100. Family Gathering (2)
100. Family Gathering (2)
[Episode 100] - Family Gathering (2)
Currently, Titania was not in a very good mood. No, it wasn't just "not good"; it was unpleasant and annoying. After all, she had to call the person grinning at her right in front of her face "eonni."
To be honest, Titania really disliked Veronica. She couldn't explain it precisely because she hadn't been told the details, but Titania knew that Veronica was the same kind of person as she was.
That was exactly why she disliked Veronica even more. Seeing Veronica act with such hatred and loathing toward Mother felt like seeing herself hating Mother, and she didn't want to see that. After all, their faces were truly as identical as twins.
'If it were me, I would never treat Mother with such an attitude...'
Furthermore, she couldn't forgive the fact that when she was younger, Veronica had disguised herself as Princess Fiona and tried to sow discord between Mother and her every chance she got. What would have happened if she had actually fallen for that trickery?
She didn't even want to imagine it. That was why she was absolutely, positively not going to allow that person to interfere in the relationship between Mother and herself. No matter what Mother said, she had intended to kick that person out, but...
'Then, if I grant you a few of your wishes, will you trust me a little?'
The wishes that person had offered as compensation for her apology were just too tempting.
The offer to take over as her body double and help her sneak out of the royal castle was definitely a proposal that was hard to refuse. Even if the person who proposed it was the one who had tried to sow discord between Mother and herself.
Sneaking out of the royal castle and wandering around the streets or villages while hiding her identity was one of the things Titania had truly dreamed of doing. That was why she had insisted on going to the masquerade ball, no matter how much Mother opposed it.
Moreover, the masquerade ball she had barely managed to attend, despite Mother's opposition, was completely different from what she had imagined. Even though she wore a mask and a costume, there were already many people who recognized her.
Titania, who had expected that no one would recognize her as a princess if she hid her identity, couldn't hide her disappointment. When the young nobles gathered in droves to ask her for a dance, she even felt a sense of despair.
'I thought there wouldn't be another opportunity like this after the masquerade ball ended...'
Titania glanced at Veronica, rolling only her eyes.
Seeing her unfold her fan and look at her with a smile that reached her eyes felt strange, as if a mirror were moving on its own. It was somewhat easier if she thought of them as twins, but even so, she wasn't her eonni.
'If that person really helps me, wouldn't it be possible to go on a date with Mother?'
Titania touched her chin for a moment and fell into her imagination.
She had heard that festivals with special meanings were held in the capital every season. She heard there was a Spring Festival in spring, a Merchant Festival in summer, a Harvest Festival in autumn, and a Snow Flower Festival in winter.
It was nice to sneak out and watch them alone, but what if she went there with Mother? She had wanted to visit all of them at least once, but because of her position as a princess, they were places she couldn't easily go.
However, if she just called that person eonni, it meant she would have the chance to go to a festival with Mother, just the two of them. Watching a festival with Mother, just the two of them...
If she went to the Spring Festival with Mother, she would surely be able to walk through the shopping district selling flowers with Mother. They could buy flower crowns from a passing merchant as a souvenir, and she and Mother could watch the festival while wearing them. Mother would surely look pretty wearing a flower crown.
The summer Merchant Festival seemed nice, too. Since they said merchants brought animals from foreign countries to put on a circus, Mother would surely like it, too. Besides, the festival was even more amazing at night. She heard that at the finale, where everyone gathered to sing and dance, people of all ages and genders danced together.
'Then I could dance with Mother without worrying about other people's gazes.'
What about the autumn Harvest Festival? The most enjoyable festival was definitely the autumn Harvest Festival. The Harvest Festival was held on holidays designated by the kingdom. She heard that the royal castle also provided food for the festival, and everyone enjoyed the festival day and night. The boisterous sounds of the Harvest Festival could be heard even from the distant royal castle.
The simple winter Snow Flower Festival seemed nice, too. The Snow Flower Festival, held by the large lake in the capital, was a festival with more things to see compared to other seasons, such as setting up ice sculptures. What if she watched it with Mother in a place like that? Since the weather was cold, it would be possible to hold Mother's hand while walking.
She wanted to walk while holding Mother's hand tightly, watching the snowy fields. Since it was a cold day, Mother surely wouldn't say anything even if she clung to her. She would definitely be able to walk around sticking close to Mother with the excuse that it was cold. Since it was cold, she wouldn't just hold her hand, she could even interlace her fingers...
'What do I do... just imagining it is so good...'
Titania quickly covered her mouth with her palm to hide her rising lips.
A festival with Mother, just the two of them?! Wouldn't a summer festival be good, too?! There wouldn't be an opportunity like this to dance with Mother otherwise! Since it's a festival, it would be okay to hug Mother and dance! Just like those scenes in novels!
Besides, it wasn't like this wish was only granted once. If so, she could go to the festival with Mother every year?! Plus, it would be fine even if it wasn't a festival! She could ask Veronica to help her watch the night sea like last time! The night sea with only Mother and her!
'And if the atmosphere gets better, uh, I could even kiss Mother on the cheek, and, like that, little by little...'
Hehehe.
Her happy imagination wouldn't stop.
Feeling her face turning bright red, Titania had no choice but to spread her palm and cover her entire face to hide it. She suppressed the laughter that was about to spill out from between her teeth and let out a sigh instead. A truly pleasant sigh.
Thinking about things like that, it didn't seem so bad for Veronica to be her eonni. The pros outweighed the cons. It wasn't like Veronica loved Mother like she did, either. If anything, she was relieved because Veronica made it obvious that she hated her.
'If she said she loved Mother like I do, I would never forgive her.'
Even if Veronica realized Mother's greatness and came to like her, only up to the line of just "liking" her. That was the only line she could concede. If Veronica crossed that line, she intended to kick her out no matter what.
The rest of the wishes Veronica suggested were okay, but the one she liked the most was, of course, the first wish. She had high expectations for learning magic, but in reality, she had half-given up, so she didn't have much expectation. In the first place, there was nothing inconvenient about not having magic.
Besides...
Should she say she could tell for some reason? That that person's actions were truly for her sake. She didn't feel like Veronica's words were lies.
Titania pondered for a moment and glanced at Veronica, who was arguing with Mother. Unless she was a fool, she could tell why Veronica hated Mother. It was just that, unlike Veronica, she had received so much from Mother that she just didn't want to see that kind of behavior.
The name Titania, and her current feelings.
They were all as good as things Mother had created for her.
If she had grown up with Mother, who hadn't changed like Veronica had...
Titania shook her head, shaking off the bad thoughts. For Titania, only the results and facts were important. The fact that it was the current Mother who raised her, and the result that it was the current Mother whom she loved.
When Titania looked at Veronica and Vivian alternately with a pouty expression, Veronica, who noticed that gaze, smiled mischievously and began to tease Titania.
"Pretty good. Being a younger sister. Want to call me that again? Eonni Veronica."
"...It's over for today. I'm not calling you that anymore."
As expected, I still don't like it.
Titania turned her head away with a "Hmph!". The wish Veronica promised to grant was a wish, but right now, the part she didn't like was just too big.
*
Like that, Veronica visited occasionally, and the relationship between Titania and Veronica gradually grew closer. Veronica almost always came to visit to see Titania. There were almost no times when she came only to see me.
One day, one week, one month, one year. As the days they met increased, the days Titania called Veronica eonni also increased, and sometimes there were days when the two of them talked without me.
Usually, those were the days when Veronica introduced the dwarves to Titania. The dwarves said they extremely avoided Vivian, so when I was there, they didn't come out of the Dwarves' Hut except for Brownie. Because of Vivian's rumors, they said...
At those times, only Ainsel and I remained, busy grumbling to each other. It wasn't that I didn't understand them talking only to each other, but it was sad all the same. Especially since Ainsel was depressed every time she was separated from Titania.
When I asked Ainsel, 'It's fine to just join in their conversation, right? I'm the only one they don't invite, right?', Ainsel replied, 'I am a little... awkward with Veronica.'
What is awkward about her? Is the shock from when her main body was kidnapped by Veronica still that big? Every time Veronica visited, Ainsel couldn't do this or that, and she would come to my side and just stomp her feet.
Ainsel had always been with Titania. Maybe she was even sadder because that spot was taken by Veronica. Anyway, when I asked Titania what the two of them talked about, she said they learned magic from Veronica or talked about this and that.
Before I knew it, they had become very close to each other, and looking at them from the side, they really looked like sisters. Veronica still acted as if she disliked me, but she wasn't as sharp as before.
Time passed quickly like that-
Titania is fifteen.
And I have reached the age of twenty-eight.
The season is still winter, cold enough to chill one's bones.
Now, truly, not much is left.
Once this winter passes and spring arrives, Titania will enter the Academy.
Now, truly, not much is left.
The time I have to be with Titania, there are really only a few months left.