The Ice Age Came And I Just Got Married - Chapter 55

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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 55
“By the way, I don’t think I ever got a straight answer. How much Redstone would you need to keep in order for an entire village to radiate such warmth?”
At the edge of his vision sat a young squirrel, contentedly cracking acorns.
Sensing his gaze, the squirrel perked up its ears and lifted its head.
When their eyes met, it wrinkled its nose in displeasure and bared its teeth.
It was clear the creature did not care for Aiden.
When Aiden cautiously reached for one of the rolling acorns, the squirrel immediately scurried over and bit his finger.
A moment of silence followed.
The young squirrel that had gnawed on Aiden’s finger picked up an acorn and hurled it at his forehead, then patted his hand repeatedly with its front paws.
A creature of irascible temperament, without question.
Vincent lowered his stance. His hand, resting on his sword hilt, tensed with force.
Yet his opponent was nothing more than a diminutive squirrel. He found himself unable to move further.
A look of awkwardness crossed Vincent’s face. Aiden, watching his guard captain stand helplessly by, let out a hollow laugh and waved his hand.
What use was there in having the captain of the guard come forward over a mere squirrel? It would only damage Aiden’s dignity further.
“Does this creature actually understand human speech?”
To Aiden’s exasperated question, Marcus stood with folded arms, staring at the squirrel as though baffled.
Just then, Charlotte and Brian, who had been observing the scene, began whispering to each other.
“That irritable squirrel hasn’t changed. I was worried for nothing.”
“It only obeys Eve. The little thing seems to know exactly who holds the real power in this village. For all we know, it might actually be a tiny human wearing a squirrel costume.”
Of course, they made no effort to lower their voices—Aiden heard every word.
Marcus regarded the temperamental squirrel, Chipi, with somewhat troubled eyes.
‘Eve mentioned that people with aggressive dispositions can’t enter this village.’
Which meant Aiden was, at the very least, no enemy.
“If the Crown Prince were to propose it, he might actually be able to end this cursed Ice Age. If he asks you to stand with him, don’t refuse.”
She had even mentioned something like that in passing.
‘Why should I?’
Follow Aiden, leaving Eve behind? Why should he? When merely gazing at Eve was enough to feast his eyes on such beauty? For Aiden?
Marcus stared at the tightly closed greenhouse doors.
‘Eve needs to come soon.’
Yet at the same time, he almost wished she wouldn’t.
Because once that damned Crown Prince laid eyes on Eve, he would surely covet her.
Marcus adjusted his mouth irritably, then quietly observed Aiden and Vincent.
‘They’re grating on my nerves.’
* * *
Shortly after arriving at Rosebrook, Claire and Lien promised to meet again before departing for the naval base.
And Logan set out for Dotori Village with Eve, passing through downtown.
“The ice tsunami really has disappeared.”
Eve murmured this while gazing up at the empty sky as they crossed through the Harbor District. Logan replied with a single observation.
“There will be people who saw you that day.”
“What?”
“No matter how careful we were, there are probably one or two people who witnessed you dispel the tsunami. And their reactions weren’t so different from those at the Sun Haven Shelter.”
Eve fell silent for a moment.
She trudged through the snow that had accumulated up to her thighs, then paused and glanced down at her legs, already numb from the freezing cold.
When he turned back, he saw Eve following the path he had cleared, walking toward him.
“I don’t want to stop you anymore.”
Eve stopped and looked up at him.
“Whatever path you choose.”
A moment of silence hung between them.
“I won’t be the one standing in your way…….”
Logan’s eyes darkened.
“Grow stronger instead. That would be better.”
How many times had he not learned that hiding her away in his arms, concealing her from the world, led to the same conclusion regardless?
Now was the time to strengthen her power so that she could move about freely without facing threat.
And all he needed to do was create a safe path for her and wait.
At his words, Eve’s eyes brightened with light.
“I will. I don’t want to walk behind you—I want to walk beside you. Just wait. Soon I’ll surpass my own limits.”
She answered as though it were the most natural thing in the world, speaking with such composure as if it were something that could undoubtedly come to pass.
Just like in her Academy days, when she had struggled so hard to outpace him. Ever constant, ever unchanged.
Logan resumed his steps. He continued forward.
And Eve walked along the path he had carved out ahead.
“We’re here.”
At Eve’s words, Logan looked up.
Beyond the swirling white snow, a familiar landscape emerged.
Dotori Village—it felt like an age since he’d last seen it.
The first thing that struck Logan’s eyes was the wall encircling the settlement.
The high palisade, constructed from logs, iron sheets, and stone fitted together, bore countless marks of reinforcement since the Ice Age had begun.
Outside the wall, snow still lay thick, rising to the thigh. Walking was scarcely possible.
But inside was different. Not that there was no snow.
The interior of the village was also blanketed in white, yet the depth of accumulation was markedly less.
Hardly more than enough to dampen the tops of one’s shoes.
Logan entered the village gate alongside Eve, brushing the snow from her shoulders and hair.
The chick Pipi fluttered about them, wings beating softly.
“Your Grace!”
“My lady!”
People rushed out from within the village to greet them.
Eve smiled brightly, waving her hand in return.
But her smile faded quickly. It was because of the man standing beside Marcus, who emerged last from the crowd.
The Crown Prince—Aiden.
‘What in blazes is he doing here?’
Chapter 9: Whiteout
Twenty-three years ago. November 29th, 1894.
In the Capital of Granden Kingdom, where snow rarely fell even in the depths of winter, the arrival of sleet in late autumn sent the city into a fever of excitement.
Graham Oswald Everhart.
The eldest son of the Everhart Earl Family, now ten years old this year, would meet his youngest sibling for the very first time on that day.
The townhouse of the Everhart Earl Family, located in the Capital of Abridden.
Graham had only just arrived from the country house after hearing that his mother’s labor was imminent.
And upon reaching the townhouse, he was immediately introduced to his newborn sister.
‘I’d heard Mother’s condition was grave…’
The family had been told there was even risk of miscarriage; they should steel themselves.
Yet when Graham reached the Capital, his mother had already delivered safely and recovered well.
His father now held the infant and presented her to Graham.
“This child is your sister. We have named her Eve. As the eldest, it falls to you to care for her well from this day forward.”
The name Eve was unusual.
In the Northern Language, it meant the first light that breaks after the longest night ends—the dawn.
According to ancient mythology, it was said the name of the first woman, ancestor of all mankind, was Eve.
There was also the theory that it meant life itself.
Graham found himself drawn to the name Eve—and so found himself drawn to the child herself.
That day, as if to welcome Eve into their family, the first snow of the season fell.
The city poured into the streets, all excitement and wonder at the sight of it.
Graham held Eve in his arms and gazed out the window.
The pure white, unblemished snow—it was exactly the color of Eve’s hair.
“Father, Mother. It seems Eve brings us good fortune.”
“You’re a sentimental one, aren’t you?”
Surely, even then, Graham believed their family faced nothing but a rosy future.
When had it changed?
When had everything become this?
“Is the child named Eve? Surrender her to us, and we’ll spare your family. Your parents have already accepted this. You and Julian need only do the same. Your family is not a vessel worthy of holding an Administrator.”
A gasp.
Graham’s eyes snapped open.
It had been ages since he’d dreamed of those childhood days.
He pushed his head out from the tent flap and emerged into the open air. The sun was mercifully visible.
Spread before him lay a vast, frozen sea—locked in ice.
He’d thought he would never return.
But now that the world had ended, he was finally permitted to set foot on his native soil once more.
‘Where is Eve now?’
In the Capital of Abridden? Or in Everhart Territory?
The Academy had kept Eve’s movements confined to the Capital these past years.
‘The Capital is closer. I should go there first.’
The last he’d heard of Eve was five years ago.
After that, there had been nothing—only the knowledge that she was attending the Academy.
To be precise, contact had been cut off.
It was the work of White Veil. He had been abducted to the neighboring nation of Norselan and kept imprisoned there the entire time.
Graham swiftly folded the tent. They needed to move quickly.
They were probably on the move as well.
To claim Eve.

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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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