I Picked Up an Abandoned Villain in the Polar Region

Episode 100

 

After the men left for work, Brody, left alone at home, wandered aimlessly around the house.

Having lied to Kyle about feeling unwell, she couldn’t go outside and roam around either.

Bored and confined by the shackles of her own making, she decided to step out into the garden to bask in the sunlight.

Just then, a maid who had been searching for her came running over.

“Miss Brody!”

“What is it?”

Brody asked, and after some hesitation, the maid spoke.

“Um… there’s a guest outside asking to see you.”

“Me?”

Brody tilted her head in confusion. There shouldn’t be any guests visiting her here yet.

Nevertheless, she headed outside to meet them.

The moment she stepped out the front door, she froze.

In the garden stood a woman waiting for her. Whether it was because she recognized the woman or was struck by her stunning silhouette, Brody stopped in her tracks.

It was then that she realized why the maid had hesitated to introduce this guest.

At the entrance to the garden stood a woman with chestnut-brown hair that shimmered like gold in the morning sunlight.

Sensing Brody’s presence, the woman lifted her head, and her piercing blue eyes met Brody’s gaze.

“Wow…”

Brody unconsciously let out a quiet exclamation, her mouth slightly agape as she took in the sight.

The woman was perfect.

Her wavy hair, beautiful face, slightly cold eyes, tall and athletic yet elegant figure, and even her graceful gait as she approached—everything about her was flawless.

Had Brody ever seen someone so breathtakingly beautiful? Likely not, except perhaps in the mirror.

Snapping out of her daze as the woman drew near, Brody hurried to compose herself.

“You must be Miss Brody?”

The woman asked in a graceful voice.

Brody looked up at the woman, who was a full head taller than her.

Up close, the woman’s face appeared rather stern—perhaps one could call it charismatic.

Her aura, likely a result of her warrior-like demeanor, was naturally commanding.

“Yes, that’s me, Brody…”

Brody replied with a nod, though she hesitated to ask who the woman was.

The question didn’t make it out of her mouth, perhaps because she already had an inkling of the answer.

As if confirming her suspicion, the woman extended her hand and introduced herself.

“I’m Zelda Arsha.”

So, they finally meet like this.

Although they had encountered each other once before, seeing her in human form felt unfamiliar, leaving Brody slightly flustered. She awkwardly smiled as she shook Zelda’s hand.

“I heard you were looking for me. What brings you here?”

Brody asked, her mouth dry from nerves. Swallowing hard, she looked up at Zelda, who replied,

“I came to thank you.”

Brody’s eyes wavered at those words. Zelda was referring to what happened on Mount Nevo. She seemed certain that Brody had turned back time.

Caught off guard by a memory she had nearly forgotten, Brody felt uneasy but maintained her facade. She met Zelda’s gaze with an expression of ignorance, just as she had done with Abel.

“Thank me? Oh… I don’t think I’ve done anything to deserve your gratitude.”

Brody said, widening her eyes and feigning cluelessness.

Zelda observed her quietly before letting out a soft laugh and lowering her gaze.

Then, looking back up at Brody, she said sincerely,

“Even if you don’t remember, that’s okay. Just accept my thanks. Please.”

Realizing that Zelda had seen through her act but chose to play along, Brody felt embarrassed.

Touched by Zelda’s consideration, she blushed and replied with a flustered smile,

“Well, I keep telling you it’s not me, but if you insist, I’ll accept it. Just make sure to take it back when you find the real person someday!”

Brody muttered, kicking at the ground in a feigned grumble.

Zelda chuckled at the sight but quickly composed herself, returning to her usual calm demeanor as she asked,

“Ahem, are you feeling better?”

Unaware that Zelda had visited her the night before, Brody was startled by the question. Did everyone in the world know about her collapsing?

“…Yes, I’m fine. I just needed a bit of rest from the travel fatigue.”

She replied with a smile.

Feeling awkward standing in the garden, she invited Zelda inside.

“Why don’t you come in and have a cup of tea?”

Brody felt embarrassed after saying that. Technically speaking, the rightful future mistress of this house was Zelda.

‘I’m the guest here, so why am I acting like the hostess?’

While Brody flushed with embarrassment, Zelda didn’t seem to mind at all. She politely waved her hand and replied,

“No, I must get going. I just wanted to stop by and say hello after hearing you were awake, on my way to work.”

“Oh…”

Brody thought it was possible Zelda had deliberately chosen a time when Kyle wasn’t around. Perhaps to avoid any awkward encounters.

“That’s a shame, but let’s have tea together next time.”

“Ah, yes, let’s do that.”

Zelda said with a smile, agreeing to the suggestion.

With that, Zelda left after their brief meeting.

Brody stood there alone, watching Zelda’s brisk strides as she walked through the garden.

When Zelda disappeared from sight, Brody let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding and murmured in admiration,

“She’s so beautiful and cool…”

No wonder the wolves of Roden love strong women.

“Ugh, of course Kyle fell for her.”

Brody muttered as she turned around, only to freeze in her tracks.

What? Why did I just go ‘ugh’ like that?

Realizing she had unconsciously pouted while saying ‘ugh,’ Brody was dumbfounded at herself.

“Seriously… Am I jealous right now? Why?!”

Anyone who heard her would think she was head over heels for Kyle. But that wasn’t the case—so why was she feeling jealous of Zelda?

“Hah, this is ridiculous.”

She scoffed, her face heating up in embarrassment.

Fanning herself with her hands, Brody muttered, “Unbelievable,” over and over as she turned to head back inside.

Just then, a sharp voice stopped her in her tracks.

“Is it you?”

Startled, Brody looked around. But there was no one nearby.

Thinking she must have misheard, she continued walking, but the voice called out again.

“Up here.”

The voice, laced with irritation, came from a tree nearby. When she looked up, she saw a crow perched on a branch, glaring down at her.

What the…?

Brody tilted her head, failing to immediately recognize that the crow was Kernels, a character from the original story.

The impatient and rude bird glared at her and fired off a question without preamble.

“Are you Kyle’s girlfriend?”

Annoyed by the crow’s tone, Brody furrowed her brows.

“Yeah, I am. Why?”

Brody wasn’t the type to respond politely to someone who showed her no respect. Matching the crow’s rudeness, she answered in an equally blunt manner.

The crow, hearing her response, looked to the sky in disbelief and exclaimed,

“Oh, gods above!”

Kernels had come to confirm if Kyle’s rumored girlfriend was really the infamous rabbit. Secretly hoping it was a lie, hearing it confirmed felt like his world was crumbling.

“Kyle is really dating someone as small and weak as this rabbit?!”

In Roden, strength was the ultimate virtue, and the men revered strong women.

For someone as powerful as Kyle to date a delicate rabbit was, in Kernels’s eyes, a disgrace. And if Kyle’s status diminished, so too would Kernels’s.

“I’ve spent my life basking in the glory of being Kyle’s right-hand crow! This is unacceptable!”

Unable to process the situation, Kernels shouted at Brody,

“This doesn’t make sense! You’re a rabbit! Why would a rabbit date a wolf? Do you really think a herbivore like you matches Kyle?”

What Kernels didn’t know was that the rabbit in front of him wasn’t one to cower.

Already in a bad mood from her earlier realization of jealousy, Brody’s temper flared. She rolled up her sleeves and snapped at the crow,

“And who do you think you are?! Who gave you the right to barge in here and lecture me about whether I match Kyle or not?!”

Taken aback by her fiery response, Kernels stammered,

“I—I’m the crow who’s been serving Kyle for a very long time!”

Seeing the crow claim his loyalty to Kyle as a badge of authority, Brody’s irritation only deepened. She yelled,

“Then stick to serving him and stop meddling in his love life! If we’re happy together, what’s it to you?!”

Brody had turned into a feisty rabbit, standing her ground.

Kernels, who had expected her to shrink back in tears, was thrown off by her defiance. Stumbling backward in shock, he muttered,

“This must be some kind of scam. Kyle likes strong women! There’s no way he’d fall for a rabbit like you!”

Hearing the crow’s denial, Brody delivered the final blow without hesitation.

“That was before he realized how irresistibly cute I am! He’s totally smitten with my charm now, so quit your whining and shoo!”

Stunned by her audacity, the crow could only gape at her.

But Brody ignored him entirely, stomping back into the house while muttering angrily under her breath.