[Chapter 123] – Mirror, Mirror.
"...Your Highness..."
Einsel looked at Titania, who had returned to her room supported by the maids. Both her knees were scraped from the fall, and her palms were chafed raw, looking painful just to see.
The maids carefully treated Titania's wounds and then promptly left the room. It was because Titania had ordered them out, saying she wanted to be alone.
Thinking Titania needed time to think right now, Einsel slipped out of her main body and headed toward an offshoot. Every mirror in the royal palace was currently an 'offshoot' through which Einsel could freely come and go.
Unlike before, she could now go anywhere there was a mirror inside the royal palace. Einsel, having left her main body, began to move about the palace by traveling through her offshoots. In that manner, the moment Einsel entered a certain room—
"Kyah! Her Majesty the Queen's face is in that mirror...!"
"...You must be very tired?"
"No! I'm telling you it's real, Sister?! Her Majesty's face just went swoosh in that mirror..."
"Yes, yes, hurry up and go in and rest."
She had accidentally made eye contact with a maid who was cleaning.
Occasionally, she was caught by truly exhausted people or babies who couldn't speak yet, but everyone thought they had seen wrong, so rumors hadn't spread.
At most, it had become amusement for the maids and ranked among the top ten ghost stories of the royal palace. The kind of ghost story where, if you looked into a mirror at dawn, you could see the Queen's face.
Einsel let out a small sigh and swooshed past the mirrors, gauging the mood of the royal palace.
The atmosphere in the royal palace was exactly as rowdy as Einsel had expected. Everyone was whispering and sharing various stories about Titania's actions from moments before.
As she was wandering the corridors then, a group of maids caught Einsel's eye. Einsel approached them as closely as possible, perking up her ears and secretly listening to their conversation.
One of the maids in the group said, "Could the Princess have finally gone mad...? There's no way the former Queen would be there... To think she's finally seeing things..." trailing off.
Among the maids, rumors had begun to spread that the Princess had been unable to endure her longing for the Queen and had finally gone mad. Seeing the baseless rumors spreading through the royal palace, Einsel shook her head and headed toward Baengsyo's office.
Inside the office, Baengsyo was confirming through the captain of the guard that Vivian had truly visited the palace. The captain of the guard, who had permitted Vivian's entry, was explaining the circumstances of that time in detail to Baengsyo.
"It's true! Here is the Dowager Queen's funeral invitation that Lady Vivian gave me directly! It says that Vivian Lilensol's visit is permitted...! Moreover, I wasn't the only one who confirmed her appearance! There are testimonies from other guardsmen as well!"
"Yes, this is certainly the Dowager Queen's handwriting..."
Baengsyo looked at the funeral invitation received from the captain of the guard and let out a long sigh. It was certain that Vivian had entered the palace, but the problem was that no one had seen her leave. Baengsyo sighed and began to worry about what to do.
Then, the captain of the guard continued in a near-whisper.
"And there was an artificial flower that seemed to have just been placed in front of the Dowager Queen's tombstone! Surely, Lady Vivian—"
"An artificial flower?"
-An artificial flower...?
"Yes. I thought it might serve as evidence for now, so I brought it, but..."
The captain of the guard pulled out a small box from inside his coat and handed it to Baengsyo. He handled it as carefully as possible so that the artificial flower offered at the Dowager Queen's grave would not be damaged.
When Baengsyo opened the box the captain of the guard handed over, a single small lily was inside.
Baengsyo looked down at the artificial flower and let out a small sigh.
"How would this serve as evidence! And to think you took a flower placed before a tombstone without permission...! Hurry and put it back before the Dowager Queen's tombstone!"
"Ah, I understand!"
Taking back the box amid Baengsyo's bellowing, the captain of the guard immediately started to run out. While Baengsyo clicked his tongue in annoyance and sighed, Einsel's eyes went wide after seeing the artificial flower.
-That is...
Einsel immediately left the office and headed toward Veronica to inform her of what she had discovered. Saying she had finally found Vivian's whereabouts, which they hadn't been able to uncover for almost a year, Einsel crossed over offshoot after offshoot and rushed to Veronica.
*
"...Katarina?"
-Yes! Katarina! 'The Recluse' Katarina, one of the witches of the Coven! Vivian is definitely by that Katarina's side!
"How did you know...?"
-I could feel Katarina's mana from the artificial flower Vivian left behind! I remember because I met her exactly once at a gathering long ago!
Einsel, catching her breath from running around, informed Veronica of what she had found out, extremely excited. Contrary to Einsel's expectation that Veronica would be greatly surprised, Veronica merely let out a small "Hmm," and groaned softly.
-...? You're not very surprised? Even though Vivian is with another witch...
"Ah... I am surprised. I didn't know she would be with that 'Katarina' either. It's just... now I understand why we couldn't find Vivian until now. It's understandable that we couldn't find her if she was with that 'Katarina', right?"
Einsel nodded her head slightly.
It wasn't for no reason that Katarina was called 'The Recluse' in the Coven. Katarina was called The Recluse because she hid her dwelling place even with magic.
Einsel sighed, saying that the reason they couldn't find Vivian was surely due to Katarina's magic as well.
There were only two ways to know where Katarina lived. First, ask the Great Witch, or second, ask a witch of the Coven who was close to Katarina.
Of course, Einsel didn't know which witch was close to Katarina. Moreover, even if she knew, she had no way to contact that witch.
-Haa... We know who she's with, but there's no way to find her...
Einsel sighed in frustration, but Veronica was a little different. Veronica sat in her chair, legs crossed, chin in hand, and fell into thought for a moment.
For Veronica, the problem right now was that while it was good they had found Vivian, the biggest issue was that she was with a witch of the Coven.
Because she couldn't afford to get involved with witches of the Coven.
'If I go near a witch of the Coven myself, the Great Witch might find out... It can't be helped, but to take one of Einsel's offshoots and place it there, I'll have to secretly send one of the dwarves.'
Having finished her thoughts quickly, Veronica rose from her seat and asked Einsel.
"You made an offshoot to place where Vivian is last time, right? Where is it?"
-Neh? Ah... It's in that drawer over there. But why? We know who Vivian is with, but we don't know where she is.
"I know where she is."
-What?! How?!
Rustling, Veronica pulled out a small mirror from the drawer and smiled brightly. Then she pondered for a moment before giggling, saying she couldn't remember which time it was now.
"Which time was it? In a previous regression, Katarina once saved me when I was nearly killed by a hunter. I lived with Katarina for a few months back then too. So I know where Katarina is. By now, she has probably opened a small 'bakery' in the countryside as she wished? Vivian must be helping with that."
-Ah...
At Einsel's pitying expression, Veronica let out a short sigh and opened the door leading to the cabin. The moment she was about to return to the cabin, Veronica lowered her head to look at Einsel and spoke.
"Einsel. Even if you remember all of my 'regressions,' I told you that's not something you should feel guilty about. I've said it countless times, but there was nothing you could do then."
Veronica recalled what she had talked about with Einsel at the academy. Eventually, Veronica had become furious at Einsel's passive attitude of constantly avoiding her and had exploded in anger, confronting Einsel.
Why are you avoiding me? Did you not apologize? Did you not say you were reflecting? I know this is like a thief crying thief right now, but aren't we going to see each other for a long time? Isn't this atmosphere difficult for Titania too?
Then, Einsel had eventually burst into tears and poured out her crying to Veronica. She said she remembered all of Veronica's 'regressions' and didn't know how to face her. She said she was at a loss due to guilt.
She said she had vowed to try harder this time to protect you, the Princess, so you wouldn't be hurt, and then you appeared, remembering the wounds from back then. That's why, that's why...
She said she truly didn't know what to do.
She had confessed to Veronica, crying profusely.
-But...
"That's enough, so go tell Titania this news. You'll be able to see your beloved mother's face soon."
-......Yes.
Sniffling, Einsel immediately ran off to Titania. Veronica gently grasped Einsel's offshoot and let out a small sigh.
She knew why Einsel felt guilty. It was true that in every regression, Einsel had not helped her at all.
Back then, she had certainly resented her and been angry. Einsel, who had ignored her desperate pleas for help, had even been loathsome. But every Einsel in every regression had been forcibly 'contracted' by 'Vivian' through threats.
Knowing that now, she didn't particularly feel like saying anything. The bad one was the Vivian over there, wasn't she? Moreover, now she was staying by Titania's side to help the 'me' of this place.
Because she always helped the 'me' of this place.
That alone was enough.
She was glad that after coming here, she could know Einsel's true feelings. Just the fact that Einsel helped Titania made Veronica feel as if she herself was being comforted.
Veronica took a step and walked out, heading toward the cabin. To grant the wish of the 'me' of this place. To cheer up her beloved younger sister.
*
-Your Highness! Your Highness! Please look at me! Yes?!
Arriving at Titania's room, Einsel struggled to turn the attention of Titania, who had pulled the covers over her head. She jumped up and down in place and flailed her hands, but it was no use on the depressed-looking Titania.
-We've found out where Vivian is! Veronica said she'll soon place one of my offshoots there... so soon I'll be able to show you Vivian!
"Where Mama is...?"
Titania poked her head out from the blanket and finally looked at Einsel. Now, all that was needed was Veronica's signal to show Vivian through the offshoot. Einsel whirled her arms around busily to focus Titania's attention.
-Yes! It'll be very soon! If you wait just a little longer...!
Tap, tap.
At that moment, Einsel felt a signal from her offshoot.
Smiling broadly, Einsel looked at Titania, overjoyed. She thought she would finally be able to see Titania's smile. Because after Vivian left, Titania rarely smiled. She had thought Titania would perk up a little if she saw Vivian's face.
-Hehe! The signal came! I'll show you right now!
But.
Einsel and Veronica did not yet know.
Even though Vivian was said to be with Katarina, they had not expected that they would be living together. No, they hadn't even imagined it. Moreover, the relationship between the two was...
'B-Bivian... are you okay...?'
'...No, I'm not okay.'
'I-If I can comfort you, I'll comfort you... H-How about a h-hug like last time...?'
'...Thank you, as always, Katarina.'
That they would be this close was something neither had expected.
The large mirror hanging on the wall reflected Katarina and Vivian. Vivian, crying and sniffling in the corner of what looked like a shop, and Katarina consoling her.
Titania, who simply, simply stared at that sight.
"Ha."
In the end, she let out a bitter scoff.