The Ice Age Came And I Just Got Married - Chapter 101

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 101
“Eve, are you all right?”
I nodded at Logan’s question.
“Yes, it’s the Frost Heart.”
I peered into the vault again.
“What was here—I’m certain it’s the Frost Heart.”
Confusion flooded through me. I stood vacant-eyed, groping through my thoughts.
‘Most of all, it was true that a Mage existed three thousand years ago.’
And the silver-haired blue-eyed infant.
Who on earth was that?
What was the Frost Heart trying to show me? I couldn’t begin to guess.
“Wait, there’s something down here?”
Aiden pulled a single sheet of paper from where it had wedged beneath a shelf.
Half the page was torn away, and old bloodstains had rendered most of the text illegible.
Only a few lines remained barely readable.
[Emergency Transfer Record]
Stored item recovered from Seventh Vault.
Target item transferred to Underground Sealed Chamber of Norton Manor. Transfer complete.
No entry except authorized personnel.
“Norton Manor?”
For the first time, Aiden’s expression hardened.
Graham also peered at the note, murmuring to himself.
“A sealed chamber, you say. Was there such a facility in the Manor?”
He directed the question at Aiden.
Aiden was silent for a moment, then slowly shook his head.
“At least, I have never heard of one.”
“Then what in the world is this?”
“The Manor does have underground storerooms and an armory, but no facility by the name of a sealed chamber exists. Though… however…”
Aiden narrowed his brow as if searching his memory.
“There is one door that won’t open. No one approaches it. Or rather, no one can approach it.”
Graham asked, puzzled.
“What do you mean?”
Aiden answered slowly.
“The moment you enter within a certain distance of the door, your body begins to freeze.”
Brian absently uncrossed his arms and looked at Aiden. All of them were now focused on his words.
Aiden’s explanation continued.
“Sensation vanishes from your fingertips first. Then your breath begins to catch. At first I thought it was mere cold. But it wasn’t. Even bringing a brazier, even using Redstone—nothing helped at all.”
I found myself gazing down at my own hands. If even the power to melt cold was useless there, then it was no ordinary chill.
‘But… somehow I sense I could open it.’
It wasn’t the power of Winterstone—it was as though the Frost Heart itself was speaking to me in this way.
“A few soldiers once tried to force their way in. They all lost consciousness, and since then, no one has dared approach that door.”
The air settled heavy.
I quietly pressed my hand to my chest.
The Winterstone within my body still beat faintly with a pulse.
It was strange. While everyone else feared that door, I felt an urge to see it with my own eyes.
‘Could it be…?’
Was the Frost Heart calling to me again?
In that moment—
Thump.
My heart beat powerfully once more.
This time, far more vividly than before.
As if someone behind that door was calling out to me, urging me to come and see.
“I think we should go to Norton Manor.”
At my words, Aiden nodded with a helpless expression.
“Entering the Manor is fine enough, but you must remember one thing.”
Aiden’s voice dropped to a lower, more somber tone as he issued his warning.
“Do not be alarmed when you see our officers.”
* * *
By the time we returned to Norton Manor, the sun had already begun to set.
As Aiden led the way and opened the gates, the soldiers all bowed at the waist in unison.
“Your Highness!”
“Thank heavens you’re safe!”
Aiden raised a hand briefly in acknowledgment and stepped through the gates.
“Are the advisors in the Council Chamber?”
“Yes. They’ve been waiting.”
The knights who spotted us asked carefully.
“But these people are……”
Aiden answered calmly without breaking stride.
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
At those words, the soldiers asked nothing further.
Only then did they step aside, clearing a path on both flanks.
We proceeded down a long corridor toward the inner reaches of Norton Manor.
Firelight from the hearths flickered gently along the passage, where an ancient crimson carpet lay underfoot, and through the windows beyond, the snowy landscape of Norton was dimly visible in the falling dusk.
At the far end of the corridor, Aiden stopped before a heavy oak door adorned with brass fixtures.
From beyond the door, raised voices were already leaking out faintly.
Aiden exhaled a deep breath.
“I must ask again—please do not be alarmed.”
With that, he opened the council chamber door.
Bang!
“I distinctly said His Highness was alive!”
“This stubborn old goat won’t let it go!”
“Who’s being stubborn? You yourself said His Highness wouldn’t escape his anger!”
“I said missing—I never said survival would be difficult!”
“That’s the same thing!”
In the center of the council chamber.
Four middle-aged men of considerable years stood on opposite sides of a table, voices raised.
On one side, a bearded man clutching a beer bottle bellowed at the top of his lungs, while on the other, a gentleman wearing askew spectacles gripped the back of his chair and shot back with equal fervor.
“……”
“……”
We froze where we stood. Brian, watching the spectacle, spoke first.
“……These are nobles, aren’t they?”
Aiden didn’t answer readily either.
Nobles, yes. I know that much.
They were advisors who appeared frequently in novels, after all.
Aiden had continued to accept Survivors into the great manor.
Every time he ventured out, he’d rescue more Survivors and bring them back. Before long, the manor was packed to bursting.
Perhaps it was Aiden’s nature as the head of this shelter, but the manor’s advisors had grown progressively more cantankerous.
According to Nathan, Vincent had once called these Norton advisors “corrupt” and “authoritarian nobles.”
That was surely true just months ago. But not now. Survival had become more important to them than maintaining authority.
And yet—surely even survival shouldn’t strip away all dignity?
Then, among them, one familiar face turned to greet us.
A knight in silver armor—Vincent.
The moment Vincent bowed toward Aiden.
“Your Highness!”
“You’re alive, after all!”
“Move aside! I’ll embrace him first!”
“Get away—you reek of drink!”
Thump-thump-thump—
The middle-aged men rushed forward all at once.
Aiden, as if accustomed to it, let himself be embraced by them and sighed.
“……This is precisely why I warned you in advance.”
I stared blankly at the scene.
Watching them now, no one would ever guess that just months ago these men had been corrupt, authoritarian nobles.
I’d been told they wanted to subdue the young prince and impose their own opinions by any means—that no trace of cooperation like the residents of the Chestnut Village could be found in them.
‘Cooperation does seem rather unlikely, doesn’t it.’
They all appeared to be the type who insisted their own views were the only correct ones.
“You’ve brought guests!”
“More Survivors you’ve picked up?”
“This is just like our prince—such a soft heart. The manor will burst at the seams.”
“Bring tea!”
“Tea? You look half-frozen! Give him a drink first!”
“Have you lost your mind? Alcohol on an empty stomach?”
“What’s wrong with liquor, you old fool! It’s perfect for warming the body!”
Wow. This was even louder than I’d anticipated.
Aiden gave a small, stifled cough.
“Allow me to make introductions.”
The advisors’ gazes snapped toward us in unison.
“The Duke and Duchess of Chestwind Duchy, Logan Arthur Chestwind and Eve Lania Chestwind.”
“…….”
“The young lady of the Ravensher Duchy, Amelia Rosalind Ravensher.”
“…….”
“And the heir to the Everhart Count House, Graham Oswald Everhart.”
“…….”
“Brian is a familiar face, so I’ll skip the particulars.”
In an instant, the Council Chamber fell silent as if by magic.
The middle-aged men who’d just been grabbing each other’s collars and raising their voices straightened their spines in unison.
‘……?’
One man hastily smoothed his disheveled tie; another quickly hid a beer bottle behind his back.
The elderly gentleman who’d been scratching his beard gave a brief cough, then assumed a grave expression.
Remarkably, the chaotic atmosphere was tidied away in an instant.
The playful looks vanished, and there emerged naturally the weight that only elders who had guided noble society through long centuries possessed.
Now I could finally see the authoritative nobility Vincent had spoken of.
“It is an honor to make your acquaintance.”
“I am Arman, Chief Advisor of Norton Manor.”
“We are privileged to receive you.”
He bowed with such grace and propriety that it was hard to believe he’d been the one shouting “you old fool!” moments before.
But that facade didn’t last long.
“Hey.”
One advisor jabbed the man beside him with a very soft voice.
“Didn’t I tell you to hide the bottle?”
“Be quiet. You started hollering in the first place.”
“Please, try to maintain some decorum.”
“What good is decorum in this doomed world?”
Watching this quietly, Aiden pressed his temples.
“……Ten seconds appears to be our limit for propriety.”
Vincent let out a soft laugh.
“Still, ten seconds is rather impressive for today.”
I could begin to guess what the atmosphere was usually like in this manor. It felt far more familiar than I’d expected.
But we hadn’t come here simply to build rapport with these men.
I glanced around carefully, then ventured to speak.
“We’ve come to Norton Manor because there is something we must accomplish here.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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