119. Was I the Only One Who Didn't Know? (2)
119. Was I the Only One Who Didn't Know? (2)
[Episode 119] - Was I the Only One Who Didn't Know? (2)
"Veronica... eonni..."
"...Hello, you look like a beggar, Titania."
Veronica looked down at Titania, who was curled up in her blanket crying, and gave a bitter smile. Her eyes were so swollen from crying that she could barely open them, and her hair was a tangled mess.
Perhaps because she hadn't eaten properly for days and had been suffering so much, her once soft face was gaunt, and the area under her eyes was dark, like someone suffering from an illness. Veronica had expected this situation from the moment Vivian said she was leaving, but...
Still, it wasn't a pretty sight.
It was as if she were looking at her past self.
Veronica sighed and wiped the dark circles under Titania's eyes. The faint moisture on her fingers and the painfully red rims of Titania's eyes told the story of how much she had been crying.
Titania grabbed Veronica's hand as it wiped her eyes and begged. She clung to Veronica, asking why she hadn't thought of this, why she hadn't realized it until now.
After all, Veronica eonni was a witch. A witch who lived with the Seven Dwarfs. So surely, if it were eonni, she would be able to find the mother who had left the palace, Titania thought as she looked at Veronica.
"V-Veronica eonni, Mother, she left the palace, she left me, she disappeared somewhere..."
Titania swallowed hard, then begged Veronica in a voice thick with tears. She asked her to find her mother, to please find her. She said she couldn't live without her mother. So, please.
"Eonni, can't you help me? You said you'd grant all my wishes before. Yeah?"
"...Titania."
"So, please? Please bring Mother back. Please, please, please..."
However, Veronica said nothing as she looked at Titania. No, she was at a loss, not knowing how to answer. What could she possibly say to Titania, who was begging like this, that would get through to her?
Veronica knew that Titania loved Vivian. She also knew that the feelings Titania held for Vivian were different in nature from the feelings she herself felt.
While she saw 'family' through Vivian, Titania was looking at something far beyond what she was looking at. A relationship closer and more precious than family.
Where was the end of what Titania saw through Vivian? It was a feeling that even Veronica, who had regressed dozens of times, had never felt. That was why Veronica was at a loss, not knowing what to say.
Unlike herself, who had accepted it when Vivian said she was leaving, she felt pity for Titania, who simply could not let go. Seeing Titania in such a pitiful state, Veronica felt truly sorry.
"...I'm sorry."
Veronica apologized as she wiped away the tears flowing from Titania's eyes. If she had known you would be in this much pain, she would have stopped Vivian; if she had known you would be this sad, she would have helped you prepare your heart.
But...
"I can't bring Vivian back."
"Eonni...?"
Because I, too, have committed a sin against Vivian.
As someone who had committed a sin, she had no right to stop Vivian, who was leaving. Veronica looked at Titania, her eyes crinkling as if to show her apology. Titania could not understand why Veronica was apologizing.
Why is eonni sorry to me? What does eonni have to be sorry for? And, you said you would grant my wish. You said you would help me. But, why on earth? Why can't you bring Mother back?
"Why on earth—"
The moment she opened her mouth to ask again, a thought flashed through Titania's mind at the sight of Veronica smiling with crinkled eyes. Ah, so that was it. Veronica eonni knew, didn't she?
The fact that Mother was leaving.
"...I see."
A terrible sense of betrayal felt like it was shredding her heart. She hadn't thought Veronica eonni would know. She couldn't understand why Mother would tell Veronica eonni but not her.
She hated her mother. She hated her mother to death for leaving her side without saying a word, yet a strange, discordant laugh burst out of her at the feeling of how much she still wanted to see the mother she loved.
She loved her mother, but she hated her.
She hated her mother, but she loved her.
The contradictory emotions were so agonizing she felt like she was going crazy.
A twisted smile deepened on Titania's face. As the words came out slowly, a pale smile formed on Titania's lips. Her lips trembled, creating a distorted arc.
"...So I was the only one who didn't know."
Moisture pooled at the corners of her crinkled eyes. As her tangled emotions surged up, Titania's cheeks trembled. Because of that trembling, the tears that had gathered at the corners of her eyes finally flowed down her cheeks.
Plop, plop, plop.
"Really, I was the only one who didn't know."
"......"
"Halmeoni, Vin Chaud, eonni, everyone knew, but I was the only one who didn't. Surely, Ainsel knew too, right? Didn't she? I was the only fool who didn't know that Mother was leaving this place?"
-Princess...
"Don't call me!!"
As Ainsel fidgeted and called out to Titania, Titania, overwhelmed by her emotions, took off the necklace containing Ainsel and threw it at Veronica. Ainsel, who had been flying, landed in Veronica's hand.
"Get out!! Everyone get out!! Don't ever show yourselves in front of me again!!"
After throwing Ainsel away, Titania picked up a pillow and threw it. Veronica just watched as Titania threw everything she could get her hands on, telling them to leave, telling them not to come near her.
Watching Titania, who now had nothing left to throw and was sobbing face-down on the bed, Veronica began to worry about what to do. If things went on like this, it felt like she would break her 'promise' with Vivian.
The promise to stay by Titania's side, to help her, and to rely on each other and live like sisters. Because that promise carried the meaning of 'helping' Titania.
'...I'm sorry to Vivian, but it can't be helped. This is also to help Titania.'
Veronica sat down on the bed with a thud, crossed her legs, and looked at Titania. Titania was still curled up like a puppy that had been abandoned and caught in the rain, rolling her eyes to glare at Veronica.
Watching that, Veronica sighed.
"Titania. I was asked by Vivian to stay by your side. To make sure you aren't lonely, and to always help you when you're having a hard time."
"......"
"So, I intended to help you and stay by your side until you become Queen. That was the promise I made to Vivian, and I had my own things to do after that."
Titania lifted her head slightly at Veronica's sincere voice and looked at her. Veronica smoothed out Titania's messy hair with her hand and gave a faint smile.
"So, keeping the promise I made to Vivian in mind, I intend to help you without reservation until you become Queen. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Titania shook her head, saying she didn't know what she meant. Titania had no interest in being Queen or anything else right now. She was just desperate to see her mother. She had lived for her mother more than for becoming Queen.
Veronica sighed softly and continued.
"In other words, I'm saying that if there's anything you ask for until you become Queen, I will grant it as much as I can. For instance, if you ask me to find Vivian, I will find her."
"R-really...?"
"Yes, I will find her. However, I cannot let you meet Vivian through me. That would be breaking my promise to Vivian. Instead—"
Veronica offered a proposal that Titania couldn't refuse, like dangling a carrot. Because it was clear what Titania wanted most right now. At the very least, she had to help her regain some motivation.
"You might not be able to meet Vivian right away, but I will let you see her."
At the mention of being able to see Vivian, Titania lifted her head abruptly and looked at Veronica. Perhaps the carrot was too effective; Veronica smiled bitterly at the sight of Titania looking at her with wide, sparkling eyes.
"Really...?"
"...Yes. I don't know where Vivian went either, so I can't do it right away, but I will find her as quickly as possible and let you see Vivian through Ainsel."
-Y-yes? Me?
"Yes, your characteristic as a fairy is that no matter how far away she is, as long as Ein-sel's Clone is there, you can project her, right? You can do at least this much for Titania, whom you like, right?"
-That is true, but...
Ainsel glanced at Titania. Seeing her looking at her with eyes full of life, unlike when she was crying earlier, she couldn't possibly refuse. Ainsel thought that if this was the only way for Titania to pull herself together, then it couldn't be helped.
-...All right. I will do it.
"Good. Ainsel has agreed, and I will start preparing to find Vivian soon. Titania, what will you do?"
Titania rubbed her eyes and opened them wide. She couldn't meet her mother yet, but just being able to watch her from afar was enough for now. If she only knew how her mother was living, she would be able to go find her at any time.
Titania, who had risen from the bed, hesitated for a moment before smiling bashfully and thanking Veronica.
"...Thank you, eonni."