Being a prisoner was better than being just a commoner, not only ‘the Duke’s meal, the spy who went to kill the Grand Duke’ but now she was also ‘the botanist desired by the princess.’ It was clear she would bring turmoil to the royalty and the North.

At her sigh, Ian’s throat trembled. It seemed like he swallowed in tension.

Brody, avoiding his gaze, asked, “But… is it okay?”

Ian’s expression hardened at her mosquitolike voice.

He’d heard her properly due to his keen hearing, but for some reason, he felt like he had to ask again.

“What did you say, Brody?”

Brody answered, her face turning red.

“…Is it okay… If I…”

“So… that is, your words mean. So…! Are you saying you’ll go to the North with me?”

“…Yes. If it’s okay.”

“No, it is, it must be. How many times have I asked you to come to the North?”

“…But the situation is different now. It’s not just an ordinary person going, it’s botanist Brody. Besides, the princess knows about my abilities. If you take me… there might be potential turmoil…”

“We have long broken off with the royalty. It’s nothing for you to worry about. We have already won in the war, there’s nothing to be considerate about.”

“…”

Brody sighed once more.

“…Thank you.”

“That’s what I should be saying.”

He spoke with a lively tone for the first time in a while, the corners of his eyes crinkling.

How could those sharp, brusque eyes change so softly, she thought, looking into his eyes, astonished.

He leaned in, smiling blissfully, and kissed the fingers he had been holding.

“I’ll do it well. I’ll make you the happiest woman in the world with all my might.”

“…Ah.”

Hmm, Brody, who still had something to say, let out a short sigh.

She had to respond to his emotion.

Brody drew closer and gently pushed Ian, who had been about to caress her cheek.

There was something she had to say before the mood became even more tender.

“I… Your Highness, I’ll go to the North, but…”

“…?”

Ian nodded his head, gesturing for her to speak at ease.

She was coming to the North, she was coming with him, what could possibly be the problem?

If Brody wanted fur, he would capture the softesthaired Lishura to keep her warm, and if she wanted a castle, he was ready to build the most magnificent one ever seen in the North.

Brody hesitated, despite his active willingness, and said, “I mean, I’ll go for 3 years.”

“Huh? What are you talking about? 3 years?”

“Just 3 years, please protect me for exactly 3 years.”

“…Huh? What does that mean? Why only 3 years…?”

“I think that should be enough time for me to find a way to protect myself.”

Yurik slightly furrowed his brows and tilted his head.

“But to maintain a marriage for only 3 years…”

“Ah, yes. So, Your Highness, what I mean is… I only ask for your protection… not marriage…”

Brody’s voice became quieter again.

Yurik’s face turned red, mistakenly thinking that she had accepted his proposal.

It would be embarrassing for him, but it couldn’t be helped. It was clear that simply leaving would create confusion. How could he give up his seat beside her?

Moreover, he had not expected the princess and Jax to act this way. If she became the Duke’s concubine, it would give them an excuse to torment the North. From their current actions, it didn’t seem like they would stop anytime soon.

Then it would be better not to go to the North in the first place… but it wasn’t as if he could simply give up and die.

He liked her. But, she couldn’t become the Duke’s concubine. That was the conclusion she had reached.

After experiencing what she did at the hands of Jax, her resolve had only strengthened. She realized that the position of the Duke’s concubine was not her place. It was terrifying and frightening.

It was a position where one had to take on too great a responsibility. Fending off all kinds of schemes, dealing with enemies both inside and outside, risking one’s life in a position where one couldn’t guarantee safety.

If she worked hard, she could live well. But that was the level of ‘busy, busy, modern society’ lived by the ordinary citizen ‘Doyeon.’ Governing a country, it was all too overwhelming.

Not long ago, she had confidence. She knew the content of the original work, had come from a more developed civilization, and was a botanist.

She thought she could manage somehow and had taken the position of the Duke’s concubine lightly. It was not about whether she could or could not, but whether she would or would not. That was the proof.

But it revealed that it was a truly baseless confidence. Who would have thought she would be taken so easily by Jax?

How many unforeseen dangers would target her in the future? For Yurik’s sake and for her own sake, she knew that refusing the position of the Duke’s concubine was the right thing.

After all, people must live a life that fits their measure. Without wavering, she should carry out her plan to live a peaceful old age.