episode_0108

[Episode 108] – Time to leave (2)

“How do you know that? “There’s no way you would know that…?”

“How do you know…? Have you ever been to the academy?”

“Of course I’ve been there…! You must have entered the school four times so far? “I never graduated, but…”

Veronica and I faced each other and whispered in a very low voice.

Veronica didn’t seem to know why I knew about ‘fairy eggs’, and I also never imagined that Veronica would know about fairy eggs. That’s right, I’ve never heard that Veronica entered the academy.

“Anyway, don’t talk back! How do you know that?! “I thought I was the only one who knew that there was a fairy egg hidden in the academy…?”

“Well, I just found out through rumors. Are there like ten ghost stories that are handed down at the Academy? Among them, there is a story about Oparts, which grants students’ wishes. Just in case…”

“…That’s all you knew?”

Veronica glanced at me with suspicious eyes. Is it too much? I answered because I was hastily thinking about what was in the game settings, but it didn’t seem to be a satisfactory answer. As I didn’t know how to respond anymore and just smiled, Veronica sighed.

“…Is that really necessary for you?”

“Oh, no, that’s not what I need. “I was just wondering if I could be of help to Titania…”

“Then, can you give it to me? To you, it may just be an op-part for Titania, but to me, it’s something I really need. therefore…”

The voice was requesting, but the eyes were resolute. I began to worry for a moment as I felt like they were going to take it from me by force if I didn’t give it to them. The moment I finished my short thought and was about to open my mouth, Titania, who was behind me, asked me.

“Mom, should I take care of this too?”

“Oh, that’s…”

I couldn’t help but sigh when I saw clothes and belongings that were still unorganized hanging out on the bed. When I turned my head and tried to approach Titania, Veronica answered and grabbed my wrist as if to tell me to go. I looked at Veronica and answered by stroking her head.

“I’ll think about it for a bit and give you an answer.”

“…okay.”

Although I was already done with my worries, it seemed like a good opportunity to talk alone with Veronica, so I postponed my answer. You’d better tell Veronica. Because I entered the academy together with Titania. Rather, I was grateful to follow Titania into the academy. therefore…

‘…I guess it’s okay to tell Veronica. When you come back, I won’t be here.’

*

The packing up continued until late at night.

Although I didn’t have a lot of luggage to pack, it took a very long time as I had to worry about what I needed and what was useless at the academy. I told her to only take care of what she needed for her studies, but Titania was of the opinion that she couldn’t do that given her position.

“It took a long time, but it was sorted out somehow.”

“It’s because my mother keeps finding fault with every item I put in…”

…I couldn’t refute it because it wasn’t wrong.

But, it can’t be helped. Even if I brought perfume, it was difficult to understand why I brought five perfumes. Titania explained to me that this was also reduced a lot and that each perfume is used in different places, but no matter how much I tried to explain it, I didn’t understand. It’s a trend these days or something.

Titania sighed as if she was exhausted and lay down on the bed. He rolled over on the bed and said, ‘The day has gone by in vain…’ and fell on the bed, kicking the blanket with his feet. Even though she was all grown up, I almost laughed at Titania’s still childlike behavior.

“By the way… the room feels a little bigger.”

When I turned my head and looked at my luggage being organized, I felt bitter. Should I say that the room has become larger? Or should I say it has become dull? My room didn’t feel like my own, even though I had lost a few of Titania’s personal belongings. It just felt unfamiliar today.

As I stood there blankly looking around the room, Veronica came up and asked me.

“done?”

“To some extent.”

“Are you even worried?”

When I turned my head to look at Veronica, she was looking a little nervous. ‘What if I don’t give up the fairy egg?’ Veronica was looking at me with the same eyes, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“What, why are you smiling?”

“I just thought you were a really cute kid.”

“What, what?”

Suddenly, looking away from Veronica who was glaring at me as if it was some kind of nonsense, I chuckled and started straightening Titania’s messy hair with one hand. I rolled around on the bed so much that my head was a mess.

‘…It won’t be long before I see this lovely face.’

Really, there isn’t much left. After today, there were only two days left. It meant that there were really only two days left to see Titania’s face. When I thought about it like that, I felt really bitter and my throat felt like it was burning.

Actually, I really didn’t want to leave.

Who would want to leave their beloved child?

If possible, I wanted to stay by this child’s side for the rest of my life.

But, because I ‘promised’.

Originally, we had promised to leave this year when Titania turns fifteen, but Her Majesty the Queen gave permission for her to stay for three more years. I knew very well that I couldn’t be more greedy than this. And, it’s really bittersweet, but…

It seemed right for me to leave Titania’s side.

‘Because this child likes me so much.’

The problem was Titania, who liked me too much.

I was worried about Titania, who loved me so much.

Titania will never leave my side…

‘So, I have to leave.’

If Titania was to become self-sufficient, I shouldn’t have been around. If Titania did not leave my side even after becoming queen, it was clear that it would be ‘poison’ for her. A queen who cannot leave her adopted mother, who is not her biological mother. How lame.

‘…How much will you blame me if I leave?’

Titania looked up at me with her loving eyes, like a baby bird that never wanted to leave its nest. A baby bird that doesn’t flap its wings even though it’s time to leave the nest. In order to make such a baby bird leave the nest, the mother bird had no choice but to push the baby bird out of the nest.

So, I had no choice but to push Titania’s back. I had to push away this adorable child who would never leave my side. I wanted Titania to get out of the ‘nest’ and become self-sufficient.

‘And even if I leave, Veronica and Ainsel will be by Titania’s side.’

If I leave, Ainsel and Veronica will get along better. I thought that if the three of us stayed together, someday misunderstandings would be resolved and we would become closer. I don’t know why Ainsel avoids Veronica, but if we spend time together, there will come a day when misunderstandings will be resolved.

After tidying up Titania’s tangled hair, I smiled and looked at Titania and Veronica in turn. I asked them both at the same time, wondering if they would be okay for a day or so.

“Shall we all sleep together today?”

“what?”

“yes?”

Veronica was disgusted by the idea of everyone sleeping together, and Titania seemed a little embarrassed. I lay down in the middle of the bed and patted the seats on either side, urging him to lie down quickly. Then, Veronica frowned and turned her head away.

“If you leave, I will be left here alone. So, let’s sleep together so that we can make today a memory. huh? “Why not?”

When I asked earnestly, Titania thought for a moment, sighed as if she had no choice, and settled down on my left side. Veronica still had no intention of coming to sit next to me, so she just looked down at me with annoyed eyes.

“veronica.”

“Oh really…!”

It wasn’t until I called again that Veronica climbed onto the bed and took a seat on my right side with her back to me. Should I say that it feels new to see the three of us lying side by side in bed like this? As the three of us lay down together, it really felt like family.

“Titania, would you like me to read you a fairy tale for the first time in a while?”

“A fairy tale…? “My age…”

“What does age matter? “Because we’re all doing this together, I feel like I want to read it.”

For some reason, I felt like I was reminded of Titania when she was young. I sat up for a moment, leaned back against the head of the bed, and started thinking about what story to tell. In the past, I read it a lot. Rather, it was none other than Titania who made a fuss to tell her a fairy tale.

Besides, the reason I want to tell you a fairy tale this time is…

“Veronica, is there any fairy tale you’d like to hear?”

“…doesn’t exist.”

It was also for Veronica. A child with a simple dream who wanted to hear fairy tales from his parents. A child who thinks he or she will never achieve it. So, I just wanted to make it happen for him. Because there is not much time left for me to be in the royal castle.

“Then, I’ll talk about it myself.”

In a soft voice, as if I were telling a fairy tale to a child, I began to recite the fairy tale I had told Titania the most. He gently stroked the two children’s hair and continued the story slowly.

“A long time ago, a long time ago, a long time ago-”

*

“Whoa…”

After confirming that Titania was asleep, I carefully went out to the terrace to get some night air. Because I couldn’t sleep and had a lot to think about. furthermore…

“…Are you worried now? Or are you finished worrying now?”

I had something to say to Veronica.

After confirming that Titania was asleep, Veronica and I decided to go out to the terrace and talk alone for a while. Veronica about the ‘fairy egg’. I’m talking about ‘going out of the castle’. Veronica doesn’t know that I’m leaving the castle yet…

I smiled and looked at Veronica.

“Did you enjoy the fairy tale I told you?”

“…Well, it was my first time hearing this, but it was somewhat interesting.”

When I laughed, Veronica tapped my shoulder as if she was annoyed. Still, I’m glad you enjoyed it. Honestly, I never thought I would listen to the end. Telling her a fairy tale was an act of pity for Veronica, and Veronica is a child who hates being pitied by me.

‘I guess Veronica opened her heart to me too.’

So it was more difficult to talk about. Veronica, who has finally opened her heart to me, what kind of expression will she make when I tell her that I am leaving? I felt sorry because I thought it might be an act of abandoning Veronica like Vivian.

“Why are you looking so serious?”

“…veronica.”

…Still, I had to talk about it. Even if I disappear, Veronica will still have Titania. I wanted us to depend on each other and lean on each other. Truly, like irreplaceable sisters. Then, you’ll be fine without me.

“The ‘Fairy Egg’ at the Academy. I can give it up to you. instead…”

“instead…?”

“Promise me one thing.”

“promise?”

“I will always be by Titania’s side. He said he would help Titania. They said they would rely on each other and be like real sisters. “Promise me.”

“…That’s right, of course I’m thinking of doing that even if you don’t say it, but…what is it, all of a sudden? “Like someone leaving somewhere far away.”

“……”

Veronica, who was astute, asked me if she sensed something strange in my tone. It was a joke I asked with a chuckle, but Veronica’s expression began to harden as she noticed that there was no smile on my face.

I tried to talk with my lips, but it wasn’t easy.

So now, I looked at Veronica with a wry smile.

Veronica looked at my laughter and tried to smile for a moment as if she was confused, but soon she realized that this was not a joke and the smile slowly began to fade from her face. Veronica soon sighed and raised her head and looked at me.

“…You’re kidding, right?”

“…Sorry.”

Veronica’s face crumpled at my answer.

And that’s something I’ve never seen before.

His face looked like he was going to cry at any moment.