There Is No Place For Fakes [EN]: Chapter 115

“My story isn’t over yet. Will you listen?”

“Y-Yes, of course!”

Nasar nodded so vigorously that Philomel thought his neck might break.

Philomel’s story resumed.

Invaders from another world, Elencia’s memories, a world inside a game.

She glanced at his reaction between sentences. Nasar had been looking dazed since earlier.

“Are you listening?”

“Yes. So, you’re saying this world is a game from another world, and someone from there has taken over Princess Elencia’s body?”

Even so, he grasped the main point clearly, as expected of him.

Philomel asked cautiously.

“……Can I be honest? You probably don’t believe what I’m saying, do you?”

“No, I believe you.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

There wasn’t a hint of doubt on Nasar’s clean-cut face.

She knew he liked her, but she didn’t expect him to believe such an absurd story without question.

It was different from Lguen and the three brothers.

They had seen and the items she brought from the store before hearing her story.

They had also witnessed her disappearing into the store through mysterious power.

On the other hand, Nasar was believing her just by listening to her words, without any other evidence besides the recording stone. The claim that the world he knew was nothing more than someone else’s creation.

“How can you believe me?”

Nasar smiled and replied.

“I’ve already experienced two miracles in my life that I never thought would happen.”

“When?”

“Once a few days ago, and once just now.”

“……”

Her face flushed slightly.

“The story you just told me is quite surprising, but it’s less shocking compared to a miracle.”

Philomel realized once again how great Nasar’s love was. The favorability bar was still flashing above his head.

‘98%’

It was a number close to 100. A corner of her heart felt heavy again. But it wasn’t a negative feeling at all.

“Meowww.”

Just then, a cat’s meow and the sound of something scratching reached her ears.

When she went outside, a silver-furred cat was scratching the carriage door with its claws. Philomel held the cat with a sulky expression in her arms.

“Oh dear, it looks like you came out to meet me because I didn’t come up.”

Then, she held out the cat to Nasar, who had stiffened and stepped back.

“Gwingwing was just being grumpy earlier, but he doesn’t basically dislike Nasar.”

“Is that so?”

“Just trust me. Isn’t that right, Gwingwing? Now, apologize quickly.”

He had to apologize for scratching her hand, of course, and for all the things he had been secretly harassing Nasar with.

“……Meow.”

Under Philomel’s unspoken pressure, the cat let out a short cry as if he couldn’t help it.

Nasar was greatly relieved.

“That’s a relief.”

*Chuk.*

His lips touched the fluffy fur and then moved away.

“Thank you, Gwingwing. Let’s see each other often from now on. Then, I’ll be on my way.”

“……Y-Yes. See you again.”

With that, Nasar Abriden, who had kissed the cat’s forehead in a surprise attack, got into the carriage and left.

Philomel had told Nasar almost all her secrets, but there was one truth she hadn’t revealed: that the cat Gwingwing was not actually a cat.

She was worried that he would be disheartened if he knew that Philomel’s biological father hated him immensely.

So, she was planning to reveal it slowly later.

“……What should I do?”

It seems like I’ll never be able to reveal it.

‘Wait a minute.’

The most urgent matter right now wasn’t that.

Philomel took the cat with a lost-country expression and hurried back to her residence, before his bewilderment turned into anger.

“Lguen, hold on. Just hold on this one time.”

Jeremiah, whom she had left in the palace to enjoy some time alone with Nasar, greeted them.

“Hold on what? What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing.”

If she told that person, it would surely spread to the other brothers in an instant.

‘Lexion would subtly laugh, and Cardin would laugh openly…….’

For Lguen’s dignity and Nasar’s safety, it wouldn’t do.

Shortly after, Lguen, who had returned to his true form, declared.

“Nasar, was it? That bastard, I’ll kill him…… I won’t let him off.”

Philomel dissuaded him.

“No! Nasar was just too elated and made a mistake.”

He asked sharply.

“What made that bastard so elated?”

“Huh?”

“There must be a reason. A reason why he was elated.”

“That’s just…….”

“Could it be that something special happened in the carriage?”

Philomel’s face flushed as she thought of the cheek kiss in the carriage. She had boldly committed it back then, but now she felt somehow embarrassed.

“Something really happened?”

Lguen’s gaze became even sharper.

‘How can he be so perceptive? Now that it’s come to this, there’s no choice.’

Philomel closed her eyes tightly and kissed her father’s forehead. *Chuk.*

“Hey, why are you making such a fuss over something like this! And nothing happened!”

“…….”

Lguen’s eyes widened, and he rubbed his forehead.

Philomel wondered, ‘Was he perhaps displeased?’ and looked at him, but he cleared his throat, *ahem*.

“Anyway, love or romance won’t help you in any way, so think about it again.”

It seemed she had succeeded in diverting Lguen’s attention, but Philomel wanted to refute those words.

“It’s good to date if you love each other.”

“Loooove?”

The Magic Tower Lord scoffed.

“That’s all an illusion. It’s just animalistic desires packaged in plausible words.”

“……You’re talking like a male lead who only works in a romance novel.”

Even though he doesn’t work well.

“Be careful. Usually, the male lead who says that gets thoroughly scolded by the female lead.”

They were bound to rush in, crazy in love, ready to give up their liver, gallbladder, and even their lives.

“That’s an unnecessary worry.”

However, the Archmage, who didn’t understand emotions, didn’t even pretend to listen.

‘Well, at first, I was worried because everyone said their personalities were emotionless…….’

As Philomel felt while living together, Lguen and the three brothers weren’t heartless. Just a bit bad-tempered.

Jeremiah, who had been listening to their story until then, stepped forward.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about with kisses or love. Anyway, did you win over the hero?”

Philomel shook her head.

“It was impossible. If we attack Elencia, Killian will gladly become our enemy.”

“Then the direction we need to go has been decided.”

If we can’t get Killian’s cooperation willingly, there’s no reason to spare the Escal family either.

“Let’s think about the hero problem later, and first, we need to tie the intruder’s hands and feet.”

Just because it’s impossible to get rid of her right now doesn’t mean we can let that woman run rampant.

By now, the investigators should be investigating the Escal Merchant Guild. The Emperor wouldn’t overlook the group that tried to monopolize Sansalcho [a fictional commodity or resource].

“His Majesty the Emperor also needs to know who conspired with the Escal Merchant Guild’s mass purchase of Sansalcho.”

Now was the time to separate the intruder and the Emperor.

* * *

“Your Highness.”

“…….”

“Your Highness.”

“What!”

Elencia, who had been burying her face in her desk, snapped her head up.

The servant at the door said cautiously.

“His Majesty the Emperor is looking for Your Highness.”

Anxiety flashed through her mind.

“……Could it be.”

Was he going to question her about the mass purchase of Sansalcho?

She had silenced the people involved, including Tibolt Escal, but you never knew.

‘No, I’m innocent. Everything was the Escal Merchant Guild’s doing.’

You could just cut off the tail [abandon or betray someone].

All the practical actions were done by the Escal Merchant Guild, and she didn’t step forward.

‘There are no letters exchanged, and the people involved won’t say unnecessary things either.’

Looking ahead, it wouldn’t be good to be disliked by herself, who would become the Emperor in the future…….

Elencia bit her lip.

‘Why do I have to worry about this!’

She didn’t know things would turn out like this back then, so she didn’t hide it thoroughly.

There’s a difference between buying Sansalcho before the cure is developed and buying it after it’s developed.

The former can be argued as an accidental result, but the latter, no matter how you look at it, was an act to monopolize the cure.

After the servant sent by the Emperor left, she called the name of the maid next to her, checking if there was anything else she had missed.

“Emily.”

Come to think of it, Emily was the maid who served tea when Escal and Tibolt visited. She might have heard something.

Emily answered politely.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Are you my faithful servant?”

“Of course.”

“Yes. Good.”

Elencia smiled and ordered the other maids.

“Lock Emily in the warehouse.”

As the maids bound Emily’s limbs, Emily shouted in panic.

“Y-Your Highness! Have I done something wrong?”

“Take her away. Don’t let her out until I order it.”

She was just a lowly maid anyway. Even if Emily accused the Princess of a crime, it wouldn’t be credible evidence.

‘Well, it’s always good to be careful. Let’s take care of it secretly later.’

Emily was a maid she liked because she understood her words well, but it couldn’t be helped.

The act of being a kind princess was now over.