What’s the matter, Anne? You can’t sleep?

It’s all right. We all have those days.

Since you’re awake, why don’t you let Mama tell you a story? An old tale passed down in the Kingdom of Highland, a story about fairies.

That’s right, fairies. They’re people with delicate wings on their backs. We’ve seen them working for wealthy households, haven’t we?

Here, let’s get you wrapped up in your blanket. That’s right, good girl. All right now, I’ll start the story.

A long, long time ago, in the distant past, when humans didn’t even know how to use fire, there was a fairy kingdom here. The kingdom was ruled by a fairy monarch, and all the fairies lived in peace.

The fairies called their kingdom Highland. It means the land that stands at the very top, ruling over every living thing. Back then, the fairies enslaved humans, who were neither intelligent nor powerful.

Yes, it’s true.

Now humans keep fairies as servants, but in the old days, the opposite was true. The fairies controlled the humans.

Got it? I’m going to continue.

The fairies were peace-loving. They always sought out beauty and joy.

For hundreds of years, they lived quietly, without change.

But the humans were different. They changed, bit by bit.

The humans worked hard and learned how to use fire without the fairies noticing. They gained intelligence. Then at last, they became aware. They realized they didn’t have to work for the fairies.

That was five hundred years ago.

The humans staged a rebellion and took over Highland. They made the fairies their servants.

Hmm? Yes, you’re right.

The fairies of today are pitiful creatures. Some people say they are foolish beings who lost to humans because they lived lives of indolence. But I don’t think that’s true. There were fewer fairies than humans, and I think they simply lost in a contest of strength.

Why do I think that? Well, it’s said that fairies were the ones who discovered how to refine silver sugar from sugar apples. Fairies were the first in the world to make sugar candy.

They couldn’t have been fools if they created something so wonderful.

That’s why candy crafters like us mustn’t look down on fairies, even if we’re the only ones who don’t.

I think we ought to treat them as friends.

That goes for you, too, Anne. Anne? …Oh my, you fell asleep. What a good girl you are, Anne. Good night.

Sleep well, smile a lot, and grow up to be a kind girl, as sweet as sugar candy.

***

THE SCARECROW AND THE FAIRY

The sun rose over the horizon, and the morning rays shone brightly on Anne’s soft, pale cheek.

Sitting atop her wagon, Anne gripped the reins of her horse. A cool breeze blew softly past the hem of her cotton dress. The lace on her hem, simple but clean, fluttered slightly.

Anne took a deep breath and looked up at the sky.

The previous night’s rain had washed all the dust out of the air. The autumn sky was clear and blue.

Today, Anne was setting out on her journey. Still gripping the reins in both hands, she gazed ahead.

The road was muddy, with deep ruts from the wheels of countless wagons.

Anne would be heading down that road alone. Her slender frame was taut with fear and anticipation.

But she felt a faint sense of hope in her heart as well.

Just then, a voice called out from behind her, “Anne!! Wait, Anne!”

Behind Anne’s boxy, horse-drawn wagon was a cluster of simple stone houses that formed Knoxberry Village. This village in the northwest of the Kingdom of Highland had taken care of her for the past six months.

Ever since Anne was born, she had lived her life traveling from one place to another with her mother, Emma. Her time in Knoxberry Village was actually the longest she had ever spent in one place.

A tall, blond young man came running out of the village. He was Jonas, the only son of the Anders family, which ran the confectionery in Knoxberry.

“Wah, I knew it!”

Anne ducked her head and whipped the horse. As the wagon started rolling, she turned back and waved.

“Jonas! Thanks, take care!”

“Wait, please. Anne, wait! Do you hate me?!”

“That’s not why I’m leaving— Don’t worry about that—,” Anne answered loudly.

Catching his breath, Jonas shouted, “Well—well then, wait up!!”

“I’ve already made up my mind. Good-bye!”

The distance between them grew quickly. Jonas gradually slowed his pace and came to a stop. Still panting, he watched Anne in a daze.

Anne gave one last big wave, then turned forward again.

“Watch over me…Mama.”

In early spring of that year, Anne’s lively and cheerful mother, Emma, had fallen ill. They’d been passing through Knoxberry Village when it happened, and that was where they had stayed.

The people of the village were very kind to Anne and Emma, despite the fact that they were outsiders. They had offered to let the pair stay until Emma was well. Jonas and his family had lent a room free of charge to both mother and daughter during that time, perhaps out of camaraderie for fellow artisans.

However, Emma never recovered from her illness. She had passed away a few weeks prior.

“Find your own path in life and walk boldly down it, Anne. You can do anything. You’re such a good girl, Anne. Don’t cry.”

Those were Emma’s last words.

Then came the arrangements for the funeral and the formalities of a burial with the state church. While she was being hounded by such duties, Anne had let her sadness slide right off the surface of her heart. She’d grieved, but she hadn’t been able to cry out loud.

Emma was now resting in a corner of the Knoxberry Village Cemetery. Thinking about it filled Anne’s heart with a dismal feeling.

Half a month after her mother’s death, Anne had finally finished all her various tasks and decided to begin her journey.

Three nights earlier, she’d informed the members of the Anders family, who had been taking care of her, that she was leaving.

“Anne, there’s no way you can continue traveling on your own. Shouldn’t you stay here with us in the village? And…you might…become my bride?” Jonas had whispered, grabbing Anne’s hand after she’d announced her decision. He had pushed his soft, golden bangs out of his face, smiled, and looked at Anne with his sparkling eyes.

“I’ve always had feelings for you, Anne.”

For half a year, Anne had been sleeping under the same roof as Jonas, but they’d never really had an intimate conversation. She never expected someone like him to propose to her.

Jonas was handsome, and his blue eyes were especially lovely. They were like the luxurious glass orbs imported from the kingdom in the south.

Even though Jonas was basically a stranger, she felt bewildered when he looked at her with those eyes.

Anne wasn’t unhappy to have received his proposal. But she was determined to go.

She knew that Jonas might stop her if she went to say good-bye. That’s why she had tried to leave the village stealthily, in the early morning. Even so, he must have noticed. Jonas had come after her.

“Marriage…” The word left her mouth absentmindedly. Anne felt the concept had absolutely nothing to do with her.

Jonas attracted a lot of attention from the girls who lived in the village.

Of course, one reason for his popularity was the fact that his family ran a prosperous confectionery shop.

Despite living in a provincial town like Knoxberry, Jonas was a descendant of the founder of the Radcliffe Workshop, one of the largest factions of candy crafters.

Anne had heard that there was a possibility he might be chosen as the Radcliffe Workshop’s next maestro.

Before long, Jonas would probably be headed to the royal capital, Lewiston, for his training. That was the big rumor going around the village.

As the leader of a faction, if he was lucky, there was a possibility he could even become a Viscount.

To the daughters of a village in the countryside, Jonas must have seemed like a prince.

On the contrary, Anne was petite, despite being fifteen years old. She was skinny, with long arms and legs, and had fluffy hair the color of barley. Everywhere she went, she got teased for looking like a “scarecrow.”

As far as her estate was concerned, she owned one old, boxy wagon and one worn-out horse.

The wealthy blond prince had proposed marriage to the poor little scarecrow. It was like some sort of dream.

“Well, whatever. There’s no way that the prince is truly in love with a scarecrow like me,” Anne mumbled with a bitter smile, then she whipped the horse.

Jonas had always been a playboy. He was especially sweet to all the girls. Anne was certain the only reason a boy like him would ever propose to a girl like her was that he felt sorry for her circumstances.

Anne didn’t want to get married out of pity. The idea of marrying a prince and living happily ever after—like a princess in a fairy tale—didn’t seem like much of a life goal.

Anne didn’t hate Jonas. But the thought of living her life with him didn’t appeal to her.

She wanted to stand on her own two feet and carve her own path in the world. That was the kind of life she wanted to lead.

Anne’s father had been drafted to fight in a civil war not long after she was born, and he had died.

But Emma had raised Anne as a single mother and lived on.

She was able to do so because of her impressive skills as a Silver Sugar Master.

The Kingdom of Highland had many candy artisans, but Silver Sugar Masters, who were recognized by the crown as the best of the best, were rare.

Emma had become a Silver Sugar Master at the age of twenty.

Sweets made by ordinary candymakers couldn’t compare with those made by Silver Sugar Masters, which fetched a much higher price. But in the villages and towns out in the countryside, expensive candies didn’t sell very well.

In Lewiston, there was a much greater demand. However, famous Silver Sugar Masters flocked to the royal capital, so it was difficult to compete with them and come out on top.

Thus, Emma had chosen to travel throughout the kingdom, seeking out customers who needed her sugar candy.

Strong-willed with boundless cheerfulness, Emma had always loved traveling.

Traveling was hard and dangerous, but she’d earned her own living and forged her own path. It was fun.

It would be so great if I became a Silver Sugar Master just like Mama.

Anne had always vaguely felt that way. So when Emma died and Anne had to decide how she would live the rest of her life, the deep love and respect she had for her mother had sprouted in Anne’s heart as determination.

I will become a Silver Sugar Master.

But becoming a Silver Sugar Master was no ordinary feat. Anne knew that very well.

Every year in Lewiston, the royal family sponsors the Royal Candy Fair. In order to become a Silver Sugar Master, Anne would need to enter the fair and win the royal medal awarded to whoever earned first place.

Emma had entered the Royal Candy Fair when she was twenty and been awarded a royal medal. After that, she had been allowed to call herself a Silver Sugar Master.

Sugar candy is made using silver sugar refined from sugar apples. Such candy cannot be made from any other type of sugar. This is because no other sugar produces such beautiful results.

Silver sugar candies are used in all sorts of ceremonies, from weddings and funerals to coronations and coming-of-age celebrations.

It is even said that without the candy, no ceremony can begin.

Silver sugar invites joy and repels sorrow. Some say it holds the promise of sweet happiness, and it is considered a sacred food.

It is believed that in the age when Highland was still ruled by fairies, the fairies extended their life spans by consuming silver sugar candy.

Beautiful candy made with silver sugar contains a mysterious energy known as “essence.”

Of course, humans cannot extend their life spans, not even by consuming silver sugar or sugar candies.

But they are able to take in some of that mysterious energy.

In fact, when humans consume beautiful sugar candy, unexpected good fortune often works its way into their lives, and they become luckier.

This is something humans came to understand after several hundred years.

It is also why monarchs stipulated strict qualifications for Silver Sugar Masters.

The royalty and nobility want the most sacred and alluring sugar candy to bestow upon themselves numerous blessings and great happiness. Even at the great autumn festival held to pray for the tranquility of the kingdom, the way the candy turns out may determine the fortunes of the country.

As always, the annual Royal Candy Fair would be held in Lewiston at the end of autumn.

Anne intended to participate and compete for the title of Silver Sugar Master, which was granted to only one person each year.

She had heard, now that Emma had passed away, there were twenty-three Silver Sugar Masters in the kingdom.

It was not a title that could be easily won.

But Anne was confident. After all, she hadn’t spent fifteen years as an assistant to a Silver Sugar Master for nothing.