone from another world, after all.

Brody didn’t even attempt to get up. Instead, she leaned into her hands and watched.

“So I can never guess what you’ll do next.”

So, Aidan brought the entire tray over to her.

“Eating while lying down isn’t good for digestion.”

“I can’t get up…”

With an awkward chuckle, Aidan picked up a piece of fruit and held it out. Brody opened her mouth and ate it directly.

“Ah… I feel alive. I was so hungry.”

After a few more bites, Brody finally sat up and took the teacup.

While she sipped the tea, Aidan gently brushed away strands of hair sticking to her face.

He spoke.

“You look lovely.”

“…What?”

“I mean… seeing you so free like this—it suits you.”

“…”

Brody kept drinking her tea in silence, her expression slightly pouty. It was embarrassing having someone express their feelings so openly.

Just as Aidan started wondering if he had said something wrong, Brody finally spoke.

“Your Grace, to me, freedom is more important than anything.”

“…Yes.”

Of course it was. After all, the wish she had made to Aidan was for “freedom.”

Aidan nodded quietly.

“I do appreciate how you’ve honored that promise. The fact that you’re trying to persuade me means you respect my freedom.”

What she said was sincere.

In a society with rigid social classes, that kind of respect wasn’t easy. If he had wanted to, using his power and authority, a Grand Duke could’ve easily forced Brody into submission.

But he had come himself, and asked for her answer.

Even yesterday, to the very end—had she refused, Aidan would have respected her will.

She trusted that.

Brody hesitated before speaking again.

“I don’t hate the idea of becoming your wife.”

“…Ah! Brody!”

Aidan’s face lit up instantly at her words. He nearly overturned the tray as he reached for her, and Brody quickly stopped him.

She made a motion to say she wasn’t done speaking yet, and continued.

“If Your Grace were to stay here with me.”

“…”

Aidan froze.

“Could you do that?”

He couldn’t answer. He just stared at her.

If the people had said, ‘You’re not fit to be duke. Step down!’—then maybe he could’ve abandoned his title without regret.

But right now, the people of the North needed Aidan. Though the war had just ended, the North still had to survive. They had to prepare for an uncertain three years ahead.

“If he’s not there… the North wouldn’t last. Everything changed because he wasn’t assassinated.”

Knowing the weight of his burden, Brody sighed.

“I don’t want to be a duchess. Or a queen. Whatever the title, I don’t want it. It would only bind me.”

“I… won’t bind you.”

“Isn’t taking me with you a kind of binding in itself?”

“…That’s true. I can’t give you freedom in the South. But I can try to free you from the obligations that come with the title. I’ll do everything I can so you can live freely.”

But was that even possible?

Brody didn’t think the future looked very optimistic.

If she followed him, just being known as “the woman who stayed at the duke’s estate” would cause trouble.

Her status. Her background. All of it would weigh her down.

There would be countless minor annoyances, and in the worst case, she could lose her life.

All of it was persuading her not to go North.

Brody looked at the man in front of her.

Aidan. Could she walk this road just for him?

Her eyes clouded with worry as she let out a deep sigh.

“Could you just… give me a little more time?”

“…Huh?”

“I want to think. Alone. I need time to sort out my thoughts.”

She should’ve refused yesterday.

She shouldn’t have been swept up by the mood.

So she decided to buy time.

To find some reason to turn him down.

Brody insisted on being alone and firmly sent Aidan away.

He tried to stay, saying he wouldn’t leave her side—but after she promised several times, “I won’t run,” he finally left.

“I won’t run.”

Sure, she’d promised that again and again.

But in the end, the answer was escape. That was the only option.

If she couldn’t bring herself to refuse him face-to-face—

If he wouldn’t accept her refusal—

Then escape was the only way.

She had been caught by coincidence yesterday. But how many more coincidences could there be?

Part of her had let her guard down, assuming Aidan wouldn’t go to such lengths to find her again.

This time, she would hide deeper in the South.

He had a duty to return North. He couldn’t wander endlessly looking for her.

“And once he starts dealing with the issues in the North, he’ll eventually forget me.”

Brody recalled the warm, strong arms that had wrapped around her.

The indescribable sense of security when his body heat pressed into her.

She subconsciously rubbed her shoulder—the one he had kissed several times the night before.

Even in the warmth of the southern climate, she felt a strange chill.

“Still… I can’t trade my life away.”

Brody gathered what she needed and looked around.

She was reluctant to leave the comfortable environment she had built, but she shook her head as if to cast away such thoughts.

She had even given Aidan a “mission” to do in the village—like visiting local restaurants and buying dessert. Small things, really, but enough to keep him distracted.

He had agreed, saying he also needed to pick up the sword he had left on the way, and then left.

Once enough time had passed that she was sure he’d gone far, Brody made her move.

She reached out, and a tree branch extended toward her.

Carefully, she began to step along the growing branches.

Create a branch, move, erase it. Then create another, move, erase.

It wasn’t easy, but she believed it was the only way to avoid being tracked.

“I told him to come back tomorrow. This much distance should be enough, right?”

She had been moving without pause for half a day when she finally took a break.

She still wasn’t feeling well, and the night before… well, he hadn’t exactly kept his distance. The morning had been a whirlwind, and now she’d been exhausting her abilities nonstop.

Drained, she lay on a tree branch to rest, then finally climbed down.

“Brody.”

“Waaah! Oh my god!”

A familiar voice rang through the afternoon light, startling her so much she clutched her chest.

She had not expected to run into him here.

Aidan looked at her with a complicated expression as she descended from the tree.

“How… How is he here?”

Brody pulled herself together.

She could not afford to panic.

So she put on an angry face and asked,

“I told you I needed a day. Why would you come find me already?”

Aidan, taken aback by her serious tone, widened his eyes in surprise.

“But… you…”

“I said this is what I do when I need to think. I’ve been gone half a day, so I was planning to return in half a day.”

She turned her head sharply, eyes closed.

As if he were the one in the wrong for suspecting her of running away.

“Will he… fall for it?”

Aidan looked utterly flustered.

It seemed like he might reach out to grab her at any moment.

“Well then… I’ll see you later, back at my place.”

Sensing that staying longer would only make things worse, Brody quickly turned to leave.

Being in trees was believable—she was a plant mage. But how would she explain all the baggage she was carrying?

Turning her body, she did her best to hide her supplies.

But just then, a sharp voice rang out behind her.

“Brody. Stop.”

“…!”

At that voice, Brody froze.