Brody closely examined his gray eyes. It seemed that he was genuinely unable to remember due to confusion.

“Yes, by some woman.”

“Woman? What in the world… Are you saying I was attacked by a woman?”

“…”

Yes… he used to get attacked by women quite often.

But for Brody’s sake and to preserve his dignity, she didn’t answer truthfully. Well, not verbally. River stiffened his face when he saw the expression that came to her mind.

He asked again, “Was it an assassin?”

“…”

Once again, Brody didn’t verbally answer him. Instead, she nodded lightly.

River’s expression became even more grim.

Brody decided to offer an excuse on River’s behalf.

“But she attacked from behind. The Chief of Staff was busy talking with me.”

“Was I talking with Lady?”

“Yes, she came to this accommodation, thinking there was something to discuss… Don’t you remember?”

Brody thought he wouldn’t remember, but she asked cautiously, seeming worried.

River covered his forehead with one hand, looking quite bewildered. Seeing him so confused made her feel a twinge of conscience.

“…”

Well… no, actually, not that much. Just a little.

‘I used the dream leaf to save River.’

If she hadn’t used her ability, things could have been much worse.

“But…”

River, who had been lost in thought with his head in his hands, looked back at Brody and asked, “Yes, go ahead and ask.”

Brody readily accepted his approach.

“Is Lady okay? She was attacked while being with me.”

“Thank you for your concern. I’m fine.”

How is she fine? River looked at Brody suspiciously, his eyes full of doubt.

After sighing, Brody answered, “I was deeper inside, so I could avoid the initial attack. The Chief of Staff, who was hit by a sword at that time… After that, I…”

“I fainted right after being hit by a sword?”

“…Yes.”

“…”

River expressed disbelief, then groaned while holding his forehead again.

The person who should protect Lady fainted from a single sword in front of her. It was an endlessly shameful behavior.

“It’s possible, as there can be a moment of shock. Don’t worry too much. I haven’t told anyone other than Your Excellency.”

“Then, did Your Excellency save me?”

“No, I did. Somehow…”

“…”

Now River even bit his lips firmly. Not only did he fail to protect Lady, but the Chief of Staff, who should be protected by Lady, also fainted after a single sword?

Moreover, saying that she hadn’t told anyone about it to protect his pride, and the fact that she was saying these words as ‘Brody,’ made it even more humiliating.
Even she feigned concern, saying she had no intentions.

“Well, River, she wasn’t trained. She was a woman and seemed mentally weak. She somehow managed to run away. It’s luck, just luck.”

At that point, River’s pride was already shattered.

‘This woman. She’s definitely doing it on purpose. Deliberately! Intentionally making my heart heavy!’

Whether River’s speculation was true or not, there was no way to prove it, but Brody was smiling kindly. The smile felt even more unsettling.

Brody stood up from her seat, pushed his shoulder with one hand, and supported his back with the other, saying, “Come on, let’s talk about it after I get better. The patient needs to rest.”

“Uh…”

Under Brody’s touch, River weakly slumped back onto the bed.

But his confusion didn’t end there. Brody suddenly lifted his upper garment.

“Hey, where is it appropriate for a woman to touch a man’s body!”

River tried to grab the hem of his clothes, attempting to pull it down. It was a reflexive response.

However, Brody’s reaction this time was not as graceful as her previous kind attitude. She looked at him with a bewildered expression.

“I didn’t expect the Chief of Staff to say such things.”

“……?”

With a perplexed expression, River looked at Brody, holding the hem of his clothes.

“Right. The most reasonable person in the North seems to be looking for something. Are there any gender differences in medical procedures?”

“…….?”

River couldn’t answer.

Certainly, he thought so too. In a crisis situation, if the other person could provide treatment, regardless of gender, species, or whatever, he would accept it.

So, only in a ‘crisis situation.’

‘Right now… that’s not the case!’

But saying that only in a crisis situation meant it was less rational. It wasn’t because he felt uncomfortable emotionally and refused.

River was surprised at how radical Brody was and embarrassed by his own shallowness. He thought he was quite radical, but reacting with such a conventional response was unexpected! It was humiliating.

Actually, Brody was used to a different way of thinking because she was a modern person, but River had no way of knowing that.

Although her words were reasonable…

‘…….’

Somehow, River found it hard to let go of the hem of his clothes.

While his uncomfortable emotions and thoughts were struggling, Brody spoke. She was making a considerate expression, looking like she cared for River. An expression that seemed to show empathy.

“If it’s your first time being touched by a woman, I’m sorry. It can be confusing. I understand.”

“~~~~~!”

Whether he understood or not, it was a clear provocation.

Trembling, River, holding the hem of his clothes, said, ”
“It’s not like that! It’s just… I didn’t know if Her Majesty could provide treatment. I was anxious! Shouldn’t I know if it’s someone I can entrust my precious body to?”

“Yes, Chief of Staff has quite the ability to save people. I’ve been treating him until now. His Majesty knows too. In this village, they say I’m the most skilled healer.”

Brody replied with a sweet adult smile, as if saying, “Oh, my child, I’ll let you be deceived.”

‘Even though she talked about gender differences earlier, she excuses herself with this~.’

But Brody decided to stop teasing him.

There was still a need to seek River’s understanding for “Caleb’s incident.”