103. An Age Where You Know Everything
103. An Age Where You Know Everything
[Episode 103] - An Age Where One Knows Everything
"Hmm... Can't skip the street stalls, that's for sure..."
One day before the Snow Flower Festival, Titania was sitting at her desk, planning the date course. Actually, she had been planning it ever since the festival was mentioned, but it wasn't easy to finalize.
Titania tapped her desk with her fountain pen, lost in thought, then looked at the date course she'd written. She never imagined that a single day could feel so short.
'Go out early in the morning, first, look at the ice sculptures on the lake. For lunch, look around the street stalls and grab a light bite, then after that, look around the festival streets a bit, walk on the snow, and take a stroll with Mother...'
Reading the date course she'd written, Titania couldn't stop her lips from curling up. She made a strange "Hehehe" sound, and because she was so excited she couldn't help it, she even stomped her feet, stomp, stomp, stomp. What do I do? I'm so happy I can't stand it.
A festival enjoyed just with Mother! Holding hands and taking a walk! Eating snacks at the stalls together! Even a meal in a place with a great atmosphere! She was happy that she could fulfill her wish with Mother. Plus, imagining the skinship with Mother that would happen during that process...
"Hehehe!"
She felt like the memories of this festival alone would be enough to endure 3 years at the academy. When things got tough, she could think of the memories with Mother and endure it. Imagining holding hands, or imagining interlocking fingers. She wanted to leave memories that went beyond that, but it wasn't easy.
Lately, Mother hadn't given her any kisses, saying it was gross for a grown child to cling to her. She really hoped to get a kiss this time. She didn't even wish for a kiss in that serious atmosphere like in romance novels. She just felt like she would have no more wishes if Mother just gave her a cheek kiss.
Actually, thinking of the greed blooming deep in her heart, a kiss wasn't enough. Kisses were for little children. She felt like she wouldn't be able to stop herself from opening her lips if she kissed Mother, so she was settling for a cheek kiss.
Titania was also at an age where she knew everything.
She knew everything, everything about what kind of skinship lovers shared, and what kind of love they shared in bed. And she even knew how women shared that love with each other. She knew that love could be shared even without that.
The source was the red book Viola had lent her. A romance novel where the protagonists weren't a woman and a man, but a woman and a woman. The book, which contained love between women, even described how women shared love. She had to keep it a secret because she knew Mother would be horrified if she asked about the source.
Before reading this book, she hadn't known anything. She learned that there was a way for women to have skinship with each other, and that there was a way to do such and such things. They say books are food for the soul, right? Titania read the book Viola lent her until it became her own flesh and blood.
If she really became 'lovers' with Mother like the story in the book, this date would definitely end in an overnight stay, and she would return to the royal castle the next morning. The words 'hotel' or 'overnight stay' would have been added to the last line of the date course she'd written.
A place to do... that sort of thing with Mother...
"Puhuhuhu..."
Titania's face flushed as if it were about to pop.
Unable to sit still any longer, she crumpled the paper with the date course written on it, put it in her pocket, and jumped onto the bed as if diving. Then, unable to control her emotions, she hugged her pillow and rolled around on the bed.
But that was only for a moment. Titania, who had been rolling on the bed, looked up at the ceiling and let out a deep sigh. After all, she knew that the love she wanted to receive was a love that couldn't be easily achieved. Titania knew that the love she felt wasn't 'normal'.
Who else would look at their stepmother with the same eyes as her?
She was even a princess of a country, and Mother was a queen of a country. This was by no means a normal love, and it was a love that couldn't be achieved normally. So Titania was half-resigned.
So, it was fine if she didn't receive such affectionate love from Mother, and it was fine if she didn't confess her feelings. She just thought that she wanted to live by Mother's side forever.
That was enough for Titania. No, she could be satisfied with just that. She thought that if she just gave up on such greed, she could be with Mother forever. Really, together forever...
Titania, hugging the pillow tightly, muttered in a small voice.
"Ha... I wish tomorrow would come quickly..."
Titania, who sluggishly got up from the bed, started checking the date course again. Was there a better place, a better restaurant, was there anything she missed, was the outfit for tomorrow certain.
She started preparing thoroughly so there wouldn't be a single mistake.
To make happy memories with Mother.
*
"...Where on earth did you get clothes like this."
I looked in the mirror and stared at the clothes I was wearing. The clothes I wore in the mirror were simple everyday clothes that commoners enjoyed wearing.
A dress shirt-like top, a long skirt in a drab color like brown, a garment that I couldn't tell if it was a cloak or a robe to block the cold, a leather bag that could be worn across the shoulder, and sturdy leather shoes.
"...The maids would freak out if they saw me like this right now."
If the maids saw me now, they would scream.
They would definitely make a fuss, asking what kind of clothes the Queen and Princess were wearing, and telling us to take them off immediately. When I turned my head to look at Titania, Titania was looking at me, having worn the clothes familiarly.
"It's okay. Mother is pretty no matter what she wears."
"That's not the problem..."
...I wanted to nag her about why Titania had clothes like this, but I stopped soon after. It didn't seem right to nag on a day we were going out to play, so I kept my mouth shut and let out a small sigh.
"What, you're already done getting ready?"
As I was looking at Titania's outfit, which was similar to mine, the terrace door burst open! and Veronica walked out.
In Veronica's arms was a small black cat. I knew Cait Sith was a cat fairy, but it seemed like this was the first time I was seeing it in cat form.
When I waved at Cait Sith at the cute cat appearance, Cait Sith turned its head away as if it didn't like me, avoiding my gaze. When I felt dejected at that cold reaction, Veronica continued her explanation as if she didn't care.
"I'll roughly connect the terrace and the festival venue, so just come back through the door you came out of when you return. If anything happens, I'll contact Titania, so don't worry and go have fun."
"......"
"What? What are you staring at?"
How could I not be worried...
Honestly, I was so worried it was a big problem.
Is it really okay for me to leave this place? What if, while I'm away, Cait Sith mimics me and does something strange to the maids? Between suspicion and worry, I couldn't bring myself to leave.
I glanced at the clothes Veronica was wearing and made an excuse.
"No... I was just thinking it's fascinating that you're wearing Titania's clothes."
"Are you trying to say it doesn't suit me?"
Honestly, it didn't suit her.
Even though it was the same face as Titania's, why did it look so ill-fitting? The bright-colored dress full of frills and her sharp eyes looked like a doll forced into clothes, so I almost laughed. When I tried to laugh, Veronica twitched her eyes annoyedly.
I cleared my throat, "Ahem," and asked Veronica.
"Please... you must stay inside the room. I told the maids never to enter my room except when bringing meals... And, if you meet anyone, just stay quiet... Better yet, don't say anything at all... And..."
"How many years have I been raised in the royal castle? I won't do anything strange, so hurry up and go! Why are you so suspicious?!"
"W, wait a minute! Let me say goodbye to Ainsel...!"
I looked at Ainsel, who had a slumped face, avoiding Veronica's gaze. Ever since last week, she had been making a face like a beaver whose dam had collapsed.
Is it that sad to go to the festival without her?
"Ainsel, Ainsel. Can you look at me?"
-......
"You need to understand Titania a little... okay? Next time, let's definitely go together, the three of us."
-......
"And... isn't this an opportunity? A chance to talk to Veronica."
At the mention of Veronica, Ainsel lifted her head slightly and looked at me. Her expression looked so sad, she looked like she was about to burst into tears any second.
The sadness of being left behind, the pain of having to be with Veronica, whom she found hard to deal with—I was momentarily speechless at the expression mixed with various emotions.
"A, anyway... now is your chance. Try talking once, and get close to each other. Okay?"
-...I don't know, just hurry up and go. The Princess is waiting.
Because of Ainsel, who had turned her back on me, I couldn't bring myself to leave. It would be nice if Ainsel came along too, but Titania insisted on going 'just the two of us' with me, so there was nothing I could do.
Titania said she would persuade Ainsel, but it didn't seem to have gone well. Titania said she would comfort her after coming back from the festival, but...
I lightly brushed the mirror frame of Ainsel and continued.
"...Yeah, I'll be back. Think carefully about what I said last week. Okay?"
-...Yes, I understand.
When I turned my head, Titania, who was waiting for me, came into view. Half anticipation, half worry. That was exactly how I felt right now.
I was excited and looking forward to going to the festival for the first time, and I was also worried about Veronica and Ainsel, who would be left here.
...Sigh, what's the point of worrying now. I let out a deep sigh again and held out my hand to Titania, who was waiting in front of me. Since it will be cold, as the name Snow Flower Festival suggests, I should at least hold hands.
"Titania, take my hand."
"......"
"Titania?"
"Ah, no. Yes! I'll take it!"
Titania opened her eyes wide as if she was momentarily flustered, then rushed over and grabbed my hand tightly. Then, she stared intently at our hands clasped together without a gap, and soon smiled brightly as if she were truly happy. Really, is it that good...
I turned my head and waved a small hand at Veronica, who was looking at me and Titania with a sullen expression. Veronica accepted my greeting, then crossed her legs and waved her hand, telling me to go quickly.
"Then, I'll be back. Guard the house well."
"Am I a dog..."
Leaving the grumbling Veronica behind, we passed through the terrace door with Titania, and it was an alleyway behind the shopping district. As we walked toward the place where the noisy sounds of people could be heard, a street lined with stalls came into view.
Clearly, it should still be early, but the street looked as if it had been dyed in the festival atmosphere for a long time. When I turned my head to look at Titania, she was looking around the stall street with sparkling eyes. Looking at her like this, she's just a child...
I smiled at Titania's appearance, and squeezed the hand I was holding tightly. Taking one step out of the alley, Titania followed behind me.
"Then, where should we go first? Let's go where you want."