episode_0184

[Episode 180] – The Queen’s Consort

“Sigh…”

After the dance with Titania, I moved to the private balcony for a moment to catch a cool breeze. As I stepped onto the balcony, the biting winter night wind brushed my cheeks, cooling the heat.

Perhaps due to intoxication or the difficulty of dancing after a long time, the fierce winter wind pierced through my clothes, yet I didn’t feel cold at all. It was rather uncomfortably warm.

Leaning on the balcony railing, as I looked up at the sky, stars filled the night sky amidst the faint orchestra music. The sky seemed clear enough to pour down at any moment.

“Sigh… Ha…”

Looking at the seemingly pouring night sky, after inhaling the cold wind deeply into my lungs to cool my overheated body, my mind began to clear enough for coherent thought.

“The Queen Consort…”

As I straightened my tousled hair in the chilly wind and let out a sigh, I recalled the moment when the herald introduced me as ‘Her Majesty, the Queen Consort’ upon my entrance to the ballroom. Not the queen dowager, but the queen consort.

I wasn’t oblivious enough not to understand the implications behind Titania’s introduction. In fact, until Lady Serena informed me, I hadn’t noticed, but soon enough, it became clear.

The possessiveness and unwavering attachment embedded in Titania’s introduction were unmistakable. She had always been that way, sending her possessiveness towards me from less noticeable places.

Others seemed somewhat puzzled by my introduction as ‘the Queen Consort,’ much like Lady Serena, but generally, they seemed to attribute it to the herald’s nervousness or a mistake.

It was fortunate that they could be deceived due to their ignorance of Titania’s possessive nature. If they had realized, it would have been a worry.

Why does she send such difficult-to-discern possessiveness?

Starting from the nape of the neck and leaving a steady trail all the way down to the inside of the thigh, when she was about to cross the line, it was somewhat frustrating to see her shift her attention elsewhere like a frightened animal.

“…Anyway, there’s no way to escape now.”

The reason Titania became passive just before crossing the line was probably because I had run away. Perhaps it wasn’t a cautious approach to come near me after I had fled from Titania’s side.

Titania boldly guards the line to a certain extent, but if she tries to delve deeper, she becomes overly cautious. She is probably worried that I might feel uncomfortable or that I might flee from herself again.

Even though I no longer have such intentions or thoughts, Titania was truly cautious. However, as her caution prolonged, it seemed to tire even me, her counterpart.

Now that I understand Titania’s feelings, and Titania surely understands my feelings, wouldn’t it be okay to gradually move on to the next stage? Of course, not the kind of stage that overwhelms or takes place in bed…

“Haah…”

Exhaling deeply with a white breath, Titania, who had come onto the balcony, approached me and covered my shoulders with a blanket. It must have been quite cold having been on the balcony for a long time, yet my face still felt warm.

“Mother, it’s very chilly today.”

“…Not really, it’s not that cold.”

Exhaling deeply once again, I turned my head to look at Titania and then hopped up to sit on the terrace railing. The chill rising from the cold marble felt good.

“In fact, it’s rather refreshing.”

As I leaned back slightly, Titania grabbed my wrist with an anxious expression and pulled me back into my seat. In the recoil, the blanket that had covered my shoulders fell to the ground.

“Mother, it’s dangerous. Please come down quickly.”

I nestled Titania close between my legs and gazed down at her face with a wry smile, as she looked up at me with a genuinely worried expression.

Perhaps it’s the effect of alcohol, or maybe it’s the atmosphere of the party. Or perhaps it’s just my inner feelings. I gently caressed Titania’s cheek and lifted her head to meet her gaze.

“…Why did you introduce me as the queen in front of everyone?”

It was a question with an answer I knew. But Titania, as if knowing that I didn’t know the answer, lowered her worried eyes and raised a gaze filled with intense possessiveness, looking at me.

Titania, who had brought her hand, which was holding my cheek, to her lips, lightly kissed the palm of my hand. The warm and moist lips, due to the cold winter air, settled gently on the frozen palm, sharing warmth.

The gaze filled with warmth, the body temperature felt from the touching lips, no longer felt burdensome. Rather, thinking that this gaze was directed only at me made me feel even better.

“Really, am I going crazy?” Thinking such thoughts as I looked down at Titania, she folded her pretty eyes and smiled, kissing my palm again and speaking.

“Well, because you are the queen, Mother.”

“Huh…?”

At the somewhat ambiguous response, I momentarily tilted my head.

“Mother, you will become my queen, won’t you?”

Unintentionally, I couldn’t help but catch my breath at the piercing response. It was a response I clearly knew, but hearing it like this made it feel as though I had just heard a confession, leaving me dazed.

Moreover, hearing it directly made me quite embarrassed. Titania’s words were nothing short of saying, “Will you be my wife?” If I accept Titania’s feelings, will it really be so?

I had only been thinking about being lovers, but it seemed Titania was thinking far beyond what I had imagined. That’s why she must approach me cautiously. No, still, this is too much…

“Do you not want your daughter to have a marriage partner?”

“Huh? Oh, no… Well… Wouldn’t it be better to take it step by step calmly for now…?”

If I were to say that I didn’t dislike it, but no matter what, there was an order in human relationships. Even if our relationship was already twisted, at least we should start as lovers and step by step…

“What am I thinking…”

In the midst of confusion, Titania approached me with a grin and firmly took her place between my legs. Behind me was a cliff, in front of me was Titania. It was a posture I had created, but there was no way to escape.

I don’t have any intention of hiding my feelings for Titania anymore, but suddenly mentioning “marriage” still makes me flustered. What is this, how does the family tree work? My daughter as my wife?

No matter how much she’s not my real daughter, could Titania become my wife? As I was feeling confused, Titania held onto my waist to keep me from falling and looked up at me.

“Don’t think too hard. The important thing is that your mother loves me.”

“That’s true, I don’t have any intention of hiding it now…”

“Lovers who love each other become partners, get married, and become a couple. That’s natural, isn’t it?”

“Oh, really?”

It is natural indeed. It should be common sense, but why does it feel like common sense is crumbling? I frowned and looked down at Titania. Her sunny smile was blinding.

“Do you dislike me, Mother?”

“…Of course not.”

“Do you love me, Mother?”

“…Of course, I love you.”

“Then, what exactly is the problem, Mother?”

Problem? What could the problem be? In fact, there might not be a problem at all. I’m just getting scared and trying to run away again. Is that why Titania is approaching me so carefully?

Unconsciously, I was trying to escape from Titania once again. Now, using meaningless excuses, grasping at unjustifiable explanations, I was once again trying to create distance. Despite knowing it shouldn’t be this way.

“I know it’s probably too early to say this. But still.”

Titania took a small breath and pulled out a tiny box from her pocket. Even without opening it, I knew what was inside. Surely, there would be two beautiful rings in there.

“I think I’ve waited long enough for you, Mother. I want to wait a little longer, but knowing your heart makes me impatient.”

Titania opened the box she had taken out of her pocket in front of me. The stiff ring case made a dull sound as it opened, and inside, an unadorned gold ring sparkled in the winter night.

I took a deep breath and looked down at Titania. The laughter from just a moment ago had vanished, and only an earnestness that could be seen at a glance in her red eyes remained.

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

It was a piercing remark.

“Don’t run away. You say you love me.”

This, too, was a piercing remark.

“I hate it when you keep running away. So, to prevent you from running away from me, I will give you a beautiful ring. Please always think of this ring.”

Titania lowered her gaze and stared at my finger. She took my hand, placed one of the rings from the case on my ring finger, paused, and then looked back at me.

“I love you.”

As if telling me to reject her now if I really disliked it, Titania quietly looked at me with the ring on my finger. I knew that once I put on this ring, there would be no turning back.

After this, I had a premonition that Titania would become not just a daughter but a lover, and that someday, our relationship would become that of a married couple. I couldn’t quite grasp how two women could become a married couple, but…

If I missed this moment, I would continue to run away from Titania. To avoid thinking like that, I needed the ring. A ring that would always remind me that Titania was by my side.

I smiled instead of answering and looked at Titania. Only then did Titania smile back at me and gently put the ring on my ring finger. The sensation of the ring sliding onto my finger sent shivers down my spine.

“…It fits perfectly.”

As I stared blankly at the ring on my finger, Titania chuckled softly. She held my left ring finger firmly but not too tight, the perfect fit kept tickling my heart.

“What’s the size? Do you know it’s a marriage ring?”

“Yes.”

“Did you allow it knowingly?”

“I did.”

As I nodded, Titania brightened and kissed my finger. Her lips, feeling her breath, touched each finger, sharing warmth.

“So, are we practically married?”

“…Seems like it.”

“Can I call you ‘honey’?”

“…It’s still too heavy for now.”

The thought of being called “honey” by my daughter made me shiver. It’s still scary. I need time…

As I smirked slightly, Titania giggled happily. Despite finding her laughter a bit mocking, her overwhelming joy softened any resentment.

Still feeling a bit resentful, I stroked her cheek with my cool hand, and Titania smiled as if even that made her happy. Then, she raised her tiptoes and lightly kissed me.

With a short, falling sound, Titania left a few bird kisses on me, expressing affection through small kisses on my cheeks and lips.

Thus, what started as a light kiss in jest gradually deepened in intensity. Titania wrapped her arms around my cheeks, tilting her head, delicately sucking on my lips.

She sucked on my lips, skimmed them, and kissed me deeply, leaving her saliva all over my lips as if she were applying lipstick. It felt like licking a sweet candy.

Her hand that had been around my cheek began to tousle my hair, and our kisses grew deeper and longer, craving each other’s lips. Who could have imagined this on a winter night?

Amidst the countless stars in the night sky, we shared a long kiss. Then, without anyone saying anything, we parted our lips and looked at each other’s faces, soon smiling as if to express happiness.

“I love you, Mother.”

Titania’s eyes narrowed coquettishly. I gazed at those eyes as if enchanted, and finally, unable to contain my affection, I gently kissed Titania’s forehead with heartfelt words.

“I love you too.”

*

The main story of Snow White Raised by the Stepmother [End]

The sequel will continue after this.