Brody oscillated ceaselessly between the heat of emotion and the chill of reason.

If I could continue to be with him like this, this life wouldn’t be so bad.

But what will happen when we arrive in the North?

Brody gently opened her eyes. Through her blurry eyelashes, she saw his lovely forehead deeply furrowed.

How wonderful it would be to have this man entirely to myself. Then, I’d have nothing more to wish for.

Just as she was about to brush her hand against his cheek, Brody hesitated and stopped.

Her reason began to betray her emotions.

I can never continue like this with him. He’ll become the Duke of the North and won’t be able to live as Aidan.

‘Don’t let the sweetness of the moment lead you into the abyss.’

Her reason scolded her several times.

The touch of his hand holding her was so hot and intense that Brody sobered up to the unfamiliar sensation.

She abruptly grabbed his wrist.

“Ah, it hurts, Your Highness.”

“Ah.”

A cold light flickered in his blue eyes that had been ablaze. He snapped back to his senses.

“Sorry, I thought I was holding you gently.”

Not missing a beat, Brody twisted her body.

She adjusted her disheveled clothes and thought,

It’s only for three years. No more than that.

I have to stick with him until we head North.

Once we go North, we’ll be purely formal.

‘Get a grip, Brody. You can’t afford to give in.’

Brody glanced back at Aidan, who was fidgeting awkwardly.

She spoke as faintly as she could.

“I’m sorry. I’m tired… I want to rest.”

“Ah, um.”

He looked embarrassed and flustered.

Unable to overcome his own heat, he eventually got up from his seat.

“I’ll, I’ll sleep on the floor. That’s better, right? You said you were cold. I’ll go get more blankets.”

Creak, bang. The sound of the door echoed, revealing his discomposure.

Brody sighed in regret. She had pushed him away, and yet she couldn’t help but feel sorry… and honestly, a bit regretful.

‘No, no regrets! This is crazy. I can’t keep doing this. I need to wrap up the unfinished story quickly. To prevent something like this from happening. I have to make a decision before we cross the fortress.’

Aidan, who had gone outside after opening and closing the door, leaned on it for a moment. He needed time to calm his body and mind.

Looking back at the recent events, he felt unbearably embarrassed.

Brody had called him to bed because she was really cold, but he misunderstood and coveted her.

Why is it so clumsy? Blaming his own awkwardness, he slapped his forehead a few times.

Still, still though, it seemed like she was truly accepting him. Remembering the way her heart had adorably pounded in his presence, he couldn’t help but smile slyly.

‘Once we go to the North, I’ll make her a greenhouse. Insulation artifacts won’t be hard to get. Though it’ll take quite a lot to heat an entire building, it’s doable. I’ll hunt down a hundred Lishura if I have to. In that place, Brody can live comfortably and freely.’

Imagining her lying around leisurely surrounded by plants, a smile naturally formed on his face.

When he returns after a peaceful day, she’ll greet him warmly.

It’s embarrassing, but… she did say she liked my face and body. Let’s not forget that part and keep appealing.

With future plans in mind, Aidan ran to fetch the blankets.

The next day, Brody engaged in vigorous walking exercises.

Since they were traveling by boat, it was a rare leisurely time. There was no chance Jack would emerge from the sea, so it was a moment of peace.

“Huah.”

“You worked hard.”

Despite Aidan’s initial protests to her resting, he ultimately gave in to her stubbornness. Of course, after her stubbornness broke, he actively helped her.
Fortunately, the discomfort of last night had been resolved like this. After all, they were two people who had to stick together.

Aidan took out a linen cloth and carefully wiped the beads of sweat that had formed on her forehead.

Brody, who initially accepted his touch, wondering if it would make him uncomfortable, soon pushed his hand away, recalling her thoughts from last night.

“It’s fine now, Iㅎ… Honey.”

“……”

Damn, she tried to cut it off but ended up making another slip of the tongue. Her face flushed slightly at the term “Honey,” which she used instead of “Your Majesty.”

‘Ugh, I need to tell him I don’t want to be his wife. Timing is never easy.’

Sighing, Brody leaned on the railing for a brief respite.

“Ah! Ahhhh!”

Just then, a white robe fluttered beside the railing next to Brody.

‘What, what is this?’

Due to the sudden commotion, not just Brody and Aidan, but all the people on the deck looked over.

On the railing of the ship, a delicate woman was flailing, half of her body leaning outward.

“Oh.”

“Kyaaa!”

“Whoa!”

As her flailing body leaned outward about to fall, screams erupted from the spectators.

‘She’s falling!’

As her center of gravity tilted outward, Brody instinctively sprouted a vine, invisible to the eyes of the people.

The vine coiled around the falling woman’s thigh.