Winter Wolf - Chapter 16. Epilogue 2

Epilogue. Part 2

“No drinking tonight. I plan to quit today.”

“What? Why? Start tomorrow.”

“Mazelin stopped by during lunch earlier and mentioned that drinking is not good for our health.”

Mazelin was a renowned physician, but Ian frowned at the mention.

“Sometimes, drinking a little might be okay.”

“What’s prohibited is prohibited. Instead, I’ll make up for it by being extra enthusiastic tonight.”

She paused, a bit embarrassed, and looked back at him.

“Don’t say anything cute or embarrassing in between, okay?”

Ian just smiled, looking at her flushed ears. Knowing the meaning behind that smile, she didn’t force an answer but changed the subject.

“Go wash up quickly. I’ll prepare dinner.”

Ian seemed eager to stay and play a bit longer, but when she firmly turned away, he reluctantly let go. Watching him leave the living room quietly, Lysithea couldn’t help but smile warmly.

When they first arrived here, they enjoyed bathing together. But it often led to them getting tangled up and missing dinner, so now they bathed separately.

Since their love had blossomed, Ian had lost his ability to restrain himself. The cold, calculating, and patient killer was nowhere to be found.

Instead, all that remained was a husband who was candidly grumbling, whining, and showering her with affection.

If they were still traveling, it wouldn’t have mattered when they hugged. But now they had jobs and routines to follow. The stability of their current life was something Lysithea appreciated.

“Alright. I need to put in some effort today.”

Lysithea began preparing dinner while Ian was taking his bath. The lady who once made a mess of the kitchen while struggling to chop a tomato had now become a master cook who could handle recipes with ease.

Tonight’s menu was a full course: egg soup, eggplant ratatouille, goat meat steak, and pears marinated in syrup. With so many dishes to prepare, the cooking continued even after Ian had finished his bath.

“…Whose birthday is it today?”

Ian appeared in the kitchen in casual clothes, genuinely surprised. Lysithea, focused on her cooking, responded with a smile.

He approached her, drying his damp, dark hair with a towel.

“You’ve improved. It feels rewarding to have taught you.”

“Of course. I think I’m even better now.”

“Well, a truly great teacher helps their student surpass them.”

Lysithea laughed at Ian’s self-praise. Even so, Ian remained an excellent cook, and she looked forward to the breakfast he prepared each morning.

“Everything’s ready. Shall we go?”

Finally, Lysithea finished plating the steak. Ian skillfully carried several plates to the dining table, with Lysithea following behind, carrying the water bottle.

When everything was set, the table looked both abundant and beautiful. As they tasted the aromatic dishes, Ian murmured,

“You’ve improved. I never imagined it.”

“I promised, remember? When we first arrived in this village.”

“Yes, you said you’d make sure I’d eat something better for the rest of my life.”

It was a promise made when they first arrived in the village after leaving the Grand Duchy of Randus. After missing their carriage due to the rain, they had to stay in a shabby inn, and Lysithea was furious at the terrible food.

‘Seriously, even if I just throw something together, it’d be better than this! Scammers.’

‘You, can only make what I’ve taught you, right? Ah, don’t worry. I won’t expect much from your cooking.’

‘I’ll learn! Just wait and see, I’ll make lots of dishes that are even better than this and feed you for the rest of your life.’

She kept her promise.

Ian was destined to eat only her delicious cooking for the rest of his life.

“Where did you like best? Among all the places we’ve been.”

He asked casually, playing with his fork. Lysithea slowly reminisced as she tasted the goat meat.

“Well… I liked Bellian Village, and Mangreto City was nice too. Roti Village, with its mines, was memorable as well…”

From leaving the Grand Duchy of Randus to reaching Plone Village, they had traveled for ten months.

When they spread out the map, it seemed like they had visited all the major villages and cities. As a result, even after settling down for five months, they still had plenty of stories about their past travels.

Listening to her cheerful voice, Ian laughed softly and said.

“Now that I think about it, we had some rough times. It’s not like it was just a couple of people coming on to you.

Given Lysithea’s beauty, it was inevitable. However, she had her point to make.

“So, what happened to those people who hit on me? They all ended up on your side, didn’t they?”

Anyone who approached her inevitably had to go through Ian. And once they started talking to him, the men would all end up becoming his friends.

“Since we can’t just kill or beat them, our options were pretty limited….”

“Ian, being able to make everyone your friend just by being kind is a remarkable talent.”

Strictly speaking, for the men, Ian was more of an object of admiration than just a friend.

With his overwhelming physical prowess, he excelled in sports and was skilled in games like darts and poker. Since he was unbeatable in these games, anyone who played with him often ended up becoming his self-proclaimed disciple.

“Well, it wasn’t so bad thanks to that. I got plenty of good wishes.”

Seeing Ian’s troubled face, Lysithea smiled brightly. Those who approached him out of interest in her ended up congratulating him on his luck in winning her. Unexpected gifts and money from bets were just a bonus.

“Ian, why did you think you’d be better off living alone? Everyone likes you so much.”

“They only like me when I’m just passing through. Who would like someone who always wins and takes everything?”

“Well, you could just lose sometimes, like you do with me.”

“That’s not about losing; it’s because it’s you, I lose every time.”

He said it without changing his expression. Lysithea watched her husband, who was enjoying the meal she prepared, with a gentle gaze.

Even Ian, who had lived a life of taking and winning, was changing. Since meeting her, he had learned to give. He had learned to lose. And that was why they could live together.

Her new life had come thanks to her, a life of unparalleled happiness.

“Are you not going to have any wine?”

After finishing his meal, he began to cast a longing glance. Lysithea gave him a meaningful smile and shook her head gently.

“No alcohol. If you want to, maybe just you….”

“No, what’s the point if I drink alone? So, how long is this ban supposed to last?”

“Oh, right. I’ll go take a bath now.”

She quickly left the room, as if trying to escape. If she stayed any longer, he might have forced the wine into her mouth.

As she walked to the bathroom, she could hear him cleaning the dishes behind her. She felt relieved and filled the empty wooden tub with bathwater.

As she submerged herself in the hot water, a satisfied sigh escaped her lips. She pulled up her braided hair and thought:

‘Back then, I thought we’d be traveling endlessly.’

When they first escaped from the duchy and began wandering, everything seemed perfect. Ian’s money, saved over 10 years, was enough to buy a noble title anywhere.

“Why are you so rich?”

When she was astonished, he looked a bit awkward.

“I haven’t had a use for it.”

“No way… From now on, I’ll spend it lavishly for us.”

“As much as you want.”

Thanks to this, their travels were filled with joy without any hardship. Even when Ian participated in bets or helped out the villagers, their money seemed to grow.

“It’s the best. I feel like we could live just traveling forever.”

“I’m glad you’re adjusting. I’m used to living like this, but I was worried you might struggle.”

It was one night at an inn in a big city. She asked while nestled in his arms.

“You’ve always lived like this? Then, where did you live before we met?”

“Anywhere. Inns, vacant houses, taverns. Just wherever.”

“Why make it so hard…”

“It’s dangerous to stay in one place.”

She nestled deeper into his arms without saying a word. Although the travels were enjoyable, she thought that living like this indefinitely wasn’t right. She wanted to give him a completely new life.

And they arrived at Plone Village.

It had been ten months since they started their journey. It was autumn, and due to a severe drought, wild animals were coming down from the mountains, causing trouble for the villagers.

“So that’s why they’re holding a hunting competition. The prize money is quite substantial.”

“Indeed, the amount is significant.”

“How about it? Haven’t done it in a while.”

“Let’s give it a try. It’ll be good to stretch out.”

Ian signed up for the competition casually, receiving a single gun and a set number of seven bullets for the hunt.

“Just make sure to be careful. Even catching just one is enough.”

Lysithea, recalling stories from his youth, worried a bit. But it was unfounded.

Ian managed to catch seven animals, including a large stag, securing first place. The villagers were even more delighted than the two of them who took home the prize money.

“Could you stay here until winter? We’ll cover the costs…”

“Please, just join us for some hunting!”

Their connection with the town of Plone eventually led to settling down.

“I think this town would be a good fit. It’s worth trying to live here.”

“Was the travel hard?”

“No, I just wanted to live with you. In the same house.”