There Is No Place For Fakes [EN]: Chapter 47

No Place for a Fake – Episode 47

“……Philomel?”

When Philomel didn’t respond, Eustis called her name with an anxious voice.

“…….”

Philomel bit her lip, unable to say anything.

*Thump, thump.* Her heart beat strongly.

It was strange. She had received an apology, but she didn’t feel good. But it wasn’t bad either.

‘What’s the point of getting an apology?’

Nothing would change anyway.

In fact, it wasn’t just Eustis’s fault. Wasn’t it true that she wasn’t his biological daughter? Eustis was also a victim.

“Don’t blame yourself too much. I don’t feel comfortable when Your Majesty does that.”

Philomel continued in a light tone, as if she was okay.

“Of course, well… I resented Your Majesty a little back then… It’s hard to say I don’t now… But looking back, I think it was a natural progression.”

“A natural progression?”

“It’s inevitable that you couldn’t love me because I’m not Your Majesty’s biological daughter.”

“…….”

“…….”

Silence fell between the two.

“…I abandoned you even knowing you were my biological daughter.”

After a long time, Eustis spoke again.

“You must have sensed it instinctively. I didn’t resemble the Empress at all from the beginning.”

“It has nothing to do with that.”

“It does. It’s only natural that Your Majesty didn’t give me affection.”

“No! Although it was like that when you were young… I consider you my daughter now. You are my daughter.”

‘Again, that word.’

Philomel sneered.

It seemed like she had to clear up the misunderstanding this time.

“You’re mistaken.”

An amazingly firm tone popped out, even surprising herself.

“What?”

“You’ve just grown fond of me because we’ve spent years together. But that feeling isn’t affection for a daughter.”

Philomel could be sure.

It wasn’t affection. It was just that she had become accustomed to the actions she had taken to win his favor.

‘He’s mistaking it for affection.’

Because she had read how that man treated ‘Philomel’ in .

Of course, she had some doubts about the truthfulness of the book now.

“My feelings are a mistake…?”

Eustis muttered with a shocked face.

Because he looked so confused, Philomel said soothingly.

“Now that Elencia is by Your Majesty’s side, you’ll gradually understand what a real daughter is and what a family is.”

Of course, not all families with blood ties get along harmoniously.

Even she herself wasn’t confident in getting along with her biological parents. But Eustis and Elencia were likely to be different. Their family was originally a relationship made of love.

The Emperor and Empress loved each other and formed a marital bond, and they had a child out of love. Even if the other contents of the book were false, this was a definite truth.

“And I don’t think the relationship between Your Majesty and me is a matter of forgiving or not.”

It meant that forgiving was useless.

If she forgave? Would they go back to how they were before, just looking good on the outside?

If she didn’t forgive? Would she take revenge on him for being separated from his daughter by her biological mother?

So this issue was over. And her relationship with him was over too.

“Forget all the good and resentful things.”

“Philomel…….”

“It’s right for us to forget everything and go our separate ways. Well, someone else like Countess Delles can take on the role of my guardian, so you don’t have to bother, Your Majesty.”

“…….”

“…….”

A boundary-like silence flowed between the two. It was a distance that would never be narrowed.

‘Originally, I was going to say goodbye neatly like this…’

Philomel hesitated for a moment and opened her mouth.

“But… If you still feel sorry for me or have good feelings left, would you grant me a favor?”

Eustis raised his head sharply and looked at Philomel.

“What is it? Tell me anything.”

“I’m going to try to live on my own now. But I’m a bit clueless about what to do right now. I don’t even have a place to stay.”

On the way to the office, she kept thinking about a suitable excuse to stay in the Imperial Palace, but this was all she could come up with.

“Countess Delles said it would be okay to stay at the Delles estate… but I’m too sorry. After all, the Countess still tends to treat me like a princess.”

Philomel carefully continued, watching the Emperor’s reaction.

“If it’s okay with you, can I stay in the Imperial Palace a little longer? If you give me a place in the servants’ quarters, I’ll use it cleanly.”

Philomel added, worried that she might seem to be seriously considering the Emperor’s offer to be registered as his daughter.

“Of course, only until I find a way to make a living. I won’t bother you for long.”

She would leave without delay once the questions about Elencia and the book were resolved.

“You can stay as long as you want. But I can’t allow you to stay in the servants’ quarters.”

Eustis opened his mouth with a firm expression.

“Then where…?”

The West Palace, which Philomel was currently using, was a residence for the heir. But now that it was revealed that she wasn’t a real princess, she had to give it to Elencia.

“I’ll have the South Palace prepared, so stay there.”

‘The South Palace?’

Philomel tilted her head.

The South Palace was a lodging provided to visiting state guests.

“But it doesn’t make sense for me, who is not a state guest, to stay in the South Palace.”

The South Palace’s state guest house was usually only opened when foreign royalty or high-ranking nobles came.

It even boasted high standards, to the point where they would give a regular room instead of the South Palace’s state guest house if the country’s power was weak.

“Why aren’t you a state guest?”

“Well, I’m not a princess anymore…”

“Even if you don’t want to be my daughter, I have no intention of abandoning the favor I owe you.”

“…Favor?”

“You are the benefactor who found Elencia for me. You found her when she was about to live buried in the countryside for the rest of her life. If it weren’t for you, I would have lived my whole life without even knowing Elencia’s existence.”

Words flowed from the Emperor’s mouth without hesitation. It was as eloquent as if he had prepared it in advance.

“Besides, since you are not my daughter, she is the Emperor’s only child and heir. I, as well as the Empire, owe you a debt that cannot be easily repaid.”

Was that how it was going to be?

A benefactor.

She had never thought of it that way, so she was flustered. She had lived her whole life as a sinner, even though no one blamed her.

The Emperor spoke without hesitation.

“It would be a disgrace to the Vellerop Imperial Family if we passed this by without rewarding you. Everyone would curse me as being worse than a beast. Are you going to make me worse than a beast?”

“No, that’s, well…”

Listening to Eustis’s words, it somehow became difficult to refuse.

From some point on, she was caught up in it.

In fact, it was also beneficial for Philomel to use a larger room if possible. If she was alone, a loft would be fine, but with her biological father in disguise as a cat, she needed a separate space.

After listening to a lengthy persuasion, Philomel finally accepted his offer.

“…Then I’ll ask you to prepare the South Palace.”

Thus, Philomel decided to stay at the South Palace’s state guest house until she wanted to leave.

It was clearly a decision that would attract attention from others… but that was something she had prepared for from the moment she decided to stay in the Imperial Palace.

After that, Philomel requested that the captured palace people be released.

The Emperor was reluctant, but he promised to do so.

After that, there was a conversation about other matters related to staying in the South Palace. In many ways, their opinions differed, but most of them were decided in the direction Philomel wanted.

“Philomel.”

Just as she was about to leave the office, a serious call stopped her.

“I’m going to consider this a kind of opportunity.”

“Yes?”

“I will definitely prove that what I said is not a lie.”

So I hope you’ll reconsider when that time comes.

Although it was just a guess, that’s what he seemed to be saying.

“…I’ll be on my way.”

Philomel left the room without saying anything.

‘I’ve done enough.’

It wasn’t her fault if the Emperor had vain expectations.

He’ll probably give up soon.

“Oh, Philomel. Are you coming from seeing Dad?”

As soon as she came out of the office, Philomel ran into Elencia. She seemed to be on her way to see Eustis.

“Yes. I have finished discussing the adoption proposal you made earlier.”

Philomel said, bowing to Elencia.

“How did it go? Did you decide to be adopted?”

Elencia asked, her eyes sparkling. She seemed to have a lot of interest in her adoption.

“No. I’m sorry to His Majesty, but I refused.”

“That’s… Why? I wanted to be with Philomel more…”

Well-shaped golden eyebrows drooped. Looking at her face stained with disappointment, Philomel wondered if it was really sincere.

I want to know what kind of person Elencia is.

“It’s not the right place for me. But don’t be too sad.”

Elencia’s blue eyes were filled with doubt.

“Although I declined the adoption, I have decided to stay in the Imperial Palace for the time being. His Majesty the Emperor has thankfully decided to give me the state guest house in the South Palace.”

In an instant, her expression crumbled. All that remained was a blank canvas-like pale face.

“I’m so happy to be able to continue seeing the Princess who cares so much about me. You’re happy too, right?”

Philomel didn’t know exactly what kind of person Elencia was yet, but looking at that face, she was sure.

She doesn’t welcome Philomel staying here.