Home/The Ice Age Came? And I Just Got Married?!/ch 112

Chapter 112.

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Julian and Graham, having been shown to their new house, had returned to the greenhouse and sat facing each other.

An awkward silence had lasted for an hour.

Finally, Graham spoke.

"I'm glad you're alive."

"You too, brother."

Julian scratched his cheek awkwardly.

They didn't dislike each other or have a bad relationship—but they weren't particularly close either. It was only thanks to Eve's efforts that the three of them seemed harmonious when together.

"I heard the gist of what happened from Eve."

Graham nodded at Julian's words.

"That's how it turned out."

"Right."

Silence fell again.

Chirp?

Chippy, passing by the table, looked at the two men curiously—as if wondering why they weren't saying anything.

"What is this squirrel? How is it alive in this weather?"

At Julian's question, Graham smiled.

"This village is special—this greenhouse too. Eve says it's the guardian, but no one knows its true nature."

He paused, then added,

"We suspect that mages from three thousand years ago created this village."

Julian's eyes lit up with interest. He rested his chin and looked around the greenhouse.

"How did you find that out?"

"They found a photo of the village chief—presumably a mage from three thousand years ago—along with what seemed like village rules. As you can see, the village maintains a warm temperature inside, unlike outside—which makes no sense realistically."

"That's true."

As Julian nodded, Graham looked at the massive mana stone in the center of the greenhouse and asked,

"What about the Heart of Frost?"

"No reaction. It seems Eve needs to gather the Winterstones to activate it properly."

"Then we might be able to end this damned ice age."

"That's right."

"And find Father and 'them' too."

"Where do you think Father is?"

"The Southern Underground City, no?"

The Southern Underground City.

Graham mulled over the name. Crown Prince Aiden had also guessed that the King and his retainers had fled there.

What does White Veil know, and what are they planning?

One thing was certain—White Veil was after Eve.

Lost in thought, Graham spoke.

"We need to interrogate Captain Russell and that officer Kaelan."

"Right. And before that..."

Julian trailed off and turned his gaze—toward Eve House beyond the greenhouse.

"I can only imagine how hard Eve has been for five years... we owe her a great debt."

"...It seems Cheshwind helped her."

"Yes. So I need to hear the full story of Eve and Logan's marriage."

Julian still kept his eyes on Eve House—on the lit second-floor window, Eve's room.

"Besides, that man has only lost his memories of Eve, right? If it were him with his memories, I wouldn't worry—but a memoryless Cheshwind might only bring her more pain."

"I felt the same—the current Cheshwind didn't sit well with me either."

Graham's gaze also turned toward Eve House.

Both men's eyes blazed fiercely—as if daring anyone to lay a hand on their sister.

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"...Logan, calm down."

"Do I look calm? I lost you right before my eyes?"

If it had been me, I probably couldn't have calmed down either.

Wait.

I noticed his shirt was soaked red inside. I remembered he hadn't been injured.

"Logan, you're hurt?"

He tilted his head.

"That's not important."

"Of course it's important."

I grabbed his shirt.

Silence fell like cold water. Logan took my hand and lowered it.

"Eve."

I looked up at his low call—meeting his crimson eyes.

"I'll do it."

Feeling awkward, I withdrew my hand and cleared my throat.

He unbuttoned his shirt and showed me the wound—a long gash on his side.

"You said you weren't hurt."

"I didn't tell you because I wanted this."

He smirked, then tossed his shirt aside. Bare-chested in the cold, I didn't know where to look.

"I wanted to be treated in private—just the two of us."

Why had he become so sly?

I hesitated, then looked closely at his wound—a bullet graze on his side, not embedded.

"It's worse than I thought—sit down."

I pulled him to the bed.

He sat obediently and looked up at me.

Meeting his red eyes, I froze.

He reached out.

"A little closer..."

Then he pulled me onto his lap.

"You need to treat me."

To keep my balance, I instinctively placed my hands on his shoulders—and saw his face close to mine.

He smiled and pressed a kiss to my cheek.

"Ah—sorry. That was because you're cute."

"&#$@!?"

Startled, I flailed—nearly falling off the bed—but Logan caught me and laughed.

"Are you that surprised? Like someone new to dating."

"I am new?!"

"Ah—so you married the old me without dating?"

I nodded like an idiot, and Logan burst out laughing.

"Sorry—I figured as much. You said you hadn't had your first kiss."

"Were you teasing me?"

"Yeah."

He answered proudly and grinned. I'd never seen him smile so mischievously—so boyishly bright and beautiful that I stared at him, entranced.

He stopped laughing and said,

"By the way—I wasn't joking."

"Huh?"

"You can't go anywhere now."

"What do you mean?"

"You have to date me."

Ah—such relentless directness. Did this man have no reverse gear?

As if reading my mind, Logan took my hand and interlaced our fingers.

"Eve, I've lost trust in you. You vanished even while holding my hand—how can I believe you? I'll have to lock you up—or stick to you like a tick."

Lock up or tick. Not an easy choice. I asked seriously,

"Which will it be—the first or the second?"

"The second—and if I don't like it, I'll switch to the first."

"So to avoid being locked up, I have to keep you stuck to me?"

"It was a metaphor—but if you put it that way, I sound like an actual bug."

"You should have chosen your words more carefully."

"Locking you up was careful—should I change plans?"

"Actually, I think I like bugs."

Logan laughed heartily—it wasn't that funny.

"Anyway—stay still. I'll treat you."

I placed my hand over his wound. Pipi popped out of my pocket and settled on my hand, fluttering his wings to heal him instead.

I should have called him out earlier.

Just then—

Knock, knock.

Marcus's voice came, sounding uneasy.

"Eve—can you come out for a moment?"

What was it?

Bewildered, I opened the door with Logan. Marcus frowned as if he'd seen something he shouldn't.

Only then did I realize Logan was shirtless.

My face burned.

"S-Senior—it's not what you think."

"Junior—what do you think I'm thinking?"

Marcus shrugged in exasperation. Behind me, Logan wrapped an arm around my shoulder.

"Interrupting our quality time—my mood isn't great."

"Hey, Duke—have some manners. We share a house."

"From what I hear, you're the one living off us."

"Trying to play landlord without your memory? Or are you playing husband?"

"Not playing—we're dating now."

Marcus's head snapped toward me—wide-eyed.

Well, it wasn't wrong—but admitting it felt a little embarrassing.

Still...

"That's how it is."

I didn't want to deny it either. Behind me, Logan's satisfied laugh echoed.

Marcus looked between us, sighed, and said,

"This is the first time I've seen someone date after marriage—not even a political alliance."

We had a contract marriage, so I figured it was possible—but I didn't say that.

"So—why did you call me?"

At my question, Marcus remembered his purpose.

"You two have been named Luca's guardians..."

Huh? Why Luca?

"Luca's guardians?"

"You have a parent-teacher meeting."

A parent-teacher meeting? For us?

More importantly...

"At this hour?"

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