Chapter 22
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: There Is No Place for the Fake
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After Emperor Justis left.
Count Polan instructed the knights to roughly treat Katrin Hounds's wounds and lock her in prison.
Katrin Hounds should consider herself fortunate that her own daughter resembled her. Otherwise, she would already be a corpse.
"So Katrin that wench was the culprit after all! I begged Lady Isabella not to associate with that lowly woman!"
The nanny, who had grasped the situation late, jumped up and down in a fury.
Given that Katrin Hounds had been the empress's friend since childhood, the lady seemed to know her well too.
"My lady, you've done enough. We'll have a carriage take you home, so feel free to leave."
At Count Polan's words, the nanny clung tightly to Ellensia.
"Count, honestly! How can you be so insensitive? Who else does Her Highness have to rely on right now besides me? Isn't that right, Princess Ellensia?"
"Yes? Oh, y-yes. That's true."
Ellensia, lost in her own thoughts, nodded absently.
"So I'll stay in the palace for a while and take good care of Her Highness. Just prepare a room next to hers."
She planned to settle in using Ellensia as an excuse.
Count Polan thought as he watched the nanny's feigned smile.
Even at a glance, her shabby attire and deep wrinkles revealed how arduous her life outside the palace had been.
He was reluctant given her past record, but her words held some merit.
Ellensia had suddenly been dropped into a strange place with no one she knew. Having the nanny, with her long experience, by her side would be helpful.
"Very well. We'll prepare a place for you."
"Ho ho! Now that's reasonable."
"However, only until new maids are selected to attend Ellensia. Don't forget why you were chased out before, and mind your behavior."
"Oh, got it. You sure know how to make a threat. Come on, Your Highness, let's head to your room."
Ellensia, following behind the nanny, turned back to look at Count Polan. Her expression was dark.
"Um, Count."
"Yes, Ellensia."
Count Polan replied courteously.
The priests had already confirmed that Ellensia possessed divine power—an immense amount that a mere village girl couldn't have unless she was of imperial blood.
Moreover, the nanny had revealed that Ellensia looked exactly like the empress as a child. It was a confirmed fact that she was the real daughter.
"Is Daddy not happy to have found me?"
"That couldn't be..."
Count Polan chose words to reassure the girl.
"Of course not. He just needs time to accept it. He's lived for over a decade believing Philomel was his own daughter. Don't take it too hard."
Ellensia might have spent her life longing for her father, but to Justis, she was an unimaginable daughter.
"...I suppose so. Thank you for your words. I'll be going now."
"Yes. Rest well."
The new princess returned to the place prepared for her.
A handful of men sat around a table laden with food, chattering away.
"Did you hear? Princess Philomel isn't His Majesty's real daughter."
"Yeah, that's all anyone's talking about these days. Even the officials are desperate to find her."
"Princess my ass! Word is, she's the daughter of the woman who kidnapped the real princess."
"So that criminal's spawn has been pretending to be princess all this time?"
"Hey, keep the unverified rumors to yourself. If it's bullshit, we'll all lose our heads!"
"Pfft. Why would everyone be yapping about it without evidence?"
"I can't quite believe it myself. His Majesty, known for his benevolence—surely not the blood of a kidnapper."
"She hid her true nature fearing it'd be exposed. Haven't you naive fools figured that out?"
"Well, maybe she ran because she had a guilty conscience."
"Wanna track down that fake princess and cash in the bounty?"
"Do that, and your runaway wife might even come crawling back!"
"You bastard, why bring that up again!"
Coarse laughter erupted.
They shifted from the fake princess to runaway wives, gossiping so loudly the restaurant nearly shook.
Philomel pulled her hat down lower unnecessarily. Even though she'd woken early and dyed her hair with market-bought dye, she couldn't relax.
She was having breakfast at the inn's attached restaurant.
Yesterday, she'd arrived in Angelium too late to visit the Magic Tower. It only opened to civilians during the day.
The server approached.
"Miss, shall I bring tea if you're done eating?"
"No, I'm heading out now."
Philomel set down her utensils and stood.
"Staying another night?"
"Mm. I'll decide later depending on the situation."
A few people glanced at Philomel as she left the restaurant but soon looked away. The effect of her presence-erasing magic.
Outside, people gathered in small groups in front of the bulletin board.
"Is that woman the fake princess?"
"She's pretty."
"Still a con artist."
She walked carefully, avoiding facing that direction as much as possible.
Magic wasn't omnipotent. If someone suspected her from the start and scrutinized her like the portrait, they might recognize her.
Because of that, detouring around checkpoints had taken longer than expected to reach Angelium.
Copies of Philomel's portrait were plastered not just on bulletin boards but every wall, and the guards patrolled with sharp eyes.
Already slowed by traveling alone as a woman only during daylight, the restrictions only multiplied.
"Haa. Does he hate me that much?"
She'd hoped some lingering affection from all these years might lead them to look the other way.
One goal in personally finding and bringing Ellensia had been to win the emperor's favor as much as possible. Of course, the main purpose was to sow confusion for an easier escape.
Still, the massive search with all available manpower made it clear they were determined to catch Philomel at any cost.
'If they catch me, I won't get off lightly.'
She might even face execution for fleeing on top of everything else.
In her mind, the image of Justis coldly looking down at young Philomel alternated with the gentle man giving her birthday gifts.
Her chest stung. So she walked briskly on purpose.
If Tower Master Rguin accepted her as he did the 'Philomel' who fled before execution in the book, she'd be under the Magic Tower's protection. Otherwise, she'd flee abroad immediately.
In the book, he'd sheltered the escaping 'Philomel' right before her execution, so no worry about him reporting her as the fake princess.
No matter what anyone said, he was her blood father.
After walking about ten minutes from Angelium, the Magic Tower came into view.
The massive stone structure stretched high into the sky, resembling a fortress or castle more than a tower.
Originally tower-shaped, it had expanded repeatedly as mages gathered from everywhere.
Geographically bordering the empire with free passage, the Magic Tower was treated as a separate administrative district. Its leader and chief mage was called the Tower Master.
"Those with commissions, this way!"
A man shouted in front of a small side entrance.
A long line stretched from the entrance. Easily over fifty people by eye.
As the origin of the mages' guild, many came to the tower with requests.
She hesitated. No clue how to meet Rguin.
Claiming outright to be the hidden daughter of the Tower Master would get her dismissed as insane. Nor could she just demand an audience.
Veiled Tower Master Rguin rarely met even great nobles.
'Should I just act crazy and reveal I'm his daughter?'
But announcing it there would draw everyone's attention.
Then someone approached Philomel.
"Miss, business at the Magic Tower?"
A neatly dressed old man.
"Yes, that's right."
"Eh, you're screwed. Look at that line. Stand at the end now, and you won't even glimpse a mage's shadow today."
"I see. I came early in the morning, though."
Philomel grew anxious.
The tower didn't open to outsiders all the time. Miss today, and she'd wait a week—but she had no time. The fear of the search was tightening around her neck by the minute.
"Well, there is a way."
"What's that?"
"I supply sundries to the tower, so I know a few mages. Want an introduction?"
This could be a chance. Explain to a mage, and they might arrange a meeting with the Tower Master.
"Yes, please introduce me."
"Good. Fifty silver."
"...It's paid?"
"Nothing's free in this world! Gotta earn my pocket money."
She got it. He was a broker.
One thing she'd learned since venturing out: the outside world had its own rules.
"I'll pay now. Hold on."
Philomel pulled a pouch from her bosom and counted the coins inside.
Considering a night's stay was two silver, fifty was steep, but she had enough.
Unfortunately, she didn't notice the old man's eyes gleaming at the gold coins in her pouch.
"Hand it over!"
"Ack!"
The old man suddenly snatched the pouch and bolted.
Or tried to.
"Still pulling low-level scams like this."
"Argh!"
The old man suddenly lost balance and tumbled to the ground. What caught his eye was someone's outstretched leg.