157 - The Freed S*aves Became Obsessed

In an era long past. The world was blanketed with snow, yet in that very snow, flowers did not forget to bloom. Nestled at the northernmost point was the kingdom of Frisian. A winter kingdom, its rooftops were cloaked in white, and transparent streams of ice flowed alongside it, while the aurora borealis painted the night sky. The cold made survival challenging, but in turn, it strengthened the unity among its people. The citizens banded together through the biting cold. From humble villages to grand fortresses, the people of the kingdom helped one another irrespective of class, from commoners to nobles. Every morning, the young children of the village would run through the snow-covered streets, their laughter ringing out, and the adults, watching them, would engage in harmonious chats. As dusk descended, the houses glowed with the soft amber light spilling out, and the aroma of fragrant soup enveloped the entire city. If someone shivered in the cold with nowhere to go, someone would inevitably guide them to shelter, sharing warmth without hesitation. Even as snow gently began to fall in the depths of the night, no one seemed to mind. For despite the frigid winter nights, the hearts of these people remained warm. A place, indeed cold and lonely, yet holding a faint warmth even within winter, reminiscent of a kingdom from a fairy tale. Although the people of Frisian knew how to share warmth, it was possible thanks to parents who cared for their children. King Eadrion and Queen Rasia. They were far from rulers who merely sat on the throne, issuing commands. Like a father, they watched over their subjects, and like a mother, they embraced them when times were tough. To the citizens, they were like parental figures, always instilling hope and courage. And there, there was a young princess. She was beautiful. Adorable. "And overwhelmingly lovely. The most in the world." "Pardon?" As Karami narrated the story of the music box to Ashies, a dispute over why only she was favored led to everyone gathering in the living room to listen together. Immersed in the moment, Karami's tone suddenly rose, and Perka let out a reflexive murmur of doubt, sensing the discord. Torval and Ashies also had similar reactions, blinking silently. Karami coughed awkwardly. "Ah. Apologies. I got a bit excited. Ahem, I'll continue." The princess, who brought love to the kingdom, shaped by snow and embodying winter. Though she was expressionless and not much of a speaker, her mere presence brought broad smiles to faces, much like a totem. The consensus was that as the princess grew, she would become the most beautiful woman in the world. Any suitor for her hand would need unanimous approval from all the subjects, they nodded in agreement. The princess, extraordinary from infancy. A treasure of the kingdom, raised by every citizen. But the subjects had one major concern. "The princess doesn't smile." "Indeed. If she smiled, she would be even more beautiful." "And that's not all. My daughter, who works in the palace, says she's never heard her voice." The princess had muted emotions. No one had heard her voice. Despite the attendants' desperate attempts to coax her voice with toys and playful enticements, the princess' lips remained tightly shut. She neither cried nor spoke, raising concerns of possible illness. "Her health is impeccable. She simply chooses not to speak." So said the royal physician, deepening the people's worries. Rumors circulated that she might be a doll, not a person, and every time such gossip arose, the king would heave a deep sigh. Should he make her cry by force? He couldn't bring himself to do it. If she was so lovely in the eyes of the subjects, how even more precious she must be to her father. A daughter he'd willingly bear in his eyes without a hint of pain. All he could manage was to heave sighs. Then, the queen spoke. "Do stop sighing. The princess might hear." "But Queen, the princess is four years old now. She hasn't even called me father. Aren't you worried?" "What's there to worry about? Perhaps she just hasn't anything to say yet. She'll voice her thoughts when she's ready; there's no need to rush." "…I sometimes think the queen is far too optimistic." "Optimism suits everyone. Doesn't the princess think so too?" The princess offered no response. Her expression was inscrutable, fighting a drowsiness that pressed down on her eyelids. As her head nodded, poised to drift into dreamland at any moment, the queen let out a sigh tinged with bemusement. "My, my. You've slept during the day and you're still sleepy. How many hours do you sleep in a day?" "They say beautiful women are sleepyheads. It's not surprising if the princess sleeps all day." "It seems both Your Majesty and I are equally optimistic." "Ahem, such a pretty daughter makes it inevitable." The queen let out a small laugh at the king's doting nature, no longer able to argue, as she cradled the princess in her arms. The normally composed princess behaved like any other child when sleepy, whimpering. Perhaps even more so. Yet, the queen was exceptionally adept at handling the princess. Holding the princess snugly, she began patting her back and singing a lullaby. Snowflakes are falling, to gently embrace you The moonlight softly comes, to cradle you Find your way to sweet dreams following the starlight Stay in love, and rest in peaceful slumber Sleep well, my darling Our beloved child You are the prettiest snowflake in the world A flower of love blooming within the winter The princess had already drifted into her dreams by the time the beautiful lullaby came to an end, resting securely in the queen's embrace. The king gave a wry smile as he observed her completely detached from the world's concerns. He marveled at how soundly she could sleep. It was indeed a pleasant sight in the moment, but it also prompted a bit of hidden worry. "The princess is growing up; perhaps it's time she learns to sleep on her own. We can't sing her to sleep forever, can we?" "True, but without a lullaby, she just refuses to sleep..." The princess, despite her love for slumber, would stubbornly hold out until a lullaby was sung to her. The king sighed deeply, contemplating this tiring quirk. How could they put her to sleep without the queen’s presence? The idea didn’t take long to formulate. An exclamation point popped up in his mind. "How about creating a device that plays a song? Then the princess could sleep on her own, don’t you think?" "That's a splendid idea. When the time comes that she can sleep without a lullaby, it will become a cherished memento." Both the king and the queen agreed. It would indeed be a wonderful gift for the princess. Ding~ Ding-a-ling~ A gentle melody flowed. The music box, wound up tight, unfurled its melody as the snowflake ornament atop it began to move. Transparent droplets pattered upon the top. Tears falling from the doll's eyes. Though the doll had neither emotions nor memories, it endlessly shed tears. The tears, tracing paths down cheeks as white as snow, were warm, and pierced the heart like a needle, revealing the emotion known as sadness. *** We left Ashies alone to give her some space. Perka, who had been all smiles at the thought of an interesting story, sniffled a bit. She might act like a soldier, but Perka is undoubtedly a sensitive woman in the end. Ashies’ tears seemed to have resonated with her emotions. Torval, on the other hand, was someone whose logic prevailed over emotions, yet even he found the sight of the usually stone-faced Ashies shedding tears quite striking. Yet, he seemed to delve deep in thought with a serious look in his eyes before eventually speaking. "That fairy tale just now... did you make it up?" "No, it's not mine." "……." "No, really, it's not." Why wouldn’t they believe me when I say it wasn't mine? Doubt all around. Why am I always under suspicion? "What is it?" "Your story sounds strikingly like that of the princess. Was it really the princess's story?" "Huh? Really? Was my sister truly the princess in that fairy tale?" "Well, I don't know the full details. I just shared the story from the music box, never expecting Ashies to cry in response." A melody has the power to uncover deeply buried memories, even if years have passed and it was from childhood, it inexplicably stirs one's emotion. You might not recall the words, yet find yourself inadvertently humming along. Hence, the music box containing the lullaby Queen Rasia sang to the young Ashies stimulated Ashies in multiple ways. Nostalgia naturally evokes both memories and emotions simultaneously. Thus, while I had hoped to stir Ashies's sensitivity, I hadn't anticipated tears. Nonetheless, it turned out to be a surprisingly favorable outcome. 'Though it's not over yet.' If you plunge into cold water, you must follow with warm water. Having evoked sadness, it's time to now introduce the opposite feeling. The winter miracle that melts a frozen heart. Christmas is coming. Operating hours for February 23rd (Sunday) have ended...ㅠㅡㅜ Argh!!!! My Sunday!!!!!! ᩍ꩓ +10 02.23 (Wasn't it already time for meals?) Special Alt Recs🥬🥬 02.23 Requesting "Records of Idle Struggle." (_ _) +4 02.23 ㅉㅈ Spelling corrections... +9 02.23 Oh...um... my AI boyfriend is dead;; +5 02.23 Keyword preferences +4 02.23 Jet-lagged rabbit 02.23 Planning to read "How the Possessor Becomes a King." +1 02.23 Things to post by 1 AM 02.23 Requesting "Absolute Regression" 02.23 Requesting "My Childhood Friend Became a Drug" "Enslaved Freed Ones Are Obsessed" Chapter 157 (158/218)