I'm A Sucker For Extras - Chapter 69

Chapter 69

“You don’t…… remember?”

Brody was about to say something in response to his question when she suddenly closed her mouth.

The kiss in the potato field had already come to mind. However, whether she should acknowledge it as a memory or hide it became a dilemma.

“It’s just that… I heard it all from Teddy earlier.”

In the end, Brodie replied ambiguously. The truth was the truth, but it was a half-truth.

“Teddy?”

Aidan was taken aback by the sudden mention of Teddy’s name.

Things that happened inside the room were unknown to anyone other than him and her… Was it something that happened outside?

“What did Teddy say?”

“He said everyone saw it. In the potato field!!”

While saying this, Brody covered her face with her hands. The reddening ears that weren’t fully covered were visible.

Aidan’s eyes widened, and his lips curled up into a smile before he put his hand over his mouth to cover it.

He usually handled things well without much embarrassment, but it was surprising to see him uncomfortable about this.

“Uh, huh……. really? Did anyone see that?”

“You didn’t hear anything about that?”

“It’s not often anyone tells me anything personal.”

“…….”

Come to think of it, that was true.

Who could have walked up to this blunt, aloof-looking Ice Duke and said, “Hey, I saw you in the potato field yesterday, making out.”

When the lid is lifted, he’s not so blunt or cold, but that’s the image he’s built up anyway.

‘Now when I see Connie or any of the other women, they’ll make fun of me directly, and the soldiers will laugh at me, even if they can’t say anything.’

She felt somehow unfair. Of course, she couldn’t say anything about what she had done to Aidan. still!

Aidan said as he saw Brody still panicking.

“I mean, it was an open area, so I’m sure someone saw it. But they probably only saw it from a distance, right?”

It was meant to be comforting words from Aidan’s perspective, but it didn’t help Brody at all.

So Brody exclaimed

“No, if I had made a strange move, at least you should have knocked me out! Slap me on the back of the head!”

Aidan replied thoughtfully.

“Uh, I can’t do that. You would get hurt.”

Why! Is it really impossible in reality when it happens so often in dramas?! 

“If I get a bruise, you can just lick it off!”

“Lick?…… No, I…….”

So, Brody kept babbling about things that didn’t happen and eventually screamed, covering her face with the pillow again.

❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

In truth, Aidan didn’t really care what anyone else thought.

Wasn’t it similar when they rode together to Perdan Fortress? Everyone must have seen it already.

“That’s different. I had motion sickness, so there was nothing I could do.”

“What about in the south?”

“That, too, because I needed your help with Jax.”

Aidan nodded.

Brody’s standards seemed to shift from ‘practical’ to ’embarrassing’ to ‘not-so-affectionate’.

As Aidan collected his thoughts, Brody spoke up.

“And, well, I clung to you, saying you had a headache. I’m sorry for showing that scene to people because of me. Ah, it’s really embarrassing.”

“If it’s because of me, don’t worry. I’m not that bothered.”

“…….”

She was kind of glad about that. It would have been ten times harder if Aidan had chastised Brody for her lack of dignity as a Duke.

Brody felt a little guilty, actually.

‘I kissed you because I was worried about your headache. I was absent-minded… Even though we did it in a public place.’

But Brody knew it was absurd to blame Aidan for his headache.

He half-used the excuse of being concerned about her headache, but the other half… Honestly, she might have done it because she wanted to.

She doesn’t remember exactly what was going through her mind at the time. But she was really excited at the banquet yesterday.

She wanted to share that feeling with someone, and she kept thinking at the banquet that if she saw Aidan, she would give him a big hug of joy.

“…….”

‘Because of alcohol. Because of alcohol. The dark history was because of alcohol.’

Brody sighed as the familiar tune pounded in her head.

“Anyway, I’ll be more careful from now on to make sure it never happens again. There won’t be a next time.”

“…….”

And with that, the incident came to a disappointing conclusion for Aidan.

The conversation soon moved on to the next topic.

Again, Brody spoke first.

“The Chief of Staff is healing nicely, and he’s taking his meds. Teddy’s keeping an eye on him for now, and he’s supposed to switch shifts with me in the morning.”

“I see. Thank you for taking care of River.”

“No problem.”

It was actually good that she didn’t have to go outside, using River’s care as an excuse. Teddy didn’t tease her more about the potato field incident, probably because he was considerate.

Brody sighed.

“But don’t you want to ask?”

“No. You’ll tell me when the time comes.”

“…….”

‘Ha……. He really is something’

Brody shook her head inwardly.

It was true that she had explained things, but she couldn’t understand why this man trusted her so much.

He knows she infiltrated the north to assassinate him in the first place. He knew she was the Duke Jax person. And now she’s acting inexplicably in defense of the woman who assaulted the Chief of Staff.

Brody tried to be as honest as possible.

Her faith in Caleb and in the woman who now lay dying was based on information from a novel, and she wasn’t sure how far he could convince her otherwise.

“Your Grace, do you remember earlier that I was familiar with the woman?”

“Hmm.”

Seeing Brody sitting on the end of the bed and beginning to talk, Aidan pulled a chair from the table and sat down in front of her.

He could have crossed his arms and asked for an explanation, but instead he leaned his upper body forward slightly and positioned himself to listen intently to Brody’s words.

“The woman’s name is Caleb Miller, and she was the Duke’s handmaiden.”

Aidan’s eyes widened.

“A duke? You mean the Duke McCarthy?”

He seemed to be particularly sensitive to the Duke story, and as expected, Brody’s tone slowed down in affirmation of his question.

“I wouldn’t say we’re acquainted, but I know her face, and I’m sure she knows mine.”

“If she serves Duke McCarthy, then why is she only familiar with your face?”

Brody laughed bitterly.

“Because I’m not a handmaiden, I’m not a duchess, I’m too obscure to fit in anywhere, I guess. When Lord Jax hid me, I thought it was because I was special, but now I think he was trying to isolate me, well, whatever.”

She could see Aidan’s face cloud over at the mention of her situation within the Duchy, so she quickly broke off and got back to the point.

“When the war broke out between the North and the Empire, Caleb was fired from her position for being from the North.”

“The North? Was she from the North?”

“Yes. Her husband was a knight, but he died young, so she must have gone down to the capital looking for work. She was a very talented woman, and she was promoted until she was head of the maids, so I know a little bit about her.”

“I see she’s from the North. I understand why she was removed from the duchy. But I’m more curious about why she attacked the River? If she had a grudge, shouldn’t she be holding it against the Empirial family or Duke McCarthy?”

Brody nodded.

“That’s what puzzles me, too. Maybe she wasn’t in her right mind and just lunged at anyone rather than targeting anyone in particular?”

“Even if that’s the case, it’s still dangerous.”

“After…….”

True enough. So Brody sighed.

“Even if her mental state wasn’t entirely sound, attacking the Chief of Staff can’t be overlooked. But at least… I want to treat her first.”

Aidan stroked his chin for a moment before answering.

“Is it even necessary for you to do that.”

Brody was a little surprised by the coldness of his words, an unexpected response given his usual warmth toward his people.

Aidan continued.

“The lady may have a grudge against the Duke, so if she recognizes you, she may try to harm you.”

“Do I look like the duke?”

Brody laughed.

“It may be unfortunate……, but then again, you don’t know her.”

“No, it’s not a sad thing, nor is it something we don’t know about; rather, it’s the sentiment that we shared as we were both betrayed by McCarthy.

Aidan’s eyes wavered slightly.

Brody didn’t miss her chance.

“I’m sorry, I know it’s not something I should say to His Grace, especially after the Chief of Staff’s…….”

‘This is a lie. The reason I cared about Caleb was because I knew her past, not for the reasons I just mentioned.’

She is sorry, but that’s the way to appeal for Aidan’s approval. After all, a person’s life is at stake.

Aidan replied.

 “Don’t worry about River. It’s not a life-threatening injury. It’s shameful for a soldier to be wounded by a randomly swung sword by an untrained woman. Moreover, he even put the life of the Duchess at risk. There’s nothing more to say.”

“…….”

There was some truth in that, wasn’t there?

From Caleb’s point of view,  even if she felt sorry for River, Brody was a lifesaver.

She protected her, even at the risk of using her powers, and she treated her well.

Now, it seemed like Brody had successfully created a debt.

‘I’ll be able to put it to good use in the future.’ Brody smiled, her eyes shining.

“But is it okay to use your powers?”

Aidan asked. Brody nodded, knowing what he meant.

“Yeah, I’ll be fine, maybe…….”

She added the last ‘maybe’ with a mosquito-like sound.

Aidan’s eyebrows twitched, but Brody pretended not to see it and smirked.

“I’ll proceed with the treatment for now. If she needs to face consequences, it can be done after she regains her senses… Is that okay?”

“I’ll let you do that. I’ll also ask the villagers to find out more about the woman and why she came to this village.”

“Yes, if you find out anything, please let me know. Oh, if you don’t mind telling me, of course.”

“Well, of course. Didn’t I say I trust you?”

Brody awkwardly chuckled and slipped under the blanket.

“I’ll go to bed now since I have to switch with Teddy early in the morning.”

Her hangover felt much better after she took the potion she made and ate dinner with Teddy.

The wounds from the princess’s attack hadn’t been long in healing, and she was exhausted from the wedding night, the camping trip, and the banquet hangover, so she fell asleep quickly.

Aidan sighed as he watched her sleep soundly.

Does she realize that what she’s doing right now is so exemplary, fitting the role of a duchess?

He went to the couch, not the bed, and tossed and turned with his thoughts before falling into a short sleep.

“Your Grace! Your Grace! “

At dawn, Aidan’s eyes fluttered open at the sudden commotion. Brody had shaken him awake by the shoulder.

It wasn’t usual, and the hairs on the back of his neck stood up in alarm, wondering if something had happened to her.

“Your Grace! I got hurt. Please treat this.”

In front of him, Brody’s finger with a wound came into view. She approached him, wincing in pain, and held the injury close to his lips.

Aidan gasped at the realization that she was hurt, and he licked her fingers in a rush.

A chill ran through him, and the tiny scar on her fingertip disappeared without a trace.

Brody smiled wryly, thanked him, and turned away.

“…….”

What’s this?

“……!”

He realized a bit too late.

He’d fallen for Brody’s trick.

“How could you do that?”

“Is it that much trouble to ask for a favor? I’m sorry to bother you.”

“…….”

Speechless against her feigned innocent act, Aidan closed his mouth. Although he knew she had deliberately done this, he couldn’t find anything to say.

She’d gone to great lengths to feed him her own blood.

“Go to bed and get some sleep.”

With that, she left the room.

Aidan looked in vain as the door was carefully closed with a thud.