Sugar Apple Fairytale Vol 2 Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Castle by the sea
The capital of Rockwell province was Heilberg. It was ruled by Earl Richards,
who was rumored to be a sworn friend of Earl Downing's.
Facing the sea and possessing an old harbor, Rockwell prospered through
continental trades.
Philax city, the harbor town, served as the gateway for said trades.
Philax was under the direct control of the royal family, which served the dualpurpose
of securing a strategic military position and monopolizing the profits
from the trades with the continent.
Under the direct control system, another member of the aristocracy separate
from the provincial lord would be dispatched to rule the special administrative
district. This aristocrat would be chosen from within the royal family's bloodline
and would be bestowed with the t.i.tle of Duke of the area over which they were
appointed to govern.
Currently, the t.i.tle of Duke Philax was held by William Alban.
The very same Alban, Duke of Philax, who was currently recruiting sugar
craftsmen.
"Plenty sits still, hunger is a wanderer... Was it?" Ann muttered with a sigh
while steering the horses from the driver's seat.
Mythrill, who was seated between Ann and Shall, looked up at her and tilted his
head.
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale Vol. 2 - Ginzatous.h.i.+ to Ao no Koushaku.
   
   
"What's that?"
"A saying? Or something like that, that people say in a faraway continent. I
heard it a long time ago."
"What about it?" Shall asked, urging her to continue.
"Nothing really. It just came home to me that I move from place to place often."
"You do wander about a lot," Shall immediately affirmed without hesitation.
Furthermore—
"You could also say plainly, completely poor!" Mythrill pressed on as well.
Though she knew they meant no ill will, and what they were saying was true,
Ann became gloomy.
"That's right huh~? I'm a wandering pauper, right~? It sounds kind of cool when
you put it in a proverb, but in plain words, that's how it is, isn't it."
Ann had departed the day after learning of Duke Philax from the Weather Vane
owner.
From Lewiston to Philax was half a day's time. They borrowed a farmer’s barn
for lodging the previous night, and at dawn, they dashed on the box shaped
wagon.
Thanks to that, they arrived in Philax by noon. The city of Philax stretched along
a loose arc-shaped bay, with red brick houses cl.u.s.tered across the coastline.
"Well, I like traveling, and I'm not troubled. But if possible, I'd like to at least
calmly spend the end of the year in a warm inn. For that, I have to do
something."
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Beyond their gaze lay Philax castle.
The huge, sternly-built castle stood atop a cape that was jutting into the sea at
the eastern end of the bay. It was three times the size of Silver Westhall castle,
with an extending rampart and pa.s.sageway. Not a single decorative intent could
be detected in either the castle tower, the watchtower, or the castle gate. It had
a structure like that of a fortress.
With just one glance, you could tell the castle had been standing for a long time
and withstood many battles.
As it was built at the tip of a cape, it didn't have a moat surrounding it. Hence,
the polished rampart would occasionally bask in the sunlight reflected by the
sea, and—unsuited to its rugged appearance—would become clad in spots of
sleek blue light.
Steering her box shaped wagon, Ann arrived before the stern castle's gate.
The gate to Philax castle opened, and there she announced her occupation and
purpose to the gatekeeper. Then,
"Do you currently possess a sugar sculpture you yourself have made?" he asked
her.
Answering that she did, the gatekeeper then took a look inside the luggage
carrier for confirmation. After seeing that the sugar sculpture was indeed there,
she was easily allowed through.
:After hearing that Duke Philax was looking for sugar craftsmen, craftsmen
from all over the country were expected to come on a daily basis. To pa.s.s
through the gate and get to meet Duke Philax, one must first have a self-made 
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sugar sculpture prepared.
That was a given. They couldn’t let all the coming craftsmen in and have them
work there. Only those who show promise could be given the chance to make
their sculpture. In order to a.s.sess their potential, it was necessary that one bring
their own piece.
Carriages were instructed to wait outside, and Shall and Mythrill were made to
wait along with them. Only Ann, with her work in hand, continued forward. The
soldiers took her inside, heading towards the castle tower.
She was guided into a small waiting room that appeared to be followed by a
hall.
There was a previous visitor in the waiting room: a lone man who looked like a
sugar craftsmen. The gloomy looking man wouldn't talk to Ann at all.
Before long, the door opposite to the one Ann came in through opened quietly.
A page-looking boy wearing livery came in. He faced the two and announced,
"Bring your sugar sculptures and come this way please."
The hall had the same rugged atmosphere as the exterior of the castle. Its walls
appeared to be made of nothing but stone, and unlike Silver Westhall castle,
they weren't decorated with any plasterwork. But that stone in itself told of its
history. It was in no way shabby. Rather, it appeared to bear great pride. The
hall's innermost section was a step taller and had minutely woven tapestry at its
rear. In front of it was a ma.s.sive throne-like chair, with a woolen fabric placed
on the floor facing it, which seemed to mean 'kneel here and wait.’
"Duke Philax will see you soon," said the page, then withdrew himself to the 
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end of the hall. Ann and the man knelt on the woolen surface.
Close to the floor, the atmosphere was damp and cold. The large furnaces on
either side of the hall had no trace of fire.
Feeling disheartened by the awfully chilly s.p.a.ce, Ann restlessly looked around
her. While doing so, she felt a sense of discomfort.
—There's something wrong with this castle. What is it? It's somehow different
from Hugh's castle and the city.
"H-hey!! You!"
Albeit in a low voice, the man kneeling next to Ann called out to her urgently.
"Eh...? Me?"
She turned her head in the man's direction. He was bowing down. She tilted her
head, wondering what happened.
"There is no need to lower your head."
A voice sounded from a high place. Surprised, Ann looked forward.
Before she knew it, a young man had sat down in the chair in front of her.
It seemed that Ann had been looking about restlessly without noticing him enter
the room, and the man next to her was trying to warn her of that.
Though he said there was no need to bow down, Ann wasn't bowing to begin
with. She did nothing but stare at the pale young man in front of her. But he
didn't seem to mind her rudeness.
Not out of tolerance, but likely out of indifference. What made her feel that way 
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was that she couldn't sense any sort of feeling in the young man's dark green
eyes.
He appeared to be in his late twenties. His pale blond hair was neatly done, and
his simple coat that had elaborately embroidered rims was both refined and
elegant.
His entire atmosphere seemed calm.
But cold. That's what Ann felt. All due to those eyes that harbored no emotion.
"I am Alban, Duke of Philax," he introduced himself in a monotonous voice.
—This person is Duke Philax. The head of the Alban house known as the last
flashpoint of the kingdom.
As a commoner, Ann wasn't very familiar with the kingdom's politics. But just
the name Duke Philax and its standing, she knew of. It was a famous story not
only Ann, but anyone living in Highland knew about.
That the Alban house was the last flashpoint left in the kingdom, that is.
Three bloodlines were left behind by the sons of grand King Cedric, the hero
that led the humans to victory in the fight against the fairy king: the house of
Millsland, the house of Chamber and the house of Alban.
After the founding of Highland one hundred years ago, Millsland ascended the
kingdom's throne, and the other two houses became Millsland's va.s.sals.
However, Chamber and Alban possessed huge territories to which Millsland's
rights could not extend.
Thus, there were two extraterritorial territories left in the kingdom of Highland.
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It became a flashpoint fifteen years ago.
When the previous king, Edmond I, pa.s.sed away, the current king, Edmond II,
was a twelve year old child.
And at that time, the head of Chamber, Stewart, being the ambitious person that
he was, raised the following question:
"Having a little king of twelve years is not very reliable. To begin with, the three
houses share the same blood, therefore shouldn't the most suitable person from
among the three houses be made king?"
So he argued. Moreover, some of the va.s.sals who felt uncertain of a twelve year
old king agreed.
That was the beginning of a civil war known as the Chamber Civil War.
Ultimately, the Chamber Civil War ended in Millsland's victory.
All members of the house of Chamber—including infants—were executed, and
their lineage died out.
After the civil war, the key figure in setting up a firm centralized authoritarian
system for the sake of the twelve year old king was Earl Downing, who
exhibited his shrewdness since the previous king's generation.
The remaining one of the three houses, Alban, had cooperated with Millsland
during the civil war.
However, "A country should not have two rulers," so proposed earl Downing,
and with that, their territory was revoked. Their private army troops were also
dismantled, leaving only a few soldiers as guards. And the head of Alban was 
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made to live in Philax as the administrator of the area directly under the control
of the king.
It was quite the harsh treatment. But Earl Downing advised Edmond II to take
even more drastic measures:
To exile the head of Alban.
He argued that it was a lineage that could become a flashpoint at any moment.
That even if the ones in question had no such intention, there was a possibility
that a traitor may rise to power. And as such, these afflictions should be cut off.
The head of Alban at the time was Thomas, father to William, the current Duke
of Philax.
Thomas was apparently a very calm, intellectual man.
Edmond II idolized Thomas's personality, and because of that, Edmond II
disregarded Earl Downing's opinion solely on this matter, and did not exile him.
Instead, Alban was a.s.signed two duties.
First: all collected trade-related taxes would be paid to the royal family. Of the
payment to the royal family, a fixed amount would be paid to Alban. It was a
humiliating duty, equal to receiving allowance from the king.
Second: once a month, the head of Alban would have to visit the capital city of
Lewiston and give his greetings to the king. This duty was to ensure they swear
eternal loyalty.
It seemed that even after it became the generation of Thomas's son, William,
Alban had solemnly fulfilled these duties.
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However, Edmond II aside, it was said that the va.s.sals serving under Millsland
were still looking for a chance to bury Alban, with Earl Downing at their
forefront.
Ann was acquainted with Earl Downing, who gave the strong impression of a
gentle old man. If the gentle-looking Earl Downing was aiming for a chance of
obliteration, she thought Duke Philax must be a frightening man. But contrary
to her imagination, the young man before her was very quiet, only somehow
clad in an odd coldness.
"Show me the sugar sculpture you're holding."
At Alban's order, a page took both Ann and the man's sculptures, and held them
out in front of Alban. He glanced at the sculptures the page had in each hand,
then grabbed hold of Ann's sculpture and announced, "The man there, leave.
The girl, remain as is."
Puzzled by the far too quick decision, the sugar craftsman stared blankly. After
returning the sugar sculpture, a page courteously prompted him towards the exit.
The man left while looking over his shoulder with bad grace.
Alban stared at the sculpture in his hand.
It was something Ann had made while playing around, using Mythrill as a
model. “This is for you, go ahead and eat,” she had said to him, but he’d replied
with, “That's like cannibalism so no way!” And with that, it was decidedly left
uneaten. She had confidence in its making, so that made her disappointed.
Ann and Alban were left alone, facing one another in the wide s.p.a.ce.
The room felt even colder.
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"Why did you make this?" Alban asked suddenly.
"The model for that is one of my friends who’s travelling with me. I thought I'd
make him a sugar sculpture so I made that."
"This is... A fairy, is it not?"
"Yes."
"Very well."
Alban stood up slowly and after stepping off the platform, he came up to Ann.
He held out the sugar sculpture he had in hand in front of her with a look, urging
her to take it. After she received the sugar sculpture, he then declared, "I'll allow
for you to stay in the castle. Make me a sugar sculpture—a sugar sculpture that
will meet my expectations."
"What should I make?"
Alban suddenly straightened his back and moved behind Ann.
Still kneeling, Ann followed him with her eyes. He headed towards the wall in
front of the chair he was sitting in.
A large fabric was hanging over that wall, but behind it was the hall, so there
couldn't be a window there.
Alban pulled the decorative string without hesitation.
The curtain quickly opened left and right, revealing a single portrait.
"Woah... It's beautiful!" Ann thought out loud, forgetting she was in the
presence of a n.o.ble.
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It was a portrait of a young woman. It looked life-sized, being only a little lower
than Alban. White skin, silverish eyes with a mysterious s.h.i.+ne, and pale blue
straight flowing hair. Other than being good looking, what left the greatest
impression was her expression, which showed a somewhat sad smile.
And what caught Ann's eye most of all was what was on her back.
"A pair of wings... This person is a fairy, isn't she," she asked without really
asking, to which Alban nodded.
"I want you to make the fairy in this painting. Can you do it?"
Ann felt something like conviction being born inside her.
When she'd find something to be beautiful, she'd get the urge to capture that
beauty in a sugar sculpture.
If she earnestly directed that urge at her creation, it would surely get bigger.
"I can do it."
Alban closed the window and returned to his seat, then explained apathetically,
"In the inner ward is a building for the craftsmen. Make your sugar sculpture
there. I'll have someone guide you. If you want to look at this portrait, there are
several pictures of the same fairy hanging in the eastern tower of the outer ward.
Look at those."
"Yes."
Ann nodded and looked at Alban. She still couldn't sense any feeling in his eyes,
as if something was missing from them. While speaking to her, she was
reflected in those eyes, yet he was indifferent to her existence as if he didn't 
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acknowledge her. That made her shudder slightly.
Alban took his leave, and in his stead came a young man named Dale to guide
her. He was Alban's servant. Dale had a large bundle of keys attached to his belt.
Because of that, he made a loud clattering sound as he walked.
Shall and Mythrill were given permission to stay. Apparently, when Dale went
to confirm, the Duke had said, “No problem.”
The castle was nearly touching the tip of the cape. The sound of the rolling
waves was heard incessantly. With the blowing sea breeze and winding
whirlpools above the rampart, they could see sea birds circling calmly above
the rampart if one looked up.
Ann and the rest were guided to the inner ward of the castle.
There, it turned into a large plaza. Simple tenements were clinging all around
to the walls surrounding the plaza. Those were likely the work rooms a.s.signed
to craftsmen.
The roof of the wooden two-storied building was mostly made of single roofing.
In the inner ward's innermost section were two towers. And as it was also the
innermost section of the castle, it was a dead end.
The eastern tower should be adorned with portraits of that fairy.
"Currently, how many craftsmen are there?" she asked Dale who was walking
in front, to which Dale turned around and answered.
"Currently, including you, six."
"That's it?"
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"It's because even though everyday one or two arrive, at the same time, two or
three are thrown out."
"That many?"
"Yeah. Once a sugar sculpture is complete, it is presented to the Duke. That's
where most craftsmen get kicked out."
"Hasn't there been a craftsman capable of making a sugar sculpture that satisfies
the Duke yet?"
"If there was, the Duke wouldn't be looking for craftsmen anymore."
"I suppose that's true. But for what purpose does the Duke require a sugar
sculpture? Is it for some sort of celebration, or a festival?"
In response to that question, Dale answered expressionlessly. "You should ask
the Duke directly. We don't know. If it's the Duke's wish, we will follow it
without asking for a reason. We have sworn loyalty to the Alban house since
that man's father's generation. We are not Millsland's va.s.sals, but Alban's
va.s.sals."
Ann was surprised at Dale's declaration.
All the humans living in the kingdom of Highland, n.o.bles and commoners alike,
serve the king of Highland. It's a sort of common knowledge that even the
va.s.sals under each n.o.ble don't serve those n.o.bles, but the king reigning over
them.
Yet Dale declared he was not the royal house of Millsland's va.s.sal.
Normally, such words could be considered treason.
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But for the Alban house, it was probably allowed. Otherwise, you wouldn't
carelessly let an unknown sugar craftsman hear something like that.
She felt like she caught a glimpse of the reason they were called a flashpoint.
"You take pride in serving Alban, don't you."
"Of course. That aside," Dale looked at Shall who was walking beside Ann, and
Mythrill who was cheekily sitting on her shoulder, "You own two fairies? That's
quite extravagant."
"They're my friends. I don't own them, we simply travel together."
Ann answered somewhat annoyed, having heard that all the time.
With an 'Aha,’ Dale nodded in a.s.sent.
"That's why the Duke gave his permission, even though you brought two
fairies."
"What do you mean?"
"The Duke hates enslaving fairies. There isn't a single fairy in this castle. The
Duke will only allow a craftsman one labor fairy if it's necessary for the job.
Owning two fairies should have made a bad impression. Yet, since the Duke
said there was no problem, I thought it was strange."
"Ah, I see. Fairies. That's why."
Back in the hall, she kept thinking of the true nature behind her sense of
discomfort. And now she realized.
There were no fairies in this castle. Fairies could always be seen somewhere in 
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towns, castles, inns and shops. But ever since entering the castle, she hadn’t
seen a single fairy.
Dale stopped in front of a tenement in the eastern rampart.
"Well then, this building is the room you'll be using. Five young craftsmen from
Radcliff entered the building next door yesterday. Try to get along."
Hearing of the craftsmen from Radcliffe, Ann heaved a light sigh. They must
be Jonas and his comrades.
"Yes. We'll try to get along as much as possible."
Once Dale left, Ann entered the tenement.
Inside was quite pleasant. It had floorboards set down, so it wasn't too cold.
Climbing up a simple staircase with no footboards was the second floor, where
five beds were lined up.
The building appeared to be a remnant from wartime. Long ago, during war,
many craftsmen and technicians, and sometimes even livestock and farmers,
were apparently allowed to reside in the castle.
The castle guards lived in the tenements constructed in the inner district. That
was why currently, the ones who always lived in these tenements inside the
inner ward were gone. With no sign of life, it had a lonely atmosphere.
"He said all I need to do is sculpt the fairy in the painting," Ann explained while
bringing the luggage from her box shaped wagon's luggage carrier into the
tenement.
Both Shall and Myhtrill helped her carry the luggage.
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"It's a really beautiful female fairy."
"But, can you remember a picture you've only seen once?" Mythrill asked while
carrying in a pot.
"He said there are several pictures of the same fairy hanging in that eastern
tower. After we're done bringing in the luggage, will you two go see it with
me?"
"Nah, I'm tired. I finally get to sleep in a bed, so I'm going to take a nap."
Mythrill placed the pot by the stove with a yawn, then hopped up the stairs to
the second floor while humming a tune. He must have been happy to have a bed
after spending the previous night in a barn.
Surely, the only one who'd want to see that painting was Ann, who was about
to start working.
"You too, Shall..."
"I'll go."
After placing down the luggage, Shall turned to Ann and jerked his chin.
"Eh!? You'll go?"
"What's with that, after inviting me."
"It's just that I didn't think you'd go."
When she said that, Shall seemed to sulk a little.
"I'm just interested."
"Why? Why are you interested in it?" she asked reflexively, but Shall ignored 
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her question. Finally, they left the tenement.
"Ah! Wait, Shall!"
"Hurry up."
While chasing his back as he walked onwards, Ann realized that Shall wouldn’t
have any interest in seeing the portrait; he was simply accompanying her. That
made her happy.
Once she caught up and joined him by his side, she looked up at him with a
smile.
"That's a slovenly face you're making."
"I don't care. It's because I'm happy."
She didn't even mind Shall's bad mouth.
While directly heading towards the eastern tower, a group of five young men
were coming from its direction. Ann was taken aback.
—Jonas. I remember the others as well.
Seeing them revived her rage, but it didn't end just there; that rage was gradually
turning into willpower. As they reached a point where their faces could be
discerned, Ann felt fighting spirit overflow inside her.
The young men were exchanging laughs as they walked on, but as soon as they
noticed the human figures ahead, and that they were Ann and Shall, their jaws
simultaneously dropped.
"What a coincidence, Jonas."
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She offered a cheerful greeting, surprising even herself with her composure.
Jonas's face looked as though he'd seen something terrible.
"W-what are you doing in a place like this? Did you follow me? Don't tell me
you're out for revenge?"
"That doesn't sound half bad, but I don't have that much free time." She pa.s.sed
beside them while sticking her tongue out.
"You, just what the h.e.l.l did you come here for!?"
At one of the young men's shout, Ann stopped and sternly glared back at them.
"Thanks to someone, my reputation as a craftsman was publicly destroyed. So
in order to restore my honor, I responded to Duke Philax's summons."
She then declared, "If it's a battle of skill, I won't lose."
Their faces were bright red with anger, but at the same time, their eyes revealed
anxiety.
Each of them was thinking about being the one acknowledged by Alban.
Wanting that honor, there was no doubt they secretly swore in their hearts to
kick down their comrades.
Furthermore, a powerful compet.i.tor had appeared. It seemed they couldn’t hide
their agitation.
This was a battle of skill. Even they should understand that. It was not as easy
as relying on numbers in the streets to mock someone.
Seeing through their agitation, Ann could feel herself becoming ridiculously 
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fired up.
"Well, let's all do our best."
Saying just that, she set out along with Shall towards the eastern tower. Shall
made a snorting smile.
"Well said. That you won't lose."
"It was 80 percent a bluff. I just don't want to lose. After all, a thousand cress
are at stake, and I want to welcome a wonderful new year together with you and
Mythrill."
The next day, Ann got down to work.
First, she decided the size of the sculpture. The biggest sugar sculptures were
the ones used in festivals, and were about half of Ann's height. As the request
was made by a Duke, the largest one would probably be best.
The portraits of the fairy in the eastern tower all had a similar composition.
Some sitting, some standing, but on the whole, the slender figure clad in shades
of light blue gave the strong impression of waterflow. She regarded that
impression with importance.
She decided to pose it standing, with both arms gently extended forward. And
as for the face, she opted to not make it too clear. If you give it the exact face,
it becomes unpleasantly lifelike.
What Ann emphasized was the fairy in the portrait's atmosphere.
She placed a stone slab over a table on the first floor that was originally in the
tenement. Set up around it were rulers and spatulas and such that filled up the 
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table.
Bottles of colored powder and a container with cold water were arranged on the
floor.
During work, Mythrill would be surprisingly helpful; He'd draw cold water
from the well, get silver sugar from the barrel, and hand her bottles of colored
powder.
Though they were small things, that alone raised the work efficiency.
On the third day, the rough shape was complete.
"Thank you, Mythrill Reed Pod. You really helped me out," Ann thanked him
while shaking out blue powder out of a bottle.
“Hehehe,” Mythrill laughed slightly boastfully.
"That's how useful I can be when I use my true strength. Though, something
like this isn't enough to repay you. I aspire to repay you in a grand way!"
"It's fine already, with this whole 'repaying' thing."
"It is not. This is a matter of my pride as a fairy."
"So it was such a huge deal..."
"But of course! By the way, where did Shall Fen Shall go?"
"Who knows."
As opposed to Mythrill, whenever Ann started working, Shall would leave the
tenement.
Everyday for the past three days, he'd aimlessly go out, and wouldn't return until 
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Ann stopped working.
a.s.suming he'd probably gone out for a walk, she wasn't particularly concerned.
She closed the colored powder bottle with the lid, and placed it on the table.
And while she was kneading the silver sugar with the added colored powder,
Mythrill was mumbling complaints.
"What's with that guy, playing around on his own."
"Well, with you helping me out, there's nothing for Shall to do, is there?"
"Well, I guess so. As long as I'm here, he won't get his chance, huh."
Mythrill put away the bottle in a seemingly good mood.
"Since it seems even a ruthless cold hearted guy like that has some sentiment, I
guess it's fine to let him immerse himself."
"Sentiment? Shall?"
"Three days ago, was it? It was when we first came to this castle. We had to
wait with the carriages right? That time, Shall Fen Shall said he was 'feeling
nostalgic.’ When I asked him about it, he said a really long time ago, he lived
in a castle like this one."
The hands kneading the silver sugar stopped momentarily.
—Feeling nostalgic? For the castle? Or perhaps for Liz who lived in the castle?
Right now, Shall's beautiful black eyes were probably fixed on the figure of that
girl that died long ago. That was likely why he went out for walks on his own.
Thinking about it again made her feel stifled.
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"It seems Hugh's castle is too new for it or something. This castle's old right?
Apparantly the castle he lived in was an old one. Was he owned by n.o.bles? He
wouldn't say more than that but... Ann? What's wrong?"
"Ah, no. It's nothing."
Realizing that she was being absent-minded, Ann looked at Mythrill and smiled.
That moment, Mythril burst out laughing.
"Ann! Your nose is deep blue! There's colored powder stuck on it!"
"Eh!?"
She hastily touched the tip of her nose.
"Now there's more blue!"
Ann became embarra.s.sed from being laughed at so much.
"I'm going to go wash it at the well."
She left the tenement and ran to the well. After drawing water from the well
into a washbowl, she glanced at the water surface. Her nose was indeed blue.
But more than that, she felt disappointed that no matter how she looked at it,
she wasn't beautiful.
“We were always together. After fifteen years, Liz's hair became golden, and
her freckles disappeared. She became a beautiful girl.”
Shall said that to Ann before.
—After fifteen years. Meaning, when she was twenty, Liz was a beautiful
golden-haired young woman, wasn't she. I'm fifteen, so in five more years I'll 
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale Vol. 2 - Ginzatous.h.i.+ to Ao no Koushaku.
   
   
become beautiful?
She didn't really believe she would. She'd probably become a skinny, thin
limbed, child-like twenty year old, with the awful balance of a scarecrow the
same as now.
—Shall is so beautiful. Of course he'd like a beautiful woman. Like Liz.
When her thoughts reached that extent, she realized the true ident.i.ty of the
feelings that bothered her whenever she'd hear about Liz.
—Is this jealousy? Towards Liz?
She was foolish for feeling something like jealousy towards Liz, whom she'd
never even met. Moreover, someone who's no longer in this world.
She became disgusted with herself.
Scooping up water from the washbowl, she desperately washed herself.
Was.h.i.+ng over and over with skin-tearing cold water.
—I have to stop thinking about unnecessary things. Right now I'm making a
sugar sculpture!
"If you keep rubbing like that, your nose is going to come off."
Hearing a voice overhead, Ann raised her wet face in surprise.
"Shall."
Water was dripping down her chin. Shall knit his eyebrows. "Your dress is
going to get wet."
After being told that, Ann realized she forgot something. "Ah, I forgot to bring 
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale Vol. 2 - Ginzatous.h.i.+ to Ao no Koushaku.
   
   
a towel..."
She dropped her shoulders at her stupidity.
Shall unconsciously stretched out his hand, and with his fingertips, gently
stroked Ann's face from the chin to her cheek. His fingers were cold.
Though she figured he was just wiping off drops of water, she was startled and
pulled herself away.
The place he touched became burning hot, and that moment, she felt her face
turning red.
"What is it?"
Shall tilted his head in wonder. From that gesture, she knew he wasn't just
making fun of her like always. He was really just casually wiping the water
drops off her face.
She knew she had to say something, but her head was blank.
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale Vol. 2 - Ginzatous.h.i.+ to Ao no Koushaku.
   
   
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale Vol. 2 - Ginzatous.h.i.+ to Ao no Koushaku.
   
   
"Scarecrow?"
Shall gave Ann a sincerely inquiring look. His black eyes gazed intently at her.
She didn't want him to notice her overreacting.
"I-it's nothing!" Saying just that took all she had. Ann turned on her heel and
ran towards the tenement with all her might.
—Though his fingers are so cold, how come his breath and wing are warm?
Remembering previously touching his wing and his sigh made her cheeks even
hotter.
Even during dinner that day, Ann was somehow having trouble making eye
contact with Shall.
The awkwardness was only gone the next day. She was grateful for having slept
so well. For the moment, her feelings, both good and bad, relaxed about halfway.
It was when she had just finished breakfast and was about to get down to work
that there was a knock on the tenement door.
Without it occurring to her who might be visiting, Ann opened the door while
tilting her head.
"Yes?"
Standing there was Jonas, smiling.
Ann's expression suddenly became stern.
"What did you come for? If you're after a sugar sculpture to steal, it's not
finished yet."
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale Vol. 2 - Ginzatous.h.i.+ to Ao no Koushaku.
   
   
Jonas frowned slightly at her scathing sarcasm.
"As if. I have no use for a sugar sculpture like yours. My sculpture's already
done, see. All five of us finished yesterday."
"Eh...?"
Hearing that they'd completed their sugar sculpture the night before made her
secretly fl.u.s.tered.
But, not wanting to be mocked by Jonas, she forced a smile. "Is that so. And?
Have you presented it to the Duke?"
"We did last night. Except me, the other four were made to leave this morning."
Jonas was smiling ear to ear like he couldn't wait to say that.
Over Jonas's shoulder, she saw the figures of the four craftsmen, dejectedly
carrying their luggage as they leave. They were looking over at Jonas's back in
jealousy.
"After seeing my work, the Duke told me, 'It shows promise. Increase the
accuracy.' And only I was allowed to continue staying in the castle. Sorry to
break it to you, but the one who'll receive Duke Philax's one thousand cress will
be me."
"You don't know that yet."
"Did you know? I'm the only one who has ever been allowed to remain in the
castle after presenting a sculpture. Only me. Dale told me."
"Now, I will be too!"
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale Vol. 2 - Ginzatous.h.i.+ to Ao no Koushaku.
   
   
"From now on, I'll be moving to a room in the castle tower. That's the privilege
of the chosen craftsman. Well, do your very best, Ann," Jonas said triumphantly,
then stepped down the entrance step while waving his hand. Ann vigorously
shut the door, and returned to the table with rough footsteps.
"What did that guy come here for?! What? He wants to weaken my
motivation?!"
Shall was sitting on the table, holding a dried nut in his palm. The nut shrinked
down until it finally disappeared. That was how fairies ate.
While enjoying one dried nut after another, Shall said, "I doubt that shallow
man was thinking that far."
"What, then?!"
"He probably just came to boast. Since he can't do that in front of his comrades
who are leaving."
"If that's so, then it's unbelievably annoying. If you want to boast, do it
someplace else, for G.o.d's sake."
Fuming, she cleared up the surface of the table, then moved the unfinished sugar
sculpture that was at the corner of the tenement to the table and removed the
cloth that was covering it.
"But I think your sugar sculpture is turning out really well," Mythrill said in
admiration, looking up at the sugar sculpture from atop the table.
"Really?"
"Yeah, it's beautiful. Right, Shall Fen Shall?"
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale Vol. 2 - Ginzatous.h.i.+ to Ao no Koushaku.
   
   
Having been asked, Shall looked over the sugar sculpture as well. After gazing
at it for a while, he nodded.
"It's well made."
Being praised made her simply happy. Pulling herself together, Ann got down
to work.
Since meeting Shall and Mythrill, Ann began to like sculpting fairies. Hence,
she was enjoying her work, and had confidence in her workmans.h.i.+p that was
steadily gaining shape.
"It's done, I think."
Ann heaved a huge sigh, and as if tired of even just standing, sat down on a
chair with a thump.
It was the third night after Jonas transferred to a room in the castle tower.
With two lamps placed on the table, Ann had been working till midnight.
Mythrill went to sleep long ago, and Shall was sitting down with his back
towards Ann. While adding wood to the furnace, he was making sure not to
interfere with her work.
Him going out for walks during the day these past few days was also so he
wouldn't bother her.
Ann seemed to sometimes get upset when Shall was around. He realized the 
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale Vol. 2 - Ginzatous.h.i.+ to Ao no Koushaku.
   
   
cause was likely something he said or done, but he couldn't very well understand
what it was exactly that made her that way. In order to not disrupt her
concentration, he determined it was best to stay away.
"How about it, Shall? Won't you take a look?"
At her call, he got up and stood behind her chair.
Like waterflow, the young woman's hair flowed down from the top of her head
to her waist, and was gradually s.h.i.+fting from dark to light indigo. Her wings
were jumping up like silk fanned by the wind. Her expression with her
outstretched arms was very gentle. The structure of her face was only slightly
uneven, but it made one wonder if that expression was truly smiling. A gentle
air wrapped the sculpture.
"Well done," he answered after taking a good long look. However, Ann did not
react.
"Hey?"
Suddenly feeling that her reaction was strange, he peeked at her face.
"...What..."
Sitting in the chair, Ann was making wheezy sleeping breaths.
These past three days, she’d put her all into this sculpture. She must have been
quite exhausted.
Shall moved the finished sugar sculpture to the floor in the corner of the
tenement, and like Ann always did, sheltered it by placing a soft fabric over it.
Meanwhile, Ann was still sleeping. He wondered whether he should wake her 
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale Vol. 2 - Ginzatous.h.i.+ to Ao no Koushaku.
   
   
and have her go to the bed on the second floor.
He stood before her, and looked her down. That soundly sleeping face looked
so defenseless it made him wince a little. He remembered when they first met,
how she'd nervously sleep while embracing his wing into her chest.
Now, after returning his wing, she probably trusted him as a friend.
—Still, she's too defenseless.
Did she think he was her guardian or something?
She likely forgot that to begin with, Shall was a shameless warrior fairy that had
been alive for over a hundred years. He had done many things she couldn't even
imagine. She might fear him if she'd learn even a single thing he's done. She
might scorn him.
He held up the sleeping Ann. She was thin and light.
Climbing the stairs like that, he laid her in the frontmost bed and tucked her in.
The sea breeze rang over the rampart like always. He felt a draft at his feet.
He looked down at Ann's face, who showed no signs of waking.
'Why are you so fixated on Ann?'
Like the sound of the wind, the question Hugh posed suddenly revived in his
ears.
If he left her to Hugh, Ann would be able to attain a safe, comfortable life. He
understood that. But for some reason, that was no fun.
—I don't want to entrust her to Hugh.
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale Vol. 2 - Ginzatous.h.i.+ to Ao no Koushaku.
   
   
After thinking that, he was puzzled by his own thoughts.
—Entrust? Even though she doesn't belong to me or anything?
Even though she wasn't his, he didn't want to give her away. What were those
selfish feelings?
The moment he saw the sugar sculpture, she felt that something swayed in
Alban's emotionless eyes.
Alban stared intently at Ann's sugar sculpture. However, that emotion-like
glimmer slowly disappeared. In itsstead, he let out a murmur that could be taken
as disappointment.
"...It's wrong."
Those words turned her pale.
That morning, she’d reported to Dale that the sugar sculpture was complete.
And after doing so, an order had come instructing her to go up to the hall in the
castle tower with her sugar sculpture immediately, whether she finished having
breakfast or not.
After going up to the hall, unlike last time, she wasn't made to wait very long.
Alban came in restlessly, and with his own hands, removed the cloth covering
the work, and took a look at it.
He then murmured, “It’s wrong.” 
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale Vol. 2 - Ginzatous.h.i.+ to Ao no Koushaku.
   
   
Alban sat down in a chair, and for a while, remained silent.
—He didn't like it... Even though both Shall and Mythrill complimented me
saying it was well made...
She couldn't help feeling depressed.
"However, the atmosphere is fine," Alban said with a sigh.
"Huh?"
Ann instinctively raised her head. Alban wasn't looking at her. He was looking
at the sugar sculpture.
"The atmosphere is better than Andres's. Increase the accuracy, enough to
satisfy me. You'll be transferred to a room in the castle tower."
After saying all that, Alban then said to Dale who was in waiting by his side,
"There are two craftsmen. There is no need for any more, is there."
Alban gave the simple order, then took his leave.
Ann was dumbfounded, but Dale tapped her shoulder with a bitter smile.
"Come now. Gather your luggage from the tenement and call your friends. I'll
prepare a room for you in the castle tower."
"Um... Does this mean the Duke liked my sugar sculpture?"
"I'd say he moderately liked it. About as much as he did Andres's, it seems.
Looks like he's leaving the sculpture-making to you and Andres, since he told
me no more craftsmen are needed."
"T... Thank you very much."
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale Vol. 2 - Ginzatous.h.i.+ to Ao no Koushaku.
   
   
Realizing that she had been acknowledged, for the time being, she was relieved.
But the reason she couldn't openly rejoice was likely because of that 'moderately
liked.’
What does 'moderately' mean? And how does she 'increase the accuracy'?
Her doubt was too big for her to rejoice.
For now, Ann gathered her luggage from the tenement, and moved to the castle
tower.
She was told the room she'd be using was in one of the four columns of the
castle tower. At the top of the one located southwest. Meaning Jonas's room
was below hers.
When going up the column, she'd pa.s.s by his room. But with the door closed,
she couldn't see what was going on inside.
To Ann, the castle tower's structure was too complicated. One couldn't readily
go out.
She'd go up and down stairs many times until she'd get to her a.s.signed room in
the southset column from the hall. Many thin corridors twisted and turned. That
alone drove her sense of direction crazy.
As soon as she arrived in her room, more than five barrels of silver sugar were
delivered to it. It seemed they didn’t care how much she used.
In exchange, she was ordered by Dale to get to work immediately.
She was told to pull the bell string hanging in the room when she thought she
was done. A bell would apparently ring in the servants' room, where it would
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale Vol. 2 - Ginzatous.h.i.+ to Ao no Koushaku.
   
   
be arranged to inform Alban of the sculpture's completion.
Unlike in Hugh's castle, Ann wasn't treated as a guest, but simply as a craftsman.
It was a simple room, with bare stone walls. And there was only one bed. Being
much smaller than the tenement, it was inconvenient.
In exchange, there was no need for them to prepare their own food. Twice a day,
food would be delivered from the castle's kitchen: once in the morning and once
at night. Even hot water for making tea will be delivered if she asked for some.
As soon as she moved into the room, Ann placed the sugar sculpture on the
work table and began to look it over.
"He said the atmosphere was fine, right. And to increase the accuracy. I wonder
if I can add in details without breaking the whole structure. But when making
fine workmans.h.i.+p, the piece as a whole becomes cluttered."
As always, Shall left the room.
Mythrill was sitting by the window, patiently waiting till he could help Ann.
"Ann!?"
An astonished voice came from behind.
She turned around to see Jonas showing his face through the entrance door.
"I thought I heard sounds coming from above. Why are you here?"
"I was also told to move here."
"You too..."
In place of the stunned Jonas, a voice sounded by his feet.
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale Vol. 2 - Ginzatous.h.i.+ to Ao no Koushaku.
Visit us at http://aquascans.wordpress.com/ &
   
"As if you're a match for Jonas-sama! Right, Jonas-sama!?"
It was Kathy. She was glaring at Ann. Encouraged by her, while stiff, Jonas
smiled.
"W-well, yeah. I'm not going to lose."
She responded with determination. "I have no intention of losing either."
END OF CHAPTER.