102. Just the Two of Us
102. Just the Two of Us
[Episode 102] - Just the Two of Us
Scratch- scratch-
In the quiet office, only the sound of the ink-filled nib scraping against paper echoed. Since winter began, there had been so much paperwork to process, so I really had to focus on work today.
I really had to focus, but...
"...Ainsel, got nothing to do?"
-...Yeah. Nothing to do.
I stopped the sound of scratching paper, tossed my fountain pen aside, and looked at Ainsel, who was sitting blankly in the mirror on the desk, having completely checked out. She's got her mouth open; looks like she's about to drool.
The only reason Ainsel, who was with Titania every day, had been coming to find me lately was one thing. When Veronica came to visit Titania. Ainsel would unfailingly come to find me on the days Veronica visited.
Seeing Ainsel stuck to my side until Veronica left always made me laugh in a different way, like a puppy that's had its owner stolen. I suppose you could say it was pitiful to see her come to my side to spend time.
"You like Titania so much, why do you avoid Veronica like that..."
-Th, that's... I guess you could call it awkward...
Ainsel replied, fidgeting at my mutterings. I didn't know the details, but the reason Ainsel avoided Veronica wasn't because of trauma from having her main body stolen or anything like that.
Veronica had apologized to Ainsel about that matter, and Ainsel had accepted that apology. The reason Ainsel avoided Veronica was fundamentally for a different reason. I didn't know what that was, though.
I picked up the fountain pen again and continued working while reading the documents.
"Don't just avoid her, try talking to her first. How long are you going to keep avoiding her? You can't avoid Veronica forever, can you? Even Titania, who hated Veronica so much, meets her alone without me these days. I'm dying of loneliness here."
-I know I shouldn't avoid her... I know that... but what am I supposed to do when it's not easy...?
That's true.
It's not easy to talk to someone you're awkward with. Well, not that anything in this world is easy. Still, unless Titania pushed Veronica away, they had to get close to each other someday.
"At least try to make an effort to stay in the room instead of running away to me like this. Later on—"
-...Later on? What about it?
I put down the fountain pen for a moment and looked at Ainsel with a bitter smile at the words that were about to come out suddenly. Come to think of it, I don't think I'd ever talked about the future with Ainsel. Right, later on—
"...What are you going to do after I leave the royal castle later?"
-That's...
Ainsel stammered, trailing off as if flustered. Seeing that she couldn't answer right away, it seemed she really had no intention of following me. Honestly speaking, it was what I had expected.
Ainsel had always followed Titania, not me. That must be why she didn't make a [Familiar Contract] with me. She helped me use magic sometimes, but I hadn't made a 'contract' with Ainsel.
That was why, the moment I was separated from Ainsel, I couldn't use magic. Part of the reason I had been negligent about fairies or magic until now was, to some extent, because of Ainsel.
When Titania was six, Ainsel had told me she had to stay in the royal castle to do 'something.' I thought it was because her main body had been stolen, but...
'Veronica has apologized now, so that doesn't seem to be it...'
I smiled bitterly and stroked the top of the mirror Ainsel was inside. At the gesture, which was like stroking her hair, Ainsel looked at me with a face full of worry.
"I'm not blaming you for not following me."
-Vivian...
"If I end up leaving the royal castle, you three will have to live together. Wouldn't it be better to get at least a little closer to Veronica by then?"
-Ugh...
Ainsel, with her head bowed low, wiggled her small fingers as if to show her anxious state. Since she wouldn't tell me what the problem was, I didn't know what to say to her.
Moreover, Ainsel staying here was a problem, but me leaving the royal castle was also a problem. I had barely ever left the royal castle since coming here, so I was at a loss as to how to live. Is being a landlord really the only answer...
While I was scribbling away at the documents in the gloomy atmosphere, a knock-knock sound came, followed by Titania's voice. When I told her to come in, Titania poked her head through the door gap.
After confirming that there was no one in my office but me, Titania carefully opened the door and approached me. Had her conversation with Veronica been fun? Titania's face was full of bright smiles.
"Hehe, Mother~ Are you busy?"
Titania, who entered the office calling me in a voice full of charm, came up behind me instead of in front of the desk and started kneading my shoulders. This behavior was the desperate aegyo that came out when Titania wanted something from me.
"What does my daughter want this time to be acting so cute?"
"Hehehe."
I let out a small sigh and stroked the back of one of Titania's hands as she kneaded my shoulders. I would do anything I could for her even if she didn't act cute, but does Titania act cute like this because she knows that?
Titania smiled brightly, hugged me from behind, and buried her face in my neck. Then, she even stomped her feet as if she couldn't contain her happiness. It was nice to be loved by my daughter like this, but I couldn't help but feel worried whenever she did this.
Just as I was wondering what she could possibly be asking for to act this cute, Titania, who had been hugging my neck and jumping around, brought her lips close to my ear and whispered in a small voice.
"Mother, do you remember the wish Veronica-eonni said she would grant me?"
"...A wish?"
Come to think of it, Veronica had said she would grant a few wishes if Titania called her eonni. I hadn't really paid attention, so I didn't remember well, but...
"...Wasn't it that she'd teach you magic?"
Titania shook her head. Then what on earth was it? I tilted my head in confusion because I couldn't remember, and Titania giggled and squeezed her arms around my neck a little tighter.
"She said she'd take me to places like festivals without anyone knowing. Do you remember now?"
"...You mean the story about Veronica taking you out of the royal palace? That she'd take you to festivals or places like that secretly..."
"Hehehe, that's it! That's the one!"
Now I was finally getting a vague idea.
I remembered hearing from Vin Chaud that the [Snow Flower Festival] was being held next week. She must be asking if she can go there. I stroked the hair of Titania, who was resting her chin on my shoulder, and replied.
"...It's a bit hard to allow that. Even if you take Ainsel, wouldn't it be too dangerous alone? Or are you planning to go with Veronica's dwarfs?"
"Yes? Ah, it's not like that..."
Titania, who had loosened her arms from around my neck, came in front of me and sat lightly on the desk. Then, looking down at me, she smiled and continued.
"It's not that I'm going alone, I want to go with you, Mother."
"With me?"
"Yes, with you, Mother."
I couldn't help but be flustered for a moment, as I hadn't expected such an answer. Regardless, Titania was still looking down at me with her eyes curved into smiles. Of course, I wanted to go too, but it was troublesome for me to leave my post here. Unlike Titania, there was no one to replace me.
"I appreciate the thought, but... what would everyone think if I suddenly disappeared?"
"That's fine. Cait Sith said she would disguise herself as Mother and stay here. You just have to tell people you're 'sick.' It's okay to rest for a day, right?"
"Are you telling me to feign illness?"
I was dumbfounded, but Titania shrugged her shoulders as if to say what did that matter.
Cait Sith... She was one of Veronica's dwarfs, a fairy who could transform into a human. I had met her when she transformed into Princess Fiona during the hunting competition, so Cait Sith's transformation ability was certain.
...I thought about it, but I couldn't think of anything to refuse with. No matter what, this didn't seem right, but even if I made some excuse to refuse, it didn't seem like it would work on Titania.
"Even so..."
"If Mother just gives permission, Veronica-eonni will take care of everything. Wouldn't it be okay to go out like this for just a day? Mother, you've only been in the office since winter started. Yes?"
A sigh escaped me at her pleading words. If I refused here again, Titania would definitely bring up the academy and beg me. Then I wouldn't be able to refuse and would give in again. It was as good as a checkmate.
I let out a deep sigh and looked up at Titania. Right, it would be safer to go with me than to send her alone. And for just a day...
"...Alright, a day should be fine. Let's go."
As soon as my permission was given, Titania smiled brightly. Is going to the [Snow Flower Festival] that good? Besides, I thought it wouldn't be bad to have at least one memory like this.
"I should buy some souvenirs sold at the festival for Veronica, to tell her to guard the house well. Ainsel can come too, and the three of us can go to the [Snow Flower Festival]..."
"No?"
I was momentarily flustered by Titania's sharp voice, which cut off my words about going together with Ainsel as a trio. Ainsel, who had been watching us from the mirror, seemed equally flustered, looking up at Titania with a shocked expression.
"I'm sorry to Ainsel, but... this time, I want to go with just you, Mother."
"Just the two of us...?"
"Yes, just the two of us."
Titania, who was looking at me while curving her eyes charmingly, gently brushed my cheek. The intense gaze was a bit burdensome, so I looked away without realizing it. Titania chuckled as if she didn't care, brushed my cheek, and continued.
"This time, let's have a date, just the two of us."