101. 'Adult' Titania
101. 'Adult' Titania
[Episode 101] - 'Adult' Titania
"Ugh... it's cold..."
I woke up to the winter wind sneaking through the cracks in the window, blinking my sleepy eyes as I pulled the blanket up to my chin. Even though it's been almost ten years since I came here, I still can't handle the winters in this place.
Even if I lit the fireplace in the room or covered myself with several layers of blankets, it was nowhere near enough to block out the cold here. Seriously, every time this happens, I miss modern things like boilers or electric blankets so much I can't stand it.
As I covered my mouth and let out a big yawn, I felt something wiggling under the blanket. I slightly lifted the blanket to peek inside and saw Titania sleeping soundly in my arms.
'She's not a child anymore...'
Seeing Titania, who was already fully grown, sleeping in my arms like a little kid, I couldn't help but sigh. At fifteen years old, Titania's appearance could no longer be called a 'little girl,' even as a figure of speech.
Don't they say children grow up unbelievably fast?
Up until the year before last, Titania hadn't quite shed her childish look, but as soon as she hit her growth spurt, she ate well and slept well, filling out nicely and growing tall enough to be about the same height as me.
Her once-small fingers had grown long, too; the chubby, cute fingers of a child had become long and slender, giving the impression of adult hands now.
There was still a youthful air to her face, so in some ways, she looked like a young girl, but in others, she looked like a mature woman. Though the face she shows me is unmistakably that of a child...
It wasn't just her appearance that had become an adult; Titania was now an 'adult' recognized by the kingdom as well. Two days ago, Titania successfully held the 'Debutante Ball' hosted by the royal castle.
In other words, Titania had finally graduated from the children's social circle and debuted into the real social circle. It was quite ironic to congratulate her on debuting into such a gloomy social circle, though...
Since it's a kingdom with a culture where you aren't recognized as an adult unless you hold a Debutante Ball, by holding the ball, Titania was effectively recognized as an 'adult' by all the nobles in the kingdom.
Since Titania had become an adult recognized by the country, I wanted her to act like one, but she still acted like a child in front of me. It's not that I dislike that, but...
'...Well, it's only a few months left anyway...'
Now that she'd had her Debutante Ball, I wanted to scold her and tell her to act like an adult, but the fact that I wouldn't be able to see her anymore once Titania entered the academy meant I couldn't do one thing or the other.
Titania also used that fact as an excuse; whenever she thought I was going to scold her, she would pout her lips and grumble, "It's only a few months left..." And then I would inevitably end up turning a blind eye to Titania's behavior.
It was, quite literally, a vicious cycle. I know I shouldn't do this, that we should be a little more distant, but even as I resolved to do so, the thought that I wouldn't be able to see Titania soon meant I had no choice but to overlook her pouting.
'Sigh... what's the point of worrying about it now.'
I pushed Titania, who was sleeping in my arms, away and rolled her up in the blanket like a kimbap, then got out of bed and wrapped a blanket draped over a chair around my body.
I wondered why it was so cold, and it turned out the embers in the fireplace on one wall of the room were starting to die out. Maybe it's because it's been snowing lately, but the room was damp, so I had to check the fire frequently.
I threw a few logs into the fireplace and poked around inside with a poker; the embers popped and crackled, and soon I could feel a cozy warmth spreading through the room.
Having revived the fire, I sat near the fireplace, listening to the sound of the flames crackling on the logs, and as I stared blankly at the embers, distracting thoughts kept rising like smoke.
What should I do when Titania goes to the academy? I should start preparing to leave the royal castle soon. Should I ask the Queen Dowager to get me a shop with the money she gives me? But what should I sell?
'...Is being a landlord the best here too? Should I ask for a few prime commercial buildings instead of just money? If I live off the rent, I won't starve to death for the rest of my life.'
I was lost in thought, staring blankly at the embers on the logs, but that thought didn't last long. Titania, who I didn't know when had approached my side, suddenly played a mean prank on me.
"Mother, what are you thinking about so deeply?"
"Heeek...!"
As an ice-cold palm snuck inside my pajamas and stroked my back, my spine shivered involuntarily. My heart felt like it was freezing, and I couldn't even let out a proper scream.
I struggled and twisted my body, telling her to stop, but Titania just wore a devious smile, put both hands inside, and began stroking my back vigorously, starting to warm her hands with my body heat.
"Ah, so warm. I always think this, but Mother, your body temperature is high, isn't it?"
"Hiiik...! You...! Take them out right now?!"
Even at my shouting, Titania didn't take her hands out of my clothes until she had completely warmed her cold hands. Then, as if nothing had happened, she sat next to me and leaned her head on me; it was so infuriating.
Having been fully woken up by Titania's malicious prank, I let out a deep sigh, turned my head, and looked at Titania, who was leaning her head on my shoulder. To play a prank like this...!
I glared at her as if to say she was truly infuriating, but Titania didn't even flinch, just shrugged her shoulders. Then she smiled brightly and asked me.
"So, what were you thinking about that you didn't even notice me approaching?"
"...That you're still just a child."
When I answered like that, Titania's lips pouted out, as if she didn't like my attitude of treating her like a child even after she'd had her Debutante Ball.
Lately, she's been saying she's an adult now and asking me to treat her as one, but what's the point if only her body has grown? Her actions are still just like a child's, which is just cute.
I let out a deep sigh and poked at the fireplace again with the poker nearby.
"If you want to be treated like an adult so much, you should start by stopping sleeping with me. Adults don't sleep with their parents. And they don't play pranks like putting cold hands on their parents' backs."
When I glanced over to look at Titania, her plump lips pouted out even further. The sulky look of her puffing out both cheeks and sticking out her lips was still the face of a child.
I pinched Titania's pouting lips and burst into a laugh.
"And, adults don't stick their lips out like a duck when they're sulking."
*
"...That's what she said! Isn't that too much?! I've already had my debutante! I'm fifteen! I'm even at an age where I can get married in this country now?! How long is she going to treat me like a child?!"
"...Can you stop talking about Vivian in front of me? How many times do I have to tell you I'm not interested in your relationship?"
"But you know I have no one else to talk to about this besides Eonni. I feel like Ainsel would tell Mother. She'd definitely keep it a secret if I asked, but if Mother pressured her, she'd surely tell everything."
"That's true."
Veronica, who was resting her chin on her hand with a bored expression, sighed as if she were dumbfounded. Lately, every time they met, it was Vivian, Vivian, Vivian; as the listener, she was sick to death of it.
"I'm even about the same height as Mother now! And as an adult, I'm at an age where I know everything there is to know! How long is Mother going to treat me like a child!"
Lately, Titania's worry was Vivian's attitude of treating her like a child forever. She understood that Titania wanted to be treated like an adult since she'd had her debutante, but she thought she might be being too impatient.
Titania wasn't fifteen anymore; she was only fifteen. Veronica let out a deep sigh, moistened her parched throat with tea, and gave Titania some advice.
"From what I hear, the problem is that you still haven't graduated from Vivian. Why don't you take this opportunity to start sleeping in separate rooms? No young lady would be sleeping in the same room as her parent at your age."
"Th-that, that's true, but... it's only a few months until I have to go to the academy anyway..."
"You know that's an excuse you've been using since last year, right? You use the academy as a get-out-of-jail-free card for everything. It's to the point where I'm sick of it. I'm sure Vivian is too."
"Ugh..."
Once Titania was left speechless like this, the conversation was over. Knowing that Titania had no intention of changing even after she gave such earnest advice, Veronica didn't add anything more.
Titania's expression as she stared at the teacup with a gloomy look seemed like she was about to burst into tears at any moment. That's probably why she's still treated like a child by Vivian...
"Anyway, let's stop talking about this... You know 'that day' is coming soon, right?"
At the mention of 'that day,' Titania's eyes widened. The gloomy expression from just a moment ago vanished, and she nodded at Veronica with an expectant look on her face.
"Really, will you grant it?"
"I promised, so I have to grant it."
Veronica chuckled and gestured for Titania to stand up. Then she walked up close enough that her nose touched Titania's, and proceeded to compare her height with Titania's.
Veronica was still slightly taller, but the difference was very slight. Since both of them had hair that reached down to their lower backs, anyone would surely mistake them for twins.
"Hmm, this should be fine."
At Veronica's words that it would be fine, Titania's face lit up. She wanted to jump up and down on the spot, she was so happy, but she barely managed to hold it in by twitching her lips.
"You know the 'Snow Flower Festival' is being held next week, right? Go with Vivian then. Ketsi will disguise herself to fill Vivian's empty spot, so no one will notice."
"Uhehehet."
Seeing Titania's expression as she laughed "uhehe" with a completely relaxed face, Veronica also burst into a giggle. Honestly, Titania had thought she wouldn't be able to go to the festival with her mother this year.
She had to prepare for the academy soon, and Veronica hadn't said anything about this wish until now. She had thought Veronica had completely forgotten.
Unable to hold back the joy welling up from deep within her chest, Titania hugged Veronica, who was standing right in front of her. Veronica was startled and pushed her away, telling her to let go, but it was no use.
"Uhehehet, thank you! Veronica eonni!"
"You only call me eonni when you're like this, don't you? Forget it, let go and go get permission from Vivian! If Vivian doesn't give permission, I can't do it either!"