LIGHTNOVELSTORY Ch84-6 - (Bonus Short Story) Sakura Festival and the Land of Snow - The Day, Part 3
(Bonus Short Story) Sakura Festival and the Land of Snow – The Day, Part 3
By noon, the sight of snowmen had become familiar.
People of the town were leisurely enjoying the Sakura Festival in their own way. Meanwhile, children who were growing bored began to glance around, searching for something new and fun to do.
“Ah.”
“What?”
“That kid. Do you think he’s never played with us?”
“You’re right. Is there really a kid around here we don’t know?”
“Maybe he’s an immigrant? He might have been cooped up during the winter because of the cold.”
The children’s eyes were fixed on a small boy who seemed to be hiding in the background. His straight black hair, rare in this country, and sharp, narrow eyes gave him a unique appearance. His eyebrows were lowered in a troubled expression.
“Is he from the Green Kingdom…?”
“The snowman won’t leave him alone.”
The plump snowman was holding the boy’s hand, making silly faces, and even hugging him. The boy, who seemed to dislike the cold, was jumping in surprise.
“Pfft! No one from the Kingdom of Fellsnow reacts like that!”
“He’s funny. Should we talk to him?”
“Wasn’t there some incident with people from the Green Kingdom?”
“But he’s friends with a snowman made by Lord Fenrir, so it should be fine, right?”
Even so, the children hesitated. It was their first time interacting with a child from another country.
They rummaged through their pockets, gathering sweets, and placed them into a basket.
In the Kingdom of Fellsnow, it was customary to offer sweets as a gift when you wanted to make friends. The message behind it was, “I want to share sweet energy with you to help you get through the cold winter days.”
(With this, we’ll definitely become friends.) — The children worked up their courage.
Three blond-haired children ran over, their soft locks bouncing as they approached.
The black-haired boy flinched, ready to run away. However, the snowman wouldn’t let him go.
Caught in this awkward encounter, sweat started to form on his back. His parents had repeatedly warned him about the position of immigrants with green claws in this country. Determined to get the interaction over with quickly, he opened his mouth abruptly.
“W-What?”
“Hey!”
The three blond children held up their basket of sweets.
“Do you want to eat with us?”
“…No thanks. Haven’t you heard? You shouldn’t eat sweets from strangers. They might be poisoned.”
The black-haired boy’s sharp words made the three children feel as if their good intentions had been completely ruined.
“Huh!? We wouldn’t put poison in it!”
“Why would you say that!?”
“Eek…”
The startled boy shrank back. The snowman flailed around but couldn’t speak.
Just when it seemed like a fight was about to break out, a hand slipped between them.
The hand belonged to a child with gleaming platinum hair and snow-white skin, dressed in a blouse adorned with ornate decorations.
As the other children gawked, the platinum-haired child took a cookie out of the bag, elegantly bit into it, and smiled angelically while chewing.
“Delicious! So, you want to be friends with me too? Thank you! This sweet gift carries a message of energy to help you get through the cold winter.”
“…Huh? Really?”
“That’s right. As for you, young one from the Green Kingdom, your homeland’s medicinal sweets can be dangerous for children, so it’s said they shouldn’t eat them without adults present, correct?”
“What!? No way!”
“Cultural differences are so fascinating, aren’t they? I love moments when we can understand each other!”
Munching politely, the platinum-haired child pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped away the crumbs from their lips. Then, with a smile still in place, they pointed to the basket of sweets.
“Well, the taste test is done. Would you like to try one too?”
“…Is that okay?”
The black-haired boy glanced up at the three children.
When the wind tousled his bangs, his eyebrows drooped in such a sad way it was almost pitiful.
He must have been making the same expression earlier. His sharp eyes likely gave off a more intimidating impression than intended.
The three children sighed loudly as if trying to reset their emotions, then eagerly handed him their recommended sweets.
“Of course, you can have them! Go ahead.”
“We offered them to you, after all.”
“Th-Thanks…!”
“And besides, if a prince says it’s okay to share sweets, no one’s going to argue.”
“Wait, what!?”
With wide black eyes, the boy looked up at the cheerful Fourth Prince of Fellsnow, Jenice Lea Sielfon, who smiled warmly back at him.
That smile alone brightened the atmosphere.
Upon closer inspection, his outfit was perhaps a bit too elaborate, even for a festival. It was likely his royal outing attire—frilled blouse, light green vest, a golden belt, and finely crafted shoes.
“Wait, the prince is just walking around the city!? What if he gets kidnapped or assassinated!?”
“The Green Kingdom is way too scary…”
“In our kingdom, the prince or princess sometimes visits the town.”
“They also come to inspect the city, you know. Fellsnow is a great place.”
“That’s right! It’s a wonderful country. Though I still have a lot to learn, like where to find the best shops in the marketplace.”
Jenice’s sparkling, icicle-like eyes were fixed on the basket of sweets. It seemed the prince had quite the sweet tooth.
“Shall we go shopping in the marketplace?”
“Oh, sorry! Well, how about you, Green Kingdom boy, would you like to come with us?”
“Wha–What?”
“The snowman says we’re already friends, after all. Haha!”
Laughing cheerfully, Jenice grabbed the thin, trembling hand of the black-haired boy, still being held by the snowman.
With the lightened mood, the three blond children also began to walk alongside them.
“Wait! I haven’t eaten the sweets yet, so aren’t we not friends yet…!?”
“So precise. Eat while you walk.”
“The prince really said that!?”
“Our kingdom is the best~!”
The children ran off, their footsteps echoing.
In the square they passed, a red-haired youth danced vigorously, tapping his shoes in rhythm with the Autumn Kingdom’s music.
And as if to blanket all the noise and excitement, a flurry of sakura blossoms swept through the town.
A parade was about to begin.
A sunflower-haired girl, looking up too far into the sakura-colored sky, tripped and fell. The one who extended a hand to help her up was, once again, the platinum-haired angel.