episode_0149

[Episode 145] – Confession (1)

“…Really, is this okay?”

Today was the day we had promised to celebrate Titania’s birthday with a small party. As I looked around the room prepared for the party and asked, Titania shrugged as if to say, “What’s the problem?”

“This should be enough, right?”

“Still…”

It was really just a modest spread of food and a few bottles of wine. There was only a small cake just enough for Titania to eat, nothing more, nothing less.

No matter what, I wondered if it was okay to spend Titania’s birthday like this. Even if we didn’t have a grand ball, wouldn’t it be okay to at least invite more people to celebrate? Veronica or Ainsel…

Whether she knew my thoughts or not, Titania, now dressed in a negligee, suddenly sat on the edge of the bed, crossed her legs, and stared at me intently. Then she quickly beckoned me over.

“It’s okay, come here quickly.”

Truly, with Titania’s attitude that seemed to imply it didn’t matter as long as I was there, I found myself making an involuntary groaning sound. I hopped onto the bed and approached Titania’s side.

As I sat down beside her, Titania looked down at me, handed me a glass filled with juice, and chuckled. It was natural for me to drink juice since I couldn’t handle alcohol, but still…

“Even so, I want to drink on a day like this…”

I sighed involuntarily at the thought of needing to lift the curse. Perhaps I had been making a sullen expression without realizing it, because Titania gently smoothed out my furrowed brow and offered me the glass as a gesture of a toast.

Truly, there was no way around it. I clinked my glass against the one Titania offered. When the glass of juice and the wine-filled glass touched, a clear sound softly echoed through the room.

Since Titania said it was okay, there was no point in saying anything more. I let out a small sigh and then raised my head to look at Titania. Then, with a gentle smile, I extended my greetings for today.

“Happy birthday, Titania.”

Tatiana’s eyes lit up with joy at my greeting, and soon her lips curved upwards. She gently lowered her head, pressing her lips to my forehead, and replied in a voice saturated with happiness.

“Thank you, Mother.”

*

Some time passed, and Tatiana looked down at Vivian, who was sitting beside her, shaking the glass she had emptied several times. Vivian, having deeply speared the cake with her fork, then opened her mouth wide and swallowed it in one bite.

Afterward, she wrapped her cheeks as if to express how delicious it was, even rolling around on the bed with both feet. Watching Vivian’s childish behavior, Tatiana couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

“If the curse isn’t lifted like this, will it take another ten years…?”

Ten years until her mother reached the same age as herself. If her mother’s curse truly wasn’t lifted by then, she was prepared to wait. Even when that time came, her feelings toward her mother would remain unchanged.

“Hmm…”

Vivian, having neatly finished the plate where the cake was placed, seemed disappointed. Seeing her lick the fork covered in fresh cream as if it wasn’t enough, Tatiana chuckled softly.

Picking up the fork, Tatiana scooped up a large piece of cake and brought it to Vivian’s pouting lips. When Vivian tried to grab the fork with her hand, Tatiana shook her head.

“No, go ahead.”

“I, I’ll eat it.”

“No, you can’t. Go ahead.”

With a reluctant groan, Vivian looked at Tatiana and slowly opened her mouth. Between her slightly parted lips, a thick, bright red tongue appeared.

As if placing the cake on her tongue, Tatiana put the fork she had been holding directly into Vivian’s mouth. As the sweet cream touched her tongue, Vivian closed her mouth and swallowed the cake, then grimaced as she chewed the fork.

The cake was delicious, but Vivian seemed slightly displeased with the situation, furrowing her brow. After swallowing the cake in her mouth, she spoke as if throwing a tantrum.

“Isn’t this something lovers do…?”

“…Yes, that’s right. It’s something lovers do. Sometimes it seems like my mother forgets my confession.”

“Ah!”

Realizing that Vivian had made a slip of the tongue, she covered her mouth with both hands. Making such a statement in front of Titania was awkward. Just as Titania said, it was a slip of the tongue that came out forgetting the confession itself.

She hadn’t forgotten. She just couldn’t imagine being able to become ‘lovers’ with Titania since they were sisters, no matter how much she liked her.

Titania smiled bitterly and lifted Vivian onto her lap. When Vivian hesitated to speak, Titania sighed and stroked Vivian’s head before speaking.

“I understand. In Mother’s eyes, I will always be a child. Even after several years, even after decades, it will be the same.”

Vivian didn’t respond.

As Titania gently stroked her head, she looked down at Vivian, who was sitting quietly on her lap. Despite saying she loved her, she was slightly resentful that her mother still saw her only as a ‘child’.

Now she was an adult. An adult who could drink alcohol. An adult who could have a lover. An adult who could get married. An adult who could have a child. Titania was already well into adulthood.

“But… can you start seeing me as an ‘adult’ now?”

“I’m trying.”

Titania’s unexpected response widened her eyes. She thought her mother would just brush it off as usual, but she never expected to hear the word ‘trying’ from her mother’s lips.

Titania held Vivian’s small hand, gently interlocking their fingers, and asked softly.

“Really?”

Titania looked down at Vivian with a pleased smile. Vivian looked confused, not knowing how to navigate the current situation.

…Perhaps it was the effect of the alcohol. She wanted to tease her mother a little. She had said she was satisfied with what she had, but she had never said she wouldn’t be greedy. So, Titania decided to be greedy.

“…How do you see me as an ‘adult’?”

“Well…”

“You said you were trying to see me as an adult.”

Titania ran her fingertips between Vivian’s fingers. Each time she did, Vivian, who had been fidgeting with the hand she held, couldn’t continue speaking.

“Well…”

For a moment, silence fell. Vivian, unsure of how to respond, just lowered her head and awkwardly smiled, avoiding Titania’s gaze.

“…I’ve become a great queen in my absence.”

It wasn’t the answer Titania had hoped for.

Knowing full well what she had asked, her mother avoided answering. As if it was nothing, as if it was just a passing conversation, Titania smiled at her mother’s response.

“Is that so?”

Normally, she would have backed away at this point.

“Now, do you see me as an adult… or are you still not seeing me as a ‘lover’?”

Today, Titania didn’t back down.

Instead, she took a step further and asked Vivian. Perhaps it was due to the excitement of receiving birthday congratulations after a long time, or perhaps it was due to the drowsy effects of alcohol. It felt somewhat unfair to let it pass like this.

As Titania lowered her head, the tips of Vivian’s ears turned red.

“Huh?”

The sight of her mother blushing and avoiding her gaze at the mention of “lover” was truly a first. Her mother had never shown such a reaction before.

Seeing Vivian’s unfamiliar reaction, Titania’s insides boiled. Really? Had her mother started to perceive her in “that way”? Had she started to think of her not as a daughter but as a “confessed lover”?

Perhaps she had done well to confess forcibly. She had regretted being too hasty until now, but seeing her mother’s changed demeanor, she had no regrets at all. Finally, she felt like she had taken a step closer to her mother.

After taking a deep breath, Titania tenderly asked,

“…Is it still a difficult question?”

Vivian squeezed Titania’s hand tightly, let out a small sigh, and replied,

“…Didn’t you say you were satisfied with having me by your side…?”

“I never said I wouldn’t be ambitious.”

At Vivian’s teasing words, Titania gently pinched her hand. Feeling the sting, Titania looked at her mother’s reddened ear with a sly smile.

“I have never once given up on you as a ‘lover.’”

“…If you keep teasing me, I’ll leave.”

“Right now, it’s not teasing, and you know that best, Mother.”

In the end, Vivian remained silent, not offering any response. Titania, unable to speak for a long time while sitting on her mother’s lap, repeatedly sighed, her face turning red as she looked down.

Watching her, Titania felt a slight sense of regret. Even if she tried to blame it all on being tipsy, her mind was too clear, and instead, she felt her heart growing cold.

…Perhaps she should have approached more calmly.

Titania had broken all the rules she had set for herself: “Don’t push Mother,” “Always be a good daughter,” “Don’t think hastily,” “Wait for Mother slowly.”

As Titania brushed Vivian’s hand, she let out a small sigh.

It couldn’t be undone; she had already confessed.

This feeling wouldn’t be hidden just because she tried to hide it.

“…I, I like you, Mother. I believe you will now understand that the love of a ‘daughter’ for her mother is genuine.”

At the earnest confession, Vivian shuddered. However, Titania continued speaking without stopping, revealing the emotions she had kept hidden.

“Last time, I think I spoke too hastily, so I want to say it again.”

With a sincere voice, her heart settled.

“I love you, Mother, Vivian.”

“……”