Chapter 32
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Overwintering - 5
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Rural winters are brutally cold. Especially in Lugeron Village, which sat farther north than most settlements, the chill bit even deeper.
In that sense, feeling bored during winter was a true blessing.
Most country folk had to huddle together by the hearth to fend off the frost, braving the cold to chop firewood for fuel.
Sian's family, however, was in a different boat.
Thanks to the floor heating system he'd invented, the floors stayed toasty warm. And the blackwood logs burned so efficiently that a single fire lasted nearly half a day. It had Elsia seriously pondering the business potential of both.
In such comfort, Chloe could relax even as a pregnant woman.
Pregnancies in winter often ended in miscarriage from the cold, leaving everyone anxious through the season. But Chloe spent hers worry-free, all thanks to her husband Sian.
Day by day felt like pure bliss as she sensed her baby—and her beloved husband's—movements within her.
Still, she worried about Sian.
A workaholic who slept just two hours a night and rose before dawn, he now seemed restless with nothing to occupy him in winter.
'He needs to hit that stable phase soon.'
She'd heard from the village mothers that intimacy could resume once things stabilized. It might risk the baby, but Chloe craved her husband as much as he craved her.
Her libido had spiked since getting pregnant, leaving her wondering if she was turning into some kind of pervert. But one look at his face filled her with joy, so she chalked it up to nature taking its course.
"Unni!"
Her little sister Clia hurried over, steps light and eager.
"Look at this!"
She pinched the gemstone in her small hand and thrust it forward.
"What is it?"
"Oppa and I made it!"
"With him?"
Up close, the gem showed clumsy crafting marks.
It held no real value, but Chloe's interest piqued—not at the stone, but at the fact that Sian had made it.
"Sian can craft things like this too."
Her husband's talents filled her with pride as a wife, yet they sometimes sparked worry too. Am I really worthy of a man like him?
What if she developed an inferiority complex?
Chloe had fretted over this since their honeymoon days.
Clia, though, had eased her fears.
"But Oppa's handiwork surprised me—he's got none."
"Sian?"
"Yeah. This one's his, and this is mine. See the difference? Mine's way better."
"True. This one Clia's too?"
"Nope, that's Oppa's too. His last try, so a little prettier than the rest."
Compared to Clia's skilled work, it fell short. But even to Chloe's untrained eye, the progress shone through.
'He's trying just as hard as back then.'
Falling for her husband all over again, Chloe recalled childhood memories with him, her cheeks flushing.
She vowed to become a wife worthy of him—and for now, that meant nurturing the child they shared.
Clia grinned mischievously before her.
"Oh, right, Unni—this is a secret between Oppa and me."
"A secret?"
"He's prepping a surprise gift."
Wasn't sharing a secret the opposite of keeping it? Chloe tilted her head, puzzled, but soon remembered her sister's nature and nodded.
You little rascal—no patience at all.
"Unni, it's a secret, so don't blab."
"Got it. Lips sealed."
Chloe figured the whole family would know soon enough. And sure enough, they did.
"Sian~"
Sylvia's voice dripped affection, like hearts might flutter from every syllable.
"What're you up to?"
"Resting."
"Hehe, really? Nothing you're prepping?"
"..."
She'd clearly heard about the surprise from Clia.
Sigh... The point of a surprise is the unexpected.
"Our Sian's just the best."
"As your son-in-law? Or your lover?"
"Hehe~ You know."
Lately, Sylvia seemed oblivious to her mom status—her coquettishness was off the charts.
Ah, they say women's desires grow with age. Could she...?
"Sian?"
"Yes."
The flirt suddenly chilled, staring me down with cold eyes.
Deadpan, she asked.
"Just now—you thought I was old, didn't you?"
"Haha, no way."
Cold sweat prickled at her words.
Senses can lie, or so they say—but women's intuition? Razor-sharp. Hers was dialed in.
"Can't believe a beauty like you is my lover. Just makes me happy."
"Yeah~?"
Nice dodge. She beamed and leaned into my shoulder.
"Sylvia, act your age."
One person wasn't amused.
Elsia didn't just chill the air—she drove facts home like icy daggers.
"Cooing cutely at your son-in-law like he's your kid—what would your daughters say?"
"They'd love it. And you're using short speech on Elsia sis?"
"The one who ditched manners now wants them back? Guess you're aware it's embarrassing."
"I'm his mother-in-law! You're his concubine and..."
Outmatched in wits by the scholarly Elsia, Sylvia fell back on household rank.
Mother-in-law, that's low.
And Elsia—why start trouble? You're the cool, rational type.
'Wait...'
Jealousy?
Elsia had always eyed Sylvia's looks sideways. Irked by her fawning over me, maybe?
"Anyway, I'm senior."
"Sylvia, I've said it before—fix that stubborn streak. And you're a full seven years older than me."
"Eek, what?!"
"Enough, both of you."
Hoping to head off a fight, I stepped in—but it just fanned the flames.
"What do you think, Sian?"
"Huh?"
"Me or Elsia?"
"Chloe comes first."
"Obviously exclude Chloe."
Even Sylvia had limits—didn't want to usurp her own daughter's wife spot.
Well, from the son-in-law fling onward, it was...
"The question's pointless. Sylvia, I'm his legal concubine. You're an affair."
"Elsia! Shut it."
"Ugh... voices up, both calm..."
"And you couldn't handle your ex—lecturing me on affairs? Know how he tormented me?"
"Why drag him in? Think I chose that mess?"
"..."
My head throbbed as they ignored me.
Left alone, it'd erupt. Time for force?
"Least keep him from pawing others. He chased me all day."
"Guard your own virtue. Didn't realize you flirted brainlessly."
"What!"
"Both..."
"Sian, whose fault? Mine?"
"Quit hiding behind Sian."
"Shut up!"
Gentle wasn't cutting it. I raised my voice.
Bigger impact than expected.
"Sian, mad?"
"Sorry for grating on you."
Sylvia wilted.
Elsia froze, gauging me.
This painted me as the villain.
No—discipline time. Tough love.
"Both of you think I'm a joke?"
"N-no..."
"No."
"Why ignore the family head?"
"Sorry, really sorry, Sian. Won't happen again. I'll listen."
"No."
Sylvia babbled excuses; Elsia owned it crisp. Personality in a nutshell.
"No next time."
"Yeah... got it."
"Understood."
With their nods, I groped their rears.
"But punishment's due, right?"
"Yes! Got it."
"Y-yes."
Sylvia quivered in delight; Elsia flushed, startled.
I led them to my room.
Today's a threesome!
"Big trouble! Big trouble!"
Serial secret-spiller Clia burst into the living room in a panic. Chloe knitted by the fireplace; Elin, newly literate, read her book.
Clia spilled to her friend first.
"Mom and Elin's mom fought—Oppa watching got mad."
"Oh? Trouble."
"He dragged them to his room. Probably punishing the moms."
"I see."
Clia flailed dramatically; Elin replied stone-faced.
"Elin, not worried about Mom? She might get hit!"
"Nah. No worry. Oppa Sian wouldn't."
"But he hits Unni every night. Right, Unni?"
"Eh?"
Chloe jumped at Clia's claim.
Sian hitting her? Absurd. He wasn't the type to strike women in anger.
"Clia, what nonsense?! Sian never hits me."
"Huh? Then what's those nightly moans from Unni?"
Chloe reeled, dizzy. Explaining it? She lacked the guts.