108. Time to Leave (2)
[Episode 108] – Time to Leave (2)
“How do you know that? “There’s no way you would know that…?”
“How do you know…? Have you ever been to the academy?”
“Of course I’ve been there…! You must have entered the school four times so far? “I never graduated, but…”
Veronica and I faced each other and whispered in a very low voice.
Veronica didn’t seem to know why I knew about the ‘fairy egg,’ and I also never imagined that Veronica would know about the fairy egg. That’s right, I’ve never heard that Veronica entered the academy.
“Anyway, don’t change your mind! How do you know that?! “I thought I was the only one who knew that there was a fairy egg hidden in the academy…?”
“Well, I just found out through rumors. Are there like ten ghost stories that are handed down at the Academy? Among them, there is a story about Oparts, which grants students’ wishes. Just in case…”
“……That’s all you knew?”
Veronica glanced at me with her suspicious eyes. Is it too much? She answered because she was rushing to think about what was in the game settings, but it didn’t seem to be a satisfactory answer. As I didn’t know how to respond anymore and just smiled, Veronica sighed.
“…Is that really necessary for you?”
“Oh, no, it’s not what I need. “I was just wondering if I could be of help to Titania…”
“Then, can you give it to me? To you, it may just be an op-part for Titania, but to me, it’s something I really need. Therefore…”
The voice was requesting, but the eyes were firm. I began to worry for a moment as I felt like they were going to take it from me by force if I didn’t give it to them. The moment I finished my short thought and was about to open my mouth, Titania, who was behind me, asked me.
“Mom, should I take care of this too?”
“Oh, that’s…”
I couldn’t help but sigh when I saw clothes and belongings that hadn’t been put away yet hanging out on the bed. As I turned my head and tried to approach Titania, Veronica grabbed my wrist as if to tell me to go away with her answer. I looked at Veronica and answered by stroking her head.
“I’ll think about it a bit and give you an answer.”
“…Okay.”
I had already finished worrying, but it seemed like a good opportunity to talk alone with Veronica, so I postponed my answer. You’d better tell Veronica. Because she entered the academy together with Titania. Rather, I was grateful to follow Titania into the academy. Therefore…
‘…I guess it’s okay to tell Veronica. When you come back, I won’t be here.’
*
The packing up continued until late at night.
There wasn’t a lot of luggage to pack, but it took a long time as I was thinking about what I needed and what was useless at the academy. I told her to only take care of what she needed for her studies, but Titania was of the opinion that she couldn’t do that given her position.
“It took a long time, but it was sorted out somehow.”
“It’s because my mother keeps finding fault with every item I put in…”
…I couldn’t refute it because it wasn’t wrong.
But, it can’t be helped. Even if I brought perfume, it was difficult to understand why I brought five perfumes. Titania said this was also reduced a lot, and she explained to me that each perfume is used in a different place, but no matter how much I explained, she didn’t understand. It’s a trend these days or something.
Titania flopped down on her bed, sighing as if she was exhausted. She rolled over on the bed, and she said, ‘The day has gone by in vain…’ She fell on the bed and kicked the blanket. I almost laughed at Titania’s still childish behavior even though she was all grown up.
“By the way… The room feels a little bigger.”
When she turned her head and looked at the luggage being organized, she felt bitter. Should I say that the room has become larger? Or should I say it has become dull? My room didn’t feel like my own, even though I had lost a few of Titania’s personal belongings. It just felt unfamiliar today.
As I stood there blankly looking around the room, Veronica came up to me and asked me.
“Are you finished?”
“To some extent.”
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“Are you worried?”
When I turned my head and looked at Veronica, she was looking slightly nervous. Veronica looked at me with eyes like, ‘What if I don’t give up the fairy egg?’ I couldn’t help but laugh.
“What, why are you smiling?”
“I just thought you were a really cute kid.”
“What, what?”
I suddenly looked away from Veronica who was glaring at me as if it was some kind of nonsense, and I smiled and started straightening Titania’s tangled hair with one hand. Her hair was a mess from all the rolling on her bed.
‘…It won’t be long before I see this lovely face.’
Really, there isn’t much left. After today, there were only two days left. It meant that there were really only two days left to see Titania’s face. Thinking like that, she felt so bitter that her throat felt like it was burning.
Actually, I really didn’t want to leave.
Who would want to leave the child they love?
If possible, I wanted to stay by this child’s side for the rest of my life.
But, because I ‘promised’.
Originally, Titania had promised to leave this year when she turned fifteen, but Her Majesty the Queen gave her permission to stay for three more years. I knew very well that she shouldn’t be greedy anymore. And, it’s really bittersweet, but…
It seemed right for me to leave Titania’s side.
‘Because this child likes me so much.’
The problem was Titania, who liked me too much.
I was worried about Titania, who loved me so much.
She is Titania who will never leave my side…
‘So, I have to leave.’
If Titania was to become self-reliant, I shouldn’t have been around. If she didn’t leave my side even though Titania became queen, it was clear that it would be ‘poison’ for Titania. She is not even her biological mother, she is a queen who cannot leave her adoptive mother. How lousy she is.
‘…How much will you blame me if I leave?’
Titania looked up at me with her loving eyes, like a baby bird that never wanted to leave the nest. A baby bird that doesn’t flap its wings even though it’s time to leave the nest. In order to make such a baby bird leave the nest, the mother bird had no choice but to push the baby bird out of the nest.
So, I had no choice but to push Titania’s back. I had to push away this adorable child who would never leave my side. I wanted Titania to get out of the ‘nest’ and become independent.
‘And, even if I leave, Veronica and Ainsel will be by Titania’s side.’
If I leave, Ainsel and Veronica will get along better. I thought that if the three of us stayed together, someday misunderstandings would be resolved and we would become closer. I’m not sure why Ain Sel avoids Veronica, but I’m sure the day will come when the misunderstanding will be resolved as we get along.
After tidying up Titania’s tangled hair, I smiled and looked at Titania and Veronica in turn. I asked them both at the same time, wondering if they would be okay for a day or so.
“Shall we all sleep together today?”
“What?”
“Yes?”
Veronica was disgusted by the idea of everyone sleeping together, and Titania seemed a little embarrassed. I lay down in the middle of the bed and patted the seats on either side, urging him to lie down quickly. Then, Veronica frowned and turned her head away.
“If you leave, I will be left here alone. So, let’s sleep together so that we can make today a memory. Huh? “Why not?”
When I asked earnestly, Titania thought for a moment, sighed as if she had no choice, and settled down on my left side. Veronica just looked down at me with her annoyed eyes, as if she still had no intention of coming to the seat next to me.
“Veronica.”
“Oh, really…!”
It wasn’t until I called again that Veronica climbed onto the bed, turning her back to me and settling on her right side. Should I say that it feels new to see the three of us lying side by side in bed like this? As the three of us lay down together, it really felt like family.
“Titania, would you like to read me a fairy tale for the first time in a while?”
“A fairy tale…? “My age…”
“What does age have to do with anything? “Because we’re all doing this together, I feel like I want to read it.”
For some reason, I felt like I was reminded of Titania when she was young. I sat up for a moment, leaned back against the head of the bed, and started thinking about what story to tell. In the past, I read it a lot. Rather, it was none other than Titania who made a fuss to tell her a fairy tale.
Furthermore, the reason I want to tell you a fairy tale this time is…
“Veronica, is there any fairy tale you’d like to hear?”
“…Nothing.”
It was also for Veronica. A child with simple dreams who wanted to hear fairy tales from her parents. A child who thinks he or she will never achieve it. So, I just wanted to make it happen for him. Because there is not much time left for me to be in the royal castle.
“Then, I will talk about it myself.”
In a soft voice, as if I were telling a fairy tale to a child, I began to recite the fairy tale that I had told Titania the most. He gently stroked the two children’s hair and continued the story slowly.
“Once upon a time, long ago, a very long time ago-“
*
“Whoa…”
After confirming that Titania was asleep, I carefully went out to the terrace to get some night air. Because I couldn’t sleep and had a lot to think about. Furthermore…
“…Are you worried now? Or are you finished worrying now?”
I had something to say to Veronica.
After confirming that Titania was asleep, Veronica and I decided to go out to the terrace and talk alone for a while. Veronica about the ‘fairy egg’. I’m talking about ‘going out to the capital.’ Veronica doesn’t know that I’m leaving the castle yet…
I looked at Veronica with a grin.
“Did you enjoy the fairy tale I told you?”
“…Well, it was my first time hearing this, but it was quite interesting.”
When I laughed, Veronica tapped my shoulder as if she was annoyed. Still, I’m glad you enjoyed it. Honestly, I never thought she would listen to the end. Telling her a fairy tale was an act of pity for Veronica, and Veronica is a child who hates being pitied by me.
‘Veronica must have opened her heart to me too.’
That made it more difficult to talk about it. Veronica, who has finally opened her heart to me, what kind of expression will she make when I tell her that I am leaving? I felt sorry because I felt like I was abandoning Veronica like I did with Vivian.
“Why are you looking so serious?”
“…Veronica.”
…Still, I had to talk about it. Even if I disappear, Veronica will still have Titania. I wanted us to depend on each other and lean on each other. Truly, like irreplaceable ‘sisters.’ Then, you’ll be fine without me.
“The ‘Fairy Egg’ at the Academy. I can give it up to you. Instead…”
“Instead…?”
“Promise me one thing.”
“Promise?”
“I will always be by Titania’s side. He said he would help Titania. They said they would rely on each other and be like real sisters. “Promise me.”
“…That’s right, of course I’m thinking of doing that even if you don’t say it, but… What is it, all of a sudden? “Like someone leaving somewhere far away.”
“……”
Veronica, who was quick to notice, asked me if I felt something strange in the way I spoke. It was a joke I asked with a chuckle, but Veronica’s expression began to harden as she noticed that there was no smile on my face.
I tried to talk with my lips, but it wasn’t easy.
So now, I looked at Veronica with a bitter smile.
Veronica looked at my laughter and tried to smile for a moment as if she was confused, but soon after realizing that this was not a joke, the smile slowly began to fade from her face. Soon Veronica let out a sigh and raised her head to look at me.
“……You’re kidding, right?”
“…I’m sorry.”
Veronica’s face crumpled at my answer.
That’s something I’ve never seen before.
He looked like he was going to cry at any moment.
