I Picked Up an Abandoned Villain in the Polar Region

Episode 101

 

Brody, who had just had a heated exchange with a crow, stormed into her house, still fuming with rage.

However, as she reached the stairs leading to the second floor, her anger dissipated as if it had never been there.

Recalling the words she had said to the crow, Brody stopped abruptly at the base of the stairs.

‘He is completely captivated by my irresistible charm, after all!’

She had blurted it out, fueled by irritation after hearing that Kyle liked strong women.

Honestly, why had her pride been so hurt by that? Was it because what the crow said might be true? That Kyle still loved Zelda, the ‘strong woman’?

Maybe her wounded pride came from realizing she had yet to win over Kyle’s heart.

Brody snorted in frustration, her expression sullen.

“Hmph. Those silly wolves just don’t understand that being cute is the best.”

Even as she muttered to herself and climbed the stairs irritably, she suddenly stopped again, struck by another thought.

‘But… does Kyle still like Zelda?’

Brody tilted her head. Since the encounter with Zelda at Mount Nevo, she hadn’t seen the two together, making it difficult to gauge Kyle’s feelings.

Besides, judging from his recent behavior, there were times when it seemed like he might have feelings for her.

In the past, he treated her like an annoying rabbit. But these days, there were moments when he looked at her with concern, his demeanor softer and more lenient.

‘Could it be that he’s starting to like me, even just a little?’

Caught up in her thoughts, Brody began to feel a glimmer of hope.

Then, she quickly shook her head to snap herself out of it.

What am I doing? Why am I even hoping for that?

Of course, it would be good if Kyle started to have feelings for her. After all, it was part of her original plan.

Her goal had always been to make Kyle, who only had eyes for Zelda, open his heart to other women—starting with her. But the hope she had just felt wasn’t born out of duty.

It was an honest desire for Kyle to genuinely like her, just as he once liked Zelda.

Realizing this, Brody grew flustered at how she was increasingly becoming sincere about ‘loving Kyle.’

‘I’ve been saying I love him so often lately that my mind’s starting to believe it’s true.’

Brody hurried to compose herself, firmly reminding herself that her feelings for Kyle were nothing more than a professional attachment—compassion for a favorite character in a story, nothing else.

 

***

 

Meanwhile, Zelda, who had just greeted Brody, was on her way back home.

She had rushed over to see Brody upon hearing she was awake but had forgotten to bring the documents her father had asked her to take.

Zelda had chosen a time when Kyle wouldn’t be around, knowing it would be awkward to run into him.

When she went to see Brody, Zelda had hoped to exchange greetings and perhaps ask about the incident with the time reversal, purely out of curiosity about the magical experience—not for the reasons Kyle might have assumed.

However, when Brody avoided the subject, Zelda refrained from pressing further, not wanting to make her uncomfortable.

After a brief, somewhat disappointing conversation, Zelda left and soon arrived home.

The staff looked puzzled to see her return so soon.

“Miss, did you forget something?”

Without a word, Zelda simply nodded. Her serene yet chilly expression exuded an air of authority that mesmerized the servants.

In Roden, the wolves admired Zelda for this commanding presence, believing it to be the mark of a strong wolf.

But there was one thing that most people—except for her lover Abel—didn’t know.

The truth was, Zelda’s natural personality was far from what one might call “charismatic.”

Wearing her usual unreadable expression, she climbed the stairs to her room.

As she opened the door, a cacophony of chirping sounds filled the air.

Chirp, chirp, chirp!

Zelda closed the door behind her and went straight to a large box on the floor, the source of the noise.

It was as though she’d forgotten her mission entirely, drawn to it by an invisible force.

Despite her tall stature, Zelda crouched down in front of the box and carefully opened the lid.

Inside, fluffy yellow chicks were scurrying around, chirping energetically. Sensing the presence of a wolf, the chicks instinctively scattered in fear.

Zelda’s face, usually composed and cold, lit up with affection as she gazed at the chicks.

‘Adorable.’

If anyone who didn’t know Zelda’s true nature were to see her like this, they’d be shocked.

But this was who she really was—a side she suppressed to maintain her predator-like dignity in public. Zelda loved and cherished small, cute, and vulnerable things.

After checking the chicks’ water and food, Zelda found her thoughts drifting to someone else who was equally adorable.

‘Really, it’s not me. I don’t know why you keep insisting. Well, fine, I’ll take it, but when you find the real saviour, take it back, okay?’

It was Brody.

Zelda had barely managed to stifle her laughter when she heard that absurd statement.

Brody’s rabbit-like appearance in her humanized form was unlike anything Zelda had ever seen.

Though she pretended to be indifferent, Zelda couldn’t help but find Brody endearing.

Zelda spent quite some time observing the chicks before reluctantly closing the lid, her face filled with regret.

Even then, she lingered, hesitating, before finally forcing herself to leave the room.

Retrieving the documents she had initially come for, Zelda steeled herself, her expression once again cold and commanding as she left the house.

Because of this face, no one could have imagined that Zelda Arsha spent her time thinking, Chicks are cute. Rabbits are cute.

 

***

 

Meanwhile, there was someone else who also thought Brody was adorable.

For several days, Eliza had been lying in bed, consumed by sorrow. But today, unlike usual, she was bustling about from the morning.

Her room was lively with the sounds of maids coming and going with fabrics and the whirring of a sewing machine.

It had been a long time since the house was so busy.

“Wow, Mother, your sewing skills are incredible!”

Brody exclaimed, her eyes sparkling as she watched Eliza working on the sewing machine.

Eliza glanced at Brody, smiling fondly at her enthusiasm. The clothes she was making now were meant for Brody.

After hearing that Brody had tripped and fallen because she accidentally stepped on the hem of the dress a maid had lent her, Eliza immediately set out to make her new clothes.

Originally, she had planned to alter existing garments to fit Brody, but she changed her mind. She wanted to gift Brody with clothes made specifically for her.

Sitting across from Eliza, Brody nibbled on fruit brought by the maids while watching her work.

One of her ankles, wrapped in bandages, dangled from the chair.

Though she had only slightly twisted it when she fell, Kyle’s overprotectiveness led the household staff to treat her with excessive care.

Watching the blue fabric of the dress gradually take shape, Brody clapped her hands in admiration.

“Wow, how can you be so skilled? I want to learn too!”

“Since I’m always at home, I’ve only picked up insignificant skills.”

Eliza replied with an awkward smile.

At that, Brody waved both hands emphatically.

“Insignificant? Not at all! To me, it’s an incredible talent!”

“Thank you for saying that.”

Eliza said, smiling shyly, unused to receiving compliments.

But as if determined to fluster her further, one of the maids chimed in, praising Eliza’s skills.

“Madam can make any outfit as long as she has fabric. All of Master’s and the young lords’ clothes were made by her.”

Hearing that, Brody looked down at the shirt she was wearing, one of Kyle’s.

“Wait, does that mean this shirt too…?”

“Yes, that’s right. Madam made that herself,” the maid replied.

Eliza shot the chatty maid a subtle glance to signal her to stop, but it was too late.

Brody’s mouth had already fallen open in surprise.

Now noticing the meticulous stitching and fine material of the shirt, Brody recalled how Kyle had nonchalantly pulled it out of the wardrobe that morning without a second thought.

Did he even realize that his mother had lovingly made the clothes he wore every day?

“It doesn’t seem like Kyle knows his mother makes his clothes,” Brody remarked.

Eliza simply gave a sheepish smile, as if it was only natural not to say anything.

Brody sighed in exasperation, looking at Eliza with a mix of frustration and concern.

“Mother, you need to express these things. You should let Kyle know that the clothes he wears every day are made by you.”

“…”

“It might feel like you’re showing off, but the little acts of love you express will pile up. Later, when he looks back on them, they’ll be remembered as acts of love.”

Eliza was silent for a moment, seemingly lost in thought. Then, as if coming to a resolution, she looked at Brody with determined eyes.

“I’ll try to express myself more in the future.”

The truth was, Eliza had spent the previous night thinking deeply about the advice Brody had given to her and Alexander.

No matter how much she tried to be kind to Kyle, she had always given up when met with her son’s scornful gaze.

Despite their outward strength as wolves, inside, they were terribly afraid.

But after hearing Brody’s words yesterday, Eliza resolved to summon her courage.

She decided not to retreat in the face of her son’s resentment but to actively work toward mending their relationship.

Recalling Brody’s sincere words of advice, Eliza looked at her with gratitude and said,

“Thank you for loving Kyle so much, Miss Brody.”

“Oh…”

Caught off guard by the heartfelt remark, Brody’s face turned red with embarrassment.

She nodded shyly, her expression a mix of awkwardness and gratitude.

Thank you, Jean for the Kofi and monthly subscription. It means a lot to me to know you’re enjoying the story this much♥️