86. An Unexpected Guest (1)
86. An Unexpected Guest (1)
[Episode 86] - Unexpected Guest (1)
"I only love Mother."
After saying the words "I love you" out loud, Titania felt even more certain of this emotion. With the corners of her eyes curved in a smile, Titania looked at Vivian. The confusion she felt earlier was already turning into conviction.
Ah, I really do love Mother.
Once she realized it, there was no reason to doubt or deny this feeling. In her life, Mother was an 'absolute' existence, and she was the one who had given her love all this time.
Wouldn't it be stranger not to love Mother?
Unable to suppress the pleasant, rising emotion, Titania eventually burrowed into Vivian's arms once again.
As she pressed her body close and inhaled, the subtle scent of her mother filled her breath. These were things she usually didn't pay attention to, so why did they feel so pleasant now?
The sound of Mother's heartbeat softly heard near her ear, the warmth of Mother that seemed to spread from their pressed chests, the steady breathing of Mother felt every time she inhaled—everything, absolutely everything was wonderful.
'Is this what the feeling of being adorable is like? Has Mother always felt this way when looking at me?'
She hoped so.
She hoped this heart was the same as Mother's.
Eventually, Vivian's body, unable to withstand Titania's weight, tilted and then flopped onto the sofa. As Titania ended up in a position where she was crushing her from above, Vivian smiled as if she had no choice and patted Titania's back.
"Really... why are you acting so sweet today?"
Vivian, who was stroking Titania's back, looked up at the ceiling with a bitter smile.
Honestly, Vivian was in a bind because Titania, who was acting cute out of jealousy toward other young ladies, was just too lovely and adorable. She wanted to hug her tight, and she wanted to kiss her lips one more time. What kind of expression would Titania make then?
'She would definitely make the cutest expression in the world.'
Her face might turn bright red and she might be shy, or she might giggle and say she likes it even more. Either reaction was sure to be cute and lovely. Imagining how Titania would react, Vivian couldn't help but chuckle.
However... as much as that big heart was, Vivian thought Titania's affection was a bit troublesome. It wasn't that she disliked it at all. As soon as she heard Titania say she loved her, a happy feeling welled up in her heart.
The problem was that as Titania grew, the affection directed at her was growing even bigger.
She was worried about Titania, who wasn't becoming independent as she grew, but instead trying to rely on her while acting cute. Since Titania had to live alone in two years, she had to help her become independent, but...
'For some reason, her aegyo is increasing... This is really troublesome...'
Titania had to live alone in the dormitory for three years after entering the academy in two years, and after that, she had to live alone in the royal palace. Because she had to leave the royal palace.
There could be no 'result' where she stayed in the royal palace for Titania or didn't leave the royal palace. No, Vivian thought she had to leave the royal palace for Titania's sake.
The 'promise' made with the Queen Mother and the ministers was a promise, but Vivian felt that the state of Titania relying on her was absolutely not a good thing for Titania.
If things went on like this, it seemed like Titania would rely on her even after becoming Queen. It seemed like she would sleep in the same bed as her even after becoming Queen because she couldn't fall asleep alone forever.
No matter what, it wasn't a good look for the Queen of a country to rely on the former Queen who wasn't blood-related and hadn't even received the royal surname. And...
'And... I need to get away from Titania, too.'
*
At that moment—
Ainsel, who was stuck between Titania and Vivian, was having a hell of a time.
She wanted to jump in between them right now and shout at them to stop, but as a fairy who knew how to read the room, she kept her mouth shut, acting just like a normal mirror.
The Princess who was expressing her affection for Vivian so intensely.
Ainsel felt a little worried watching that scene. After all, it was clear that the day would come when the two would have to part ways.
If that day really came, she was worried the Princess would be hurt and sad. So she had asked Vivian not to leave before, but Vivian's mind was made up.
Since she was a fairy, she couldn't know the heart of Vivian, who was a human, exactly, but she could at least tell that Vivian's choice was for the Princess's sake in her own way. Vivian clearly liked the Princess, too.
'If that day really comes, what should I do?'
Ainsel fell into thought for a moment. Should she follow Vivian, who was leaving the royal castle, or should she stay by the Princess's side? Or should she live by going back and forth between the two? What on earth should she do...
As Ainsel, who was stuck between the two, was groaning and worrying, light began to enter the mirror.
Was the two's hug finally over? When Ainsel peeked down, she saw Vivian lying on the sofa with an exhausted expression, crushed by the Princess.
Vivian, who sluggishly got up from the sofa, let out a small sigh, and stood up while putting the wolf mask back on that was placed on the table.
"Haa... I'll go get something to wet our throats. Wait here."
"Hehe, okay. Mother."
As Vivian left the room, Titania started humming a tune. At the pleasant humming sound of "Heung- heung-heung-", Ainsel raised her head and asked Titania.
-Really... you two haven't forgotten about me, have you...?
"U, uh?! No? There's no way I'd forget Ainsel...?"
Startled, Titania quickly lifted the mirror necklace hanging around her neck to look at Ainsel. Seeing Ainsel's face puffed up as if she were slightly sulking, Titania couldn't hold back her laughter and burst into giggles.
-Haa... I kept my eyes peeled and monitored others to protect the Princess, but the Princess even forgot my existence...
"N, no! I really didn't forget...!"
Honestly, she had completely forgotten.
All her attention was on Mother, so she had no room to pay attention to Ainsel. Ainsel, who had turned her head away as if she were really sulking, wouldn't look directly at Titania's face.
Thinking she had to soothe Ainsel before she reached 'that state', Titania quickly tried to talk to Ainsel, but—
-Haa... that's right... How could a mere mirror like me protect the Princess... I'm just the Princess's surveillance... So that's why the Princess forgets me too...
"Ainsel... listen to me. Okay?"
With a throbbing headache, Titania frowned. Titania sighed deeply, saying that Ainsel's 'that day', which came about once a year, had finally arrived. Ainsel's 'that day' meant—
-No... it's my fault... It's not the Princess's fault... It's my fault for just being a useless mirror...
The day Ainsel's self-esteem hit rock bottom.
The day Ainsel scolded herself, saying she was useless and that a mirror was no help anyway. It was a day that came about once a year, and to be honest, Titania hated Ainsel in this state.
It wasn't a good sight to see her only friend, Ainsel, insulting herself. As if she were used to Ainsel in this state, Titania lifted the mirror necklace, looked at Ainsel, and smiled brightly.
"Ainsel, what are you to me?"
-...My only friend.
"Then what is it when you insult yourself?"
-It's the same as insulting the Princess...
"You know that, so why are you doing this? No more mumbling! If you keep doing that, I really won't be with you for a while!"
At the devastating words, Ainsel hiccuped and shut her mouth. Once she shut her mouth, now Ainsel was on the verge of bursting into tears. As if she were used to this too, Titania sighed softly and stared intently at Ainsel.
"Really, I say this all the time, but please don't do that. Don't try to compare yourself to other fairies like last time. Saying that having another fairy by my side would be more helpful to me, I'm sick of hearing that."
-......
"I've always told you, haven't I? I only need you. I don't need any other fairies or whatever. Because you are the only fairy for me."
-Princessss...
"If you understand, stop crying!"
Sniff, Ainsel swallowed her tears and looked at Titania while holding back her crying. Titania, who had learned through experience that Ainsel would return to her usual self if she showered her with praise, stroked the top of the mirror and looked at Ainsel.
"They say a person's own strengths are more visible to others' eyes, and in my opinion, Ainsel, you are a truly wonderful fairy."
-W, where am I wonderful...?
Ainsel, who was giggling, looked at Titania with eyes full of expectation, but Titania answered without a second of hesitation.
"Your face."
-...You know my face is Vivian's face, right...?
"I'm joking. Don't make such a surprised face, fufu."
It was by no means a joke.
Ainsel, who had Mother's face, was a precious fairy with whom she could look at Mother's face anytime, anywhere. She could even see the childlike face that Mother didn't show her through Ainsel.
Titania was happy just being by Ainsel's side for that one fact alone. She had heard from Mother that Ainsel's specialty was being able to see other places through the mirror, but she hadn't been particularly interested.
No, she felt like she might be a little interested starting today.
A very good idea to utilize Ainsel's specialty had just flashed through Titania's mind. As she thought of that idea, Titania curved the corners of her eyes and smiled deviously.
"Anyway... Ainsel, you are truly an irreplaceable, precious friend to me. So, please stay by my side always from now on. Okay?"
-Princess... If that is what the Princess wishes...
At Titania's words, Ainsel smiled, "Hehe." Titania also smiled "Fufu" while watching Ainsel, who was smiling shyly.
As they were smiling while looking at each other like that, the sound of the lounge door opening creaked. Thinking Mother had returned, Titania smiled brightly and looked toward the door, but—
"...? Who is it...?"
The person who opened the door and came in was not Mother. The 'woman' who opened the door and entered opened her eyes softly and looked at Titania.
Her hair, as white as snow piled on a snowy field, fell to her back, and the dress she was wearing was also a mix of pure white and blue, as if winter had visited only around the woman.
The woman with deep blue eyes like the sea approached Titania slowly, very slowly. She wanted to ask who she was right away, but for some reason, words wouldn't come out of Titania.
Because of the woman's beauty?
Because of the overwhelming pressure that seemed to crush her body?
She was just being looked at by the woman, but Titania found it hard to even breathe. It felt as if she were trapped in cold ice.
The woman who had approached her side at some point slowly reached out her hand. Even though the tips of her fingers were right in front of her eyes, Titania could only stare at them.
And what broke that silence was—
-S, stop!!!
It was none other than Ainsel. Ainsel, who had taken a stance as if to block her somehow by spreading her arms wide, shouted at the woman.
-What on earth are you?! Why are you here?!
"......Hm?"
The woman, who tilted her head as if puzzled, glanced down and looked at Ainsel. The moment the woman looked at Ainsel, a bright smile spread across the woman's face, which seemed too cold for laughter to suit it.
"Isn't that Ainsel? It's been a long time. But why are you here?"
-Th, that's what I should be saying?! Y, you're the one who shouldn't be here! Why are you here?!
Ainsel, who shouted, pointed her finger at the woman and interrogated her.
-I'm asking why you, the Grand Witch of the Coven, are here!!