Home/The Ice Age Came? And I Just Got Married?!/ch 55

Chapter 55.

"By the way—I don't think I ever got an answer. I'm curious just how many Redstones you have to keep the entire village so warm."

At the edge of his vision, he saw a baby squirrel sitting quietly, shelling an acorn.

Noticing his gaze, the squirrel perked up its ears and looked up.

When its eyes met Aiden's, it wrinkled its nose and bared its teeth—clearly not fond of him.

Aiden cautiously nudged one of the scattered acorns, and the squirrel immediately darted over and bit his finger.

A brief silence fell.

The baby squirrel, having bitten Aiden's finger, picked up the acorn, threw it at Aiden's forehead, and patted his hand with its tiny paws.

It was an impossibly cranky squirrel.

Vincent tensed, his hand moving toward his sword hilt.

But his opponent was only a palm-sized squirrel. He couldn't do more than that.

A flicker of embarrassment crossed Vincent's face. Watching his helpless knight, Aiden let out a dry laugh and waved his hand.

What was the Captain doing about a squirrel? It was embarrassing.

"Can you talk or something?"

Aiden asked, exasperated. Marcus stood with his arms crossed, staring at the squirrel in disbelief.

Charlotte and Brian whispered among themselves.

"The cranky squirrel's still here—I'm relieved."

"He only obeys Eve. He knows exactly who holds power in this village—he might as well be a tiny human wearing a puppet suit."

Of course, they hadn't lowered their voices enough to escape Aiden's hearing.

Marcus watched the cranky squirrel, Chippy, with troubled eyes.

Eve said people with hostile intent couldn't enter this village.

That meant Aiden wasn't an enemy—at least not now.

"Your Highness might be the one to end this damned ice age. If he offers to take you along, don't refuse."

She'd also said that in passing.

Why would I do that?

Leave Eve behind and follow Aiden? Why would he? Leave behind the woman whose beauty made his eyes feast just by looking at her? For Aiden?

Marcus stared at the closed greenhouse door.

Eve needs to come back soon.

But part of him wished she wouldn't—because once that damned Crown Prince saw Eve, he'd certainly covet her.

Marcus rubbed his lips in irritation. Then he quietly watched Aiden and Vincent.

Annoying.

---

Upon arriving in Rosebrook, Clare and Leon parted ways, promising to meet again, and headed for the naval base.

Logan and Eve walked through the city toward Acorn Village.

"The tidal wave really is gone."

Eve murmured, looking at the empty sky as they passed the Harbor District. Logan replied,

"There were probably people who saw you that day."

"Huh?"

"Even if we were careful, there must have been a few witnesses who saw you make the wave disappear. And their reactions wouldn't have been much different from the people in Sunhaven."

Eve fell silent.

Logan stopped walking, looking down at his frozen thighs as he trudged through the snow.

Turning, he saw Eve following the path he'd cleared.

"I don't want to stop you anymore."

Eve stopped and looked up.

"No matter what path you choose."

A brief silence.

"I won't stand in your way..."

Logan's gaze deepened.

"Get stronger. That's the better choice."

He'd experienced countless times that hiding and protecting her always led to the same outcome.

Now it was time to strengthen her so she could move freely without being threatened.

And he would pave a safe path for her and wait.

At his words, Eve's eyes sparkled.

"I will. I want to walk beside you—not behind you. Just wait—I'll surpass my limits soon."

She answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world, as if it were bound to happen.

Just like in her academy days, when she'd tried everything to overtake him—always the same.

Logan started walking again. He kept moving forward.

And Eve walked the path he'd cleared.

"We're here."

At Eve's words, Logan looked up.

Beyond the white blizzard, a familiar sight appeared—Acorn Village.

What caught Logan's eye first was the wall surrounding the village.

A tall barrier made of logs, iron plates, and stones showed signs of repeated reinforcement since the ice age began.

Outside the wall, the snow was still piled up to the thighs—making it nearly impossible to walk.

But inside was different. Snow still covered the ground, but the accumulation was much lighter—barely enough to wet one's shoes.

Logan entered the village with Eve and brushed the snow off her shoulders and head.

The baby bird, Pipi, fluttered around them.

"Your Grace!"

"Ma'am!"

People rushed out from inside the village.

Eve smiled brightly and waved.

But her smile didn't last long—because of the man walking at the end of the line, beside Marcus.

Crown Prince Aiden.

Why is he here?

---

 9. Whiteout

23 years ago—November 29, 1894.

In the capital of the Grandon Kingdom, where snow rarely fell even in winter, a late-autumn sleet had the city buzzing with excitement.

Graham Oswald Everhart.

The ten-year-old eldest son of the Earl of Everhart was about to meet his youngest sibling for the first time that day.

At the Everhart townhouse in Avrid.

Graham had just arrived from the countryside, having heard that his mother's delivery was imminent.

And as soon as he arrived, he was introduced to his newborn sibling.

I heard Mother's condition was critical...

He'd been told there was a risk of miscarriage—that the family should be prepared.

But when he arrived in the capital, she had already given birth safely and healthily.

His father held the baby and introduced her to Graham.

"This is your sister. Her name is Eve. As the eldest, you must take good care of her."

The name "Eve" was unique.

In the northern tongue, it meant the light that first rises after the longest night—dawn.

In ancient myth, it was also the name of the first woman, the mother of humanity.

Some said the name signified life itself.

Graham liked the name Eve—and because of that, he liked Eve too.

That day, as if celebrating her arrival into the family, the first snow fell.

The city was alive with people stepping outside to see it.

Graham held Eve in his arms and looked out the window.

The pure, pristine white of the snow matched Eve's hair perfectly.

"Father, Mother—I think Eve brings us luck."

"You're too simple, boy."

Back then, Graham believed their family's future would be nothing but rosy.

When did it all change?

When did it come to this?

"Her name is Eve, isn't it? Hand her over—and we'll spare your family. Your parents have already given up on her. All you and Julian have to do is give up. Your family is unfit to hold a Guardian."

Gasp—

Graham suddenly woke up.

He'd had a dream of his childhood for the first time in a long while.

He stuck his head out of the tent and stepped outside. Fortunately, the sun was up.

Before him stretched a vast frozen sea.

He thought he'd never return home.

But now that the world had ended, he could finally set foot in his homeland.

Where is Eve?

The capital, Avrid? Or the Everhart estate?

Eve's sphere of activity had always been within the capital because of the Academy.

The capital is closer—I'll start there.

The last time he'd heard news of Eve was five years ago.

Contact had been cut after hearing she was doing well at the Academy.

It was the work of the White Veil. He'd been abducted to the neighboring country of Norsellan and kept imprisoned there.

Graham quickly folded his tent. He had to hurry.

Those people would be moving too.

To claim Eve.

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