There Is No Place For Fakes

After a while, the two moved to the drawing room prepared in the princess’s residence. After serving the tea, the maids moved away. She didn’t know why, but a mischievous laugh could be heard.

“…Please drink.”

Philomel pointed to a steaming cup and offered tea.

“Thank you.”

But Nassar only talked and did not touch the cup. Instead he, who had been staring at Philomel’s face for a while, opened his mouth.

“It’s really fortunate that you’re all right. I know what Your Highness is really like…”

A voice full of thirst. She felt a sense of emotion as if he had witnessed a family member who had died and returned to life.

“…yes. Well, that’s how it happened.”

‘Well, after all, I’m going to die when I get back to the palace, so I was so mean.’

Remembering the conversation in the carriage, Philomel felt embarrassed. Had she known it would be like this, she would not have said that she would do anything.

“How are you feeling? I was really surprised that you passed out suddenly.”

“Don’t worry. At that time, I was tired and I was in shock, but there is nothing wrong with my body.”

“I see. I’m glad.”

But his watchful gaze of her Philomel from her toes to the ends of her head did not fall.

Burdened, Philomel changed the topic.

“Come to think of it, Nassar, you came here very quickly from Shengzen. Did you use the movement magic?”

“Yes. That’s right. After Her Highness disappeared, I headed for the Magic Tower thinking that I should come to the capital as soon as possible.”

“The magic tower? If it’s the magic tower, won’t it be open for a while?”

When she was about to be scammed in front of the magic tower, she remembered what the broker had told her.

“That’s why I wondered if I should enter with Avrydon’s name too…”

A great aristocratic family could be the exception everywhere.

“I happened to meet a group of wizards heading to the capital nearby. That’s why I came too.”

“You’re lucky.”

When he had to go to the capital, he accidentally met a group of wizards with the same destination. And, coincidentally, those who were capable of traveling magic accompanied by others. Philomel widened her eyes and nodded.

“What was even more amazing was that they were also on their way to the imperial palace.”

Nassar smiled lightly at Philomel and continued his words.

“Yesterday morning, two of the wizards belonging to the imperial palace suddenly resigned, and they said they came to apply for the vacant position after being contacted.”

“There are two imperial palace wizards? That’s a big deal. The conditions are good, so if possible, nobody wants to quit.”

Actually, it was a good topic, but she had nothing else to say, so Philomel pretended to be interested.

Nassar answered sincerely.

“I think so too. However, it’s a pity that one of them can’t work here because there are three of them.”

“If you’re a competent person, there are many places other than the imperial palace that want to hire you, so it should be fine.”

“My family is always looking for talented wizards.”

“I see.”

“…”

“…”

And there was the expected silence.

‘It’s ruined.’

Philomel clicked her tongue inside her, unable to find anything to say to her. In the past, even though it was a common socialite topic, they would give and take for a long time, but it was strange to talk about it now.

‘Because I’m no longer the princess, nor am I Nassar’s fiancée.’

Suddenly, she couldn’t figure out what it was like to live as a ‘Philomel’ other than the princess. Her lifelong goal was to become an impeccable princess, and her life’s purpose was to run away at the right time while hiding the weak and vulnerable true self deep inside. It was the mask that protected Philomel from the danger of her death.

“Then, now that the fear of dying is gone?”

Now that she had thrown off the mask, she couldn’t remember what the face underneath was like. Even with Nassar, whom she had known for over ten years, she did not know what to talk about.

“What kind of person was I…?”

“I didn’t know you had a cat.”

At Nassar’s words, Philomel’s mind, which had been floating in the air, returned.

“A cat?”

“Isn’t that the pet Your Highness is looking after?”

She didn’t know when it came along, but a silver cat was perched on one side of the drawing room.

“Go away.”

Philomel waved her hand, telling him to get away from her seat. Eavesdropping on human conversations was a clear invasion of privacy. She couldn’t do anything about her conversation with the Countess and the maids in the bedroom, but she didn’t intend to have him listening to this conversation.

“Aww.”

Then the cat staggered and left the parlor. Maybe it’s because of her mood, but for some reason, she felt like her eyes were broken.

“The cat is listening. It’s like a person.”

‘Because he is a person.’

Philomel swallowed her words and changed the subject of the conversation.

“…Let’s drink quickly before the tea cools down.”

Finally, he lowers his head slightly to grab the teacup.

‘Uh?’

Something caught Philomel’s eyes.

“Nassar, stay still for a moment.”

“Yes? Uh, uh.”

Nassar let out a dazed noise as Philomel got up and moved closer. Platinum hair tickled Philomel’s finger. She could feel him catch his breath.

“Stay still.”

Philomel lightly grabbed the shoulder that was about to move and pressed it. For some it’s only a few seconds, but for others it’s an eternity.

“It’s done. It’s stuck in your head.”

Philomel laughed as she held the shredded leaves in her hands. Nassar, who was watching her blankly, groped the back of his head.

“…I couldn’t check my clothes because I was in a hurry. Sorry for showing you this.”

As soon as Nassar arrived at the capital with his movement magic, he seemed to have come right away. If any of my family members or employees of Avrydon had seen the leaves, there was no way they wouldn’t have told him.

“I thought the young Duke was always perfect, but he had a side like this.”

Philomel laughed lightly and teased him.

“…I usually pay attention to it.”

Nassar’s handsome face turned red like a carrot at Philomel’s joke.

‘It must be very embarrassing.’

She felt it even when she asked him to borrow money in his lifetime, but he seems to have a shy personality.

“Ah, do I smell too? I just ran on horseback for over half a day…”

Nassar sniffed the clothes and became restless.

“Such a stupid mistake…”

There was self-reproach in the low muttering of his voice.

“I’m sorry, but I’m leaving. I’ll put it in properly later and see you again.”

She was about to reply that there was no smell, only a refreshing scent resembling that of grass, but he hurriedly stood up.

“I will definitely come back, so please wait.”

Nassar leaned over to Philomel and stepped out the door.

‘Why are you doing that? Well, how is it?’

It was time for Philomel to clean up the teacup herself, without even calling her maid.

“Your highness.”

The half-open door someone pulled out and Nassar stuck his head out. Then he asked with a worried face.

“Don’t go without me”

Where else was she going? She was afraid that the main person would disappear, and she burst into a dog-like appearance that seemed to be grunting.

Philomel smiled lightly.

“Okay. I won’t be going anywhere until Nassar comes back, so please go.”

Anyway, as Le Guin said, until the book came there, Philomel couldn’t go anywhere even if she wanted to.

“You’re making a promise.”

“Is that so?”

“Thank you!”

Nassar gave a strong reply and disappeared. Philomel felt a different sentiment after seeing that Nassar had a little bit of a clumsy side.

‘To think that he came all the way to the imperial palace in one step because he was worried about me.’

She heard that after she disappeared, Nassar eagerly traveled all over the country looking for her. Philomel’s mood was a little lifted, even though she thought the biggest reason was her sense of duty as her fiancé. Even if they weren’t engaged, wouldn’t it be okay to say that they were friends? But the thought of Nassar soon vanished from Philomel’s mind. Because she faced another problem.

“How do I clean this up?”

‘I’ll clean up the tea I drank with my own hands!’

Having the mindset itself was a first, but… She didn’t even know where to put the kicks, as her maids always took care of them. If she called Ina, the maid of the Countess, she would say that she would take care of it herself, so she didn’t want to call it if possible.

Philomel left the room with a teapot and a tray of teacups, hoping that there would be no one around to make questions.

“Uh.”

As soon as she came out, she met the unfamiliar face of the maid. It was too strange for her to simply stand still to assume that she was passing in front of Philomel’s quarters.

Philomel’s eyes narrowed.

“What were you doing here?”

“Princess! No, hey, that’s… I’m sorry!”

“I asked what you were doing.”

“That’s it…”

She couldn’t answer right away, and her hesitation added to the suspiciousness of the maid’s attitude.