Chapter 42
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Nassar's Visit
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A moment later, the two of them moved to the parlor set up inside the princess's chambers.
The maids brought out tea and then stepped away. For some reason, they wore playful smiles on their faces.
"...Please have some."
Philomel offered tea, pointing to the cup with hot steam rising from it.
"Thank you."
But Nassar only said the words and didn't touch his tea.
Nassar stared at Philomel's face for a long while before finally speaking.
"I'm truly relieved you're safe. I was so worried that something terrible had happened to you..."
His voice was thick with emotion, as if he'd just witnessed a family member return from the dead.
"...Yeah. Well, that's how it turned out."
Philomel replied awkwardly.
'Well, I did make such a fuss about dying if I returned to the palace.'
She recalled their conversation in the carriage and felt embarrassed for no reason. If she'd known this would happen, she wouldn't have said she'd do anything.
"How's your body feeling? You collapsed so suddenly—I was really shocked."
"Don't worry. I was just tired and caught off guard by the shock. There's nothing wrong with me physically."
"I see. That's a relief."
But his gaze, scrutinizing her from head to toe, didn't waver.
Feeling burdened, Philomel changed the subject.
"By the way, Nassar, you got here from Shengzen awfully fast. Did you use teleportation magic?"
"Yes, that's right. After Your Highness disappeared, I thought I needed to hurry to the capital, so I headed to the Magic Tower."
"The Magic Tower? Didn't they close to the public for a while?"
She remembered what the broker had said when she'd nearly been scammed in front of the tower.
"I was wondering if I'd have to name-drop the Averyden family to get in..."
A great noble family could make exceptions anywhere.
"But then I ran into a group of mages heading to the capital nearby. So I came with them."
"You got lucky."
To head to the capital and coincidentally meet a group of mages with the same destination—one capable of group teleportation, no less.
"Even more surprising was that they were on their way to the palace too."
Nassar smiled lightly and continued.
"Two palace mages resigned suddenly yesterday morning, so they came after getting word to apply for the open positions."
"Two palace mages? That's unusual. The conditions are so good that most people don't leave."
It was a topic she didn't really care about, but with nothing else to say, Philomel pretended to be interested.
Nassar answered earnestly.
"I think so too. But three of them came, so it's a shame one won't be able to work here."
"If they're talented, plenty of places besides the palace will want to hire them."
"Our family is always recruiting skilled mages."
"I see."
"......"
"......"
And the anticipated silence descended.
'This is bad.'
Philomel clicked her tongue inwardly, unable to find anything to say.
In the past, they could chat endlessly about trivial social topics, but doing that now felt strange.
'I'm not the princess anymore, nor his fiancée.'
Suddenly, she had no idea what it meant to live as just 'Philomel,' one ordinary person.
Her lifelong goal had been to be a flawless princess, above reproach, while her real aim was to escape at the right moment. She'd hidden her weak, fragile true self deep away.
That mask had protected Philomel from the threat of death.
'So now that death's off the table...?'
Having cast off the mask, she couldn't even remember what the face beneath it looked like. She didn't know what to talk about with Nassar, whom she'd known for over a decade.
'What kind of person was I...?'
That was when it happened.
"I had no idea Your Highness was raising a cat."
Nassar's words snapped Philomel's wandering mind back.
"A cat?"
"Isn't that the one you're taking care of?"
She didn't know when it had followed them, but the silver cat was perched in one corner of the parlor.
"Shoo."
Philomel waved her hand, signaling it to leave.
A real cat might be one thing, but a human eavesdropping on a private conversation was a clear invasion of privacy.
She'd had no choice with the earlier talk in her bedroom with the countess and maids, but she had no intention of letting this one hear too.
"Meow."
The cat sauntered out of the parlor slowly.
It might be her imagination, but its eyes seemed a bit narrowed. Like it was sulking.
"The cat understands you. It's almost human."
Because it is one.
Philomel swallowed her words and shifted the topic.
"...Drink your tea before it gets cold."
He finally lowered his head to pick up the cup.
'Huh?'
Something caught Philomel's eye.
"Nassar, hold still for a second."
"Pardon? Oh, sure."
As Philomel stood and approached, Nassar let out a dazed sound.
The fine golden hair tickled her fingers. She felt him sharply inhale.
"Don't move."
Philomel gently pressed down on his twitching shoulder.
A few seconds for some, an eternity for others passed.
"There. You had this in your hair."
Philomel smiled, holding out the crumbled bits of leaf in her hand.
Nassar blankly stared at it, then touched the back of his head.
"...I was in such a hurry I didn't check my appearance. I'm sorry to show you this side of me."
He must have come straight to the palace after arriving in the capital via teleportation, without stopping at home. If any family member or Averyden servant had seen the leaf, they would've pointed it out.
"I thought the Young Duke was always perfect, but you have this side too."
Philomel grinned and teased him.
"...I usually pay attention to that."
His handsome face turned beet red at her joke.
'He must be really embarrassed.'
She'd noticed it back in Shengzen when she'd asked to borrow money—he seemed the shy type.
"Oh, do I smell too? I've been riding on horseback for over half a day..."
Nassar sniffed his clothes and fidgeted anxiously.
"What a foolish mistake..."
Self-reproach laced his low mutter.
"I'm sorry, but I'll take my leave now. I'll send proper word next time and visit again."
She wanted to say he smelled fresh like grass, not bad at all, but he stood up hastily.
"I'll definitely come back, so please wait for me."
Nassar bowed to Philomel and headed out the door.
'What's his deal? Whatever.'
It felt awkward to call a maid just to clear a couple of teacups, so Philomel was about to do it herself when—
"Your Highness."
Someone peeked through the half-open door. Of course, it was Nassar.
He asked with a worried face.
"You won't go anywhere while I'm gone, right?"
He looked like a puppy fretting that its owner might vanish, which was a little funny.
"Got it. I won't go anywhere until you come back, so go on."
Anyway, as Tower Master Rguin had said, until the book arrived here, Philomel couldn't leave even if she wanted to.
"You promise?"
"Yes."
"Thank you!"
Nassar's face lit up as he answered energetically and left.
Philomel felt a fresh impression: 'Nassar has a bit of an airheaded side too.'
'He rushed all the way to the palace because he was worried about me.'
She'd heard that after she disappeared, he'd scoured the country searching for her.
Though she figured duty as her fiancé was the main reason, her mood lifted a bit.
Even without the engagement, this was friend-level concern, right?
However, thoughts of Nassar soon vanished from Philomel's mind. She faced a different problem.
"How do I clean this up?"
She wasn't the princess anymore, so having the mindset of 'I'll clean up my own tea things!' was fine in principle...
But since maids had always handled it, Philomel had no idea where to put the teaware.
Calling the countess or maids with the bell would just make them insist on doing it themselves, so she didn't want to if possible.
Wondering if there was anyone nearby to ask, Philomel picked up the tray with the teapot and cups and left the room.
"Oh."
But as soon as she stepped out, her eyes met those of an unfamiliar maid.
Her posture, standing still, seemed too suspicious to just be passing by Philomel's chambers.
Philomel's eyes narrowed.
"What are you doing here?"
"Princess! No, um, that is... I'm sorry!"
"I asked what you were doing."
"Well, you see..."
The maid's hesitation and fumbling only made her seem more suspicious.