episode_0145

[Episode 141] – Doll Play

Blinking, I woke up early in the morning and stretched my arms above my head, sitting on the edge of the bed, absentmindedly surveying the room. As I sat on the edge of the bed, my feet dangled without touching the ground.

Sure enough, it wasn’t a dream that I had become smaller. Moreover, it wasn’t just shrinking. My body, now rejuvenated to 10 years old, was fundamentally different from my 33-year-old body. What should I call this? I felt the essence of “youth” at every moment.

It was the same even now. Just waking up, my mind quickly became alert, unlike when I was 33. Normally, after waking up, my mind would be sluggish for a few minutes.

“This is youth…!”

Musing over youth, I hopped out of bed and approached the vanity, sitting down on the chair and gazing into the mirror. The chair was too low, so only half of my face was reflected in the vanity mirror.

Helplessly, I stood up from the chair and picked up the ‘Essence of Ainsel’ that Veronica had given me yesterday from the vanity. Not knowing what might happen to my body in the future, I took the Essence of Ainsel that Veronica had told me to take. As usual, I tried to put it on my ear, but…

“It’s still closed…”

As I fiddled with my plump earlobe, I sighed softly upon realizing that my ear hole was blocked. Giving up on wearing it on my ear, I opened the vanity drawer and took out a necklace chain.

I then connected the necklace chain to the Essence of Ainsel, making a mirror necklace, and put it around my neck. As I lowered my head, the round mirror around my flat chest reflected the sunlight.

“Ainsel, I know you’re watching.”

I called out to Ainsel while tapping the mirror hanging on my chest with my finger. However, no matter how much I tapped, Ainsel didn’t respond. With a wry smile, I tapped the mirror once again.

“You’re not angry, are you? Come out quickly.”

Finally, Ainzel peeked out from the end of the mirror, tilting her head. She hesitated and seemed to want to say something as she emerged in front of the mirror, but she only mumbled as if unable to open her mouth, then bowed deeply.

“I’m not really angry… just a little disappointed.”

Seeing Ainzel struggling to speak, I let out a small sigh and tapped the mirror with my finger, speaking up.

“It looks like you’ve made up with Veronica while I was gone, huh? Now you two are getting along.”

“Uh… yes… a little…”

“Good. I was worried about how you two would manage until I left.”

I continued the conversation, trying to ease Ainzel’s tension by talking to myself. Considering Ainzel’s timid nature, it was clear that she still found it difficult to deal with me as before.

That’s why she hadn’t appeared by my side until now. Surely, Ainzel had plenty of opportunities to come find me. Except for when I was confined in this room, even after that, she could have come to see me.

But she didn’t. It was a bit disappointing, but I wasn’t angry. Ultimately, I realized that my biggest mistake was forcing myself to leave Titania’s side.

It was easier to think of it as reaping what I sowed. Even if I hadn’t fallen so easily from Titania’s side, even if I had just talked to her a little, or made an effort to understand her.

Deciding to consider it my fault, I thought it would be the most comfortable way to not resent everyone and return to the old days.

“If I put it negatively, it’s giving up; if I put it positively, it’s acceptance.”

With a bitter smile, I looked at Ainzel and tapped the mirror.

“I know it’s still awkward. I understand why you’re hesitant to approach me. Let’s take it slow, very slow. Now that I have no intention of leaving your side.”

“Vivian… I…”

“You understand, right?”

I interrupted Einsel’s words and asked. Einsel hesitated for a moment, as if trying to continue speaking, but eventually just nodded. There was no need for apologies or explanations at this point.

“But the problem is now… What should I do about getting younger like this…?”

“D-don’t worry…! We will definitely break the curse for you…!”

“No… Honestly, getting younger feels good… I wake up without joint pain, without fatigue. If only I could keep aging in reverse, wouldn’t that be perfect…?”

“Pardon?”

As I conversed with Einsel, swinging my feet that didn’t touch the floor from the chair, there was a knock on the door. Titania poked her head in and greeted me, saying she would come in.

“Mother, good morning.”

“Yes, good morning.”

I greeted Titania with a big smile as she approached me. Without saying a word, she took out a comb from the dressing table and started combing my hair.

The sound of the comb brushing through my hair lightly touched my ears. The teeth of the comb smoothly flowed down my hair without catching anything.

“It’s okay, you don’t have to do this…”

“I want to do it.”

When I was young, I used to tie up Titania’s hair, braid it, and put it up, but now it felt strange being on the receiving end. I glanced at Titania reflected in the mirror.

Watching her comb my hair with a rather serious expression, I found myself smiling and focusing on Titania’s touch. Before I knew it, she had finished combing my hair.

Just when I thought it was almost over, Titania grabbed a handful of my hair and began braiding it meticulously. In no time, she divided my hair into two sections, even adding a ribbon as a finishing touch.

Titania looked at her reflection in the mirror with a satisfied smile and asked me, “How do I look? Cute, right?”

“Cute, but…” I chuckled softly as I touched my neatly braided hair. When I raised my head to look at Titania, she only smiled.

“Well, first impressions are important, aren’t they? It’s a chance for people to see your motherly cuteness. It’s important to dress up a little more.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Think of it as having another debutante ball. So…”

Titania came close enough for her breath to touch me, looking at my reflection in the mirror, gently touching my neatly braided hair, and whispered in my ear, “Let’s dress up a little more. Okay?”

*

At first, it was a pink dress adorned with lots of frills. If the intention was to make me feel embarrassed, it was undoubtedly a well-thought-out plan. I shook my head and confidently said, “This is not it.”

The second one was a slightly cute navy blue dress. I still didn’t like the abundance of frills, but compared to the pink dress, it looked much better, so I put it on hold for now.

The third was a children’s dress in red and blue, which Titania used to wear. I nodded, thinking that I might as well wear this one, but…

“Can we stop now?”

“We still have many dresses. Let’s choose carefully. Unni, what do you think of this one?”

“It’s not bad, but… What about this? I think dark colors would suit the current Vivian.”

-That’s right, Vivian looks good in dark colors.

Before I knew it, Veronica had also come over and started helping me choose a dress. She had brought several dresses worn by the dwarfs from the cottage and laid them out on the bed, starting to contemplate.

“I tried to choose as many dark colors as possible, but there aren’t many. When I was young, I mostly wore bright colors. Oh, Mother, what about this? Try it on once.”

“This is already the third one…”

“You won’t know unless you try on the dress, right? Just one more time. Please?”

Could it be my mood? I have a feeling that the phrase “just one more time” will continue to repeat. It’s like I’ve become a doll to change clothes, sighing as I keep changing dresses.

After the fashion show that lasted for quite a while, by the time afternoon was almost over, I could barely make it to the main palace with my energy depleted to the point of exhaustion, holding Titania’s hand.

No matter how long it took to dress up, even though I kept saying it’s okay not to go this far, Titania and Veronica just nodded. They even scolded me in the end.

Wearing a navy dress with cumbersome frills, I struggled to walk, panting after just a few steps. No, at least they should have dressed me in something comfortable to walk in!

Eventually, while walking on instinct, I abruptly stopped and looked up at Titania sternly. No matter how I thought about it, this wasn’t right. I felt like tearing the dress apart right then and there.

“Sigh… Titania, this dress is really…”

“…It can’t be helped.”

Titania looked down at me with a bitter smile. Did my earnest heart reach her? I thought of going back to change into another dress, but Titania’s thoughts were different from mine.

With her hand under my armpit, Titania swiftly lifted me up and held me tightly. I was surprised and could only widen my eyes.

“I’ll carry you, so don’t worry.”

“No, I…! Fine… do as you wish.”

I thought about struggling, but I didn’t think Titania would let me down, so I relaxed and rested my head on her shoulder. I was so tired that I just wanted to let things happen as they may.

As I leaned my head against Titania’s neck with my eyes closed, I suddenly heard murmurs around me. It was strange enough that the queen had suddenly brought a child, but she didn’t let go of the child.

The maids and servants whispered quietly, curious about the relationship between the two who seemed close. As I closed my eyes to avoid the gaze of others, a familiar voice reached me.

“Your Majesty…? And the child in your arms…?”

“Oh, Bangso.”

Bangso? At the sound of the long-unheard voice, I opened my eyes slightly and looked at the aging Bangso who had approached me closely. He had aged considerably, with many wrinkles on his face, and retirement seemed imminent.

“Your Majesty… Who does this child resemble, the former queen perhaps…?”

“Oh, this child is…”

Examining me closely, Bangso widened his eyes and let out a sigh. Seemingly unable to comprehend, he stroked his chin and came right up to me.

Was it because I had shrunk? Bangso’s head, which had come right up to my nose, seemed disproportionately large. Was it just my distorted perception that made his shiny bald head seem even more prominent?

Before Titania could introduce me, Bangso, as if understanding, clapped his hands and responded. Truly, a foolish and frivolous response.

“So, she’s the hidden daughter of the former queen…! Connected by blood to Your Majesty…!? Of course, the former queen wouldn’t have missed the first night- Hmph!”

“Do you think so? Baldy!”

Smack!

In response to the frivolous nonsense, I raised my palm high and struck Bangso’s bald head as he came closer. The imprint of my palm was clearly left on his grumbling scalp.