HSML 17

“I just want to confirm one thing—!”

As Mother, without even wiping away her sweat, tried to ask me point-blank, I replied with a single sentence.

“I would very much… like to give… an affirmative reply…”

“Are you out of your mind!?”

The fact that she asked ‘out of your mind?’ rather than ‘serious?’ told me quite a lot about how Mother evaluated me. Or perhaps I should say it showed how much she trusted me.

“…Wait, does that mean you understand why I’m panicking, Moka-chan?”
“The true essence of this… box magic… is information gathering… something you know… as well, Mother… right?”
“Well, yes. When you put it that way, that’s true—but still, I just can’t accept how calm you are about this.”

Once Mother began to settle down, Kachina handed her a towel. Mother thanked her as she took it, wiped her face, and then came over closer to me—to the box.

“Mother, have you… not heard from Father… about what happened… at the coming-of-age ceremony?”
“…So that was an incident that made something like this possible?”

As she fluttered the paper that likely contained the proposal of engagement, Mother looked at me. I answered honestly, “Yes.”

She pressed a finger to her forehead, wore a troubled expression for a while, then looked at me seriously and asked:

“I’ll ask you again—Moka-chan, are you in your right mind?
Do you understand what it means to become a member of the royal family, regardless of whether Prince Siphon ascends the throne or not?”

Well… of course she’d say that.
No matter how you look at it, I lack the qualities to be a royal’s wife.

“That’s… true.
I am aware that… aside from my family status… I’m lacking.”

Ceremonies, diplomacy, politics, social occasions—unless they let me stay inside the box for all of that, it would be impossible for me.

“Exactly. Once the engagement is officially set, you won’t be allowed to stay shut away, you know?
That’s why, if you truly want to remain inside that box forever, then even if there are feelings involved, I think you should give up.”

Ah—yes. I knew Mother would say that.

She loves me, understands the usefulness of box magic, and yet she has never approved of my shut-in lifestyle.
Still, the way she phrased it as ‘I think you should give up’ rather than ‘You must give up’—perhaps that was her small kindness.

But even so—

I resolved to show my face from inside the box.
Like Jabba, the protagonist of The Adventure Inside the Wooden Box, when he apologizes to his father at the end.
Even while imagining being scolded—or even struck—and feeling my legs freeze with fear, I stepped forward, believing in what I had to do.

“Moka-chan?”

I emerged from the rippling top of the box—no, all the way up to my upper body—and looked straight at Mother as I said:

“—I do not… want to let… this opportunity… slip away…”

Even I don’t fully understand whether my feelings are love, calculation, or something else entirely.
Still, there is no doubt that I don’t want to lose this chance.

If I kept my usual timid attitude, Mother wouldn’t back down. That was why I thought I needed to face her properly—even if it meant leaving the box.

“…………”

Perhaps sensing my determination, Mother simply stared straight back at me in silence.

Her maiden family, the Satankiets, is a line of warriors.
Being glared at like this, I could truly feel that blood running through her veins.

Her gaze was the kind exchanged on a battlefield.
Sharp—no, too sharp—eyes bore into me.
It wasn’t so much judging as it felt like my very will was being probed.

Pressure.
Just from being stared at, my body felt heavy, and a scream threatened to escape my throat. Still, I made no sound, only continued to meet her gaze.

Honestly, I was terrified. But I couldn’t afford to lose here.
I didn’t even fully understand myself why I was so fired up…

“…………”
“…………”
“So you even come out of the box and face me head-on without flinching… I see.
Very well. My opinion remains opposed, but I will respect your will, Moka-chan.”

As Mother let out a small breath, the suffocating pressure vanished.

“But if you truly intend to marry, then by that time, make me acknowledge you.”
“Yes.”

I nodded firmly at her words, which sounded like the absolute condition for her to step back.

With that, today’s discussion should be over.

As a pause formed in the conversation between Mother and me, Kachina spoke up.

“Madam, preparations for your bath are complete. Please proceed directly to the bathing area.”
“Alright, I understand. Thank you for the towel, Kachina.”

Kachina bowed and took the towel from Mother. At that moment, Mother made a puzzled expression.

“By the way, Kachina. How did you know the bath was ready?”
“I gave the instructions myself.”
“…When?”
“While the two of you were speaking.”
“I didn’t sense anything…”
“I erased my presence so as not to interrupt your serious discussion.”

Still looking unconvinced, Mother asked Kachina:

“Well, that’s fine. More importantly, Kachina—
I want your honest opinion. Are you for or against Moka-chan’s engagement to the prince?”
“As long as it is what my lady desires, I am in favor.”
“Of course you are. You do have a tendency to put Moka-chan above all else.”

Muttering, What a strange thing to ask, Mother shrugged her shoulders, said “See you,” and left the room.

After seeing her off, and once her presence faded away—

“Haaah—……”

I let out a huge sigh and slumped weakly against the edge of the box.

“My lady.”
“I’m fine… just… tired…”

For now, it seems the engagement itself will work out somehow.
But I’ll need to think about how to make Mother acknowledge that staying in the box is still acceptable.

  □

And that night—

In Father’s room, after he had returned home—

“Why on earth are you planning Moka-chan’s engagement with His Majesty without permission!?”
“W-wait, Latte! Just listen to me!
So first, put down that fist—!”
“I won’t wait! If I listen and understand, I won’t be able to swing it, will I!?”
“What kind of logic is that!?”