Home/The Ice Age Came? And I Just Got Married?!/ch 86

Chapter 86.

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We finally arrived at Acorn Village.

Charlotte, Nathan, and Jack came out to greet us—and were stunned by the procession of refugees.

"I only followed our village chief's orders."

Marcus raised both hands in protest.

"'Village chief'—that sounds so old."

"Then what should I call you? Mayor?"

"Strictly speaking, the chief of this village is..."

"Yeah—Logan."

Marcus finished my sentence as if he already knew.

I shrugged and looked around the village.

With three or four people per house, the eight houses could temporarily accommodate everyone.

So Eve House took me, Logan, Luca, Marcus, and Charlotte.

Clare and Leon stayed with Nathan and Jack, and the rest divided among the remaining houses.

The moment I stepped into the greenhouse after so long, an acorn flew at me.

Chirp—!

The cranky squirrel came bounding over. It clung to my leg and gnawed at my clothes.

Nathan approached and said,

"Chippy kept looking for you, ma'am."

"For me?"

"He sat at the greenhouse entrance every day, waiting for the door to open."

"A curious squirrel."

Just then, Graham appeared and remarked.

Nathan greeted him.

"Nice to meet you—I'm Nathan Holt, aide to His Grace the Duke of Cheshwind."

"Graham Oswald Everhart. I've heard about you—thank you for helping Eve."

"It's I who've received help."

Nathan scratched his cheek awkwardly and gestured to the table.

"Please, talk—I'll take my leave."

After Nathan left, an awkward silence fell between Graham and me.

I led him to the table and sat down.

"Want some tea?"

"Yes."

I pulled out a teapot and cups from the drawer beside the table, lit a candle with my finger, and set the warmer.

Graham watched closely—I'd done it on purpose.

"That power of yours..."

"I don't know how it happened—it just appeared. I absorbed Winterstones into my body and can use their power."

I waited for the tea to steep and glanced at him.

"Do you know why?"

My tone was casual, as if asking something trivial.

Splash—

I poured the dark tea and slid it toward him.

He didn't pick it up—just stared at the rising steam through his angular glasses.

His pale ash-gray hair fell softly as he bowed his head.

His winter gear was worn from wandering the ice age—but he still carried an undeniable dignity.

Straight back, broad shoulders—he drew attention just by sitting.

As a child, I'd instinctively straighten my back around him—and he'd always look at me with pride.

Even though I'd been afraid of him.

Still—I miss him.

I wanted to go back to those days.

"Eve—if Father and Mother ever ask you to go somewhere alone with them, don't go. Tell them you won't go without Graham and Julian—understand?"

Why had Graham said that?

Even knowing I was adopted, I still loved and missed those days.

I needed to know why.

"Is my power connected to my adoption?"

"...Probably."

Finally, I couldn't hold back and asked bluntly.

"Please tell me everything you know."

With an expression that said "here it comes," he rubbed his face and slowly began.

"You were adopted the day Mother had a miscarriage."

He hesitated, then continued.

"It was strange—just days before, I'd heard Mother was in poor health. But when I arrived at the townhouse, you had already been born. And even as a ten-year-old, I could tell you weren't a newborn."

He shrugged and added quietly,

"You looked at least a few months old."

"Where did Father bring me from?"

"White Veil—it seemed he'd stolen you from them."

"...Stolen? That's a strange way to put it. Am I some kind of experiment?"

"I don't know. Father said, 'I stole a child from them—she looks like Ruru...' As it turned out, Mother had already stopped quickening a week before, and around that time, Father found you."

"Wait—I'm confused. Who are my real parents? Who are White Veil?"

"That's what we have to find out from now on."

White Veil was an organization with no records or physical existence.

Yet the centuries-old conspiracy theories all said the same thing—they'd existed since before the First Ice Age.

"Don't trust Father, Eve."

Graham had said that many times. I finally asked the question I'd always wanted to.

"Brother—didn't you love Mother and Father?"

"Eve—the only ones I love are you and Julian."

"But we were a happy family—Mother and Father loved you too..."

"They never loved us—they loved only themselves. We only have each other."

At that, I recalled Father's words.

"Graham carries a lot of responsibility as the eldest—that's why he distrusts everything. He doubts our love, but remember this—your mother and I love our children more than anyone."

Now I didn't know who was right—Father and Mother, or Graham.

"Is that why you taught me to hunt and built my poison resistance—because you distrusted them?"

"Yes."

I'd thought Graham knew about the ice age and prepared me—but it was just to guard against Father?

I felt a flash of anger—but I decided to think calmly.

Whatever the reason, it had helped me survive.

And maybe he'd just wanted to protect me from Father's possible interference.

With everything else on my mind, now I have to deal with a birth secret?

My head ached.

"Do you know where White Veil's headquarters is?"

"I've been wandering to find out."

"Then let me know if you find anything."

Graham had told me to stay—but he seemed to have expected I'd follow.

"Instead of coming with me...?"

"I have family to protect now."

"The Duke of Cheshwind?"

"Yes."

Graham looked at me with complicated eyes.

I understood—he still saw me as the girl from five years ago—the one who'd obsessed over defeating Logan.

"...Actually, I guessed you liked the Duke. It was obvious to me—you didn't even know your own feelings, calling him your rival."

But his answer was unexpected.

"I thought it was just a passing childhood crush—how did it end in marriage?"

"You really don't know anything, do you?"

I let out a dry laugh.

His expression wasn't that of a liar—so he must have been genuinely imprisoned.

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