There Is No Place For Fakes [EN]: Chapter 130

* * *

Even if he couldn’t love the child, he thought he could cherish her, as if he were treating his younger self.

Around that time, he felt no joy or purpose in life. Everyone looked up to him at his peak, but for him, life was a profound solitude.

The woman he loved more than life had passed away a year after their marriage, leaving him only the throne built on blood.

Justis dreamed. He wanted his daughter, who resembled him, to live a successful life different from his own.

If that happened, he could enjoy a sense of accomplishment as if he were living a new life himself.

A profound sense of self-satisfaction.

He found vicarious satisfaction in providing Philomell with what he had lacked in his childhood.

A stepping stone to grow as a successor.

A supportive father who supports his child.

And family time.

The mother was replaced by a nanny whom the child trusted and followed.

The child grew up dignified and splendidly as expected. Many people admired Philomell sincerely.

“Your Highness, the Princess, will become a great emperor who will lead this country in the future!”

Unlike himself, the child was recognized as emperor material without getting her hands dirty with blood. Justis was extremely satisfied.

……At first, it was definitely like that.

However, as time passed, a certain thought gradually dominated his mind.

As he abstained from alcohol and regained normal living habits, his judgment returned to what it once was.

One day, he suddenly realized.

‘This child doesn’t resemble me.’

Not only the appearance but also the inner self, which he had previously thought resembled him, was different.

Philomell was a strong child.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty! Are you busy again today? How about a walk we couldn’t take last time, today?”

Not afraid of being rejected and constantly reaching out to others.

It was an impossible act for him.

Justis was afraid of his brothers. Fearing they would kill him someday, he made the first move.

The previous emperor was the same. Believing that his children were constantly aiming for his throne, he tried to eliminate Justis when he began to stand out. So he killed him.

Philomell was too different from him, who only knew how to live that way. Different from the root.

‘I just wanted to believe that the child resembled me.’

He had merely discovered a seemingly similar aspect by chance and desperately created similarities.

Because he was lonely.

He wanted to attach his heart to someone, even with a small trigger.

Surprisingly, even after he became aware of the truth, nothing changed.

Even if she didn’t resemble him, he was still pleased with the child. He didn’t dislike the time he spent with her.

‘Is this the parental love that Isabella spoke of?’

He hoped so. It meant that the part he lacked was being filled.

Justis felt that life wasn’t always unhappy.

Whenever he thought of his wife, his heart still felt torn, but the time he spent immersed in sadness gradually decreased.

The Imperial Palace also returned to its original state. The palace staff, who had been reduced to hide the reality of the emperor who was always drunk, also returned to the palace.

If not the spring of life, at least it was autumn.

But.

‘Will you be the same?’

He occasionally fell into anxiety when he faced Philomell.

Would Philomell feel the same way as him? This child who heard the harsh words from behind the door?

Justis consciously avoided such questions. Because he was a coward.

He found comfort in seeing his daughter smile in front of him. It was already in the past, no need to stir up trouble.

‘She must have forgotten. Children tend to forget things easily, don’t they?’

Even though he knew better than anyone that childhood memories last a lifetime.

He was a very selfish, weak, and deceptive human being. So the situation he is currently facing may be a natural consequence.

“These are the things Lady Philomell sent.”

Looking at the bundle of documents handed over by the temporary secretary, Justis returned from the past to the present.

The secretary stiffened, seemingly afraid of the emperor’s reaction.

“She said to inform you that these are too much for her, so she is returning them to Your Majesty.”

It was the property he had previously transferred to Philomell.

The sharp child expressed that she would completely sever this relationship by returning them.

“……I understand. You may leave.”

After the relieved secretary left, he sat in his chair and idled away his time.

The Emperor’s office was quiet.

The sound of rain falling outside the window was particularly loud.

Today is the day Philomell leaves the Imperial Palace with her biological father.

Philomell returned everything he had given her instead of saying goodbye. Not only the property deeds but also all the birthday gifts.

Justis blankly admired the golden ship model that had returned to him and had trivial thoughts.

‘I shouldn’t have given the child such a flower name after all.’

In the end, their relationship ended so futilely, just like the flower’s meaning.

Drip, drip, drip.

The rain was getting heavier.

Philomell and her biological father would now be saying their goodbyes to others at the main gate of the Imperial Palace.

“Did she take an umbrella?”

Justis scoffed at the question that suddenly came to mind.

It’s a pointless worry. There’s no way that guy would let his daughter get rained on.

He just needed to stay here and keep his place without unnecessary thoughts. Besides, she said she never wanted to see his face again.

‘I haven’t been a proper father to her all this time, so I should at least grant her that wish.’

The ticking of the clock on the wall filled the silent room.

Tick-tock, tick-tock…….

Time is passing. His daughter is leaving.

Justis couldn’t bear it and stood up from his seat.

Whoaaaaaa!

Light spread out from the emperor’s body. Soon, no one was there where the light had faded.

* * *

Main gate of the Imperial Palace.

Philomell was saying goodbye to the palace staff.

She had finished saying goodbye to the staff of the Southern Palace, but they were not the only ones who wanted to see Philomell off.

She had met with Melinda and other young ladies she was close to yesterday.

“It’s not like we’re parting forever. I’ll come to the capital to visit sometimes. And write letters.”

Philomell barely appeased them, who were very, very sad.

After finishing the conversation with the last palace staff member, Regin asked, standing next to her.

“Is everything done?”

“I think so.”

Countess Delles had already visited the Southern Palace, and she was to meet Nasarr at the Magic Tower.

As soon as he learned that Philomell was going to the Magic Tower, he started packing. He said he would follow right away.

Regin loudly declared that he would never allow Nasarr to enter the Magic Tower, full of determination.

“It’s okay, Father. I’ve already found accommodation in Angelium.”

He didn’t get his way with her natural answer.

‘Nasarr seems much more brazen than Regin in these situations.’

Philomell smiled slightly as she recalled the sight of him calling the Magic Tower Master, who was grabbing his collar, ‘Father’ so casually. Although it was just a feeling, she thought the two would get along reasonably well in the future.

Philomell asked someone else next to Regin.

“Doesn’t Jeremiah have anyone to say goodbye to separately?”

The answer was concise as always.

“No.”

He is leaving this place with Philomell now, but Lexion and Kadin are scheduled to come to the Magic Tower in two days. It seems to take some time to formally submit their resignations and hand over their work.

The impatient Magic Tower Master walked towards the main gate.

“Well, is everything done then?”

Since the luggage had already been sent to the Magic Tower, they only needed to go.

“I’ll move at once with teleportation magic…….”

“Wait a minute!”

Philomell stopped him. Someone was running towards them breathlessly from afar.

“Philomell, please wait!”

“Emily.”

It was Emily, the maid who had been working as a spy under the intruder.

Emily, soaked in the rain and looking like a drowned rat, gasped.

“How can you leave without saying goodbye to me, of all people?”

“I thought you weren’t coming. Come this way.”

A huge umbrella created by Regin’s magic was floating above Philomell’s head.

Emily stepped into the boundary of the umbrella and held out an object she was holding tightly in her arms.

“This is my gift.”

“A notebook?”

After looking around, Emily lowered her voice as much as possible.

“It’s something that woman used to write in before she ran away, and it’s written in letters I’ve never seen before.”

“So?”

“I thought something smelled fishy, so I stole it. It must be some kind of code.”

Looking at the triumphant face of the maid, Philomell laughed in disbelief.

“Haha, how kind of you.”

“It might help to catch that woman. Good luck.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Giving stolen goods as a gift until the very end was just like Emily.

It didn’t seem very helpful, but Philomell took the notebook out of consideration for her sincerity.