IPUAVNP Chapter 121

Episode 121

 

Her heart fluttered.

A swirl of emotions, a mixture of sadness and disappointment, rose up as if it would overflow at any moment.

Brody pressed her lips tightly together. She couldn’t keep getting swept up in feelings like this.

‘I need to think and act rationally.’

Resolving this once more, Brody swallowed her complex emotions.

Though her chest felt heavy as if weighed down, she tried hard not to let it bother her.

After finishing her meal alone, she brushed her teeth and headed to bed.

The bed was just big enough for two people to lie down.

Of course, even if there were enough space, Kyle would still sleep separately.

Brody spoke to Kyle.

“Kyle, I’ll sleep on the floor, so you take the bed.”

Kyle remained seated, staring at the fireplace. He stayed silent for a long time before finally answering curtly, without looking at her.

“Just go to sleep. I’ll manage on my own.”

The message was clear—don’t worry about him. 

There was a peculiar tone in his voice that seemed to block any further conversation, leaving Brody awkward and unsure. She climbed into bed and, with a tinge of guilt, said softly,

“Then I’ll go to sleep first.”

Kyle didn’t respond. He simply continued poking the firewood with a poker.

Brody’s gaze drifted toward his back, which, for some reason, felt farther away today than ever.

Was it selfish of her to miss the time when she used to lean on that back?

She felt bitter at how much he seemed to have changed. It must have started that night at the banquet, after he had spoken with Zelda.

Or perhaps, to be exact, it was when she had asked him if he liked her. Maybe her question had made him uncomfortable and caused him to pull away.

If she had known this would happen, she wouldn’t have asked.

Regret made her feel miserable, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Brody turned away from Kyle and lay facing the wall. She shut her eyes tightly.

 

***

 

Even hours after Brody fell asleep, Kyle remained by the fireplace, his face shadowed despite the light of the flames.

He hadn’t slept at all the night before and must have been exhausted, but he still sat there, wide awake. Before the fire burned out, he finally stood and moved toward the wardrobe.

When he opened the small wooden wardrobe, a dress hanging inside immediately caught his eye.

It was the only formal dress in the cabin—what Brody had worn when they arrived that morning.

Kyle stared at the dress for a long time before pulling it out and returning to the fireplace.

Sitting down again, he silently looked down at the dress in his hands.

The flickering flames reflected in his eyes, which seemed to hold a turmoil of emotion, as if on the verge of some decisive act.

Kyle threw the dress into the fire without hesitation. His movements were resolute.

The dress burned away completely, leaving no trace.

Only after the dress was reduced to ash did the fire in the hearth, and the fire in Kyle’s eyes, fade.

The room was quickly enveloped in darkness, illuminated only by the pale light of the moon.

Contrary to Brody’s expectations, Kyle didn’t sleep on the floor. Instead, he made his way to the bed where she lay, slowly settling himself beside her.

It wasn’t just that he lay next to her. He moved closer, his body pressing against hers as though to envelop her.

Brody’s small frame was entirely trapped between the wall and Kyle’s body. And that wasn’t all—Kyle extended an arm, wrapping it around her waist over the blanket, holding her tightly.

In the darkness, his eyes finally revealed the fear they had been hiding.

Though Brody was trapped in his arms, unable to escape, his arm around her waist trembled.

It was as if he was desperately holding on to someone who might slip away at any moment.

Kyle resented Brody for trying to leave him. He was angry that she had lied to him. Yet even so, he couldn’t loosen his grip.

He was terrified she would abandon him like everyone else had. And so, he wanted to keep her close while there was still a fragment of her heart left with him.

He couldn’t let her leave him.

Kyle buried his face in her white hair and whispered desperately,

“You can’t leave me. You’re the only one who can’t abandon me.”

 

***

 

It was the third day since Kyle and Brody had left home.

That evening, Alexander’s house was filled with the lively sounds of a dinner party, with Zelda as the guest of honor.

It was a meal arranged at Eliza’s suggestion, bringing together future family members for a meal.

Originally, Kyle and Brody were meant to join, but their seats remained empty.

Kyle had declined the invitation to dine together. But even so, the couple had not canceled the gathering.

They had hoped that Brody, upon hearing the news, might bring Kyle with her.

It seemed, however, that the news hadn’t reached her ears.

Alexander recalled running into Kyle just earlier, as he was returning home from work.

He had invited Kyle to stay for dinner, but Kyle had only stopped by his room, grabbed his bag, and left again.

Alexander had thought Kyle had come because he had a change of heart, but it turned out he had forgotten it was the day of their dinner appointment and had truly only come to pick up his belongings.

With the two seats intended for Kyle and Brody empty, the atmosphere in the dining room felt emptier than expected.

The family, now used to Brody’s chirpy, parrot-like chatter at every meal, found the silence unfamiliar.

Eliza glanced at Zelda, who was seated across from her, and asked,

“Do you like the food?”

“Yes, it’s delicious.”

Zelda replied politely and elegantly, eating quietly as befitting a well-bred young lady.

Eliza, however, felt a pang of awkwardness.

She realized she had grown accustomed to Brody’s animated reactions—exclaiming, ‘Oh my, it’s so good!’ or ‘I love it, Mother!’—and found Zelda’s subdued response somewhat disappointing.

It was a curious feeling. Just weeks ago, Eliza herself would have reacted like Zelda and considered it proper, yet now she felt a sense of loss.

The conversation ended quickly, and silence returned to the table.

Eventually, Abel, the most cheerful person in the group, broke the silence and steered the conversation forward.

He turned to his father and asked,

“I heard the Baldwin envoys requested to visit Roden. Did you grant their request?”

“I did. They seem to be in a hurry; they said they would send Leonit Baldwin and his envoys by tomorrow morning.”

Alexander replied. He clicked his tongue, looking displeased.

Baldwin claimed the visit was to confirm peace between the two nations, but no one was foolish enough to believe that.

The envoys were simply coming to spy on Roden’s state of affairs, likely to gauge whether they intended to honor the existing peace treaty.

“When they arrive tomorrow, I plan to nullify some of the treaties. You should all attend tomorrow’s meeting and voice your opinions.”

Alexander especially intended to abolish the clauses that lowered tariffs and leased land in the west.

It was only fair, considering Baldwin hadn’t honored their treaty to provide aid during Roden’s difficult times.

‘Arrogant fools.’

Alexander thought inwardly, his anger simmering.

The thought of Roden’s subservience to Baldwin’s envoys for the past 20 years, driven by fear and insecurity, made his teeth clench.

Kyle had been right—they should have trusted the neighboring rogue gang, the Hyenas, instead.

Alexander considered summoning Kyle for tomorrow’s meeting but stopped himself.

He strongly doubted Kyle would come even if called. He couldn’t shake the unease about why Kyle had left home so suddenly.

‘Was it my fault?’

Yet, thinking back, Alexander couldn’t recall any recent clashes or harsh words exchanged between them.

Lately, he had been careful to avoid any sharp remarks, and as a result, their interactions had been free of conflict.

No matter how much he reflected, Alexander couldn’t pinpoint anything he had done to push Kyle out of the house.

Clearing his throat, he turned to his wife and asked,

“Eliza, when Kyle came by earlier to grab his things, did he say anything?”

Eliza shook her head with a sigh.

“I asked how he was doing, but he just quickly packed his bag and left.”

Eliza was particularly concerned that Brody hadn’t stopped by or reached out.

The usual Brody would have made some effort to explain herself or at least contact them after such a rushed departure.

She still couldn’t forget the sight of Brody being pulled away that morning, her face filled with unease.

Abel noticed his mother’s worried expression and said,

“I’ll meet with the Oswald brothers tomorrow. They’re close to Kyle and should know if the two of them are doing okay.”

Just as Abel finished speaking, Zelda unexpectedly chimed in.

“I ran into the Oswald brothers on my way here.”

Everyone turned to her in surprise, but Zelda, with her usual calm demeanor, continued,

“I asked if something had happened, as I heard the two were living away from home, but they didn’t give me a clear answer. Perhaps it’s because I was the one asking.”

If there had been nothing wrong, they would have said so. The fact that they didn’t give a proper answer stirred Eliza’s intuition.

Something must have happened between them. 

She had held back her curiosity out of fear that Kyle would dislike her interference, but now she felt the need to confirm what was going on.

Eliza looked at Alexander.

“Dear, I’m worried. I think we need to meet with them. Why don’t you send someone to bring them back directly?”

Alexander, who had been considering the same thing, nodded in agreement.

“I’ll call Kernels tomorrow and have him go to Kyle.”

After Alexander’s reply, the conversation at the table continued for a while longer, but the previous lively atmosphere never returned.