There Is No Place For Fakes [EN]: Chapter 15

“Glory to Belleroph. I behold the sun of the Empire.”

“May the blessings of the Sun God be with his descendants forever…”

The Emperor ignored the greetings and approached his daughter.

“Your Majesty, have you finished your business?”

Philomell asked with a bright smile.

“Yes. Let’s return now.”

The Emperor, who had no interest in banquets, disappeared as soon as the ball began, as was his custom.

He likely had important behind-the-scenes conversations with high-ranking nobles, including Duke Averdeen. In the meantime, Princess Philomell was left to engage with the many nobles in the hall.

The Princess, who had been following the Emperor, turned to bid farewell to the remaining guests.

“I hope everyone enjoys the rest of the evening.”

A flawless greeting.

Princess Philomell left the ballroom with her usual elegant and upright bearing.

The Emperor’s carriage, on its return to the palace, was filled with Philomell’s clear, quiet voice.

“I heard that Countess Lousan’s health has improved significantly. It seems the medicine that worked in Elita [a neighboring country] was effective this time as well. Epidemics are reportedly spreading in the southern part of the Empire, near Elita, so shouldn’t we send a supply of the medicine?”

“I see. I will instruct the relevant departments tomorrow.”

Philomell selected and summarized the information she had gathered while Eustis was away.

From social tidbits, such as Marquis So-and-so having a late-in-life daughter, to political and diplomatic rumors that Count So-and-so was planning to marry his son to a foreign ambassador.

The information was diverse, but anything deemed unnecessary for the Emperor’s attention was omitted. If the importance was unclear, she would provide a brief summary.

It took considerable effort to master this seemingly simple task.

When she finished her report, Eustis fixed his deep blue eyes on Philomell.

“Good work.”

It was his usual compliment.

“Thank you.”

Philomell replied in kind.

In recent years, her relationship with Eustis had flourished. They spent time together frequently, sharing meals or tea. Usually, she initiated these gatherings, but sometimes the Emperor would inquire about her availability first.

Philomell always tried to maintain a delicate balance, feeling as though she were walking on a cliff edge – not too distant as to be forgotten, yet not so close as to be a nuisance.

The boundaries were clear. Philomell, not being a blood relative, could never be a beloved daughter like Ellensia.

However, through relentless effort, she had become a child recognized in her own right.

“Come to think of it, your birthday is approaching.”

She hadn’t expected him to remember, but Eustis brought it up first. Perhaps Count Polan had reminded him.

“Is there anything you desire as a gift?”

Finally, the moment had arrived.

Philomell swallowed, anticipating the question. It was time to set her long-planned scheme into motion.

She couldn’t appear too eager, so she began with a token refusal.

“A gift? You don’t need to give me one every year. The ring you gave me last time is more than enough.”

Philomell extended her right hand.

The red jewel on her middle finger displayed its brilliant color. Upon closer inspection, it seemed as if flames were burning within the gem.

The Ring of Red Flames was a crucial element in Philomell’s escape plan.

Last birthday, Eustis had gifted Philomell the ring as promised.

“Besides that.”

The expected response came.

“If you insist…”

The words were on the tip of her tongue, but she deliberately paused.

“Rather than something I want, I would like Your Majesty to grant me a request.”

“What is it?”

“Regarding the Yutina Palace…”

“Yutina Palace? You used to visit there often. I understand. I’ll give it to you as a gift.”

“No! That’s not it.”

She stopped the impatient Emperor before he actually gifted her the palace. What could she possibly do with such a grand gift? She couldn’t exactly pack it with her when she fled.

“Then what is it?”

Philomell paused for a moment and then spoke with feigned shyness.

“I would like to go on a spring outing to the palace with Your Majesty this time.”

“With me…?”

Eustis’s eyes widened slightly.

She had requested meals and tea together, but this was the first time she had asked him to accompany her on a trip lasting several days.

“It’s alright if you’re busy! I can go alone.”

Philomell lowered her gaze.

“I just… the scenery I witnessed during my last visit to the palace was so breathtaking that I wanted to share it with Your Majesty someday.”

Her voice softened.

“I was thinking that we’ve never taken a trip together…”

She needed to create an atmosphere that would be difficult to refuse.

“…But it’s probably impossible, right?”

She wasn’t certain.

Philomell’s birthday coincided with the anniversary of Empress Isabella’s death during childbirth. Every year, as this date approached, the Emperor’s mood plummeted. Count Polan always delivered Philomell’s birthday present in his stead.

However, there was a chance he might accept. Lately, he had been acting as a protector of sorts, and he wasn’t one to go back on his word.

‘Please say yes! Please say you’ll go!’

Her heart pounded as she watched Eustis open his mouth.

“…I didn’t say it was impossible. Let’s go together.”

“Really? Thank you! I’m so happy!”

“Are you that happy?”

“Ah. I apologize. I was simply overjoyed.”

She thought she had grown accustomed to concealing her emotions, but she seemed excited as the plan neared fruition.

“There’s no need to apologize. However, there is a scheduled political affairs meeting that day.”

That was right. A political affairs meeting was scheduled for Philomell’s birthday. Philomell, who had recently begun participating in political affairs, was aware of this.

“It’s fine. We can go on the outing after the political affairs meeting. The scenery won’t disappear if we go a day or two later.”

The exact date wasn’t the primary concern; it was getting Eustis to Yutina. She hadn’t expected Eustis to go on an outing on his late wife’s anniversary.

“If we do that, your birthday will pass.”

“Yes? Ah, that’s true. But national affairs are more important than that…”

Eustis frowned at Philomell’s words.

Had she said something wrong?

Even upon reviewing the conversation, nothing seemed amiss.

Regardless of other matters, the diplomatic issues surrounding trade needed to be discussed with the ministers as soon as the envoy from Elita arrived.

That meant the meeting schedule couldn’t be altered. Therefore, the outing should be postponed. Besides, he likely wanted to avoid his wife’s anniversary…

“We’ll hold the political affairs meeting at the palace.”

“…Yes?”

“I’ll instruct the envoy from Elita to come to Yutina as well. Considering their departure from the port, the distance will be similar either way.”

…Why would he go to such lengths?

Philomell first addressed the most questionable aspect.

“What about the ministers?”

The Emperor couldn’t conduct the political affairs meeting alone, and simply changing the envoy’s destination wouldn’t suffice.

“Of course, they have to follow.”

The Emperor answered calmly, as if wondering why she would ask such an obvious question.

“You mean the ministers will follow to Yutina…?”

“Yes.”

Oh my god. He was going to drag them all along.

Since the ministers were also nobles, they couldn’t possibly arrive empty-handed. How many secretaries and servants would they bring?

A large procession heading to Yutina formed in her mind.

‘Isn’t this more of an official trip than an outing?’

“…Wouldn’t that be too complicated?”

“We only need to bring the ministers involved in diplomacy. It’s not as if the palace lacks rooms; it has ample space to accommodate the ministers and their staff.”

She knew all too well that Yutina Palace was unnecessarily large, having visited it for several years.

Philomell, feeling a headache coming on, attempted to argue but stopped herself.

The important thing was that Eustis had agreed to go to Yutina. Even though the process was absurd and irrational, there was no need to resist.

“Yes. Let’s do that. This outing seems like it will be quite the event.”

“I’ll send the gnats back as soon as the meeting concludes.”

“You don’t have to go that far… The more people who offer birthday wishes, the better.”

“It’s a nuisance.”

She felt a twinge of sympathy for the ministers who would follow her to the palace solely to attend a meeting and be treated as unwanted guests.

But what could she do? The Emperor they served was so capricious.

Come to think of it, the presence of a crowd might actually aid her plan.

Why Eustis stubbornly insisted on celebrating Philomell’s birthday…

She decided to let it go. She would simply assume he was the type to give birthday presents on the exact day, no matter what.

Philomell tried to suppress her emotions and turned to look out the carriage window.