[Episode 145] - Confession (1)
"...Really, is this all right?"
Today was the day they had promised to hold a modest party to celebrate Titania's birthday. As I looked around the room that had been prepared for the party and asked, Titania shrugged as if wondering what the problem was and answered.
"This much is enough, isn't it?"
"But still..."
All there were were modestly prepared foods and a few bottles of wine. The cake, too, was merely a small one prepared just enough for Titania and me to eat—nothing more, nothing less.
No matter how I looked at it, I wondered if it was really okay to spend Titania's birthday like this. Even if we didn't hold a ball, wouldn't it be fine to call more people to celebrate? At least Veronica or Ainsel...
Whether she knew how I felt or not, Titania, who had changed into a negligee at some point, sat on the edge of the bed, crossed her legs, and gazed steadily at me. Then she patted the bed with a thud-thud, telling me to hurry over.
"It's fine, so hurry up and come here."
Really, at Titania's attitude that seemed to say she didn't care as long as I was there, an involuntary groan escaped me. I hopped up onto the bed and went straight to sit beside Titania.
Titania, sitting next to me, looked down at me, then placed a glass filled with juice into my hand and let out a snicker. It was natural that I'd get juice since this body couldn't drink alcohol, but...
'Still, on a day like this, I want to drink...'
A sigh escaped me naturally at the thought that I needed to break the curse quickly. Perhaps I had been making a sullen expression without realizing it; Titania pressed and smoothed out my furrowed brow, then extended her glass toward me as if proposing a toast.
Really, there was nothing to be done. I clinked my glass against the one Titania held out. As the juice-filled glass and the wine-filled goblet touched, a clear, crisp sound resonated subtly throughout the room.
Since Titania said it was fine, what good would it do to say more? I let out a small sigh, then raised my head to look up at Titania. Then, beaming broadly, I offered her the greeting prepared for today.
"Happy birthday, Titania."
At my greeting, the corners of Titania's eyes curved up delightfully, and soon the corners of her lips rose as well. Gently bowing her head, Titania pressed her lips to my forehead and answered in a voice steeped in happiness.
"Thank you, Mother."
*
Some time passed, and Titania shook her glass, which had been emptied several times, and looked down at Vivian sitting beside her. Vivian, who had plunged her fork deep into the cake, opened her mouth wide and swallowed the cake in one bite.
Then she cupped her cheeks as if it were truly delicious and even kicked her feet on top of the bed. Watching Vivian act like a child, Titania let out a smile without realizing it.
'If the curse remains unbroken like this, will it be ten years...'
Ten years until Mother became the same age as her. If Mother's curse truly did not break, she intended to wait until then. Because even by that time, her feelings toward Mother would not have changed.
"Hmm..."
Having neatly emptied the plate with the cake, Vivian smacked her lips as if regretful. Watching Vivian even lick the whipped cream off the fork as if still unsatisfied, Titania let out a grin.
Picking up her fork, Titania scooped up a large piece of cake and brought it to the pouting lips of Vivian, who looked disappointed. As Vivian tried to take the fork with her hand, Titania shook her head.
"Ah, say ahh."
"I-I'll eat it myself."
"No. Ah, say ahh."
With a groan, Vivian looked at Titania helplessly and slowly opened her mouth. Through her slightly parted lips, her plump, bright red tongue could be seen moving slightly.
As if placing the cake on her tongue, Titania inserted the fork she was holding straight into Vivian's mouth. As the sweet whipped cream settled on her tongue, Vivian closed her mouth and moved the fork around in her mouth.
Though the cake was delicious, Vivian furrowed her brows slightly, as if dissatisfied with the situation. Chewing the cake that had entered her mouth and swallowing it with a gulp, Vivian continued as if complaining.
"Isn't this something lovers do...?"
"...Yes, that's right. Something lovers do. It seems Mother sometimes forgets my confession."
"...Ah!"
Realizing she had made a slip of the tongue, Vivian covered her mouth with both hands. Making such a statement in front of Titania was problematic. Because, as Titania said, she had spoken as if she had forgotten the confession itself.
She hadn't forgotten. It was just that since becoming younger, she couldn't imagine becoming 'lovers' with Titania in this body. No matter how favorably she looked at it, they were like an older sister and a very young younger sister.
Smiling bitterly, Titania lifted Vivian and seated her on her lap. As Vivian hesitated, unsure what to say, Titania let out a sigh and stroked Vivian's head as she continued.
"...I understand. From Mother's perspective, I must always seem like a child. And that will likely remain the same even after several years, even after decades."
Vivian could not answer at all.
Titania, who had been stroking her head, quietly lowered her gaze to look at Vivian seated on her lap. Though she had said she loved her so much, Mother still saw her only as a 'child,' and that made Titania slightly resentful.
She was an adult now. An adult who could drink. An adult who wouldn't be strange to have a lover. An adult who wouldn't be strange to get married. An adult who wouldn't be strange to have a child. Titania had already been an adult for quite some time.
"Still... couldn't you see me as an 'adult' now?"
"...I'm trying."
At the unexpected answer, Titania's eyes widened into circles. She had expected Mother to gloss over it as usual without giving a straight answer, but to think the word 'trying' would come from Mother's mouth.
Titania took Vivian's small fingers and, gently interlacing them, asked.
"Really?"
Titania looked down at Vivian with the corners of her lips curling up pleasantly. Vivian wore a confused expression, unsure how to navigate the current situation.
...Could it be the alcohol? She wanted to tease Mother a little. She had said she was satisfied with just being by her side, but she had never said she wouldn't be greedy. And so, Titania decided to be greedy.
"...In what way are you seeing me as an 'adult'?"
"That's..."
"You said you were trying to see me as an adult."
Titania traced between Vivian's fingers with her fingertips as if scratching. Each time, Vivian squirmed her captured hand, her lips twitching as she failed to continue her words.
"...That's..."
For a moment, silence fell. Vivian, who had hung her head not knowing how to answer, raised her head, avoided Titania's gaze, and forced an awkward smile.
"...Because you became an excellent queen during the time I was away."
It was not the answer Titania had wanted.
Knowing full well what kind of thought Titania had asked with, Mother had avoided the answer. As if it were nothing, as if it were merely passing words—at Mother's answer, Titania smiled.
"Is that so?"
If it had been any other day, she would have backed down here.
"So you can see me as an adult now... but you still can't see me as a 'lover,' is that it?"
Today's Titania did not back down.
Rather, she took another step forward and asked Vivian. Was it because she was excited to be celebrating her birthday after a long time, or because of the hazy, rising effect of the alcohol? To let this pass by felt slightly unfair.
As Titania lowered her head, she could see Vivian's ear tips burning red.
'Huh?'
At the word 'lover,' seeing Mother blush and try to avoid her gaze was truly a sight she was seeing for the very first time. This was Mother, who had never shown such a reaction even once?
At the sight of Vivian she was seeing for the first time, Titania's heart churned. Really? Truly? Was Mother starting to be conscious of her 'in that way'? Starting to see her not as a daughter but as 'the one who confessed'?
Had forcing the confession been the right thing after all? She had regretted it until now, thinking she had been too hasty, but seeing Mother's changed appearance, she didn't regret it at all. She finally felt as though she had taken one step closer to Mother.
Titania caught her breath and asked affectionately.
"...Is it still a difficult question?"
Vivian squeezed Titania's hand tightly, let out a small sigh, and answered.
"...Didn't you say you were satisfied with just being by my side...?"
"I never said I wouldn't be greedy."
At the sophistry-like words, Vivian lightly pinched the back of Titania's hand. At the stinging pain, Titania grinned and gazed steadily at Mother's ear, which had turned bright red.
"I've never once given up on you as my 'lover,' Mother."
"...If you keep teasing me, I'm leaving."
"You know best that this isn't teasing right now, Mother."
In the end, Vivian closed her mouth and offered no answer. Sitting on Titania's lap for a long while without being able to say anything, she repeated sighing and hung her flushed face downward.
Watching that appearance, Titania also felt slightly regretful. Even if she tried to blame all of this on the alcohol, her mind was too clear, and rather, she felt her heart growing cold.
...Should she have approached a little more calmly?
Titania had broken all the rules she had set for herself: 'Don't push Mother,' 'Always be a good daughter,' 'Don't act hastily,' 'Wait for Mother slowly.'
Titania stroked the back of Vivian's hand and let out a small sigh.
Since she had already done it, it could not be undone.
Because this heart was not something that could be hidden just by trying to hide it.
"...I like you, Mother. That a 'daughter's' feelings for her mother are not what this is—I believe Mother understands that now."
At the confession rapidly drawing closer, Vivian flinched and her shoulders trembled. But Titania did not stop and continued speaking. She revealed the feelings she had hidden without reserve.
"Last time, I think I spoke with too hasty a heart, so I'm telling you again."
At the serious voice, thud—her heart sank.
"I love you, Mother. I love you, Vivian."
"......"