“…….”

Brody had to exert effort not to make a groaning sound.

Despite the sharp pain from the burn, the gentle touch running down his back made his mind feel dizzy.

Even though Aidan may not have any particular thoughts, the act felt too lascivious to Brody, the one being subjected to it.

Brody bit his lips tightly, gripping the bedsheet tightly.

“Does it hurt? Bear with it a little.”

Then, as if consoling her, Aidan gently rubbed her shoulders.

“Ugh…….,”

By now, Brody couldn’t tell if it hurt, if it was embarrassing, or if it was itchy.

He just hoped that the boiling heat in his head and body would quickly subside.

Aidan moved his lips thoughtfully.

‘Is it right to put her in danger like this?’

In fact, he knew it before proposing the contract.

Not making her his wife, the Duchess, but creating another husband for her under a different pretext.

He just pushed it out of his mind as if he didn’t know.

If that had been the case, she wouldn’t have been in danger because of her position.

No, …if I hadn’t pursued you.

So if I hadn’t gone down south with Jax to find you.

You would have lived freely without getting involved with anyone.

I didn’t know exactly where to start regretting.

Brody’s back, which seemed to be warming up with a warm energy, gradually became cold. As it did, the pain subsided significantly.

To Aidan, it seemed that the bruises had disappeared enough.

“Your Excellency, is it still…?”

Brody wiggled in Aidan’s hands, holding her body.

“It doesn’t hurt now…….”

“…….,”

Aidan gathered his lips and slowly moved away from her back.

Carefully using nonsense to hide his regret to her.

When there was a small friction sound, Brody sighed deeply.

And then, she quickly pulled up Schmitz.

Strangely, the pain was completely gone. It was a bit chilly due to the cool air, but that was it.

Looking at Brody’s back, Aidan cast a wistful glance.

But he helped her wear Blyo again and Shurko.

During that time, Aidan didn’t say a word for a long time. And even without saying anything, he stood there watching Brody, who was completely dressed.

‘Why isn’t he leaving? Wait, how does he know about it? River seemed to know that Your Excellency would come. Is this also the ability of the spirits?’

Brody also faced Aidan with an awkward posture, but soon turned away.

“Outside… We should clean up.”

It meant they had to clean up because of the mess they caused in the kitchen. It felt fortunate to have a reason to leave this suffocating atmosphere.

But Aidan called Brody, who was approaching the door.

“Brody.”

“…….,”

Why? As expected, his voice contained suppressed anger.
Brody turned slowly and asked calmly, preparing herself mentally to respond to the question about the ‘woman who tried to attack River.’

“Why?”

“Can you explain what this is?”

This? Brody shifted her gaze to see what he was referring to, held in his hand—a vial containing a red bead.

“That… is Your Excellency’s headache medicine.”

“…….,”

Aidan furrowed his eyebrows at her response.

Brody was puzzled. Why the headache medicine? Did he question why she worked even though she had told him to rest because of a hangover?

‘Why would he say anything to someone contracted to work?’

With a slightly challenging gaze reflecting her thoughts, she met his stern stare.

But in Brody’s questioning look, Aidan’s frown deepened even more. He asked sharply.

“What are the ingredients in this?”

Hmm. At his question, Brody momentarily erased her provocative gaze.

‘Why… is he asking? Why…?’

Trying to answer calmly, Brody said, suppressing her emotions.

“If I tell you, would you understand? Your Excellency was making herbal medicine…”

“Why keep it a secret?”

However, Aidan immediately blocked her explanation.

“Yes, now that I think about it, if it was herbal medicine, you would have left the formula when you left. But you only said you would send it again if the medicine ran out. …I should have noticed it then.”

Seeing Brody biting her lips, Aidan continued speaking.

“Just now, I saw it downstairs. Unwiped traces that haven’t been cleaned yet. There were many splatters of blood, but the blood on the kitchen counter had a different splash pattern. And the wound on your arm. The woman who tried to harm you didn’t cause that. It had already been treated. Then who caused that wound, and why?”

Brody’s expression darkened.

Ignoring her reaction, he drove the final question like a wedge.

“Tell me. Was this made from your blood?”

“…….,”

For a moment, Brody couldn’t answer. What should she say? Is it true? Is it not true? Should he know this fact? Is there a reason he shouldn’t?

Prompted by Aidan’s urgent eyes, Brody, who had been holding her breath, finally coldly spat out her words.

“Regardless of what it’s made of… does it matter?”

She didn’t intend to speak so harshly, but in an attempt to hide her embarrassment, it turned out that way.

Aidan raised one eyebrow at her reaction. Although his expression didn’t change much, it was clearly a sign of surprise.