There Is No Place For Fakes [EN]: Chapter 32

“I told you, I’m not Your Majesty’s daughter. Your Majesty’s daughter is Ellensia.”

“Both you and Ellensia are my daughters.”

“No. Only Ellensia is Your Majesty’s daughter. The Empress gave birth to Ellensia, so…”

“Whether she gave birth or not is irrelevant. I have always considered you my daughter, and I will continue to do so.”

“Why is it irrelevant whether she gave birth or not? Ellensia is…”

“Even if we don’t share blood…”

After repeating similar questions and answers, only changing the words, Philomel realized that he was serious.

Justis had no reason to lie to Philomel. There was nothing to gain.

Yet, she couldn’t believe it, so she kept asking.

Now, even though her mouth hurt, she had to admit it. Nassar was right that the Emperor was looking for Philomel out of concern.

The Emperor said.

“So, I will adopt you. You are and will continue to be my daughter, and a Princess of the Vellerop Empire.”

“……I am grateful that you think of me as a daughter, but I do not wish to be adopted. Even if I am not guilty, I am the daughter of a sinner. I am not qualified to live as a Princess. It is already a great kindness that you do not hold me accountable…”

“You are qualified to be a Princess.”

“The ministers will object.”

“I guarantee it. No one will object.”

Justis glared as if he wouldn’t tolerate anyone who did.

‘That’s because they’re too scared of you to say it to your face!’

Philomel swallowed the words she almost spoke and turned her head.

“What does anyone else’s opinion matter when it comes to us forming a family? What matters is your will and mine.”

Justis continued to persuade her.

“……What about Ellensia? Would Ellensia want me to be her sister?”

Philomel quietly asked.

Becoming his family meant becoming family with Ellensia as well.

“……That child said she would like to get along with you if you came back.”

Only then did Justis answer calmly.

“Getting along and becoming family are different things.”

“I won’t force you two to have forced affection. I didn’t have that with my brothers either. And I promise I won’t treat you and Ellensia differently.”

Treating Ellensia and herself equally. It was so absurd that she almost laughed.

Why was he trying to win Philomel over by saying such ridiculous things?

Did he think she was worth it?

“Saying you’ll treat a fake daughter the same… Ellensia will be sad if she hears that.”

“Philomel, why do you keep worrying about other people’s reactions? As I’ve said before, you are overly conscious of others. Tell me your honest opinion.”

His expression clouded over when Philomel said nothing.

“……Do you perhaps not want to be adopted?”

Did she not want to?

She was flustered because she had never considered the situation.

The reason she had tried so hard to please him was to reassure everyone before running away, and to receive a lighter punishment if caught.

She never expected that she could become his daughter by trying.

His daughter was Ellensia, a position Philomel couldn’t dare to aspire to.

She asked herself.

Did she want to become Justis’s adopted daughter?

In fact, she was skeptical that the Emperor thought of her as a daughter. He might have mistaken a fondness for ‘someone who listens well and is quite likeable’ for affection towards a child.

The previous Emperor was a heartless father who pitted his children against each other to preserve his power, and the Imperial Palace at that time was a silent battlefield.

In , it says that Justis had never felt deep affection until he met his wife, Isabella.

He had just met Ellensia, so he might not be able to distinguish between familial affection and shallow fondness.

Still, looking at the results, she could save her life and not be imprisoned right away, so it might be good.

‘Okay. Let’s accept it.’

Accept it for now, and when the time comes that he is completely enamored with his real daughter and loses interest in his adopted daughter, leave this place again.

That was a rational decision. Philomel’s likes and dislikes didn’t matter.

Just as she concluded and was about to open her mouth to answer that she would accept the adoption.

“……I don’t want to.”

Different words than she thought came out of her mouth.

Philomel herself was the most surprised after speaking.

“I don’t want to be Your Majesty’s daughter.”

Another her shouted in her heart.

‘Are you crazy? What if he changes his mind and decides to kill you because you keep getting on his nerves? Just say you’ll accept it!’

But once the lid was opened, the things buried deep in her heart poured out.

Philomel couldn’t stop this flow. Instead, she named each of the emotional remnants she had only accumulated.

“I…… have never considered you my father since I came to my senses, and I have no memory of being treated like a daughter by you.”

As she spoke, she realized that she could no longer live like the past seven years.

“You told me you wished I would live as if I were dead. So, I just lived as if I were dead.”

You don’t have to live quietly to live as if you’re dead.

Philomel lived as if she were dead. Killing her emotions, wearing a mask, and leaving only the outer shell.

“Please don’t hold me back anymore, Your Majesty.”

Not father, but Your Majesty.

The word Your Majesty, which Philomel deliberately emphasized, echoed emptily.

Justis’s blue eyes flickered like a bonfire in a strong wind.

She had done it. The seven years she had worked so hard to gain his favor had turned to nothing in an instant. But she felt more relieved than worried or regretful.

Perhaps it was so shocking, but the Emperor’s face was distorted with shock. He probably never expected to be rejected, given his high pride.

Screech. The sound of a chair scraping.

Justis stood up abruptly and stood facing the wall with his back to Philomel.

‘Is he indicating that he doesn’t even want to see my face?’

Suddenly, he opened his mouth.

“……That time, that’s what you meant.”

He seemed to remember when Philomel was talking about.

It was a turning point in Philomel’s life, but it must have been just a passing remark to Justis.

“You’ve been holding it in.”

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry.”

For a moment, Philomel doubted if there was something wrong with her hearing.

Sorry? That Justis was apologizing?

“I was…… No. No matter what I say, it’s just an excuse.”

A strange conversation continued, one person looking at the wall and the other looking at the other’s back.

“I will formally apologize again later. And think about the adoption again.”

“I just refused……”

“One year.”

Suddenly, a specific period was presented.

“Even if you leave, wouldn’t you stay here for just one year before leaving? If you do that, I won’t stop you no matter where you go after one year. I am willing to support you as much as you want if there is something you want to do or a place you want to go.”

She was silent because she didn’t understand what he was saying, and the other person seemed to understand it differently.

“If you don’t like one year, how about ten months?”

“……?”

“……Eight months?”

“…….”

“Okay. Six months.”

“……Pardon?”

“No way. I can’t concede any more than that.”

“That’s not the problem……”

“Okay. Three months.”

It was a truly strange bargain.

“Anyway, take your time to rest and think about it.”

“Your Majesty. I……”

“You need rest first and foremost. I’ll leave you alone, so be comfortable.”

“About what I……”

“It’s much past mealtime. I’ll tell them to bring you a meal.”

Justis, who didn’t seem to want to hear Philomel’s answer, left the room at a fast pace, not even letting her speak.

It was uncharacteristic of him, who always moved slowly like a predator with prey in front of him.

“What does he mean by leaving from his own room……”

Philomel, who unintentionally ended up occupying the Emperor’s room, muttered in bewilderment.

Well. He didn’t seem angry, so he wouldn’t take her away right now. More than that, Justis’s absurd proposal bothered her. After the adoption talk, he suddenly wanted her to stay in the Imperial Palace.

‘Is he serious?’

No way. It must be just a trivial remark out of guilt.

Philomel tried to shake the Emperor’s back out of her head.