Chapter 15
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: The Birthday Invitation
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"Glory to Belleroph. We are honored to behold the sun of the empire."
"May the blessing of the Sun God forever accompany his descendants..."
The emperor ignored all those offering greetings and approached his daughter.
"Your Majesty, have you finished all your business?"
Philomel asked with a bright smile.
"Yes. Let's head back now."
As always, the emperor, who had no interest in such banquets, had slipped away the moment the ball truly began.
He had likely held important discussions behind the scenes with a few high-ranking nobles, including Duke Averyden. In the meantime, it fell to the princess to entertain the many nobles still in the hall.
The princess, who had been following behind the emperor, turned to bid farewell to the remaining guests.
"I hope you all enjoy a peaceful night."
It was a flawless, impeccable greeting.
Just as she always did, Princess Philomel left the ballroom with elegant, poised steps.
The carriage carrying the emperor back to the palace was filled with a clear, soft voice.
"I heard Countess Lusan's illness has improved greatly. It seems the treatment from Elita worked well again this time. With the epidemic starting to spread in the empire's southern regions near the Elita border, shouldn't we distribute the medicine?"
"I see. I'll give instructions to the relevant officials tomorrow."
While Justis was away, Philomel had selected and summarized the reports and information she'd gathered.
From sociable news like a certain marquis finally having a late-born daughter, to political and diplomatic rumors such as a certain count planning a marriage alliance with a foreign ambassador.
The information varied widely. But she excluded anything that didn't need to reach the emperor's ears. Anything she wasn't sure was important, she mentioned only briefly.
It had taken considerable effort to get used to this simple yet difficult task.
Once she'd finished her prepared report, Justis's deep blue eyes fixed on Philomel.
"Well done."
It was the praise she always heard.
"Thank you."
Philomel replied just as routinely.
Lately, her relationship with Justis had been better than ever. They frequently shared meals or tea together. Usually, she was the one to suggest it, but occasionally he would ask about her schedule first.
Philomel always strove to maintain the perfect balance, like walking a tightrope over a cliff. Not so distant as to be forgotten, not so close as to become a nuisance.
The limits were clear. There was no way Philomel, who wasn't blood-related, could become a beloved daughter like Ellensia.
But after striving to the point of death, she had at least earned a modicum of recognition as his child.
"Come to think of it, your birthday is coming up soon."
Without any expectation, Justis brought it up first. Count Polan must have mentioned it.
"Is there anything you want as a gift?"
The moment she'd been waiting for had finally arrived.
Philomel swallowed hard at the question she'd anticipated for so long. It was time to put her long-laid plans into action.
She couldn't let on that she'd been waiting too eagerly, so she first demurred.
"A gift? You don't need to get me one every year. The ring you gave me last time is more than enough."
Philomel held out her right hand.
The red gem on her middle finger gleamed brilliantly. Upon closer inspection, it seemed as if flames danced within the stone.
It was the Ring of Crimson Flame, an essential item for Philomel's escape plan.
On her previous birthday, Justis had kept his promise and given her the ring.
"Something else."
The expected response came.
"If Your Majesty insists..."
Words rose to the tip of her tongue, but she deliberately paused.
"Rather than something I want to receive, there's something I'd like Your Majesty to do for me."
"What is it?"
"Um, the spring outing to the Yutina Villa..."
"Yutina Villa? Now that you mention it, you've been going there often. Very well, I'll give it to you as a gift."
"No! That's not it."
She quickly stopped the impatient emperor before he actually gifted her the entire villa. What good would such a massive present do her? She couldn't take it when she fled.
"Then what?"
Philomel paused for a beat, then spoke with a shy expression.
"Well... I'd like to go on the spring outing to the villa with Your Majesty this time."
"With me...?"
Justis's eyes widened slightly.
She had suggested sharing meals and tea times, but asking to go on a multi-day outing together was a first.
"If you're too busy, it's fine to refuse! I can go alone."
Philomel's gaze drifted downward.
"I just... The scenery I saw at the villa last time was so beautiful, and I wanted to show it to Your Majesty someday."
Her voice grew quieter.
"And we've never gone on a trip together, so..."
She needed to create an atmosphere he couldn't easily refuse.
"...But it would probably be too much, right?"
She wasn't certain.
Philomel's birthday was the anniversary of Empress Isabella's death in childbirth. Every year around this time, the emperor's mood plummeted. He always had Count Polan deliver her birthday gift in his stead.
But there was still a chance he'd agree. For some reason lately, he was trying to act the protector, and he wasn't one to go back on his word.
'Please say you'll go! Please say it!'
Her heart pounded as she watched Justis open his mouth.
"...I didn't say it was impossible. Let's go together."
"Really? Thank you! I'm so happy!"
"That happy?"
"Ah, sorry. I got carried away."
She thought she was used to hiding her emotions, but with the end in sight, excitement was bubbling over.
"No need to apologize. But there's a scheduled council meeting that day."
Of course. Philomel's birthday coincided with a state council meeting, a fact she knew since she'd recently begun participating in affairs of state, even if only occasionally.
"That's fine. We can go after the council. The scenery won't disappear if we're a day or two late."
What mattered wasn't the date, but getting Justis to the villa. She hadn't expected him to go on an outing on his wife's death anniversary anyway.
"Wouldn't that mean your birthday passes?"
"Pardon? Oh, yes, it would. But state affairs are more important than that..."
Justis furrowed his brow at Philomel's words.
Had she said something wrong?
Reviewing the conversation, nothing seemed off.
Diplomatic issues regarding trade needed to be discussed with the ministers the moment Elita's envoys arrived—no exceptions.
The meeting couldn't be moved up or delayed, so naturally, the outing would have to wait. Besides, he'd probably want to avoid his wife's anniversary anyway...
"We'll hold the state council at the villa."
"...Pardon?"
"I'll have Elita's envoys come to Yutina instead. The distance from the port is about the same either way."
...Why go through such needless hassle?
Philomel asked the most puzzling part first.
"What about the ministers?"
It wasn't something the emperor could handle alone, nor could it be resolved just by changing the envoys' destination.
"They'll come along, naturally."
He answered as if it were obvious, like why even ask.
"You mean the ministers will follow to Yutina...?"
"Yes."
Good heavens. He'd bring the whole entourage.
The ministers were nobles too—they wouldn't travel light. How many secretaries and servants would they drag along?
She pictured a massive procession heading to Yutina.
'It's not an outing anymore.'
"...Wouldn't that be too complicated?"
"Just the ministers involved in diplomacy. The villa has plenty of rooms; it can easily accommodate them and their retinues."
Philomel, who had visited the unnecessarily vast Yutina Villa for years, knew that well.
Her head began to ache, but she gave up on arguing.
The important thing was that Justis had agreed to go to Yutina. The process was absurd and irrational, but no need to fight it.
"Yes. Let's do that. This outing will be quite grand."
"Once the meeting's over, I'll send the flies packing."
"No need to go that far... Birthdays are better celebrated by more people."
"They're a nuisance."
She felt a twinge of sympathy for the ministers, who would trek to the villa for one meeting only to be treated like unwelcome guests.
But what could she do? Their emperor was this willful.
On second thought, a bustling crowd might even help her plan.
As for why Justis insisted on her actual birthday...
She decided not to dwell on it. He was just the type whose satisfaction demanded gifts be given on the day.
Philomel forcibly calmed her mind and turned her head toward the window outside the carriage.