IPUAVNP Chapter 122

Episode 122

 

While the family back at home was busy worrying about Kyle and Brody, Brody, now on her third day in the newly moved-into cabin, was sitting alone, waiting for Kyle to return.

She stared idly at the darkness outside through the small window.

She wanted to open it, but it was still broken—Kyle hadn’t fixed it yet.

The door was in the same state, leaving her to wonder if he was simply ignoring her requests.

Brody sighed and shook her head.

Ever since their second day here, she had been asking him to go back and bring the rest of their belongings, but Kyle had only gone back home tonight.

She had even asked to go with him to greet the family since she hadn’t been able to say goodbye properly, but Kyle had left on his own while she was in the bathroom.

She had been planning to just wrap herself in a blanket and tag along, but he hadn’t even waited for that.

Brody glanced suspiciously around the cabin.

To be honest, she had experienced something strange as soon as they moved in.

The day after their first night, the dress she had worn disappeared without a trace.

Kyle claimed he didn’t know anything about it, but whether it had vanished into thin air or sunk into the ground, Brody was left unable to go outside for days.

She had asked Kyle to buy her clothes at the market, but he always returned with only food, claiming he’d forgotten.

And it wasn’t just the clothes—he wouldn’t even let her step out of the cabin.

Every time she tried to leave for some fresh air, the door, which opened effortlessly under Kyle’s hands, wouldn’t budge even when she pushed and pulled.

For three days, Kyle had pushed Brody’s patience to its limit.

She had held her temper the first day, convinced herself he must have his reasons on the second, but by the third day, she was close to exploding.

‘Why won’t he let me leave? If he comes back without my clothes today, using that same excuse, I’m not letting it slide.’

Brody, who had been grumbling for a while, soon sighed and muttered.

“I’m so bored….”

For three days, she had done nothing but eat and sleep in this cramped cabin, unable to meet anyone.

Kyle cooked delicious meals, ensured she could bathe in warm water, and let her sleep in a cozy bed, but beyond that, he avoided any interaction.

He spent most of his time reading books, only leaving the cabin to go to the market.

Conversations with him were brief and frustrating, leaving Brody feeling isolated even with him nearby.

Stretching her restless body, she gazed outside.

It was then that she heard footsteps accompanied by voices approaching the cabin.

Thinking it might be Kyle, she perked up, but two figures emerged instead.

Realizing it was the Oswald twins, Brody happily tapped on the window. The door was locked, so they couldn’t enter.

The twins noticed her presence at the window and approached, whispering and chuckling to each other.

“See? I told you she’d be home after dinner around this time.”

“Miss Brody, is the captain inside? Tell him we need to talk.”

They laughed mischievously, but Brody shrugged and replied,

“Kyle’s not here. He went home to grab some things.”

The twins’ eyes widened in surprise.

“Wait… Didn’t the two of you already go home for dinner?”

“Huh? When we saw Zelda earlier, didn’t she say there was a family dinner at the leader’s house?”

“A family dinner with Zelda?”

Brody’s expression froze. She had heard no mention of this.

“So, Kyle went to the family dinner without me?”

While Brody struggled to process her thoughts, Oswin tapped on the window again.

She forced herself to focus, and he said,

“Miss Brody, when the captain comes back, let him know this: Leonit Baldwin is visiting Roden tomorrow. He’ll understand.”

“Ugh, we were hoping to plan some mischief for the lion envoy’s visit, but I guess it’s a wasted trip.”

The other twin muttered as they reluctantly walked away.

Brody replied absentmindedly that she would pass on the message, but their words didn’t stick in her mind.

Her thoughts were consumed by the fact that Kyle had gone to the family dinner today, where Zelda was present.

Her face darkened.

For days, she had begged him to go home, but he hadn’t budged—until today. And not only had he gone alone, but he hadn’t even told her about the dinner.

‘Was it because of Zelda?’

‘Did he deliberately keep it from me because he didn’t want me to be there? To avoid the awkwardness of seeing her?’

Brody swallowed deeply, her thoughts spiraling.

Previously, it had been just a vague suspicion, but now she was beginning to believe that Kyle had brought her to this isolated forest because her presence was a nuisance when it came to Zelda.

‘Maybe that’s why he wouldn’t let me leave the cabin. Perhaps, while he stayed with me now, one day he might leave me behind, just like he had today.’

The growing sense of misery made her lower her head.

Every time something like this happened, her mind couldn’t help but imagine the worst-case scenario.

‘Don’t overthink it. He can’t possibly see me that way. The reason he’s keeping me here is probably because I tend to get myself into trouble. It’s because I haven’t strongly insisted on going outside. If I do, he’ll listen to me.’

Brody forced herself to calm down, pushing away the unease and sadness threatening to overwhelm her.

Just as her emotions began to settle, Kyle returned to the cabin.

“Kyle, you’re back?”

She greeted him with a forced smile. But despite her effort, Kyle merely glanced at her briefly and coldly replied, “Yeah,” before walking past her.

This had been happening a lot lately.

Whenever she smiled at him, he would stare at her for a moment before turning away with a cold expression.

Watching him drop the bag of belongings from home and head to the kitchen with the groceries, she felt hurt but maintained a neutral expression.

Facing him after knowing he had gone home, met Zelda, and dined with his family without telling her made resentment rise within her. But she tried her best not to show it.

With a casual tone, she asked,

“Did everything go well at home? You told your parents I said hello, right?”

What she really wanted to ask was, ‘You barely touched your food in front of me, but did it go down fine in front of Zelda?’

But, of course, he wouldn’t know that.

“Yeah,” came his curt reply.

Brody decided to let it slide and started unpacking the bag.

“You brought my dresses, right? Which ones did you—”

Her words trailed off.

There was no dresses.

Not a single one was in the bag at all.

A cold chill ran through her, and she clenched her teeth.

‘I specifically asked him to bring it. And yet again…’

Unable to suppress her irritation, she stood up and shot him a sharp look.

“I told you to bring my clothes. Why didn’t you? Did you forget again?”

But Kyle, instead of addressing her anger, deflected.

“If there’s anything you want to eat, let me know. I’ll make it for you.”

He didn’t even bother with an excuse this time. It was clear: he had deliberately chosen not to bring her dress.

Furious at his disregard, Brody clenched her fists.

“I want to go outside.”

She said firmly.

Kyle slammed a basket onto the table between them, the loud noise cutting through the room. His sharp response followed,

“Why do you want to go outside?”

Brody let out a bitter laugh.

“I’ve been trapped in this tiny cabin for three days. Wouldn’t you feel stifled? Wouldn’t you want to go out?”

“I wouldn’t.”

He replied bluntly.

His resolute tone left her momentarily speechless.

She closed her eyes tightly, feeling as if all the frustration she had been holding back was about to erupt.

She took a deep breath, trying to stay composed, and spoke.

“Why are you keeping me trapped here? Just tell me. If it’s because I’ve caused trouble before, then say so.”

“I’ve held back for three days. Three whole days. You suddenly dragged me to this ridiculous cabin and locked me in. I’ve had enough. Now tell me why.”

Her voice was calm, but it carried all the weight of her remaining patience.

For the first time, Kyle, who had been avoiding her gaze, lifted his head.

His expression was strange, almost unreadable.

“Then you tell me first…”

He said, his voice low and filled with bitterness.

He stared at her with eyes full of resentment.

Confused by his tone and the glare directed at her, Brody frowned.

Then came Kyle’s question, and her face hardened.

“Why did you lie to me? Why did you say you weren’t planning to leave and that you’d stay here with me forever, all the while intending to escape through the magic gate?”

At first, his words left her mind blank. But as their meaning sank in, her eyes wavered with shock.

‘How does he know I planned to leave?’

Surprise was secondary to the piercing gaze Kyle was giving her, one that seemed to see right through her.

She couldn’t muster a single excuse.

In that moment of stunned silence, she realized the reason for Kyle’s cold and distant behavior over the past few days.

It was because she had lied to him.

Because she had told him she wouldn’t leave while secretly planning to do so.

Kyle looked at her as if he were a wounded animal, his eyes filled with emotions she couldn’t fully decipher—was it anger, resentment, or something else?

His gaze bore down on her, as if threatening to crush her under its weight.