I'm A Sucker For Extras - Chapter 39

Chapter 39

‘However, I didn’t do it on purpose. I really couldn’t ride at that time.’

Running along behind him in this mood, Brody felt bitter.

Thick black hair, muscular neck and shoulders, a waist that moved in harmony with the horse, and resilient thighs trained for practical use.

Continuously, her gaze was drawn to his back, and she felt an inexplicable discomfort.

‘No. It’s more like unfamiliar.’

Come to think of it, it seemed like the first time she had been staring at his back for so long. Aidan was always holding Brody, facing him, or staying by his side.

Despite wearing a winter coat and riding confidently, there was an emptiness behind Brody, and she shivered slightly.

It seemed like they had developed a habit of being close to each other without realizing it.

“Snap out of it. You said you’re working for the North, so don’t become so dependent.”

Brody shook her head, turning her gaze to the front.

Nevertheless, as they rode together like a scene from a movie, Brody found herself involuntarily captivated by the sight of Aidan’s back, and she had to snap out of it.

They rode aimlessly for a while. Even though Aidan was riding at a slower pace than usual when alone, Brody was starting to feel overwhelmed.

Just as she was about to call out to Aidan that she couldn’t go any further, a village came into view.

“We’ll be there soon.”

Brody nodded vigorously in response to Aidan’s words.

As they entered the village, the pace of their horses slowed down.

It wasn’t a big town, so it didn’t take long to find a place to stay.

“Whoa, whoa.”

Seeing Aidan stop, Brody involuntarily groaned as she pulled the reins. Tonight, she was definitely winning the muscle pain lottery.

“Oh,” Brody muttered as she tried to dismount, and Aidan, who had approached unnoticed, effortlessly grabbed Brody’s waist and helped her down.

“Thanks.”

This was nothing compared to what they’d just been through.

Brody felt a sense of embarrassment at Aidan’s sudden touch.

“…You’re welcome.”

As Brody set foot on the ground, she took a step back, unconsciously.

It was a subtle movement, but Aidan could sense it. After looking at Brody for a moment, Aidan withdrew his hand.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I think I’ll be fine after some rest.”

Aidan smiled at her, as if to say not to worry, even though she didn’t explicitly say it. Brody couldn’t help but smile in response.

With the efficient help of Teddy, who quickly called for an attendant to unload their belongings and retrieve the reins, they were able to go straight to their lodging.

Certainly, the inn in this quiet outskirts village, unlike a bustling trade city, was much cozier. The scent of pine permeated the log-made lodging.

There was no separate bathroom, but there was a curtain in one corner of the room, and a bathtub was prepared.

Taking warm water from the attendant, Brody washed herself. Due to muscle soreness, lifting her legs and sitting in the tub was a challenge, but once she immersed herself, she felt relief and a sense of relaxation.

Looking through the curtain, Aidan had been sitting at the table, lighting candles and examining documents.

It seems like he has a lot to do.

‘But normally, he would stay within arm’s reach.’

Perhaps it was because they had traveled so far north. Aidan seemed to have adopted a more relaxed attitude towards danger.

Not only was he farther away from Jax’s sphere of influence, but the power of the ice elemental seemed to be reaching him more strongly.

‘Fortunately… right? ‘

Yes, it was fortunate, but there was a somewhat bitter feeling.

‘I can’t believe I’m feeling sorry for myself…….’

It felt strangely contradictory.

Brody immersed half of her face in the bathtub and hugged her body.

‘But, you know… Let’s set aside the fact that they are not close. It’s just that, hmm.’

‘It feels awkward’

She racked her brain, trying to figure out why.

‘Is he mad because I lied about not being able to ride, or because I pushed him away so I could stand alone? ’

Both possibilities seemed plausible.

Brody, trying to hold back the sound of a groan about to burst due to muscle soreness, struggled to lift each leg out of the bathtub, finished up, and got dressed.

Then she quietly headed straight to the bed.

Without a second thought, Aidan went to the bed and chuckled as Brody collapsed onto it.

“You won’t be having dinner, I suppose.”

“Sleep comes first. Don’t worry about me; just take care of yourself.”

Brody murmured with her head on the pillow.

“Is it hurting a lot?”

Hmmm. Brody shuddered involuntarily at Aidan’s deep bass voice, suddenly right next to him.

He approached Brody, who was lying on her stomach, and sat on the edge of the bed.

The creaking of the bed frame echoed through the room.

“You’ll find it difficult since you used muscles you haven’t used in a while. You need to loosen them up so that you won’t suffer tomorrow.”

“Sure, sure?”

Aidan unhesitatingly placed his hand on Brody’s shoulder.

Her body was a handful in his large hands. He delicately moved his rough fingertips to grasp the muscles.

“Ah.”

The muscles, which had been stiff due to holding the reins for a long time, conveyed pain to Brody.

‘But why do I feel embarrassed and overwhelmed? ‘

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

‘Still, it seems like the unpleasant feeling has been relieved.’

His touch towards her remained gentle. He showed consideration, being careful not to cause pain.

Brody remained still, burying her face in the covers, embarrassed at herself for feeling so relieved by his touch.

“Ouch!”

However, her embarrassment was soon replaced by pain that felt like it would burst from the thigh and calf muscles being kneaded.

She tried to endure it, but an involuntary groan, close to a scream, escaped her. Tears welled up in her eyes.

“Don’t overdo it. It’s natural to find it hard after riding for a long time. You need to give your body time to adapt. I’ll respect your wishes, but if it gets tough, just let me know, and I’ll carry you whenever.”

“….”

At that moment, Brody felt a strong urge to agree.

‘But if my feelings weaken now, it might not be good.’

No matter how much it hurt her feelings to push him away, once it had started, it seemed difficult to become less dependent by going back.

Brody steadied her wavering heart and raised her head.

“I guess it’ll be okay; I’ll have to adjust anyway.”

Aidan, as if expecting her to say that, sighed and nodded.

“Then, let me apply this. It’s a good balm for muscle pain. You’ll feel a significant difference.”

Aidan brought a bottle emitting a fragrant scent from their luggage. Being knowledgeable about plants, Brody recognized what kind of balm it was.

Half sitting up with excitement, Brody extended her hand to receive it.

However, Aidan sighed again and pushed her back down onto the bed.

“How are you going to apply it yourself?”

“Huh? Oh, um, I’ll manage!”

Brody fumbled in embarrassment, but Aidan quickly immobilized her body.

“I won’t do anything foolish. Don’t worry.”

Saying that, he inserted the hand covered in balm into her clothes.

“Ah!”

He didn’t just apply the balm but started massaging meticulously, kneading the muscles.

A refreshing scent filled the air, making her body tingle.

‘Oh, this is a bit… too embarrassing.’

It was different from cuddling and sleeping. He might be looking at her body more closely.

But she missed the opportunity to refuse. It would be awkward to stop him now.

Moreover, as his hands moved down her back, sides, and waist, she couldn’t help but feel a strange excitement.

His thick, warm, and reassuring touch felt so comforting.

‘Could it be… It’s creating that kind of atmosphere? ’

Her muscles were sore, but it wasn’t like she was in bad shape; he’d been so patient with her, even when he was physically attached to her, that it felt like… This is a situation where it wouldn’t be strange for him to come on to her like he had before.

Maybe, a little, she was even looking forward to it.

Because she didn’t mind spending the night with him, after all.

Carefully easing her muscles, his hands, while passing over her calf, made her feel languid.

He applied the balm meticulously to the tips of Brody’s toes.

After that…

Once he tidied up her clothes and covered her with a blanket, he stood up.

“….”

“Get a good rest. I’ll prepare something for you when you wake up.”

He said that and washed his hands before sitting back at the table.

“….”

Without saying anything, Brody looked at him for a moment, then succumbed to the drowsiness and closed her eyes.

And after how much time had passed?

When she woke up feeling refreshed as if she had slept deeply, it was still dark outside.

‘Is it night? Dawn? What time is it? ‘

She squinted her eyes, looking around.

But Aidan was not in the bed.

Feeling the cool air of early midnight, Brody realized.

He had indeed changed.

Normally, he would have stuck close to her, using the excuse that they hadn’t gotten past Perdan Fortress yet.

Even now, though he was still kind, he didn’t seem to be as eager for her as before.

Why was that?

‘I don’t know. Maybe he’s come to his senses now. As the responsible Northern Duke prepares for the North, it’s only natural. Perhaps it became strange for him to be infatuated with a woman after struggling in the South for so long.’

Or maybe…

He lost interest.

She hadn’t had much of a relationship in her previous life because she’d been so busy. She heard that when a woman tries not to rely on her partner, the partner’s feelings cool down.

She knew her stubbornness and how she struggled to stand on her own two feet instead of relying on others.

But it was a point she couldn’t compromise on.

‘He wanted me that badly, and I was stubborn enough to put conditions on it for three years, so it’s only fair.’

Now that she thinks about it, hadn’t he been acting like this since he handed her the contract?

Perhaps he organized his thoughts by writing the contract and showing it with actions.

Maybe it was some kind of final test?

She thought that and raised her upper body slightly.

Then she looked at the sharp shades of color on Aidan’s face in the candlelight.

He frowned while still fighting with the documents.

‘Wasn’t this what I wanted? Spending three years together with him, working diligently for the North, and leaving.’

Even if he had cooled off, as a plant mage, Brody working for the North was something to be welcomed.

He would fulfill the contract faithfully.

So now, all she had to do was fulfill her part of the contract.

She regained her composure, knowing that she was the one who had initiated this.

However, the moment Aidan raised his eyes from the documents,.

The moment his eyes locked with hers, Brody’s heart sank into her throat.