episode_0102

[Episode 102] – Just the Two of Us

Square- Square-

In the quiet office, the only sound that could be heard was the sound of an ink-filled pen tip scraping across paper. Since winter came, there was a lot more paperwork to do, so I had to focus on work today.

I really had to concentrate…

“…Ainsel, do you have anything to do?”

-…yes. There’s nothing to do.

I stopped scratching the paper, roughly flicked the fountain pen, and looked at Ainsel, who was sitting blankly in the mirror on the desk. When you open your mouth, it looks like you’re drooling.

There was only one reason why Ainsel, who was with Titania every day, came to visit me these days. When Veronica came to visit Titania. Heinsel always came to visit me on the days when Veronica came.

The sight of Ainsel, who always stayed by my side until Veronica left, was like a puppy that had lost its owner, which made me laugh in a different way. Should I say that I feel sorry for him spending time next to me?

“Why do you like Titania so much but avoid Veronica so much?”

-Well, that’s… should I say awkward…

Ainsel hesitantly responded to my words that sounded like I was talking to myself. I’m not sure, but the reason why Ainsel avoids Veronica was not because of the trauma of having his body taken away by the enemy or anything like that.

Veronica also apologized to Ainsel for that matter, and Ainsel also accepted her apology. Ainsel’s reason for avoiding Veronica was fundamentally different. I don’t know what it is.

I picked up the fountain pen again and continued my work, reading the documents.

“Don’t avoid me so much, but try talking to me first. How long are you going to avoid it? You can’t avoid Veronica your whole life, right? Titania, who hated Veronica so much, these days they only meet together except for me. “I’m dying of sadness.”

-I know I shouldn’t avoid it… I know… but how do I do something that isn’t easy…?

That’s right.

It’s not easy to talk to an awkward person. Well, nothing in this world is easy. Still, unless Titania kicked Veronica out, they had to become friends at some point.

“At least try to stay there instead of running away from me like this. later-”

-…later? What?

I put down the fountain pen for a moment and looked at Ainsel, smiling bitterly at his sudden words. Now that I think about it, it seemed like I had never discussed the future with Ainsel. Okay, later-

“…What are you planning to do later, after I leave the capital?”

-that…

Ainsel hesitated and trailed off as if he was embarrassed. Seeing as I couldn’t get an answer right away, I guess Ainsel had no intention of following me. To be honest, it was what I expected.

Because Ainsel always followed Titania, not me. That’s probably why you don’t make a familiar contract with me. Although I sometimes helped him use magic, I did not make a ‘contract’ with Ainsel.

So, as soon as I am separated from Ainsel, I cannot use magic. Ainsel was to some extent the reason why I had neglected fairies and magic until now.

When Titania was six years old, Ainsel once told me that I should stay in the castle and do ‘something.’ I thought it was definitely because the main body was stolen, but…

‘Now that Veronica has apologized, I don’t think that’s the case…’

I smiled bitterly and stroked the top of the mirror that contained the Ainsel. As I pretended to pat his head, Heinsel looked at me with a worried expression.

“I don’t really blame you for not following me.”

-Vivian…

“If I leave the capital, you three will have to stay together. Until then, wouldn’t it be better to get a little closer to Veronica?”

-Tsk…

Ainsel lowered his head and only twitched his little fingers as if he was anxious. I don’t know what to say since they haven’t really told me what the problem is.

Besides, it was a problem for Ainsel to stay here, but it was also a problem for me to leave the castle. Since I came here and rarely went outside the castle, I was at a loss as to how to survive. Is the real building owner the only answer?

As I was scribbling down documents in a gloomy atmosphere, there was a knock on the door and Titania’s voice was heard. When I told her to come in, Titania stuck her head out through the crack in the door.

After confirming that there was no one in my office other than me, Titania carefully opened the door and approached me. Was the conversation with Veronica fun? Titania’s face was filled with a bright smile.

“Hehe, mom~ are you busy?”

Titania came into the office calling me with a coquettish voice, and instead of coming to the front of the desk, she came behind me and started massaging my shoulders. This act was a desperate act of cuteness when Titania asked me for something.

“What does my daughter want so much that she’s so cute?”

“Hehehe.”

I sighed softly and stroked the back of Titania’s hand as she massaged my shoulder. Even if I don’t have to be cute, I always do whatever I can, and is Titania aware of that, which is why she’s so cute?

Titania smiled brightly, hugged me from behind and buried her face in the crook of my neck. And then he stamped his feet as if he couldn’t bear it because he was so happy. It was nice to be loved by my daughter like this, but it seemed inevitable that I would worry about Titania every time something like this happened.

Just as I was wondering what on earth she was asking me to do and why she was being so cute, Titania, who was running around holding me by the back of my neck, gently put her lips to my ear and whispered in a low voice.

“Mom, do you remember the wish that Sister Veronica told me to grant?”

“…wish?”

Come to think of it, Veronica seemed to have told Titania that she would grant her a few wishes if she called her sister. I don’t really remember because I wasn’t paying much attention, but…

“…Didn’t you say you were going to teach me magic?”

Titania shook her head. Then what on earth is it? When I tilted my head because I couldn’t remember, Titania smiled and put a little more pressure on the hand holding my neck.

“I said I would take you to a festival without anyone knowing. “Do you remember now?”

“…Did you mean that Veronica would take you out of the palace? “He said he would take you to festivals and other places secretly…”

“Hehehe, that’s right! That’s it!”

Now I’m starting to get a vague sense of it.

It seemed like I heard from Bank Show that the Snowflake Festival would be held next week. They’re probably asking if it’s okay to go there. I answered while stroking the head of Titania, who was resting her chin on my shoulder.

“…It’s a bit difficult to allow. Even if you take Ainsel with you, wouldn’t it be too dangerous to go alone? Or are you planning to go with Veronica’s dwarves?”

“yes? Ah, that’s not it…”

Titania released her arms from around my neck and came over to me and sat down lightly on the desk. Then he looked down at me, smiled, and continued speaking.

“I don’t want to go alone, I want to go with my mother.”

“with me?”

“Yes, with my mother.”

As I wasn’t expecting this kind of answer, I couldn’t help but be taken aback for a moment. Either way, Titania was still looking down at me with the corners of her eyes crooked and smiling. Of course I want to go, but it would be difficult for me to stay away. Because unlike Titania, there was no one to replace me.

“I appreciate your feelings, but… what will everyone think if I suddenly disappear?”

“That’s okay. Katsy said she would dress up as her mother and stay here. All my mother needs to do is tell other people, ‘I’m sick.’ “It’s okay to take a day off, right?”

“Are you telling me to cheat?”

I was taken aback, but Titania shrugged as if it didn’t matter.

Catsy… One of Veronica’s dwarves, she was a fairy who could transform into a human. Catsy’s ability to transform was clear, as we had once met her in the form of Princess Fiona during a hunting competition.

…I thought about it, but I couldn’t think of anything to say no to. Even though it didn’t seem like it, it didn’t seem like it would work for Titania even if I refused with some excuse.

“Even though…”

“If your mother gives you permission, Veronica will take care of everything. Wouldn’t it be okay to go out like this for a day? My mother has been staying in the office ever since winter came. yes?”

When I heard the request as if it were a plea, I naturally let out a sigh. Also, if I said no here, it was clear that Titania would beg me, citing the Academy. Then again, I will not be able to refuse and will listen. It was no different from a foreign agent.

I sighed heavily, raised my head and looked at Titania. Yes, it would be safer for you to come with me than to go alone. And for about a day…

“…Yeah, it’ll be okay for a day or so. “Let’s go.”

After giving my permission, Titania smiled brightly. Is going to a snow festival really that good? Besides, I thought it wasn’t a bad thing to have at least one memory like this.

“I guess I should at least buy Veronica a souvenir from the festival to show her how to take care of the house. Ainsel also went with us and the three of us had a snowflake festival together…”

“no?”

I was momentarily taken aback by Titania’s sharp voice, which cut off my suggestion that the three of us go together with Ainsel. What was perplexing was that Ainsel, who was looking at us in the mirror, looked up at Titania with a shocked expression.

“I’m sorry Ainsel, but… I want to go alone with my mother this time.”

“Alone…?”

“Yes, just the two of us.”

Titania looked at me, gently curling the corners of her eyes in a charming way, and gently stroked my cheek. I felt a little burdened by the staring gaze, so I looked away without realizing it. Titania smiled as if it didn’t matter, brushed my cheek, and continued speaking.

“This time, we’re going on a date just the two of us.”