There Is No Place For Fakes

Philomel finished the visit and walked the opposite way.

‘Can I trust Catherine’s words?’

Even though she was her biological mother, she did not fully trust her. After all, she’s the villain who stole her friend’s child.

‘If it’s a trick to alleviate even a little bit of sin…?’

But she didn’t know if there’s anything to be gained by telling lies like that. In the book, Catherine calmly accepts her death as Ellencia returns to her original place. There was also a description that Catherine’s nature was not evil, although she was mad with jealousy. Perhaps Philomel’s move, which was different from the original, has brought about some change.

‘Otherwise, there is no valid basis for Catherine’s words…’

Philomel soon found herself wanting to trust Catherine and collapsed.

‘What is the strength of blood relationship?’

Philomel lightly patted her cheek with both hands.

“Wake. Don’t dig too deep, swayed by trivial words.”

Putting aside the contents of the book and looking at the situation objectively, the conclusion was obvious. Catherine, who kidnapped her friend’s daughter the moment she died, and Ellencia, a kind woman who grew up being mistreated by her kidnapper. In this situation, it didn’t make sense for her to trust Catherine.

She didn’t have to feel pity for nothing. Although she was her biological mother, it was not long before she met Catherine, and the two were close to each other. On the other hand, everyone knows that Ellencia was kind…

‘Yes?’

Suddenly, a strong sense of discomfort came over her.

“…Why do you think Ellencia is kind?”

If Catherine was a stranger to Philomel, then Ellencia was also a stranger. The time they had known each other was not long, and the number of times they had had conversations could be counted on one hand. But why did she believe Ellencia was good?

The answer was simple. Because it says so in the book.

It’s because it’s in <Princess Ellencia>, which has been a guideline and milestone in Philomel’s life since she was nine! By that point, Philo Mel had come to her fundamental question. Could she completely trust <Princess Elencia>?

It was a question that she consciously or unconsciously did not want to ask. In fact, there was not one or two things she had been suspicious about. Unlike the books known as prophetic books, it took the form of a novel. For example, the fact that it was away from the garden as if anyone was showing it.

When she just picked up the book, she didn’t have time to ponder deeply because she was overwhelmed by the contents, but as she grew older, her doubts about Philomel’s book grew. At the time, these were questions that could not be resolved, so she just buried them.

Wasn’t it an existence that didn’t burn even if she tried to burn it with fire in the first place? Suspiciously, there was nothing like that book.

Her breath was choked. It felt as if the bottom of her feet were sinking. Philomel quickly returned to her place, as if being chased by something.

“Aww.”

Countess Delles and her maids did not appear to be away, only the cat greeted Philomel. She wanted to read the book again to check it, but she had left the book at the dorm when she left Angelium.

Thanks to reading it countless times, she understood everything about it, but the overwhelming anxiety did not disappear. What if there was an inadvertently overlooked hint? Were there any gaps she hadn’t figured out yet? With that book telling her the future, she was able to put her mind at ease, albeit a little, even in her life where she had no corner to rely on. But since she had no books, she felt as if she had been thrown into the stormy sea with a lumbering sailboat. It was a symptom of her anxiety about trusting the books and leaving her house.

Philomel chewed on her lips in her nervousness.

“I have to go get the book too!”

As soon as she made up her mind, she headed for the door. Since she had only left the inn two days ago, there was a high probability that she had not yet disposed of the items the guest had left behind. She intended to ask Eustis to send itr to her.

‘I will be monitored, but I will be let go if I agree to stay here for three months.’

For her, the most important thing was whether or not what she had firmly believed in as the truth for half her life was the truth. And if… If <Princess Ellencia> was not a prophetic book…

‘What am I…?’

Her weak vertigo staggered her feet as she stood up. She wanted to fall forward.

“Oops. Are you okay?”

Someone’s arm grabbed Philomel by the waist and supported her so she wouldn’t fall. At the same time, an oddly bright golden light entered her eyes. Philomel called out to his and she pronounced the man’s name.

“…Le Guin?”

The other party answered without hesitation.

“Yes. My name is Le Guin.”

“Uh, why are you here?”

Philomel freaked out and pulled Le Guin’s arm away and quickly stepped back from him.

“Obviously, movement magic is not possible in the imperial palace…”

Due to the barrier to suppress magic, unauthorized persons could not use magic in the imperial palace. It was a semi-permanent power bestowed by the sun god for the first emperor, his beloved child. But how could Le Guin, who should be in the Mage Tower, was in there!

“Who do you think I am? There is no magic in this world that I cannot break.”

Le Guin replied with an arrogant smile.

“And we’ve been together since last night.”

Le Guin pretended to be friendly and added those words.

“When are we? Don’t get me wrong.”

“That’s too much. You told me to wait quietly before going out, so I stayed there even though I was bored.”

Le Guin pointed his finger at a purple cushion lying in one corner. Concerned that the bare floor might not be hard, it was the cushion she had given the cat this morning. The silver-haired cat occupied the cushion as if it understood Philomel’s words.

‘Wait, Silver?’

Coincidentally, the person in front of her also had silver hair. Come to think of it, the eyes are also the same gold as that sheep.

“…Could you be that cat?”

Philomel stuttered and asked.

“Right.”

Le Guin replied with a light nod of his head.

“Lie!”

“I’m not lying. Shall I show you how I transform?”

When Philomel disbelieved, Le Guin snorted at her, and soon after, with a pop, a familiar cat appeared.

“Ohhhh.”

The cat meowed proudly as if it were Le Guin.

Just yesterday, Philomel’s soul had been taken out of his cute appearance.

Pop!

The man reappeared.

“Did you see it? I tried to reveal myidentity when you were alone, but a woman like the Countess or something kept sticking around, so I got scolded for waiting.”

“…”

“That’s why I’m sleeping so hard to call you up. Ah, I’ve been looking for an opportunity ever since you were in the center of the imperial palace, but I didn’t want to approach you because you had so much divine power.”

“… Go.”

“What?”

“Get out now!”

He dodged the cushion thrown by Philomel with a flexible movement.

Philomel trembled with rage. She was deceived.

‘I even thought that if the original owner doesn’t show up, I’ll keep it!’

She even secretly thought about what to name him. After that, it took another thirty minutes for Philomel to calm her excitement.

* * *

After a while. Philomel admitted she needed to talk to her real father who came to visit her and she put off kicking him out.

“Why are you sitting so far apart?”

But what she decided and what her heart felt were different. Philomel calmly turned her head and answered Le Guin’s question.

“I’m sorry, but please don’t come near me.”

“…What did I do?”

“It just makes me feel a little bit like that.”

The two of them were sitting at either end of a long, straight sofa and having a strange conversation.

“Don’t you like cats? They are cute.” 

“I like cats. When it’s a real cat.”

“Isn’t being cute a superficial attribute?

According to Philomel’s common sense, that standard was much more difficult. A grown man meowing like a cat and rubbing against her leg…

‘This is unscrupulous!’

She was not a saint, but was it okay to let the mage be? It was Philomel’s theory that the leader of a large organization must have a heavy dignity. Sitting crookedly with his feet on the table, Le Guin squirmed.

“Lexion guy, he said you’d like cats… Let’s see later.”

When she first saw him, she couldn’t feel it because she was distracted, but no matter how she looked at it, he didn’t seem like a very healthy person. At the same time, she also felt relieved. Wasn’t she really lucky? She hadn’t kissed the cat yet.

‘Actually, I was going to do it after taking a bath.’

If it had been revealed a little too late, Philomel would have somewhat lost her will to live.