Philomel finished the visit and walked the opposite way.
âCan I trust Catherineâs words?â
Even though she was her biological mother, she did not fully trust her. After all, sheâs the villain who stole her friendâs child.
âIf itâs a trick to alleviate even a little bit of sinâŠ?â
But she didnât know if thereâs anything to be gained by telling lies like that. In the book, Catherine calmly accepts her death as Ellencia returns to her original place. There was also a description that Catherineâs nature was not evil, although she was mad with jealousy. Perhaps Philomelâs move, which was different from the original, has brought about some change.
âOtherwise, there is no valid basis for Catherineâs wordsâŠâ
Philomel soon found herself wanting to trust Catherine and collapsed.
âWhat is the strength of blood relationship?â
Philomel lightly patted her cheek with both hands.
âWake. Donât dig too deep, swayed by trivial words.â
Putting aside the contents of the book and looking at the situation objectively, the conclusion was obvious. Catherine, who kidnapped her friendâs daughter the moment she died, and Ellencia, a kind woman who grew up being mistreated by her kidnapper. In this situation, it didnât make sense for her to trust Catherine.
She didnât have to feel pity for nothing. Although she was her biological mother, it was not long before she met Catherine, and the two were close to each other. On the other hand, everyone knows that Ellencia was kindâŠ
âYes?â
Suddenly, a strong sense of discomfort came over her.
ââŠWhy do you think Ellencia is kind?â
If Catherine was a stranger to Philomel, then Ellencia was also a stranger. The time they had known each other was not long, and the number of times they had had conversations could be counted on one hand. But why did she believe Ellencia was good?
The answer was simple. Because it says so in the book.
Itâs because itâs in <Princess Ellencia>, which has been a guideline and milestone in Philomelâs life since she was nine! By that point, Philo Mel had come to her fundamental question. Could she completely trust <Princess Elencia>?
It was a question that she consciously or unconsciously did not want to ask. In fact, there was not one or two things she had been suspicious about. Unlike the books known as prophetic books, it took the form of a novel. For example, the fact that it was away from the garden as if anyone was showing it.
When she just picked up the book, she didnât have time to ponder deeply because she was overwhelmed by the contents, but as she grew older, her doubts about Philomelâs book grew. At the time, these were questions that could not be resolved, so she just buried them.
Wasnât it an existence that didnât burn even if she tried to burn it with fire in the first place? Suspiciously, there was nothing like that book.
Her breath was choked. It felt as if the bottom of her feet were sinking. Philomel quickly returned to her place, as if being chased by something.
âAww.â
Countess Delles and her maids did not appear to be away, only the cat greeted Philomel. She wanted to read the book again to check it, but she had left the book at the dorm when she left Angelium.
Thanks to reading it countless times, she understood everything about it, but the overwhelming anxiety did not disappear. What if there was an inadvertently overlooked hint? Were there any gaps she hadnât figured out yet? With that book telling her the future, she was able to put her mind at ease, albeit a little, even in her life where she had no corner to rely on. But since she had no books, she felt as if she had been thrown into the stormy sea with a lumbering sailboat. It was a symptom of her anxiety about trusting the books and leaving her house.
Philomel chewed on her lips in her nervousness.
âI have to go get the book too!â
As soon as she made up her mind, she headed for the door. Since she had only left the inn two days ago, there was a high probability that she had not yet disposed of the items the guest had left behind. She intended to ask Eustis to send itr to her.
âI will be monitored, but I will be let go if I agree to stay here for three months.â
For her, the most important thing was whether or not what she had firmly believed in as the truth for half her life was the truth. And if⊠If <Princess Ellencia> was not a prophetic bookâŠ
âWhat am IâŠ?â
Her weak vertigo staggered her feet as she stood up. She wanted to fall forward.
âOops. Are you okay?â
Someoneâs arm grabbed Philomel by the waist and supported her so she wouldnât fall. At the same time, an oddly bright golden light entered her eyes. Philomel called out to his and she pronounced the manâs name.
ââŠLe Guin?â
The other party answered without hesitation.
âYes. My name is Le Guin.â
âUh, why are you here?â
Philomel freaked out and pulled Le Guinâs arm away and quickly stepped back from him.
âObviously, movement magic is not possible in the imperial palaceâŠâ
Due to the barrier to suppress magic, unauthorized persons could not use magic in the imperial palace. It was a semi-permanent power bestowed by the sun god for the first emperor, his beloved child. But how could Le Guin, who should be in the Mage Tower, was in there!
âWho do you think I am? There is no magic in this world that I cannot break.â
Le Guin replied with an arrogant smile.
âAnd weâve been together since last night.â
Le Guin pretended to be friendly and added those words.
âWhen are we? Donât get me wrong.â
âThatâs too much. You told me to wait quietly before going out, so I stayed there even though I was bored.â
Le Guin pointed his finger at a purple cushion lying in one corner. Concerned that the bare floor might not be hard, it was the cushion she had given the cat this morning. The silver-haired cat occupied the cushion as if it understood Philomelâs words.
âWait, Silver?â
Coincidentally, the person in front of her also had silver hair. Come to think of it, the eyes are also the same gold as that sheep.
ââŠCould you be that cat?â
Philomel stuttered and asked.
âRight.â
Le Guin replied with a light nod of his head.
âLie!â
âIâm not lying. Shall I show you how I transform?â
When Philomel disbelieved, Le Guin snorted at her, and soon after, with a pop, a familiar cat appeared.
âOhhhh.â
The cat meowed proudly as if it were Le Guin.
Just yesterday, Philomelâs soul had been taken out of his cute appearance.
Pop!
The man reappeared.
âDid you see it? I tried to reveal myidentity when you were alone, but a woman like the Countess or something kept sticking around, so I got scolded for waiting.â
ââŠâ
âThatâs why Iâm sleeping so hard to call you up. Ah, Iâve been looking for an opportunity ever since you were in the center of the imperial palace, but I didnât want to approach you because you had so much divine power.â
â⊠Go.â
âWhat?â
âGet out now!â
He dodged the cushion thrown by Philomel with a flexible movement.
Philomel trembled with rage. She was deceived.
âI even thought that if the original owner doesnât show up, Iâll keep it!â
She even secretly thought about what to name him. After that, it took another thirty minutes for Philomel to calm her excitement.
* * *
After a while. Philomel admitted she needed to talk to her real father who came to visit her and she put off kicking him out.
âWhy are you sitting so far apart?â
But what she decided and what her heart felt were different. Philomel calmly turned her head and answered Le Guinâs question.
âIâm sorry, but please donât come near me.â
ââŠWhat did I do?â
âIt just makes me feel a little bit like that.â
The two of them were sitting at either end of a long, straight sofa and having a strange conversation.
âDonât you like cats? They are cute.â
âI like cats. When itâs a real cat.â
âIsnât being cute a superficial attribute?
According to Philomelâs common sense, that standard was much more difficult. A grown man meowing like a cat and rubbing against her legâŠ
âThis is unscrupulous!â
She was not a saint, but was it okay to let the mage be? It was Philomelâs theory that the leader of a large organization must have a heavy dignity. Sitting crookedly with his feet on the table, Le Guin squirmed.
âLexion guy, he said youâd like cats⊠Letâs see later.â
When she first saw him, she couldnât feel it because she was distracted, but no matter how she looked at it, he didnât seem like a very healthy person. At the same time, she also felt relieved. Wasnât she really lucky? She hadnât kissed the cat yet.
âActually, I was going to do it after taking a bath.â
If it had been revealed a little too late, Philomel would have somewhat lost her will to live.