1.
It was a humiliating position to be in, but this was no time to be self-conscious.
“If I go back to the Imperial Palace, I’ll die. Nasar doesn’t want me to end up like that, right?”
“Please, calm yourself. That is impossible. Who would dare to harm the Princess?”
“Who else? The Emperor, obviously!”
“……Pardon? That is a misunderstanding. His Majesty is genuinely worried about you, Your Highness.”
I suppressed the urge to argue, to ask if that even made any sense.
“Why would he worry about someone who isn’t even his real daughter? He must be gnashing his teeth at me.”
“The rumors about you being a fake are all baseless……”
“They aren’t. I am certainly not the Emperor’s daughter.”
Philomel replied, forcing down her stifling emotions.
“How could that be……”
He stammered in shock for a moment before shaking his head.
“No, even if that were true, it is a fact that His Majesty is concerned for you. Count Polan said as much, too.”
“That must be the Count’s delusion.”
Polan had a tendency to view the world through rose-colored glasses.
“…….”
Philomel’s firm attitude left Nasar in confusion. He, too, had only heard things from Polan and had not faced the Emperor himself.
*‘Could the Emperor truly… feel that way about her?’*
Philomel did not miss the doubt that flickered across his face.
“Please, Nasar……. Let me go. If you do, I will do anything you ask.”
Nasar’s pupils shook violently. Seeing that look, Philomel was certain there was a chance to survive.
Nasar was fundamentally upright and kind by nature. While he was ruthless toward those who tormented Ellensia—much like the ‘Philomel’ in the book—he was gentle toward others. He was simply not the type of person to push the current Philomel to her death.
Over the past few years, she had neither bothered Nasar nor overstepped, maintaining a cordial, distant relationship. Everyone had looked at the Princess and the Young Duke and called it an ideal engagement. She figured that if she appealed to his sympathy, he might pretend not to see her just this once. Preventing the Duke’s knights and the Angelium guard from speaking out wouldn’t be difficult for Nasar, either.
In truth, saying she would do anything was just an empty promise to lure him; she knew the kind-hearted Nasar wouldn’t ask for anything unreasonable.
“…….”
But Nasar’s reaction was strange.
“Why, why would you tempt me with such words?”
Nasar, looking as if he were about to cry, pulled her away with an excessively polite touch and sat her back down. His fingers were trembling, if only slightly.
“What did I do……?”
Philomel was bewildered. *‘What did I even do!’*
Was it wrong to beg for her life? And what did he mean by “tempting” him?
Nasar, who had been brushing back his bangs, bowed his head.
“My previous remark was overly presumptuous toward Your Highness. I apologize.”
“……I don’t really know what you mean, but there’s no need to apologize.”
After the inexplicable apology, silence filled the carriage. Nasar stared out the window with a disappointed look on his face. It seemed less like a feeling directed at Philomel, and more like one directed at himself.
Had there been anything in their conversation just now for him to blame himself for? She had no time to waste like this, but with Nasar acting this way, it was difficult to bring up the subject again.
Suddenly, Nasar opened his mouth.
“I cannot grant your request not to inform the Emperor.”
“Why not?”
Nasar looked at Philomel and said, in a tone of genuine regret.
“The truth is…… I gave orders to send word to the Imperial Palace before we boarded the carriage.”
The image of Nasar speaking to his knight flashed through her mind.
“I am truly sorry. I was just so happy to have found you that I wanted to announce the news immediately……. I sent it via magic messenger bird, so it should reach the Emperor by morning at the latest.”
“…….”
Philomel tried to grasp the situation calmly. Was it fortunate, at least, that they lacked a mage in this group, forcing them to use a messenger bird instead of a communication stone? While a communication stone required a mage, a messenger bird could be used by anyone, provided it had been pre-charged with mana.
“It is inevitable that the Emperor will learn of this. However, I still want to help you, Your Highness.”
Nasar spoke, watching her reaction carefully.
“How about you stay at the Abridon villa in Sangen? I will report to the Emperor that I lost the Princess, or that it turned out to be someone else.”
“Do you think he would believe that? Even if he did, you would only be making a fool of yourself, Young Duke.”
It was an excuse hard to swallow—that several grown men lost a single woman, or that they misidentified their own fiancée. And the brilliant Young Duke of Abridon, at that? Not even a child would believe it, let alone Eustis.
“I don’t mind being made a fool of. I only worry for your safety.”
It was a touching line, but it was directed at the wrong person. She was not Ellensia.
“*I* mind. And above all, I don’t understand why the Young Duke would go to such lengths for me. If I am caught at your family’s villa, you will also be held liable.”
It was far too much kindness compared to simply pretending not to see her.
“That is because I…… you……”
“Me?”
“You……”
Nasar only moved his lips. Even though she waited patiently, the words never came.
“Fine. Let’s go with the story that I escaped. I’ll gratefully accept the kindness you’re offering.”
Whatever his reasons were, Philomel was in no position to weigh or measure them.
“However, I will not go to the Abridon villa. I don’t want to be a burden to your family.”
Besides, even if Nasar was alright, she couldn’t trust his father, Duke Abridon, at all. Now that the real Princess had appeared, Philomel was nothing but an eyesore to the Duke. The person the Duke had wanted as his son’s partner was the Princess, not Philomel.
“Then what are your plans for the future?”
“Once I arrive in Sangen, I intend to leave for somewhere else immediately.”
“Where?”
“I haven’t decided yet. I’ll think about it as I go. Anywhere far away from the Imperial Palace will do.”
She said that, but she intended to return to Angelium and head to the Magic Tower. Every moment was urgent, and she didn’t have the time to research a new location. She was simply reluctant to let Nasar know about that.
*‘I know he’s a good person, but I can’t fully trust him.’*
Philomel stole a glance at the man sitting opposite her. Nasar Abridon. A man who had been a good fiancé for nearly ten years, but nothing more, and nothing less. When they were young, they would often share meals and play games, but that was long ago. As they grew up, both Philomel and Nasar became busy, and their meetings dwindled rapidly.
*‘In the end, he is the man who will become Ellensia’s lover.’*
She didn’t dislike him, but there was no good to be found in being closer than necessary.
Nasar, who looked sad for some reason, said with resolve.
“Even so, I want to be of help to you on your journey in any way I can.”
“……Do as you please.”
Philomel replied, too tired to pay any more attention to him. Once the course of action was set, exhaustion rushed over her. The sky outside the window was dim. It was already dawn.
“You must be tired. Please, get some sleep.”
At Nasar’s suggestion, she didn’t refuse and leaned back comfortably against the seat. Even with her eyes closed, she couldn’t easily fall asleep due to the tension. After tossing and turning a few times, Nasar’s coat, which had been draped over her, slid off.
Nasar picked it up and covered her with it again. His touch was delicate as he adjusted the garment to cover as much of her as possible.
“May you find rest, if only in your dreams.”
His whisper tickled her ear. Despite his wish, Philomel didn’t sleep a wink until daybreak. She was exhausted to the point of collapse, but strangely, she could not fall asleep.
***
“We have arrived in Sangen.”
The scenery of Sangen, seen after several days, was no different from before. Since they didn’t need to detour like Philomel had, it was possible to complete the journey in one night. The carriage stopped near the hotel where the Duke’s party was staying.
“Thank you for everything up until now. I will not forget your kindness today.”
“Are you planning to leave immediately? You must be hungry—please, let me treat you to breakfast.”
“We don’t have much time. And it wouldn’t be good for people to see us together.”
“……You are right.”
“Goodbye, then.”
It would cost a bit of money, but she planned to go to a communication station and ask Lexion to come pick her up. She had thought about it in the carriage; that was the fastest way to get to the Magic Tower. It would be ideal if Lexion could use movement magic, but even if he couldn’t, one of his acquaintances must be a mage capable of it.
As Philomel turned to leave, Nasar’s voice caught her.
“Wait. I will tell them to prepare something simple for you to eat on your way. Please, don’t turn even this down.”
What should she do?
She hesitated slightly, as it was true that she was famished. The hotel where the Abridon party was staying was the best noble-exclusive hotel in Sangen. It was famous for having exquisite food.
Nasar, not missing Philomel’s hesitation, quickly gave instructions to one of the knights who had accompanied him.
“Tell the hotel kitchen to pack something delicious, easy to digest, nutritious, but simple to eat and quick to prepare. Make sure the taste is mild.”
“Ye-yes!”
Taken aback by the long, detailed order, the knight ran quickly into the hotel.
*‘He knew I liked mild food.’*
Philomel felt an ache in the corner of her heart and bit her lip tightly.