To the Northern Ice Palace (3): The Grand Arrival at the North Sea Ice Palace
My words carried a note of satisfaction as we drew near our destination.
"There! The time has come for us to arrive... Look ahead, that grand fortress you see over there—that is the North Sea Ice Palace."
At his words, I lifted my head to gaze forward, and in that instant, a small exclamation escaped my beak.
"Gag... (Wow...)"
Far in the distance, across the vast expanse of pristine white snow, the colossal fortress stood revealed.
Its unending Chinese-style walls stretched like the majestic form of a legendary dragon, while towering guard towers and battlements pierced the sky at regular intervals.
'So that is... the North Sea Ice Palace.'
I could not tear my eyes away from the sight for a long while, and to be honest, a faint unease stirred within me.
'With this appearance... will I truly be acceptable?'
I carefully examined my own form.
I was nothing like the adorable baby emperor penguin that might elicit a cute response, and with eyes nearly matching the count of four, I could easily instill a sense of intimidation in anyone who first beheld me.
Moreover, should the fact that I wielded martial arts—something far removed from the capabilities of a mere bird—become known...
'There will undoubtedly be those who find me terrifying...'
As I immersed myself in these anxious thoughts, he opened his mouth once more, his tone quiet yet steady.
"Are you feeling anxious?"
I jolted slightly at the question and met his gaze, only to find him still wearing that relaxed smile.
"Do not worry, friend. You have saved both myself and my father, so no one at our Ice Palace will treat you with anything less than the utmost respect."
His voice brimmed with conviction, yet...
'Still...'
Before I could shake off the lingering uncertainty, the carriage drew to a halt right before the grand gates of the North Sea Ice Palace.
In that very moment.
Bwaaaa—!
A resounding horn blast echoed across the snow-covered earth.
Startled by the sudden sound, I shrank back, and figures immediately appeared atop the gates and in the surrounding areas.
"His Highness the Palace Lord has returned!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
At the vast entrance, the warriors and attendants of the Ice Palace lined up in perfect formation, each bowing deeply toward a single figure.
He, in turn, let out a long, weary sigh the instant he saw the scene.
"Ha... I told you so many times not to do this..."
He pressed a hand to his forehead and shook his head. Yet it was already too late.
The carriage slowed to a gentle crawl.
Hiiiiing!
The horses whinnied and came to a stop directly in front of the gates.
First, he carefully transferred me to his side, then dismounted himself.
At once, the waiting elderly servants hurried forward.
"We offer our heartfelt congratulations on your safe return, Your Highness!"
"Yes... I have returned."
Amid this, one elderly servant spotted me and tilted his head in confusion.
"However... Your Highness, what in the world is this strangely shaped creature?"
At once, every eye in the vicinity locked onto me, and I instinctively shrank.
'Just as I feared... I do look strange...'
While I fretted, he spoke without the slightest hesitation.
"Haha. Do not treat him casually... he is our benefactor of the North Sea Ice Palace."
The surrounding atmosphere fell deathly silent.
"...This creature is speaking?"
The servant's eyes widened, yet he nodded firmly.
"Yes."
Then, turning to me, he continued.
"Therefore, treat him with the utmost care."
"Ah... yes, understood."
The servant bowed his head at once, though his expression still betrayed clear bewilderment.
Watching him, I felt utterly bewildered.
'He called me his benefactor... am I truly all right?'
He waved a wing at me.
"You, then, shall come inside with me."
I hesitated only a moment before replying.
"Gag... (Y-yes?)"
A strange feeling washed over me, yet I decided to trust his words and followed him into the North Sea Ice Palace.
Plop.
Plop.
Plop.
The soft patter of tiny feet on snow echoed quietly...
'It's slow.'
My steps were far too sluggish. I could barely take a handful of paces at the grand gates without it feeling like an eternity, let alone tour the vast palace.
Eventually, he glanced at me, chuckled, and said,
"You still seem unaccustomed to it."
Then, without further ado, he lifted me into his arms.
"Gag?! (Eh?)"
In an instant I found myself cradled against his chest, utterly flustered. Yet I had no way to protest.
Thus, I remained there as we entered the palace interior.
Compared to the exterior walls, the interior was even more colossal.
Even the modest-looking family residences boasted walls of pure white snow and roofs painted a vibrant blue, creating an unexpectedly charming sight.
'It feels less like a martial arts novel and more like stepping into a fantasy realm.'
I peered around from within his embrace.
Countless eyes fixed upon me, filling me with a measure of unease.
Of course, no hostility lurked in them—rather, curiosity and wonder mingled in every gaze.
"That must be the creature who saved His Highness."
"It looks like a bird... could it be a spirit beast?"
"But look at those eyes. It's no ordinary creature."
Soft murmurs reached my ears, and once more I shrank.
'Being stared at is still something I'm not used to...'
Then.
"Palace Lord."
A woman's voice rang out from ahead.
I looked up to see a woman clad in white martial robes standing there.
'My... wife?'
At first I thought the word fit, but the idea soon faded.
She was a beautiful woman with a cold demeanor, yet her eyes held a profound reverence for the Palace Lord.
"Bing Yeong."
He greeted her warmly.
"Nothing happened in my absence, I trust?"
"I have several matters to report, but..."
She paused, then glanced at me.
"First, I wish to ask about this creature."
I tensed at once.
'Just as I feared...'
Yet she lowered her head.
"Since Your Highness has called him his benefactor, I shall treat him as such."
Her words surprised me.
'She's accepting it faster than I expected?'
She addressed the Palace Lord once more.
"However, there is one thing I must verify."
"What is it?"
"Truly... is this child the one who saved Your Highness and Lady White Snow?"
The mood in the air shifted ever so slightly.
I watched her quietly.
His expression remained relaxed, yet his voice carried a touch more seriousness.
"Yes."
A short reply.
Yet within it lay unmistakable certainty.
"I witnessed it myself."
He looked at me and said,
"The being who rescued me in my hour of death and recovered my father's body."
The people around us held their breath.
"Since Your Highness himself has acknowledged him..."
"Then there is no reason to doubt it."
With that affirmation, the atmosphere began to change.
Initially it had been one of wary curiosity toward a strange creature; now it viewed me as an honored guest.
In that instant.
Grrrl.
A tiny rumble echoed through the quiet space.
I froze.
'......'
It was my belly.
The surrounding eyes turned back to me.
'Oh no...'
Humiliated, I lowered my head, only for him to stare at me a moment before bursting into laughter.
"Hahaha."
"Gag... (Don't laugh...)"
"You ate fish like that earlier, yet your stomach is still empty?!"
He immediately turned to the people around him.
"From today onward, prepare a place for this child to stay."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"And..."
He paused thoughtfully, then added,
"Also prepare food."
One servant asked cautiously,
"What kind of food should we prepare?"
He looked at me and said,
"Prepare fish—raw is best."
"Yes... as you wish."
He issued orders to the servants he presumed were his attendants,
"Then... we shall proceed."
And they began walking toward some destination.
***
After a short while, approximately ten minutes of walking, a massive palace came into view.
"This is the White Snow Palace, where the successive lords and their families of the North Sea Ice Palace have resided for generations."
'Wow... it's even whiter here...'
The building he had introduced was whiter still than those I had seen earlier.
"Come, I shall introduce you to my family."
He pushed the door open slowly, and the enormous gates of the White Snow Palace creaked open.
Squeeeak—!
We entered, and although the exterior appeared cold and silent like a palace built of ice, the interior proved far warmer than expected.
Intricate snow scenes adorned the walls, and ornate lanterns cast a gentle, warm glow throughout.
'Outside it's a complete ice palace... yet inside it's so warm.'
I looked around from his arms.
Then.
"Husband."
A clear, calm voice reached my ears.
I looked up to find a woman standing there.
For a moment I simply stared at her in daze.
'......'
She was beautiful.
That was the first thought that crossed my mind.
Her snow-white hair shimmered like the snow of the North Sea, and her blue eyes resembled frozen lakes.
She possessed an aura of cold beauty, yet within her gaze lay a warmth that had waited through long years.
She smiled softly at him.
"It is good that you have returned safely."
He gazed at her with a gentle smile.
"You have worried."
"Of course."
She furrowed her brows slightly.
"You departed without a word for such a long time. How could I not worry?"
He cleared his throat, looking a little embarrassed.
"Haha... sorry."
It was nothing like the imposing figure he presented as the lord of the North Sea Ice Palace.
Watching him, I felt a flicker of surprise.
'Even he is ordinary in front of family.'
Then.
"Father!"
Another voice called out.
Accompanied by the patter of small footsteps, a child came running.
Snow-white hair.
Bright blue eyes.
A young girl whose features matched her mother's exactly.
Around six years old, the moment she saw him she beamed with joy.
"Father!"
He knelt at once and lifted her into his arms.
"Our daughter, have you been well?"
"Yes!"
The girl answered with a radiant smile.
Then.
She noticed my presence.
"Eh?"
The child's gaze fixed on me.
I tensed instantly.
'Children are said to be honest...'
The girl stared at me intently.
"Father, what is that?"
He lifted me carefully toward her and said,
"I will introduce you."
A short time later.
"This child is named Seol."
"Seol?"
'Seol? Is that... my name?'
I stared at the one who had arbitrarily given me that name.
"Yes. The benefactor who saved my life."
He continued without a glance at my look of shock.
The girl's eyes widened.
"Really?"
"Yes."
She approached me with wonder in her eyes.
I instinctively shrank a little, but the child showed no fear at all.
Instead, she sat carefully in front of me and began to examine me closely.
"Hmm..."
After a long moment of thought, she said,
"You are cute."
"Gag? (...What?)"
I was stunned.
'Cute?'
The girl tilted her head, studying my face in detail.
"Your eyes are a little scary..."
My heart dropped.
Yet.
"Still, you are cool."
I stared at the child in a daze.
At that moment, the woman approached.
She looked at me, then slowly knelt.
And spoke quietly.
"I heard you saved my husband."
I met her blue eyes.
They were calm and beautiful.
Yet within them lay genuine affection.
"Thank you."
I could not speak for a moment.
"Gag..."
Only a soft sound escaped.
She smiled.
"What a good child."
Her words made me turn my head away awkwardly.
'It is strange.'
When I first entered the North Sea Ice Palace, I had worried that people might fear me.
But... here, no one viewed me as strange.
In that moment of tentative relief,
"Daddy, where does Seol live?"
The girl asked.
"Hmm... where should I live?"
"If you're settled, can't you let me live with you?"
"Gag (Huh?)"
As I stood there flustered,
"Hmm... if our daughter wants that, then yes."
"Waa!!!!"
'...Really?'
My opinion matters!!!!
In this way... the moment I entered the Ice Palace... I became a plaything of that girl.