Sugar Apple Fairytale - Volume 1 - Chapter Pr

Prologue

What’s the matter, Anne? You can’t sleep?

It’s all right. We all have those days.

Since you’re awake, why don’t you let Mama tell you a story? An old tale passed down in the Kingdom of Highland, a story about fairies.

That’s right, fairies. They’re people with delicate wings on their backs. We’ve seen them working for wealthy households, haven’t we?

Here, let’s get you wrapped up in your blanket. That’s right, good girl. All right now, I’ll start the story.

A long, long time ago, in the distant past, when humans didn’t even know how to use fire, there was a fairy kingdom here. The kingdom was ruled by a fairy monarch, and all the fairies lived in peace.

The fairies called their kingdom Highland. It means the land that stands at the very top, ruling over every living thing. Back then, the fairies enslaved humans, who were neither intelligent nor powerful.

Yes, it’s true.

Now humans keep fairies as servants, but in the old days, the opposite was true. The fairies controlled the humans.

Got it? I’m going to continue.

The fairies were peace-loving. They always sought out beauty and joy.

For hundreds of years, they lived quietly, without change.

But the humans were different. They changed, bit by bit.

The humans worked hard and learned how to use fire without the fairies noticing. They gained intelligence. Then at last, they became aware. They realized they didn’t have to work for the fairies.

That was five hundred years ago.

The humans staged a rebellion and took over Highland. They made the fairies their servants.

Hmm? Yes, you’re right.

The fairies of today are pitiful creatures. Some people say they are foolish beings who lost to humans because they lived lives of indolence. But I don’t think that’s true. There were fewer fairies than humans, and I think they simply lost in a contest of strength.

Why do I think that? Well, it’s said that fairies were the ones who discovered how to refine silver sugar from sugar apples. Fairies were the first in the world to make sugar candy.

They couldn’t have been fools if they created something so wonderful.

That’s why candy crafters like us mustn’t look down on fairies, even if we’re the only ones who don’t.

I think we ought to treat them as friends.

That goes for you, too, Anne. Anne? …Oh my, you fell asleep. What a good girl you are, Anne. Good night.

Sleep well, smile a lot, and grow up to be a kind girl, as sweet as sugar candy.