Chapter 222 - RESCUE FROM THE BLIZZARD

Veronica was so cold that she couldn't shiver anymore. Her hands were on the snow wall and she just stood there.

Arthur pulled her toward him with great force.

"Why did you come here at a time like this? Look at you, you are freezing cold," he conveyed his worry as he scolded her.

"Zinnia, get ready some warm water for her," he urged his companion.

"On it!" Zinnia hurriedly stood up. She was stunned when she saw the snow statue at the entrance of the cave. Before leaving, she kicked Darius's leg so that he would assist him.

Soon, Arthur took off her outer robe, shoes, cap, and muffler and soaked her body in the hot water.

Deep inside the cave, there was a hole dug by Arthur and Darius to make it look like a bathtub. They made it so they could warm their bodies if it was too cold.

That's where they kept Veronica.

"Darius, give me the strongest whiskey you have," Arthur ordered.

"Are you serious?" Darius gasped. "Her throat will burn since she isn't used to alcohol."

Zinnia suggested, "Add it with water."

Without a word, Ironin offered a wooden mug. Half of the mug was filled with water.

Darius took the mug and poured the strongest whiskey he had to the brim.

He couldn't help but comment, "It's unbelievable that she came all the way here in this blizzard. Did she lose her mind?"

Arthur took the mug from him. He took a mouthful of whiskey in his mouth. Afterward, he pried open Veronica's mouth and transferred the whiskey into her mouth. Then, he closed her mouth and let the liquid travel down to her throat.

Zinnia gathered Veronica's clothes and said, "She must have some reason. But still, didn't she know it was storming outside? How did she dare to come here? If her luck was bad, she would be covered in snow right now."

"A-Arthur…"

Veronica's raspy voice touched their ears. She started coughing as soon as she opened her mouth.

The whiskey was strong even though it was mixed with water. Even so, it was too strong for her, who was not used to alcohol.

Veronica squeezed her eyes. She felt like her throat was burning.

"She opened her eyes!" Zinnia was relieved.

Arthur tenderly stroked her head. "I'm here." Despite being mad, his voice and action were rather gentle.

Veronica was feeling better in the warm water. She started to sense her legs and arms.

Her teeth shuttered as she spoke, "Y-you are o-okay… thank goodness…"

In spite of her feeling cold, she stretched her lips to smile.

Arthur was speechless. "Don't tell me you were worried about me and that's why you came."

He brought the mug close to her mouth and let her drink the whiskey.

She could hardly talk. So, she gulped the drink without moving.

It was a slow process, but she began to regain color in her face.

When she felt that she could talk, she replied, "Yes…. I was worried you would cover the entrance and wouldn't light up the fire. That's why I came."

Arthur sighed. "Honestly! Even if so, you should have realized that we would be able to think at least that much."

"Don't scold her. She came all the way just because she was worried about our life and death. I'm so touched…" Darius felt emotional.

"All right, just give them some space, will you?" Zinnia dragged him away from there.

"…" Ironin gave Veronica one last glance before following those two.

Veronica touched her husband's hand that was holding the mug.

"I know but I was still concerned. What if you didn't light up the fire? I didn't want you to have frostbite."

She looked up and added, "I didn't know you would discover that there is a hole up above."

Arthur followed her gaze and told her, "Ironin found the hole first when he moved the stone. That's why when the blizzard came, Ironin opened the hole and we lit up the fire."

He put down the mug and hugged her shoulder. "Of course, we know that we can't light up the fire when everything is blocked. Even if the cold doesn't kill us, the suffocation will definitely kill us.

[A/N: To light up the fire, we need oxygen. Fire burns oxygen and stays alive. That's why in the block where wind cannot pass, one shouldn't light up the fire. Because fire will take all the oxygen and leave the living creature with nothing. One will die of suffocation (unable to breathe).]

Veronica placed her head on his shoulder. She remembered how hard it was for her to make the hole.

"Long before, I dug the hole and blocked it with a stone. I thought if I ever face a blizzard, I can stay here without worrying about anything. The good part is that snow won't block the hole."

Arthur pressed his lips on her forehead.

"I still can't believe you came all the way here at a time like this. Don't do this again. If you keep doing things like that, I'll die in worry."

"I didn't want to be reckless. But when I thought about you, I just couldn't stay still." She glanced at him and urged, "Do you want to join me? The water feels good."

Wordlessly, Arthur took off his clothes and joined her in the bathtub.

Veronica moved closer to him and let out a deep breath.

"You made a bathtub. Was it Darius's idea?"

She could guess it because the only person who fussed over the cold was only him.

Arthur didn't want to hide it from her. So, he replied, "Yes, he planned it and we thought 'why not'? Do you mind? It's your home after all."

Veronica shook her head. "Not at all. I wanted to make one long ago, but the problem was my strength. I don't have enough strength to break the stone. I'm glad I brought you guys along with me."

She hugged him like a spoiled child and mumbled, "I missed you."

"Me too." Arthur tightened his grip around her. Only he knew how worried he was and how much he missed her.

He sipped the whiskey and probed her, "Do you want more whiskey?"

Veronica shook her head. "No… I think I'm feeling weird…"

She had been feeling this for a while but she neglected it at first. She thought she would get better if she stayed in the hot water more.

But the longer she waited, the heavier her head became. She couldn't process her head properly.

Arthur understood the reason. The whiskey started to tick her stomach.

He made her drink too much to hit up her body.

He gently rubbed her head. "Are you feeling dizzy?"

"Hmm…"

Veronica heard his voice from a long distance. She wasn't sure why it sounded like he was far away from her when she was too close.

When she thought about it, her brain was occupied with other thoughts, and then she forgot what she was thinking.

Arthur affectionately brushed her hair and inquired, "Are you seeing double?"

Veronica tried to focus on his voice thinking she would lose her head if she didn't.

She looked around and was surprised to see that everything was moving on its own as if they were alive.

"…Everything is… dancing…"

She heard him muttering in a soothing voice, "Then close your eyes and take deep breaths. Leave everything to me. You are safe now. We are all right. Let go of your worry."

"Okay…"

She closed her eyes and took slow, deep breaths.

Arthur noticed that her breathing became regular and her muscles relaxed.

Realizing that she had fallen asleep, he started to massage her arms slowly. He was careful with his touch. He didn't want to break the part of her body that had frozen stiff.

If she suffered from frostbite and he broke one of her body parts, it would be beyond repair.

The healers would heal the injury but they couldn't regrow a body part.

He didn't know the capability of the Saints since he never saw her in action.

The only person who could revive any living thing was Veronica.

The only problem was she wouldn't heal her own wounds. That's why he was worried about her the most.

After massaging her arms, he rubbed her body and then massaged her legs one by one.

He let his guard down only when she had no frostbite, and her pulse was normal.

After that, he carried her to the dry space, wiped her body, and then let her wear his clothes and warm clothes.

The cave was long and curvy. The place they were in, others couldn't see them from there. Neither could they.

When he was done, he brought her close to the fire and put her down on his bed.

"She fell asleep? I was warming up the stew for her." Darius stirred the stew in the pot.

"The whiskey was too strong for her. Let her rest first." Arthur tugged her body with the blanket and laid down beside her.

"We can always have another round of stew. Think of it as supper." Darius served the soup to everyone.

"I'll pass." Arthur wanted to accompany his wife. He wasn't in the mood to eat.

Darius chewed the meat and said, "The blizzard started in the morning and she came back in the middle of the night. She wasn't outside for a long time because she would be dead if that was the case.