The Ice Age Came And I Just Got Married - Chapter 54

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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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Chapter 54
No one answered.
Those who had been robbed of their youth by the Countess of Winterdin burned with rage at her words, while those who hadn’t received the bitter shock of learning the truth for the first time through this very incident.
“I saved you all!”
But all that came back was silence.
That silence was the first judgment she had ever received.
No one had thrown stones at her. No one hurled curses.
No one even looked at her—as though she had become worthless.
The moment the Countess of Winterdin grasped this truth, her lips trembled. For the first time, she bowed her head.
Claire watched Eve with fascination, marveling at how naturally she had orchestrated the entire scene.
Then Leon spoke quietly.
“I’m also a graduate of the Royal Academy. So I’ve heard countless rumors about the two of you.”
Claire listened as Leon told her old stories about Logan and Eve.
There was a sickly beauty at the Royal Academy, he said—a relentless competitor, they said. She never bent, never yielded, not even to the heir of Chestwind.
Eve had supposedly been the target of much jealousy and envy. Yet at the same time, many harbored a secret admiration for her.
The strange thing was that Eve herself seemed entirely unaware of all this turmoil.
In her eyes, there was only Logan.
She had to surpass Logan.
As if living solely for that purpose, she knew nothing but Logan.
The torment inflicted by those who envied her meant nothing to Eve.
One day her desk would vanish; another day her textbooks would be torn; yet another day someone would pour milk over her head and call it an accident—such humiliations were countless.
The harassment was relentless, yet she seemed not even to realize she was being tormented.
She genuinely believed the other students had simply made mistakes, and her attention remained fixed entirely on her studies to surpass Logan.
Since the victim showed no sign of breaking, the frequency of the harassment gradually diminished.
Then, in a pattern that repeated over and over, the students who had tormented her would suddenly withdraw from the Academy or be carried off to hospitals.
Rumors suggested it was Logan’s doing, but there was no proof.
As this pattern continued, eventually, those who bullied Eve disappeared entirely.
Claire, listening quietly to Leon’s tale, gazed out the window. The sun had fully risen.
Warm sunlight streamed through the common hall’s window, flooding the interior.
The long, endless night was coming to an end.
Soon after, Eve drew out her pocket watch to check the time, then gazed out at the sun-flooded landscape beyond the window.
With a faint smile, she turned without hesitation. She tapped Logan’s forearm as she spoke.
“The sun’s up. Let’s go.”
Without knowing why, Claire found herself following like one entranced, trailing behind Eve’s back.
Just before they left Sunhaven Shelter.
Everyone from the shelter came outside to bid them farewell.
“Do you have a destination in mind?”
A young woman in her late twenties, her silver-grey hair braided neatly, asked me.
She was one of those who had been robbed of her youth by the Countess of Winterdin.
“We’re heading to Rosebrook.”
“If that isn’t where you’re staying, would you perhaps consider remaining in our village……?”
Eve smiled softly and began to decline.
“We appreciate the offer, but we already have a shelter where we’re staying.”
Then, as if a thought had suddenly occurred to her, Eve extended her hand.
“Would you be willing to form an Alliance with our village?”
The woman looked flustered, turning to the other shelter residents. When they nodded, she hesitantly extended her hand and grasped mine.
Eve shook hands lightly as she spoke.
“There may not be much contact between us for now, but someday there may come a time when we need each other’s help.”
At that, the woman’s face brightened. The same was true for all the other residents.
Eve left them with one final word.
“We come from Dotori Village in Rosebrook. Until the day we meet again, I wish you all nothing but safety.”
* * *
Chirp—
Pipi, the baby bird, led the way.
In an hour, we would arrive at Rosebrook.
We walked through the forest after leaving Sunhaven Shelter.
Following behind Logan, I turned to Claire, who trailed after me, and asked.
“You really won’t regret this?”
I was asking about leaving the Countess of Winterdin’s fate to the village residents rather than dealing with her ourselves.
“Even if I did regret it, it’s already too late to turn back.”
Claire was resolute.
“Once we arrive in Rosebrook, you’ll head straight to the naval base, won’t you?”
Claire and Leon nod at my question. After a moment, Claire carefully gauges my expression before speaking.
“Yes. And…….”
And?
“After we’ve toured the base, would it be all right if we came to visit your village?”
That was truly unexpected.
* * *
Aiden and Vincent remained in the greenhouse.
Charlotte, at a loss for words about the current situation, plowed the field alongside Brian with an awkward expression.
She felt a sharp gaze boring into her back.
It was from Aiden and Vincent.
Sweat poured from Brian like rain beneath that stare.
‘What’s with all this sweating…….’
Charlotte, unable to bear it any longer, whispered to Brian.
“When are those two finally going home?”
“How should I know? Be careful. That’s the Crown Prince.”
“The Crown Prince? The world’s falling apart and he can’t do a thing about it.”
Brian nodded vigorously at Charlotte’s cutting remark.
Just then, Aiden’s voice reached them.
“I worried whether you were still alive, but I never imagined you’d be living so comfortably in a place like this.”
Cold sweat rolled down Brian’s spine. He turned his head with the jerky motion of a broken toy.
There he found Aiden, waving casually at him with an indifferent expression.
Brian shot to his feet and bowed deeply.
“Yes! Your Highness.”
He’d already greeted them when entering the greenhouse, but the respectful response came reflexively.
“It’s strange to see you so well-behaved. The Brian I remember was more inclined to speak his mind freely.”
Only then did Charlotte recall that Brian had come from the royal intelligence service.
At that moment, Marcus entered the greenhouse.
“You’re still here.”
At Marcus’s remark, Aiden’s eyebrows rose slightly. But he showed no sign of agitation, returning the volley smoothly.
“Meeting with the Duke and Duchess of Chestwind was the original purpose, after all.”
Aiden lifted his teacup.
“If I left empty-handed, I’d lose face before those who came trusting in me.”
Marcus smiled faintly.
“For Your Highness to concern himself with face—it seems your situation is more difficult than I imagined.”
Aiden’s lips curved slightly upward.
“Should I take that as sympathy?”
“As an expression of respect.”
A smooth operator indeed. Charlotte, who had been quietly listening to their exchange, clicked her tongue. Marcus was Marcus, after all.
Just then, Vincent, the commander of the guards who had been silent until now, spoke up.
“Now listen here, Marcus. Show some restraint.”
“Restraint? I hear that word often in business.”
Marcus parried without blinking, then continued.
“Usually, it comes from those worried that something even more unpleasant will follow.”
Cough—
Brian let out a dry cough.
“If I’ve overstepped, I apologize. However, Your Highness has yet to say he finds it disagreeable.”
Marcus bowed his head to Aiden without concern. A silver-tongued devil straight from hell. A man with a serpent’s tongue.
Aiden, narrowing his eyes as he regarded Marcus, stroked his chin and spoke.
“You’re ambitious.”
“Pardon?”
“Would you not consider joining me?”
“I must decline.”
“I demand your reason.”
“I’m already aboard a rather interesting ship.”
At Marcus’s razor-sharp answer, Aiden shrugged.
He shifted the topic with casual indifference.

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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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