“Yeah. When the time comes, you’ll tell me.”

“….”

Ha… he really…

Brody mentally shook her head.

It was true. She had explained it. She had explained that she was worried about him. She knew that the man trusted her so much, but she couldn’t understand why.

He knew from the start that she had infiltrated the enemy to assassinate him. He knew she was a spy for the Duke. Even now, she was acting in a way that was hard to understand, surrounding the person who attacked the chief of staff.

Brody tried to be as honest as possible in her storytelling.

Her trust in Caleb, the woman who was now lying down, originated from the information in the novel, so it was unknown how convincing she could be without that part.
“Your Excellency, do you remember when I said I only had a ‘face-to-face’ encounter with that woman earlier?”

“Mm.”

Seeing Brody start the conversation while sitting at the end of the bed, Idan pulled a chair from the table and sat in front of her.

He could have taken a defensive stance or asked her to explain with fists clenched, but he tilted his upper body slightly forward, eager to listen carefully to Brody’s words.

“The woman’s name is ‘Caleb Miller.’ She was the Duke’s lady-in-waiting.”

Idan’s eyes widened.

“The Duke? The Duke of McCassey?”

He seemed to be sensitive to the Duke’s story, and indeed, as expected, Brody’s tone slowed down with a positive nod in response to his question.

“It’s a bit awkward to say we know each other. Anyway, I recognize her face. She probably knows my face too.”

“Both being the Duke’s subordinates, why do you only know her face?”

Brody laughed bitterly.

“She wasn’t a maid or a lady, so I couldn’t interfere anywhere. When Duke Jax hid me, I thought it was because I was special. Now, I think he was trying to isolate me. Well, anyway.”

When she spoke about her position within the Duke’s household, Idan’s face blurred. So, she quickly interrupted herself and returned to the main topic.

“During the war between the North and the Empire, Caleb was dismissed from her position as a lady-in-waiting. It was because she was from the North.”

“The North? Was she from the North?”

“Yes, her husband was a knight who died early, so she came down to the capital to find work. It seems she rose through the ranks due to her abilities, becoming a lady-in-waiting and gaining a good reputation. So, I roughly know about her.”

“So, she was from the North. I understand why she was expelled from the Duke’s house. But it raises more questions. Why did she attack River? If it’s revenge, shouldn’t it be directed towards the Empire or the Duke?”

Brody nodded.

“I’m also puzzled by that part. Maybe, rather than specifically targeting someone, she ran towards anyone because her mental state wasn’t intact.”

“Even so, it’s extremely dangerous.”

“Sigh…”

True words. So, Brody sighed.

“It can’t be excused as an event just because she wasn’t in her right mind. But at least… I want to provide treatment.”

Idan hesitated for a moment, stroking his chin before responding.

“Do you really need to do that?”

Brody was slightly surprised by his cold words. It was an unexpected reaction considering his usual compassionate nature towards the people.

Idan continued.

“That woman probably harbors resentment towards the Duke’s household. So, if she recognizes you, she might try to take revenge.”

“Do I look like someone from the Duke’s household?”

Brody let out a bitter laugh.
“It might be a pity for Your Excellency, but… not really. However, from that woman’s perspective, who knows.”

“No, it’s neither a pity nor something unknown. Instead… it’s a similar situation. Betrayed by the Duke’s house.”

Idan’s gaze shook slightly.

Brody didn’t miss the opportunity to speak.

“It seems to weigh even more on me because it overlaps with my situation… I’m sorry. I know it’s not something to discuss with Your Excellency in the current state of the Chief of Staff.”

This is a lie. Brody felt concern for Caleb due to her past, not for the reason she mentioned.

Feeling a bit sorry, she used a method appealing to Idan’s empathy. After all, it was an event involving one person’s life.

Idan responded, “Don’t worry about River. It’s not a life-threatening wound. It’s embarrassing for a soldier to be struck by a sword swung recklessly by an untrained woman, especially risking the life of the Grand Duchess. There’s nothing to say, and even indebted my life to the Grand Duchess, the one I should protect. It’s shameful.”

“…”

Really? Listening to him, it seemed like a reasonable statement.

From Caleb’s perspective, it might be regrettable to River, but for Brody, he could be considered the benefactor of her life.

Brody smiled with a brightened gaze, thinking she could make good use of him in the future.

“But is it okay to use your power like that?”

Idan asked. Brody understood what he meant and nodded in response.

“Yes, it’ll be fine. Probably…”

The ‘probably’ at the end was added like a mosquito sound.

Idan’s eyebrows twitched, but Brody pretended not to notice and smiled slyly.

“Then, let’s proceed with the treatment. If she needs to be punished, it can be done after she regains her sanity… Is that acceptable?”

“Let it be so. If I learn more about the woman from the villagers, why she came to this village, it might be good to know.”

“Yes, if you find out anything, please let me know. Oh, of course, if you’re allowed to do so.”

“Well, of course. Didn’t I say I trust you?”

Blushing, Brody laughed and slipped into the blanket.

“I’ll go to bed early since I have to switch with Teddy in the morning.”

After eating dinner with the menu that helped with the hangover, thanks to the medicine she made, and sharing the bed with Teddy, her fatigue from consecutive events, the wounds from the Princess’s attack, and the various banquets, all piled up. Soon, she fell asleep.

Watching her peacefully sleeping, Idan sighed.

Does she know? Does she realize that what she’s doing now is so exemplary, fitting for a ‘Grand Duchess’?

He went to the sofa instead of the bed. And after tossing and turning with various thoughts, he fell into a short sleep.

“Your Excellency! Your Excellency!”
And at dawn, Idan abruptly opened his eyes due to a sudden disturbance. Brody was shaking his shoulders to wake him.

As this was an unusual occurrence, Idan, startled, felt a chill in his spine, wondering if something had happened to her. His neck bristled with surprise.

“Your Excellency! I’m injured. Please treat this for me.”

Before his eyes, Brody’s injured finger was visible. She grimaced as she brought the wound close to his mouth.

Idan was taken aback by the fact that she was injured and hurriedly licked her finger.

With a cold sensation circulating, the small wound at the tip of his finger disappeared without a trace.

Then, Brody smiled gracefully, expressed her gratitude, and turned away.

“……”

What’s this?

“……!”

He realized a moment late.

He fell victim to Brody’s trickery.

“How could this happen?”

“Is asking for such a minor treatment that inconvenient? It’s pitiful.”

“……”

Idan closed his mouth at her nonchalant and indifferent demeanor. Even though he knew it was intentional, somehow, he couldn’t find more words to say.

She had employed a clever trick to feed him her blood.

“Go sleep in the bed.”

Saying that, she left the room.

Idan helplessly stared at the door as it closed gently.