Chapter 7. If I continue gazing at you
chamber was simple. In the event of an enemy invasion, the Castle-Lord's
escape, or alternatively, commit suicide.
of reaching Alban's room. The staircase was barely wide enough for two adult
Defending the stairwell entrance would prevent anyone from coming near the
Shall stood at the stairwell entrance with his sword in hand. Slowly, he closed
Ann was in the room he was defending behind him―that was fine. The problem
In truth, he didn't want to do something like leaving the two of them alone, but
solely for the sake of the one thousand Cress reward, nor was it obstinacy; it
"That idiot."
to grant it.
Outside the castle tower, voices of jostling soldiers and sounds of conflict were
"Over there! It's that staircase!" voiced one of the soldiers.
chainmail resounding. Holding up his sword, he commanded, "Stop."
"Duke Philax's warrior-fairy?"
you protect your owner at this point, it's futile. We will be placing him under
"Unfortunately, I have no owner."
"Though by no one's orders, I won't let you pass."
Shall, too, still alertly poising his, surveyed the five.
Beyond the dark hall, Hugh came walking over with a lamp in hand. Behind
The soldiers' eyes widened upon seeing Hugh come in sight.
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale Vol. 2 - Ginzatoushi to Ao no Koushaku.
"I was going to, but when I told Earl Downing that I'd like to go personally if
on Salim's horse, and came here. By the way, you should give up on taking that
While speaking, Hugh came in front of the five soldiers. "So I heard from Salim
Shall?"
"Now that it's come to this, Alban has no way to escape. I want to see him
they think he's resisting, the more he'll be at a disadvantage."
"Why?"
"She? You mean Ann? I don't know what she's up to but, at any rate, let me
"I refuse."
your wing here." He directed a sharp gaze at Shall while softly searching
Shall felt a shiver down his spine before the prospect of having his wing hurt.
Biting it down with his back teeth, he smiled thinly. "If you want to do it, go
"I'm your owner."
Their powerful gazes clashed.
"Silver-colored eyes, with a transparent feeling, right?"
fireplace, and held its bottom over the flames.
He couldn't hide his surprise and confusion at how, even after the soldiers
"I shall create silver-colored eyes."
liquid. Small, knobbly bubbles boiled up from within the pot.
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale Vol. 2 - Ginzatoushi to Ao no Koushaku.
stone slate. She emptied the molten silver-sugar over the slate at once, and after
clear silver-sugar liquid.
She instantly drew her hand back from the heat. But, after chilling her fingers
two―each roughly the size of a thumbnail.
She then rounded those up over the stone slate.
became stiffly solid, and transparent like glass.
her hand became splendid spheres. The small spheres looked like little crystal
Grabbing the two in her fingertips, she held them up against the lamp's light.
nodded.
Then, she drew her hand to the area of the sugar-sculpture's face. Making dents
sockets were filled with the gray hue the silver-sugar applied. Inside them, she
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale Vol. 2 - Ginzatoushi to Ao no Koushaku.
making sure to hold her breath while intertwining them with her fingertips. She
making them even finer.
Unconsciously, she prayed in heart.
She begged of her own fingertips―that the 'form' Alban desired may appear.
While shaping the lashes, the sweat streaming from her head blurred her eyes,
Alban slowly came near the sugar-sculpture.
it was complete.
Lowering her arms, she looked over the entire sugar-sculpture. Silver eyes were
"Christina… " Alban whispered.
"Was I able to make a sugar-sculpture that meets Your Grace's expectations?"
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale Vol. 2 - Ginzatoushi to Ao no Koushaku.
fairy, calmly standing as though having adapted to the atmosphere, the size
The faint blue coloring looked fleeting, as though about to disappear at any
gently smiling lips; and those silver-colored eyes, were startlingly pure.
That was probably the kind of woman she was. Ann could somewhat understand
"I was able to make it. Thank god." Relieved, a smile escaped her lips.
"Craftsman… I didn't catch your name."
"Halford, is it?" he repeated for confirmation, then once again turned his face
"Yes."
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale Vol. 2 - Ginzatoushi to Ao no Koushaku.
from this mere 'form,' that love-filled life can't be born… But… I wanted it.
wanted to see her."
who spoke indifferently. Albeit intellectual, calm, and of a noble status―there
sought the sugar-sculpture, deep in his heart, a part of him must have possessed
―Although, rather, if His Grace could have become a man of nothing but
He should have obtained what he so maddeningly wanted, yet, seeing Alban's
Alban's entirety up to that point, she realized, was actually the color of sorrow
"However foolish a thought it might have been, I wanted it. I just wanted it."
Alban slowly turned his face towards her.
'form' was Lady Christina herself, perhaps if Your Grace thought of Lady
one's proven that nothing would happen."
At those words, Alban suddenly smiled.
Christina herself. So much so, that it makes me feel it wouldn't be strange if
"Yes."
gold coins inside. You may take it."
"Are you certain?"
where your fairy is. Go."
coins rubbing against each other inside the bag, without a doubt, belonged to
"Then, I'll be receiving this."
"Halford."
was smiling. Though it was a gentle smile, he looked as though he was about to
"You… are the greatest sugar-craftsman."
Ann returned the smile, all the while wishing that from now on, the young man
"Thank you very much."
Hugh and Shall were glaring at each other.
of discomfort in his entire body, Shall frowned.
Then, suddenly, the discomfort disappeared. Hugh was looking up at the stairs
"Ann?"
Ann was coming down the dimly lit stairs, tightly clutching a leather bag before
unsteady.
"Shall. . . . Eh? Hugh?"
thrown in the air.
"Ann!"
caught Ann's body as she came falling down, strongly enduring the sudden
Once he was convinced he'd caught her, he took a breath, and looked down at
looked up at Shall with perfectly round eyes.
Normally, that was where he'd want to say a few things about her carelessness,
to the floor, and like so, tightly embraced her to his chest.
Hugh came near the two.
"It's really Hugh, right? What are you doing here?" questioned Ann from within
"Due to various circumstances, I came to take Duke Philax into custody. Is he
"Yeah, he's there. Together with the sugar-sculpture," she retorted, looking
"Sugar-sculpture? That you made?”
"That's right. A sugar-sculpture of Lady Christina."
"It seems His Grace has prepared himself. Please don't be rough, Hugh."
Rest assured."
"You heard it, no rough stuff. Hey, one of you go outside and inform Earl
lead the remaining four and go to the room upstairs. You should know the place.
One of the soldiers ran off towards the outside of the castle tower. Accompanied
After seeing them off, Hugh pulled out a small leather bag from his inner chest
"I'm returning this."
Ann tilted her head.
"I took it up from Shall but, even with this, this guy absolutely won't listen to
He casually tossed it at Shall, who caught it in one hand.
"I'll make you pay for that."
surprise.
Ann gets off with that, and I have to pay? That's discrimination," said Hugh
It had finally gone quiet, and Ann seemed to realize that she'd been tightly held
"Ah―! Why, I―!"
wouldn't allow that. Placing even more strength into his arms, he hugged her.
"Shall?"
"What's wrong? Hey. Umm, oh. That's right. I got the one-thousand Cress. I
He felt a slight movement from the leather bag she was holding before her chest.
"Stay still for a while."
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale Vol. 2 - Ginzatoushi to Ao no Koushaku.
Ann cast her eyes down.
"You idiot. Don't make me worry."
"Ann," he murmured her name to ascertain her safety.
He heard that.
"Not referring to me as 'scarecrow' or 'you idiot' or 'stupid,' but as Ann, by name.
At those words, Shall's eyes widened. "You keep count of something like that?
"Because. It's because being called by name makes me happy."
It was a slight shock. If such trivial matters could make her happy or sad, it was
understand humans. Especially―even more so than Liz―he didn't understand
At the very least, he was able to predict Liz's actions, but he couldn't predict
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale Vol. 2 - Ginzatoushi to Ao no Koushaku.
she declared it her wish with eyes that harbored a strong will. He didn't know
She was full of surprises and puzzles. But for some reason, it wasn't unpleasant.
For the time being, he decided in his heart to call her by name as much as
"Shall," Ann whispered doubtfully. "I want to stay together. From now on,
In place of an answer, Shall held her even tighter.
in his arms. The body he was embracing was warm. That warmth was like
*
Mercury, and was sent to Lewiston under the watch of Earl Downing. One
peerage of Duke Philax.
Alban remained as intellectual and calm a young man as ever. Even regarding
his being taken into custody, he himself declared it a matter of course, as he had
At his commendable behavior, even Earl Downing―who was the forefront in
had been sympathetic towards Alban from the start, of course, didn't wish for a
In the end, Alban was stripped of his status, and under Earl Downing's
Westhall.
get married. His personal needs were to be tended to by fairies, due to the
worse might cause his lineage to linger. With William's generation, the Alban
But Alban seemed to spend his days peacefully, living without having to pander
The fairy sugar-sculpture he had specially made was placed in his room. He was
While even having troops dispatched, it was a generous treatment, said to be
saying, "Duke Philax obtained a wondrous sugar-sculpture, and thanks to that,
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale Vol. 2 - Ginzatoushi to Ao no Koushaku.
talked about as well.
"Hello, auntie!"
Lewiston, the eyes of the Landlady, who was serving food to the guests,
"Little Miss, is it?! You sure did it!"
running over. She hugged Ann tightly to her chest.
"There are rumors going around. That a sugar-sculpture to Duke Philax's liking
the name of the craftsman that made that sugar-sculpture is Ann Halford!"
Ann was surprised. It seemed the rumors reached Lewiston faster than she did.
ridding herself of her fatigue, she once again returned to Lewiston.
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale Vol. 2 - Ginzatoushi to Ao no Koushaku.
she received from Alban.
she wanted to choose a cheap and safe place that suited her standing.
The Landlady released Ann, and smiled at Shall and Mythrill who were behind
"Glad to see the two of you, too."
taken an interest in Ann's direction.
rumored sugar-craftsman. You sure are young. How much do you charge?"
"Huh, that's relatively moderate. I'm going to have a child soon. Maybe I should
"Eh, by all means!"
"You should probably give up on having a sugar-sculpture made by her."
As soon as Jonas's gaze met with Ann's, he quickly looked away.
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale Vol. 2 - Ginzatoushi to Ao no Koushaku.
Implored by his companion for assent, with an unfixed gaze, Jonas retorted in a
"What's with that? You're being unclear. Though, as for Jonas here, we all saw
"But, even if you got Duke Philax's liking that way and made a sugar-sculpture,
said a woman sitting at the counter, who seemed to be a merchant house's
"That's right. The sugar-sculpture this child made for Duke Philax granted him
the sugar-sculpture's power, isn't it?" concurred the Landlady.
right?"
fidgeting more and more.
of you, enough of this unsightly behavior. You'll damage the name of the
Displeased, they glared at him. But once the young man stood up and looked in
"Keith… You. Why, in such a place…" murmured Jonas.
The one they called Keith slowly surveyed Jonas and them.
immediately. I don't want you to cause any more embarrassment."
at which the other jokingly placed an index finger to his lips and sounded a
However, those eyes were not laughing.
The youths fell silent at the quiet intimidation. After exchanging glances, they
"Alright. If Keith says so, we'll leave."
The youths came walking in Ann's direction, and while making sure not to look
that time as well, as soon as their eyes met, he quickly looked away and left.
leaving.
called out to the Landlady, "Sorry for making a fuss. I'll be fleeing as well."
He had bright brown hair, and purplish dark-blue eyes; prudent-looking,
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale Vol. 2 - Ginzatoushi to Ao no Koushaku.
"Eh, no, it didn't bother me."
Ann tilted her head while seeing off his back.
Full of smiles, the Landlady placed a hand on Ann's shoulder while Ann was
"Now, once again, welcome. Here for lodging? Or perhaps food?"
"Both. Lodging and food."
the best seat."
down. Despite being unable to feel the cold himself, his concern in picking a
Speaking of, the Weather Vane Landlady's concern towards the fairies made
"Glad to see you." As the owner, she welcomed the fairies. Meaning, in this
everyone. By doing so, she made that known to the other guests, and if one had
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale Vol. 2 - Ginzatoushi to Ao no Koushaku.
lots of sugar and a lemon squeeze. It's a staple of winter, so I absolutely gotta
Mythrill rushed to take a sit and excitedly looked up at the blackboard on the
"Let's go, too, Shall. I'm also hungry. For now, I want the Weather Vane's
chicken grilled with salt herbs. And maybe some dessert, too."
amazement, "You plan on eating that much?"
"No matter how much a scarecrow eats, it probably won't get much bigger.
"Again with the scarecrow… Ah… But…”
Shall. During the past few days, she'd been meaning to ask about something she
Noticing her gaze, Shall, who'd taken a seat, furrowed his eyebrows.
"Hey, Shall. Though it was the same just now, too, only these past three days,
Being called by name made her very happy, but she felt a sense of discomfort.
Why Shall suddenly felt like calling her by name was so strange she couldn't
"You said it makes you happy, didn't you? So I intend to make an effort."
out of spite to purposely bully me!? Though you casually called me scarecrow
Shall showed a complex expression.
"So it wasn't spite…"
Flowing from the kitchen were the aromas of bean soup, warmed wine, and
made one feel relieved. Mythrill ecstatically sniffed at the smell of the cooking.
his gaze, and let out a chuckle.
She was happy he was there before her eyes, happy he was smiling.
felt any strange nervousness. Shall was there―that was enough. Mythrill was
naturally.
"Now, what'll it be!?" The Landlady called out from beyond the counter in an
For the time being, the three of them were happy.
Hello, everyone. I'm Mikawa Miri.
At the end of the previous work "The Silver-Sugar Master and the Black Fairy",
But, in writing the sequel, I suddenly recovered myself.
any possessions. Yet she has to support two fairies. How harsh for a 15 year
Awawawawa. This is bad!
somehow survived to that point. But cheating like that shouldn't be allowed. I
That said, this story takes place almost two months after the end of the previous
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale Vol. 2 - Ginzatoushi to Ao no Koushaku.
this book should be released. It takes place three days after the end of the
the cape she's wearing makes an appearance. A small Mythrill-sized fairy also
color pin up of Shall. It's extravagant. It's miraculous. So please buy it.
grateful for their always bright and comfortable contact. Please continue to take
And Aki-Sama. The Ann Aki-Sama draws makes my chest tighten and Shall
very much. I feel incredibly fortunate to have your art.
me really happy. So, I wish from the bottom of my heart that you could enjoy
It's because of the readers that I could write a sequel. I'm very deeply grateful
Well then, I'll be happy to see you again.
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale Vol. 2 - Ginzatoushi to Ao no Koushaku.
*The original text here really sounds like he's describing a bunny or something...