episode_0146

[142nd Episode] – Things that changed while I was gone (1)

“So… you’re the queen’s niece…? Is that what you’re saying?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“What is your name then…”

She’s here. I tightly closed my eyes and put on an innocent expression, just like a truly naive child. The time had come to perform “that,” which I had practiced in front of Titania and Veronica, enduring embarrassment.

With an innocent smile, I tilted my head and laughed as if I knew nothing. Additionally, I didn’t forget to use a slightly coquettish voice and small gestures that stimulated protective instincts.

“P-Please call me Lily, hehe.”

Ah, I want to die. No, I’m dying.

I feel this way every time I do this, but I really feel like I want to die. Since I couldn’t be Vivian, it was inevitable that I had to choose a new name. However, no matter how it was…

“Oh… a cute name…? No, it’s a nickname. Is it ‘Lily’ because of ‘Lilienne Sol’?”

“Yes, that’s right. Hehe!”

Lily, what the heck, Lily!

I wish they would consider my position when I introduce myself as Lily, even though I’m a 33-year-old adult. There were many other names, but Veronica and Titania insisted on using “Lily” as a “nickname.”

I almost cried and asked if it would be better to go by “Vivi,” but my opinion was quickly ignored. Even so, it was because “Vivi” wasn’t an appropriate “nickname” for a niece to use.

“…I see. So, the queen’s niece…”

Bangcho still pushed her head against mine and stared at me intently. Like a red maple leaf placed in the middle of her forehead, there was a small red mark from my hand on Bangcho’s scalp.

“Mother asked me to take care of you for a moment.”

“Huh? Did you get in touch with the queen?”

Is she surprised? With wide eyes, Bangcho looked up at Titania as if it were so amazing that I was in contact with her. As Titania nodded, Bangcho let out a small sigh.

Because I can’t let others know my true identity, I decided to push the setting that I am a young member of the “Lirien Sol” family. Initially, no one would believe it even if I said, “The former queen has become young!”

The child the queen suddenly brought is the former queen’s niece. Before coming here, I asked Titania, “Isn’t that too forced?” but she just nodded and said it was okay.

Despite my worries, since Titania kept telling me not to worry, I had no choice but to nod. After all, I couldn’t think of any other excuse.

According to Bangso’s nonsense, I can’t say I’m the “hidden child of the former queen,” can I? Why did Bangso call me a hidden child in the first place? It doesn’t even fit the timeline.

As the maid handed me juice and I sat down, Bangso slightly furrowed his brow and began to protest to Titania, saying this wasn’t right. But…

“Why didn’t you tell us first? At least, if you had told us before bringing the child…?”

“Do I have to get permission from all of you for everything I do?”

“That’s not what I meant, Your Majesty…!”

Titania responded firmly, her eyes crushing the protests. She asked if she had to get permission from everyone. Bangso couldn’t respond to that look.

“Huh…? The atmosphere…”

Did Titania show such a dry attitude to Bangso? As far as I knew, Titania had never shown such an attitude to Bangso even once.

The atmosphere in the room started to feel strangely off. And not in a good way.

A heavy silence fell in the room for a moment. Titania looked at Bangso with cold eyes, and Bangso seemed to be struggling to figure out what to say to her.

In the end, it was up to me to break the heavy silence.

Not wanting to see Bangso and Titania fight, I jumped out of my chair and ran to them, grabbing both of them and lifting them up, looking at them.

Mab and Titania both sighed as if warning children not to fight. “Don’t fight…” “We’re not fighting.” With a bitter smile, Titania looked down at me, then lifted me up into her arms. I leaned against her, using her arms as a chair and her chest as a backrest. “Anyway, treat Lily as a guest for now. And since she’ll be sharing my room, put out some of the dresses I used to wear in my dressing room.” “Understood.” “And… I’m telling you clearly, don’t pry unnecessarily. She’s the child my mother entrusted to me.” “I won’t.” As if having nothing more to say, Titania held me close and left the room. Walking down the corridor, she let out a small sigh. What could have happened to make Mab and her so estranged? With many ears and eyes around, I cupped my hand to Titania’s ear and whispered softly, asking, “Could it be that things are bad between you and Mab?” “It’s not like that. It’s just… I’m a little resentful.” After saying this, Titania fell silent. Sensing that it wasn’t the right time to ask further, I quietly nestled into her embrace and headed towards the room where I would stay from now on. Arriving in the room where Titania and I had lived together for a long time, I looked around after descending from Titania’s embrace. The unchanged appearance of the room made me feel a bit nostalgic. “You’re still using this room.” “Yes, it’s the most genuine place for me.” Climbing onto the high bed and discarding uncomfortable shoes and accessories, I lay down in a more comfortable position. Titania chuckled and sat beside me, looking down at me.

Then she began to tidy up my disheveled bangs. Titania, who was tidying my bangs with a careful touch, smiled at me like a puppy asking for praise, her eyes crinkling.

“I’ve prepared everything so that it’s okay whenever your mother returns. Your dresses, cosmetics you use, and the bedding you like are all taken care of.”

“I see…”

“Even though I didn’t expect you to come in such a difficult state… still, there won’t be any discomfort staying here. If you need anything, please feel free to let me know.”

“Th-thank you…”

“…Is that all?”

“Huh…? What…?”

“Do you really have nothing else to say to me?”

Titania, who had bent down towards me, wearing a slightly displeased expression, gently stroked my cheek. Did I speak too briefly? She waited for me to speak while caressing my cheek.

Instead of answering, I reached out and affectionately stroked Titania’s head. However, Titania, still seeming dissatisfied, pouted her lips and gently clasped the hand that was caressing her head.

Then, with a mischievous smile, she whispered to me.

“It seems like the reward is insufficient…”

“…What do you want?”

In response to my question, Titania gave a sly smile and tapped my lips with her finger, indicating that she wanted a kiss. Understanding the meaning behind her action, I puffed out my cheeks and shook my head.

“That’s not possible.”

“…Mother, how long do you plan to avoid me?”

“What?”

As I glared at Titania, she reached out and traced my jawline with her fingers. She lightly pinched my lower lip with her thumb, speaking as she did so.

“I know. You’re afraid that kissing me will break the curse.”

“……”

“You’re worried about becoming my destined partner. If the curse is really broken by my kiss… then you would lose the excuse to reject me.”

Titania’s words were true.

What if this curse is really broken by Titania’s kiss? If that were the case, I couldn’t stop Titania from approaching me, saying she loves me.

Acknowledging that the curse was not just a mother-daughter relationship but a destined partner like a prince and princess in a fairy tale.

Moreover, breaking the curse with Titania’s kiss was like an eraser, made to erase the thin line between Titania and me.

If the curse were truly broken by Titania’s kiss, it was clear that the line drawn between us would be erased.

The line of ‘mother and daughter,’ already half-erased by Titania’s confession, would be completely erased, and Titania and I would certainly not return to a mother-daughter relationship.

When I closed my eyes tightly and turned away, Titania chuckled and spoke.

“Honestly, I don’t think my mother’s curse will be lifted by our kiss. It probably won’t be lifted.”

“……”

“But, I don’t want to give up on that opportunity. Can’t you at least give me a chance to try?”

Titania pleaded with me, looking down at me. Please, give me a chance to break the curse. Give me a chance to become my destined partner. But I…

“Are you planning to run away from me again?”

In an instant, Titania’s words made me feel disoriented. Unconsciously, I found myself once again making excuses and distancing myself from Titania.

Surely, I had promised to stay by her side for life. Yet, I was unconsciously rejecting the child who was coming to me.

“…Fine, do as you wish.”

In the end, I allowed myself to close my eyes tightly and offer my lips for a kiss. As Titania said, meeting one’s destined partner is not so easy. Besides, the promise to stay by her side had already been made.

Even if the curse were to be broken by a kiss, that promise would not change. Slowly, I rose from the bed, sat at the edge, closed my eyes, and extended my lips, leaving it to Titania to meet them.

I closed my eyes, and I could hear Titania’s chuckling laughter. As I kept my eyes closed, I felt Titania’s gentle kisses raining down on my skin.

The kisses, starting from my round forehead, softly touched, making a sound as they slowly descended. Unconsciously, I found myself responding to the act, as if becoming accustomed to the kisses, my lips quivered.

Starting from the forehead, the kisses reached the forehead, eyelids, bridge of the nose, cheeks, and finally, the lips. They were not passionate or deep kisses. They were light pecks, like the ones I used to give Titania in my childhood.

As Titania’s lips that had been pressing against mine parted, I slowly opened my eyes to look at her. I could tell from Titania’s expression how my curse had turned out.

A bitter, almost tearful expression. Yet she managed to force a smile for me. I lowered my head and looked at my hand to confirm my expectations.

As expected…

“…What a shame.”

“…I see.”

My curse remained unbroken. My short, chubby hands unfolded, confirming my young body. I raised my head again to look at Titania. She was looking at me, forcing a smile.

What kind of expression should I show this child? No matter how much I thought, I couldn’t figure it out, so I just smiled back at Titania, devoid of any emotion, just a smile.