I Picked Up an Abandoned Villain in the Polar Region

Episode 99

 

“Wait for me, let’s go together!”

Brody called out, trotting after Kyle as he prepared to head out for work, her voice filled with playful affection.

Kyle, who was still embarrassed from Brody’s teasing that morning, refused to look back and kept walking.

However, as they reached the stairs leading to the first floor, he glanced back at her hurried steps and said,

“Be careful on the stairs. Don’t trip.”

The house, built to accommodate the tall frames of wolves, had steps that were a bit too high for someone like Brody.

Even though she was slightly sulking, Brody felt a flutter of happiness at his small gesture of concern.

But just as she cheerfully followed him down the stairs, they bumped into Alexander on his way to the dining room.

“Good morning, Father! Did you sleep well?”

Brody greeted him brightly, as if the events of the previous night had been completely erased from her memory.

Alexander barely glanced at her and directed his dry voice toward Kyle, who was attempting to pass by without acknowledgment.

“Have breakfast before you leave.”

‘Ohhh!’

Brody’s eyes sparkled at Alexander’s unexpected suggestion. It seemed he had taken her advice from yesterday to heart and was trying to change.

However, Kyle frowned, perplexed by his father’s words.

They rarely ate breakfast together, typically grabbing something quick in their own rooms before starting the day. The sudden proposal for a shared meal was out of the blue.

Kyle tried to ignore it and continued walking, but Brody grabbed his arm.

“Kyle, I’m hungry. Can’t we eat before we go?”

She looked up at him with a pitiful expression, but Kyle saw through her intentions immediately.

He had told her just yesterday to stop meddling, and yet here she was, at it again.

Unwilling to give in, Kyle called for a passing servant.

“Bring breakfast to my room. Something simple—just fruits and vegetables.”

But before the servant could respond, Alexander’s firm voice cut through the air.

“If you’re not going to show up for breakfast from now on, you can leave this house.”

It was a warning. Kyle paused, a bitter smile creeping onto his face as he turned to face his father.

“You’re not even trying to hide the fact that you’re looking for an excuse to kick me out, are you?”

Fueled by his rising anger, Kyle continued on his way. Meanwhile, Brody, who was witnessing this tense exchange, panicked.

She waved her arms in an exaggerated X shape toward Alexander, silently pleading for him to stop.

Realizing his harsh words had been a misstep, Alexander cleared his throat and rephrased, though his tone remained sharp.

“…Then just come eat if you don’t want to leave.”

It wasn’t much better. Brody sighed and pressed a hand to her forehead in despair.

To make matters worse, Kyle responded in the most unexpected way.

“Fine, I’ll leave.”

Without hesitation, he turned and walked out the door.

“Wait, Kyle!”

Brody shouted, running after him. She caught up to him in the garden, finally managing to stop him.

“Leave? Where are you even planning to go? You don’t have another place to stay!”

Kyle turned to face her, his expression a mix of frustration and restraint.

“I was going to leave as soon as you recovered anyway. I’ve already asked the guys to find us a place. They should have something by today, probably on the outskirts of town.”

He tried to reassure her, but Brody had no intention of leaving the house. Doing so would mean losing her chance to mend things with his family.

“I want to stay here! I don’t want to go anywhere else!”

She declared, gripping his arm firmly.

Kyle’s face hardened at her words, and Brody flinched at the sight.

Realizing she needed a stronger argument, she began rambling in desperation.

“This place has so much good food, and… so many things to eat, and…”

Kyle’s lips twitched in disbelief at her reasoning.

“Are you worried I’ll let you starve if we leave? Don’t worry. That’s not going to happen anymore.”

Brody shook her head.

“No, it’s just… after staying here for a few days, I’ve gotten really comfortable! The house is huge, it’s luxurious, and there are servants to help with everything! I’m just a normal girl from a small village—this kind of fancy lifestyle is completely new to me!”

As the words left her mouth, she winced internally.

What am I even saying? She knew her excuse was weak, and Kyle’s growing smirk confirmed it.

Kyle reached out and tilted her chin up, forcing her to meet his gaze.

“It’s not about the food or the luxury, is it? You just want to meddle in my family’s business, don’t you? Admit it, you nosy rabbit.”

His accusation left Brody red-faced, her cheeks burning with humiliation.

She slapped his hand away and glared at him with defiant determination.

“Then you go by yourself! I’m staying here! I’m not going anywhere!”

When Brody refused to back down, Kyle glared at her with clear disapproval. Brody, however, didn’t flinch, meeting his gaze with equal determination, silently hoping he would relent and agree to stay.

But instead, he simply said, “Do whatever you want,” and turned away, his frustration evident.

Her second tactic had failed to penetrate his defenses.

Watching him walk off, Brody realized she had no choice but to resort to her last, most reluctant option.

“Wait!”

She shouted, rushing to block his path with her arms spread wide. Desperate, she made her plea sound like a negotiation.

“Okay, fine! Just a few more days, that’s all I’m asking! I’m not in the best shape right now!”

Kyle, who had been ready to dismiss her words and leave, stopped abruptly at her mention of being unwell.

His expression grew serious, his gaze filled with suspicion.

“You said you were fine yesterday.”

He remarked, studying her closely.

Brody drooped her shoulders, putting on a performance that could rival any great actor.

“I only said that so you wouldn’t worry.”

She confessed, feigning vulnerability. Her last strategy was to trigger Kyle’s guilt—something she had wanted to avoid at all costs.

I’m such a terrible rabbit, she thought.

“The truth is… whenever I collapse like that, it takes me a few days to fully recover my strength. I mean, I didn’t eat or move for three whole days. Do you really think I could be fine so soon?”

Inwardly, she berated herself. You’re fine, Brody! Stop lying! 

Yet outwardly, she kept her head lowered, playing the role of a frail and pitiable woman.

Fortunately, her final tactic worked. Kyle could no longer look at her with suspicion. Even by his reasoning, it made no sense for someone bedridden for days to suddenly bounce back to full health.

Moreover, this was the first time Brody had admitted she was struggling—something she rarely did, no matter how dire the situation.

Kyle couldn’t brush off her words as a lie. He also couldn’t ignore the guilt he felt, believing Brody had saved Zelda because of him.

If they moved to the outskirts, the new house would likely be far from ideal—a rundown, poorly maintained farmhouse, at best. It wasn’t the kind of place someone recovering from illness should be staying.

The weight of guilt settled on Kyle’s chest, and he let out a heavy sigh.

Sensing his hesitation, Brody clung to his arm, repeating her request to stay for just a few more days.

Finally, her persistence paid off and Kyle allowed himself to be led back to the house.

As part of the deal, he headed to the dining room for a family breakfast—an unfamiliar experience.

The family, seemingly anticipating Brody’s success in bringing Kyle back, had waited to eat until the two of them arrived.

Brody first exchanged a brief glance with Abel, offering him a short nod, and then turned to Eliza with a bright greeting.

“Mother, did you sleep well last night?”

She spoke cheerfully, trying to lighten the mood. Meanwhile, Kyle, sitting beside her, found himself baffled by his family’s uncharacteristic behavior.

Though he thought to himself, What’s gotten into them?, he reluctantly took a seat at the table, swallowing his crumpled pride.

On the table were freshly baked, soft white bread with marmalade, fresh milk, boiled eggs, fruit picked that morning, and a simple salad.

“Everything looks so fresh! It looks delicious!”

Brody exclaimed, her excitement resembling that of a child. In contrast, Eliza, who had been cautiously observing her son’s icy demeanor, replied warmly.

“Since some of us head out for work right after breakfast, I asked them to prepare something simple. If you’re okay with it, Brody, we’ll make sure to prepare something you like for lunch.”

“Ahh! That sounds amazing!”

Brody squealed with delight, stamping her feet with excitement.

The wolves, who rarely expressed their emotions so openly, seemed caught off guard by her enthusiasm.

However, whether it was because they had already started adapting to her energy within a day or because she had endeared herself to them, Eliza smiled warmly and continued chatting with her.

As Brody chattered away, Kyle remained quiet, aimlessly stirring his soup with a spoon, just as he had the day before. But then, mid-conversation, Brody reached out and gently took his hand.

Startled, Kyle looked at her, but Brody didn’t stop her conversation with the others. Her gesture was subtle yet deliberate, ensuring Kyle didn’t feel left out.

In the past, Kyle would have brushed her hand away without hesitation, but this time, he simply lowered his gaze.

As he did, a strange warmth spread through his chest, and he felt an unfamiliar tightness in his throat. Slowly, he picked up his spoon and began to eat the soup.

It surprised even him—he never thought he’d eat in front of his family again.

Brody’s small gesture of holding his hand seemed to quell the defiance that had been raging inside him.

Although he still hadn’t opened his heart to his family, and no words were exchanged between them, Brody felt content.

Even without conversation, the fact that they were sitting together at the same table for the first time in years was enough.