There Is No Place For Fakes [EN]: Chapter 26

* * *

After leaving the Magic Tower and returning to her lodgings in Angelium, Philomell lay down on the old bed. It was long past lunchtime, but she had no appetite.

Various thoughts swirled in her head: biological father, experiment, failure, brother, wanted poster, escape…

Philomell closed her eyes, trying to fall asleep as if fleeing from reality.

Hunger woke her from her light slumber.

She checked the clock and realized it was already dinner time. She had skipped lunch and slept straight through.

“I’m hungry…”

Even in sorrow, hunger came without fail.

Philomell barely managed to lift her heavy body. If she wanted to continue living this way, she had to put something in her stomach.

She went down to the lodging’s dining hall and ate warm bread and soup, which gave her a little energy. Her mind also began to clear slightly.

A child born of an experiment.

Hearing the story of her birth for the first time was shocking. Who knew that ‘Philomell,’ a mere minor villain in the novel, had such a backstory?

Once she knew the circumstances, the pieces of the puzzle began to fit together.

A woman who was kicked out of the Imperial Palace and returned to her hometown, and a promising magician.

She couldn’t understand how these two people were connected, but they were experimenter and subject.

Also, Elencia’s childhood, as described in the early part of the novel, didn’t feel like she was struggling with poverty.

Their standard of living, which she had actually seen a few days ago, was also decent. Neither Katrin nor Elencia was seen working to make a living.

The compensation Katrin received for participating in the experiment solved all the questions.

Until now, she had thought that Katrin’s parents, though estranged, sent money because they pitied their daughter’s situation.

“Haa…”

It wasn’t that she particularly wanted her biological parents to be a loving couple. Still, it felt strange to know that she was born purely out of necessity.

Neither Katrin nor Le Guin wanted her. Unlike Elencia, who was loved by everyone, even the love of her biological parents was not allowed for her.

She was at a loss as to what to do in the future.

Logically, it was better to accept Lexion’s offer. Living under the same roof as Le Guin was unpleasant, but the Magic Tower as a haven was attractive.

The Magic Tower was huge, so if she avoided Le Guin, she might not run into him.

In fact, even if she left for a foreign country as originally planned, there was no clear way to make a living.

She thought about becoming a teacher, utilizing the various knowledge she had learned as a successor. She vaguely imagined a future, thinking, ‘A tutor for a noble family wouldn’t be bad.’

However, the search operation to find Philomell was more thorough than expected.

‘At this rate, it won’t be easy to get a disguised identity or get on a ship to a foreign country.’

Even if she safely went abroad, she would have to hide her identity, constantly anxious.

‘When will Eustis stop looking for me?’

She hoped that he would be so happy to meet his real daughter that he would quickly forget about Philomell.

Even as she wished for that, the image of the two daughters being affectionate made her fingertips turn cold.

Philomell rubbed her fingertips to warm them and suddenly looked at the Ring of Crimson Flame.

“I need to return this soon…”

However, she couldn’t give up the ring until her safety was completely guaranteed. Moreover, the light inside the jewel was clearly dimming compared to the beginning.

It was only a matter of time before the divine power in the ring ran out.

The ring was made for the emperor and his successors, and it was said to have defensive magic and detoxification abilities in addition to the functions Philomell used.

It was said to protect the wearer’s life in the event of a major mishap.

The current emperor was so strong that he didn’t wear the ring, but Philomell had been wearing it since she received it.

The divine power of the Sun God possessed by the Bellerophontes imperial family was the only power source for the ring. Therefore, unless she met a member of the imperial family who was lucky enough to help Philomell, it would be impossible to continue using the ring.

Philomell left the remaining meal and got up, asking the owner for directions.

“Excuse me. Where is a famous magic tool shop around here?”

After hearing the general location, she left the restaurant and walked through the dark streets.

Her plan was to first find out if there was anything that could replace the ring. She would think about the rest later.

‘It’s okay. I’ve been alone from the beginning anyway. Nothing changes.’

She could and had to do well on her own in the future, just like she had until now.

Philomell felt lonely even among the crowds of people and consciously repeated it.

* * *

Rosanne was the only daughter of Baron Manon, with a confident personality and pretty looks.

However, she preferred to introduce herself as the niece of Duchess Muriel rather than Miss Manon.

The Manon family was a well-known noble family in Saizen, but at best, they were just local nobles. They didn’t have a mansion in the capital, and they couldn’t even set foot in the social circles of the central nobles.

On the other hand, the name of the Muriel ducal family, a famous noble family recognized in the capital, was enough to satisfy her vanity.

But her pathetic situation of not even being able to reveal her name properly would end today.

Her father, Baron Manon, had finally established a foothold in the central political world after much effort.

In a few days, she would move into a house purchased in the capital at great expense.

Rosanne’s central social life was about to begin with a splendid curtain.

Rosanne had been spending busy days recently because of that. She needed careful preparation to avoid being ignored by the proud noble ladies of the capital.

The reason she personally moved her steps to the remote Angelium of the empire today was also for that.

“I don’t like any of them. Bring me others.”

At Rosanne’s words, the clerk hurried inside the store.

“Miss, they all look pretty to me. Oh! Look at that sparkling thing.”

Rosanne’s maids were busy looking at the charms displayed in the display case.

Rosanne snapped.

“What do you know? You have no taste! Don’t say unnecessary things and hold my dress so it doesn’t drag on the floor.”

The two maids shut their mouths and focused on the hem of the dress again.

Not long ago, Rosanne received information from her cousin, the Muriel Duchess, that decorating necklaces and bracelets with magic charms was the latest trend in central social circles.

It was only natural that Rosanne, who couldn’t stand anything that wasn’t the best, had come to Angelium.

There was a magic tool shop in Saizen, but it couldn’t be compared to the shops in the magic city of Angelium in terms of product variety and reliability.

There was one thing she didn’t like…

Rosanne glared at the woman across the store.

The woman in commoner’s clothes was asking another clerk something.

The clerk guided her with a troubled voice.

“I’m sorry, but we can only sell disguise magic tools or aura-erasing magic tools with the permission of the state. There is a high possibility of them being misused for crime.”

It didn’t seem like she was looking for anything, but the woman stayed in the store longer.

‘I have to shop in the same place as a commoner!’

Rosanne’s mood soured.

Angelium was recognized as a city thanks to its geographical importance adjacent to the Magic Tower, but the scale itself was between a large village and a city.

Because of that, there were no luxury stores that only accepted nobles as customers or were separated from the commoner area.

Besides, judging by the fact that she was looking for such suspicious magic tools, that woman must be a shady person.

Rosanne looked closely at the woman’s face. It was an unremarkable appearance that she would forget as soon as she turned around. For some reason, she lost interest in an instant.

“Young lady! I brought other charms.”

Now that the clerk had returned, Rosanne’s eyes, who was about to return to her original purpose, caught a glimpse of a sparkling red light. It was the ring worn by the commoner woman.

Rosanne, who was interested in collecting jewelry, could tell.

The jewel of the ring had a different luster from rubies and garnets, but it didn’t look like a cheap imitation. It was definitely not something a commoner should possess.

‘She must have stolen it.’

Lower-class people who steal valuables from nobles were always one of the biggest headaches.

Rosanne was the type she couldn’t forgive the most. Those who didn’t know their place and coveted things beyond their means.

Rosanne walked over, not caring if her dress was dragging, and grabbed the woman’s hand.

“Ouch! What… what’s going on?”

Even while frowning at the rough touch, the woman replied with dignity. As if she were a noble.

She must think she’s a noble too because she works as a maid in a noble family.

“Girls! Hold this!”

The maids quickly grabbed the woman’s arms and body.

“Let go of me! At least tell me why you’re doing this…”

“Stay still!”

“No!”

Rosanne grabbed the ring with her finger, and the woman struggled violently, but it was not enough to break free.

Eventually, the ring came off the woman’s hand.

Rosanne carefully put it in her handbag and looked at the woman with the intention of scolding her.

“Huh?”

The woman’s face, which had been blurry until just now, looked different.

The slender face line, slightly raised eyes, and harmonious features looked good. But apart from being a considerable beauty, it was a face that gave her a sense of déjà vu [a feeling of having already experienced the present situation].

She had seen it somewhere. Recently, quite frequently.

It was a face that was on the news every day and plastered on every wall.

“Phi, Princess Philomell!”

At Rosanne’s shout, all the eyes in the store were focused on one place.

“…You’ve mistaken me for someone else.”

The woman lowered her head as if trying to cover her face, but Rosanne was sure. The fraud of the century who had impersonated the princess for more than ten years, the fake princess.

“Hey! Report to the security forces quickly!”

Rosanne urged the clerk, who had been out of her mind, to call the security forces.

The woman denied it so desperately that it was pitiful.

“Miss! Please let me go! I just look alike, I’m not that woman!”

Rosanne was not the type to be lenient because of that.

“What do you mean you’re not? How can your shameless face be so similar?”

“I really look alike…”

Slap!

Rosanne slapped the wicked woman’s cheek with all her might.

“How dare you talk back so presumptuously. Do you still think you’re a princess?”

The woman, with one cheek reddened and her head turned, became silent.

“I’m holding back because I want to kill you on the spot right now.”

The type of person Rosanne hated the most was those who coveted things beyond their means. This woman, who had lived as a princess with a fake identity, was the pinnacle of such people.

As soon as she said she had caught the fake princess, the security forces arrived in an instant and handed the woman over.

And she followed her to the security office and made a special request to the security chief to make a promise: to tell His Majesty the Emperor and the real Princess that Rosanne Manon’s contribution was the greatest in catching Philomell.

She wanted to wait until a high-ranking official came to escort Philomell and report it herself. But when she saw the dirty interior of the security office, she lost all desire to do so.

Rosanne got into the carriage heading home with an excited heart.

Thanks to the stupid woman, she had something to brag about to the socialites. Furthermore, she seemed to be able to build a friendship with the real princess as an opportunity.

Baron Manon had been urging her to build a friendship with the princess as soon as she entered the central social circles.

“I’m really lucky.”

Rosanne hummed the words she had often said since before.