There Is No Place For Fakes

Philomel shuddered at the cold air rising from the floor. As soon as she came to the police station, she was handcuffed and put in a detention cell.

Both wrists were sore from the handcuffs, and one cheek burned from being slapped.

Did you say your name is Roseanne Manon? The sheriff called her a young lady.

It didn’t come to mind at first, but soon I found memories of Viscount Manon’s family.

Since she was educated as an heir, she had all the information about noble families in her head.

‘If it’s Manon Viscount… ‘

It was an ordinary family with nothing remarkable about it, except for the fact that the Viscountess was a sister to Duchess Muriel. Although the personality of the young lady was not normal.

It was the first time I had been slapped, so I was dumbfounded for a moment.

‘I’ve never been slapped on the cheek by a nanny.’

Moreover, considering the tingling pain in the cheek, not just pain, it felt like something had scratched it.

‘Roseanne was wearing several rings.’

If it was a scratch on the ring, it would be scarred with a high probability.

But it was not the time to worry about wounds or pain. Not only the security guards but also the other criminals brought in were watching Philomel as if they were monkeys in a zoo.

“Is that woman the famous fake princess?”

“It’s the same as the wanted letter, so that’s right.”

“Why did you do that when you were fine?”

“You know what? The bad blood that flows through your body can’t be seen through the pond.”

“I shudder at the thought of patrolling 12 times a day because of her.”

At least the security guards were on the better side.

“Hey! You’re going to die anyway. Have fun with us!”

“Why? Are you not satisfied with people like us because you used to play noble and pretend to be a princess?”]

“Roll in bed with me?”

The sinners blatantly looked at Philomel and made unspeakable jokes.

As the members did not actively restrain it, the water level only rose.

The situation of being exposed to them through the bars gnawed at Philomel’s spirit. However, if you imagine what will happen in the future, even this is not a big deal.

‘I was stupid.’

I exposed the ring of red flame too much. Since the magic effect only works when the ring is worn, it cannot be removed from the finger.

‘I should have kept my hands in my pockets.’

At least, it wouldn’t have happened this far if she had activated the defensive magic by rubbing the ring before grabbing both arms.

If she is brought before Eustis like this, she will die sooner or later.

Thinking that the escape she had dreamed of for years would end in vain made her feel unfair before she was scared.

No matter how hard the villain tries, can’t he escape from his fate?

I had to do something. I didn’t want to do anything and wait for a certain ending.

Philomel stared at the people behind the bars.

“Excuse me.”

“What is it?”

The security guards flinched when the fake princess, who hadn’t moved at all until then, spoke to them.

“I’ll tell you again, I’m not a fake princess. My name is Charlotte Tate. I am just a tourist here to visit my family.”

Philomel made up an improvised alias and excuse.

One of the security guards, who seemed to be the most senior among them, stepped out.

“Oh, my. I’m speechless. Hey, let’s get off to a good start. There’s no one here to believe such a lie.”

It didn’t look like a good impression, but Philomel didn’t give up.

“Is there not a single person in the world who looks similar?”

“So you’re just a lookalike?”

“From what I saw in the newspaper, all the reports received so far have been false reports. You can’t say it’s just me.”

 Shut up! I know you’re trying to get out of here!”

Philomel took out the last move she made a while ago to the snorting man.

“First of all, I have a witness who will confirm my identity.”

“Who is that?”

“Call someone from the mage tower and call the wizard Lexion. I am his sister.”

When the story of the magic tower came out, the atmosphere among the members changed.

Angelium’s economy was so dependent on the Mage Tower that it would not be an exaggeration to say that it was driven by the Mage Tower.

People who visited the Mage Tower spent money while staying in the city, and magic tools from there were the main specialties.

Historically, friction arose between the Mage Tower and the Empire, and when the Mage Tower closed its doors, it was the citizens of Angelium who died the most.

It was said that from their point of view, there was nothing good about them because they were hated by the wizards of the Mage Tower.

“Lexion-sama? Did that woman just say Lexion?”

“If it’s Lexion, is it the chief wizard of the magic tool management department?”

“A disciple of the Master of the Magic Tower?”

Moreover, Philomel’s brother whom she met for the first time today must have been quite a celebrity.

If managing magic tools was his job, the security guard naturally had to pay attention.

If not done carelessly, there may be a disruption in the supply of special products, and cooperation from the Mage Tower is essential to investigate crimes related to magic tools.

Philomel let out a sigh of relief. She thought that if Lexion’s name didn’t work, she would drag Le Guin in as well, but she doesn’t think it was necessary.

The title of the daughter of the owner of the mage tower is so grandiose that it would sound like a bluff.

“… How can we believe you?”

Asked the security guard, who was sluggish.

“If you don’t believe me, call him and tell Bernie to come over here.”

“But at such a late hour…”

“I can’t wake him up in the middle of the night, is it okay to leave your little sister in a place like this?”

At Philomel’s point, they put on a sullen expression. It was just before passing.

Philomel decided that she would sell it anyway and that she would sell Lexion’s name.

“My older brother is a person who cares very much for his only sister. he would be so heartbroken if he knew that such a younger sister was even beaten and imprisoned in a place like this by a simple mistake.”

The person who beat her was Roseanne, but she subtly blamed the police for the responsibility.

“… Well. Wouldn’t it be okay to ask whether your younger sister visited Angelium?”

“You’re right. If that statement were true, it could end up being the only high-ranking person walking in vain.”

As the opinions of the other members declined, the man had no other choice.

“Grunt. I can’t believe it, but I’ll get in touch with you. However, if it turns out to be a lie, I won’t let you go, so be prepared. Even if a sinner’s limb is not repaired, no one will care.”

Even the bloody threats did not frighten Philomel.

A sense of relief spread that somehow the crisis was over.

Heard that there are only two brothers, so if they ask about his sister, Lexion will naturally think of herself.

All that remains is to expect him to come to terms with minimal improvisation.

“Hey, there you are. Go to the magic tower and see if that woman is right… ”

“There is no need for that.”

“Captain!”

Someone who had just listened to the man giving instructions interrupted him. What they called the captain seemed to be the chief of the peace.

“A person who knows the fake princess has arrived. If you ask him, he’ll figure it out right away.”

My head was blank.

“Are they here already?”

The chief of police responded to a member’s question.

. He was able to arrive early because he was on his way this way.”

Who the hell is that? No, whoever he was he knew who she was, it was over.

‘I could have gotten out if I had had a little more time…?

God was not on her side either.

Several footsteps and voices could be heard through the narrow hallway.

“Come this way. A report came in a few hours ago and she is locked up. The informant is a young lady named Rosanne Marnon, and she asked me to tell you a little bit about herself.”

“Wait a minute. What do you mean, you’re locked up…”

Before long, Nassar Avrydon appeared. Philomel was one of those people who didn’t want to show this side of himself.

Nassar’s eyes were fixed on Philomel in the cell.

His honey-colored platinum hair shimmered in the light of the police station. The Little Duke of the world shined even in a cramped and noisy environment.

She turned her head, wanting to hide in a rathole.

“Your Highness the Princess!”

Even so, Nassar’s miracle of not recognizing his fiancé did not happen.

“You’re all right! Really… I was worried. But why are you in a place like this…? Please wait a bit.”

He drew his sword from his waistband.

He just had to borrow the key from them, but the barricade was cut off by the sword wrapped in an aura.

As Nassar entered the cell, Philomel’s handcuffed wrist caught his eye.

“Could you hold out your arms?”

The handcuffs were also broken into two, like pieces of paper.

“Your Highness. Please return to the imperial palace with me.”

He took Philomel’s cold hand as if sharing warmth. The eyes glistening with water were unfamiliar.

‘Why is he making that face?’

As if he genuinely cared about Philomel.

“Hey, Little Duke. What kind of situation is this…”

The Chief was taken aback by the strange turn of events.

“Are you cold? Put mine on.”

Whether or not the Chief said so, the little Duke affectionately took off his overcoat and wrapped it around Philomel.

Embarrassment appeared on the faces of not only the chief of police, but everyone present.

It was because the Duke of Avrydon, who was supposed to take over the fake princess and send her away, showed an unexpected action.

Under the circumstances, it seemed that the woman they had captured was Princess Philomel, but they didn’t understand why the duke had treated her with respect.

Princess Philomel was a fake, and if so, isn’t she a sinner? Everyone on the street talked like that, and the newspapers used that tone…

At that time, something flashed in the head of the police officer.

There was never a single time that an order to ‘capture the criminal Princess Philomel’ had been issued through an official route.

It was only about finding the missing princess at all costs.

Combined with the rumor that the real princess had appeared, such an order was naturally accepted as a search for the guilty.

Looking back, I didn’t question the strangely misinterpreted interpretation.

‘Wait, if the princess isn’t a sinner, what have we done?’

A cold sweat broke out on the back of Chief’s neck.

Even though they couldn’t serve the innocent imperial family, they brought them and put them in a detention cell…

I can’t even think of more than that! It was a serious crime to the point of being merciful to kill gracefully.