episode_0148

“Should we sleep now?”

The night Vivian talked with Bangsio.

Tatiana, who turned off the light in the room to go to bed, slowly climbed onto the bed. She approached Vivian, who was already lying down, and lay down next to her.

Lying on her side, Tatiana lowered her head and looked at Vivian, who was lying on her side with a relaxed posture. She stroked her head, caressed her cheek, and gently held her small hand.

Then, as if making a promise, Tatiana smiled mischievously and tapped Vivian’s cheek with her finger, reminding her not to forget the goodnight kiss before going to sleep.

Vivian let out a small sigh, then turned over and moved closer to Tatiana. Then she lifted her head slightly and kissed the cheek Tatiana pointed to.

A warm and tender sensation touched Tatiana’s cheek, made a wet sound, and then faded away. Tatiana lightly brushed the lips of her mother, who had fallen with a wet sound, with her thumb, as if she was still regretful.

“Tatiana, I always say this… Aren’t you treating me too much like a child…?”

“I always say this too, I have never treated my mother like a child.”

Tatiana smiled faintly at the conversation that always repeated itself. She didn’t particularly want to receive a kiss just because her mother was treating her like a child. She just wanted to reclaim the kisses she hadn’t received for years.

If she had been with her mother during the 5 years they were apart, how many kisses would they have shared? Hundreds? Thousands? She was just receiving those kisses all at once. Besides, kisses wouldn’t break the curse anyway.

If the curse won’t be broken anyway, it’s okay to kiss as much as you want, right? Where is the need to endure? Tatiana smiled slyly and lightly pressed her mother’s lower lip with her thumb.

At that moment, Vivian pouted her lips like a duck, as if telling her to stop. Tatiana looked at her and chuckled, removing her hand from Vivian’s lips. She was just so cute, she could die.

When Titania pulled Vivian into her arms, Vivian’s face was buried between Titania’s breasts. Vivian twisted as if suffocating and struggled to find a comfortable position. Eventually, she closed her eyes, seemingly giving up. Titania smiled and stroked Vivian’s back, feeling the familiar and sweet scent emanating from her mother’s tender body buried deep within her embrace.

As she breathed in the scent of her mother filling the blanket, it felt as if her own scent was being infused with her mother’s fragrance. Enjoying this feeling, she held her mother even closer.

Titania lowered her head and nuzzled her nose into Vivian’s hair, trying to delve deeper into her mother’s essence. The lingering fragrance at the tip of her nose brought a comforting sensation as she explored her mother more deeply.

As Titania closed her eyes and felt her mother breathing steadily within her embrace, her mother squirmed and then raised her head to look at her.

“Titania… I was wondering…”

“Yes?”

Vivian hesitated but eventually asked about how Titania had been after she left the palace. She wanted to know what had happened, despite knowing that it might not be pleasant. She was afraid to ask, fearing the extent of the children’s “concern.”

But…

“After I left the palace… can you tell me how you’ve been?”

Despite her fear, she knew she couldn’t avoid it forever. It seemed like she needed to know now. She couldn’t keep avoiding how much Titania had suffered because of her, how sad she had been.

Titania, as if surprised by Vivian’s question, widened her eyes and then curved her lips into a faint smile. She gently kissed Vivian’s forehead and spoke.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you.”

“Why…?”

“There are two reasons. First, I haven’t done anything to earn praise from my mother. Anyway, as time goes on living here, my mother will gradually find out.”

Titania answered honestly. The fact that she had dismissed most of the ministers and nobles who agreed to expel her mother from the kingdom was not something to be praised by her mother.

She would eventually find out, but she didn’t want to talk about it now. She didn’t want her mother to resent her even a little bit right now. It would be better to be scolded later.

“And the second reason is… it wasn’t a good thing. Is the reason my mother asked me because Veronica and Ainsel didn’t tell her? Since my mother’s personality isn’t the type to ask me directly like this.”

Vivian, feeling guilty, flinched in Titania’s arms. Titania chuckled at her honesty. To be honest, Titania also didn’t remember that time well.

She had spent the whole day crying, getting angry, shouting, and being in a state where anyone could see she wasn’t in her right mind. It was a time when she trembled like a cedar tree in her blanket, pleading through Ainsel for her mother to come back.

She had spoken nonsense that she herself couldn’t understand, and there were times when she cursed her mother from under the covers. Even though she wailed like a person whose world had collapsed, she returned to normal when she worked as a queen.

She had lived like a mad person with only the determination to properly establish herself as a queen so that she could bring her mother back here. That single determination alone had driven her mad. That’s why she didn’t want to talk to her mother about it.

If her mother hears this story, how will she look at her? Even if she closes her eyes, she can almost see it—her mother looking at her with sadness, apologizing, and sincerely sympathizing.

I made sure to let go of all the emotions I’ve accumulated so far and sympathize with myself to the extent that it wouldn’t matter how my mother turned out. Because she’s that kind of person.

If I were to confess love to such a mother and plead to become her lover, she would reluctantly nod. Even if I said I wanted to hold her, she would surely nod apologetically.

Because she really is that kind of person.

As the one who sympathized with herself and nurtured her throughout her life, Mother was someone who could give everything to the self that sympathized with her. Whether it was her heart, body, or anything else. She would surely give it up reluctantly.

“What good would it do to hug such a mother? It’s not like she genuinely loves me or genuinely wants me. She just pities me like a child.”

That’s why Titania didn’t want any more sympathy from her mother. Having received the “sympathy” that promised to stay by her side for a lifetime, she shouldn’t receive any more sympathy.

She hoped that the “love” her mother gave her would be different from “sympathy.”

So, Titania didn’t bring up her own story. Surely, Veronica and Ainsel also hid theirs, knowing Mother’s personality. They wouldn’t give up on themselves, being engulfed in sympathy.

Titania smiled bitterly and kissed Vivian’s forehead once again. This time, instead of a short peck, she pressed her lips against Vivian’s for a long moment, making a wet sound as their lips met.

“Someday, I’ll tell you. But… not now. So, will you understand?”

“…Sure, someday.”

“Yes, someday.”

Reluctantly, Vivian nodded, then bowed her head again, resting it on Titania’s chest. Titania also smiled wistfully, gently patting Vivian’s back to comfort her.

Vivian’s heart beat slowly in sync with Titania’s slow, gentle patting. The sound of Titania’s heartbeat echoed loudly in Vivian’s ear, thumping against her body.

Listening to the sound of Titania’s heart, which beat pleasantly in her body, Vivian slowly closed her eyes. Unconsciously enjoying Titania’s scent, she fell into a deep sleep.

“…She falls asleep so quickly these days.”

Titania smiled as she listened to Vivian’s steady breathing in her arms. Lately, Vivian had been falling asleep almost instantly, even if she just rested her head on a pillow.

As she lowered her head, she saw her mother sleeping peacefully with her head nestled against her chest. It was a sight that made Titania feel a maternal affection she hadn’t yet realized.

She had tried not to treat her mother like a child, but when she was asleep, it was different. After all, they say a sleeping child is the most lovable. Titania reached out slowly towards Vivian.

Her mother’s skin felt soft under her touch. Even in the dimly lit covers, her face looked radiant. It was the face of someone she wanted to kiss and share love with immediately.

Whether it was due to shallow sleep or discomfort from the touch, her mother nestled deeper into her embrace, gently curling her small hand around Titania’s. It was an endearing sight.

Titania sighed softly and brushed Vivian’s hair. Honestly, enduring her mother’s childish behavior was difficult. To her mother, it might be nothing at all…

“…Somehow, it’s a bit stimulating.”

There were times when her mother’s playful actions were somewhat stimulating. When she held her hand and giggled, when she nestled into her chest and breathed softly, when she licked cake off her lips.

Each of these actions kindled a fire in her heart. The problem was that these feelings should not be harbored towards her mother. She knew she had to endure it, but honestly, it was sometimes challenging.

“I hope the curse is lifted soon.”

Titania laughed bitterly and hugged Vivian tighter. She prayed for her mother’s curse to be lifted soon, so she could become an adult again. That way…

“I’m going to do more than this…”

Things that only adults can do, deeper and more profound things.

Titania sighed to cool down the rising heat, closed her eyes slowly. Feeling her mother’s presence, breathing softly in her arms, Titania fell into a pleasant sleep.

*

The next day.

I, who usually spent time sitting on Titania’s knees, glanced at the documents on Titania’s desk and tilted my head.

Since coming here, I had been thinking about it, but there was no mention of the most important “event” happening at this time in the documents sent by the nobles.

Late autumn to early winter. Clearly, there should have been a grand event in full swing. However, neither Titania nor other nobles had mentioned anything about the event. Why?

Unable to contain my curiosity, I poked Titania’s cheek with my finger. When she looked at me, I whispered as I cupped my hand to her ear.

“Why… aren’t you preparing for that event?”

“…? What event?”

“You know. The one that should be happening right now…!”

As if feeling frustrated, I tapped my chest with my fist, and Titania smiled as if understanding. There was only one event that should be happening in full swing at this time.

“Are you talking about my birthday?”

Titania’s birthday, the queen’s birthday. By this time, preparations for a ball or something similar should have been in full swing, but Titania seemed completely relaxed. It was as if she wasn’t preparing for the event itself…

“If you’re talking about the birthday, I’m not holding it. Since I became queen, I haven’t really celebrated birthdays or such anniversaries, apart from the founding ceremony.”

“Huh?”

When I widened my eyes in surprise, Titania lightly pinched my cheek and chuckled. She just looked at me as if she had a lot to say. Could it be because of me…?

Just as I was about to ask if it was because of me, Titania nodded as if she could read my mind. After a moment of contemplation, she sighed and spoke.

“…Still, I thought I might open it in a modest way this year.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

As I smiled brightly, Titania chuckled as if she were touching my cheeks like clay. I wanted to tell her to stop, but she seemed so happy that I had to endure it for a while.

“I’ll really open it modestly. I won’t even wear a dress, prepare food in my room, and take care of small drinks. I’ll also prepare a small cake.”

Titania began jotting down one by one what to do on the back of the document for her birthday. Unlike the position of a queen, it was really simple and modest things.

“Well… this should be enough. We’ll enjoy it together, so we don’t need more than this.”

“Huh? Together?”

“Yes, together.”

Just the two of us? Surely she wouldn’t invite Veronica or Ainsel? When I raised my head and asked Titania, she looked down at me with a sly smile.

“I’m satisfied as long as I receive congratulations from my mother.”