“Anyway, seeing how they’re desperately looking for you, there must be a reason.”

“Then they wouldn’t have missed it in the first place. They said they were ignored when they were there.”

“…?”

Brody, who had been confidently retorting, suddenly stopped her response.

In that silence, River flinched. He strongly felt that she might have made a verbal mistake.

Brody lowered her gaze, blinked her eyes several times, and, having memories from the original Brody, understanding her, Brody could empathize with that pain.

So, Brody was pierced by pain in her heart upon hearing River’s words. It was something she didn’t realize herself.

Taking a deep breath, Brody replied, “That’s right. Ignored? No, let’s call it abuse. Since I was young, they evaluated and trained me as a worthless human. They ingrained the ridiculous idea that if it’s not yourself, there’s no one else who would pick you up and used me.”

“…”

The woman who always behaved indifferently now had a refreshing expression, making it much more noticeable. River felt that she was feeling guilty.

Brody continued, “So, I didn’t even think of leaving. It’s not enough of an answer, is it?”

Suddenly, Idan, who had approached her, gently enveloped her shoulders. Brody was surprised, but she didn’t push him away.

Even though there were still problems to be resolved between them, he was worried about Brody.

The awkward touch, unfamiliar with comforting, felt surprisingly warm. Especially for Brody, who was not used to receiving comfort.

In this way, a moment of silence passed.

Since River wasn’t showing any reaction, Brody, to freshen up the situation, opened her mouth again.

“Don’t make such serious faces. Seeing them desperately seeking you, I also think that I wasn’t wrong. Wouldn’t it be proof enough that I have enough value?”

River looked at Brody, who smiled and spoke, with a faint smile. She had a firm, unwavering face.

River brought up the question again.

“Are you trying to seek revenge?”

At this question from River, Idan also listened intently. It was a question he was curious about as well.

Revenge…? Since she hadn’t thought deeply about the issue, Brody tapped her lips to organize her thoughts before answering.

“Well, it’s not that.”

Honestly, if you asked her if she disliked the Marquisate, it would be more than enough to say she did. If it were the original Brody, she might have wanted to seek revenge driven by resentment. No, she lived her whole life being manipulated without even thinking about revenge.

But for the current Brody, it was just a hassle. There wasn’t even a little hatred or resentment in her to take revenge.
“What I want is something close to ‘something I don’t want to get involved in.’ However, you don’t just leave it alone.”

Saying so, Brody glanced briefly at Idan.

The gaze that indicated the entity not leaving her alone was not only the Empire but also the North.

Understanding the meaning, Idan made a sulky expression.

‘Ugh, no wonder I can’t hate her freely.’

Brody smiled bitterly and nodded.

“So, I have no other choice. I’ve decided to work for the North, and I’ll do my best.”

“Without leaning towards the Empire.”

“That’s right.”

River nodded.

“Alright, I understand. I agree that discussing future matters is more important.”

Idan inwardly sighed in relief.

He was worried about the embarrassment that might arise when arguing with River, but Brody intervened and easily resolved it.

Brody, who had a talent for being strict and crushing others, felt remarkable for standing against River.

“Honestly, I don’t know how much help the lady will be to the North, but since you’re enthusiastic, I’ll make the most of you.”

At River’s words, poking at her nerves, Brody lifted her chin with a relaxed smile.

“Making the most of me? When did I ask you to make the most of me? I think my abilities will be helpful, but it doesn’t mean I’ll follow the intentions of the Chief of Staff. It would be good for you to consider having a way to ask me for help if you need it. If I have to request something, I will decide on it specially considering the Chief of Staff’s request. That’s how it seems to be.”

Looking at River, who growled softly in response, Idan nodded again.

Indeed, he felt that River kept intervening strangely with Brody.

As Brody felt that it was natural to remove the fake dagger attached to her face, fortunately, Caleb gradually found stability.

After River, who had fully recovered, left the room first, things started to get better.

So Brody could have a sufficient conversation with Caleb.

She heard directly about her circumstances from the novel and also learned some stories she didn’t know.

For example, what kind of relationship she had with Mrs. Murphy, how the escape route was specific, and how she came to this Potato Village.

And Brody also told Caleb about what happened after his memory was cut off.

Of course, she had no memory of the ‘attack on Lieutenant Colonel River.’ So even she couldn’t explain why she attacked River at that time.

“I don’t know. I don’t know why I did that either. Maybe it was because I got emotional when I saw a man, or maybe I mistook him for an Imperial soldier…”

But having heard the explanation, Caleb, knowing what kind of things he had done, knew what a serious sin it was.
In the end, she knelt down in front of the Duke and Chief of Staff.

“I’m sorry. I admit to the serious crime, saying that I wasn’t in my right mind. I’ll accept any punishment.”

Brody stood next to the kneeling Caleb, clasping her hands tightly.

Idan asked, “Has your mind returned now?”

Brody answered on behalf, “Yes, but I don’t remember what happened at that time.”

“I see.”

River, the victim of the incident, leaned back comfortably in her chair, not taking her eyes off the documents, and asked Caleb, “You’re willing to accept any punishment?”