There Is No Place For Fakes [EN]: Chapter 12

Having determined that she couldn’t get any useful information about Princess Elencia from Humphrey, Philomel moved on to her next question.

“Perhaps a powerful wizard could use precognitive magic to know for sure?”

“No matter how powerful, not exactly……”

“Even the Master of the Magic Tower?”

This was the core of what Philomel wanted to ask.

The Master of the Magic Tower: a title referring to the head of the Magic Tower. He was also described in *Princess Elencia* as Philomel’s biological father.

‘I can’t imagine what kind of person he is because there’s so little information about him,’ she thought.

Humphrey had been in the Magic Tower until recently, so he should know him well.

But Humphrey’s hand, holding the cup, trembled violently.

“Wh, who? Ma… Magic Tower Master……?”

“Yes. The Magic Tower Master.”

“Why that person……?”

“I was wondering if even a great mage like the Magic Tower Master can’t accurately see the future……”

‘Why is he reacting like that? As if he heard something he shouldn’t have,’ Philomel wondered.

She tilted her head and continued, “But what kind of person *is* the Magic Tower Master?”

“Well… he is a great magician.”

“I know that much.”

“And a sage of the North.”

“I know that too.”

“And, and……”

Humphrey suddenly grabbed his stomach.

“Ugh, stomachache! I’m sorry, Your Highness. I’ll have to take my leave.”

“Yes? Ah, of course.”

Humphrey, still clutching his stomach, awkwardly excused himself. Judging by his pale face, his stomachache didn’t seem like a pretense.

‘What the heck……?’

Left alone, Philomel simply sipped her tea and left the Magic Tower building, having gained nothing.

After that, Philomel asked similar questions to several court wizards.

But it was all the same—no valuable information. The wizards scoffed at prophecies, and they either didn’t know much about the Magic Tower Master or were tight-lipped.

‘I guess I have no choice but to meet him in person.’

Philomel vowed as she trudged back to her chambers.

As soon as she could leave the Imperial Palace, she planned to visit her biological father, who secluded himself in the tower. The greatest Magic Tower Master might know something about *Princess Elencia*.

‘And……’

Philomel was curious about what kind of person he was.

Back in her chambers, Philomel first checked if *Princess Elencia*, stored in the vault, was safe. For now, keeping it here was the best option.

“Why did you end up in my hands? Why did you have to fall into my garden?”

Of course, there was no answer.

Sighing, Philomel closed the vault door.

* * *

Time passed, and Philomel turned twelve.

Entering the Emperor’s office, Philomel held the end of her dress and bowed slightly to Eustis.

“Your Majesty, a pleasant afternoon.”

“Yes.”

Eustis, sitting at the tea table, replied indifferently.

It was a posture that the etiquette teacher had endlessly praised, but Eustis showed little reaction.

Still, Philomel wasn’t disappointed. The Emperor was generally stingy with affectionate words. In the past, she would have been sad that she, his daughter, was grouped into the same category as others, but now she was just grateful.

‘It’s a relief just not to be hated.’

Today was the day for tea time with Eustis, which happened about once a week.

Perhaps due to the Count’s nagging to reduce alcohol consumption, the Emperor began to drink tea more often, and after Philomel took the opportunity to ask to join him, they somehow continued the tradition.

Philomel felt the warmth of the teacup in her hand and looked at Eustis.

Eustis seemed busy, barely sipping his tea and only looking at the documents in his hand.

Because he didn’t remarry, he was in charge of all the Imperial Palace affairs that the Empress would normally handle.

“Are you busy?”

“……Not really.”

‘Looks like it to me.’

Bored, Philomel alternately shook her legs that didn’t reach the floor, then stopped herself.

‘I’m not a child anymore. I have to look mature.’

Hoping to appear as a desirable successor who was interested in the Emperor’s work, Philomel asked, “May I ask what kind of documents they are?”

“It’s about the upcoming Founding Day ceremony. The date for the event has been set……”

The smooth answer suddenly stopped.

“…….”

“…….”

An awkward silence filled the room.

Founding Day was not a pleasant topic for Philomel. Even now, her actions at the previous Founding Day were often talked about as reckless.

Because the Founding Day at the age of nine remained her worst memory, Philomel became depressed whenever she heard the words ‘Founding Day’.

Tuk, tuk.

A nervous sound came from Eustis’s index finger tapping the hard surface of the table.

Judging by his strangely anxious look, he didn’t seem to like this conversation either.

Before the atmosphere became even stranger, Philomel said with a bright expression, “Wow, it’s finally Founding Day! I’m looking forward to this year’s event!”

“……Is that so.”

“Yes! Will there be fireworks again this year? They were really pretty last year.”

“It’s not in the plan, but I’ll tell them to add it.”

“There’s no need to go that far……”

“It’s a boring and dull event. If there’s no fun, it’s not worth watching.”

That’s a big deal. It’s one of the Empire’s three major holidays.

Thinking that Belleron, the god in the sky, would be angry if he heard that, Philomel lightly continued, “Hey, it’s the day the Bellerov Empire was founded. Of course, it’s important. Your Majesty always gives a commemorative address on that day.”

“I find thinking about the commemorative address the most annoying.”

“I like Your Majesty’s commemorative address the most during the Founding Day event.”

Because it’s the fastest to finish among the prepared procedures.

Philomel hid her true feelings and smiled brightly.

“…….”

“If I become the Emperor in the future, I want to give a wonderful commemorative address like Your Majesty.”

Eustis’s exhausted face brightened a little. It was the moment when Philomel’s flattery skills, honed over the years, shone.

But perhaps because you shouldn’t say things you don’t mean too much, the flattery came back like a boomerang with unexpected results.

“Then will you try it this time too?”

“Yes? Try what?”

“I mean the commemorative address. There’s no law that only the Emperor can give the Founding Day commemorative address. In previous generations, the Emperor and the Crown Prince each read a commemorative address.”

“……Yes? C, can I do something so great?”

“It’s nothing. You can just go out and say a word and come back… Or do you not want to do it?”

The answer that a prepared successor would give in this situation was already determined.

* * *

“Let’s think positively! What’s so great about a commemorative address!”

Philomel resolutely declared, with paper and pen in front of her.

‘It wasn’t intentional, but this is an opportunity.’

As her relationship with the Emperor improved, the courtiers who had looked down on Philomel disappeared, but outside the palace, Philomel was still regarded as a neglected princess. At times like this, if she appeared at the Founding Day event and recited a wonderful commemorative address, she would be accepted as a legitimate successor.

And if she successfully completes this event…

‘I should ask the Emperor to give me that item!’

Thinking of ‘that item’ that was essential for escaping, Philomel scribbled commemorative phrases on paper all night.

Several days passed, and the day of the Founding Day arrived.

Philomel stood under the platform where the Emperor was standing and trembled.

‘There are too many people!’

The spacious outdoor venue was packed with attendees.

It was expected, but it seemed like there were even more people when she thought about speaking in front of them.

Her heart was pounding so much that she couldn’t even hear Eustis’s speech.

Nasar, who was next to her, looked worried.

“Your Highness, are you alright? You don’t look very good.”

“……Thank you for your concern. I’m just a little nervous, but I’m fine.”

Philomel answered with dignity, as befitting a princess.

Then a servant came and whispered, “Your Highness, it’s your turn to go out now.”

Before she knew it, Eustis’s speech was over.

Philomel walked onto the platform with stiff steps, like a log. Because she was nervous, her same-side foot and arm moved forward at the same time.

The servant placed a megaphone in front of Philomel. The megaphone was a magical item with a megaphone stone [a magical amplifier] attached to the end of a long stick. The megaphone stone resonated with the sound heard nearby, spreading any sound more widely.

Philomel put her mouth in front of the megaphone stone and cleared her throat.

“Dear Bel, Bellerov Empire…….”

But a problem occurred. A very big problem.

Philomel’s voice did not get louder. The megaphone stone was broken and did not function properly.

She looked at the servant, but he was just as flustered and confused. It seemed that there was no spare megaphone that fit Philomel’s height.

People buzzed.

“Why aren’t you speaking?”

“Perhaps it was too much for the Princess…….”

Philomel’s mind went blank due to the unexpected difficulty.

‘What should I do, what should I do, what should I do?’

It was then that Philomel’s vision suddenly rose. Eustis had picked Philomel up.

Eustis adjusted the height so that Philomel could use his megaphone instead of her broken one.

The eyes of the people who witnessed the scene were filled with shock.

It was a posture that was too affectionate and did not suit the Emperor.