91. Mirror
91. Mirror
[Episode 91] - Mirror
Snow White shuddered at the wave of self-loathing.
Even if it was just to tease Titania, she felt pathetic and stupid for saying things as if she were on good terms with Vivian. If it were the old her, she would never have let such stupid words out of her mouth...
'...In the end, have I admitted it too?'
Snow White glanced up and stared blankly at Titania, who was quietly fuming. Titania, restless and worried about having Vivian taken away from her, looked truly foolish. A pure and cute fool, unlike herself. She let out a snicker at the reaction, which was fitting for a thirteen-year-old.
"It's a joke, so come over here and sit."
"...I don't want to. When I look at you, my insides are boiling with annoyance."
That goes for me too.
The words rose to the tip of her throat, but Snow White couldn't bring herself to say them. Because she vaguely understood why Titania was annoyed. It was clearly similar to the reason she felt annoyed looking at Titania.
'I get angry at the sight of Titania liking Vivian, and Titania gets angry at the sight of me hating Vivian.'
Thinking that, Snow White felt that she and Titania were like reflections in a mirror. Same face, but different things being reflected. It was clear that the reason she and Titania were so different was because of 'Vivian'.
For the past three years, Snow White had spent a lot of time alone due to the 'experiments'. Having a lot of time alone meant having a lot of time to think for herself. In all that time, the thing she thought about most was none other than 'Vivian of this place'.
At first, she was terribly hateful. She hated Vivian for doing 'that' to her, yet living so happily here. She even hated the fact that she was showing the side of a 'parent' here without hesitation, a side she had never shown her.
However, after meeting Vivian here a few times, she could tell that this Vivian was something different from the Vivian she knew. At first, she thought it was just Titania, herself in this place, who was different.
She thought that because Titania knew how to be loved by others, unlike her, that was why even that Vivian loved Titania. So, she thought she was killed by Vivian because she didn't know how to be loved by others.
However, no matter how much she thought about it, it was Vivian here who was different.
Because this Vivian was different, Titania could become so lovely.
Because this Vivian was different, Titania could become so happy.
Because this Vivian was different, Titania could love Vivian like that.
Because this Vivian was different...
Thinking that, Snow White let out a hollow laugh.
Even after realizing that this Vivian was different, Vivian was still hateful. She was so, so, so hateful that she never wanted to see her again. That's why she hadn't attended any ball events for three years. If she wanted to play sometimes, she only chose to attend balls where she thought Vivian wouldn't participate.
But what kind of coincidence was this?
She didn't want to meet her at all, so she even wore a mask that interfered with recognition, but that woman approached her somehow. Just because she had the same face as Titania, for such an absurd reason, she came to find her, ignoring even magic. She looked at her and pretended to know her.
That fact was so absurd that she was dumbfounded and confused. Because she really had no intention of meeting her. And what she really couldn't understand was that the emotion she felt once that absurdity and confusion subsided was...
'That I was happy she recognized me...'
That fact was so embarrassing that anger welled up immediately.
It wasn't anger at Vivian, but anger at herself.
She was furious at the absurdity of the fact that she had melted at that smile looking at her and felt a little happy. She was also filled with terrible self-loathing at the fact that she had felt happy looking at Vivian. She was angry at the fact that she had received joy from Vivian, of all people.
Was that why? The moment she learned that the Great Witch had arrived, the moment her wrist was grabbed by Vivian, a terrible sense of betrayal seemed to tighten her chest.
'The reason you recognized me was because of the Great Witch? So that's why you pretended to be close? To sell me to the Great Witch. The fact that you changed was all my misunderstanding, huh?'
It was clear that she had treated Vivian even more sharply because of that sense of betrayal. So, the moment she decided to leave Vivian's side and never see her again, never come here again, Vivian shouted.
To listen to her story.
That she wanted to talk.
...Come to think of it, it seemed she had never had a proper conversation with Vivian until now. Because she had just unilaterally hated and despised her. Because she thought that was right and acted that way.
If it were the old her, she would have yelled, 'Talk, my ass! Get lost!', but...
'...Once would be fine. I have things I want to ask too.'
Snow White, resting her chin on her hand and sighing deeply, glanced up and looked at Titania, who was wary of her. At the expression that looked just like a puppy growling, Snow White snorted and asked Titania.
"Titania."
"Why...?"
"I'm not going to take Vivian, so don't glare at me like that. I have no intention of taking her in the first place. So..."
Snow White tapped the seat next to her with her palm and looked at Titania. At the signal to come and sit here quickly, Titania hesitated and slowly approached Snow White.
"First, can you tell me what kind of person Vivian is?"
"Why should I...?"
"If you don't want to, forget it. There are plenty of people to listen to besides you. For example... the mirror hanging around your neck."
-Me...?
"What can I do? Titania doesn't want to? Then I have to ask you. Besides, you must have something you want to ask me too, right? Like the story of how I stole your original body."
-Th, that is.... but...
Snow White, who looked at Titania as if to say 'look at this', let out a snicker.
Titania, feeling choked up at the mocking laughter that sounded as if there were plenty of people to tell her besides her, strode up to Snow White, plopped down in the seat next to her, and pouted.
"You're going to tell me?"
"Yes. Since you don't seem to know, I'm going to tell you one by one, step by step. What kind of person Mother is."
Snow White almost burst into laughter at Titania's articulate speech, but she bit her lower lip to hold back the laughter and looked at Titania sitting next to her.
"So, when I was 6 years old-"
Titania's eyes sparkled as she was about to mention Vivian, and she soon began to unfold her life story. To think she would start from their first meeting.
Snow White looked at Titania and recalled her own childhood.
Her own gloomy and depressing past. Unlike herself, who forced a smile just to survive, she saw her talking about the person she loved with a truly happy smile.
At the sight of Titania, who was completely different from her, Snow White just smiled bitterly.
*
"-In the old days, there weren't many witches, so the Coven was small. There weren't many talented children. 400 years ago, when the Coven's survival was in crisis-"
I feel like I'm going to die.
No, I'm really going to die. I felt like I was really going to die from the stories of the Coven's history, the history of witches, and Morgan's history that had been going on for almost several hours.
I felt like I understood why Ainsel evaluated Morgan as a meddlesome grandmother. Because, if she thought I wasn't focusing during the story, she would ask like a pin-point, "What are you doing...? Are you listening...?" It was nothing short of horror.
Seriously, this grandmother didn't even get tired of talking; even though the sun had set and night had come, she didn't stop blabbering. At this point, I was worried if her mouth would hurt.
And I never imagined that listening to stories would be this hard. I had to react occasionally, and I was on the verge of getting a cramp in the corners of my mouth from forcing a smile. While I was screaming "Please stop...!" inside, -
Ding- dong- Ding- dong-
"Hmm? What is this sound?"
"...It seems the ball is over. It's the bell telling everyone to go home now."
The bell announcing the end of the ball rang out.
To think she would talk until the ball ended...
Should I be glad it's a children's ball so it ends early? If it were an adult masquerade ball, it would have just been starting. Then I wouldn't have been able to go home. Because I would have had to listen to Morgan's history stories here until dawn.
"I see... It's a pity, but we'll have to stop here. You should be heading home soon too, little one."
"That's right...! It's such a pity...! It was so much fun...! I'm even sad that it's ending...!!"
"Little one... Keuhuhu... It's been a really long time since I've had a child listen to my stories so attentively."
When I forced myself to admire her, I felt unnecessarily sorry seeing Morgan's expression, smiling awkwardly as if she were truly touched. How little attention must other witches have paid to her for her to be like this even to me?
"I should be heading back now too. I've been here longer than I thought."
"You're leaving already?"
"Keuhuhu, even if you're that sad, it can't be helped. As a Great Witch, I have a lot of work to do..."
Watching Morgan with a bitter expression, Morgan, who had stood up from the sofa, stretched and moved her stiff body. The moment I was about to see her off, thinking she was finally leaving, Morgan turned her body toward me and spread her arms wide.
At the sight of Morgan spreading her arms wide as if to have a hug before parting, I let out a small sigh as if I had no choice and gently hugged Morgan.
Because she was a little shorter than me, Morgan rested her chin on my shoulder and patted my back. As we hugged like that for a moment, Morgan began to praise me.
"Little one, I like you very much. You are the first child to listen to my stories with such concentration."
"Haha..."
"So..."
While I was laughing in embarrassment, Morgan lifted her tiptoes, brought her lips to my ear, and whispered in a very small voice.
"For today, I will pretend not to see that child in the 3rd-floor lounge. However, there will be no next time."
Having whispered that, Morgan stepped back and then smiled at me. That smile gave me goosebumps, and I shivered without realizing it.
So, that means she knows everything, right? The fact that I'm hiding the princess, and the fact that the princess is there. Everything.
I had goosebumps, but I had no choice but to smile awkwardly. Because if I talked any more, it felt like the opportunity Morgan gave me would disappear. I just bowed my head, saying thank you.
"Then, let's see each other again next time. Little one."
"Yes... see you next time..."
Morgan, holding the doorknob, looked at me, smiled, and waved her hand gently. I also waved back at Morgan and said goodbye. Continuing until Morgan went out the door.
*
