Sugar Apple Fairytale - Volume 7 - Chapter 2.1

Chapter 2

THE SILVER SUGAR FAIRY

The castle that stood at the center of the royal capital of Lewiston was the oldest building of its kind in the Kingdom of Highland.

Originally, it had been a small fortress called Lewiston Castle that consisted only of a keep with a single defensive wall surrounding it. But after the Millsland family had decided to make the castle their stronghold three hundred years before, they’d built a new castle surrounding the original keep and erected a second keep, then a third.

And then a hundred years ago—

When the Millsland family, which had united the Kingdom of Highland, took the throne, they expended the castle yet again.

The current incarnation of the castle had four different keeps, all from different eras.

If it were possible to look down on the royal castle from above, it would be clear to see that, just like the growth rings of a tree, there were multiple layers of fortress walls enclosing different sections. In comparison to other castles, the royal castle was exceptionally large, owing to that haphazard construction.

The towers, all of different heights, stood at irregular intervals, and they all had some kind of banner fluttering at the top.

There were banners that bore the crest of the Millsland family and banners that bore the king’s insignia, which were hoisted when the king was present in the castle. There were banners bearing the queen’s insignia and others for the children. There was even a banner for when the relatives of the Millsland royal family were visiting the castle.

Beneath the fluttering flags stood a group of soldiers, their helmets and armor reflecting the sunlight in an impressive display.

With the royal castle at its center, the royal capital of Lewiston had developed quickly as a castle town over the past hundred years.

The city looked like bits of stone that had been lined up around the enormous castle, endlessly encircling it. Snow still lingered on the edges of the streets and the roofs of the houses, and the wind blowing through town was cold. But the sunshine was bright, a sign that the cold was abating day by day.

“Do you think Mithril Lid Pod is all right?”

As she shrank away from the cold wind that caressed the back of her neck, Anne turned around to look in the direction of Hollyleaf Castle, which she could not possibly see. Anne’s boxy wagon proceeded into Lewiston, headed for the west gate of the royal castle.

“I’m sure he’s fine.”

Elliott was sitting next to Anne, holding the reins of the wagon.

“I’m not sure.”

On the other side of Anne sat Challe, frowning.

“I’m with you,” she agreed. “I still feel bad for leaving him behind all alone.”

“Oblivious as always, Anne. What did you notice back there? Didn’t you think it was strange how well Mithril Lid Pod accepted everything?”

“Now that you mention it, he was a little too obedient.”

Indeed, it would have been a bad idea for them to bring Mithril with them. Especially to the royal castle. If they entered the castle with someone who didn’t have permission to be there, that would be enough to get them dismissed.

Knowing what Mithril was like, they’d naturally expected him to throw a tantrum about going with everyone, but he had readily said, “I’ll mind Hollyleaf Castle by myself.” He had been in a suspiciously good mood when he had waved them off.

“He’s plotting something,” Challe asserted.

Anne laughed uncomfortably. “Ha-ha-ha… He would never do that… By the way, what would he be planning?”

She was almost afraid to ask, but she was more afraid not to.

“I have no idea what path his strange train of thought might take,” Challe replied.

“If I was left alone in that castle,” Elliott interjected buoyantly, “I’d go out and pick up a bunch of girls and tell them I lived in a castle and throw a big party there!”

“I guess there’s nothing wrong with that, but it feels like a creepy thing to do.”

Elliott’s flippant remarks were wearing on them, but Elliott himself seemed delighted at the idea.

“Oh, really? It’s every man’s dream. So romantic! Right, Challe?”

“Don’t lump me in with you, Droopy Eyes.”

“Hang on, what do droopy eyes have to do with anything? Well, I guess you’re probably completely satisfied with Anne. In a certain sense, I suppose that’s a man’s dream, too.”

“Who even mentioned this poor child?”

“Oh? Have I gotten the wrong idea about you two?”

Anne slumped as she listened to the conversation taking place over her head.

“Poor child”…

Sure, even she had to admit that she was rather poor, in many senses of the word, and that she could be somewhat childish sometimes. But she felt a little disheartened to hear Challe say it so clearly.

The wagon arrived at the west gate of the royal castle.

The main gate, which stood at the front of the castle overlooking the triumphal road, was so tall that Anne felt dizzy just looking up at it. A huge relief of the crest of the royal family was engraved into the enormous stone double doors. The doors were so large they didn’t seem like they should move at all.

By comparison, the west gate was about half the size of the main gate in height and width. Instead of stone double doors, it consisted of a single large oak door with iron rivets. On either side of the gate were stone guardhouses, where some guards were standing at attention.

The west gate appeared to serve as the entrance for merchants bringing various goods into the castle, and it was already open.

“So this is the royal castle.”

Anne looked up at the west gate.

The royal castle was the residence of the king of Highland, and to an ordinary citizen like Anne, it was something only ever seen from afar. She’d never considered that she might like to go there or that she even could go there. As if looking up at a cloud floating through the sky, she could see the royal castle but had never expected to reach it.

She was about to set foot there. As though she were stepping onto a cloud, she was simultaneously curious and overcome with fear of the unknown.

Anne and the others gave the guards their names and identities and were shown inside. One of the soldiers led their boxy wagon to the carriage house, where horses and vehicles were stored.

They left the wagon there, and the three of them were led deeper into the castle on foot.

After passing through the gate, Anne grew so nervous that she struggled to breathe. But as they walked on, her mood settled somewhat. Whenever she looked up at Challe, who was walking beside her, she saw that he was as calm as ever. Elliott was gazing with curiosity at the castle architecture, and he didn’t seem as nervous as Anne, either.

Since the walls encircled the castle in three layers, the interior of the castle was confusing, and it appeared coming and going were quite difficult.

To travel even a short distance, they had to follow one path around one way and another path around another way; it seemed like they were hardly moving forward at all.

Just as they had lost all sense of direction, a castle keep came into view.

It was a compact little keep with only four small corner towers. The stonework was relatively unsophisticated, so it was clearly a building from an older era.

“This is the first castle keep.”

The soldier who was showing them the way told Anne and the others only that, then continued walking.

They entered through the doors of the keep. Perhaps the structure was not in regular use, because it had few decorations or furnishings. Bare stone walls simply continued down the corridor. There were no signs of life, and the air was cold. The sounds of their footsteps echoed off the ceiling.

Judging by its age and its structure, this must be the central part of the castle formerly known as Lewiston Castle.

Naturally, the royal dwellings and administrative spaces had been moved to the newer keeps, which were more beautiful and convenient. Which must mean that this place no longer served a purpose and had been left behind and forgotten.

Anne wondered why the castle had such a strange structure.

It’s almost like they were trying to leave the center of the royal castle empty on purpose.

They continued straight down the hallway and came to an arched doorway. The door was standing open, and bright beams of sunlight streamed in and filled the hall.

The soldier came to a stop in front of the door.

“From this point on, only those with permission may enter. All of you have been granted permission, so please go in by yourselves. Proceed to the Cocoon Tower.”

The soldier stood at attention on that spot.

“‘The Cocoon Tower’?” Anne asked back.

The soldier replied, “You’ll understand once you go inside.”

Anne looked at Challe and Elliott.

Elliott shrugged.

“Well, if he says go in, let’s go in.”

He stepped forward into the bright sunlight.

Inside was a spacious garden.

It was circular and surrounded by a castle wall. The only entrance was the door that Anne and the others had just passed through. It was constructed so that no one could enter without going through the castle keep.

In the center of the snow-covered garden was a conical spire entwined with briars, like some kind of monument.

The spire matched the towers of the keep in height. It was built out of irregularly cut stones, but they were fitted together tightly, with no gaps, creating a smooth exterior. The surface was covered in withered briars.

The briars that wound freely around the spire were light brown in color and had a shine to them. They glittered slightly in the light. It appeared as though the spire was transforming into a giant cocoon.

This was undoubtedly the so-called Cocoon Tower.

It looked like it was holding something huge inside, something that was slumbering.

Anne wondered whether the spire was protecting what it held inside or preventing its contents from escaping. The beauty of the glittering vines contrasted with the dreadful look of their thorns, giving the spire a conflicting image.

The spire was the only thing standing in the pale, circular garden. It seemed like anything extra had been deliberately culled from the empty space around it. It felt like an enormous prayer space.

“You made it. Collins, Anne, Challe, you’re all here.”

Suddenly, they heard Hugh’s voice echo across the circular garden.

When they looked toward the source of the voice, they saw Hugh standing at the base of the Cocoon Tower, dressed in the formal attire of the Silver Sugar Viscount. He was quite far away, but the castle walls caused sound to carry easily, so they could hear him clearly.

“Come over here.”

There was a stone-paved path stretching from the doorway where Anne and the others stood to the Cocoon Tower. It was the only portion of the garden free of snow. They proceeded along the pathway.

As they approached the tower, they got a better look at Hugh. He was standing in front of an open door to the spire.

“Glad to see you all. Come on, relax. I’m not going to eat you.”

When Anne and the others reached the door, Hugh jerked his chin and signaled for them to follow, then stepped inside. Elliott, Anne, and Challe followed after him in that order.

The moment she had taken a single step inside, Anne sniffed the air.

That sweet fragrance. Could it be silver sugar?

Small, irregularly placed windows were set in the wall here and there. There were some down by their feet and others up near their heads. In fact, the windows extended nearly to the ceiling. They were fitted with panes of cloudy white glass, so the lighting was soft. And thanks to their irregular placement, every inch of the interior was bright, from the path underfoot to the ceiling.

Farther inside was a stone staircase that followed the wall and curved upward in a spiral. The interior of the spire was divided into several stories, with the spiral staircase along the wall providing passage to the upper floors.

Anne and the others had entered at the first level. Surprisingly, the inside of the spire didn’t feel oppressive. The room was about twice as tall as Anne. And for some reason, the sweet smell of silver sugar hung in the air.

There were already two other crafters in the room.

One of them was someone Anne had met before, at the Selection for the First Holy Festival—John Killean, the proxy maestro for the Mercury Workshop. He had a slender, prim-looking face and was wearing a monocle.

The other person was an unfamiliar man in his early twenties. But from what Keith had told her the day before, Anne could guess who he was. The man was probably Stella Knox, a crafter from the Radcliffe Workshop. He was slim and pale, and his sleek hair, which hung over his eyes, was a shade of platinum blond that verged on white. Anne had heard he was sickly, and indeed, he did have a very delicate air about him. But the look in his eyes was cool and placid. There were small earrings in his ears and several dainty rings on his fingers. His elegant accessories were somewhat feminine and complemented his chilly appearance.

The two men bowed silently to Anne and Elliott, the latecomers. Anne returned the bow, but Elliott raised his hand casually and greeted Killean. Apparently, Killean had tried to entice Elliott to the Mercury Workshop once before, so they had a fairly friendly relationship.

Killean and Stella both looked at Challe and made slightly puzzled faces. They must not have known about him being summoned.

Hugh stood in front of the stone spiral staircase.

“There’s one more candy crafter coming.”

“Wasn’t it just the three of us who were summoned, plus Killean and Knox?” Elliott asked.

Hugh curled his lips into an amused smile. “I added one more person.” Then he directed his voice toward the door behind Anne and the others. “You’re the last one. Glad you made it, Keith.”

“Keith?!”

Anne and Elliott’s eyes went wide, and they both spun around. There in the doorway was Keith Powell, looking a little embarrassed. He slowly stepped inside the spire.

“You were chosen, too, Keith?”

In response to Anne’s question, Keith shook his head slightly. “‘Chosen’… Well, not exactly. More like I forced my way into getting picked. I was a little pushy and asked the Silver Sugar Viscount to include me. I told him I wanted him to select me as one of the crafters involved with this project.”

“How bold of you!”

Elliott looked shocked and impressed.

“I think so, too. But I wanted to participate.”

Then Keith bowed slightly to Hugh, who nodded back.

“All right. Now we’re all here.”

Hugh unfolded his crossed arms and looked at each of the crafters’ faces, one after the other.

“John Killean, proxy maestro of the Mercury Workshop. Stella Knox, of the Radcliffe Workshop. Elliott Collins, proxy maestro of the Paige Workshop. Anne Halford, head crafter. Keith Powell, candy crafter. I have chosen the five of you. You are all skilled young candy crafters. Allow me to introduce you to the person who ordered me to gather you here. Everyone, kneel.”

When he said that, Hugh took a knee where he stood, prompting everyone else to kneel, Anne included. Challe alone remained standing, leaning back against the wall. Hugh saw that and made a bitter face.

“Challe, you too.”

“I am not under your control. I won’t bend a knee.”

“I see you’re as impudent as ever.”

Hugh clicked his tongue.

Anne didn’t know what was about to happen but figured it was safer to follow Hugh’s lead and kneel. They were in the royal castle, after all. There were any number of people around who could have someone decapitated with a single command.

Despite that, however, Challe refused to kneel. He was a fairy. He was under no obligation to honor the person living in the castle as his king. And he also had his pride as a fairy to uphold.

“I don’t mind, Viscount. That fairy does not need to kneel. In fact, you and the other crafters do not need to kneel before me, either.”

They heard a clear and dignified voice coming from the doorway.

Without meaning to, Anne looked toward the voice, as did the other crafters.

“Everyone, please rise.”

Anne laid eyes on the woman who slowly entered the spire, and she gasped.

The woman had green eyes and light-brown hair. She was slender but not bony, and she gave an impression of softness. Her rigid posture conveyed dignity and intelligence. She was a noblewoman Anne had seen twice at the Royal Candy Fair.

The queen?!

Her high collar was decorated with multiple layers of lace, which set off her kind-looking face. Her loose, broad-hemmed blue dress was of plain design, but the fine draping highlighted the quality of the handiwork. She exuded an air of royalty.

Forgetting to stand, Anne followed the queen with her eyes as the royal came up next to Hugh. The other crafters were just as astonished as Anne was.

When Hugh stood up, he took the queen’s hand and respectfully kissed its back.

“In accordance with your orders, I have gathered the crafters. Five of them. All young and talented.”

“Thank you, Viscount. Now everyone rise.”

The crafters realized that they were still kneeling and scrambled to stand.

After making sure that everyone was on their feet, the queen addressed them unhurriedly.

“I am Marguerite, queen to His Majesty, Edmond II, king of Highland. I ordered the Silver Sugar Viscount to send for you all. The royal family is in need of several young, talented candy crafters. We’d like to entrust you with a certain project. It is of the utmost importance. Those of you who take it on will become candidates to be the next Silver Sugar Viscount.”

It was plain to see that the crafters were startled by the queen’s words.

“That is not to say that the Silver Sugar Viscount is going to change anytime soon. Please understand that this is insurance in case anything should happen to him or if he is ever unable to fulfill his duties. In the event that anything should happen, a new Silver Sugar Viscount will be selected from among the eligible candidates.”

“Candidates to be the next Silver Sugar Viscount”?

As the meaning of the queen’s words slowly dawned on Anne, she felt apprehensive. Becoming Silver Sugar Viscount was beyond the scope of her ideal life.

“There are conditions for being involved in this project. This job will require you to learn several techniques, all of which are secret. You may not reveal them to anyone. Those of you who can swear to uphold confidentiality may stay. If any of you cannot, leave this place now. Once you begin, you will not be permitted to quit partway through. Anyone who is not prepared for that should also leave now.”

Anne had never once considered the possibility of becoming Silver Sugar Viscount. In fact, ever since learning of the restrictions placed on the Silver Sugar Viscount when she’d competed against Hugh, Anne had thought that the position wasn’t for her. If she had only been summoned to the castle to become a candidate for viscount, Anne probably would have left right then and there.

However, Queen Marguerite had mentioned techniques.

The foremost candy crafters in the Kingdom of Highland were assembled in this place. They should know everything there was to know about silver sugar and sugar candy.

And yet the queen had deliberately mentioned secret candy crafting techniques, suggesting that there were skills even they didn’t know.

Techniques that Silver Sugar Masters, even those who are proxy maestros to the factions, don’t know?

She wondered how there could be such things. Though Anne was skeptical, the possibility that secret candy crafting techniques might exist was thrilling enough to pique her interest. From the depths of her heart, she heard a little voice pleading to learn them. She couldn’t fight the desire to know. Perhaps it was in her nature as a candy crafter.

She could see that same feeling play out in the other crafters’ eyes as well. No one made any move to leave.

The queen nodded.

“Very well. That means all of you must keep this oath.”

The queen looked around at the crafters.

“Starting now, I would like you all to learn techniques for silver sugar refinement and sugar candy production from a very special person to preserve this knowledge for the future. The current Silver Sugar Viscount also learned from them. But he learned these techniques after he was already on the path to becoming the Viscount. Typically, these techniques are only allowed to be passed on to the Silver Sugar Viscount. But this time, we’d like to have the five of you, the future candidates for the position of Silver Sugar Viscount, learn them as well. As for why that is…”

“It’s because the royal family finally came to the realization that even my life is not eternal.”

A composed female voice interrupted the queen’s words. The voice was somewhat low for a woman’s, and it had a resonance to it that was easy on the ears.

“I suppose this means you all are my pupils?”

Behind Hugh and the queen, a figure smoothly descended the spiral stairs hugging the wall of the spire. She had lustrous brown eyes, long blond hair that glistened translucently, and pale skin. She was clothed in a sleek, thin white dress. Every time she took a step forward, one of her graceful white legs showed through the slit in the skirt. On her back was a single long wing that reached down to her knees. She was a fairy. And her face, painted with a faint smile, was so beautiful it took Anne’s breath away. Her thin lips were rose pink and terribly alluring.

Challe frowned intently and straightened his posture.

None of the crafters, Anne included, could take their eyes off the beautiful fairy.

The queen looked slightly troubled.

“Lulu, there’s a sequence to my explanation. You weren’t supposed to just come out all of a sudden.”

The fairy finished descending the stairs and took a spot next to the queen. She snorted and crossed her arms, and then, staring scrutinizingly at the dazed candy crafters, she said arrogantly, “Surely that’s enough explanation. My name is Lulu Leaf Lean. You were summoned in order to become my pupils. To learn from me. That’s all.”

The crafters had various reactions, from frowns to blank stares, but none of them seemed to understand the meaning of her words. Anne could only cock her head in confusion.