There Is No Place For Fakes [EN]: Chapter 177

Side Story 2: Eustice’s Recollection

One afternoon, in the Imperial Palace of the Vellerov Empire.

“Your Majesty, please take a rest.”

The Emperor of the Empire, Eustice, sitting at his desk in the office, responded indifferently to his secretary’s words.

“No need. I still have a lot of work to do.”

“That won’t do. Please rest. That’s an order.”

When Count Polan snatched the documents from the desk, Eustice frowned in disbelief.

“I sent you to rest because you were sick, and you came back with nothing but audacity.”

The secretary, who would have shown embarrassment in the past, nonchalantly brushed it off.

“Yes, I am audacious. The doctor said my illness was caused by too much accumulation inside. So, I plan to no longer accumulate and instead, voice things out as they come.”

“If that’s the case, why don’t you just resign and take care of your health at home?”

“The doctor said that as long as I don’t overdo it, working will bring vitality to my daily life and be good for my health.”

“Shall I force you to rest with my authority?”

“Feel free to try. If Your Majesty has the patience to wait for a new secretary to adapt to the job, that is.”

“…Tch, you never back down.”

Although it was a very presumptuous remark, it wasn’t entirely unfounded arrogance.

Having worked together for so long, Eustice had to endure considerable inconvenience during Polan’s absence over the past few months.

Unfortunately, it was also a time when misfortunes piled up on him, such as the disappearance of the intruder who had taken over Elencia’s body and Philomell leaving after learning the truth.

Eustice overworked himself more than necessary to escape from misfortune, and Polan’s replacement couldn’t dare to dissuade the Emperor.

It was truly a moment that revealed the true value of Polan’s existence.

So much so that before parting ways at the Great Temple after the advance party’s attack was resolved, Philomell had earnestly requested.

“The best person to assist His Majesty is still Count Polan. When his illness is completely cured, try to persuade him to return somehow. But don’t force him.”

Fortunately, or perhaps not, Polan heard about the catastrophe that occurred at the Great Temple before Eustice could even contact him, and he rushed back to the Imperial Palace.

He has accumulated enough wealth, and he could live comfortably if he wanted to. What a foolish fellow.

“Your Majesty?”

Count Polan looked at Eustice with a puzzled expression when he remained silent for a while.

“Did you perhaps just smile?”

“I didn’t smile. Never mind, just hand over the documents.”

“No, you must rest.”

He showed no signs of backing down. Eustice, who would have been furious in the past but was now somewhat different, stood up instead.

“Then I suppose I should move my body.”

“Yes? Please get some rest!”

“Didn’t that doctor say that moderate exercise is also good for the body?”

“Your Majesty already moves enough. Therefore, pure rest is necessary.”

“Quiet.”

As the Emperor was about to ignore his loyal subject’s advice and head to the private training ground, a servant’s voice was heard from outside.

“Your Majesty, Princess Elencia requests an audience.”

Count Polan smiled slyly at the appearance of reinforcements, pointing to the sofa.

“Please, have a seat. I will order refreshments for both of you.”

Although his daughter’s visit was welcome, he was displeased with Polan’s triumphant face, so Eustice clicked his tongue briefly and sat down.

“Come in.”

Soon, Elencia entered the office.

“Oh my, am I perhaps disturbing you while you are attending to state affairs?”

“Not at all. His Majesty was just about to take a break.”

The Princess, seemingly relieved by Polan’s answer, paid her respects to her father.

“Father, Your Majesty, have you been well?”

“I saw you yesterday, what is this. Besides, I told you that you can be comfortable when it’s just us.”

“I can’t do that now that I am a princess.”

Recently, Elencia had been paying more attention to things like the dignity of royalty.

The way she used to call Eustice ‘Daddy’ had changed to ‘Father’ at some point, and now it was ‘Father, Your Majesty.’

Also, Polan had previously said this.

“I heard from the teachers that the Princess is also passionately engaged in heir education.”

Eustice knew why his daughter was doing that. It was all for him.

“By the way, how is your health?”

As if to prove it, Elencia looked at her father with worried eyes.

The Emperor and the Emperor’s secretary gave different answers to that question.

“I’m perfectly fine. Don’t worry.”

“Your Highness, please say something. Please tell him to get some rest.”

Eustice glared sharply, and Count Polan hurriedly avoided his gaze.

“You shouldn’t do that. You need to take care of your health.”

Elencia’s face was filled with worry.

“I told you, my body is fine.”

“But that thing happened.”

“Originally, the Vellerov imperial family has always had strong bodies and long lifespans.”

“…Yes.”

Although she answered that way, Elencia didn’t seem to believe his words at all, so Eustice sighed inwardly.

To be honest, his physical abilities were not the same as before.

Even when handling a similar amount of work, he got tired earlier than before, and his joints ached on rainy days.

His digestive system had also weakened, and he felt bloated if he didn’t move his body.

These changes occurred after he paid the price of lifespan to contain the Sun God in his body that day at the Great Temple.

Well, considering it was the price for stopping the Evil God’s scheme, isn’t this a small price to pay?

Although it was somewhat uncomfortable, it didn’t significantly interfere with his daily life, and it didn’t seem like he would collapse and die within a few years.

However, others thought differently.

Polan constantly nagged him to take care of his health, and Elencia frequently visited the Emperor’s office to check on his condition.

Even Philomell, who was far away, always asked about his well-being when exchanging letters and communications.

In fact, the reason why Elencia had been making strenuous efforts to become a successor recognized by everyone was also because of that. To quickly inherit the throne and relieve her father’s burden.

Like Philomell, she was an excessively kind child to Eustice.

Frankly speaking, there was still an awkward atmosphere between the two.

It had only been half a year since he first met the real Elencia, not the intruder.

Of course, they were quite close compared to the beginning, but it was difficult to make up for the long years they had lived apart in just half a year.

The two were currently in the process of becoming a family.

Eustice, who had always been awkward in relationships, often worried about how to treat his daughter, who still felt somewhat unfamiliar.

Especially when Elencia made such a distressed expression because of him, how should he comfort her?

While he was absorbed in the unsolved problem, the refreshments prepared by Polan arrived.

Thanks to that, Elencia’s face, who liked sweet desserts, brightened up a bit.

“Here, eat.”

“Yes!”

Elencia, who had reflexively answered brightly, coughed briefly and then spoke earnestly.

“F, Father, Your Majesty, please eat first.”

“Alright.”

Eustice smiled slightly and was about to pick up his teacup.

“……”

But suddenly, the sight of the maid who brought the refreshments pouring tea into his cup and Elencia’s cup from different teapots caught his eye.

“Polan.”

At Eustice’s call, Count Polan calmly explained the reason.

“Your Majesty must drink the special medicinal tea.”

“Special medicinal tea, you say…?”

“Yes, it is the Mandragora tea that Lady Philomell sent especially thinking of Your Majesty.”

At those words, Eustice frowned.

Of course, he was grateful for Philomell’s heart. When Philomell obtained the rare Mandragora [a plant with magical properties] from her own father, which was also used as an ingredient in panaceas [a remedy believed to cure all diseases], and made medicinal tea to send to him, his eyes welled up.

However, there was one problem….

“Here, it’s not hot, so drink it all in one gulp.”

As Polan said that and offered the medicinal tea, a strange and indescribable smell wafted from it.

Even though this tea was mixed with the fruit juice of the World Tree, unlike the Sansalcho tea that Philomell used to bring him often in the past, the taste was also terrible.

It was a taste that even Eustice, who usually didn’t picky about food, avoided.

“Your Majesty, it is Philomell’s sincerity.”

But he couldn’t say he wouldn’t drink it after hearing those words.

The Emperor closed his eyes tightly, poured the tea into his mouth, and then gulped down the plain water prepared next to him.

Even after rinsing his mouth with sweet pastries, the bitterness that remained on his tongue did not easily disappear.

Elencia, who put her hand on his cheek, asked.

“Is it that bad?”

“Yes, that Master of the Magic Tower must have deliberately told her to make it like this. To make fun of me.”

Philomell stated in her letter that he had also helped in making the medicinal tea.

There was no way that a human who disliked Eustice would have kindly considered the taste.

The fact that Eustice experienced a definite effect after drinking it was quite surprising to him.

Seeing that his body was energized, it seemed that he was not deceiving his daughter.

Suddenly, a chuckle was heard.

“I’ve been thinking about it for a while, but it seems that Father, Your Majesty, doesn’t like that person very much.”

Eustice looked at Elencia and rested his chin on his hand.

“When you become Emperor in the future and have to communicate with the Magic Tower in various ways, you will know how difficult it is to deal with those magicians.”

At that time, Polan, who had been listening quietly, said, “Oh.”

“But didn’t Your Majesty dislike the current Master of the Magic Tower even before becoming Emperor?”

He rubbed his chin and recalled.

“That’s right. It’s an old story, so it’s hazy, but you definitely did. So, I thought Your Majesty had a personal acquaintance with the Master of the Magic Tower.”

“Oh my, is that so?”

“……”

In front of his daughter and vassal, who were expressing curiosity, Eustice closed his mouth.

In fact, Polan’s guess was correct. It was a fact that he had not even told Philomell, but he had met the Master of the Magic Tower a long time ago.

It was when Eustice was ten years old.