To the Northern Ice Palace (4): Seol's Penguin Hell: From Kidnapped to Crown Princess?!
Hi hi! Seol, come here!
Kyaaa… (Yeah…)
This little guy’s eyes lit up the moment he spotted me in his dad’s arms. He looked at me like a kid who’d just discovered a shiny new toy, flashing a bright, innocent smile before grabbing my body and dragging me toward his room.
Wait… is he really taking me?
I felt a sudden bad premonition, but it was already too late.
His small hands were gripping me with surprising strength. As a penguin, there was nothing I could do to shake him off.
Kyaaa! Kyaaaa! (Wait! I haven’t even adapted here yet!)
Of course, my cries just sounded like normal penguin squawks to the humans.
My wings flapped uselessly, and my feet could only scrape the floor as I was dragged along.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Bump bump bump bump bump!
I learned today that penguins can move this fast. I’d only ever walked slowly on the ice before, but now I was desperately pumping my legs to avoid being taken.
Why did I have to figure out my movement ability right in this situation? I should’ve noticed it when a polar bear was chasing me.
But no matter how hard I moved, the little hand refused to let go.
A short while later, the kid shouted proudly as he opened a door, “This is my room!”
Heh heh… save me…
I was practically at my limit, and the moment I stepped inside, a bone-chilling cold hit me. The room was decorated in pure white ice crystals, with a white silk quilt neatly laid out and little dolls lined up in a row.
“How is it? Isn’t it pretty?”
The kid watched my reaction with sparkling eyes.
I looked around the room and thought bitterly, The room is disgustingly pretty… and I’m about to die here.
Ugh… I’m going to die…
I can’t even toboggan because he won’t let go!
I’d normally move however I wanted, but now I was completely powerless.
I tried to catch my breath, but the kid seemed oblivious. “What are you doing? Let’s play!”
Kyaaa… (I don’t even have the energy left to play…)
But he ignored my tiny wail and scooped me up, shaking me left and right.
“Look! Seol’s so cute, right?”
No way… I feel dizzy and sick to my stomach.
The sight of me dangling and being shaken in his small hands was pitiful, even to me.
Kyaaaa! (Save me!)
I yelled for help, hoping someone would hear.
“Wah! Seol’s voice is loud!”
The kid took my desperate cries as excitement. “Do it again!”
…
I was speechless for a moment.
I’m literally screaming for help here… and he’s treating it like a performance.
In the end, I collapsed onto the floor, chest heaving and legs giving out.
Damn it… I should’ve never come here.
I’d regretted meeting humans for the first time, but now I felt like I was just a new toy instead of a guest.
Just as I gave up and lay there quietly,
“Seol’s sleeping?”
The kid tilted his head, poked my cheek, and asked, “Really sleeping?”
“Seol?”
Kyaaa…
“Not sick, right?”
His playful expression turned slightly worried, but I could only roll my eyes without answering.
“Sleeping on the floor would be cold…”
The kid looked genuinely concerned.
Please… let me go…
Whether he understood or not, the child smiled brightly again.
Then, “Arin, you can sleep here too!”
Eh?
I felt a sudden dread, and the kid dragged a blanket down from the bed.
“We’ll sleep together!”
Wait… something’s wrong.
Kyaaa? (Is this…)
Then—
Thud.
Oof!
A heavy blanket landed on top of me, plunging me into darkness.
No… wait, this isn’t sleeping! It’s being crushed!
I didn’t know how much stuffing was in it, but the weight was suffocating.
Kyaaa… kyaaaa! (Save me!)
I somehow wriggled free and leaped out, but—
Pu shoo.
“Waaah?”
The kid blinked in surprise. “Why did Seol leave?”
He reached out again. “Come back!”
No way.
Absolutely not.
I’ll die here.
My instincts screamed RUN!!!!!
I dodged his hands and started tobogganing, but—
“Seol!”
The kid called from behind. “If you want tag, don’t make noise!”
He’s… he’s not normal.
I shook my head and kept going.
Will the kid even catch me?
I figured he wouldn’t.
A seven-year-old girl’s average running speed is about 8 to 11 km/h.
But my peak speed had always been over 50 km/h. I’d calculated that based on how far I’d outrun the polar bear earlier.
The moment I thought that—
“Seol! Come back!!!”
Eh?
I looked to the side, and the kid was right there beside me. “Got you!”
Kyaaa? (How did you do that?)
I was caught instantly.
Wait… I clearly calculated he couldn’t catch me.
The kid hugged me tightly and said, “You can’t run away! Seol is my friend!”
That’s why it’s even scarier.
I despaired, thinking I was being dragged back to the room again, when—
“Arin, stop bullying Seol.”
His dad appeared and stopped him.
“Aw~ Seol keeps running away…”
Arin immediately tried to excuse himself, but his dad just laughed lightly and shook his head. “Maybe Seol just wanted to rest.”
…?
Arin’s eyes widened as he looked down at me in his arms.
I took the chance and made the most pitiful puppy-dog face I could.
Come on! Understand! I’m not a toy! I’m a living being!
Whether my penguin face conveyed it well enough, I don’t know, but it seemed to work.
“Look, your breathing’s so ragged.”
“Ah…”
Arin finally examined my small body closely. His happy smile from moments ago instantly vanished. “Seol, are you okay?”
Kyaaa… (Yeah… I’m really scared…)
This time I cried even smaller, hoping it would get through. Arin carefully set me on the floor.
“Sorry…”
Eh?
It was an unexpected apology.
Honestly, I’d expected Arin to lunge at me again, but—
“I just like Seol…”
Arin gently patted my head with one finger. “It’s my first time making a new friend.”
His words made me pause.
…Friend?
From the moment I met him, I’d seen him only as a nuisance.
Pulling, shaking, covering with blankets, wanting to sleep together.
From my perspective, he was almost a disaster.
But now, it didn’t seem like he was trying to hurt me at all. He just didn’t know how to express his feelings.
Haa…
I let out a small sigh.
Whether my penguin sigh came through was another question.
Then—
“Arin.”
His dad said quietly. “You don’t keep friends by grabbing them. If you want to be with someone, they have to feel comfortable.”
Arin thought for a moment, then nodded. “So if Seol feels good, can we play together?”
…
I looked at him. The same kid who’d kidnapped me was now waiting for my answer.
I slowly walked forward and—
Tap.
Lightly touched my beak to the back of his hand. “Kyaaa.”
“Eh?”
“Seol’s greeting.”
Arin’s face brightened again. “Really?”
I thought to myself, Not bad at all.
I’d started regretting coming here, but after five years without human warmth, it was hard to push away.
I guess it’s fine to stay with them for a little while.
The moment I thought that—
“Then let’s play carefully this time!”
Arin suddenly raised both hands. “I have to prepare some games with Seol!”
Kyaaa?
Oh no… that ominous feeling again.
“Doll play!”
“Bath time!”
“Dress-up!”
Kyaaaaak!
I instinctively backed away.
Wait… did I open my heart too fast?
But it was too late.
Arin smiled brightly. “Don’t worry! This time Seol won’t get tired!”
I was about to relax… but suddenly Arin held up a tiny crown.
“From today, Seol is the princess of our house!”
……
The room fell silent.
I slowly turned to look at him. He was trying hard not to laugh and turning his head away.
Please help me… I beg you.
But—
“Arin.”
His dad said. “The crown should be light, okay?”
“Yes!”
At that moment, I realized everything.
So that’s it? Just a moment ago he was calling me a benefactor, but with his daughter he’s weak?
I’ll get revenge! ! ! ! ! ! !
Of course, thinking that wouldn’t change my situation.
“Seol, let’s go!!!!”
Arin grabbed my hand and ran toward the room.
Saaaaave me!!!!