episode_0147

[143rd Episode] – Things that changed while I was gone (2)

It had been about a week since I started living in my original form with a difficult body.

It was a slightly different life from my usual existence, but I was able to adapt and get by just fine. If you ask what’s different from the old days, it’s that I had to be with Titania every day?

When eating, working, or sleeping. I spent most of my day, 24 hours, with Titania. Although I said she could wait in the room, Titania carried me wherever she went.

At first, everyone was startled to see me always being held by Titania, but now it has reached the point where if I’m not in Titania’s arms, they ask, “Where did Lilyang go?”

Honestly, up to this point, it didn’t matter. The only thing I could do in my original form was eat cake in the room and read books. Being by Titania’s side was more fun.

However, the biggest problem is…

Since realizing that kissing doesn’t break my curse, Titania keeps demanding kisses from me. Unexpectedly, whenever she gets the chance.

“Here.”

“……”

During a meeting.

Titania tapped my cheek with her finger as she sat on my lap. Even though we were in the middle of a meeting, Titania demanded a kiss from me without caring about the others present.

As I glanced around at the nobles, they turned their gazes as if they had made a promise, looking at documents or pretending to be asleep. It seems like they are used to this situation now.

I reluctantly sighed and kissed the cheek Titania pointed to, making a sound. After my lips touched her cheek, Titania smiled and continued the meeting happily.

“This time, here.”

“……”

A little later, while walking down the corridor. Titania, holding me, looked at me and lightly tapped my lips with her finger.

The maids walking down the corridor froze as if time had stopped at the sound of Titania’s voice, and they stood still, staring at me and Titania. I glared at Titania with a groan, but…

Titania looked at me, smiled provocatively, and tapped her lips, demanding a kiss. Unable to resist, I bowed my head and kissed her as she wanted.

As our lips briefly met, a smacking sound echoed loudly through the corridor. The maids covered their eyes with both hands, but it was clear they were peeking through their fingers.

“…Is it done now?”

“Right now.”

It had been like this every day lately.

Before meals, before bathing, before sleeping, upon waking up. Titania began demanding that I kiss her, rather than initiating it herself.

I wanted to say that kissing wouldn’t break the curse, so there was no need for more kisses, but I couldn’t refuse when Titania looked at me with a tender expression, wanting to kiss.

“Of course… I raised you to be too much of a troublemaker…”

As I groaned in Titania’s embrace, she chuckled and led us to our room. As the days passed, I had to find a way to deal with her obsession with kissing…

But what good would it do to just bluntly tell her?

What should I do…

*

“Really… What do you think I should do? Is there any way?”

“…Why are you asking me that?”

As I sighed, Veronica frowned at me as if she couldn’t believe it. But there was no one else to talk to about this except Veronica.

Having come to the cabin to examine the curse, I also asked Veronica about Titania’s behavior. I thought maybe Veronica would know how to change the situation.

“…Maybe all the pent-up feelings have burst out. Titania has endured a lot while you were away.”

“……”

“Just think of it as a daughter’s mischief and accept it. It means she likes you that much, doesn’t it?”

“But…”

The emotions she sent me, saying that the child liked me, were not the feelings of a mother’s affection. Whenever Titania sent me ‘different emotions’ with a lovely face by my side, I…

“You know it now too. The feelings the child has towards me are not just those of a daughter…”

“…I know.”

Veronica rested her chin on the desk and sighed. Then she tapped the desk with her finger, glanced down, and looked at me with her shoulders sagging.

“Anyway, it’s awkward for me to be asked about this. I don’t look at you with those eyes like Titania does. What I want from you is…”

“…?”

Veronica pursed her lips for a moment, then just sighed without saying anything. Then she pointed her finger and started poking my back.

“It’s nothing. The examination is over, so go back now. I’m busy because I have things to check too.”

“Wait…!”

Urging me to leave by poking my back, Veronica almost chased me out of the cabin. Annoyed, I puffed out my cheeks and returned to Titania’s room.

Honestly, why are all my daughters like this?

-Knock, knock.

As I sat on the bed and sighed, I heard a knocking sound at the door. Was it a guest looking for Titania? I jumped off the bed and ran to the door, holding the door handle up and twisting it open.

“Who is it?”

“Lilyang, it’s Bangsyo.”

“Oh, Bang… Sir.”

With a creaking sound, Bangsyo, who was laughing outside the door, looked down at me. Was he here to see Titania? I replied to Bangsyo with a nod.

“If you’re looking for Titania… she’s not in her room right now.”

“Haha. This time, I didn’t come to see Her Highness. I came to see Lilyang.”

“…Me?”

“Yes. I wanted to have a brief conversation with Lilyang… would you join me for a cup of tea? I’ve also brought some delicious snacks.”

“…Okay.”

There was no reason to refuse, so I nodded and followed Bangsoo out the door. I was curious about why he suddenly called me separately.

As I followed Bangsoo into the garden, tea and snacks were set on the table. Seeing the piled up cakes and cookies, I involuntarily swallowed.

Receiving Bangsoo’s escort, I sat in a chair, but due to the high table, even when seated, I couldn’t see Bangsoo sitting across from me.

Surprised, a maid brought three thick cushions from the room and placed them on my chair, allowing me to properly see Bangsoo across the table.

“What would you like to have first? Scones? Madeleines? Eclairs?”

“Um… let’s start with the eclairs…”

When I pointed to the eclair, Bangsoo picked it up with tongs and placed a piece of cake and an eclair directly onto my plate. What’s going on with Bangsoo today? It’s too overwhelming…

“…Is your life at the palace going well?”

“Yes… thanks to Tityana… I’m comfortable with her help.”

“That’s good to hear.”

I started vigorously mixing sugar into my tea. Perhaps because my body was stiff, the bitterness was hard to handle, and I had developed a taste for sweetness. I couldn’t drink tea without sugar or milk.

As I stirred the tea, unsure if it was sugar water or tea, I glanced at Bangsoo, who then smiled and engaged the maids around him. Now we’re getting to the point, and unknowingly, I swallowed hard.

“Your Majesty… Vivian Lirienne Sol, how has she been since leaving the palace?”

“…? Yes? Oh, yes. She’s been doing well…”

“I see… Since you hardly write a single letter, I was worried about how you’ve been since leaving the palace.”

Bangsoo stirred his tea with a bitter expression. Shouldn’t he have at least sent a letter saying he was doing well? Somehow, I felt like I had become someone he didn’t care much about.

After a brief silence, Bangcho, who had been fiddling with the tea, let out a small sigh and looked at me intently. After hesitating as if considering what to say, he sighed and asked me.

“…And, is Lillian doing okay?”

“……? Yes? What…?”

“I’m asking if you’re really okay being with Her Majesty the Queen.”

“I don’t understand the intention of your question. Do I not seem okay to you?”

I had no idea what he meant by asking that. I knew very well that Bangcho was not someone who would ask such a meaningless question. He jokes around, but not like this.

After looking at my expression, Bangcho chuckled and cleared his throat while fiddling with the tea again.

“No, it was just an old man’s unnecessary worry.”

“Pardon?”

“I’ll take my leave now. Thank you for your time, Lillian.”

With that, Bangcho got up from his seat. It seemed like he had nothing more to say. Why does he only say what he wants and then try to disappear? I jumped out of my chair and followed after Bangcho as he moved away.

“Wait…! Why did you ask me that question? You should tell me…”

“I have nothing more to say.”

“What…? What do you mean… You were the one who initiated the conversation! It’s hard to understand when you suddenly act like this!”

Bangcho knelt down on one knee, met my eyes, gently raised his hand, and began to stroke my head with his wrinkled hand.

“Truly… you resemble the late Queen Vivian in every way. Not just in looks, but in behavior too.”

“…….”

After letting out a short sigh, Bangcho continued to stroke my cheek and spoke.

“This is just my own thoughts. The ramblings of an old man who may soon die. So, Lillian, listen with one ear and let it go out the other.”

As I nodded, Bangcho smiled faintly. Then, he confided in me about thoughts that were difficult for him to share with anyone.

“Actually… I got goosebumps when Lilliane first arrived. Ultimately, the thought that Her Majesty had committed such an act gave me chills all over.”

“Yes…?”

“I couldn’t help but think that our Queen, who couldn’t forget the late Queen, had finally kidnapped a child who resembled the late Queen.”

…Why did I even think that? As I looked at Bangsio with a bewildered expression, Bangsio let out a chuckle.

“You’ve been unable to forget Queen Vivian, so it’s natural for such suspicions to arise.”

“…….”

“So, I began to worry if Her Majesty was doing something wrong to you or keeping you by her side against your will… such concerns arose.”

…More accurate than I thought?

Somehow, memories of the past kidnapping and confinement incident came to mind, but I shook off the negative thoughts. That was a closed chapter, and I had promised to stay by her side now. I smiled and looked at Bangsio.

“It’s really not like that. Rather… I want to be by Princess Titania’s side.”

“I’m relieved to hear you say that.”

Bangsio patted my shoulder and struggled to stand up, then tapped my waist. I thought the conversation was over, but a sudden thought came to mind, and I grabbed Bangsio’s sleeve, shaking it as I asked.

“Um… could you tell me how Titania has been since the Queen left…?”

“Why do you ask that?”

“W-well… because Jea-sang-nim had such thoughts… I’m a little curious…”

It was exactly as I said. After I left, I had no idea how Titania had been in Verson. Veronique, Ainsel, everyone just said she was ‘fine,’ but I didn’t know the truth.

So, wouldn’t Bangsio tell me? How sad Titania had been because of me. How much she had suffered because of me. I felt like I needed to know at least a little.

Looking down at me, Bangsio sighed deeply, then answered while patting my head.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you. It would be the same for everyone. It’s not a story I can tell you… Please understand.”

With those words, Bangso turned around and disappeared into the bustling crowd. As if it were an exchange, as Bangso vanished, the maids rushed over to tend to my needs.

What on earth could have happened for Bangso to speak so strongly…?

What on earth…