108. Time to Leave (2)
108. Time to Leave (2)
[Chapter 108] - The Time to Leave (2)
"You, how do you even know about that? There's no way you could know..."
"You're the one who should be telling me how you know...? Have you ever been to the Academy?"
"Of course I have...! I think I've enrolled four times now? Never graduated, though..."
Veronica and I, our faces close together, whispered in very low voices.
Veronica didn't seem to know why I knew about the 'Fairy's Egg,' and I, too, had never imagined that Veronica would know about it. After all, I had never once heard that Veronica had enrolled in the Academy.
"Anyway, don't change the subject! How do you know about it?! I thought I was the only one who knew that the Fairy's Egg was hidden in the Academy...?"
"I, I just heard it as a rumor. You know those ten ghost stories passed down at the Academy? One of them is about an OOPArt that grants a student's wish. I just wondered if that might be it..."
"......You figured it out from just that?"
Veronica glared at me with suspicious eyes. Was it too much of a stretch? I had answered in a rush using the game settings, but it didn't seem to be a satisfactory answer. Not knowing how else to answer, I just gave a sheepish smile, and Veronica let out a deep sigh.
"...Is that something you absolutely need?"
"Oh, no, it's not for me. I just thought it might be helpful for Titania..."
"Then, couldn't you yield it to me? It might just be an OOPArt for Titania to you, but it's something I really need. So..."
It was a pleading voice, but her gaze was firm. Feeling like she would take it by force if I didn't yield, I began to ponder for a moment. Just as that short moment of contemplation ended and I was about to open my mouth, Titania, who was behind me, asked.
"Mother, should I pack this too?"
"Ah, that is..."
Seeing the clothes and luggage still scattered across the bed, unorganized, a sigh escaped me automatically. As I turned my head to approach Titania, Veronica grabbed my wrist as if to say I should answer before leaving. I looked at Veronica and stroked her hair as I replied.
"I'll think about it a little more and give you an answer."
"...Okay."
I had already made up my mind, but I delayed the answer because it seemed like a good opportunity to talk to Veronica alone. It would be best to tell Veronica. Since I was going to be enrolling in the Academy with Titania. Actually, I was even grateful that I was enrolling in the Academy following Titania. So...
'...It should be fine to tell Veronica. That when you return, I won't be here.'
*
Packing continued until late at night.
There wasn't much luggage to pack, but it took so long because we had to deliberate over what was necessary and what was useless at the Academy while packing. I told her to only pack what was necessary for her studies, but Titania's opinion was that she couldn't do that given her position.
"It took a long time, but it's finally organized somehow."
"That's because Mother kept nitpicking every item I tried to put in..."
...I couldn't refute that because it wasn't wrong.
But, what could I do? Even if she was packing perfume, it was hard to understand why she needed five of them. Titania explained to me that this was a lot less than before, and that each perfume was used for different occasions, but no matter how much she explained, I couldn't understand it. Something about it being a trend these days.
Titania let out a deep sigh as if exhausted and flopped onto the bed. She rolled around on the bed, then lay face down, kicking the blanket with her feet, saying, "The day just went by so pointlessly..." I almost laughed at Titania's behavior, which was still like a child's even though she was all grown up.
"That aside... the room feels a bit bigger."
Looking back at the packed luggage, I felt a bitter sensation. Should I say the room felt bigger? Or should I say it felt duller? Even though just a few of Titania's personal items were gone, my room didn't feel like my room anymore. It felt strangely unfamiliar today.
As I stood there blankly looking around the room, Veronica approached and asked me.
"Are you all done?"
"To some extent."
"And the thinking?"
When I glanced over to look at Veronica, she had a slightly anxious expression. I couldn't help but chuckle at Veronica's gaze, which seemed to be asking, 'What if you don't yield the Fairy's Egg?'
"What, why are you laughing?"
"Just thinking that you're quite a cute child, too."
"W-what?"
Leaving behind Veronica's glare, which seemed to ask what kind of nonsense that was, I chuckled and began to tidy up Titania's messy hair with one hand. She must have rolled around on the bed quite a bit; her hair was a mess.
'...There isn't much time left to see this lovely face.'
Truly, not much was left. After today passed, there were only two days left. It meant that I only had two days left to see this face of Titania's. Thinking that, I felt so bitter that my throat felt parched.
In truth, I really didn't want to leave.
Who would want to leave the side of a child they love?
If possible, I wanted to stay by this child's side for my whole life.
But, I had 'promised'.
Originally, I had promised to leave this year when Titania turned fifteen, but the Queen Dowager had given permission for me to stay three more years. I knew well that I shouldn't be greedy beyond this. And, though it was truly bitter...
It seemed right for me to leave Titania's side.
'Because this child likes me too much.'
The problem was Titania, who liked me too much.
I was worried about Titania, who loved me too much.
Titania, who didn't want to leave my side ever...
'That's why I have to leave.'
For Titania to become independent, I couldn't be by her side. If, even after becoming Queen, Titania didn't leave my side, it would clearly be 'poison' to her. A Queen who couldn't leave her adoptive mother, not even her biological one. What an unsightly thing that would be.
'...How much will she resent me when I leave?'
Titania, looking up at me with lovely eyes, was like a baby bird that wouldn't leave the nest. A baby bird that wouldn't flap its wings even though it was time to leave the nest. To make such a baby bird leave the nest, the mother bird had no choice but to push the baby bird out.
Therefore, I had no choice but to push Titania's back. To shake off this lovely child who wouldn't leave my side, I had to push her away. I wanted Titania to go out of the 'nest' and become independent.
'And, even if I leave, Veronica and Ainsel will be by Titania's side.'
If I leave, Ainsel will get along with Veronica, right? I thought that if the three of them were together, the misunderstandings would eventually clear up and they would become close. I don't really know why Ainsel avoids Veronica, but if they spend time together, a day will come when the misunderstandings clear up.
After tidying up Titania's messy hair nicely, I smiled and looked at Titania and Veronica alternately. Thinking that just for today it would be fine, I asked them both at the same time.
"Shall we all sleep together tonight?"
"What?"
"Pardon?"
Veronica was disgusted by the suggestion to sleep together, and Titania seemed slightly flustered. I lay in the middle of the bed, patting the spots on both sides, urging them to hurry and lie down. At that, Veronica frowned and turned her head away sharply.
"When you two leave, I'll be left here alone. So, let's sleep together just for today to make a memory. Hmm? Can't we?"
When I pleaded earnestly, Titania thought for a moment, let out a sigh as if she had no choice, and settled into my left side. Veronica still didn't seem to have any intention of coming to my side, just looking down at me with an annoyed expression.
"Veronica."
"Ah, seriously...!"
Only after I called her again did Veronica climb onto the bed, turn her back to me, and settle into my right side. Should I say it felt like a new experience to have the three of us lying side by side on the bed? With the three of us lying together, it really felt like a family.
"Titania, shall I read you a fairy tale for the first time in a while?"
"A fairy tale...? At my age..."
"What does age have to do with it? Since we're all like this, I just feel like reading one."
For some reason, it felt like I was remembering Titania's childhood. I sat up for a moment, leaning my back against the headboard, and began to ponder what story to tell. I used to read them so often in the past. Actually, it was none other than Titania who used to pester me to tell her fairy tales.
Besides, the reason I wanted to tell a fairy tale this time was...
"Veronica, isn't there a fairy tale you want to hear?"
"...No."
It was also for Veronica. A child with a simple dream of wanting to hear fairy tales from her parents. A child who thinks she will never achieve that in her life. So, I just wanted to fulfill it for her instead. Because there wasn't much time left for me to be in the royal castle.
"Then, I'll choose one myself."
In a gentle voice, as if telling a fairy tale to a young child, I began to recite the fairy tale I had told Titania the most. Gently stroking both children's hair, I slowly continued the story.
"Once upon a time, a long, long time ago-"
*
"Whew..."
Having confirmed that Titania was asleep, I carefully stepped out onto the terrace to get some night air. I couldn't sleep, and there was a lot to think about. Besides...
"...Are you thinking now? Or is your thinking done?"
I also had something to say to Veronica.
Having confirmed that Titania was asleep, Veronica and I decided to step out onto the terrace for a moment to talk just between the two of us. Veronica about the 'Fairy's Egg'. I about 'leaving the royal castle'. Veronica doesn't know yet that I'm leaving the royal castle, but...
I looked at Veronica with a gentle smile.
"Was the fairy tale I told interesting?"
"...Well, it was my first time hearing it, but it was decent enough."
When I chuckled, Veronica tapped my shoulder as if annoyed. Still, I'm glad she found it interesting. Honestly, I hadn't expected her to listen to the end. Me telling a fairy tale was an act of pitying Veronica, and Veronica is a child who hates being pitied by me.
'Veronica must have opened her heart to me, too.'
That's why it was even more awkward to talk. If I tell Veronica, who has only just opened her heart to me, that I'm leaving, what kind of expression will she make? I felt sorry, thinking it might be an act of abandoning Veronica, just like 'Vivian' did.
"Why are you making such a serious face?"
"...Veronica."
...Still, I had to tell her. Even if I disappear, Titania will be there for Veronica. I wanted them to rely on each other, lean on each other, and live together. Truly, like 'sisters' without equal. Then, it would be okay even without me.
"The 'Fairy's Egg' at the Academy. I'm willing to yield it to you. Instead..."
"Instead...?"
"Promise me one thing."
"A promise?"
"That you will always stay by Titania's side. That you will help Titania. That you will rely on each other and live like real sisters. Promise me."
"...That's, even if you didn't say it, I was naturally planning to do that, but... what is it, suddenly? Like someone leaving for somewhere far away."
"......"
The quick-witted Veronica must have sensed something strange in my tone, so she asked me back. It was a story she asked back like a joke while chuckling, but as she confirmed that there was no smile on my face, Veronica's expression also began to harden gradually.
I parted my lips to speak, but it wasn't easy.
So for now, I looked at Veronica with a bitter smile.
Veronica, looking at my smile, tried to force a smile as if confused for a moment, but soon, as she realized this was not a joke, the smile on Veronica's face began to slowly erase. Soon, Veronica sighed and looked up at me.
"......It's a joke, right?"
"...I'm sorry."
At my answer, Veronica's face crumpled.
And that, to an extent I had never seen before.
It was a face that looked like she was about to cry right away.