[Episode 100] - Family Gathering (2)
At present, Titania was not in a very good mood. No, it was more than simply being in a bad mood—she was displeased and irritated. After all, she had to call the person grinning at her right before her “Big Sister.”
To be perfectly honest, Titania really disliked Veronica. She had never been given an explanation, so she could not say exactly why, but Titania knew that Veronica was the same person as herself.
That was why she disliked Veronica even more. The way Veronica hated and despised Mother looked just like the way she herself hated Mother, and Titania hated seeing it. Especially since their faces were practically identical, like twins.
‘If it were me, I would never treat Mother like that...’
Besides, she could not forgive Veronica for disguising herself as Princess Fiona when they were young and driving a wedge between Mother and her whenever she had the chance. What would have happened if she had been deceived by those schemes?
She really did not even want to imagine it. That was why she had no intention of ever, ever allowing that person to interfere with her relationship with Mother. No matter what Mother said, she had planned to throw that person out, but...
‘If I grant a few of your wishes, will you trust me just a little more?’
The wishes that person had offered as compensation for her apology were far too tempting.
The promise to act as her double and help her secretly slip out of the royal palace was undeniably difficult to refuse—even if the person making the offer was the very one who had driven a wedge between Mother and herself.
After secretly leaving the royal palace, wandering the streets and villages while concealing her identity was one of the things Titania had truly dreamed of doing. That was why she had insisted on attending the masquerade, no matter how much Mother opposed it.
Moreover, the masquerade she had barely managed to attend despite Mother’s opposition had been completely different from what she had imagined. Even with a mask and a disguise, there had been many people who recognized her right away.
Titania, who had clearly expected to hide her identity so that no one would realize she was a princess, could not conceal her disappointment. When a whole crowd of young noblemen had rushed over to ask her to dance, she had even felt despair.
‘I thought there would never be another chance like this after the masquerade ended...’
Titania glanced at Veronica using only her eyes.
With her fan spread open and a smile in her eyes as she looked at her, Veronica seemed almost like a mirror moving of its own accord, and the sight gave Titania a strange feeling. Thinking of them as twins made it somewhat easier, but no matter how she looked at it, Veronica was not her older sister.
‘If she really helps me, couldn’t I go on dates with Mother, too?’
Titania stroked her chin for a moment, sinking into her imagination.
She had heard that the capital held festivals with special meaning in every season. A Spring Welcoming Festival in spring, a Market Festival in summer, a Harvest Festival in autumn, and a Snowflake Festival in winter.
It would be nice to sneak away alone and go see them, but what if she could go there with Mother? She wanted to visit each of those places at least once, but her position as a princess made it difficult for her to go.
However, if all it took was calling that person “Big Sister,” it meant she would have the chance to attend a festival alone with Mother. The two of them, alone, going to see a festival...
If she went to the Spring Welcoming Festival with Mother, they could surely walk together through the market stalls overflowing with flowers. They could buy a wreath as a keepsake from a flower vendor they happened to pass, then tour the festival wearing the wreaths. Mother would surely look beautiful with a wreath on her head.
The Summer Market Festival sounded nice, too. The merchants were apparently going to put on a circus with animals brought in from foreign lands, so Mother would surely enjoy it. Besides, the festival was even more spectacular at night. She had heard that, during the finale, when everyone gathered to sing and dance, men and women, young and old, all danced together.
‘Then I could dance with Mother without worrying about anyone else’s eyes.’
And what about the Autumn Harvest Festival? The most enjoyable festival was unquestionably the autumn harvest festival. It was held to coincide with a holiday designated by the kingdom. Even the royal palace gave out food for the festivities, and she had heard that everyone enjoyed the festival day and night. The boisterous sounds of the Harvest Festival could be heard even from the distant royal palace.
The modest Winter Snowflake Festival sounded nice as well. Held beside a large lake in the capital, the Snowflake Festival featured ice sculptures and more attractions than the festivals of the other seasons. What if she went sightseeing there with Mother? Since the weather would be cold, she might even be able to hold Mother’s hand as they walked.
She wanted to walk through the snowy fields, holding Mother’s hand tightly. Surely Mother would not complain if she clung to her, since it was a cold day. She would definitely be able to walk pressed close to Mother under the excuse that she was cold. Since it was cold, perhaps she could do more than just hold hands—she could even lace their fingers together...
‘What should I do... It feels so wonderful just imagining it...’
Titania quickly covered her mouth with her palm to hide the corners of her lips curling upward.
A festival, just the two of them?! Wouldn’t the summer festival be wonderful, too?! She would never have a chance to dance with Mother if not for something like this! Since it was a festival, it would be all right even if she hugged Mother while they danced! Just like those scenes in novels!
Besides, it was not as if this wish would be granted only once. Then could she attend every festival with Mother each year?! And it seemed it would be fine even if it was not a festival! She could ask Veronica to let her see the sea at night again, just like last time! The two of them, alone, looking out at the night sea!
‘And if the mood gets better, then I could, um, kiss Mother on the cheek, and, well, little by little...’
Eheheh.
Her happy imaginings would not stop.
Feeling her face grow bright red, Titania had no choice but to spread her palm over her entire face to hide it. She firmly held back the laughter trying to escape between her teeth and let out a sigh instead. A truly contented sigh.
When she thought about things like that, having Veronica become her older sister did not seem so bad. The benefits outweighed the drawbacks. It was not as if Veronica loved Mother the way she did. If anything, Veronica made her hatred so obvious that Titania felt reassured.
‘If she said she loved Mother like I do, though, I would never forgive her.’
Even if Veronica came to recognize Mother’s greatness and grew fond of her, she would have to stop at merely liking her. That was the absolute limit of what Titania could concede. If Veronica crossed that line, Titania intended to drive her out by any means necessary.
The rest of the wishes Veronica had offered were fine, too, but the first wish was still her favorite. She was looking forward to learning magic, but she had more or less given up on it already, so she did not expect much. It was not as if the lack of magic had inconvenienced her in the first place.
Besides...
How should she put it? Somehow, she knew. She knew that this person’s actions truly came from a desire to help her. Veronica’s words did not feel like lies.
Titania thought for a moment, then glanced at Veronica arguing with Mother. Anyone with even a little sense could understand why Veronica disliked Mother. It was only that, unlike Veronica, Titania had received far too much from Mother, and so she did not want to see Mother acting that way.
The name Titania, and even her feelings now.
Everything was practically something Mother had created for her.
If she had been raised by a Mother who had not changed, like Veronica had been...
Titania shook her head from side to side, dispelling the unpleasant thought. For Titania, only the results and the facts mattered: the fact that it was her current Mother who had raised her, and the fact that it was her current Mother whom she loved.
As Titania looked back and forth between Veronica and Vivian with a sullen expression, Veronica noticed her gaze and began teasing her with an irritating grin.
“Being a little sister is pretty nice. Want to call me that one more time? ‘Big Sister Veronica.’”
“...Today is over. I’m not calling you that anymore.”
As expected, she still did not like it.
Titania turned her head away with a huff. Veronica’s promises to grant her wishes were one thing, but right now, the things she disliked were simply too significant.
*
As Veronica continued to visit from time to time, the relationship between Titania and Veronica gradually grew closer. Veronica came almost exclusively to meet Titania. She hardly ever came to see only me.
A day, a week, a month, a year. As the days they met grew more numerous, Titania also began calling Veronica “Big Sister” more often, and sometimes the two of them would talk alone, leaving me out.
Usually, that happened on days when Veronica introduced the dwarves to Titania. The dwarves apparently disliked Vivian intensely, and whenever I was there, none of them except Brownie would come out of their cabin. It was supposedly because of the rumors about Vivian...
At times like that, only Ainsel and I would remain behind, grumbling together. It was not as if I did not understand that the two of them wanted to talk alone, but it still made me feel miserable. Ainsel especially became depressed whenever she was separated from Titania.
When I asked Ainsel, “You could just join them while they’re talking, couldn’t you? I’m the only one they aren’t inviting,” Ainsel answered, “I’m a little... awkward around Veronica.”
What did she mean, awkward? Was she still deeply traumatized by the shock of having her true body kidnapped by Veronica? Whenever Veronica came to visit, Ainsel could neither stay nor go, and would come stand beside me, restlessly stamping her feet.
Ainsel had always been with Titania. Perhaps losing that place to Veronica made her feel even more miserable. In any case, whenever I asked Titania what she and Veronica had talked about when they were alone, she said that Veronica taught her magic or that they discussed this and that.
Before long, they had grown so close that, seen from the side, they really did look like sisters. Veronica still acted as though she disliked me, but she was no longer as hostile and sharp as she had been before.
And so, time passed quickly—
Titania turned fifteen.
I turned twenty-eight.
The season was still winter, cold enough to chill one’s bones.
There truly was not much time left now.
Once this winter passed and spring arrived, Titania would enter the academy.
There really was not much time left.
There were only a few months left for me to spend with Titania.