“But I didn’t do it on purpose. I really couldn’t ride then….”

Brody felt bitter following him in such a mood.

Black hair, thick neck and shoulders with muscles, a flexible waist in harmony with the horse’s movements, and thighs trained for combat.

Her gaze kept going to his back, and it felt somewhat uncomfortable.

“Is it strange, or should I say unfamiliar?”

Come to think of it, this was the first time she’d seen his back for so long. Ian had always been holding Brody, facing her, or just being there for her.

She was dressed warmly and was driving the horse herself, so she shouldn’t have been cold, but somehow Brody felt empty behind her back and slightly shivered.

Seems like it became a habit to be close to him.

“Snap out of it. I said I would work for the North, so why be so dependent?”

Brody shook her head and looked straight ahead.

Still, his back as he became one with the horse Kai seemed like a scene from a movie, and she had to focus to keep her eyes from wandering.

So, she raced mindlessly for a while. Although it was much slower than when Ian usually drove the horse alone, Brody started to feel overwhelmed.

Just when she was about to call him to stop, fortunately, they saw the inn.

“We’ll arrive soon.”

Brody nodded at his words.

Upon entering the village, the horse’s pace slowed down.

A lodging came into view shortly in the not-so-large village.

“Whoa, whoa.”

Upon seeing Ian stop, Brody pulled the reins and involuntarily moaned. Tonight, muscle pain was guaranteed.

As she was about to dismount, Ian effortlessly helped her down by the waist.

“Ah.”

It was nothing compared to the closeness they’d been sharing.

Is it because she felt empty from the ride?

His sudden touch made Brody feel awkward.

“……Thank you.”

Once on the ground, Brody took an unintentional step back.

Her waist slipped out of his hand smoothly.

Ian might have noticed the subtle movement.

He looked at Brody for a moment before pulling his hand back.

“Are you okay?”

“Uh, I think I’ll feel better after some sleep.”

Ian smiled, as if saying not to worry too much, even if her words were insincere.

A staff member quickly took care of their luggage and horses, so they were able to enter their lodging immediately.

The inn, not a commercial city one but of a quiet border village, felt much cozier. A rich scent of cedar filled the log-built accommodation.

There was no separate bathroom, but there was a curtain in one corner and a bathtub ready.

Brody bathed in the warm water brought by the staff. Lifting her legs into the tub and sitting down was tough due to muscle pain, but once submerged, she felt worn out yet alive.

Ian was reviewing documents at the table behind the curtain.

He must have a lot to do.

‘He’d usually have me within reach.’

Was it because they had come quite far north? Ian seemed slightly more relaxed regarding danger.

They’d also moved away from Jax’s sphere of influence, and the power of the ice spirit seemed stronger.

‘Is it fortunate……?’

Right. It’s fortunate, but–

‘Why do I feel lonely……?’

Her feelings were quite ambivalent.

Brody half-submerged her face in the bathtub and hugged her body.

‘But, you see.’

Let’s say being apart is one thing. But somehow, um.

‘Should I say it feels awkward?’
Why was that? She racked her brain, trying to find a reason.

‘Could it be that he’s upset? Because I lied about not being able to ride? Or is he disappointed because I said I’d stand on my own?’

Both seemed plausible.

Suppressing a groan due to muscle soreness, Brody laboriously lifted one leg after the other to get out of the tub, got dressed, and headed straight to bed.

Without a second thought, Ian chuckled as he watched Brody flop onto the bed.

“Skipping dinner?”

“Sleep comes first. Don’t mind me; go ahead and eat.”

Brody mumbled, her head buried in the pillow.

“Does it hurt a lot?”

Startled, Brody shivered at the sudden, deep baritone of Ian coming from right next to her.

He came beside the lying Brody and sat on the bed.

The bed frame squeaked conspicuously.

“Using muscles you haven’t used in a while must be tough. You should relax them so you won’t suffer tomorrow.”

“What? Huh?”

Without hesitation, Ian placed his hand on Brody’s shoulder.

His large hand made her body seem tiny. He expertly kneaded her stiff muscles.

“Ow.”

Muscles that had tensed while holding the reins conveyed pain to Brody.

‘But why does this feel so awkward?’

His hand moved from her shoulder down to her back and waist.

Brody clasped her hands and placed her forehead on them, burying her face between.

‘Well, at least it seems the mood has lifted.’

His touch remained gentle. He was cautious and considerate, making sure not to hurt her.

Brody lay still, her face buried in the blanket, confused at her own sense of relief from his touch.

“Ouch!”

Her momentary confusion was soon erased by the pain of her aching thighs and calves.

Despite trying to hold back, she let out a near scream. It was enough to bring tears to her eyes.