53. A Runaway Incident That Wasn't Really a Runaway (3)
53. A Runaway Incident That Wasn't Really a Runaway (3)
[Chapter 53] - A Runaway That Isn't Really a Runaway (3)
Titania, led by the hand by Brownie, came to the table and sat down, glancing around nervously. What on earth was this situation? Should she consider this a kidnapping?
However, it was too sloppy to be called a kidnapping. She wasn't tied up, she wasn't confined, and there was no one watching her. All there was, was a young 'fairy' about her own age.
Brownie, running around busily, began preparing food on the table as if she were truly happy. She ladled soup from a large pot and placed warm bread on the table.
-Hehe, I prepared this in a rush, so this is all I have to offer. Please, go ahead and eat!
Titania looked down at the steaming soup, at a loss, and looked at Brownie sitting across from her. Could she eat it? But, food given by a stranger...
She had been taught not to accept food from strangers, but the soup in front of her looked too delicious. The scent wafting from the meat-filled soup made Titania's body twist in anticipation.
Gurgle- The sound echoing from Titania's stomach filled the hut loudly. Titania quickly clutched her stomach, but there was no way such a loud sound could be hidden.
Once again, with an even louder sound, Gurgle-! The sound filled the hut, and Titania blushed, hanging her head in embarrassment. Come to think of it, she hadn't eaten since the tea party...
"Ugh."
-Ehehe, it's okay to eat. Brownie made it herself. Brownie doesn't put anything like poison in the food, so don't worry too much!
Brownie put her hands on her hips and declared proudly that she didn't mess with food. Titania glared at her with suspicious eyes, but Brownie just giggled.
As she swallowed her saliva, playing tug-of-war with patience in front of the bowl, Ainsel glanced at the soup and Brownie, sighed softly, and whispered to Titania.
-It's okay to eat food made by a 'Brownie', a house fairy. Those children are truly good fairies. They play pranks sometimes, but they are 'fairies' who don't play mean pranks.
"Really...?"
-Yes, I, a fellow fairy, guarantee it. So don't worry too much and go ahead and eat.
Titania nodded at Ainsel's words, picked up a wooden spoon, scooped up the meat-filled soup, and put the meat on the spoon. Then she put a big mouthful into her mouth and swallowed.
The fatty, tender meat, cut into bite-sized pieces, melted in her mouth. The potatoes, soaked in the rich flavor of the soup, crumbled softly in her mouth.
The savory scent of butter and the sweet taste of onions melted into the soup, and swallowing it along with the tender meat—it couldn't have been more delicious. Although Titania had lived her life eating only all sorts of delicacies...
"Best soup I've ever had..."
-Hehe, there's plenty more! Let me know if you want more!
Titania looked at Brownie, only raising her eyes while gulping down the soup. A girl her age who looked similar to her. Even if she was a fairy, why was she here alone?
As she pondered while swallowing the soup, Ainsel spoke to Brownie.
-Brownie, thank you so much for preparing food for the Princess. But, can you tell us why we are here now? To wake up and suddenly be in a hut like this... Honestly, I don't understand. Where on earth is this?
-This is a 'hut' where Brownie and other fairies live together. The reason you came here is... because 'Habetrot' brought you...? Brownie doesn't know the details either. The 'Princess' told me to welcome you because guests would be coming today.
-...Habetrot?
As far as Ainsel knew, Habetrot was the 'Fairy of the Spinning Wheel'. And Brownie was a 'House Fairy'. Originally, it was almost impossible for different fairies to live together.
Usually, it was very rare for fairies to leave the place where they were born. Since the 'meaning' of their existence was in the place they were born, there was no particular reason to leave even if they wanted to.
Except for two reasons.
The first was if the place they lived in disappeared over time, making them wanderers. Ainsel also remembered wandering around various regions at the hands of humans as a wandering fairy before meeting Vivian.
The second was...
-Are you guys... a witch's 'familiar'?
-Yes! That's right! Brownie is the witch's 'familiar'!
Brownie puffed out her chest proudly. 'A witch's familiar.' Fairies who contract with a witch, lend power to the witch, and receive magic from the witch in return.
Ainsel, convinced that the 'Princess' Brownie mentioned was a witch, narrowed her eyes and looked at Brownie. Who did the Princess refer to? As far as Ainsel knew, there was no witch who was a 'Princess' in the 'Coven'.
-...Which witch? Surely, it's one of the Coven's witches, right?
-Eh, w-well, that is...
As Brownie stammered and couldn't continue, Ainsel felt a sense of anxiety engulf her body. It didn't matter if a Coven witch had brought the Princess here.
They were just mischievous, not harmful. Bringing the Princess here without a word could just be taken as a 'prank'.
But what if it wasn't a Coven witch? Ainsel knew of 'one' other witch currently active besides the Coven witches. The witch who turned Aurora into a 'fairy' and stole her original body.
A criminal the Coven was also searching for. Ainsel had to be wary of the existence of a 'witch' who went around turning people into fairies. Had she let her guard down too much because Brownie belonged to the 'good fairies'?
Ainsel widened her eyes and threatened Brownie.
-Answer quickly. Whose familiar are you? The candy witch who lives with twins? The mermaid witch? Or the witch who locks her daughter in a tower? It doesn't matter who it is. As long as it's a Coven witch.
-Ah, w-well, Brownie is, you see...?
Brownie's eyes were shaking in all directions. Just as Ainsel's suspicion was turning into certainty that Brownie's 'master' was indeed that 'witch'—
Clang-
The sound of the hut door opening was heard, and a 'woman' with a familiar face approached Titania. The woman, looking at Titania who was taking a big mouthful of soup, smirked.
"You're really bold. It must have been a place you didn't know when you opened your eyes, aren't you scared?"
"Piona Pwincess."
"Finish what's in your mouth before you speak."
Princess Fiona looked at Titania as if she were dumbfounded and let out a dry laugh. At Princess Fiona's words, Titania moved her small lips busily, chewing.
After chewing diligently, her Adam's apple moved as she swallowed the soup, and she licked the remains around her lips with her small tongue before it went back in. Then, the Princess, who looked surprised, widened her eyes and looked at Princess Fiona.
"Why are you here?"
"...Is that all you have to say to me? Isn't there anything else you want to ask? Like where this is, or why you're here? No, aren't you scared to have suddenly come to an unknown place?"
Princess Fiona asked as if it were absurd, and Titania tilted her head. Then, she scooped up another big mouthful of soup, put it in her mouth, swallowed it, puffed out her cheeks, and answered Princess Fiona.
"I'm not scared... Why would I be scared? It's not like a scary person kidnapped me, the soup is delicious, and it doesn't feel bad, so I actually felt comfortable. Oh, come to think of it, your tone changed suddenly? Are you angry at me?"
"...Yes, that's all you're curious about."
Princess Fiona sighed deeply and sat down with a thud next to the chair where Brownie was sitting. Then, she rested her chin on the table, acting impolitely, and stared intently at Titania.
"This is my original tone. Don't worry, I'm not talking like this because I'm angry at you."
"...Really?"
Princess Fiona sighed at Titania's gaze, which looked at her with suspicion. Princess Fiona felt dizzy at the sight of Titania, who was so bold, or perhaps fearless, as she ate the soup.
As they waited until Titania finished the soup, Ainsel, who was hanging around Titania's neck, glared at Princess Fiona as if to kill her. Yes, normally this reaction would be normal.
-You, what on earth were you thinking bringing the Princess here...?
"...Yes, I was a little curious about you too. Why is Vivian's 'familiar' hanging out with the Princess instead of Vivian? Did Vivian make you follow her around to monitor the Princess?"
-My question comes first. Tell me why you brought the Princess here. What on earth is the reason for kidnapping the Princess?
Princess Fiona shrugged at Ainsel, who was growling. Then, she told Brownie sitting next to her to bring some tea, and looked at Ainsel with a smile.
"Kidnapping? That sounds bad. I was going to send her back today anyway. If I really wanted to kidnap her, I would have sent her to a slave market or something, right? And you're a fairy, yet you don't know where this is? Ah, is it because your main body is a mirror, so you've never been here?"
-What do you mean...?
"This is the 'Fairy's Side Path'. Even there, it's 'the Dwarves' Hut' that only I know about. It's a side path of side paths that even the witches of Avalon can't find."
-This is the Fairy's Side Path...? So that's why I couldn't connect to my main body...
Ainsel, who finally realized why she couldn't cross over to her main body, widened her eyes. The Fairy's Side Path was like the backside of the world. So it was natural that she couldn't connect to her main body.
"Bringing her here on my own... yes. I just wanted to see Vivian's true intentions. I couldn't understand that woman raising a child with love. I thought she would show her true colors if the Princess disappeared."
-...Didn't I tell you? The current Vivian is different.
"How can I believe that? You shouldn't be unaware of that woman's personality, right? Didn't you also get deceived by that woman and contract as a 'familiar'?"
-H-how do you know that...?
Princess Fiona chuckled and looked at Ainsel as if she were pathetic. Ainsel glared at Princess Fiona as if to kill her at that gaze, but Princess Fiona just sighed and continued.
"Anyway, answer me. Did Vivian hang you on the Princess's neck for surveillance? Did she put a leash on you so she always knows where she is? That sounds like something that woman would do—"
"That's not it. Ainsel is my friend, so she's with me."
"...Friend?"
Titania, who had finished the soup and dabbed her lips with a handkerchief, raised her eyes and looked at Princess Fiona. Then, she sighed softly, crossed her legs, and continued haughtily.
"This necklace is a 'gift' Ainsel gave me. And, you keep insulting my mother, but I told you earlier, didn't I? Don't insult my mother ever again."
Princess Fiona let out a dry laugh at Titania's gaze, which was glaring at her as if to kill her. Just as she was about to open her mouth, thinking that the brainwashing was severe, she began to feel a stinging sensation on the cheek she had been hit on earlier.
And after slapping her cheek, Vivian's face, shedding tears, flickered before her eyes. The disgusting sight of her genuinely getting angry at her, and genuinely worrying about the Princess.
'...What on earth is the difference between you and me? Did you change that woman? Or did 'I' change this boldly because that woman changed?'
Princess Fiona let out a deep sigh and just looked at Titania without saying anything. Originally, she had no intention of making such a big deal out of this.
The reason she came here was just to 'confirm'.
To 'confirm' how young I was living after mother 'Aurora' was made into a 'Leanan Sidhe' and father died with mother. I just came wearing the mask of 'Princess Fiona'.
Clearly, in my thoughts, the young me at this time should have been raised as a 'witch' while being abused and bullied by Vivian. I just came to give minor help for such a young me...
But, contrary to my expectations, Vivian was genuinely loving the young me, and the young me was also genuinely trusting and following Vivian, growing up receiving affection.
Unlike me.
I felt 'jealousy' and 'envy' at that sight without realizing it. That's why I staged this ridiculous 'play'. I thought if the young me ran away and caused trouble, I would definitely be able to see Vivian's true intentions.
Princess Fiona thought that the sight of her worrying about her was a lie, that the smile she gave her was a fake smile, and that the heart she had for her was fake.
But, contrary to my thoughts, Vivian was genuinely worrying about the young me as if she were her daughter. She was crying and getting angry to the point where her eyes were red for me, who had run away.
That sight was terribly disgusting.
That sight was terribly unpleasant to see.
That woman was showing the young me a face she had never shown 'me'. 'I' was ruined because of that woman, but why do 'you' look happy because of that woman?
This question kept ringing in her head.
Aren't you supposed to be unhappy like me? Why do you look happy? You are the same 'me' as me, aren't you? I'm having such a hard time, shouldn't you be having a hard time too? You...
Why are you different from me?
Princess Fiona, gritting her teeth, looked at Titania with a bitter smile. The Princess was still glaring at her with a bold expression. She was saying with her eyes to apologize for insulting her mother.
At that gaze, she no longer wanted to pay attention to this child. Since she was different from herself anyway, and she was happy here, she thought there was no need for her to bother helping.
Rather, she laughed at the situation where she tried to help and was only being cursed at with gazes. Princess Fiona couldn't figure out where it had gone wrong.
"...It's enough now, go back. If you open the hut door and go out, you'll arrive in a secluded room in the royal palace. It's dawn over there... so you won't get scolded too much."
"What? Scolded? Why would I get scolded?"
"I wrote a note in your handwriting saying, 'Please don't look for me.' Over there, you are currently in a situation where you've run away. Everyone is trying their best to find you, who has run away. Especially Vivian."
"Whaaat?!?! W-what on earth did you do!!"
Princess Fiona chuckled at the sight of Titania, who had her mouth wide open and was getting angry, saying it was absurd. Titania, who had jumped off the chair in a hurry, ran to the door with a clatter.
As she grabbed the doorknob and tried to turn it and go outside, Princess Fiona called her, arms crossed. Titania was already halfway out the door.
"Princess Titania, if you go outside, will you tell Vivian about what happened here?"
"I will! I'll tell Mother and have her scold you!"
Princess Fiona chuckled and looked at Titania with a smile. Then, she waved her hands gently at Titania to say goodbye.
"Sorry, but if you go outside, all memories of what happened here will disappear. This is 'that kind of place'. You will just become a 'runaway girl' found in a secluded room."
"N-no way?!"
Titania, who had already slipped out with only her head remaining, looked at Princess Fiona in shock, but it was useless. As if falling into a bottomless swamp, her body was gradually slipping out of the door.
"H-how can that be?! If Mother gets angry, she's really, really scary!!"
"I know."
Titania waved her hands, struggling and asking for help, but Princess Fiona just waved her hands gently. At that sight, Titania puffed up her cheeks and shouted!
"I hate you!!!"
With that last cry, Titania's figure disappeared from the hut. As the noisy hut became quiet, Brownie approached Princess Fiona, hesitating. And, one more 'fairy'.
A 'fairy' in the form of a young girl with pink hair like flower petals approached Princess Fiona's side. Then, the pink girl lifted her head and asked Princess Fiona.
-Are you okay?
"Yes, I'm okay."
Princess Fiona, who was gently stroking the heads of the pink-haired girl and Brownie, sighed softly and looked at the door that had swallowed Titania. It seemed like it was time to admit it now.
That child is different from the unhappy me.
Princess Fiona, who glanced down and looked at the pink-haired girl, asked the girl. The girl, who was looking at Princess Fiona with dazed eyes, yawned loudly and answered.
"Who is the next test subject?"
-A blonde girl hiding in a tower. I heard a witch is blocking her from going outside. Currently, she is exchanging feelings with a man who has approached her. She will definitely make a good test subject.
"...Yes. When the delegation work is over, let's go immediately."
At the same time, Princess Fiona wiped her face. Then, the shape of her face began to change gradually. Her skin turned white like snow, and her obsidian-like eyes gradually turned red.
As she wiped her hair, her light brown hair, which could be mistaken for blonde, gradually darkened and turned into jet-black hair. Then, Princess Fiona took out a red ribbon from her pocket.
Princess Fiona, who tied her hair up with the red ribbon, let out a comfortable sigh and looked at the mirror hanging on the wall. Princess Fiona, who had become the same face as 'Titania', smiled faintly.
"It's a face I never like whenever I see it. It looks too much like Mother."