The Ice Age Came And I Just Got Married - Chapter 51

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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 51
【The bait seems to have walked right into our trap. I don’t see anyone else. Could it be a setup?】
【What if they’ve learned about our plan?】
【We only decided to use her as bait two hours ago. How could they possibly know? It’s impossible. In fact, this works perfectly. Let’s grab her and tie her up.】
I wondered why they were taking so long, then realized they must be inside concocting some pointless strategy with their advisors.
I checked my pocket watch.
About five minutes had passed.
Knock, knock.
I rapped on the door again. Only then did I hear movement from within.
Click—
The door opened at last.
As expected, Winterdin appeared.
“Goodness, madam. What brings you out at this hour?”
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t sleep, so I was taking a walk and happened to see the light on in here.”
“A walk? In this weather?”
At Winterdin’s question, I simply smiled. The more suspicious I appeared, the better.
For just a moment, I caught a flicker of calculation cross her face—as if she were trying to work out what I was plotting.
I pressed my advantage with another carefully placed remark.
“I was just wandering aimlessly, but it’s fortunate I found you. I’ve been wanting to speak with you anyway.”
Winterdin studied me quietly.
As if she were trying to see through to my true intentions.
“Is something the matter?”
Calling on her chambers at such a late hour was already a breach of propriety, but I played ignorant of the fact.
Winterdin finally smiled and stepped aside.
“Do come in.”
I entered the manor.
The interior was unremarkable.
Firewood crackled in the hearth, and several old landscape paintings hung on the walls.
“Please, sit.”
Winterdin gestured toward the parlor sofa.
I nodded and took a seat.
Clearly she had been speaking with someone moments ago, yet now only Winterdin and I remained in the room.
Once inside the manor, I could sense the Winterstone’s location far more distinctly.
‘The Winterstone must be in the basement.’
The basement—such a clichéd place for hiding something suspicious. Almost too obvious.
I observed the door leading downward, sealed shut, before my gaze returned to Winterdin.
She was busily preparing tea to serve me.
Presently, Winterdin brought out a teapot and two cups.
A sweet, subtle herbal fragrance wafted through the air.
It was an enchanting aroma—one that seemed to settle the mind and ease the spirit.
Winterdin had never truly cared for the safety of the Refuge’s residents.
Her only interest appeared to be vitality itself.
If I drank this, she might attempt to drain my vitality before using me as bait.
But she doesn’t know such things don’t work on me. A pity for her.
I picked up the teacup.
I noticed Winterdin watching my hand movements intently, pretending not to.
Raising and lowering the cup as if I were about to drink, I glanced sidelong at her and asked, “May I inquire what your relationship is with Lieutenant Wayne?”
Winterdin, who had been waiting for me to drink the tea, narrowed her brows with a flash of irritation.
The expression was so fleeting I found myself wondering if I’d imagined it.
Then, folding her hands, she opened her mouth with a sorrowful look.
“I’ve done Claire—no, Lieutenant Wayne a great wrong.”
“Do you regret it?”
“Deeply.”
“Then do you also regret stealing the vitality of innocent people?”
“Yes, I… I regret that too…”
Her voice trailed off, and Winterdin’s head snapped up, her eyes locking onto mine.
I raised the teacup to my lips and savored the aroma. It remained sweet.
“Your answer will determine what I do with you, madam.”
“What do you mean by—”

While Countess Winterdin faltered, caught off guard and searching for words, I explained to her in a measured tone.
“For instance.”
I set down the teacup and spoke.
“Answer my questions well, and I’ll content myself with reclaiming only the Violetstone and your vitality.”
Then I slid the teacup toward Countess Winterdin.
“But if you answer poorly, you’d best prepare yourself for far worse suffering.”
I delivered this with absolute composure.
Countess Winterdin stared silently at the cup I’d pushed toward her, then murmured.
“I caught the scent—why didn’t I lose consciousness?”
“I have immunity to that poison.”
“……?!”
This, too, was part of Graham’s early training regimen for me.
My brother had cultivated not only my hunting abilities but also my resistance to toxins from childhood.
When I was young, I thought Graham hated me, but looking back now, something felt off. Could all of this really be coincidence?
Countess Winterdin exhaled heavily, drew out a handkerchief, and wiped her hands clean.
“It seems I’ll have to subdue you by force.”
With those words, she pressed both palms against the table and moved to rise.
But her hands remained frozen to the surface—she couldn’t move.
She looked down at her palms in alarm.
A pristine layer of ice spreading from her palms had expanded to engulf both her hands entirely.
“What—what is this?”
While she struggled to pull her hands free, armed figures descended the stairs in urgent haste.
Two men and one woman.
All appeared to be in their early twenties.
And I sensed the faint presence of Winterstone energy circulating through their bodies.
They too had stolen vitality from others.
They swiftly loaded their weapons and aimed at me.
I flicked a finger.
In the same instant, ice coated the barrels of all three guns.
“What is this?”
“Wait—why won’t it—?”
“Ah! M-my feet are stuck to the ground!”
As chaos erupted, I rose slowly from my seat.
Countess Winterdin’s eyes widened with fury, her hands still bound to the table.
“You did this.”
I answered nothing, only smiled slightly.
That smile seemed to kindle her rage further.
“Witch! Destroy that vicious witch!”
But there was no one to answer her call.
“M-madam, our feet are also stuck.”
“Our weapons are frozen—we can’t fire.”
Watching her subordinates struggle to maintain their balance with feet locked in place, Countess Winterdin cursed.
“Damn! Damn it all!!”
Bang!
Adding insult to injury, gunfire erupted from outside. Countess Winterdin seemed to grasp its meaning.
Her face drained of all color.
She clearly understood what three people—Logan, two soldiers, and myself—could accomplish against Selhaven’s forces.
“Curse it. If it weren’t for that woman Claire, I’d never have made such a foolish decision to touch Chestwind! Ahhh! Ahhhhh!”
She grasped the situation better than I’d expected.
‘But it’s too late now.’
“I see you harbor neither remorse nor regret, madam. That much is quite clear.”
I withdrew the pocket watch.
Ten minutes remained.
“I’ll simply fulfill my role. Her fate, I’ll leave to another.”
Claire had claimed the task of dealing with Countess Winterdin’s end. It was her wish.
Shutting out her screams entirely, I gazed at the firmly sealed basement door.
* * *
Logan walked with one hand thrust into his trouser pocket, serene and unhurried.
Soldiers from the Selhaven Refuge surrounded him on all sides.
Bang!
A military boot came down on the snow with brutal force, so violent that the white expanse erupted skyward in a glittering spray.
The distance closed in an instant, and the onlookers couldn’t follow his movements.
When their senses returned, all of them lay sprawled on the ground.
Logan gazed down at the bodies with an expression of mild irritation.
Armed men lay unconscious at his feet. It would’ve been quick and clean if he’d simply killed them.
Tsk.
But Eve hadn’t wanted that, so Logan hadn’t drawn his blade.
Besides, there was no need for a sword against rabble like this.
Logan turned away with measured calm.
Yet beneath his composed stride, his heart was racing wildly.
He wanted to see Eve again—urgently.
Somewhere along the way, it had stopped being about what Eve needed. Now it was about what he needed—her presence.
“I’ll be watching. Do as you wish.”
It wasn’t her who couldn’t bear separation. It was himself.
Logan’s pace quickened.

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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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