Fortunately, with the dim light, her embarrassment might not have been noticed. Otherwise, her face would have turned red with embarrassment.

“Ah, well. Yeah, that’s right. I overlooked that. Sure, sure.”

After hastily making excuses, he began his explanation.

Listening to Aidan’s detailed explanation, Brody gradually felt drowsy.

She had requested the explanation, and she had to listen attentively until the end since she would face the Coral Marquis tomorrow.

However, as soon as the explanation concluded, she collapsed onto the bed.

“B-Brody?”

“I’m too drowsy, Your Highness. I need to rest now.”
Worried that there might be something wrong with her body, Aidan, upon realizing that she had simply laid down due to sleepiness, let out a relieved sigh. However, it was too early for such relief. Soon after, Brody’s persuasion reached him.

“Your Highness, please lie down as well.”

“…….”.

Aidan, who was in the process of taking off his cloak and arranging the simple armor, abruptly stopped his movements. Stammering, he added, “Didn’t I say it? It’s awkward for me to do that.”

Brody blinked her eyes and mumbled, “So, will Your Highness continue to sleep uncomfortably today as well?”

They had many conversations today, and she had unraveled some of the tangled issues. However, that didn’t mean the problems had disappeared; they were just shared as problems.

Brody understood Aidan, but still, she couldn’t accept his choice.

“Caleb couldn’t stand being in his room any longer. With the excuse that married couples should use the same bedroom, he drove me out. Moreover, Lady Murphy is here, making it even worse. So, I think I should sleep in this room again… If Your Highness sleeps uncomfortably because of me, I’ll feel too apologetic.”

Aidan blinked at the unexpected revelation.

“So, you mean you gave up your comfortable sleep for me.”

“Not that it was very effective. Why do you look more tired as the days go by?”

“…….”.

Well, he probably thought I was avoiding him because I was angry. So, he might think that I’m avoiding him for fear that something might happen between us, like it did with his ex-wife.

Moreover, since it wasn’t visible, it made him even more anxious. While focusing on Brody’s every move without anyone knowing, he almost couldn’t sleep, fearing that something might happen if he relaxed, just like before.

Brody, who had collapsed onto the bed due to the overwhelming drowsiness, felt her mind clear up as the conversation with Aidan continued.

‘Well, there’s no helping it. Let’s pull ourselves together.’

She wanted to resolve things today somehow. Brody spoke methodically.

“Your Highness, this can’t continue. If you feel tired with me around or without me, wouldn’t it be better for me to be there?”

“No, it’s not because of you. I…”

“I understand. It’s Your Highness’s issue. But I’m the trigger, right? Then how about I give you Mesura like before? So you can sleep soundly?”

“I don’t want that.”

That won’t do. If he falls into a deep sleep, how will I protect Brody in case of any unforeseen circumstances?

Aidan firmly shook his head.

“I’ll figure something out. I’m fine sleeping on the couch. Don’t worry about it.”

“How can I not worry? Your well-being is directly linked to the security of the North. Haven’t you noticed people keeping an eye on you these past few days?”

“I know, but I can’t respond to everyone individually.”
“Even if Your Highness doesn’t care, I do. Whether it’s headaches or our relationship, there have been talks about you paying attention to me.”

“…….”.

“If it were a trivial matter, I could overlook it too. But it’s a problem that really needs improvement. We have to live like this for three years. I can’t let Your Highness stay tired like this for three years. Of course, when the time comes after three years, we can pretend that we separated and made wishes to each other, but… it’s not the time now. It’s a crucial moment.”

Aidan couldn’t respond to Brody’s detailed words because she was right.

But what should he do? He couldn’t control these racing thoughts.

Even looking directly at her lying on the bed was difficult.

Today, riding together, escorting her, being closer than usual, he keenly felt it.

The closer he was to her, the more he felt her breath, the more he was intoxicated by her scent, the weaker his self-control became. And today, he had already reached the borderline.

“Endure it.”

“……!”

Did he just think that? Was that right? Aidan’s heart almost dropped to the floor at Brody’s words, as if she had read his mind.

“I saw that you endured well before. On our first night of marriage…”

“……!”

It was the story of that day when Aidan had tempted her first, but she rejected him. Just the mention of it made Aidan feel embarrassed, so he lowered his head deeply.

“Or you can take turns sleeping on the couch with me. That might be better.”

Seeing him helpless, Brody hit the nail on the head.

“If you refuse again, I’ll do everything I can. If I want to, putting Your Highness to sleep is an easy task, you know?”

“……!”

In the end, Aidan raised both hands.

If Brody decided to put him to sleep, there was a possibility that she might do it without knowing what kind of danger might come to her.

That was absolutely, absolutely not allowed.

“Alright, alright. I’ll try to make an effort.”

Brody smiled, lying back down with satisfaction, her body slanting again, propping her arm on the bed and looking at Aidan.

Aidan, feeling dissatisfied with her very satisfied appearance, unexpectedly felt a surge of dissatisfaction.

“But in return, you shouldn’t approach me first. But if not, I’ll do my best somehow.”

“Oh my, when did I ever do such a thing?”

“…….”.

Aidan didn’t respond.

Thinking that he might be upset, Brody laughed.

“Anyway, don’t worry because I won’t do that.”

Saying that, Brody tapped the space next to her with her hands. It meant for him to lie down.

“Starting from today.”

“Starting from today.”

Aidan still looked dissatisfied.

Nevertheless, as far away as possible, he lay down diagonally on the bed, showing his back to Brody.

But even so, Brody was satisfied.
However, the problem arose elsewhere.

The effort to persuade him had completely robbed Brody of her sleep.

In the end, not only Aidan but also Brody ended up staying up almost the entire night.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Both of you, why do you look so exhausted?”

Sitting in the conference room, Brody continuously yawning and Aidan with dark circles under her eyes, River furrowed his eyebrows.