The Freed Slaves Are Obsessed

Once upon a time—

There was a time when the world was covered in snow, yet flowers still bloomed, refusing to forget their petals. At the northernmost edge of that world stood the Kingdom of Frisean.

A winter kingdom, its rooftops blanketed in white snow and its rivers clear as ice. At night, the northern lights painted the skies with vibrant colors.

The cold made survival difficult, but it also strengthened the bonds between people.

The people of Frisean united against the chill. From small villages to towering castles, commoners and nobles alike supported one another.

Every morning, children ran through snow-covered streets, filling the air with laughter, while adults exchanged warm conversations as they watched.

By evening, the soft glow of crimson lights seeped from each home, gently illuminating the streets, and the aroma of fragrant soup drifted throughout the city.

If someone shivered in the cold without shelter, the people would offer them a place to stay, sharing warmth without hesitation.

Even when snow quietly fell during the deep hours of the night, no one paid it any mind. Their hearts remained warm, even against the bitter winter.

It was a land like something out of a fairy tale—cold and lonely, yet holding a faint warmth within.

The people of Frisean were indeed generous and kind, but this harmony was possible because they were guided by caring leaders.

King Edreon and Queen Rasia.

They were nothing like rulers who simply sat on thrones issuing orders.

The king cared for his people like a father, and the queen embraced them like a mother whenever they suffered.

To the citizens, they were symbols of hope and courage—parents to an entire kingdom.

And here—

There was a young princess.

Beautiful.

Adorable.

“And unbelievably lovely. The most beautiful in the world.”

“...What?”

Karami was telling Ashies the story of the music box.

But because Ferca had complained about Ashies being the only one to hear it, they all ended up gathered in the living room.

Karami’s tone briefly rose as he became engrossed in the tale, prompting Ferca to let out a reflexive sound of confusion at the sudden shift.

Torvar and Ashies also blinked silently, seemingly sharing the same thought.

Awkwardly clearing his throat, Karami tried again.

“Ah. Sorry. I got a bit carried away. Ahem. Let’s continue.”

A princess sculpted from snow and cradling the winter in her heart.

She had little expression and spoke few words, yet her mere presence was enough to bring smiles to everyone’s faces.

It was said that when the princess grew older, she would become the most beautiful woman in the world.

And any man who wished to take her hand would need the unanimous approval of the entire kingdom.

Even as a baby, the princess was extraordinary.

She was the treasure of the kingdom, raised not just by her parents but by all its people.

But despite their adoration, the people had one great concern.

“The princess never smiles.”

“Exactly. She’d be even more beautiful if she smiled.”

“That’s not all. My daughter works in the palace, and she says she’s never even heard the princess’s voice.”

The princess lacked emotion.

No one had ever heard her voice.

Even when her wet nurses and maids shook toys and desperately tried to coax her into speaking, the princess never opened her mouth.

Not a single word—

Not even a cry.

Worried, some feared she might be ill, but—

“She is perfectly healthy. She simply chooses not to speak,” said the royal physician.

And so, the people’s worries only deepened.

Rumors even spread that the princess might not be human but a lifelike doll.

Each time, the king could only sigh deeply.

Should he force her to cry?

But how could he?

To the king, she was more precious than anything. His beloved daughter, who could do no wrong.

All he could do was sigh.

Then the queen spoke.

“Enough with the sighing. The princess can hear you.”

“But, my queen, the princess is already four years old this year. She hasn’t spoken a single word—not even ‘Father.’ Are you not worried?”

“Why should I worry? Perhaps she simply hasn’t had anything she wants to say yet. If we wait, she’ll surely speak when the time is right. Don’t be so impatient.”

“...Sometimes, I think you’re too optimistic.”

“Optimism is a good thing. Isn’t that right, my princess?”

The princess gave no response.

Her expression revealed nothing of her thoughts.

Instead, her drooping eyelids fought against drowsiness, her small head nodding as sleep threatened to take her.

It seemed as though she might drift off into a dream at any moment.

The queen let out a soft sigh of exasperation.

“My goodness. You napped earlier, and you’re already sleepy again. How many hours do you sleep each day?”

“They say beautiful women are sleepyheads. It wouldn’t be strange for a princess to sleep all day.”

“If anyone’s too optimistic, it’s you, Your Majesty.”

“Ahem. When you have such a lovely daughter, it’s only natural.”

The queen laughed softly, as if she had long grown used to her husband’s doting nature.

Cradling the princess in her arms, the queen gently patted her back and began singing a lullaby.

Snowflakes fall to wrap you in their arms.

Moonlight drifts down to hold you close.

Follow the starlight to sweet dreams.

Rest peacefully, surrounded by love.

Sleep well, my darling.

My precious little one.

You are the most beautiful snowflake in this world—

The flower of love blooming in winter.

By the time the gentle lullaby came to an end, the princess had already drifted into sleep, resting peacefully in the queen’s arms.

Seeing her so detached from the world, the king gave a bitter smile.

He marveled at how easily she could fall asleep, though part of him couldn’t help but worry.

“The princess is growing up. Shouldn’t we start teaching her to sleep alone? We can’t put her to bed forever.”

“I agree, but the princess refuses to sleep without a lullaby...”

Despite loving sleep, the princess would stubbornly stay awake until someone sang to her. Just imagining it made the king sigh in exhaustion.

How could they get the princess to sleep without the queen?

It didn’t take long for an idea to strike him.

“What if we make something that plays songs? With that, the princess should be able to sleep on her own.”

“That’s an excellent idea. And when the day comes that she no longer needs lullabies, it will remain as a keepsake filled with memories.”

Both the king and queen agreed.

It would make a perfect gift for their daughter.

*****

Ding... Ding-ding...

A soft melody filled the room.

The winding gears of the music box turned, and the snowflake ornament atop it [N O V E L I G H T] began to spin.

Droplets, clear as crystal, fell one by one.

Tears—

Streaming down the face of a doll.

Though it still had no emotions or memories, the doll wept endlessly.

The tears, warm against its pale, snow-like cheeks, pierced its heart like thorns.

The feeling was sadness.

We left Ashies alone.

Ferca, who had been all smiles, expecting a fun story, sniffled and wiped her nose.

Despite her usual tomboyish behavior, Ferca was still a sensitive woman.

It seemed Ashies’ tears had stirred her emotions as well.

Torvar, on the other hand, was more rational than emotional. Yet even he must have found it striking to see someone as expressionless as Ashies shedding tears.

He sat in deep thought for a moment before speaking.

“That fairy tale just now. Did you make it up?”

“No.”

“...”

“No, seriously. I didn’t.”

Why was he looking at me like that?

So much suspicion.

What did I even do wrong?

“What’s bothering you?”

“The story... It sounds like it’s about her. Don’t tell me it’s actually the princess’s story?”

“What? Could it be? Is Ashies really the princess from the story? Was the fairy tale about her?”

“Well... I don’t know the details. I just told her the story of the music box. I never expected her to cry.”

Music has a way of pulling out deeply buried memories, even ones from childhood.

Even when the lyrics are forgotten, the melody lingers and makes you hum unconsciously.

The music box, containing Queen Rasia’s lullaby, was a key that unlocked Ashies’ emotions in countless ways.

Nostalgia has a way of stirring both memory and emotion.

I had hoped it might trigger something in her, but I hadn’t expected tears. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Still, it produced better results than I anticipated.

But this wasn’t the end.

If you plunge someone into cold water, you have to warm them up afterward.

I had stirred feelings of sadness—

Now it was time to evoke the opposite.

The miracle of winter that melts even the coldest hearts—

Christmas was coming.