[Episode 102] - Just the Two of Us
Scritch, scritch—
In the quiet office, only the sound of an ink-laden pen tip scratching against paper echoed. Since winter had arrived, there were more documents to process, so today of all days, I had to focus on work.
I really had to focus, but...
“...Ainsel, don’t you have anything to do?”
—...No. I don’t have anything to do.
I stopped the scratching sound, roughly tossed my fountain pen with a clack, and looked at Ainsel in the mirror on the desk, sitting blankly with her mind elsewhere. She looked like she might drool with her mouth hanging open.
The only reason Ainsel—who had always been with Titania—had been coming to me lately was one thing. When Veronica came to find Titania. Without fail, on days Veronica visited, Ainsel came to me.
Always sticking to my side until Veronica left, Ainsel looked so much like a puppy whose owner had been stolen that it made me smile in a different way. The sight of her spending time by my side was almost pitiful.
“Titania likes her so much, so why do you avoid Veronica like that...”
—W-Well... I suppose I should say it's awkward...
Ainsel squirmed and answered my muttering. I didn't know the details, but the reason Ainsel avoided Veronica wasn't trauma from having her main body stolen.
Veronica had apologized for that incident, and Ainsel had accepted that apology. The reason Ainsel avoided Veronica was fundamentally different. Though I didn't know what that reason was.
I picked up the fountain pen again and continued reading the documents.
“Don’t avoid her so much—try talking to her first. How long are you planning to run away? You can’t avoid Veronica forever, can you? Even Titania, who hated Veronica so much, has been meeting with her alone lately, excluding me. I’m dying of loneliness.”
—I know I shouldn’t avoid her... I know, but... what can I do when it’s not easy?
That was true.
Striking up a conversation with an awkward person wasn’t easy. Well, nothing in this world was easy. Still, as long as Titania didn’t reject Veronica, they would have to get along eventually.
“At least don’t run away to me like this. Try staying in that place. Later—”
—...Later? What?
I set down the fountain pen for a moment and looked at Ainsel with a bitter smile at those sudden words. Come to think of it, I didn’t think I had ever discussed the future with Ainsel. Yes, later—
“...Later, what are you planning to do after I leave the palace?”
—T-That...
Ainsel trailed off, fumbling with her words. Since the answer didn’t come out immediately, it seemed Ainsel had no intention of following me. Honestly, that was expected.
Ainsel had always followed Titania, not me. That was probably why she didn’t form a familiar contract with me either. Occasionally she helped me use magic, but I hadn’t made a ‘contract’ with Ainsel.
So the moment I parted with Ainsel, I wouldn’t be able to use magic. To some extent, Ainsel was also the reason I had been negligent about fairies and magic until now.
When Titania was six years old, Ainsel had told me she had to remain in the palace to do ‘a certain thing.’ I had thought it was definitely because her main body had been stolen, but...
‘Now that Veronica has apologized, that doesn’t seem to be it...’
I smiled bitterly and stroked the top of the mirror where Ainsel was. At the gesture as if patting her head, Ainsel looked at me with a worried expression.
“I don’t blame you for not following me.”
—Vivian...
“If I leave the palace, you three will have to live together. Wouldn’t it be good to get along with Veronica at least a little by then?”
—Uh...
With her head hung low, Ainsel wriggled only her small fingers as if displaying anxious feelings. Since she wouldn’t tell me what the problem was at all, I didn’t know what words to offer her.
Besides, while Ainsel staying here was a problem, me leaving the palace was also a problem. Since I had rarely gone outside since arriving here, I was at a loss as to how to live. Was being a landlord really the only answer...
While scratching at documents in the gloomy atmosphere, a knocking sound came—knock, knock—along with Titania’s voice. When I told her to come in, Titania peeped her head through the door.
Having confirmed there was no one in my office but me, Titania carefully opened the door and approached. Had the conversation with Veronica been fun? Titania’s face was full of bright smiles.
“Hehe, Mother~ Are you busy?”
Calling me in a coquettish voice as she entered the office, Titania came not to the front of the desk but behind me, beginning to knead my shoulders. Such behavior was the desperate aegyo Titania showed when she wanted something from me.
“What does my daughter want this time to be acting so cute?”
“Hehehe.”
I let out a small sigh and stroked the back of one of Titania’s hands as it kneaded my shoulder. Even if she didn’t act cute like this, I would do anything for her if I could, so perhaps Titania knew that and still acted this way?
Titania smiled widely, and from behind, she hugged me and buried her face in my nape. Then she even stomped her feet as if she couldn’t contain her happiness. Being loved by my daughter like this was nice, but at times like this, I couldn’t help but worry about Titania.
Just as I was wondering what she could be asking for to be acting so cute, Titania, who had been bouncing while hugging my nape, brought her lips close to my ear and whispered.
“Mother, do you remember the wish Veronica unni promised to grant me?”
“...A wish?”
Now that I thought about it, I seemed to recall that Veronica had said she would grant Titania a few wishes if she called her unni. I hadn’t paid much attention, so I didn’t remember well, but...
“...Wasn’t it that she would teach you magic?”
Titania shook her head. Then what was it? As I tilted my head, unable to remember, Titania smiled slyly and tightened her hold on my nape slightly.
“She said she would secretly take me to a festival. Now do you remember?”
“...Wasn’t it Veronica saying she would take you outside the palace? That she would secretly take you to a festival or something?”
“Hehehe, yes! That’s it!”
Now it was starting to come back vaguely.
I seemed to have heard from Baengsyo that the Snowflower Festival was being held next week. She must be asking if she could go there. I stroked Titania’s head, which was resting on my shoulder, and answered.
“...It’s a bit difficult to allow. Even if you take Ainsel, wouldn’t it be too dangerous to go alone? Or are you planning to go with Veronica’s dwarves?”
“Huh? Ah, that’s not it...”
Titania released her arms from around my nape and came in front of me, perching slightly on the desk. Then she looked down at me, grinned, and continued.
“It’s not that I want to go alone. I want to go with you.”
“With me?”
“Yes, with you.”
Having not expected such an answer, I couldn’t help but be taken aback for a moment. Regardless, Titania was still looking down at me with her eyes curved in a smile. Of course I wanted to go too, but it would be difficult for me to leave this place. Unlike Titania, there was no one to take my place.
“I’m grateful for the sentiment, but... what would everyone think if I suddenly disappeared?”
“That’s fine. Cat Sith said she would disguise herself as you and stay here. You just need to tell the others you’re ‘sick.’ It’s okay to rest for about a day, isn’t it?”
“Are you telling me to feign illness?”
I was bewildered, but Titania shrugged as if asking what the problem was.
Cat Sith—one of Veronica’s dwarves, a fairy capable of transforming into a human. I had met her when she disguised herself as Princess Fiona during the hunting tournament, so Cat Sith’s transformation ability was certain.
...I pondered, but I couldn’t think of a reason to refuse. No matter how I looked at it, this didn’t feel right, but even if I made some excuse to refuse, it wouldn’t work on Titania at all.
“But still...”
“If you just give permission, Veronica unni will take care of everything. Won’t it be okay to go out like this for just a day? You’ve been staying only in the office since winter came. Right?”
At this pleading, a sigh escaped me naturally. If I refused here, Titania would surely bring up the academy and plead with me again. Then I would be unable to refuse and would end up agreeing. It was checkmate.
I let out a deep sigh and raised my head to look at Titania. Yes, going with me would be safer than sending her alone. And just for a day...
“...Yes, just a day should be fine. Let’s go.”
As soon as permission left my lips, Titania smiled brightly. Was going to the Snowflower Festival that wonderful? Besides, I thought having a memory like this wouldn’t be bad.
“I should buy Veronica a souvenir from the festival as a way of telling her to watch the house well. Ainsel should come too, and the three of us can enjoy the Snowflower Festival together...”
“No?”
At Titania’s sharp voice cutting off my words, I was briefly taken aback. Perhaps Ainsel, watching us from the mirror, was also taken aback, for she looked up at Titania with a shocked expression.
“I’m sorry to Ainsel, but... this time, I want to go with just you.”
“Just the two of us...?”
“Yes, just the two of us.”
With her eyes playfully curved, Titania looked at me and lightly brushed my cheek. Her piercing gaze was a bit burdensome, and I unknowingly averted my eyes. Titania smirked as if it didn’t matter, brushed my cheek again, and continued.
“This time, the two of us will have a date.”