There Is No Place For Fakes [EN]: Chapter 81

<81>

Elencia shouted, dumbfounded.

“Nasar doesn’t even know when my banquet is!”

“Oh, I apologize. But I have prior engagements every day for the next year.”

“That’s ridiculous!”

“It’s true.”

Nasar was so nonchalant that Philomel momentarily wondered, ‘Is that really true?’

Of course, no matter how busy he was, he couldn’t possibly have something scheduled every single day.

‘Or does he…? I guess his study schedule was pretty packed when he was younger.’

Elencia, looking momentarily shocked, stamped her foot in frustration.

“You’ll regret this! I’m going to ask my dad to make my birthday banquet super grand and amazing! You’ll definitely be sorry if you don’t come!”

“I’m sorry.”

Of course, Nasar wasn’t affected in the slightest.

“It’s going to be held in a bigger hall than this banquet, and the decorations will be more extravagant, and we’re going to have the Imperial Orchestra. A banquet isn’t a real banquet without an orchestra.”

Elencia went on to list several more advantages of her banquet, but no one responded.

Just then, someone interjected.

“Excuse me, I’m sorry to interrupt your important conversation, but there’s something I need to inform you about…”

A page, who had been in the garden since who knows when, stood there scratching his head.

Elencia asked irritably.

“What is it!”

“I-I’m sorry, Princess!”

“What is it!”

The page stammered.

“W-well, the Imperial Orchestra is currently waiting just outside. If Lady Philomel permits, they will add a rich performance to the banquet.”

“What, the Imperial Orchestra? Why is the Imperial Orchestra here?”

Elencia asked sharply.

“That’s… His Majesty the Emperor heard about Lady Philomel’s banquet and sent the Imperial Orchestra. Along with his congratulations…”

Elencia’s pretty face twisted in an unsightly manner.

“This is so unfair!”

She made a face as if she was about to cry, left those words and stormed out of the garden.

But really, Elencia was the one being unfair.

‘She ruined the whole atmosphere…’

Philomel sighed softly.

Fortunately, the Imperial Orchestra’s performance played a part in changing the atmosphere that Elencia had ruined.

As the beautiful melody echoed through the banquet hall, people forgot about the princess’s embarrassing appearance and immersed themselves in the music.

While the others were enjoying the orchestra’s performance, Philomel quietly slipped away.

It was a little strange. The timing of the orchestra’s appearance was too perfect.

‘Is it even possible for them to appear right when Elencia was talking about the orchestra?’

The answer came from an unexpected source.

Jeremiah, who was found in a tree in the corner of the garden, readily confessed.

“Ah, that? I took care of it.”

Philomel looked up at him in the tree and asked.

“How?”

“Actually, Lexion had placed a suggestion [a magical command] on that page. To wander around here with the Imperial Orchestra.”

This was the first time she’d heard of it.

“Originally, he was supposed to keep doing that until the end of the banquet, but I saw what was happening inside and arbitrarily released the suggestion. It’s easy to release if you shock the head.”

“So, that’s why the page’s forehead was red and swollen?”

But that wasn’t the important thing.

“But why did Lexion put that suggestion on him?”

“That’s because Le Guin told him to…”

“Le Guin? Why?”

Philomel tilted her head at the unexpected answer.

“…There’s a reason.”

But Jeremiah didn’t give a proper answer. She kept asking him after that, but he wouldn’t open his tightly shut mouth.

‘Why does that person always stop talking halfway through?’

Philomel grumbled softly.

* * *

After the Imperial Orchestra finished all the performances they had prepared, Philomel and her guests headed to the lake for a boat ride.

Philomel’s pleasure boat was very popular among the young ladies.

“I want to ride!”

“Me too!”

“I already saved a seat.”

“Then I’ll give way. Let one more person ride.”

“No, Lady Philomel!”

“Don’t go!”

Everyone wanted to ride so badly that when Philomel said she would ride on another boat, everyone tried to stop her.

By the time the group returned to the South Palace after the boat ride, the twilight had deepened.

With this, all the prepared banquet events came to an end.

Philomel’s birthday banquet was successfully concluded.

‘There were some unexpected variables in the middle… but there’s a saying that all’s well that ends well.’

Philomel decided to think positively.

When it was time to go home, Melinda whined that she didn’t want to leave, as if she was sad.

“I’m sad. I wanted to stay longer.”

“Then would you like to stay for dinner?”

Her face brightened at Philomel’s suggestion. “Really? Would that be alright?”

“Of course.”

“Wow, exciting! I’ll eat and go.”

Some of the other young ladies also joined for dinner. Half of them went home, and the other half had dinner at the South Palace.

Nasar stayed, as if it were natural.

After dinner, they all played dice together. Nancy had brought the game for her to play when she was bored, and it came in handy.

By the time they finished playing dice, it was dark outside.

Philomel came out to see off those who were leaving.

Today was really fun. It felt like the first time she had ever had so much fun in her life.

‘It’s so strange. Until recently, I thought my life would only be unhappy…’

Her unhappiness had peaked when she ran away, was caught, and returned here.

Philomel looked back at the scenery of the Imperial Palace, which was shrouded in darkness.

A beautiful prison. The Imperial Palace had been nothing more than a prison to her. She only thought of it as a place she had to escape from someday, so it was difficult to become attached to it.

But ironically, the Imperial Palace was also the place where she felt the happiest.

It was then. Someone shouted.

“A meteor shower!”

The people walking towards the entrance of the South Palace looked up.

“Wow!”

“Beautiful.”

Exclamations poured out.

Hundreds, thousands of stars were falling in the night sky.

Philomel stopped and stared blankly at the spectacle.

Each star drew a trajectory and disappeared beyond the horizon.

‘Beautiful.’

A pure emotion welled up in her heart. It was as if even the stars were celebrating her happiest day. It could only be described as a fateful coincidence….

Yes, a coincidence?

‘Surely not. It can’t be.’

For some reason, Philomel felt a tingling sensation at the back of her head and turned around.

“Meow.”

The cat meowed proudly, as always.

Never say never.

Later, she learned that the meteor shower was also Le Guin’s illusion magic.

Philomel was worried about what would happen if the memories of the young ladies and others didn’t match, but Le Guin confidently replied.

It was a wide-area illusion magic that made the meteor shower visible throughout the capital, so it was okay.

She thought that was even more of a problem, but Philomel just let it go.

Even if someone noticed something strange, who would even guess that the Master of the Magic Tower had done it to celebrate just one person’s birthday?

Philomel learned to overlook Le Guin’s eccentricities a little more flexibly. Anyway, that was something for later.

At this moment, Philomel was watching the beautiful meteor shower.

She knew it was an illusion, but it was beautiful. Rather, it seemed even more beautiful because she thought it was a meteor shower just for her.

“Lady Philomel.”

She turned her head and saw Nasar right next to her. She was so engrossed in the meteor shower that she didn’t even realize he had approached.

Nasar said in a low voice.

“It’s truly beautiful.”

His pleasant baritone voice spread softly in the quiet surroundings.

And his red eyes, which had been looking at the night sky, turned to Philomel.

“I adore you.”

She had the illusion that stars were flowing in his eyes as well.

It was a beautiful night.

* * *

In the darkness of the night, Count Polan asked.

“Your Majesty, are you really not going to meet her?”

The Emperor, who was looking down at the South Palace from the hill, replied.

“It’s alright.”

The group heading to the main gate to board the carriage was clearly visible.

“It seems that the current child doesn’t need my gift.”

He took the box that the Count was holding and opened the lid.

A tiara studded with pearls revealed its noble appearance. The blue jewel adorning the center shone brightly.

“If it’s that child, she would surely say that she can’t accept something like this because she has already received another gift.”

Count Polan carefully implored.

“But since you came all this way, even if you can’t give her the gift, please at least see Lady Philomel’s face.”

“It’s too late.”

It was because the state affairs meeting had been prolonged.

“And…”

A self-deprecating smile appeared on the Emperor’s lips.

“Wouldn’t it only spoil the mood to see my face on this wonderful day?”