episode_0210

[206th Episode] – The Snow White Princesses Raised by the Stepmother [END]

Somewhere, I had read in a book before.

Raising a child requires the effort of the entire village.

Indeed, it was true. While not the whole village, raising Veronica for the past five years required the vigorous efforts of the entire mansion. Raising a toddler was challenging as it was my first time.

Veronica’s temperament was demanding; she wouldn’t sleep unless held and would cry if put down even for a moment. Dealing with such a difficult child made the nanny struggle, saying it had been a long time since she encountered such a challenging one.

Thinking about it, the original Snow White did have such a personality. Feisty and mischievous. Raising Veronica often reminded me of the “original” story that I had forgotten while living here.

“Your Majesty?”

Lost in parental fatigue, I had forgotten we were in the middle of a conversation with Bangsho. Rubbing my tired eyes, I looked up at Bangsho, who now appeared truly elderly and in need of retirement.

“Oh, right. Where were we in our conversation?”

“It was about Princess Veronica’s ‘birth.’ As planned, rumors have been spread throughout the capital, so by her ‘seventh birthday’ two years from now, most of the kingdom will know.”

“Ah… So, the rumors have been spread after all… about that birth…”

As expected, verifying Veronica’s lineage was remarkably easy. As Veronica grew and her features became clearer, anyone could tell she was Titania’s daughter.

Although I didn’t know the process, the officials who had acquired Veronica as the heir to the royal family had struggled over the past five years. How to make the kingdom understand this situation.

So, their ultimate decision was to give Veronica a ‘myth.’ They hired a poet to spread stories like fairy tales or folktales throughout the kingdom! That was the ministers’ final choice.

To summarize the fairy tale briefly, its contents were something like this:

“No matter how you look at it, isn’t the story somewhat lacking? Oberon, the Fairy King, fell in love with Titania, who bore his name and gave her half his soul… Thus, the child born was named Veronica after Oberon…”

“What else can we do? Should we just spread the truth as it is? That Queen Titania used unknown magic to impregnate Queen Mother?”

“Well…”

“Even then, what can we do? In that case, should we just spread the truth? Queen Mother impregnated her own mother! If everyone in the kingdom knows, they’ll be horrified. Queen Mother impregnated her mother!!”

“Oh, no, why are you getting angry… I mean, that’s just how it is… Don’t get too upset…”

Bangsho seemed to be well aware that this situation was a bit of a stretch. There wasn’t much else to think of besides this method to prevent Veronica from being labeled as a bastard…

“But with this content, what will the temple say…? Those who once accused me of being a witch decades ago. If they start calling this witchcraft…”

“That probably won’t happen. The temple has changed a lot since then.”

Bangsho sighed softly and continued.

“Once, when Queen Mother turned the temple upside down, they couldn’t say anything. If they had thought about it earlier, they should have reprimanded Queen Mother.”

“Is that so…? But what? Titania turned the temple upside down? When? I’m unaware of this incident?”

“Oh, it happened when Queen Mother left the palace. Whether it was the palace or the temple, there was no place left untouched. Anyway, the temple won’t say anything to us based on this rumor.”

At that time, not only the palace was turned upside down, but even the shrine? Only now did I realize my brows furrowing involuntarily at Titania’s revealed actions. What exactly did she do to come looking for me…?

Reading once again the contents of the “fairy tale” handed to me by Bangsho, I let out a deep sigh. Yes, this is what the ministers had deliberated over for five years, isn’t it? The ministers must believe this is the best course of action.

“…Yes, because Veronica’s seventh birthday is still two years away. Once rumors start spreading, it will be soon-”

“Mom!!!!”

As the sound of hurried footsteps and Veronica calling me echoed from outside the door, there was a sudden thud! as something collided with the door. It was clearly a rough momentum slamming into the door…

Since the door wouldn’t open without turning the handle…

She must have been in a hurry. It seemed like a mistake often made by young children.

When the door suddenly opened, there stood Veronica, tears welling up as she held onto the doorknob. It was evident that her forehead was reddened, perhaps from hitting the door forcefully.

With her tiny hand, Veronica gently touched her painful forehead.

Looking at her tear-streaked face, memories of a young Titania came to mind.

Unlike young Titania, she had long black hair cascading down to her back. However, her sharp crimson eyes shone vividly, resembling drops of blood, as if directly inherited from Titania.

Unlike young Titania, her features were sharp, with a nose and eyes that hinted at a resemblance to me. With those sharp eyes, it seemed like I would often be called a villain when she grew up.

“H-huff…”

It must have been very painful, yet she managed to hold back her tears. The maid following behind and Bangsho standing beside me both seemed unsure of how to react to Veronica’s reddened forehead.

“Veronica, come here.”

After calling her, Veronica sniffled and approached me. She handed me something she was holding tightly in one hand.

Perhaps from playing in the garden, what Veronica handed me was a carefully woven flower crown made with small hands. Upon closer inspection, I noticed flower petals stuck in Veronica’s hair.

Did she drop it while running over?

“Did you run over to give this to me?”

Veronica nodded slightly and placed the flower crown on my head with both hands. After examining my face from different angles, she smiled broadly, seemingly pleased with the crown.

“Hehe, Mom looks pretty.”

Truly… who gave birth to such a beautiful child?

Oh, right, I did.

I put on the flower crown Veronica gave me and looked up at Bangsho, smiling mischievously. ‘You didn’t receive something like this, did you? I did.’ A sly smile.

“What do you think, Bangsho? Isn’t your great-granddaughter Veronica incredibly cute?”

“What are you saying? She’s the cutest in the world. That’s why I can’t retire. If I retire, I won’t be able to see the adorable princess anymore.”

Bangsho chuckled and then asked Veronica, “By the way, Princess, don’t I have a crown?”

“No!”

“Really?”

“Well, doesn’t Grandpa have no hair? Even if I put a crown on, it won’t look good, so I don’t like it!”

“Oh dear.”

Why does she always speak the truth? Yes, hair is necessary for a crown to look good. As I chuckled at Bangsho, he left the study with a bitter expression.

“Anyway, I will continue with the scheduled agenda. Well, the ugly me will leave now…”

Ignoring Bangsho’s grumbling, I looked at Veronica. She tugged at my ear and began whispering secrets. Where on earth did she learn such cute behavior?

“In reality, I gave the maidsisters Grandpa’s crown.”

“Really? You’d prefer it if I handed it to you directly, so why did you do that?”

When I asked with a puzzled expression, Veronica chuckled softly.

“Well, Grandpa always likes to playfully rub his beard on my face when he’s in a good mood. It makes my cheeks tingle and hurt. So, this is just a little revenge against Grandpa.”

Each word she spoke was so adorable, making me feel awkward.

Unable to resist her explosive cuteness, I hugged Veronica tightly and playfully rubbed my cheek against hers. As we were engrossed in this, Titania approached from outside the room. Upon seeing us, she let out a soft laugh.

“Veronica, what will you do about the tiara?”

“What?! My tiara!”

Titania held up the slightly damaged tiara and showed it to Veronica. Perhaps realizing only now that she had dropped it in her haste, Veronica patted her head as if to shake off the confusion and searched for the tiara.

“Put it on for me, quickly!”

Saying this, she extended her head towards Titania on my lap, who confidently tapped her head with her palm and exclaimed firmly. Titania, watching this scene, burst into a fake laughter.

“Really… I don’t think I was this bold when I was young. Who do I take after?”

“…Hmm? Who could you resemble?”

“At least it doesn’t seem like me.”

Ignoring Titania’s teasing gaze, I looked at Veronica wearing the tiara. For some reason, Veronica referred to Titania as ‘Grandma,’ while I simply called her ‘Mom.’

I asked Veronica why Titania, who is younger than me and my daughter, is called Grandma, but all Veronica replied was, “Grandma is Grandma!” There probably isn’t any particular reason behind it.

“No, you had a mischievous streak more than you think. It just surfaced a bit late.”

“How could that be? Mother knows best how docile I used to be.”

“Refresh your memory on the word ‘docile.’ Would a docile person do this to me?”

“Do what? What did I do?”

Your actions were far from docile. After I left the palace, you caused a ruckus trying to find me, then kidnapped me, confined me, and eventually confessed your love and even bore a child…

*Sigh…*

As I furrowed my brows and looked at Titania, she gave me a sly smile and planted a kiss on my cheek. She knows I can’t get angry this way. Truly cunning.

As I made a puzzled expression, Veronica, frowning, began to push Titania away from me. Then, just like Titania did, she kissed my cheek loudly, mimicking the sound.

Is she jealous of Titania?

“I hope Veronica doesn’t like me too much; that would be troublesome…”

Perhaps due to the precedent set by Titania, I felt slightly awkward whenever Veronica showed signs of jealousy towards Titania. Well, raising Veronica ‘again’ like Titania would be troublesome.

One daughter like Titania was enough. I hoped Veronica’s excessive affection wouldn’t lead to complications. Maybe there’s an issue with my parenting methods?

Giving too much love to my daughters might result in them growing up like this. Am I spoiling the Snow White princesses, being both their stepmother and birth mother? But how can one not love their children?

The ones I bore, nurtured, and loved.

The Snow White princesses I raised.

I gazed at Veronica, who was busy pushing Titania away on my lap, and at Titania, who was sticking close to me, provoking Veronica’s jealousy. Alternating between my two daughters, I kissed each of them on the cheek.

In response, both Snow White princesses smiled identically and kissed my lips once again, as if reciprocating my love as a lover and affection as children.

*

[Month XX, Day XX.]

[Veronica’s Diary.]

Today, I wandered around the orchard with my mom and grandma. It’s been a while, but the carriage still creaked, making my bottom hurt. I lay on my mom’s lap, but the swaying carriage made me feel nauseous.

Both my mom and grandma sighed, unable to adapt to the carriage. Is it impossible to make a carriage that doesn’t sway? I think I should ask the minister grandfathers about it later.

After arriving at the orchard with great effort, I nestled in my mom’s arms and admired the apple trees laden with apples. Some apples looked so deliciously big, just like my face.

When I asked if I could have one from my mom, my grandma picked a ripe apple and handed it to me. As I reached out for the apple, my grandma started teasing me.

She teased me without giving me the apple. I really dislike my grandma. She’s always like this. She seems to enjoy teasing me every time, playing pranks on me constantly, even taking away time with my mom.

Finally, after my mom scolded her, I was able to receive the apple from my grandma. Seeing my grandma scolded by my mom always makes me feel good. Since she teases me all the time, she gets scolded by my mom.

While touring the orchard and returning home in the carriage, I had that ‘dream’ again. My grandma just calls it a nightmare, but it’s so vivid and painful that I get scared every time I dream it.

In the dream, my mom appears as an extremely bad person. She scolds me and even hits me. Sometimes she didn’t even rescue me when I fell into the lake. My mom would never do that to me.

Why do I keep having such a bad dream? However, I know how to avoid this nightmare. The solution is to sleep together with my mom and grandma.

If my mom sings a lullaby or reads a storybook, I truly don’t have nightmares. On the contrary, if I’m separated from my mom, bad dreams keep finding me, causing trouble. So, I-

“Veronica, it’s time to sleep.”

“Yes.”

At Vivian’s call, Veronica closed her secret diary, placed it in the drawer, and climbed onto the bed. Like a baby bird entering its mother’s embrace, Veronica burrowed into the covers as if it were familiar.

“On the left is Mom, on the right is Grandma. In the middle is me!”

This was the sleeping position of the Snow White family.

Veronica held hands with Vivian and Titania, smiling brightly. Were the flowers in the maids’ hands like this? Then, she rolled her eyes playfully and looked up at Vivian.

The comforting patting on her belly by her mom and the smile her mom gave her while looking at her were so nice. Although Grandma also patted her belly, she still preferred her mom.

Veronica turned her body towards Titania, leaning against her back and snuggling into Vivian’s embrace. Titania chuckled as if amused, but Veronica had no intention of leaving the embrace.

Nestled in her mom’s arms, closing her eyes, Veronica felt like she was falling asleep in an instant. A drowsy feeling as if she would drift off to dreamland any moment now.

In that almost-sleep state, Veronica recalled the last part of the diary she had written earlier. Being separated from her mom leads to bad nightmares finding her and causing trouble.

So, I will-

“I will love and get along with my mom for a lifetime.”

To the point where the painful image from the nightmare won’t even be remembered anymore.

I will live happily and harmoniously as a family that even nightmares would envy.

Won’t there come a day when I won’t have those nightmares?

Certainly, that day will come.

After all, even the me in my dreams hoped for that.

Snow White raised by her stepmother. [The End]