I Raised Snow White!

Time flew by like an arrow, and three years passed in the blink of an eye.

The Queen Dowager, unable to bear watching me loaf around with the Princess, threw some work my way, saying I should at least learn something useful.

That’s how I started learning from Bainshaw, three years ago.

The Princess, once shy and reserved, had grown brighter and began calling me “Mother” two years ago.

Then, just last year, she set fire to the kitchen, determined to cook me something delicious.

And now…

“-The Minister of Foreign Affairs has requested an audience with you this afternoon. How would you like to respond?”

“Haven’t I told them to stop requesting audiences and just come directly to my office? Neither you, Bainshaw, nor the Minister of Foreign Affairs ever listens.”

“Haha, but I do come on my own, don’t I? Don’t lump me in with him.”

“Not listening is the same between you both. Since I already know what he wants, just tell him to come when he’s free. And if he comes right before I’m done with work, let him know I’ll set the hounds on him-”

“Motherrrr!”

Thud-thud-thud-

From behind, the booming voice of the Princess echoed down the corridor, shaking the ground.

She must have been running at full speed, as something heavy struck my waist before I could even turn my head.

Thud!

“Oof!”

The weight, which now felt more heavy than substantial, wrapped around me as the Princess flung her arms around my waist.

She was getting so strong now that I could feel the pressure tightening around my waist.

Looking down at the solid weight around my waist, I saw the Princess hugging my hips, grinning up at me with a bright red forehead from the impact.

“Titania… I told you not to run in the corridors. It’s dangerous.”

Her black hair now reached down to her shoulders. Her eyes sparkled with mischief, as if my scolding was nothing but amusement.

Where had that timid child gone?

Unable to hold back a chuckle, I ruffled her hair, and the Princess beamed at me with an even brighter smile.

“But I saw you from far away, Mother!”

In other words, she didn’t have any real reason for running over to me.

As I tidied up her hair, which was now a mess from running, she raised her arms toward me expectantly.

Having gotten her used to being held as a child, even now, at ten, she still expected me to pick her up.

I slipped my hands under her armpits and lifted her up like a child, letting her sit in my arms.

Settling into my embrace, she wrapped her arms around my neck and looked over at Bainshaw, covering her mouth with her hand and giggling softly.

Where did she pick up that laugh?

Bainshaw gave a polite bow to the Princess, watching her with the warm smile of a grandfather seeing his granddaughter. The Princess, in turn, waved at him with a grin.

“It’s been a while, Princess. Have you been well with Her Majesty the Queen?”

“Yes! How about you, Bainshaw?”

“Oh, yes. Quite well, quite well.”

Seeing the Princess for the first time in two months, Bainshaw’s face softened into a gentle smile as he watched her.

Suddenly, the Princess’s gaze fixed intently on Bainshaw’s head, and her eyes went wide as she gasped.

“B-But if you were doing well, then why is there less hairrr?”

Caught off guard by her blunt remark, Bainshaw’s hand went to his head, feeling around despite having nothing left to feel.

Seeing him do that, I couldn’t hold back my laughter.

Children are nothing if not honest, it seems. I felt a bit bad but said nothing. The Princess, however, noticed Bainshaw’s changes after two months and was quick to point it out.

“Haha, well… anyhow, Bainshaw, tell the Minister of Foreign Affairs he can come at any time. I need to have a word with the Princess for a bit.”

“Yes… I shall do so.”

Leaving a sulking Bainshaw behind, I carried the Princess toward my quarters.

Recently, many had fallen victim to the Princess’s honesty and playful nature.

Not only Bainshaw, but upon learning that the Minister of Foreign Affairs was terrified of dogs, the Princess had even snuck a dog plushie into his office as a prank.

The scream he let out, mistaking it for a real dog, was unforgettable. It sounded just like that of a young girl.

The Minister of Education, having heard the scream, would mimic it at every chance, teasing the Minister of Foreign Affairs, even sparking childish spats among the ministers.

‘To think we still have a minister who’s afraid of dogs in this kingdom…! Screaming like a little girl—shame on him!’

‘You’ll be sorry if you keep making fun of meee!’

Well… much of the gossip and mischief was no doubt thanks to the influence of “Ainsel” hanging around the Princess’s neck.

Nowadays, Ainsel spent more time with the Princess than with me.

Glaring at the fairy laughing gleefully in the Princess’s hand and at the Princess snuggling in my arms, I realized it was time for a talk.

“Ainsel, you told Titania where I hide my snacks again, didn’t you? How many times have I told you not to do that?”

At my words, the Princess’s shoulders flinched. Ainsel avoided my gaze and started muttering excuses, covering her face with her tiny hands.

-Well, it’s because you’ve been limiting her snacks… She’s at that age where she needs to grow, you know… So just one little snack…

“Why do you think I limited her snacks? The maids keep sneaking her treats behind my back, calling her cute, so I had to cut back. Titania? What do you think?”

“But… but…”

“But there are no buts, rules are rules. If you keep sneaking snacks, I’ll have to tell the chef to stop making any. I’ll also punish the maids who give them to you.”

“Mom…! Please don’t do that!”

Now, the Princess, calling me “Mom,” hugged my neck tightly.

I had given in to her cute pleading a few times before, but now it seemed she’d become too accustomed to getting her way. I shook my head firmly, turning away from her.

“Calling me ‘Mom’ won’t help you. From now on, limit your snacks. If you keep sneaking treats, you’ll grow chubby like a pig, and then I won’t be able to pick you up anymore.”

As I tried to set her down, the Princess clung desperately to my neck, refusing to let go. With her dangling from my neck, I let out a sigh.

“So, going forward, moderate your snack intake. If you sneak treats from my stash one more time, you’ll be in real trouble. And Ainsel, I mean it—you’ll get a serious scolding.”

-S-Sorry…

“Titania, how about you?”

“I understand… I’m sorry…”

I gathered the Princess, still hanging from my neck, into my arms and resumed walking down the corridor. The Princess looked sullen, her lips pouting at being denied snacks.

Seeing her downcast expression tugged at my heart, but I knew I couldn’t give in. If she ended up with cavities, it would be a big problem. With her baby teeth starting to fall out, we had to be extra cautious.

When I glanced at her again, her eyes filled with tears, as though she might cry at any moment. Could missing a few snacks really make her this sad? Sighing, I gently patted her back.

“…Fine, just this once. Go and tell Ellie to bring you a treat from the kitchen.”

“Yay, I knew you were the best, Mother!”

With that, the Princess beamed and hugged my neck tightly. Honestly… no matter how resolute I tried to be, my resolve crumbled like a sandcastle before her teary-eyed gaze.

Is this what it feels like to be a parent…?

After a brief teatime with the Princess, I returned to my office, only to find the Minister of Foreign Affairs sitting on the sofa, munching on some snacks. He leapt up and swallowed the treat in his mouth, giving me a polite bow.

“It’s been a while, Your Majesty the Queen.”

“Yes… I trust your recent overseas trip was as relaxing as always?”

“Haha, not quite as enjoyable as one might think. There’s truly no place like home.”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs reached for the reception snacks again, but Bainshaw, who had somehow entered unnoticed, smacked his hand away, causing the snack to fall back onto the table.

“Do you have no conscience? These snacks are prepared for the Princess who visits here often, not for the likes of you.”

At that, the Minister of Foreign Affairs smirked and pointed at Bainshaw’s head.

“I may lack conscience, but you certainly lack hair.”

“You little…!”

“That’s enough! What are you two doing, acting so childish?”

This was supposedly a quarrel between the ministers of our kingdom, but it was becoming too childish to witness. I sighed, took a seat, and beckoned the Minister of Foreign Affairs to come closer.

“Please… do us a favor and stop teasing Bainshaw. He just got a scolding from the Princess. So, I assume the diplomatic delegation has returned with you.”

“Ah, from the Princess, you say? Indeed… yes, they all returned yesterday as scheduled. And…”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs handed me a document. I took it, carefully opened it, and began reading through the papers. My expression soured unconsciously.

“So it’s unavoidable… even the main storyline of the game can’t be avoided, it seems.”

This was the time when the Princess’s “spring” ended, and her “summer” began. At the start of summer, there was an important “sub-event” almost as significant as the “main event.”

This event marked a key turning point toward the ending.

With a sigh, I reviewed the documents again, but the Minister of Foreign Affairs, oblivious to my thoughts, calmly began explaining his papers.

“As it says there, about three months after our delegation’s return, that kingdom will send a ‘delegation’ of their own to our country.”

“Yes… and because of this ‘individual’ included in the delegation, we’ll need to prepare something grand.”

“Of course. We can’t go with anything ordinary. We may have to draw quite a bit from our treasury, but Bainshaw will handle the finances.”

“…Alright.”

In the game, when summer begins, there’s a “sub-event” that takes place. It’s quite important, as it involves a character crucial to both the game and “Snow White” coming to meet the Princess.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs sighed lightly and shook his head before continuing.

“…This will be a major event. It’s a formal marriage meeting between the ‘Third Prince’ of the neighboring kingdom and our Princess. If it goes well, the Prince may even become the Princess’s ‘fiancé.’”