There Is No Place For Fakes [EN]: Chapter 5

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The next morning, Philomell’s nanny asked her with a troubled expression if anything unusual had happened the previous night.

“Anything unusual? Not really. Why? Did something happen?”

“…No, it’s nothing if nothing happened.”

‘Did something happen?’

As Philomell looked at her suspiciously, the nanny changed the subject.

“More importantly, His Majesty the Emperor has sent a World Tree fruit, which is said to be especially good for restoring energy.”

“…His Majesty?”

Philomell asked, widening her eyes.

“Yes. Please thank him when you see him next time. Why he would give such a precious thing for a mere cold is beyond me…”

The World Tree was a very sacred tree located in the center of the continent, and its fruit was especially known for its excellent restorative properties.

It was an elixir that could invigorate even an eighty-year-old, but to the Emperor of the Empire, it was just cold medicine.

A dozen or so fruits were offered as tribute every year, so it was no wonder. But it was unexpected that he gave it to Philomell.

If she hadn’t known anything, she would have been overjoyed, thinking it was her father’s love and concern.

But now, she only felt a dry sentiment: ‘Poland sent it in the Emperor’s name.’ [Here, ‘Poland’ likely refers to a person or entity within the Imperial court who handles such gifts.]

The Count’s heart was appreciated, but the favor was directed at the Emperor’s daughter, not Philomell.

Philomell replied matter-of-factly.

“Okay. Tell him I’m grateful for the excessive grace. Bring the fruit with the medicine.”

“Oh, is that all?”

“Why? Do you need anything else?”

“It’s nothing.”

The nanny seemed puzzled by the lukewarm response but immediately moved on to the next matter.

“Ah, and Young Master Averdeen has asked to visit you, hearing that the Princess is ill.”

Young Master Averdeen. It was about Nassar Averdeen, who was engaged to Philomell.

“Is that so?”

“He says he will visit when the Princess is feeling better. When should we schedule it?”

Thanks to taking a whole day off yesterday, Philomell’s physical condition wasn’t bad. Her cold symptoms had also subsided a lot.

“If possible, can you arrange it for this afternoon? But if he has other plans, I’ll have to see him tomorrow.”

Philomell replied, thinking of the boy standing in the rain.

Soon after, she received a reply from the Duke’s family that they would visit in the afternoon.

Philomell clenched the blanket, thinking of Nassar Averdeen’s neat face.

It was an opportunity to find out Nassar’s true feelings, as he was always kind to Philomell.

Philomell was horrified when she learned that her fiancé, Nassar, was the male protagonist who ends up with Elencia in the novel.

Not only her father and status but even her fiancé were being taken away.

In the novel, Nassar was bold, romantic, and devoted, like the male protagonist of a romance novel. Of course, only to the protagonist, Elencia.

None of it matched the Nassar that Philomell knew.

‘But he wasn’t mine in the first place…’

If a confrontation was unavoidable, it was better to get it over with at once. Dragging it out would only prolong the pain.

A few hours later, the appointed time arrived.

“Nassar, fix your expression. The Princess is about to arrive; are you really going to greet her with a sulky face?”

Philomell stopped just outside the private reception room, hearing the voice from within.

Philomell gestured to stop the maid who was about to announce her arrival.

Nassar and the Duke were chatting, assuming that Philomell would be late, as she usually was for appointments.

‘Until now, I was always late because I was worried about what to wear to impress Nassar, but…’

Now there was no need to do that, so she was simply dressed.

“But Father, I have an appointment today…”

“I know you’re upset that you can’t go to your appointment with your friends because you’re visiting the sick. But you have to fulfill your obligations. Have you forgotten who you are?”

“…I know very well.”

Nassar couldn’t say anything more and closed his mouth as the Duke quietly admonished him.

Philomell counted from one to ten in her head and then entered the reception room.

“It’s been a while, Your Highness. How is your health?”

The Duke greeted first, and Nassar also erased his childish expression from a moment ago and stood before Philomell.

“I couldn’t help but worry when I heard you were ill.”

“It’s been a while, Duke… and Nassar. My cold is almost gone. Thank you for your concern.”

The Duke finished the perfunctory conversation and left the room, saying he had to attend a meeting.

He didn’t forget to make eye contact with his son before leaving, conveying a silent pressure. It meant not to upset Philomell.

It was just like the Duke to be so thorough, even though he knew that the Princess was head over heels for his son.

After sitting down, facing the boy, Philomell began.

“Nassar.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

She remembered when she first saw Nassar.

Philomell had fallen in love at first sight with the handsome boy with a mature air about him.

His unchildlike personality and the mysterious aura created by his rare platinum blonde hair were attractive. Even his red eyes, which others called eerie, were to her liking.

So she was overjoyed that Nassar was her fiancé.

“Your Highness.”

“…”

“Your Highness, are you alright?”

“Ah, yes. I’m fine.”

Nassar looked at her with a worried face. She must have been lost in old memories for a moment.

“I’m worried that you’re overdoing it.”

Kind Nassar.

In the past, she had no doubt that his kindness came from the same heart as hers.

In fact, Nassar was kinder and more polite than anyone else around Philomell.

But after reading , those long-held beliefs began to crumble.

Philomell said his name again.

“Nassar.”

“Yes, please speak.”

“If I fully recover, would you like to go on a picnic with me somewhere?”

When the weather was nice, she would sometimes go out with him, carrying a food basket packed by the maids.

At best, it was just going to the hill within the Imperial Palace grounds with a lot of attendants, but it was Philomell’s favorite pastime.

“I would like that.”

Nassar nodded readily.

“Where shall we go for the picnic?”

“I’ll go wherever Your Highness wants to go.”

“Is there anywhere Nassar wants to go?”

“I’m happy to go anywhere with Your Highness.”

It was an impeccable attitude and answer.

“No, maybe a picnic isn’t suitable for this weather. It rained so heavily the other day that the founding festival was postponed. What do you think, Nassar?”

“Now that I think about it, Your Highness is right.”

“It would be nice to just have a picnic indoors while eating snacks.”

“Yes. That would be nice too.”

“My maid told me that there’s a pianist who’s a hot topic in social circles. It would be really great to invite that person and listen to the performance together.”

“I’ve heard of him too. I think it’s a good idea.”

Still impeccable, but just that.

‘Ah, Nassar doesn’t want to do anything with me.’

Philomell realized.

Nassar didn’t express his own opinion at all from beginning to end. He was just responding appropriately to Philomell’s opinions.

Before, she believed that this attitude of 맞춰주는 [matching] her every wish came from affection.

However, in the novel, Nassar was a man who was eager to do anything Elencia wanted before she even voiced it.

A man who was helplessly in love, just a normal man in love.

The reason why he could always be calm and polite in front of Philomell was…

Because he didn’t have even a fingernail’s worth of affection.

‘The reason he wanted to visit me today must have been the Duke’s will, not Nassar’s.’

Through the experiences of the past few days, the world around her was so clear to her bare eyes, with a layer of comfortable 착각 [illusion] peeled off.

“Then we will arrange for a performer on our side. When the Princess has recovered, if you give us a sign…”

“No.”

Philomell interrupted Nassar and stood up.

“Yes?”

Nassar looked at the Princess with a bewildered look.

“Let’s pretend that conversation never happened. Thank you for visiting me. I’m tired because my body hasn’t fully recovered yet, so please leave.”

Philomell tried to smile politely like Nassar and quickly blurted out the words she had been thinking.

“And you don’t have to come to the palace twice a week to be my playmate anymore.”

“What do you mean…”

“I’ve taken too much of your precious time. You must have your own schedule. From now on, feel free to spend time with other friends.”

“Please wait a moment. Did I offend Your Highness in any way? If so, I apologize. So please don’t be angry…”

“Not at all. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

Nassar was confused by Philomell’s attitude, which didn’t lose its smile.

“I’m just saying that I don’t have enough time to make other friends because I meet with you too often, even though we’re engaged. Don’t I need other female friends besides you?”

“…I understand.”

“Then goodbye.”

Philomell left the reception room, leaving Nassar with an uneasy face.

Philomell returned to her room and checked her expression in the mirror.

‘Did I smile properly, like Nassar, earlier?’

After practicing a few times, a plausible smile formed. It was the mask that Philomell would wear in the future.

Emulate Nassar. Be kind to everyone, but don’t give your heart to anyone.

‘…That way, I can leave without any regrets when I run away.’

The girl in the mirror wore a lonely smile.