I Raised Snow White!

To be honest, what Titania felt when she looked at Princess Fiona was “discomfort.”

Even though it had only been four days since they met, Titania felt uneasy around Princess Fiona, who clung to her all day, chirping like a sparrow.

It was the second time she felt this kind of discomfort toward someone.

And for some reason, whenever she was with Princess Fiona, her mood soured.

But even at ten years old, Titania knew she shouldn’t let this show, so she kept quiet.

Honestly, she just wanted to get away from Princess Fiona immediately.

“Her Majesty Queen Vivian has really prepared a wonderful tea. I’ll have to thank her later.”

“My mother will surely be pleased as well…”

Princess Fiona took a sip of tea, savoring it as she cradled her cheeks in delight, smiling brightly.

Watching her, Titania awkwardly sipped her milk tea mixed with milk and sugar.

It was a modest tea party in a quiet corner of a wide garden.

Rather than a tea party, it was just the two Princesses sharing snacks and tea while chatting, though Princess Fiona insisted on calling it a tea party.

She claimed that whenever ladies gathered to drink tea, it was always a tea party, proudly showcasing the sweets she brought from her country.

From freshly baked apple pies by the royal chef to the chocolate sold in the Silverward Kingdom, she displayed a bounty of treats that filled the small table.

Seeing this spread, Titania’s eyes sparkled.

Perhaps because she’d been restricting her snacks lately, the treats looked even more enticing.

“Feel free to indulge. The chocolate I recommend is very popular with young ladies in our capital. People line up just to buy it—”

Titania shook her head slightly, thinking it would’ve been better if Fiona was a bit quieter, and bit into the rose-shaped chocolate Princess Fiona handed her.

Titania’s eyes widened, declaring it the best chocolate she’d ever tasted.

The sweetness melting on her tongue wasn’t solely from the chocolate; it was a delightful blend with a tart cranberry flavor.

A bittersweet, sweet, and even tangy taste filled her mouth, accompanied by the faint scent of roses, making her pop the half-bitten chocolate in her mouth.

“I’m glad you like it.”

“…It’s really delicious.”

Princess Fiona’s lips curved into a smile as she watched Titania slowly savoring the chocolate with a look of bliss.

She even pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the chocolate smudge from Titania’s lips.

Would having a big sister feel like this?

Titania covered her mouth with both hands, feeling a bit shy from Fiona’s caring attention.

And that’s why she couldn’t understand.

Why did she feel “discomfort” toward someone treating her so kindly?

Titania tilted her head slightly as she sipped her milk tea.

As she drank her tea and nibbled on the snacks Princess Fiona had prepared, Fiona leaned her chin on the table, smiling brightly at Titania.

As soon as Titania thought, “Isn’t leaning on the table bad manners…?” Fiona seemed to read her mind and replied with a smile.

“It’s just the two of us, isn’t it? The maids have been dismissed, so there’s no one to mind. Etiquette is meant for others to see, so if there’s no one around, there’s no need to uphold it.”

“Is… is that so?”

“If I didn’t do things like this, I couldn’t stand the Princess life. Even Princesses need time to put everything aside and rest. Look, I’ve already kicked off my shoes!”

When Titania looked under the table in surprise, she saw Princess Fiona’s toes wiggling as if to greet her.

Her discarded shoes were indeed lying messily on the ground.

“Don’t you ever feel like just letting everything go sometimes, Princess Titania? Living every day worrying about others’ gazes isn’t exactly normal.”

Watching Fiona’s unexpected behavior, Titania blankly stared at her wiggling toes until Fiona gently tapped Titania’s forehead, chuckling.

“Isn’t it hard for you, too, to maintain etiquette in front of the Queen?”

“In front of my mother…?”

Titania shook her head immediately.

She denied it strongly, shaking her head vigorously, as she’d never been scolded over manners in front of her mother.

“Hm… really? Now that I think about it, you call Queen Vivian ‘Mother’? It’s a bit different from the rumors I’ve heard, so I was surprised.”

“Rumors…?”

Princess Fiona, resting her chin on the table, swallowed a piece of chocolate in one bite and squinted at Titania.

Licking the chocolate off her fingers, she smiled and continued.

“Queen Vivian’s story is quite well-known, even in our kingdom. There’s a rumor that she’s a ‘witch,’ and her beauty is also famous. But the most common rumor… is probably about her ‘personality.’”

“……”

“They say she has a nasty temper… that she bullies the maids, things like that. Oh, don’t glare at me—it’s just rumors! After meeting the Queen myself, I realized they were all baseless.”

Noticing Titania glaring at her, Fiona waved her hands, adding that it was all just nonsense, but Titania puffed her cheeks and continued glaring.

“Just hear me out. Rumors don’t come from nowhere, right? I couldn’t help but hear them as I traveled to a foreign country.”

“Those are completely unfounded! Mother is nothing like that. She’s kind, gentle… she even plays with me…”

“Really? But didn’t you say something mean to the Queen earlier…?”

“That… that was…!”

Titania, who had jumped out of her chair to explain that she didn’t mean it, fell silent when she saw Fiona laughing across from her.

“I’m not teasing you. I grew up in a ‘similar’ situation to yours. My mother, the First Queen, passed away, and I was raised by my stepmother, the Second Queen. That’s why I can’t help but see my past self in you. So I’ll say this…”

Tap, tap.

As if recalling her past, Fiona tapped her fingers on the table with a frown.

Then she lifted her eyes, looking at the fuming Titania.

“Do you honestly believe that your stepmother, the Second Queen, could truly love a daughter who isn’t her flesh and blood?”

“Huh…? What do you mean all of a sudden…?”

“I’m saying that, though she treats you well on the surface, don’t you think she might secretly despise you? That was the case with my ‘Second Queen’—she despised and loathed me. She even attempted to assassinate me.”

Titania clenched her fists, glaring at Princess Fiona.

Just refraining from throwing her milk tea across the table felt like an impressive feat of restraint.

“My mother isn’t like the one who raised you. She genuinely cares for me and loves me.”

“Are you sure it’s not just your imagination?”

“Ugh…!”

On the verge of throwing it, Titania picked up a few chocolates from the table, making a gesture as if to throw them.

Though she barely held back, she was more than ready to throw them if Fiona said one more strange word.

However, Fiona simply smiled at her, undeterred by Titania’s threat.

Titania couldn’t understand why Fiona was acting this way.

“Please don’t get too upset. Looking at you, I’m reminded of myself as a child, so it stirs up strange feelings. No, you’re just like I was then—so starved for affection you can’t even tell if that affection is real or not.”

The chocolate clenched tightly in her hand grew sticky and unpleasant as it melted.

Listening to her voice, Titania began to feel nauseous.

“I’m just giving you ‘advice’ because I don’t want you to end up like me, Princess Titania Snow White. Nothing good will come from being around her.”

“You don’t know anything…! Mother truly…!”

Ah.

Titania finally understood why she felt so uncomfortable with Princess Fiona.

Though she never stopped smiling, both when dealing with her and with the maids, she was different when talking about her mother.

‘When she talks about Mother… her eyes don’t smile.’

Her refined demeanor, kind words, gentle smile, polite gestures, and thoughtful responses—all perfect.

But her eyes were different.

She hid it with exaggerated gestures and movements, but every time she mentioned her mother, Fiona tried to hide her ‘hatred.’

“…Think carefully about what I said. Whether the love and affection you’re receiving is real or just your illusion.”

“……”

“It may seem like I’m badmouthing Queen Vivian, but I’m genuinely giving you advice, Princess Snow White.”

Princess Fiona looked up at Titania with a bitter smile.

Her expression was so sincere that Titania couldn’t say a word, silently staring at Fiona.

“I hope you won’t end up like me.”