episode_0080

[Episode 80] – Overprotection

Titania went to get dressed while I also waited for the maids to help me get dressed. I took off my earrings and looked at Ainsel. Because Ainsel had to help at this masquerade ball.

“I told you last time, I can’t wear earrings to this ball. Because I’m trying to hide my identity as much as possible. “First of all, I won’t take my eyes off Titania in the ballroom, but…”

-I know. Since you can’t wear earrings, you’re saying you’ll replace them with a necklace? And you’re telling me that you can’t hear my voice because I’m going to put it inside my clothes, right? So, please protect the princess well… and shout loudly if anything happens… I’m really going to feel like my ears are prickling.

“…Okay, I’ll definitely ask you this time. “If anything happens, shout out loud.”

-You… you’re really overprotective. To be honest, this is just spying on the princess. I told you this until you had a scab in your ear, but…

“I know. Now that Titania has grown up to a certain degree, you’re saying she should get into the habit of staying away from me, right? “I will try my best, but…”

I sighed softly and looked at Ainsel.

It wasn’t easy to take Titania away from me. Could it be that I am rather obsessed with Titania? Because it made me think, I know that this child will leave me one day, but…

“…Please take a look even if it looks a little ugly. Just until Titania enters the Academy. You know? “When that time comes, I too…”

-…I didn’t say it was ugly. I’m just worried about whether you’ll be able to leave the princess’s side like you promised. Honestly, I don’t think you really need to leave, but…

I smiled bitterly at Ainsel’s gaze as if he was truly worried. I knew what Ainsel wanted to say to me.

As Titania grows up, won’t it be that I depend on Titania, rather than Titania relying on me? I had a vague feeling.

The reason I exist here is for Titania. Because I decided that way from then on. So, I had no choice but to rely on Titania.

Because that child is everything in my life.

However, the more I depended on Titania, the more she depended on me. Then, the more I depended on Titania, and Titania depended on me again, and again, and again, like a snake biting its own tail.

Is that why? The thought that I would never be able to escape Titania’s side began to fill my head if I continued like this these days.

Isn’t that right? One day, Titania will become queen, get married, and leave my side, and even then, I can’t depend on her. I didn’t want to be a parent obsessed with my child.

Knowing that I shouldn’t do that, I had to keep my promise to the Queen Mother. Even when Titania grows up, me being next to her is no different from poison to both Titania and me.

So, I…

*

“mother! “Look at this!”

While I was being dressed up and surrounded by maids, Titania suddenly opened the door and appeared. Titania, who had finished dressing up for the masquerade ball, came quickly to my side.

Rather than a dress, Titania wears a white blouse and bright red skirt that common people would wear. He was wearing a bright red cape and holding a basket full of snacks in one hand.

And even a bright red mask that covers half of his face.

As if she was showing off, Titania grabbed the hem of her skirt and spun around in place, showing off her costume. Titania’s makeup was like ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ from the fairy tale.

“It suits you well. Did you finally decide on Little Red Riding Hood?”

“Yes, I liked this one the best.”

Perhaps because most of the participants in this year’s masquerade ball were children, Hayley chose ‘fairy tales’ or ‘fairies’ as the theme for this year’s masquerade ball. Of course, my influence must have been involved to some extent.

Titania said it was a little childish, but it was still much more wholesome than an adult masquerade ball. Usually, at a masquerade ball, any mask could be worn unless the host decided on a theme.

The masks there are simply used to show off one’s wealth. At a masquerade ball where the rule was to hide one’s identity, their masks were not intended to hide their identity.

Embellish the mask with jewels or use high-quality fabric. To make the makeup look realistic, you hire a craftsman to make the clothes. At the adult masquerade ball, dressing up was no different from ‘competition’ with others.

Moreover, such masquerade balls were usually lewd events where people pretended to be noble on the outside but enjoyed being promiscuous and promiscuous behind the scenes, so to be honest, it was an event that Titania had nothing to learn from.

So, even now, right before the masquerade ball, I was still feeling a bit of regret. Even though it is an event where only children gather, I think it was a wrong decision to allow a masquerade ball.

…If I keep complaining like this again, it won’t end. The sound of Ainsel shouting, ‘Stop being overprotective!!’ seemed to be ringing in my ears now.

‘Besides… I probably won’t be able to enjoy the masquerade ball as much as I expected anyway. This masquerade ball will also be an opportunity for Titania to face reality.’

I sighed at my inconclusive thoughts and looked at Titania. Certainly, it was cute to see her dressed up in a way that you don’t usually see. If it weren’t for the fact that you were getting dressed, I would have hugged you right away.

I sighed softly and asked Titania with a worried look.

“Titania. “Do you remember what I said?”

“Yes, I remember everything. “You told it to the point where it made my ears tingle.”

“Once again, take at least two different masks. Make sure the cloak covers all the way to your face. And since you can’t dance, regarding the first dance…”

When I nagged her again, Titania felt like her ears were going to get scabs, and she sighed and let my nagging go in one ear and out the other. What’s the point of saying something that hurts your mouth? You have to experience it to know.

Titania probably didn’t like my attitude as if I was scolding a child, so she straightened her back and chest to increase her height, pounded her chest with her fist, and looked at me. What is he doing now?

“Mom, don’t worry. It’s just a masquerade ball with kids my age, right? My mother is worried because she is so worried. “Am I now a grown woman?”

“What, what??? Are you a lady??? Puheup, puhuhuh, ahahahaha!”

When I heard the word “lady,” I burst out laughing.

What kind of lady is a child of only thirteen years old?

It must have been like that after reading a strange novel. Wasn’t it Titania’s little conscience that said at the end that she was ‘no different’ from a grown woman?

As I burst out laughing, the maids who were helping me get dressed also shook their shoulders.

The maids tried to hold back the laughter that was about to burst out, but in the end, they seemed to be unable to hold back, and a subtle laugh burst out from between the maids’ thinly opened lips.

“Wow, Her Majesty, Princess, I am so sorry. “We just thought the princess was so cute…”

“Whew… the way you just looked was unbearably cute…”

Perhaps because most of them were maids with children, they seemed even more unbearable. The maids always treated Titania like their own children, so she had no intention of scolding them at all.

As the maids and I burst into laughter, Titania’s face turned bright red. The skirt, cape, and mask were bright red, and even her face turned bright red, making her look like a perfectly ripe apple.

When I saw Titania’s whole body shaking, perhaps because she was angry or embarrassed, I thought, “Oops,” so I took a deep breath to calm down my laughter and apologized to Titania.

“I’m sorry. However, in my eyes, I am still a child. He is only thirteen years old, and even now, he has trouble sleeping at night unless he sleeps with me. “If you want to be referred to as a lady, shouldn’t you get into the habit of sleeping separately from me and have a debutante after you turn fifteen?”

Titania said ‘Ugh’ to my point and couldn’t refute it.

I don’t know why the word ‘lady’ is used, but considering that the definition of ‘lady’ is ‘a woman with culture, courtesy, and dignity, a beautiful term for a woman who has come of age,’ it was definitely not a term referring to Titania, who had not even had a coming-of-age ceremony.

‘Well… Her face is slowly starting to look like a child, but… it’s still too early for her to become a lady.’

I suppressed my laughter and patted Titania’s back, which looked like she was about to burst into tears.

“Stop crying and go to the ballroom first. “It’s the masquerade ball I’ve been looking forward to so much, but if I’m late and put on makeup again, it’ll be in trouble.”

“…What about your mother? “What kind of makeup will your mother wear?”

“me?”

I pretended to think about it for a moment, cupped my chin with my fingers, then grinned and slapped Titania’s ass! and hit me. Titania, startled, jumped up in her place, puffed out her cheeks, and glared at me.

“I told you it was a secret. “You won’t notice me unless I talk to you first.”

“There’s no hint…?”

“There is none. So, always act like I’m watching you. “You know when you do something bad, right?”

“yes…”

Titania patted my butt a few times, as if it hurt where I hit her, and then walked out of the room with a slightly sullen expression. I was also slowly finishing my makeup, so all I had to do was put on my costume and I was done.

“Okay then… slowly…”

After finishing my makeup, I stood up and looked into the closet that the maid opened. The outfit I secretly asked Hayley and Yvette to prepare for today. I couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of an outfit I’d never worn before.

“Let’s get ready. “If you’re late, you’ll be in trouble.”