I Raised Snow White!

76. My Adolescent Daughter (2)

[Episode 76] – My Adolescent Daughter (2)

In the kingdom, there is a custom called the ‘Debutant Ball’.

Debutante ball means ‘social world debut’, and it meant the first stage where young aristocrats graduated from children’s social circles and debuted in adult social circles and were noticed by adults.

It was a tacit story, but it was also a very important event for the young ladies, to the extent that if the noble lady did not attend the Debutante Ball, the nobles of society would not recognize her as an adult.

So, the kingdom sent invitations to all noble children who turn 15 every year, and held a ‘debutante ball’ directly in the royal castle. So that everyone can be recognized as ‘adults’ without exception.

Anyway… The reason why this story came out all of a sudden…

“No, a masquerade is a ball usually attended by ‘adults’. It’s still too early for Titania, who hasn’t even made her debut, to attend.”

-…But, it was written on the invitation, right? This masquerade can be attended by ‘regardless of age’. In particular, they invite young children. I think the princess expects a lot too…

“I said it was too early. It is not too late to experience such things after Titania becomes an adult. No, she shouldn’t even be experiencing it in the first place. A masquerade ball is not a place that ordinary people would attend.”

-It’s such an extreme idea… As you can see from reading the invitation, this time it’s a masquerade with a ‘theme’, unlike those places you’ve been to. Dressing up as fairies or fairy tale characters…

“Do you… Keep taking Titania’s side?”

I frowned as if I was annoyed, and Ainsel averted my gaze, not knowing what to do. Even if she didn’t, she would be distraught, but she hated Ainsel who kept telling stories that had ended.

After saying that I had nothing more to say, I sighed and laid down on the bed, closing my eyes. The reason I strongly objected to this was because of the nature of the ‘Masquerade’.

“Just in case, try it. What if someone doesn’t recognize that Titania is a princess and touches her? A lewd and obscene prom like that is not suitable for a child who has just taken off her child.”

-It’s really an extreme idea. What do you mean when you say that a masquerade where children gather is obscene and obscene? Wouldn’t you like to see a princess wearing a cute fairy mask?

“I don’t want to see you. No, there is no need to go there, just look at it from here.”

-The real stubbornness is…

Since it is a ball aimed at free ‘deviation’ by hiding one’s rank and status, the quality of a masked ball is lower than that of an ordinary ball. A place where reason is hidden behind a fancy mask and only the true nature is revealed.

A place where people intoxicated with alcohol and cigarettes lightly tease their tongues, and there is not a trace of nobleman’s elegance to be found. It was the first place where I felt disgusted enough to think that only animals were collected there.

It’s not for nothing that people say that if you go to a masquerade, rumors of infidelity will arise. I’ve only been there once, but I ran out of the ballroom like a runaway after less than half an hour.

As I closed my eyes, Ainsel whispered next to me.

-Really… It’s true that I was asked to persuade you by the princess, but from what I personally feel, you’re overprotective of her. The princess is no longer just a child, is she?

“……”

-The princess is already 13 years old. I am no longer the seven-year-old princess I was when I first met you. Instead of being overprotective of the princess, why don’t you trust her a little…?

“…Ha. You can’t break that mirror.”

-Heeep!

When I muttered, Ainsel closed her mouth and was silent.

I was fully aware that the masquerade that Titania was invited to was different from the places I’d been to, but I couldn’t easily accept it because I had seen the masquerade at the masquerade.

No matter how much they say it’s a masquerade that children attend, it’s not all children. ‘Regardless of age’ means that adults can also attend.

“Haa…”

I turned over, buried my face in the pillow, and closed my eyes.

As Ainsel said, am I overprotective of Titania? Is it really my overprotectiveness that prevents children from going to a masquerade that is not a masquerade for adults and is like playing house?

Smart-

I was tossing and turning in bed because I couldn’t sleep at that thought, when I heard a knock on my door. There was only one person in the royal castle who would visit me at a time like this, so I got up from the bed and looked towards the door where the sound came from.

“Come in.”

Shortly before I had finished my words, the door opened and Titania appeared with her head poking out, hugging a long pillow. Titania glanced at me and then came into my room.

She only asked me to come into the room, and she hadn’t said anything yet, but Titania climbed onto the bed and lay down next to me in a really natural way. I’m really dumbfounded.

I looked down at Titania, who was lying down right next to me, as if she was dumbfounded. Did my daughter put a steel plate on her face?

Really, it was too shameless.

“Didn’t you ask to use each room?”

“For now, today is…”

“Do you want to use each room again from tomorrow?”

Titania puffed out her cheeks as if to stop asking my question. She pounded on the bed louder and louder, telling me to lie down next to her. Yes, it’s cute, so watch it. And honestly, I couldn’t sleep without Titania by her side either.

As I flopped down on the bed, Titania came in and hugged me, her face buried in my chest in her normal sleeping position. When Titania’s cheeks felt warm, I raised her arms and hugged her tightly.

Since she was a child, she had a habit of cuddling like this, and now this is a natural sleeping position for us. As I was embracing Titania like this, I suddenly remembered the conversation I had with the lady-in-waiting of the Queen Mother, the mother of two children.

‘Don’t make it a habit to keep hugging me.’

‘Yes…? But…’

‘If the princess doesn’t get into the habit of sleeping alone, she will continue to pester me when I sleep. I know that Her Majesty the Queen cares for the princess with love, but if she goes too far, it’s poisonous.’

As expected, the lady-in-waiting who raised her two children said differently.

Ever since I was little, even if my arm hurt enough to fall off, I had the habit of holding her in my arms, so Titania had a hard time falling from my side, and it wasn’t easy for me to be away from her side as well. He felt sad when he couldn’t hear Titania’s heartbeat, and without Titania’s warmth, he felt cold even with the blanket over him.

I lowered my head and looked at Titania, who was buried in my arms. The sight of Titania’s body bobbing up and down in sync with her breath made me happy whenever I saw it. Perhaps feeling my gaze, Titania, who lifted her head, poked her head out and met her eyes with me.

When I met her eyes, Titania smiled brightly. She grew up quickly and compared to when she was young, her face has changed a lot, but the smile she smiles at me has not changed. That smile tickled her heart, so I put my strength into her two arms that held her Titania and hugged her tightly.

‘Yes, how can I beat you?’

After we held each other like this for a while, Titania lifted her head and looked at me. As soon as he met her red eyes, he immediately knew what Titania was thinking. The way she looked at me with her eyes flashing quickly meant that she was asking me for something.

“Mother…”

“No.”

“I haven’t said anything yet…”

“Do you know that I do not know you? He must be asking permission to attend the masquerade. So far, you have to go to the ball or party that Viola invites you, right?”

Titania pursed her lips and shook her head sullenly. Every time I let go of this kind of superficial charm, now when something doesn’t go well, he’s busy coming to me and acting cute. No matter how weak I am in aegyo, I had to endure this time.

Besides, now that I’ve said this, I’d like you to bend a bit…

“Well then…! How about doing this? I won’t tell you to share a room anymore… I’ll share a room with my mother again… Can’t you just give me permission…?”

“A transaction is established only when the price offered by each other is similar. I don’t mind sleeping alone with you. Rather, I asked you to come back because I was worried about you. Wasn’t it always you who turned it down?”

“Ah, ugh…”

Feeling impatient with my rejection again, Titania buried her face in my chest and began to ponder. What should I do to go to that masquerade, what should I say to change my mind. It was as if I could hear the sound of these hairs rolling in my ears.

“Well, then your mother can attend too! Come with me…!”

“…Am I at the masquerade?”

“Yes, yes! Serena’s wife is also attending, so I’m sure your mother can attend too! She knows full well that she says she shouldn’t go to the prom because she’s worried about me. If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be okay for her mother to attend as well, so she can watch me? Even my mother will know about my makeup, so even if she wears a mask, you will be able to recognize her right away!”

“…….”

“That, and I am no longer a child! I’m at an age where I can distinguish between things my mother would be sad about if I did it! I have no intention of doing anything that would make my mother sad! It’s just… All my friends said they would attend this masquerade, but if I don’t go…”

I already knew why Titania hanged herself at the masquerade. Everyone gathers at the children’s social circle centered on Titania, but it’s difficult if Titania is left alone.

I wanted to ask why the princess cares about that, but…

It’s probably because all of my friends get together and play, but it’s sad to be alone. Seeing this, I was still like a child. Thirteen years old is still quite young in my eyes… But it didn’t seem like that.

‘Really… Am I being overprotective?’

…To be honest, I really didn’t want to allow it. I just wished she didn’t know that there was a masquerade in Titania’s life. The adults’ masquerade ball is a disgusting place that Titania doesn’t even need to know about. So, I just wanted Titania to never know about this for the rest of her life.

As I lowered her head to look at Titania, she opened her eyes and looked up at me. Seeing that, she let out a sigh of her own accord, and she let out a deep sigh and brushed the back of Titania’s hair.

“…Seriously, please don’t stick a dagger through my chest.”

“That means…”

“You can send me a letter saying you are attending. Instead, add that I will attend, as you said.”

“Mom!!”

After she gave my permission, Titania, with a wide smile, hugged me tight and started rubbing her cheeks. She hated Titania, who called her mother only when she had to be like this, but she only sighed because it was something she had already given permission to and it was something that could not be undone.

As expected, I can’t beat Titania.

The reason I gave permission was because Titania’s words seemed reasonable to some extent.

If I attend that masquerade ball, surely Titania can enjoy it in peace, and I can protect her. Besides, as long as I had Ainsel attached to Titania’s side, I could immediately know the danger no matter what happened.

It sounds like a fuss, but if I don’t do it like this, my heart won’t let go.

“Promise me. Telling me what to wear and not leaving my gaze. I won’t go outside the ballroom, I’ll only play inside.”

“Yes! I promise!”

“You speak well…”

So I held Titania in my arms and closed my eyes.

I had the feeling that everything was bothersome now in the rush of drowsiness, and that with Titania in my arms, she would be able to sleep deeper than usual. So I closed my eyes and slowly fell asleep…

Until this point, I really didn’t know.

The fact that just as I closed her eyes and buried her face in her pillow, Ainsel ran to Titania and told her that now was her chance.

And now, as I dozed off, the fact that Titania and Aincel were looking at each other, thumbs up, and smiling happily at each other.

From noble mtl dot com

I was able to figure out the fact that I had been victimized by the nasty fairy and the nasty daughter-in-law only after a long time had passed.

Really, really, after a while…