Home/The Ice Age Came? And I Just Got Married?!/ch 46

Chapter 46.

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Countess Winterdean led us to a community hall on the left side of the shelter's center.

It had originally been a banquet hall for seaside tourists.

The ceiling was high, and paintings of Sunhaven before the ice age hung on the walls—blue seas, white beaches, people smiling in the summer sun.

Now, all of that felt like a story from another world.

A large fire pit stood in the center of the hall, just like outside.

Steam rose from the big pot hanging above it, and the savory smell of stew filled the room.

People sat around long wooden tables, finishing their evening meals.

Some were serving food; others were mending worn clothes after eating.

Near the fire, children played and elderly people knitted and chatted.

It looked like an ordinary day before the ice age—much like Acorn Village.

Of course, Acorn Village had an abundance of Redstones, but we used them sparingly, only in our homes.

And Acorn Village's special feature was its greenhouse.

It was easier to think of Acorn Village as a magically enchanted village.

They probably don't know that Redstones are consumable minerals.

The Redstones embedded in the tree were quite large—they might last a few more weeks...

But at most, they had weeks left.

If they ran out, this village would fall into chaos.

It's unsettling.

As we entered, people's attention turned to us.

"Please sit."

Countess Winterdean guided us to the innermost seats.

Soon, thick wooden bowls of fish stew were brought out.

The stew was filled with potatoes, carrots, and shredded fish. The warmth spread from my fingertips as I held the steaming bowl.

The locals naturally began to speak to us.

"I heard you came from Rosebrook? The guards told us."

"Is it still cold out there? How are the other cities?"

"Are those uniforms real?"

They'd heard where we came from, but not who we were.

Despite being strangers, they acted like neighbors we'd known for years—overly friendly and warm, almost unnervingly so.

Logan showed no intention of answering, and neither did Clare.

Clare wasn't fond of interacting with strangers either.

In the end, it was Leon who spoke.

"Yes, these are real uniforms. Except for the lovely lady here, the three of us are soldiers. Other cities are in a similar situation—maybe even worse."

Leon was quite handsome, with dark brown hair that looked almost black in dim light.

He was also expressionless, much like Clare.

Logan, of course, wore either a frightening or irritated expression—so he didn't count.

Unlike Logan, who disliked bothersome conversations, and Clare, who was reserved, Leon had no shyness.

Though he answered mechanically with a blank face—not quite human-like.

"I want a cigar."

He'd occasionally say things like that, out of nowhere.

A boy asked him,

"I have one—do you want it?"

Leon looked up at the boy.

"Why does a kid have a cigar?"

Though expressionless, he seemed pleased at the mention of a cigar.

"It was my father's."

"...Go ask your father first."

After sending the boy away, Leon looked dejected again—clearly disappointed. Though still expressionless, I could just tell.

Clare and Leon had enormous appetites—they ate as if they'd been starving on that observation ship.

But they couldn't ask for more, so they just sadly chewed on their spoons.

Feeling sorry for them, the people nearby brought over the leftover stew pot.

Clare and Leon scraped it clean.

The shelter residents watched them with warm smiles.

In a situation where every bit of food was precious, their reaction was remarkable.

This village was definitely suspicious.

Just then, Logan whispered to me,

"Don't worry."

I met his eyes—he was sitting with his legs elegantly crossed, arms folded, looking thuggish.

He leaned toward me.

"Just say the word and I can make this shelter disappear—as if it never existed."

He seemed a bit annoyed.

He must have been uncomfortable with me being exposed to so many people.

"Saying that out of nowhere makes it sound like you're using magic."

"Sometimes overwhelming force can seem like magic."

"Logan—do you know something about this place?"

At my question, Logan fell silent.

Even if the novel didn't mention it, he might have visited Sunhaven in one of his regressed lives.

Just then—

"How was the meal?"

Countess Winterdean appeared again. Behind her stood two men and three women—presumably her retainers.

"It was excellent. Thank you for sharing your precious food."

At my reply, the Countess smiled warmly. We were seated in the order of me, Logan, Leon, and Clare. The Countess pointed to the empty seat next to Clare.

"May I sit beside you?"

Clare's expression clearly showed reluctance, but she couldn't say no—we were guests here and had just been fed.

So the Countess sat next to Clare, while her retainers bowed and dispersed.

"It's been a long time, Lady Wayne. Ah—I believe the last I heard was five years ago? I heard you enlisted—seems you've been doing well."

The Countess immediately spoke to Clare.

"I wouldn't say 'doing well'—I was trapped on a meteorological observation ship for over two months."

Clare answered curtly.

But the Countess didn't lose her smile.

"I want to apologize for the past."

"I won't accept it."

Clare was firm.

"Because of you, our orphanage was ruined. The children I lived with were scattered."

Silence fell.

I couldn't defend her on this one.

So there was a deeper story we didn't know.

"I deeply regret that time as well. I just didn't want you—Lieutenant—to make the same mistake I did."

It seemed she too had loved someone in the past, much like Clare.

"An impossible love would only leave wounds on you, Lieutenant."

"Ordinary people don't destroy others because of that."

The Countess fell silent.

"Very well. I won't ask for forgiveness. Instead, I will tend to this place, help those in need, and atone in my own way."

"Yes—how admirable. You'll surely go to heaven."

Clare replied dryly, then looked at her empty bowl and added,

"Thank you for the meal. I'll forgive you about one gram's worth."

Clare delivered her thanks in a flat tone. The Countess smiled faintly and nodded.

"Now, allow me to show you to your quarters for the night. Will you follow me?"

We nodded and rose.

Looking back at the community hall, it was overflowing with warmth.

But the elderly looked especially somber.

Despite the Countess proudly calling this place paradise, their faces were unhappy.

"Did you notice?"

Logan said in a tone as casual as if commenting on the weather.

"What kind of place this really is."

No—I hadn't noticed that far yet.

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