There Is No Place For Fakes

On the same day, in Philomel’s residence. She was reprimanding Le Guin who’d returned to his human form.

“Why were you climbing the tree?”

“I just like it there, can’t I be there?”

“It’s not like you can’t, but when Ellencia saw you and wanted to save you, you should’ve come down.”

“Ah. That kid who looked stupid? But why should I?”

“That’s because Ellencia was almost hurt…”

“It has nothing to do with me whether she gets hurt or not.”

In hindsight, that’s it. Philomel was well aware that Le Guin, who did not possess any emotions, was not so amiable. But his mood was a little strange. If his interest in Philomel faded, then she too, might be treated the same way.

‘I need to finish my work here before that time comes.’

She glanced at the clock. 

“It’s already time. I have something to do, so I’ll get going.”

Philomel got up from the couch, but the moment she stood on her feet, a stabbing pain radiated from her hip, causing her to fall back into the couch. 

“Ouch.”

“Are you hurt?”

“Yes. When I fell down earlier, I must have bruised myself.”

“Should I use healing magic on you?”

“It’s fine. It’s really nothing.”

Philomel was ashamed to ask for treatment. She pretended to be fine and acted as nonchalantly as possible, as she got up again to leave. However, her movement became more and more ragged. She was in pain… but since she was already halfway to her destination. She reasoned that when she got the urgent matter handled, she’d visit the Court Physician’s office to get treatment. 

Philomel’s destination was the Emperor’s office. An attendant brought a message from him requesting a visit anytime soon. She speculated it was a matter related to her treatment as a state guest. Philomel gathered her strength and somehow reached the Emperor’s office.

“Hello, how are you doing your Majesty?”

She greeted him normally, but the nape of her neck was wet from sweat. The Emperor was staring at her with fierce eyes.

‘What did I do wrong?’

Philomel’s heart sank.

“Philomel.”

He approached slowly, calling her name in a very low voice.

“Wha- what is it your Majesty?”

“Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere? Your gait is ragged.”

“Oh, I fell down earlier. It doesn’t hurt that much, so don’t worry…”

“No. You are not looking good.”

Not looking good? What does he mean by that?

“Your condition is very serious. It is a miracle that you are even walking.”

Eustis made Philomel’s small injury sound a dozen times more serious than it is. 

“I’ll call the Court Physician right now!”

“I’ll pay him a visit later! There’s no need for it!”

“How did you fall?”

“While taking a walk I got caught in the roots of a tree…”

“I get it. I will cut down all the trees in the imperial palace.”

“Why? There is really no need to go that far!!”

“Philomel, don’t worry. I’ll take care of everything.”

Words, words don’t reach him at all.

‘Are you crazy?’

Philomel turned to Count Pollan looking for an explanation from him. But the Count became contemplative and only shook his head. As Philomel’s face gradually became as pale as a ghost, the Emperor felt that something was truly wrong with her.

“… Majesty, Your Majesty.”

“Let’s see each other later.”

It wasn’t too early to express it that way! Pollan cried out in silence. After Philomel received treatment from the Court Physician, the Count resolved her misunderstanding. 

* * *

The day of the Debutante Ball finally dawned. Philomel looked at her new dress through the mirror. She didn’t need a new dress, but it was made by a tailor sent by the Emperor. When she tried to send it back, the tailor complained, saying that she could just wear it for the first day of the banquet. 

‘The Emperor and the princess both requested this dress to be made for her; she can’t abandon the work entrusted to her by the two of them.‘ 

Philomel could roughly guess that’s what the tailor was thinking.

In this Debutante Ball, the person who would attract the most attention after Ellencia, was Philomel. The tailor probably doesn’t want to miss the opportunity to not only dress Princess Ellencia for her Debut but also Philomel. 

‘It’s surprising that Ellencia asked for a dress to be made for me though, but…’

After all, is this Ellencia also like the kind hearted protagonist of <Princess Ellencia>? Then why didn’t she show her good side only in front of Philomel? The obvious answer was ‘hypocrisy’, but Philomel decided not to judge hastily. Debutante Ball, which was right in front of her, was an urgent priority and the best opportunity to observe Ellencia better. 

‘Let’s calmly think about how Margaret, who has not yet become famous at this point, came to be in charge of Ellencia’s dress.’

“I asked you to be as frugal as possible.”

The cream-colored dress Margaret had sent was elegant and simple, but it could not hide the luxuriousness that oozes out in places. Well she had to be content with the fact that it wasn’t too flashy. Le Guin, who had been watching Philomel, opened his mouth.

“Isn’t it boring? The Nobles outfits I’ve seen are more luxurious.”

“What would a guest living in the imperial palace do with so much luxury? People would curse me for being too extravagant with their tax money.”

“If there’s someone who dares to curse you, can I take care of them?”

“Yes?”

Le Guin just being still and not doing anything reckless, would help her tremendously. 

“No. Just watch me from afar and don’t do anything.”

Philomel wondered if her response was too cold and short, so she resorted to flattery for the first time in a while. 

“Because there would be nothing good if an incident were to happen. And Le Guin is a great source of strength for me by just being by my side.”

He put a strengthening spell on her, so she was physically strong. After receiving Le Guin’s magic today, Philomel’s whole body was overflowed with energy. She looked forward to reuniting with Roseanne with anticipation. 

Philomel chuckled thinking about it, and Le Guin, who was observing his daughter, immediately felt better for some reason. 

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of it today. I just had a good idea.”

“I don’t know what that is, but wouldn’t it be better not to do it…?”

But Le Guin didn’t pay her any attention and disappeared with a flash. 

‘I don’t feel good for some reason…… I’m inclined to lean, right?’

Philomel thought with a small sigh. She was then escorted to the Imperial ballroom hall by Jeremiah. After learning manners and transforming into a decent knight, he firmly supported Philomel’s hand as she climbed into the carriage.

“Come out whenever you want.”

His blunt words were tinged with concerns for her.

“Thank you Jeremiah.” 

Philomel thought to herself. 

‘Only Ellencia’s face will shine through tonight and heal all. Don’t worry about me.’  

“Are you going to dance?”

“I think I’ve danced to my heart’s content in the past. I’m not a young girl who’s debuting this year, so there’s no need to dance.”

“I see. But if you want, I don’t mind being your dance partner…”

“Jeremiah? Dance?”

It didn’t suit him so much that Philomel burst into laughter. Well, Jeremiah was also a knight, so he could attend the ball if he wanted to, but she couldn’t imagine him dancing.

“What’s so funny about it?”

“I’m sorry. I won’t dance but thank you for your offer, I’ll take your sentiment.”

While Jeremiah laughed at her with his jokes, the carriage arrived at the outer Imperial ballroom hall. She dissuaded Jeremiah from entering with her, and Philomel entered the hall alone. She was grateful for her father’s and her brothers’ hearts, but this was a burden she had to carry alone. She’s a fake princess. A character full of rumors. No matter what kind of life Philomel chooses, the majority’s interest would naturally follow.

She wouldn’t be able to stand alone for the rest of her life if she avoided this moment out of fear. She couldn’t be protected forever, and this was the weight Philomel had to bear alone.

‘It’s okay, it’s not much different from when I gave a speech at the festival when I was young.’

Philomel walked into the venue with dignified steps.

“Lady Philomel is here!”

Everyone’s eyes turned to Philomel at once. Their astonishment, their observation, their search, their interest, their arsenic, all of their attention weighed heavily on her.

Philomel, unwilling to lose, straightened her back and walked further inside with her head held high. The crowd split on either side, giving her way. A few stared at her without even trying to conceal their gazes. 

‘It’s good to be confident, but this is a bit burdensome…’

Philomel was trying to get into a corner, a place where she would be less visible to people.

“The Sun of the Empire, His Majesty the Emperor and the Little Sun, Her Highness the Princess are entering!”

The father and daughter’s appearance shifted the attention that had been focused on Philomel to them. They came out holding hands from the entrance dedicated to the imperial family on the second floor. Philomel was appreciative of the strange sight in front of her, as if somehow familiar.

Ellencia made a surprised expression upon entering the hall and seeing so many people, but then she waved happily at them. 

“Your Highness the Princess.”

An exclamation flowed among the public. Even though it went against etiquette, on the contrary, it must be attractive because of it. How fresh and interesting the princess who grew up among commoners for over 16 years must be to the nobles. It was also described in detail in <Princess Elencia>. The overly callous Emperor and the benevolent and warm Princess, the conflicting yet harmonious father and daughter, became a picture just by being together.

Unlike Philomel.

‘I had to watch my every step and follow the etiquette diligently, so people wouldn’t brand me as an uneducated Princess. But Elencia is liked even if she doesn’t follow them.’

She was confident in that position in her debut just two years ago. At that time, she just wanted to quickly get out of that position. But why was a corner of her heart bitter? Even though the place she was missing was so perfect. However, Philomel shook her head instead of tearing her expression down. She had no lingering feelings for that position. No, she shouldn’t.

“Listen! This is Princess Ellencia!”

Fortunately, Count Pollan started making announcements about Ellencia, so Philomel was able to divert her attention to something else. The Count explained the birth of Ellencia, how she came to be reversed with Philomel, and how she returned to the imperial palace. Of course, the circumstances of their reversal were lies to cover Catherine’s crimes, and the process of her return was also mixed with fiction. In the Count’s story, Philomel was considerably glorified. She was a benefactor who gave up her existing position and took the risk of being driven out as a criminal in order to find the Emperor’s real daughter. Even if Philomel had left Ellencia alone anyway, a year later, with Catherine’s confession, she would have come to the palace. It was not unreasonable for those who did not know that, to regard Philomel’s actions as righteous.

“Accordingly, the Belerov family expresses deep gratitude to Lady Philomel for her kindness, bestows her with the highest medal, and promises to honor her as state guest!”

Applause erupted from all directions at the Count’s impressive eloquence. Philomel was ashamed and wanted to hide in a mouse hole. Fortunately, as the subject soon shifted to Elencia’s middle name, Philomel was able to escape attention as well.

People cheered when Her Holiness the high Priest was presented with the middle name of Ellensia. It was a symbol that the divine protection of Belerov was still in this land. Everyone waited for the princess’s middle name to be announced. Philomel, who’d read the book, knew it even if she hadn’t heard of it. Ellencia’s middle name is going to be Halypso, Elencia Halypso Bellerov would be her full name. It was revealed at the end of the book, but ‘halypso’ meant hope that was not included in the ancient language. In other words, Ellensia’s existence itself represents hope…

“The name the high Priest has heard is Taspel!”

‘…?’

“This is Her Majesty Ellencia Taspel Belerov!”

Thunderous cheers and applause filled the hall. Philomel looked at Elencia, who was smiling at everyone’s attention.

‘Taspel? Isn’t it Halypso?”