Chapter 144: Chapter 144: The Coldest Night (1)


    Swan entered the carriage specifically prepared to keep her warm, followed by Gale, who wanted to apany her as usual. She was covered from head to toe as the temperature dropped even further when it started getting dark.


    She nced at Gale, who was only wearing pants and wasn''t bothered by the cold at all, and asked, "A-are you sure you don''t need to wear something warm? I don''t want you to get sick while in the caveter."


    Gale chuckled, "My body is naturally immune to cold. I''m more worried about you. Since we haven''t even headed to the southwest, and you''re already shaking."


    "I-I''m fine. J-just go now before it''s getting too dark," Swan said as she tried to muffle her chattering teeth.


    Gale sighed. He was still torn between forcing Swan to stay in the castle or begging her to apany him in the cave. His logic told him to let her stay, but his heart told him to bring her with him.


    However, since Swan had made up her mind, all he could do was toss his logic away for this night and hope that everything went well until the next morning.


    The carriage left the kingdom when it was already dark.


    Gale could''ve just carried Swan into the cave, but it would have been way too cold for her, so they had to go manually with a carriage. Besides, it was nice to be huddled together with Swan inside before he had to undergo a painful rut for the whole night.


    Swan rested her head on Gale''s arm as she felt both cold and sick, but she maintained herposure. She didn''t want to show any sign of being tired or ill, because it would make her husband worry.


    The journey to the southwest cave took longer than she expected, and the road was bumpy. Thus, Swan fell asleep for a while until Gale woke her up once they had arrived.


    "We''re here, Sweetheart," Gale said as he gently rubbed her head.


    "Mmh? Is it morning already?" Swan asked as she dozed off. She looked at her husband and saw him chuckling.


    "It''d be nice if the night passed while you were asleep, but it''s still two hours before midnight. We are finally here," Gale replied. "We have to get ready. ze and other soldiers are preparing everything for us in the cave right now."


    Swan nodded. She turned her head and saw a few figures standing in the dark not far from the carriage. It was made clear that they were beastmen soldiers when one of them lit up a torch, followed by the others until she could see what kind of cave she would be staying with Gale tonight.


    It was a big cave, probably used by travelers to rest, or maybe it was used by a big mama bear and her cubs before Gale had to use it.


    She felt a little guilty if that was the case, so she asked, "Mm... that cave doesn''t seem abandoned. Are you sure there''s nobody in there?"


    "It was a cave used by a bear beastmen and her cubs before, but they are currently living in the kingdom. They told me about their old cave, which is quite secluded and safe, so we can use it," Gale exined. "Why do you ask? Is it not to your liking?"


    "I-I was just curious," Swan replied. "But I''m d the bears are living in the kingdom now. We should reward them for providing us with their caveter."


    Gale found it funny that his wife cared so much about an abandoned cave. He liked this trait of hers, though. Her genuine care for people and her surroundings would make her a great mother for their cubs in the future.


    It took at least thirty minutes before ze Silverfang approached their carriage and reported, "Your Majesty, everything has been prepared, including all the possible heating for Princess Swan."


    "Good," Gale turned


    turned towards his wife and carefully carried her out of the carriage. Swan''s body tensed immediately the moment she was out of the carriage. She was fully covered with a thick nket, but it was still too much for her frail body.


    Despite the biting coldness, she refused to show any pain in front of Gale and simply looked at the dark sky and casuallymented, "There are no stars tonight..."


    "It is the coldest night after all," Gale chuckled.


    "I see..." Swan murmured.


    The only thing she liked during winter was the stars, as they seemed to be clearer. It was her to be one-of-a-kind entertainment in Holy Achate Pce, and she stargazed even more often in the


    ???


    the


    iel


    beastman castle since she enjoyed doing it while drinking tea or hot milk.


    But tonight was depressing.


    Not even a star was visible, but the full moon was somehow clearer and bigger than usual. Swan realized that the moon was somehow more red than yellowish or pale blue tonight.


    "W-why is the moon so red? Isn''t that strange?" Swan asked. She waited for Gale to answer, but she got nothing.


    She looked up and noticed that Gale''s smile faded when she mentioned the moon''s color. Swan suspected the red moon must''ve been linked with Gale, either with his curse, or an overall situation that brought him trauma.


    Thus, Swan zipped her lips as they entered the cave. It was brightly lit with a big bonfire near the entrance, and a smaller one at the deep end of the cave.


    Torches were hung around the cave wall, so there was no feeling of dread when they entered the cave.


    On top of that, there was proper bedding for her, alongside a few snacks, a teapot, and a cup that seemed to be piping hot.


    There were alsoyers uponyers of thick nkets stacked next to the bedding,


    in case Swan couldn''t handle the cold.


    However, the most jarring thing Swan noticed was the various chains with their ends embedded inside the ground.


    She also saw many steel balls meant to be used by prisoners scattered on the ground nearby.


    "G-Gale, y-you are going to be chained?"