Hansel’s Enchanted Fairytale: Fill Me Up With Magic! - Chapter 34
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It was a cold afternoon. The air carried the bitter scent of winter. Each breath briefly clouded her vision before vanishing, leaving behind a sharp chill to fill the void. It was the taste of winter.
Hansel stood in the middle of the yard, her expression distinctly sour.
“So… this is what the house looks like.”
Platinum sunlight bathed the colorful exterior of his house. Only now did Hansel truly understand why he was nicknamed the Witch of the Gingerbread House.
The dark brown wooden walls gleamed with the luster of caramelized canelé. The arched door, painted in alternating stripes of white, light pink, and pale blue, looked like a bent candy cane. The steep triangular roof was cream-colored, and the chimney was striped like a Christmas candy.
Even the fence encircling the yard was shaped like gingerbread figures holding hands.
“……”
Too much cuteness could easily transform into something terrifying.
Just imagining a full moon hovering above those gingerbread fences gave her chills. If she ever stumbled upon a house like this in the woods at night, she was sure she’d scream and run for her life.
It was overwhelmingly whimsical, to say the least. Especially when she considered that the person who had designed it was a tall young man, much larger than most ordinary men.
“What do you think?”
He approached her, his tone laced with pride. Hansel carefully selected her words, ensuring they wouldn’t hurt his feelings.
“It’s… really colorful. Like a seven-year-old might desi—”
“……”
“—gn it to be super cute! It’s so pretty!”
He nodded, seemingly satisfied. Hansel sighed in relief and began observing the house more closely. Not for the sake of its design, though.
She needed to figure out where she might find an escape route.
The house was modest in size—about three stories high and twice as wide. While a commoner might view it as a wealthy person’s home, Hansel’s own standards, shaped by living in a manor-like estate, made it look like a toy villa.
If it weren’t for the magic, escaping this place would be child’s play!
Hansel chewed on her frustration as she surveyed the yard and fence. Who knew when she’d get another chance to explore outside? Now was the time to take a closer look.
“Come here.”
“Why? Can’t I look around the house a bit more?”
“We’re going to the backyard.”
“The backyard? That’s great!”
It was a fortuitous suggestion. Hansel quickly followed him. Seeing her trail behind like a baby chick, he slowed his pace.
Hansel walked along the red-brick path laid out over the grass while he silently observed her, just as she was examining his house.
The yard was larger than she expected. Thanks to magic that maintained a warmer temperature, the flower beds were blooming with vibrant colors despite it being winter.
When they reached the backyard, Hansel gasped.
“Wow. Are those… sheep?”
Inside the gingerbread fence, a flock of sheep gathered. They looked like fluffy white clouds huddled together.
Hearing Hansel’s voice, a few sheep turned their heads toward her. Viewed head-on, their faces were like round cotton balls with three tiny black dots.
Until now, Hansel had only ever seen parts of sheep—wool, leather, and meat. To see the real animal in person was fascinating, albeit briefly.
But fascination soon gave way to focus. Hansel was too preoccupied with finding an escape route to remain mesmerized.
Her gaze darted over the sheep, narrowing as she considered her options. If she had to make a run for it, hiding among the sheep seemed better than dashing across an open yard.
“Go take a closer look.”
“Huh? Well… I want to, but, um…”
Hansel’s large eyes darted nervously. Should she explain or keep quiet? She didn’t want to risk revealing her escape plans, but her hesitation wasn’t purely about running away.
Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to be honest?
She glanced up at him tentatively.
“They look cute from far away, but up close… there are so many of them, it’s kind of scary.”
She bit her lip nervously.
Though their appearance suggested docility, sheep could be aggressive animals. Stubborn and unpredictable, they required a shepherd and a dog to keep them in line. If one decided to charge her, someone her size could get seriously hurt.
Would hiding among them really work during an escape attempt? What if they trampled her instead?
While Hansel wrestled with her thoughts, his lips twitched. He even bit his lower lip to stifle a laugh. If she had seen his expression, she might have been indignant at the suppressed hilarity.
He cleared his throat and, with a composed expression, said, “I’ll go with you.”
Hansel’s eyes sparkled with sudden hope.
“Oh? Okay then! I’ll go first, and you can follow me. Alright?”
She quickly headed toward the sheep. A few steps in, she reached back with her hand, gesturing for him to hurry. Instead of hearing his footsteps, she felt warmth envelop her palm.
He had taken her hand in his.
The rough calluses on his broad hand easily encompassed her slim fingers, enveloping them completely.
Hansel froze, her entire body stiffening in an instant. Her mind followed suit, grinding to a halt.
…Did he just hold my hand?
Out of nowhere?
