episode_0015

[Episode 15] – Great Teacher Vivian (2)

The day before the class with the princess.

It was a day when I was comforting Ancel, whose self-esteem had hit rock bottom. As he lay on the ground, hugging his knees and rolling back and forth, I gathered my hands together as if pleading and spoke to him.

“Um, you… You need to help me with the class starting tomorrow… No, Ancel, I really need you!”

– Me…? How can I…? I’m just a mirror…

“Of course, because from now on, I plan to teach the princess about ‘fairies.’”

When I told him that I would teach the princess about fairies, Ancel looked up at me while still lying on the ground. His expression seemed to say, “Is this human in their right mind?”

-Are you serious?

“Of course. Honestly, do you think there’s something I can teach the princess? I said my memory is vague, didn’t I?”

-…Then why on earth did you volunteer to be the ‘educator’ for the princess? What do you believe in…?

Ahem! I cleared my throat and held out both palms to Ancel. He looked at me blankly as if drawing a question mark above his head.

“Of course, I trust Ancel, whom I rely on most in the world!”

As I brought both palms together and raised my thumb, vitality could be seen in Ancel’s eyes. If Ancel were not a mirror but a person, it wouldn’t have been surprising if a punch had flown at that moment.

“Don’t look at me like that. When it comes to others, you call them ‘queen,’ ‘king,’ but when it comes to the princess, it’s all ‘my princess~ my princess~.’ It shows your interest in her, doesn’t it?”

– Th-that’s not true..! I just…

“I also have some knowledge about ‘fairies’ through Vivian’s memories. But it’s not accurate, so I hope Ancel can help.”

I have some understanding of the fairies that appeared in the game. However, even though I’ve possessed Vivian’s body, I am not a ‘witch.’ I don’t know how to seek help from fairies like a witch does.

When I introduce the “fairy” to the princess during class tomorrow, I plan to introduce you to her at that time. How about it? Is that okay?

As Ainsel rose from the ground, looking at me as if in disbelief, he soon sighed. After a brief silence, Ainsel lowered his head.

“Do you intend to raise the princess as a witch? While it’s true that the princess possesses qualities of a ‘witch,’ I oppose the idea of raising her as one.”

“I have no intention of raising the princess as a witch.”

“…? Then why are you planning to inform the princess about the ‘fairy’?”

Unable to say, “Because I will have to meet the ‘seven dwarfs’ later,” I fell into thought while resting my chin on my hand. Whether the princess likes it or not, she will eventually become involved with the ‘fairies.’

“Before that happens, if the princess learns even a little about ‘how to deal with fairies,’ the likelihood of fairies getting hurt or deceived will decrease.”

I glanced briefly at Ainsel sitting in front of me, raising only my pupils. Ainsel had clearly said, “Fairies cannot lie,” but I understood the meaning behind those words.

“Fairies may not tell lies, but they can conceal the truth with subtle words.”

Therefore, I wanted to inform the young ‘Snow White’ before she could be deceived by the cunning words of the fairies. To let her know that not all beings with cute appearances are trustworthy.

With a friendly smile, I replied to Ainsel, “Well, there’s absolutely no one around the princess to inform her about ‘fairies,’ right? How frightening must that be? They are invisible to others but visible only to oneself.”

“I see… I’ve never thought about it from that perspective…”

“That’s why I wanted to inform the princess before she grows up a little.”

After hearing my story, Ainsel seemed lost in thought for a moment, bringing his finger to his chin and assuming a pensive posture. Having made up his mind, Ainsel nodded slightly.

“Alright. If that’s the reason, then I’ll help.”

“Really?”

“Yes. However…”

With wide-open eyes, Einsel stared at me intently, as if harboring some discontent. I couldn’t help but turn my head slightly to avoid Einsel’s gaze.

Someone who claims to teach me about “fairies” but pretends to be a “teacher” to the princess with shallow knowledge puts me in a difficult position. If you’re going to do it, I think you should prepare thoroughly and decisively.

“Oh, uh? Y-yeah, I guess…?”

So, shall we reduce your sleeping time starting from today?

Einsel flashed a pleased smile, but within the glint of his eyes, there was a passion bordering on madness. It sent shivers down my spine, as if he had been waiting for this moment with an unsettling smile.

“Haah… I never imagined I’d be teaching Vivian, not really Vivian, but teaching her magic…”

“Einsel…?”

“Hehehe, brace yourself. Within a month from today, I’ll make you at least an ‘apprentice witch.’ Your daily sleep time will be fixed at three hours from today onwards!”

…And so, I had no choice but to attend classes on “fairies” and “witches” from Einsel almost all night long. The exuberant Einsel showed no mercy in teaching me.

Under the hellish education, I trembled, and what I learned from staying up all night on the first day was how to utilize the “magic” within Vivian’s body and how to summon a “fairy.”

“No! I’m supposed to feel it circulating through my body!? Like this! Bam! And then, shoo! From my chest! No, why can’t I do this?!”

“Don’t even think about teaching anyone other than me. If it wasn’t for me, you would have shattered the mirror long ago.”

*

The sunlight reflecting off the lake was so intense that it felt scorching to the eyes.

Perhaps it was because I had stayed up almost all night, but the sunlight reflected in the water was blinding and painful to my eyes. Even rowing made me drowsy, exhausted, and acutely aware of my depleted physical strength.

Yet, the reason I could endure was perhaps due to the joy Undine expressed while looking below me. It seemed that the stress I had received while learning from Einsel dissipated as she enjoyed herself.

“Hahaha! Stop it! It tickles!”

Undefiled water streamed onto the princess’s face like a water gun. Feeling ticklish from the shallow stream, she hurriedly wiped the water off her skin with her hand.

Undine’s playful antics seemed to lighten the princess’s mood. After wiping the princess’s face with a handkerchief, I took out a mirror earring containing Ainsel and placed it in the princess’s hand.

Looking at the mirror she held in her hand, the princess tilted her head and asked, “What is this?”

“My friend.”

“The queen says the mirror is your friend?”

…Such an innocent answer, like that of a child.

Not wanting to deny it outright, yet finding it odd to agree, I simply tapped the mirror with my finger. As I did, ripples appeared on the surface, gradually giving way to an image.

“Your Majesty, something’s strange about this mirror. It keeps reflecting not me, but only your face.”

Oddly, the mirror didn’t reflect herself, but rather Vivian’s face. The princess found it fascinating, lifting the mirror up and down, shaking it back and forth while gazing into it.

In that pure moment of curiosity when the princess was vigorously shaking the mirror…

Ainsel appealed as if feeling dizzy.

“Princess..! Please don’t shake it so much..!”

“Eek!”

“Wha-what! Ainsel?!”

As a voice came from the mirror, the startled princess screamed and almost threw the mirror into the lake. Fortunately, it hit the side of the boat and rolled around on the floor instead of falling into the water.

Upon seeing Undines riding on Ainsel, they burst into laughter. Observing this, the princess’s expression turned contemplative, as if realizing she had acted rashly by throwing the item.

“I-I’m sorry..! B-but… the v-voice from the m-mirror…”

“It’s fine. It’s not your fault. If there’s any fault, it’s the mirror’s for speaking without proper greeting.”

I chuckled and lifted Ainsel from the floor. As I wiped the dirty surface of the mirror with a handkerchief, Ainsel looked dejected.

“Ainsel, you should greet properly.”

“B-but… I need to prepare myself…”

Prepare yourself for what?

I handed Einzel back to the princess. After seeing Einzel, who looked miserable, the princess hesitated for a moment and unexpectedly spoke before Einzel.

“Mi-Mirror, hello? I’m sorry for throwing you earlier. Did it hurt..?”

A bright smile appeared on Einzel’s face upon receiving the princess’s first greeting. With a much brighter smile than she had shown me so far, Einzel, filled with joy, replied to the princess in an excited voice.

-It’s okay! Your Highness! I’m not hurt at all!

“Really? Well, that’s a relief then.”

Phew-

The princess let out a sigh, brushing away her surprised heart.

Clearing her throat, Einzel nodded her head and introduced herself to the princess. She seemed slightly more polite and kind compared to when we first met, evoking a subtle emotion.

-Then, if I may greet you again… Ahem! Nice to meet you! Your Highness! I am Einzel, the fairy of the mirror!

“Mirror fairy?”

-Yes! Your Highness! I am Vivian’s friend… so! In the future, I plan to tell you various things about ‘fairies’ by Vivian’s side!

“I see… So Einzel is my teacher too…? Well, I look forward to working with you from now on.”

Nodding, Einzel looked at the princess, who bowed her head to the small mirror in her hand, as if she were the sun. When I looked at that smile, I couldn’t help but furrow my brow, feeling as if I were being blinded.

-Hehe! It’s okay to just call me Einzel! You don’t have to use honorifics! I’d like you to think of me as your fri-friend..!

You… You weren’t this kind of person. Why are you acting like this only in front of the princess?

Whether Einzel’s “friend” remark was joyful or not, the princess looked at Einzel with a bashful smile. Then, clutching the mirror in her hand, she replied to Einzel.

“Hehe… Then, I’ll rely on you from now on, Einzel.”

-Ye, yes..!

…Well, if you’re happy, then that’s fine.

I slowly shook my head and began to move back to where we had started. At that moment, Ellie started waving her hands in the distance, as if something had happened.

Upon reaching the mainland, Elli hurriedly approached me. “Elli? Why are you shouting like that?” I asked.

“Th-the Queen Mother has invited the Queen to dinner tonight…”

“Tonight?”

“Yes, and it’s so sudden…”

Sudden? I widened my eyes at the unexpected news. Sensing an inexplicable gaze, I turned my head to find the attendants and maids serving the Queen Mother gathering not far away, as if urging me not to escape.

“I should have expected to meet the Queen Mother in the first place. But it’s too unexpected from their end,” I thought to myself.

Glancing back at the princess and Elli, I found Elli asking the princess, “Were you scared during the boat ride?” The princess responded with a wide smile, “Not at all!”

After a brief moment of contemplation, I approached the princess. “Princess, do you have any plans for this evening?”

“No! I don’t! Originally, I had lessons after dinner, but…”

With the absence of Lady Hwujak, of course, the princess’s evening lessons were now free. I grinned and gently placed my hand under the princess’s arm, lifting it up.

“Well then, let’s go see the Queen Mother after a long time.”

“The Queen Mother…?”

As soon as I spoke, a maid waiting behind us approached. With a cold expression, she addressed me in a chilly tone, “The one invited to dinner is the Queen, only one person. No matter how much of a princess you are—”

“The Queen Mother must also want to see her granddaughter, the princess, after a long time,” I interrupted the maid. As I spoke, the maid’s eyebrows twitched. Regardless, holding onto the princess, I approached where the maid stood.

Seemingly taken aback, the maid looked at me, but after all, the Queen Mother was someone I would soon meet. So, there was no reason to avoid her, nor any need to. “Lead the way; we’ll go with the princess.”