Home/The Ice Age Came? And I Just Got Married?!/ch 98

Chapter 98.

Down the stairs—and further down.

When I finally stepped off the last step, cool air brushed against my skin.

It was the mansion's storage cellar.

Wine racks had collapsed, and broken bottles littered the floor.

But there was something odd—behind a collapsed wall, another space extended further.

I raised my fingertips—a light flickered from them, from the Yellowstone Luca had given me.

Aiden stared in surprise.

"Ah—this is a Yellowstone."

"That's not why I'm looking."

Aiden let out a dry laugh.

"It's amazing enough that you can use Winterstone power—but that you've absorbed and can freely use all types is astounding."

"Ah—there are side effects."

Drip—

As if on cue, my nose bled. When it flowed, my head cleared—as if my body was adapting to the Winterstone's power.

Aiden, startled, pulled out a handkerchief and held it to my nose—not pressing, just holding it.

I nodded my thanks and pressed it myself.

"So you really are frail."

At Aiden's muttering, I looked at him—he seemed to recall something.

"Ah—you and the Duke were so famous at the academy that I heard plenty about you."

If it was about that time, I had nothing to say. I was embarrassingly obsessed with winning.

"Frail but sharp—and willing to do anything to beat the Duke. That sort of thing."

I scratched my cheek, feeling embarrassed.

"I never thought Logan and I would end up like this."

"People don't invest so much emotion in someone they're indifferent to—you two were destined to be entangled from the start."

I couldn't argue—I felt the same.

"A pity—I sometimes think it might have been nice if I'd met you first."

Aiden smiled beautifully with his handsome face.

But I saw Logan's face every day—so I had no regrets!

"The Everhart family fell—you wouldn't have been interested anyway."

At my answer, Aiden's eyes widened.

"I met Clare Shaun Wayne—she's in Acorn Village now."

Silence fell.

Aiden looked visibly shaken—his gaze flickering sharply.

"Does she... still resent me?"

"I wouldn't know—but I'd say don't hold onto her. It would be better for her."

Aiden fell silent.

I changed the subject.

"It seems connected to the next building."

I illuminated the wall with the Yellowstone's light.

The adjacent space was also a cellar, connected to the next building, and the next.

We decided to keep moving—we needed to get outside.

Beyond the collapsed wall, a food warehouse appeared, then another underground storage.

We were no longer in a single mansion—we were crossing through snow-buried buildings.

Then—

Bang—!

Another gunshot.

"Excuse me."

Aiden pulled me by the shoulder.

"Duck!"

A bullet grazed the wall where I'd been standing.

We carefully peered through the gap—a space that had once been an alley between buildings, now sealed by snow, forming a dim passageway.

People were shooting at each other there.

Using rubble and walls as cover, both sides fired relentlessly.

Bang! Bang!

Gunshots echoed louder in the enclosed space—broken bottles and splintered crates scattered with each shot.

"You bastards! Is this the time to be fighting each other?!"

"Right! We need to catch the Crown Prince first!"

"No, damn it! How do we catch him down here? He fell into a collapsed building—he's probably dead!"

"Cease fire!"

"You stop first!"

What were they saying? Their target was Aiden—they'd been looking for us.

"They seem to be one of Norton's guilds."

Aiden said calmly, as if being the target was nothing new.

"Don't worry—such requests aren't new to me."

He watched the passage where gunfire flew, his expression unruffled.

"Many want to claim the Crown Prince's head and take his place. With the social order collapsed, it's only natural."

Ah—I remembered. Aiden had faced death every moment since the apocalypse.

With no social structure, anyone could seize power—and so they needed legitimacy. A reason to rule.

And they sought the Crown Prince's head for that purpose.

"Thankfully, they seem divided among themselves."

Even knowing they'd followed him here to kill him, he showed no sign of alarm—as if this was routine.

I thought about how tough it must be to be a crown prince, then looked away.

More importantly—that passage seems to lead to the bank vault.

A bronze plaque reading "Norton Central Bank" was half-buried under rubble.

One of the buildings we'd been looking for—a likely storage site.

But before that, we needed to rejoin Logan...

"I think it's best if you go ahead alone—I'll draw their attention."

Aiden's hand rested on his sword as he scanned the passage.

The gunfire had paused, but it was only a matter of time before they spotted us.

"What? I can't do that—and this isn't the situation for it."

I didn't want to abandon him as bait, and besides, there was nowhere to run.

"Going too far apart might cause us to miss Graham or Logan—and our goal is the same. It's better to stay together."

He was silent for a moment—then looked at me, hesitation flickering in his eyes.

"I never meant to drag you into my affairs—forgive me."

He nodded.

"...If you'll stay with me, I'll protect you to the end."

Just then—

"Hey—isn't that the Crown Prince?"

"We found him!"

"Damn—I told you! I said this passage would connect to the collapsed mansion!"

Shouts echoed through the passage.

Bang!

A gunshot rang out.

Aiden grabbed my wrist and pulled me—the bullet pierced the wall where I'd been standing.

I drew my rifle and loaded it.

Aiden drew his sword.

Shing—

The clear ring of steel cut through the darkness.

Bang!

A bullet struck the blade and deflected sideways.

Clang—!

Then a second, a third.

Aiden didn't retreat—he twisted his sword to deflect each bullet.

Sparks flew as bullets hit walls and ceiling.

"Impossible!"

Someone shouted—and Aiden closed the distance in an instant.

Not a sound.

Flash.

A silver arc cut through the darkness, sending a man's weapon flying.

Aiden didn't cut him—he struck the wrist and disarmed him, then knocked another unconscious with the flat of his blade.

No unnecessary killing.

Then—

"Your Grace!"

Aiden called out—a gun muzzle appeared from a side alley.

They'd taken advantage of his distraction.

Click.

I wasn't worried—I aimed back, ready to combine the bullet with the Bluestone's power—

CRUNCH—!

With a heavy impact, the man aiming at me was sent flying.

He was impaled on a broken pillar and crashed to the ground.

It wasn't Aiden.

"Huh?"

The moment I let out a dumbfounded sound—

CRASH!

A greatsword slammed into the floor.

The stone cracked like a spiderweb, sending shockwaves through the space.

People lost their balance and fell.

Through the dust and snow, a man slowly emerged—black cloak billowing—and as he raised his head, crimson eyes met mine.

Logan.

CRASH—!

Another swing of his sword—not wind, but a storm.

The pressure swept the passage, sending the front line flying.

Was that human strength—without any Winterstone power?

People were slammed into the walls like leaves.

"M-Monster!"

Someone shouted—and it felt that way.

But it wasn't over.

With each flash of Logan's blade, guns were severed; with each punch, men flew through walls.

There was no counterattack—no time to aim or fire.

In under ten seconds, a dozen men lay on the ground.

Silence returned.

Logan flicked the blood from his sword and stopped in front of me.

"Eve—are you hurt?"

I shook my head, dazed.

He stared at me expressionlessly and asked again,

"Did you wait for me?"

"Huh? Oh—yeah, I waited."

He sheathed his sword on his back, slipped his hands under my arms, and lifted me into his arms—then whispered,

"Don't worry—you can't escape me."

His low voice continued.

"So relax—no matter where you disappear, I'll follow."

I was confused.

Logan had no memory of me—yet it felt like my husband had returned.

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