I Raised Snow White!

The day before the lesson with the princess.

While I was comforting Ainsel, whose self-esteem had hit rock bottom, I clasped my hands together and spoke to Ainsel, who was rolling on the floor with her knees held tight.

“From tomorrow’s lesson on, you’ll have to help me… no, Ainsel, I absolutely need you!”

– Me..? I mean, really..? But I’m just a mirror, you know..?

“Of course, I’m planning to teach the princess about ‘fairies’ from now on.”

When I mentioned teaching the princess about fairies, Ainsel, still lying on the floor, lifted her head to look at me with a gaze that seemed to question my sanity.

– Are you serious?

“Naturally. To be honest, do you think I really have anything to teach the princess? You know I have hazy memories.”

– Then why did you volunteer to be the princess’s ‘tutor’ in the first place? What were you thinking..?

Ahem! I cleared my throat, brought my hands together, and extended them toward Ainsel. Ainsel stared at me in disbelief, a question mark practically visible above her head.

“Because, obviously, I have Ainsel, whom I trust the most in the world!”

As I brought my hands together and raised my thumbs with a triumphant “ta-da!”, I could sense a faint menace in Ainsel’s eyes. If Ainsel had been a person rather than a mirror, I probably wouldn’t have avoided a punch.

“Don’t look at me like that. You refer to others as ‘Her Majesty’ and ‘His Majesty,’ but to the princess, it’s always ‘princess~ princess~,’ isn’t it? You care about her.”

– Th-that’s not it..! I’m just…

“I do have some knowledge about fairies from Vivian’s memories. But since it’s not entirely accurate, I want your help.”

Since I knew a bit about fairies from the game. However, even though I had possessed Vivian’s body, I wasn’t truly a ‘witch.’ I didn’t know how to ask fairies for assistance like a witch would.

“When I introduce the princess to ‘fairies’ tomorrow during the lesson, I plan to introduce you to her as well. How does that sound? Pretty good idea, right?”

Ainsel, who had lifted herself off the floor, stared at me in disbelief before letting out a sigh. After a moment of silence, Ainsel shook her head.

– Are you planning to raise the princess as a witch? I admit the princess has the qualities of a ‘witch,’ but I’m against the idea of raising her as one.

“I have no intention of making the princess into a witch.”

– …? Then why are you planning to teach her about ‘fairies’?

Since I couldn’t say, “So she can meet the ‘seven dwarves’ later,” I pondered in silence, propping my chin on my hand. The princess, whether she liked it or not, would eventually be involved with ‘fairies.’

‘If the princess learns even a little about interacting with fairies beforehand, she’ll be less likely to get hurt or deceived by them.’

I glanced at Ainsel, who was sitting in front of me. Though Ainsel had said, ‘Fairies can’t lie,’ I understood what that truly meant.

‘Fairies can’t lie, but they can cleverly conceal the truth with tricky words.’

So, I wanted to inform the young ‘Snow White Princess’ beforehand so she wouldn’t be misled by a fairy’s crafty words. Not every cute-looking fairy was trustworthy.

I smiled kindly and replied to Ainsel.

“After all, there’s no one around the princess to teach her about ‘fairies,’ is there? Imagine how frightening it must be. No one else can see them, yet she can.”

– I see… I hadn’t thought of it that way…

“That’s why I wanted to teach her before she grows up too much.”

Hearing my words, Ainsel placed a finger on her chin, appearing to be deep in thought. After considering for a moment, Ainsel seemed to resolve himself and gave a small nod.

– Alright. If that’s the reason, I’ll help you.

“Really?”

– Yes, of course. But…

Ainsel stared at me intently, her eyes narrowing as if she had a grievance. The intensity of her gaze made me turn my head slightly to avoid it.

– If you’re going to teach about ‘fairies,’ I can’t allow you to act like a ‘teacher’ to the princess with shallow knowledge. If we’re doing this, we have to prepare thoroughly.

“Uh, r-right..? That makes sense…”

– So, shall we cut down on sleeping time starting today?

Ainsel’s eyes smiled pleasantly, but within her half-closed eyes, there was a fervor that bordered on madness. A chill ran through me at her expression, as if she’d been waiting for this moment.

– Ha… I never imagined I’d end up teaching Vivian, even if it’s not the real one…

“Ainsel..?”

– Heh heh heh, prepare yourself. Within a month, I’ll make you at least an ‘apprentice witch.’ Starting today, your daily sleep time is fixed at three hours!

And so, I was forced to sit through nearly an entire night of lessons about ‘fairies’ and ‘witches’ from Ainsel. Thrilled, Ainsel showed no mercy in teaching me.

In that hellish training, I shivered, and by morning I had learned how to use the ‘magic’ within Vivian’s body and how to summon ‘fairies.’

– No! You have to feel it circulating through your body!? Like this! Pow! Feel it from your chest and— whoosh! Why can’t you get this?!

“Seriously, don’t even think about teaching anyone else. If I weren’t me, I would have broken this mirror ages ago.”

*

The sunlight on the lake’s surface was so bright it stung my eyes.

Perhaps because I’d stayed up almost the entire night, the reflection of sunlight on the water felt so bright it hurt. Rowing made me drowsy, tired, and painfully aware that my stamina was at its limit.

But the reason I could hold on was likely thanks to the princess, who looked delighted while watching Undine below me. Her joy seemed to wash away the stress I’d accumulated from learning with Ainsel.

“Hahaha! Stop it! It tickles!”

Undine started spraying small streams of water at the princess’s face, like a water gun. The princess, busy wiping the water off her face, laughed from the tickling sensation of the shallow water touching her skin.

As Undine played with the princess, her mood lifted. I wiped the princess’s face with a handkerchief and took off the mirror earring holding Ainsel, handing it to her.

The princess tilted her head, looking at the mirror in her hand with curiosity.

“What is this?”

“My friend.”

“Her Majesty considers a mirror her friend?”

…What a pure response from a child.

It was neither entirely wrong nor quite right, so I just tapped the mirror with my finger. Soon, ripples appeared on its surface, and gradually, an image began to emerge.

“Your Majesty, this mirror is strange. It only reflects Your Majesty’s face, not mine.”

Finding it curious that the mirror showed Vivian’s face instead of her own, the princess lifted the mirror up, then lowered it, tilting it and shaking it to inspect it.

While the innocent princess continued to shake the mirror in curiosity—

Ainsel couldn’t take it any longer and pleaded.

– P-princess..! Please, don’t shake it so much..!

“Eek!”

“H-Huh! Ainsel?!”

When a voice suddenly came from the mirror, the startled princess almost threw it into the lake. Thankfully, the mirror didn’t fall in but rolled to the bottom of the boat, hitting the side.

As Ainsel rolled around on the floor, Undines climbed atop her, laughing merrily. The princess’s face turned pale as if she felt guilty for handling my item carelessly.

“I-I’m so sorry..! But, but… a voice suddenly came from the mirror…”

“It’s okay. It’s not your fault. If there is any fault, it would be with the mirror for not introducing herself properly.”

Giggling, I lifted Ainsel from the floor. I cleaned the dirt off the mirror’s surface with a handkerchief, revealing Ainsel looking downcast.

“Ainsel, make sure to introduce yourself properly.”

– B-but… I wasn’t ready…

Ready for what?

Once again, I placed Ainsel in the princess’s hand. Seeing Ainsel looking downcast, the princess hesitated but then spoke up before Ainsel could.

“Hello, Mirror? I’m sorry I almost threw you. Are you okay..?”

A bright smile appeared on Ainsel’s face in response to the princess’s greeting. She beamed at the princess, far more cheerfully than she ever had with me, and replied excitedly.

– I’m fine, princess! It didn’t hurt at all!

“Really? Oh, that’s a relief.”

Phew—

The princess let out a sigh of relief, patting her chest to calm her startled heart.

After clearing her throat, Ainsel gave a polite bow and introduced herself to the princess. I couldn’t help but feel a hint of jealousy as she acted more courteous and friendly than she had with me.

– Well then, let me introduce myself again… Ahem! It’s nice to meet you, princess! I’m Ainsel, the fairy of the mirror!

“The fairy of the mirror?”

– Yes, princess! I’m Vivian’s friend… and I plan to assist you alongside Vivian by teaching you about ‘fairies!’

“So… Ainsel is my teacher as well..? Ah, I look forward to learning from you.”

The princess held up the small mirror and gave a polite bow, and Ainsel’s face practically shone like the sun. The sight of her smile was so blinding that I had to squint my eyes.

– Ehehe! You can just call me Ainsel! No need for formal speech! Just think of me as your friend..!

You… weren’t like this before.

Why are you acting like this only in front of the princess?

Seeing Ainsel delighted at being called a ‘friend,’ the princess grinned and squeezed the mirror in her hand, then responded to Ainsel.

“Ehehe… then I’ll be in your care, Ainsel.”

– Yes, yes..!

…Well, if it makes you happy, so be it.

Slowly rowing, I began to return to where we’d started. Off in the distance, I saw Ellie waving her arms and calling out, as if something urgent had come up.

Upon reaching land, Ellie hurried over to find me.

“Ellie? What’s going on for you to call out like that?”

“W-well… Her Majesty the Queen Dowager has extended an invitation to you for dinner tonight…”

“? Tonight?”

“Yes… and it’s rather sudden…”

Suddenly? I could only widen my eyes at the unexpected news. Sensing an odd gaze on me, I turned to see a group of the Queen Dowager’s attendants gathered at a slight distance.

As if to say, ‘Don’t even think about escaping.’

‘…I’d intended to meet the Queen Dowager anyway. But for her to be the one calling for me… this was unexpected..?’

Turning again, I saw Ellie asking the princess if the boat was scary. The princess responded with a bright smile, “Not at all!” as if delighted.

After a brief moment of thought, I approached the princess.

“Princess, do you have any plans this evening?”

“No! I don’t! I had a lesson scheduled after dinner, but…”

Since the Marchioness wasn’t around, the princess’s evening lessons were also canceled. I smiled and lifted the princess under her arms, holding her up.

“Then, let’s go see Her Majesty the Queen Dowager together.”

“Th-the Queen Dowager…?”

The moment I said that, one of the Queen Dowager’s attendants stepped forward. With a cold expression matching her frosty voice, she addressed me.

“The invitation to dinner was for Her Majesty the Queen alone. Even if it is the princess—”

“I’m sure Her Majesty the Queen Dowager would also like to see her granddaughter, the princess.”

Interrupting her, I saw her eyebrow twitch. Ignoring her reaction, I walked towards her with the princess still in my arms.

The attendant looked flustered, but the Queen Dowager was one of the people I had to meet eventually. There was no reason to avoid or delay it now.

“Lead the way, with the princess.”