Trying to shake off the awful memories, Brody bowed her head.

Then, realizing that Ian’s concerned face had saved her from plunging into the fire, she became fully aware of the situation.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m… I’m fine. I dozed off and almost…”

Brody’s face turned red.

The previous gloom gave way to embarrassment.

Before, and even now, why did she always almost plunge into the fire and get caught by him in the act?

‘No, I could have been roasted if he hadn’t noticed, but still…’

Brody covered both sides of her flushed face, trying to hide her embarrassment.

Seeing her, Ian’s face hardened. She looked far from fine, yet kept saying she was alright. He didn’t feel entitled to think this way, but still… why was she hiding her condition?

His brows furrowed even more. He asked in an intimidating tone.

“…Won’t you come over here?”

“…”

Here? Peering through her hair, Brody understood what Ian was saying.

He was offering her a spot next to him.

But she turned her head away, seeing his serious expression. It felt like kneeling to him, and she didn’t like it.

“I’m fine.”

“…But you look dangerous. And cold.”

He was right.

She could doze off and fall into the fire again, and she wasn’t resilient to the cold either…

If no one was here, she would have tied herself to prevent falling forward with some plants!

She couldn’t even do that now.

Feeling powerless in her situation somehow angered her.

Seeing Brody furrow her brow without responding, Ian made up his mind. He had to persuade her somehow.

So, he whispered softly, audible only to Brody.

“Don’t feel burdened. We’re contractually involved with each other, aren’t we? It doesn’t benefit me if my contractor is hurting or injured.”

“…”

It should be a persuasive point; after all, Brody wanted this contractual relationship, and she had emphasized it.

But maybe it was her mood? Her face seemed to grow colder.

She uttered, “Ah… right. Yes… that’s correct,” and gave him a faint smile.

“I’m fine after all.”

“But… your body…”
His damn body! He’s not going to freeze to death right now! If he was really dying, he would have done something. He just needs to hold on for tonight. Worried he can’t even do that? Why is he so anxious? It’s not like he’s looking after a child!

Although Brody knew that Aiden was worried about her, his vague affection felt somehow cruel, and she became irritated.

“It’s fine!”

She hadn’t shouted that loudly, but the serene winter night of the north amplified her voice.

Restlessness and intermittent murmurs leaked from each tent, then quiet returned.

Brody, still unsettled by her emotions and the unintended disturbance, bit her lip.

After quickly gathering her thoughts, she opened her mouth.

“I’m sorry, I…”

But Aiden abruptly stood up without accepting her apology.

Brody stared at his retreating back, despondent.

‘A mess.’

A mess. She’d drawn a line to do her job well. She’d never made a mistake like this before, letting her emotions cause a scene. She was confused and angry with herself.

What would the knights think? They say the lady from the central region is divine or something, but she’s actually causing turmoil? They might get worried about her.

Her mind was spinning. The anxiety caused by being a princess, and the biting cold, seemed to maliciously chew at her heart.

Brody curled up once more and pulled her robe’s hood tightly over her head.

She wouldn’t cry, absolutely not.

Biting her lip hard, she suppressed her emotions.

She just has to do better from now on. She can make amends. She has to.

As she was steadying herself, a sudden thump! sound came from beside her.

Startled, Brody almost bit through her lip. What was that noise?

Thump-thump-thump. A series of uniform sounds were heard a few more times, too close to Brody to ignore.

‘What…what is this?’

Brody’s eyes widened in disbelief at the sight.

A tree had suddenly sprouted in front of her.

‘A tree… sprouted?’

She quickly assessed the situation.

The tree wasn’t the result of her going mad.

To be precise, the tree hadn’t “sprouted;” it had been “planted.”

Aiden had gone to a nearby forest, picked out a tree of an appropriate size, and “planted” it next to her.

Unable to speak, Aiden scratched his neck and said to Brody,

“Lean against this and sleep. Um… if you’re still uneasy, you can tie yourself to it. Then you can sleep close to the bonfire.”

“……”

With that, he plopped down a water bag. Somehow, it was radiating warm heat again.

“Hold this tightly. If it gets cold, tell me or, um…, there’s a pot over there. You can boil snow if you’re short on water.”

Aiden, softly explaining, seemed nervous despite his calm voice.

Although others might not notice, Brody quickly did.

He was anxious, perhaps worrying that she would feel burdened.

Brody bit her lip again. This time not to hold back tears, but for a different reason.

He made her angry by being kind, and now he was making her want to cry by being kind.

Not receiving a response to his well-thought-out solution, Aiden grew anxious. Is this not it? What should I do then?

As he stood there, anxiously expressionless, people began to gather around them.

It was the knights.