I'm A Sucker For Extras - Chapter 37

Chapter 37

“Brody, please marry me.”

“…”

Brody couldn’t answer. She knew his heart too well. How much he desired her…

He couldn’t abandon the responsibility on his shoulders for the North, but he was willing to follow her to the extent of postponing that responsibility. He always gave his all to her.

“To protect you.”

“Your Grace…”

Brody’s eyebrows furrowed. Holding her in his arms, he clenched his fist tightly again. Then she felt the crumpling of the parchment at the end of the piece in his hand.

‘…I can’t let it get wrinkled.’

He released the strength in the fist that held the parchment.

As if giving up.

In this way, he made his “decision.”

Turning slowly towards her, he gently brushed her hair aside.

Brody looked at him with confusion. There seemed to be a loneliness in his eyes for some reason.

Finally, he spoke.

“For three years. I will protect you for three years.”

Saying so, he handed her the parchment.

“…What?”

‘For three years, he will protect me?’

‘What does that mean? ‘

“Uh…”

Brody felt a tug at her nose, seemingly involuntarily.

So, that meant not only would he marry her for her sake, but he would also divorce her. He was saying that after three years, he would let her go.

‘How. How could he do that? I know I’m asking for something ridiculous. I’m making selfish demands based on how much he cares about me.’

What he wanted was one thing. For Brody to be by his side.

When she said she didn’t want to take on the duties of a duchess, she knew Aidan meant it when he said he would do his best to prevent it. She also knew he was a man of action, not just words.

Of course, thinking she couldn’t avoid suffering due to practical limitations, Brody rejected him despite all that.

‘He was devoted to me, but I rejected him because I didn’t want to be devoted. But now he’s making such a proposal? ‘

This was what Brody wanted. But precisely because of that, she was even more hesitant about whether she could accept this proposal.

His sincere affection felt overwhelming.

Aidan, with a heavy expression, looked at her with a gaze that shook his eyes to match hers.

His mouth opened again. He spoke with a bright and mischievous tone.

“I’m not saying I’ll protect you for free. Look at the document.”

“…?”

Caught up in the emotions, Brody quickly unrolled the parchment.

At the top, three distinct characters, written in Aidan’s strong yet neat handwriting, were clearly visible.

“Contract?”

“As a condition for me protecting you, you must fulfill your duties for the North.”

“Ah…”

Brody rapidly read down the contract.

<Contract>

Aidan Mason and Brody May shall marry and maintain it for three years.

During that period, Aidan Mason shall ensure Brody May’s safety, and in return, Brody May shall work for the North.

After three years, the contract will be null and void, and Brody May will be free.

Aidan Mason guarantees the above content.

And at the end, there was the seal of the Duke of the North.

Brody lifted her head.

“Since you said you would work for the North first, it shouldn’t be too burdensome, right?”

“Yes, yes. That’s right.”

Brody read the contract several more times.

But why did his thoughts suddenly change?

Honestly, if he insisted, he could have kept her by his side for a lifetime. Anyway, Brody needed him, and he held the key.

“But, isn’t this contract a loss for you, My Lord?”

Brody asked cautiously.

If River found out about this contract, which had such an important position as the wife of the Duke of the North, it seemed like he wouldn’t leave her or Aidan alone.

Among the words about occupying the important position of the Duchess for three years, making the Duke divorced after that, and excluding herself from the contract…

“Is that so? Would you like me to erase it?”

“Oh, no!”

Brody hugged the parchment tightly to her chest, shaking her head.

With a wry smile, Aidan took out ink and a pen from the saddlebag and handed them to her.

It meant to sign if she agreed.

While Brody was signing, Aidan spoke.

“Loss, you say? A plant mage is coming to the famine-stricken North. I’ve been through enough negotiations myself.”

Although Brody was grateful for this proposal, his strangely businesslike attitude was unfamiliar.

He might be saying that for her not to feel burdened.

After finishing the signature and drying the ink, Brody looked at Aidan with a moving expression.

He tidied up his expressionless face.

“All done. Shall we go now?”

❖ ❖ ❖

Kaius continued to walk vigorously. The black horse, happy to be closer to the North, didn’t seem to tire, strong and steady.

With the help of the ice spirit, the surrounding scenery changed rapidly at an unimaginable speed.

So, around the evening of the next day, they reached the outskirts of Middle Trade City.

“I didn’t expect you to come so quickly. It’s an honor to meet you, Your Excellency.”

A lively young man with light brown hair was waiting for them on the town’s outskirts.

He seemed to have come out in a hurry; there was still white steam coming out of the horse’s mouth.

“I’ve only received the message an hour ago. How did you come so fast, like a dove?”

His name was Teddy Bell. He was the messenger dispatched by Aidan to inquire about Brody’s condition after passing through the Perdan Fortress.

Realizing that there was no need to convey unnecessary information upon seeing the woman in front of Aidan, he smiled.

Thanks to Teddy, they could quickly find a comfortable place to stay in the city.

After exchanging a few words with the hotel owner, Teddy quickly chatted with them and led them.

Even while climbing the stairs, he kept talking incessantly.

“Right now, the Duke is very popular in this town. Just the fact that I’m a messenger from the North makes people treat me favorably.”

However, Teddy’s chattering wasn’t meaningless; Aidan enjoyed listening to his gossip.

Although Aidan had advanced to the capital, he had treated the villages and towns between the fortress and the capital humanely.

The occupied villages were used as supply points for the Northern Army, but the amount of supply was no different from what the Imperial Army took when they stayed there.

Moreover, the Northern army, which had experienced soldiers, was more appreciated by the townspeople than the idle Imperial army.

Despite the truce, the victorious Northern army didn’t have great ambitions for the lands south of the Perdan Fortress.

A few administrators were left, and a light tax was collected. If the village was to be taken by the Imperial army, only the administrators would escape.

The village was satisfied with this treatment.

If they came again, they would surrender, and that would be that.

The town profited from trade between the north and the capital, so it had no choice but to bat a bit.

The Northern Duke frightened them so much because he was labeled as a barbarian. But he’s a gentleman, and he’s reasonable.

That’s how the North gained the favor of the Central villages.

“River is doing a good job.”

Aidan relaxed a little.

When they arrived in the North, Aidan would have to endure his nagging a bit.

“Anyway, Your Excellency. Now, this place is just like the land of the north. You should be able to stay comfortably with Madam.”

“Thank you.”

After Teddy quickly moved their belongings, he politely excused himself.

‘Even though they said the Northern Ice Duke is so frightening, he doesn’t seem difficult at all.’

Perhaps it was due to the way he looked at Brody affectionately when he spoke, but despite his expressionless face, the Duke seemed gentle.

Teddy stepped out with a newfound respect.

He would probably do everything Aidan had asked, and more, to get him ready to go north.

In his refreshed appearance, Aidan expressed satisfaction and turned his head.

Brody, who caught his gaze, was already sprawled on the bed.

“Ugh….”

She’d been confident that the priest’s healing and blessing had made her feel better, but even a healthy body couldn’t withstand a day and a half of riding like this.

‘No, isn’t it natural that it’s unbearable? ‘

Brodie defended herself against the unfair feeling.

‘It’s more strange that someone who hasn’t slept for a day and a half and has been running looks perfectly fine.’

Of course, she couldn’t voice these thoughts aloud, so she kept them in her mind.

“Brody, how about washing up and lying down?”

Brody lay diagonally on the bed, burying her face.

Aidan, removing his cloak and loosening his armor, spoke, “I heard they can prepare warm bathwater.”

Upon hearing this, Brody turned her head quickly, looking at Aidan.

Her green eyes sparkled and shone.

“Warm water?”

Aidan smiled at her reaction and replied, “Yes.”

Warm water? If they can have baths here, there must be enough water. Going further north, it might not be as easy to immerse oneself in warm water.

Brodie, torn between immediate sleep and a warm bath, finally said, “Ah… I can’t get up until someone helps me wash.”

“…”

Contemplating Brody’s response, Aidan called a hotel staffer to prepare the bathwater.

As a town developed through trade and commerce, accommodations were quite prosperous. The lodging that Teddy arranged seemed to be the finest in the hotel, as the bathroom was as spacious as rooms in other lodgings.

This should be comparable to the castles of most lords in the north. Once again amazed by the prosperity of the south, Aidan explored the room while waiting for the bathwater.

“Do you need bath amenities?” the staff asked.

“No need,” Aidan replied with a nod. The staff understood and left without further words.

“Have a pleasant time.”

The prepared staff politely exited the room.

‘A pleasant time.’ It was a standard greeting, but Aidan blushed unknowingly.

He walked over to Brody, who was sleeping uncomfortably on her stomach with her feet out of bed and no shoes on.

Brody didn’t move as he removed her shoes.

“Brody, your bath is ready.”

Sweeping away Brody’s disheveled hair that had spilled down, Aidan spoke.

Only then did Brody open her eyes groggily.

“Bathwater?”

She rolled her eyes in confusion, as if unable to gauge the situation.

After looking at the bed, the ceiling, and Aidan, she seemed to realize where she was.

“Ugh.”

Brody yawned, struggling to get up.

It felt like a heavy load pressing down on her entire body.

“Still, I should wash up and sleep.”

He smiled, lifting Brody, who was rubbing her eyes.

“Whoa!”

As their positions suddenly changed, Brody instinctively let out a quiet scream, grabbing Aidan’s neck.

“Your Grace, what are you doing?”

Aidan felt unjustly accused by Brody’s genuinely puzzled expression.

He responded as if grumbling, “Didn’t you asked me to wash you?”