Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 103

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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Pretending to Be Human: Episode 103

Flabbergasted, I fumbled for words, my mouth opening and closing uselessly.

“Do you understand what you’re saying right now? There has never been a case of a Princess becoming Emperor! Depending on the circumstances, what you’re suggesting borders on treason….”

“Treason? That’s laughable. If anything, it would be a betrayal of history itself for an incompetent fool to become Emperor.”

Jeina continued, her voice dripping with contempt.

“Do you know how many times Franz has committed adultery with lowborn women? I’ve received reports of over thirty instances alone. Gilbert has sent improper bribes to the Temple twenty-three times. Absences from the Imperial Family Council? Fifty-one times and fifteen times respectively! And the lower nobility who have died in their factional struggles number twenty-five!”

Jeina’s blue eyes gleamed with a hatred and obsession so intense that even I found it exhausting to witness.

“And the common people—who knows how many have perished. Franz boldly announced he would hunt foreign races, and it resulted in over a hundred casualties. Then he had the audacity to call it a precious victory earned through sacrifice!”

She swept her hair back irritably, her expression one of utter disgust.

“The fool. That’s not sacrifice—that’s waste. The Empire’s resources spent raising those people, the resources they would have produced, all squandered for his petty pride!”

“Wait, Jeina. Please calm down….”

“I will never entrust the Empire to such incompetent fools. Not even if the Sun God himself permits it.”

Finally, a blasphemous statement had escaped her lips. Terrified of who might overhear, I hastily glanced around.

“But you, Deina—you were different.”

Jeina met my gaze directly as she spoke.

“The moment you recovered from your illness, you accomplished remarkable feats. You cleaned up the Arena after the disaster and rescued Princess Chloe. In doing so, you also disrupted the balance of power that had been concentrated in Franz and Gilbert’s hands.”

It was all too much to dismiss as mere coincidence, and her eyes were far too earnest. I found myself unable to speak, overwhelmed by her intensity.

“It hasn’t even been six months since you left the Separate Palace. Your achievements are more than sufficient to be considered as one of the potential successors.”

In Jeina’s mind, the potential successors had already been defined: Franz, Gilbert, and myself.

“Though your current influence is limited… that will soon change. Anyone with discerning eyes will naturally focus on you rather than Franz or Gilbert. Just as Viscount Gorden does. And….”

She continued in a notably calmer voice.

“I’m here too.”

‘I’m not sure I can meet her standards.’

I wondered if anyone existed who could meet her standards—standards that bordered on obsessive, not just mine.

‘She must have been under tremendous stress from Franz and Gilbert while I was away. She was never this emotionally volatile before.’

I had never held great expectations for those two, so I was never disappointed by them. But Jeina was different.

Then a question suddenly occurred to me.

“But Jeina, if gender doesn’t matter, why don’t you become the Emperor yourself? Why haven’t you considered that?”

Jeina crossed her arms and scoffed.

“Because I know my limits. If I became Emperor, blood would never dry in the Imperial Palace corridors.”

“…So you do understand?”

“There are certainly people deserving of punishment, but wielding power that way won’t earn respect. I know better than anyone that I lack the qualities to be a benevolent ruler. That’s why I need you, Deina.”

She continued speaking matter-of-factly, as though her words were absolute truth.

“You’re more rational than Franz, more decisive than Gilbert. And you have a stronger ability to draw people to you than I do. No matter how I think about it, you’re the right choice.”

“Even if you say it so suddenly….”

“This isn’t a sudden choice.”

Jeina frowned as if to say I still didn’t understand.

“When we were young, I decided you were the true heir the moment you dismantled Gilbert’s foolish theories on rulership in class and stopped Franz from abusing his servants. But you… because of that illness….”

She bit her lip as though the mere thought frustrated her. She seemed to be recalling the disappointment she felt when she saw me then.

“But things are different now. Everything has returned to normal. The one who will bear responsibility for this Empire’s future is you.”

“You’re overestimating me, Jeina. And I have no desire for power.”

“Someone with no ambition would humiliate Franz, steal Gilbert’s talent, and rescue Princess Chloe?”

“That is….”

I had nothing to say. My conscience wouldn’t allow me to claim it all happened by accident.

“I know that as you recovered your health, you gained some mysterious power. It’s probably something you can’t openly reveal.”

‘As expected, she noticed I’m concealing my strength.’

Well, not just Jeina—anyone with intelligence networks would have suspected as much. They simply couldn’t determine what that power actually was.

“But the nature of that power doesn’t matter to me.”

Jeina spoke with absolute conviction.

“I’m certain you’ll use that power righteously.”

‘This baseless faith is becoming increasingly burdensome.’

I tried to look away, but Jeina wouldn’t allow it—she grabbed my shoulder and forced me to meet her gaze directly.

“So become the Emperor, Deina. This is your destiny.”

Her words carried the unwavering determination of a kingmaker, leaving me unable to respond hastily.

While the two sisters argued in the Garden, Ivan, who had been waiting at the entrance, spoke to Ruslara with an intrigued expression.

“What do you think? Wouldn’t it be interesting if the Princess became Emperor?”

Though his keen ears allowed him to catch most of the conversation inside, Ruslara, who had no intention of eavesdropping, frowned.

“It matters not. Whatever the Princess desires, I will follow without question.”

“Not entertaining, huh… Wait, why are you speaking casually? You always use formal speech around me.”

“Because Princess Chloe isn’t here.”

When Deina was present, he was a colleague. In her absence, he became thoroughly distant. Ivan clicked his tongue at Ruslara’s shift in demeanor.

“Tch, I even forgave your brainwashing, yet your tone is remarkably cold.”

“…You knew?”

When recruiting Ivan, Ruslara had implanted a suggestion to prevent his betrayal. She hadn’t expected him to notice, and her brow furrowed.

“Yeah, when I received magical power from Princess Chloe, my mind became clear. That’s how I found out.”

“…”

Ruslara’s hand moved to the sword at her waist. She was prepared to strike him down immediately if he showed any signs of betrayal.

Ivan shrugged his shoulders with composure.

“Forget it. I’ve always been fond of Princess Chloe, and I still am. Even without that brainwashing, I’d never dream of betraying her.”

“…Doesn’t it anger you? You must feel manipulated.”

“Not really? If you easily trusted an assassin, that would’ve been more disappointing.”

Ivan jested that he himself would have taken her family hostage and exploited them.

Observing his unethical attitude, Ruslara reflected.

‘Indeed, this man cannot be trusted carelessly.’

His manner toward Deina was never as pure as her own.

With the thought that he would eventually need to be pruned away, Ruslara’s hostility deepened.

At the sight of Ruslara’s expression, Ivan exhaled a long sigh.

“You don’t trust me. As expected, only Princess Chloe is on my side… Oh, wait.”

In that instant, Ivan sensed a presence from the far end of the corridor and concealed himself. He vanished into the shadows with such speed that his stealth mastery rivaled that of a grandmaster.

Ruslara also caught sight of the approaching figure.

“…Loreil.”

It was indeed Loreil.

Upon spotting Ruslara, he narrowed his eyes.

“So you’re the one they called Armored Fighter, Ruslara?”

It was a nickname I hadn’t heard in ages.

“If you’re here, then the Princess must be nearby as well.”

“Her Highness is currently conversing with Princess Jeina in the Garden.”

“Hmm, I see.”

Loreil gazed toward the Garden before speaking softly.

“It’s irritating. Come out from the shadows rather than lurking there. I have no intention of interrogating you.”

At that, Ivan poked his head out from the darkness.

“…How did you know, Young Master?”

“Intuition.”

At the casual response, Ivan chuckled with amusement.

“When did you find out I became the Princess’s subordinate?”

“Recently. Since Black Hand hasn’t been taking commissions, I discovered it while investigating.”

Loreil turned his gaze toward the Garden.

“But it’s surprising. I never expected Her Highness the Princess to employ a creature like you.”

“A bat? I was simply being professional,” Ivan grumbled, taking his place beside Ruslara. Though his tone carried a hint of jest, his body remained coiled and ready to lunge at Loreil at any moment.

Ivan stood next to Ruslara, grumbling. His tone was laced with jest, but his body remained tensed, ready to lunge at Loreil at any moment.

Loreil let out a derisive laugh at the tension radiating from him.

“Professional, you say? Is it a virtue of assassins to accept duplicate contracts and then brazenly submit false reports?”

“False reports? That’s an ugly way to put it. I simply delivered the information my client desired with perfect accuracy.”

“You reported to me that the Princess’s health was failing, yet you accepted a separate contract from another client to assassinate His Majesty? That’s the kind of irresponsible work you call professionalism?”

‘What is he talking about?’

Ruslara’s brow furrowed as she fixed Ivan with a piercing stare. Ivan’s expression shifted to one of alarm as he quickly averted his gaze.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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