Home/The Ice Age Came? And I Just Got Married?!/ch 67

Chapter 67.

His crimson eyes scanned mine from inches away.

It was so sudden I forgot to breathe.

His soft breath brushed against my skin.

Just when my heart was pounding beyond control, Logan sat back in his chair.

"Not a dream."

He seemed calm—still drowsy from just waking up, he quietly looked down at me.

I stared at him, speechless. While I'd been unconscious, he seemed to have become someone else.

His expression, his gaze—they were unfamiliar. Like a different person. Was this what he'd looked like in a previous life, as he'd said?

"...What happened?"

"You were unconscious for two days."

At his words, my expression grew serious. The side effects of the Winterstones were more significant than I'd thought.

While I was stunned into silence, Logan spoke calmly.

"Eve—I thought you might never wake up."

His face didn't show much agitation.

But I had to remember—in this tenth life, if I died, Logan would plan to annihilate humanity.

I met his gaze.

"So—were you going to regress again?"

"No."

He paused, then smiled crookedly.

"I was disgusted with humanity."

Logan gave the expected answer.

"I thought it would be best to wipe out every human on this earth."

His flat voice sounded like he was talking about taking a walk around the neighborhood.

I recalled what I'd seen in the dream.

Logan's heart was indeed being stained black—just like the Heart of Frost.

"That ability of yours to turn back time—did you get it from the Heart of Frost?"

"I don't know. In the first life, I watched you die. Then I died too—there was no reason to live."

What? I was surprised, but didn't show it—I had other questions to ask.

"But there were side effects when time turned back—right?"

"How did you know?"

"I saw it in a dream—your heart turning black."

Ha— Logan let out a faint laugh and wiped his face with his hand.

"Every time I turn back time, my emotions fade—and my hatred for humanity grows."

He said flatly.

"I can feel it now—eventually, that stain will consume me completely. Eve, I can't turn back time anymore."

Only then did I realize—Logan was becoming something beyond human.

Something that had completely lost its humanity.

"Do you have any idea how you got that power? Did you touch the Heart of Frost...?"

Logan shook his head.

"I've never seen the Heart of Frost. In the first life, after you died... hmm."

He trailed off—as if there was something more.

"You had a piece of black mana stone on you. After you died, I touched it."

A piece of black mana stone—the Heart of Frost?

"After the first life, I couldn't find it. I never knew what it was... until this life, when I saw the Winterstones appear."

He pulled out a Redstone from his pocket.

"That's when I realized—they were fragments of the Heart of Frost."

"Why didn't you say so before?"

"Because I didn't know for sure."

That made sense.

Even if he knew the black mana stone was the Heart of Frost, he might not have understood what that meant.

I still need to find Julian.

Just then, Logan brushed back his disheveled hair and looked at me quietly.

"Eve."

"Yeah?"

"Don't die."

"Y-yeah—I don't want to either."

His blunt request caught me off guard, and I stammered like an idiot.

"You have no idea—how cruel this world has been to you."

Logan sighed, unbuttoned his shirt, and rolled up his sleeves—revealing his firm forearms.

He wrung out a damp cloth from the bedside table and wiped the cold sweat from my forehead as he continued.

"And you still don't realize—I'm the only one who knows that."

His voice grew heated—he gripped the cloth tightly.

Water dripped onto my face, but his expression was so serious I couldn't complain.

---

Vincent had been regretting his words the whole time.

"The people in this village seem too complacent, relying on that power. And looking at its members, they're all just a ragtag group..."

"The war hero who should be protecting the Empire has set aside patriotism to tend to a village like this—it's absurd. At a time when he should have reported to His Highness the Crown Prince and served."

First of all, Acorn Village's residents were no ragtag group. Their preparation for the blizzard had been remarkably orderly and swift.

And they were all sharp.

When Eve presented scientific points, everyone listened with serious expressions and added their own thoughts.

Perhaps Vincent had envied them—because it was a sight he never saw in Norton.

Norton's staff were old, corrupt, and authoritarian nobles.

They were busy trying to bend the young Crown Prince to their will—not cooperating like the people of Acorn Village.

Aiden and Vincent's original goal had been to assess Eve's rumored "power."

If confirmed, the next step was to recruit her to their side.

They needed power.

Though they'd vaguely confirmed she could use Winterstone powers as her own, they still didn't know the extent.

But Aiden no longer seemed to care about that.

He wanted to recruit Eve as a member of his survival base.

It was a rational approach—winning Eve would automatically bring Logan along.

Not only that—the entire village would follow.

Marcus Rutland—the village manager, a genius negotiator and information broker.

Nathan Holt—responsible for farming plans and village maintenance.

Jack Harper—the village's medic.

Charlotte Murray—a swordswoman in charge of cooking, military support, and field operations.

Brian Connor—a skilled fisherman, in charge of food procurement and external scouting.

Including Logan and Eve, five of the seven were top-ranked Royal Academy graduates.

Even Jack and Nathan had graduated from specialized academies.

It was only natural for Aiden to covet the village itself.

"I understand you want to twist my words. But I speak out of pity for you—serving a woman who relies on a few pieces of Winterstone to wish for miracles in such harsh conditions."

Vincent deeply regretted those words too.

Eve adapted her role perfectly to the situation—as a friend, a leader, a noblewoman.

She was brilliant. She was no "woman wishing for miracles."

And calling this environment "harsh" was a bit of a stretch. Acorn Village was a peculiar place, befitting its reputation as the Devil's Land.

While outside temperatures swung between minus thirty and minus sixty, this village alone stayed around minus ten degrees.

And then there was the greenhouse, home to a mysterious squirrel—where they grew food.

Sigh—

Vincent buried his face in his hands.

Just then—

Click.

Aiden entered the room.

He carried a steaming cup of tea—and found Vincent looking haggard.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine—nearly recovered. I've shamed Your Highness."

"Good—you should be ashamed. I heard you provoked the Duke's aide and fell on your own."

No sooner had Aiden finished than Vincent got out of bed, knelt on the floor, and bowed his head.

"Punish me—Your Highness's sword has sullied your honor."

Aiden's expression as he looked at Vincent was complicated.

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