There Is No Place For Fakes

Philomel returned to her room and sat in front of the desk, determined to write a letter to Nassar.

It seemed that knowing about the breakup through her contact would be better than the Emperor’s decree.

Using the communication stone to convey the message felt a bit distant.

However, Nassar’s handling of the situation was much faster than Philomel had expected.

While Philomel was contemplating how to write the letter, Nassar arrived at the Southern residence.

“Welcome.”

Philomel greeted Nassar with discomfort.

Philomel made sure that she and Nassar would be alone for their conversation, so naturally, Le Guin couldn’t come, and Jeremiah was left behind as well.

The atmosphere was far from being a formal reception.

Nassar’s eyes were tranquil, as if sinking into an unfathomable depth.

A voice devoid of strength came out.

“So, it has come to this in the end.”

“…Nassar.”

“I anticipated it would turn out this way. I should have endured that moment.”

The energy and vitality that had filled him the previous night were nowhere to be found now.

“The Emperor simply commanded the breakup without any reason, but I know that it is not your will, Miss Philomel.”

Feeling sorry for it, Philomel spoke up.

“Nassar… I’m sorry.”

“Please don’t apologize. It only makes me more miserable.”

“I understand.”

Yet, Philomel had offered an apology solely to ease her own heart.

Nassar, whose rough lips trembled, finally uttered a single word.

“Do you dislike me?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Then why do you want to break up?”

“Does it really matter now?”

Philomel asked quietly.

She knew that bringing it up would only cause more pain to both of them.

“It does matter! Could it be because of Princess Ellencia? You strangely didn’t seem concerned about the relationship between her and me. If that’s the reason…”

He seemed to hope that Philomel would say that the reason for the breakup was because of Ellencia.

Philomel took a deep breath.

He finally forced those words out of his mouth.

“I don’t love you.”

Nassar’s pupils dilated, and his mouth fell open at Philomel’s words.

A profound shock swept over him.

With a face full of astonishment, he spoke in a trembling voice.

“Ah, I knew it. I couldn’t have not known. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have kept pushing me away all this time.”

“Me?”

“Yes. From a certain moment in our childhood up until now, whenever I tried to approach you, you always smiled and drew a line.”

Was that so? She had only wanted to alleviate the burden he carried as her fiance and as the little Duke… No, that’s just an excuse.

While there may not have been a complete absence of reasons, fundamentally she had erected a wall between them. Because he was destined to be Ellencia’s lover.

Yes, it was undoubtedly Ellencia’s presence, soon to be revealed in the book, that marked the beginning.

Until then, young Philomel had liked Nassar very much.

Even after realizing that he didn’t love her, she would have continued to like him.

But through that book, she had learned about Nassar’s future, where he would wholeheartedly love Ellencia.

She had come to know that he was capable of loving someone so deeply.

‘If only I didn’t know, I would have thought he was someone who couldn’t love deeply while being affectionate.’

But now, Nassar loves Philomel.

However, tragically, Ellencia was no longer the issue. The issue was that Philomel’s feelings for Nassar had vanished.

Philomel did not love Nassar anymore.

That was the beginning and the end of the problem.

Nassar spoke with a pained expression on his face.

“I wanted to deny it. I desperately believed that your current heartless appearance was just a facade because you used to like me.”

So that’s how it was. She had never realized.

Philomel listened quietly to his words.

“After you disappeared and came back, it seemed like you were closer to me than before, and I had hope, just in case, just in case.”

He continued to blame himself.

“In truth, it took me a long time to fully realize my feelings. I must be such a fool, right?”

He didn’t seem like a fool at all.

It was just regrettable. If only he had realized and expressed his emotions even a little earlier, maybe things would have been different.

There was a slight possibility.

How could the human heart be sliced like a knife?

The young Philomel’s affection for Nassar didn’t disappear in an instant. It gradually eroded from within the mask.

“If that were the case…”

But it was a meaningless assumption.

Philomel sincerely wished that he wouldn’t suffer.

“Nassar, stop now. Don’t belittle yourself. You are a good person enough.”

“What’s the use of that if you don’t love me!”

His own voice was loud, and Nassar himself was the most surprised.

“I-I’m sorry. I lost my mind for a moment and was rude…”

“It’s okay.”

Philomel raised her sunken gaze to look at him. Nassar hadn’t properly looked at Philomel.

After a moment, his intense gaze turned back to Philomel.

“Can’t it be me after all?”

His eyes welled up with moisture.

“You said you don’t dislike me, right? Isn’t that the case?”

Philomel knew that it would be a hurtful remark, but she had no choice but to express her sincere feelings.

“I don’t dislike you. I like you, as a friend.”

“…Then please don’t break off the engagement.”

“What?”

Philomel’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected words.

“I will undoubtedly be of help to Miss Philomel. Though it may sound arrogant, I excel in academics and martial arts, and I can even cook…?”

“Whether it helps the engagement or not, why does it matter?”

“Then how can I stay by your side?”

“Nassar, you need to find someone who loves Nassar.”

Reluctantly, tears rolled down Nassar’s cheeks.

“But… the person I love is you.”

Philomel couldn’t say anything.

There was no word that could be said for the sake of Nassar.

After enough time for the tears to dry up, Nassar spoke.

“If, by any chance, there is someone you have in your heart?”

Not wanting to lie, Philomel spoke as it was.

“No. There isn’t.”

“Then please allow me to like you a little more.”

“Nassar!”

“You said you feel something like friendship towards me, so I want to be by your side as a friend, at least.”

“But you can’t.”

“Didn’t Miss Philomel once tell me to do what I truly desire?”

Philomel was speechless.

Eustis, and now Nassar, why do they remember the past so well?

“…It will only cause suffering for Nassar.”

“It’s alright.”

Nassar smiled with traces of tears on his face.

“If I’m not a burden to you, then I should endure the rest.”

That’s how Nassar left.

Philomel watched him leave the Palace through the window.

As if he felt her gaze, he looked up at the window where Philomel was.

But their gazes couldn’t meet.

Le Guin, leaning his arm against the window, spoke.

“That jerk? Should I get rid of him for you?”

Philomel realized that Le Guin used magic to block the view outside the window from her sight.

“No, don’t talk like that. Nassar is a good person.”

Nassar stood still in that spot for a while, staring at the window. Then he took heavy steps and moved away.

Philomel slumped into the armchair as if collapsing.

The light was too bright, so she covered her eyes with her arm.

Le Guin asked, “Phil, are you in pain?” But she only shook her head.

Jeremiah also seemed to sense her mood, but Philomel didn’t want to do anything.

She couldn’t do it. She couldn’t completely reject Nassar.

If she had truly thought about him, she should have pushed him away until the end… but she accepted the person who said they would stay by her side halfheartedly.

Why did she do that?

Out of guilt? Because she didn’t want to be seen as a bad person by Nassar?

Or maybe, because she thought that if he made an effort, a good future awaited them?

“I’m the one who’s truly foolish.”

Philomel murmured to herself.