There Is No Place For Fakes [EN]: Chapter 72

* * *

Elencia left without much argument afterward, citing her ruined mood.

Rosanne, wearing a triumphant smile, disappeared, seemingly toward the Imperial Palace.

Thus, the princess’s first tea party ended in chaos right from the start.

“Shall we take a walk before heading back?”

Melinda decided to take a stroll instead of returning immediately, feeling weighed down despite only having taken a bite of a sandwich.

Unconsciously, her steps led her toward the South Palace, where Lady Philomell was known to reside.

‘She won’t meet me. She was so kind to me, and I didn’t even greet her properly last time we met.’

Melinda had briefly made eye contact with Philomell at the debutante ball.

She had wanted to approach and talk, but she only bowed her head, conscious of others’ opinions.

Recently, most nobles were trying to assess Philomell’s position.

As a former fake princess now treated as a state guest, her status was unprecedented and ambiguous, leaving them uncertain.

Would befriending her now lead to future repercussions?

Melinda’s father, Count Lushan, was no different.

While grateful to the former princess for helping treat his wife’s illness, the Count cautioned his daughter to observe the situation for the time being.

Such was the unpredictable nature of the aristocratic world. The once-prosperous Elos family had fallen overnight.

Just then, as Melinda was listlessly walking toward the South Palace, someone she had longed to see came into view.

“Is it okay to cause trouble and run away? I won’t talk to Le Guin until you apologize properly.”

Someone was scolding a cat.

“……Lady Philomell?”

Philomell turned to Melinda and exclaimed, “Oh.”

“Young Lady Lushan!”

She smiled brightly.

* * *

Philomell invited Melinda to the South Palace’s garden.

Contrary to Melinda’s worries, she welcomed Melinda without any displeasure.

Philomell looked at the simple tea table and said awkwardly.

“I prepared it in a hurry, so it’s nothing special.”

“No! It’s delicious!”

Melinda waved her hands. It wasn’t just a polite remark. It really was delicious.

The expensive desserts at Princess Elencia’s tea party tasted like sand, but this melted in her mouth.

And it was tea brewed by Philomell herself!

When asked if she didn’t have a maid, she replied that she preferred to do simple things herself.

Her independence seemed somehow admirable. The feeling of indigestion disappeared instantly.

‘It’s so comfortable to be with someone you like…….’

Seeing Philomell’s unreserved attitude, Melinda felt even more ashamed.

She had been so worried about an uncertain future that she had tried to distance herself from such a person.

‘I won’t do that again!’

She vowed never to repeat such a mistake.

And she wanted to get along with Philomell. If she explained it well, her father would surely understand. He was basically a warm-hearted person.

‘Let’s try to persuade the other young ladies later.’

Melinda thought, recalling the few young ladies who still liked former Princess Philomell.

Just then, Melinda noticed a cat lying in the grass.

“I didn’t know you had a cat.”

“……Yes, well, it happened,” Philomell replied with a troubled expression.

“We have two cats at home. They are really cute. I wish I could show them to you, Lady Philomell.”

Melinda didn’t mind Philomell’s expression. She was delighted to have found a common ground between them, and her eyes sparkled.

“Then, may I visit the Lushan estate sometime?”

“Really?”

“If your family is okay with it?”

“It’s okay! Even if it’s not, I’ll make it okay!”

Philomell chuckled at Melinda’s excitement.

“I’ll send you a formal invitation later, so you must come! You promised!”

“Of course.”

Melinda was filled with happiness.

The cats were truly blessings.

“By the way, what’s the name of your cat, Philomell? Didn’t you say Gwin……? Gwin something?”

Suddenly, Philomell’s expression darkened slightly.

“Gwin…….”

“Gwin?”

“Gwingwin!”

Melinda tilted her head at the strange name.

‘Gwingwin……?’

The cat’s gaze toward Philomell didn’t seem very fond.

But Melinda was happy to have discovered a new side of her.

‘I thought she was perfect. But her naming sense is lacking.’

No one can be good at everything! That aspect also felt somehow cute.

Melinda continued to ask Philomell about things she had always been curious about. She wanted to know more about her.

“Lady Philomell, do you use honorifics with Gwingwin?”

“……I always use honorifics with cats.”

“I see. But why were you scolding Gwingwin so much earlier?”

“He caused some trouble.”

“What kind of trouble?”

“He broke a porcelain inside the room.”

“Our cats do that a lot too. I can’t keep anything at home.”

Philomell said playfully.

“Oh dear. Gwingwin has been causing a lot of trouble lately. He’s being noisy and clingy.”

Melinda wanted to help Philomell in any way she could. So she blurted out.

“Could it be symptoms of being in heat?”

“……Pardon?”

“I mean, Gwingwin might be in heat, ungh!”

Philomell quickly rose from her chair and covered Melinda’s mouth.

“It’s best to stop there, Young Lady Lushan.”

* * *

After Melinda, who had enjoyed tea time, returned to her mansion, the garden once again belonged to Philomell and the four sons.

“Hahaha! In heat! In heat! Oh, is our Gwingwin in heat?”

Kadin doubled over with laughter.

“…….”

With a cracking sound, he was soon tied up and hung upside down from a tree.

“Ah! I was wrong! Let me down! The blood is rushing to my head!”

Philomell glared at Jeremiah, who was the culprit who had leaked Melinda’s words to Lexion and Kadin.

“Anyway…… *cough*, from now on…… it would be better to be careful…… If that young lady…… had heard important information…… it would have been troublesome.”

Lexion barely suppressed his laughter beside him.

Le Guin glared at him, and he shrugged.

Philomell repeated the question she had already asked once.

“……Le Guin, you really won’t touch Melinda, right? It’s not out of malice, is it?”

During their conversation today, Philomell and Melinda decided to call each other by their first names. Melinda was delighted and expressed her joy several times.

“I told you I won’t. Do I look like such a bad guy?”

Le Guin gave the same assurance for the umpteenth time. Only then did Philomell feel a little relieved and stood up.

“Then I’ll be off somewhere.”

“Where are you going?”

“Someone broke a national treasure, so I’m going to apologize to the Emperor.”

She had to report to Eustis about the porcelain broken because of Le Guin.

‘Why did it have to be a national treasure?’

“I’ll pay for the damages.”

Le Guin grumbled.

“It’s okay. What excuse would you make for suddenly having money? My guess is…… he probably won’t say much about this,” Philomell lightly refused and turned around.

And she walked to the front of the Imperial Palace for a stroll. But a strange sight was unfolding in front of the Imperial Palace.

Rosanne, held by the Imperial Guards, was screaming at the top of her lungs.

“Don’t you dare touch me! Do you know who I am? You’ll all regret this later!”

It seemed she had been stopped for trying to enter the Imperial Palace without permission.

Philomell passed by her leisurely.

One of the Imperial Guards who saw Philomell greeted her.

“Lady Philomell, greetings!”

“You’re working hard.”

“It’s nothing! It’s our job. Please, come in.”

From behind Philomell, who was entering the palace, a desperate scream erupted.”
You’re stopping me, but why are you letting her in!”

She certainly has a lot of energy.

In Philomell’s view, Rosanne and her family were eagerly rushing toward the abyss of destruction.

Rosanne’s antics were so famous that one couldn’t help but hear about them.

Philomell shook her head.

At least enjoy that happiness to the fullest before you fall.