Chapter 16
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Birthday Eve
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Lady Deless greeted Philomel as she returned to her room.
"Your Highness. Welcome back."
"Was there anything while I was away?"
"Nothing at all. I've prepared your bath water."
"Thank you. I'll just change and get right in."
The maids helped her out of the tight dress.
"Will you be retiring after your bath?"
"I'm going to look at that first, then sleep."
She pointed to the stack of papers on the desk. They were documents regarding next month's imperial budget proposal.
"Don't push yourself too hard."
Lady Deless looked at her with concern.
"I'm fine. It's just a lot of numbers—nothing too difficult."
"......Are you sleeping well these days?"
"Of course."
Philomel flashed a flawless smile.
The lady seemed like she wanted to say more, but she withdrew at Philomel's urging to go and rest.
Philomel dismissed the maids as well, bathed alone, dried off, and changed into her nightgown.
It was far more comfortable being alone without the need for a mask.
Her body felt heavy, but she sat down at the desk to review the documents.
The seat beside the emperor had remained vacant all this time. There were plenty of women aiming for the still-young Justis, but none had succeeded in seducing him.
A short while ago, Philomel had taken over some of the late empress's duties that the emperor had been handling. After wrestling with the densely packed numbers for about an hour, her eyes felt dry and irritated.
"Have I been too diligent?"
Philomel muttered as she leaned back against the chair, letting her body go limp.
Her responsibilities as the emperor's heir were already weighty enough, and adding the empress's duties on top was pure agony.
The Philomel in the novel just spent money without doing any work.
The imperial family and court had practically given up on the utter wastrel of a princess that 'Philomel' had been. In other words, the current version of herself—taking on important roles—was the model princess everyone expected her to be.
Live like a dead mouse. Make sure no one pays attention, like I'm not even there.
When alone, she always recalled the words she'd overheard six years ago, when she'd gone to confirm the emperor's true feelings.
At first, she'd planned to live exactly as he wanted—holed up in some forgotten corner of the palace, fading from everyone's memory.
But in preparing her escape plan, she'd ended up living this diligently.
She'd only meant to put in just enough effort to avoid getting scolded, but 'just enough' for an heir was a pretty high bar.
Philomel stretched her arms high above her head.
"I've lived so virtuously and diligently up to now—even if they find out I'm a fake, they wouldn't execute me, right? Maybe I'd just rot in prison for a few years."
The best outcome was succeeding in her escape and living freely forever without getting caught, but she had to prepare for the worst-case scenario too.
Either way, it wouldn't be long now.
"Just a little longer."
Philomel pulled out the key she always carried and unlocked the safe.
Inside were a jewelry box, cash, and a single book. She took out the book. The cover looked like an ordinary foreign-language dictionary, but when she opened it, the contents of Princess Ellensia appeared. It was disguised just in case.
The well-worn pages flipped easily. She stopped at the one she'd read most often.
It was the scene of Philomel's execution.
I don't want to die......!
Whenever she felt like giving up on everything since childhood, she'd open to this page and steel her resolve.
Lately, Philomel's heart had been in turmoil. Thinking of the future where she'd leave this place and be free brought both joy and loneliness crashing over her at once. It was truly paradoxical.
Her goal was survival—first, second, and third priority. That was all she needed to focus on now.
Philomel sat quietly in the dark room, gently stroking the paper.
The day before her birthday.
Philomel's entourage arrived in Yutina, trailed by a bustling crowd.
As a beloved vacation spot for royals across generations, Yutina boasted beautiful scenery. The crown jewel was undoubtedly Lake Yutina, and the villa had been built nearby on its shore.
Philomel was crouched down, gazing at the lake. Just as she reached out toward the clear, deep water—
"It's dangerous to get too close."
A soft baritone voice called out.
Philomel brushed off her skirt and stood.
"Worried I'll fall in?"
"If it's unnecessary concern, I apologize."
Nassar was only a year older at seventeen, but he was as mature as any adult. He bowed his head.
His height forced her to look up, his platinum hair had deepened slightly in color, and his features were sculpted perfection. Having nearly shed his boyish air, Nassar was close to the novel's depiction of the ideal male lead.
Moreover, as the young duke now assisting his father in leading House Averyden, he was a full member of the council of state.
"It's fine. I'll heed the young duke's concern and end my lake-gazing here. But did you have something to say to me?"
"Would you grant me the honor of sharing tea with you, Your Highness?"
"Coincidentally, I just had tea with His Majesty the emperor. You should find someone else."
Philomel glanced toward the young ladies on the bridge in the distance. The eyes that had been fixed on them hurriedly looked away. They were the daughters of her attendants on the outing.
They hoped their daughters would befriend the princess. Their aim was the nearly vacant positions among Philomel's ladies-in-waiting.
Philomel had yet to take on any maids besides Lady Deless. It was tempting enough for the attendants of a princess who might one day become empress.
But the young ladies seemed more interested in the handsome young duke.
"No. If Your Highness has already had some, that's fine for me too."
The tips of Nassar's eyebrows drooped downward.
It was a beautifully poignant expression. If this were back when she'd liked him, she wouldn't have been able to resist granting any request—but it stirred no excitement in her now.
He was simply regretting his failure to properly fulfill his role as the princess's fiancé. Nassar, who always exceeded expectations, must find this one flaw regrettable.
Philomel wanted to tell him not to worry.
When Ellensia appears, you'll be the perfect match for the real princess.
But she couldn't say that.
"Then I'll be off. Enjoy the beautiful scenery some more, young duke."
"......The lake really is beautiful."
His voice caught her departing steps.
"I understand now why Your Highness visits so often. I think from today, I'll come to love this place deeply as well."
Philomel continued on without looking back.
The novel offered few clues to pinpoint where Ellensia lived—just a mention that she often visited Lake Yutina, hinting at the vicinity.
But there were more than one or two rural villages nearby. Philomel had pretended to be on outings to the lake while searching those villages for years now.
Thanks to that, those around her believed the princess had a special fondness for Lake Yutina.
That misunderstanding would end tomorrow.
She had found Ellensia on the last visit.
"Your Majesty, did you summon me?"
She was called by the emperor after dinner.
It was unusual for this hour, so Philomel headed to Justis's chambers with a puzzled heart.
"Sit here."
Justis, in casual attire, indicated the seat across from him. A chocolate cake sat on the table.
I already had dessert after dinner—why cake now?
Moreover, it was a whole cake. Cake often accompanied tea time, but she'd never seen one served whole before.
As Justis picked up the cake knife himself, Philomel extended her hand.
"I'll do it."
"No need. Here, eat."
"Yes. Thank you. Itadakimasu."
Philomel took the slice placed on her plate.
What was the attendant thinking, serving such an inconvenient whole cake?
He said nothing until she'd sipped her tea and eaten half the cake.
An awkward silence passed as they merely faced each other.
This is uncomfortable!
She couldn't read anything from the emperor's expressionless face.
Philomel desperately searched for a topic.
Years of experience had taught her how to draw out smooth conversation from this man. Politics, society, diplomacy, current events.
Topics that skirted their deepest feelings—ultimately meaningless ones.
Good. Let's go with the fairy-wing cloth being smuggled through Schwbn.
But before she could speak, he held something out—a palm-sized ebony box.
"Your birthday gift."
"Ah......"
Only then did Philomel realize why he'd summoned her.
"I was going to give it tomorrow, but it might get hectic. Take it now."
"Thank you."
She accepted the box in a daze.
Opening it revealed a golden object.
"A model ship...... right?"
Philomel placed the golden ship in her hand.
Its shape was exquisitely lifelike, yet overall sleek and luxurious—like a noble's pleasure craft, complete with a canopy for shade.
"That's the miniature. The real one's still being built. It's taking longer than expected."
"The real one......?"
"A boat you can actually ride. When it's done, we'll float it on Lake Yutina—come ride it anytime."
"......I see. Thank you."
Philomel blankly repeated her thanks.
It was the first time. Receiving a direct gift from the emperor—and being celebrated on her actual birthday.
"You can decorate your room with the model since it's not the real thing. I got a report that the boat wouldn't be ready by outing season, and Polan suggested something like this. And......"
Oddly, Justis was the talkative one today—opposite their usual dynamic.
"Your birthday's tomorrow, but I'll say it early. Happy sixteenth birthday, Philomel."
His profile as he spoke seemed somehow gentle. A little shy, even.
Her mood felt strange. Her stomach bubbled with agitation.
Tomorrow's your daughter's birthday—not mine! My real birthday is today!
She wanted to shout it so badly her mouth itched.
The unsaid words fizzled away like foam, and Philomel simply brought more birthday cake to her lips.
The chocolate flavor spreading in her mouth was sickeningly sweet.