There Is No Place For Fakes [EN]: Chapter 153

<153>

“Oh, right.”

Philomel opened her eyes, remembering something she had forgotten.

‘Before I lose my mind completely…….’

She took out the object she had hidden in her sleeve and put it in her mouth. A strong fragrance spread inside.

‘I don’t know if it will help, but I have to try everything I can.’

Drowsiness washed over her. Soon after, Philomel’s consciousness sank into darkness.

* * *

Inside the wedding hall, in the audience seats.

“Umm…….”

Cardin, deep in thought, scratched his head.

“So, what was the thirteenth method again?”

“You idiot! How many times do I have to explain it for you to understand?”

Lexion gently scolded his younger brother for snapping at his second eldest brother.

“I understand how you feel, but please keep your voice down. We must be quiet indoors.”

Instead of his brothers, Nasarre kindly explained it once more.

“I heard that being poisoned by the Spotted Wyvern’s fang venom causes hallucinations.”

“Hallucinations?”

“……Painful memories. The Spotted Wyvern’s prey lose their minds to those memories, losing the strength to escape.”

Lexion continued the explanation.

“The victory in this trial goes to the one who overcomes their trauma faster.”

A shadow fell over Nasarre’s handsome face.

“To think that Philomel would have to see such things……. It’s for the sake of victory, but I don’t feel good about it.”

Lexion comforted him.

“Don’t worry too much. That child is quite strong-willed.”

“I know that well. Philomel has been meditating frequently in preparation for this trial.”

“She’s so diligent.”

Cardin, who had been listening to their conversation, tilted his head.

“Something’s strange…….”

“If you have something to say, say it clearly.”

At Jeremiah’s words, Cardin opened his heavy mouth.

“Actually, I once stole and ate the meat that Kyukyu was eating.”

“Are you crazy! Are you a monster? Why would you steal it?”

“Haha, it looked so delicious, I was just curious what it tasted like.”

Lexion made a disgusted face.

“Sometimes, I really want to deny that I have the same blood as you flowing through my veins.”

“Meow.”

The cat meowed briefly, as if in agreement.

Cardin continued, unconcerned by the reactions around him.

“But after eating a few bites of the meat, I started seeing strange things.”

Lexion adjusted his glasses.

“You were poisoned by Kyukyu’s fang venom that was on the meat.”

“Yeah. I just thought it was a dream back then, but now that I think about it, that’s probably what it was.”

“So? Do you have painful memories?”

“Well, it was…… really good.”

“What did you say?”

“It was good! In the hallucination, I fought fiercely with strong guys and ate delicious food until I was full.”

Cardin reminisced about the past with a face full of ecstasy.

“Wait, something’s strange.”

According to Cardin, what he saw was not a painful memory but a happy hallucination.

“Could it be…….”

Lexion scanned each person with a tense look.

“Could it be that because Kyukyu is a mixed-breed, there’s a difference in the venom’s composition?”

“Kyukyu is a mixed-breed?”

Nasarre asked.

“I vaguely remember hearing that it also has the blood of a regular Wyvern mixed in. I had forgotten because it just looks like a Spotted Wyvern.”

Lexion leaned down to the cat sitting on his shoulder and asked softly, “Right?”

The answer was clear just from the cat’s embarrassed expression.

Kyukyu was a mixed-breed, and Le Guin had forgotten that fact until now.

“Then being poisoned by Kyukyu’s venom would cause happy hallucinations.”

“Isn’t that a good thing?”

Cardin smiled brightly.

“It means Phil won’t see painful memories but good hallucinations.”

“It’s not that simple.”

Jeremiah’s expression hardened.

“Which would you be less likely to wake up from, a painful memory or a happy hallucination?”

“……Huh? Well, the happy one?”

“This competition is about who wakes up first.”

Lexion spoke in his stead.

“The happier the hallucination that child sees, the greater the chance of defeat.”

“Philomel…….”

Nasarre gazed in the direction where Philomel would be. Unfortunately, all he could do was pray.

* * *

Philomel opened her eyes, awakened by a floral scent coming from somewhere. It seemed she had dozed off.

“Wouldn’t it be better to go inside and take a nap if you’re sleepy?”

A voice came from across.

Philomel raised her head to identify the owner of the voice.

“Your Majesty……?”

It was Eustis.

Why was he here?

Philomel looked around. It was the Emperor’s office.

‘Wait, why am I……?’

Philomel tried to recall any memories, but her mind was hazy, as if shrouded in fog.

Eustis, who was sitting across the table from Philomel, wore a strange expression.

“Your Majesty? You seem to be still half-asleep.”

He got up from his seat and approached Philomel.

“Why aren’t you calling me Father like you usually do?”

Father?

But Philomel didn’t have time to dwell on her thoughts. Eustis suddenly picked her up.

“Put me down! I’m not a child……!”

The Emperor tilted his head as Philomel struggled.

“Isn’t nine years old a proper child?”

Nine years old?

Philomel looked down at her hands.

They were adorable. Her body was small enough to fit snugly in the Emperor’s arms.

Then, a clear and soft voice was heard.

“You two have a really good relationship.”

Blonde hair reaching her waist, eyes like the green of trees. Eustis said, looking at the beautiful woman.

“Isabella, isn’t nine years old a child?”

Isabella…….

‘Empress Isabella.’

The moment she saw her, Philomel was filled with surprise.

Whether Philomel did or not, the two began to converse.

“Why nine years old?”

“Philomel said she’s not a child when I picked her up.”

“Well, nine years old is still a child.”

“I see.”

“But it seems like it’s time to distance herself from her father.”

Eustis’s brow furrowed slightly at those words.

“……Why should she distance herself?”

“Eustis, parents must let go of their children when the time comes.”

“Even if it’s your words, I cannot agree with that sentiment.”

“Then are you going to keep her by your side forever?”

“Why not? Philomel will succeed me as Emperor. Even in the distant future, I will be by her side…….”

The Emperor’s words were cut short.

“Your Majesty, I apologize…….”

Because Count Polan came with a pile of work.

“Shall we go now?”

Isabella took Philomel’s hand and led her to the door.

“Now, let’s wave to your father who’s going to work hard.”

Philomel, in a daze, waved to Eustis sitting at his desk. He smiled and waved back.

In the palace corridor.

Philomel called out to the Empress, who was holding her hand tightly.

“Um, Your Majesty the Empress…….”

“Oh my, why all of a sudden?”

Isabella, meeting the child’s eye level, stared at Philomel.

“Are you going to distance yourself from me too? I hope you’ll keep calling me ‘Mother,’ even if you don’t call your father that.”

“Mother……?”

“Yes. I’m your mother. You’re my daughter.”

Philomel pondered those words.

Mother, mother, mother…….

At that moment, all the discomfort she had felt since earlier disappeared.

That’s right. This person is her mother, and the man she saw earlier is her father. And she is Philomel.

‘The scarlet princess of the Vellerop Empire, and the daughter of our parents.’

She belatedly remembered why she was in that place earlier.

‘That’s right. I went to see Father working!’

I must still be half-asleep. How could I be confused about such obvious facts?

“It’s okay not to act like an adult already.”

The Empress stroked Philomel’s hair and said kindly.

“Others may think differently, but I want to raise you normally.”

Somehow, she felt relieved. The feeling of the worries that had been weighing on her heart disappearing all at once.

Philomel felt her warm touch and replied.

“Yes, Mother!”

“You’re at an age to be spoiled to your heart’s content. You can think about difficult issues like the dignity of royalty later.”

That’s right. Philomel decided not to think about difficult issues anymore.