episode_0076

[Episode 76] – My adolescent daughter (2)

In the kingdom, there is a custom called ‘Debutante Ball’.

The Debutante Ball, in other words, ‘social debut’, meant the first stage where young nobles graduated from children’s social circles and debuted in adult social circles, making a mark on adults.

Although it was an implicit story, it was such an important event for the noble ladies that if they did not attend the Debutante Ball, the nobles in society would not recognize them as adults.

So, the kingdom sent invitations to all children of nobles who turned 15 every year and held a ‘Debutante Ball’ directly at the royal castle. So that everyone can be recognized as an ‘adult’ without exception.

Anyway… why did this story suddenly come out…

“No, a masquerade ball is usually a ball attended by ‘adults’. “It is too early for Titania, who has not even performed her debutante, to attend.”

-…But, it was written on the invitation, right? Anyone can attend this masquerade ball, regardless of age. In particular, they mainly invite young children. It seems like the princess is also expecting a lot…

“I said it was still too early. It’s not too late for Titania to experience something like that after she becomes an adult. No, you shouldn’t even experience it in the first place. “A masquerade ball is not the kind of place an ordinary person would attend.”

-That’s such an extreme idea… As you can tell from reading the invitation, this time it’s a masquerade ball with a ‘theme’, unlike the places you’ve been to. Dressing up as fairies or fairytale characters…

“Do you… do you always want to take Titania’s side?”

When I frowned and looked at him in annoyance, Ainsel avoided my gaze, not knowing what to do. Even if it wasn’t so, I would be so distraught, but I hated Ainsel for constantly bringing up stories that ended.

After saying I had nothing more to say, I sighed, lay down on the bed, and closed my eyes. The reason I was so strongly against it was because of the nature of the ‘masquerade’.

“Suppose I went. What if someone there doesn’t recognize that Titania is a princess and touches her? “Such a lewd and obscene prom is not suitable for a girl who has just come out of her teenage years.”

-It’s such an extreme idea. What do you mean when you say that a masquerade ball where children gather is lewd and obscene? Don’t you want to see a princess wearing a cute fairy mask?

“I don’t want to see you. No, you don’t have to go there, just watch from here.”

-The real stubbornness is…

As it was a ball with the purpose of hiding one’s class and status and being free to ‘deviate’, the quality of the masked ball was lower than that of a regular ball. A place where reason is hidden behind a fancy mask and only one’s true nature is revealed.

A place where people drunk on alcohol and cigarettes lightly flick their tongues, and there is not a single trace of aristocratic elegance. It was the first time I had been to a place that made me so disgusted that I thought it was just a collection of animals.

It’s not for nothing that people say that just going to a masquerade ball can lead to rumors of love affairs that never existed. I have only attended once, but I left the ballroom as if running away after less than 30 minutes.

As I closed my eyes, Ainsel whispered next to me.

-Really… It’s true that the princess asked me to persuade you, but if I tell you what I personally feel, you are too overprotective of the princess. The princess isn’t just a child anymore, right?

“……”

-The princess is already thirteen years old. This means that I am no longer the seven-year-old princess I was when I first met you. Instead of being overprotective of the princess, why don’t you trust her a little bit…?

“…ha. “I can’t break that mirror.”

-Hi!

I muttered softly, and only then did Ainsel close his mouth and become silent.

I am fully aware that the masquerade ball that Titania was invited to is different from the one I have been to, but since I have been to the masquerade ball and have seen it, I cannot easily allow it.

Although it was said to be a masquerade ball attended by young children, it was not only children attending. ‘Regardless of age’ means that adults can also participate.

“ha…”

I turned over, buried my face in the pillow, and closed my eyes.

Am I being too overprotective of Titania, as Ainsel said? Is it really overprotective of me to not allow children to go to a masquerade ball that is not even a masquerade ball for adults?

smart-

As I was tossing and turning in bed because I couldn’t sleep with those thoughts, I heard a knock on my door. Since there was only one person in the castle who would come visit me at a time like this, I got up from the bed and looked towards the door where the sound came from.

“Come in.”

As soon as I finished speaking, the door opened and Titania appeared, hugging a long pillow and sticking her head out. Titania glanced at me and came into my room.

Although I only asked her to come into the room and didn’t say anything, Titania climbed onto the bed, crawled over, and lay down next to me in a very natural way. It’s so absurd.

When I looked down at Titania, who was lying down next to me, as if I was completely dumbfounded, she patted the bed and told me to lie down quickly. Did my daughter have an iron plate on her face?

Really, it was too shameless to say the least.

“Didn’t you suggest that we share separate rooms?”

“First of all, for today…”

“Are we going to use separate rooms again starting tomorrow?”

Titania puffed out her cheeks as if telling me not to ask any more questions. He knocked on the bed even louder, asking me to lie down next to him. Yes, I look at it because it’s cute. And honestly, it was hard for me to fall asleep without Titania by my side.

As I lay down on the bed, Titania came in and hugged me, burying her face in my chest in her usual sleeping position. As I felt the warmth coming from Titania’s cheeks, I raised my arms and hugged her tightly.

As we have developed the habit of cuddling and sleeping like this since we were young, this has now become a natural sleeping position for us. As I was hugging Titania like this, I suddenly remembered a conversation I had with the Queen Mother’s maid, the mother of two children.

‘You shouldn’t make it a habit to keep hugging them.’

‘okay…? but…’

‘If the princess doesn’t get into the habit of sleeping alone, she will continue to be fussy when she sleeps. I understand that Her Majesty the Queen cares for the princess with love, but too much of it can be toxic.’

As expected, the maid who raised two children said something different.

Since I was young, I had developed the habit of holding her in my arms even when it hurt so much that my arms would fall off, so it was difficult for Titania to leave my side, and it was not easy for me to leave her side either. I felt sad when I couldn’t hear Titania’s heartbeat, and without Titania’s warmth, I felt cold even if I covered myself with a blanket.

I glanced down and looked at Titania, who had buried her head in my arms. The sight of Titania’s body moving up and down in time with her breathing made me happy every time I saw it. Perhaps sensing my gaze, Titania lifted her head and made eye contact with me.

When Titania made eye contact with me, she smiled brightly. Although he has grown up and his face has changed a lot compared to when he was young, the smile he looks at me has remained the same. That smile tickled my heart, so I put my arms around Titania and hugged her tightly.

‘Okay, how can I beat you?’

After hugging each other for a while, Titania lifted her head and looked at me. When I met the buzzing red eyes, I could immediately understand Titania’s true intentions. The way he looked at me with his eyes sparkling quickly meant that he had a favor to ask of me.

“mother…”

“no.”

“I haven’t said anything yet…”

“Do you think I don’t know you? You’re probably asking for permission to attend the masquerade ball. Until now, you have always had to go to balls or parties invited by Viola to relieve your anger.”

Titania pouted her lips and lowered her head sullenly. I always gave in to this kind of shallow cuteness, but now whenever something doesn’t work out, he comes to me and shows off his cuteness. No matter how weak I am at cuteness, I had to endure it this time.

Besides, now that I’ve said this, I wish you would give me a little relief…

“Well, then…! How about doing it like this? “I’m not going to ask you to share a room anymore… I’m going to share a room with my mother again… so can you give me permission just this once…?”

“A transaction is only established when the price offered by both sides is similar. I don’t mind sleeping separately from you. Rather, I asked you to come back because I was worried about you. “Wasn’t it always you who rejected it?”

“Ah, uh…”

Titania must have gotten nervous when I refused again, so she buried her face in my chest and began to think deeply. What should I do to go to that masquerade ball? What should I say to change my mind? It felt like I could hear this rustling sound reaching my ears.

“Well, then your mother can attend too! “Please come with me…!”

“…Am I at the masquerade ball?”

“yes yes! I heard that Lady Serena will be attending, so I’m sure your mother will be able to attend too! I fully understand that my mother says I shouldn’t go to the prom because she’s worried about me. In that case, wouldn’t it be okay for my mother to attend and watch over me? “Your mother knows about my makeup, so even if I wear a mask, she will recognize me right away!”

“…….”

“Oh, and I’m not a child anymore! I’m at an age where I can distinguish between things that will make my mother sad if I do it! I have no intention of doing anything that will make my mother sad! “It’s just… All my friends say they will attend this masquerade ball, but if I don’t go…”

I already knew why Titania was obsessed with the masquerade ball. It was because everyone was gathering at a children’s social gathering centered around Titania, and it would be difficult if Titania was left alone.

I wanted to ask why the princess cares about that, but…

I guess it’s just because it’s sad to be alone when all your friends get together and hang out. Seeing things like this made me feel like I was still a child. Thirteen was still quite young in my eyes… but it didn’t seem like that was the case.

‘Really… am I being overprotective?’

…To be honest, even if that were the case, I really didn’t want to allow it. I just didn’t want you to know that there was a masquerade ball in Titania’s life. The adults’ masquerade ball is a disgusting place that Titania doesn’t need to know about. So I just wanted Titania to never know about this.

When I lowered my head and looked at Titania, she looked up at me with her eyes wide. The sight made me sigh, and I let out a deep sigh and stroked the back of Titania’s head.

“…Really, please don’t stab me in the chest.”

“That means…”

“You can send a letter saying you will attend. Instead, just add that I plan to attend as you said.”

“mom!!”

As soon as I gave permission, Titania, with a bright smile, hugged me tightly and started rubbing our cheeks. I found it annoying that Titania only called me mom at times like this, but since it was something I had already allowed and couldn’t be undone, I just sighed.

After all, I can’t beat Titania.

The reason I gave permission was because what Titania said seemed to make some sense.

If I attend the masquerade ball, Titania will definitely be able to enjoy the ball in peace, and I will also be able to protect her. Moreover, as long as I put Ainsel next to Titania, I could immediately know the danger no matter what happened.

It may seem like a fuss, but I couldn’t feel at ease if I didn’t do something like this.

“Promise me. You tell me what makeup to wear and you promise not to lose sight of me. “I will only hang out inside the ballroom and not go outside.”

“yes! “I promise!”

“You speak well…”

So, I held Titania in my arms and closed my eyes.

Everything was bothersome now in the drowsiness that was flooding in, and I felt like I would be able to sleep deeper than usual with Titania in my arms. So I closed my eyes and slowly fell into sleep, but…

Up until this point, I really didn’t know.

Earlier, when I was closing my eyes and burying my face in the pillow, Ainsel ran to Titania and told her that now was her chance.

And now, as I was dozing off, Titania and Ainsel were looking at each other, giving thumbs up with both hands, and smiling happily at each other.

It wasn’t until much later that I realized that I had been fooled by this obnoxious fairy and his obnoxious daughter.

Really, really, a long time later…