Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 118

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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 118
“That… Princess, did you realize that sounded exactly like a confession?”
“A confession? What are you talking about?”
Ivan averted his gaze awkwardly and cleared his throat.
“Receiving a name means becoming part of the same household, doesn’t it? So…”
“It means I’m elevating you from commoner status to a subordinate of the Imperial Family?”
“…I suppose so. Of course.”
He let out a deep sigh, as if disappointed by his own expectations.
Then he crossed into the room with a stride, tilting his head at an odd angle as he spoke.
“From the moment I took your hand, I swore to become your shadow, Princess. So don’t worry. Whatever role you give me, I won’t refuse. Whether as a knight, a shadow… or something more.”
I sensed something peculiar in those final words, but what mattered to me now was his acceptance.
“Good, so you’re accepting the position of knight?”
“…Yes.”
At my question, Ivan sighed as if thinking, ‘I guess that won’t work either.’
“I made this offer because I need someone to act in my stead in the Direct Dominion. I can’t be confined to the Direct Dominion alone. When I’m away, I need someone to issue commands in my name.”
In an ordinary noble household, this would be the responsibility of a servant or vassal, but I lacked such direct subordinates.
Ivan furrowed his brow as if puzzled.
“Wouldn’t it be better to entrust that to Ruslara? She’s a knight too.”
“Of course Ruslara is a knight, but… she’s a different race, remember? The Empire’s citizens know her as an elf.”
“Ah, that’s right.”
Ruslara was publicly recognized as a non-human, an elf. There was no way the Empire’s proud nobility would accept a non-human governing humans.
“I can’t entrust it to the maids Emma or Liribel, and Grid is out of the question entirely.”
“What about Gregory?”
“By status, it might be possible… but the moment I give him such authority, rumors will spread that I’m engaged to Gregory.”
For a princess to grant proxy authority to an ordinary nobleman rather than a subordinate—it made no sense unless they were engaged or in an equivalent relationship.
Ivan’s expression darkened upon hearing my explanation.
“Ah, that won’t do. Absolutely not.”
“So that leaves you. And even without listing everyone else’s disqualifications, I genuinely believe you’re the right person for this.”
He opened his eyes wide in surprise.
“You think I’m suited to be a knight?”
“Not so much as a knight… but as my proxy. Other people tend to overestimate me.”
“What does overestimation have to do with it?”
“There’s a risk they might misinterpret my intentions and expand upon them.”
“…I see.”
Especially with someone as loyal as Ruslara or Gregory, granting such power would be dangerous.
I could vividly imagine them executing extreme punishment on citizens who spoke ill of their lord, or treating some careless remark I made as an order and causing a major incident.
But Ivan was different. He was flexible, and outside of combat, he was quite sensible.
“Now that you mention it, I suppose I’m the better option.”
“And for that, you need status too. That’s why I’m offering you the position of knight.”
Ivan let out a deep, disappointed sigh.
“Ugh, what? I thought the Princess was entrusting me with this task because she trusted me…”
“That’s also true.”
“…Huh?”
“You’re trustworthy now. Unlike when we first met, you’ve changed. That’s why I’m entrusting this to you.”
Ivan’s expression hardened visibly.
Since joining us, the scent of blood that once clung to him had vanished. He no longer carelessly took lives, and he’d learned how to blend in with people.
The Ivan of now was a reliable ally. At least, someone I could trust to watch my back.
Ivan’s lips trembled for a moment before he broke into a broad grin.
“Well, if that’s the case.”
“…?”
“If the Princess trusts me most, then I have no choice.”
‘I never said I trusted him most.’
It seemed his mind had already reached its conclusion.
He murmured with a satisfied tone.
“Well, I suppose I’ll give it my best. I thought there’d be no progress, but this is good enough.”
He wore the expression of someone who’d won a battle I knew nothing about.
‘Since he’s gained some motivation, I’ll leave it be.’
I decided there was no need to correct the misunderstanding.
I watched him with my arms crossed.
The foolish smile he couldn’t hide looked quite endearing.

* * *
Time passed, and the moment to depart for the Direct Dominion I’d been assigned drew near. I would have preferred to remain in the Imperial Palace to investigate the Emperor’s secrets, but as if sensing my impatience, the Emperor issued his command.
‘From the second half of the year, I shall inspect the administrative state of the Direct Dominions. Those territories with inadequate management shall face punishment.’
It was a threat—leave for the Direct Dominion at once, or face consequences.
I suspected the Emperor had issued the same order to the other Imperial Family members as well.
Incidentally, before departing, Jeina visited the Separate Palace and said this:
“If there’s anything to report, I’ll write. Take care of yourself.”
Her Direct Dominion was in the Granary Region, about two days’ journey from the Capital. She added briefly that she wouldn’t be able to leave until the autumn harvest was complete.
Then she quickly explained what I needed to do in the Direct Dominion.
“I’ll make contact with the nobles who’ll support us. Until then, Deina, build up your strength.”
Private soldiers as contingency, stable funding, and virtuous deeds and activities to dispel the rumors of a cursed Princess.
On that point, she drew a line. This was a realm I had to prove myself in.
Since I had no intention of depending entirely on Jeina anyway, I nodded calmly.
Before leaving the Separate Palace for the last time, I left her with one final word.
“By the way, don’t dig too deeply into the Emperor’s power. With your current intelligence network, you could get seriously hurt if you touch the wrong thing.”
I wished she would share the information she possessed, but she refused, saying the time wasn’t right.
‘If the Countess had been on my side, I might have been able to investigate more thoroughly.’
Without a deal in place, I lacked the power to uncover the Imperial Palace’s secrets.
In the end, I left the Imperial Palace with nothing but unanswered questions.
The Direct Dominion I received from the Emperor was a small city nestled in the mountains of the Empire’s Southern Region. It was a city whose name I had never even heard before, and once again, Viscount Gorden, who had followed me here, explained it in my stead.
“It’s Monos, I believe. The territory is quite expansive due to the surrounding mountains, but the population is sparse. I’ve never visited it personally, but aside from being somewhat impoverished, it appears to be an ordinary provincial city.”
According to the documents, it was an unremarkable rural area with no special products or tourist attractions.
Viscount Gorden was relieved, thinking that managing such a Direct Dominion wouldn’t be difficult.
But I felt uneasy instead.
‘An ordinary, commonplace city… It doesn’t seem like the Emperor would give me such a Direct Dominion.’
There was clearly some hidden agenda at play again.
It would have been helpful to have information about Monos’s current situation, but since it was such a remote area, I hadn’t heard even a whisper of rumors about it.
In the end, I had no choice but to go there and see for myself.
I led my entourage toward Monos.
This journey was different from the last time I went to meet Chloe. Unexpected misfortunes hadn’t befallen us.
It was thanks to the Node Diamond that Alberto, Loreil’s friend, had given me.
‘I never thought I’d use this again.’
I sent the Node Diamond—which possessed the power to absorb curses—ahead to our destination, allowing it to absorb the curses in the surrounding area. Thanks to that, the journey proceeded smoothly.
And when we arrived, the sight of Monos that greeted us was utterly unexpected.
“…Viscount Gorden.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Is this what you call somewhat impoverished?”
“Well, that is… yes.”
The village that welcomed us was so desolate that the description of a “somewhat impoverished rural town” seemed laughably inadequate.
Rotting wooden houses, shattered roads, wells whose last use was questionable, and citizens dressed in rags… It looked as though a war had swept through the place.
Viscount Gorden descended from the carriage, surveyed the street, and hastily pulled a Domain report from his breast pocket.
“B-but the report clearly states that taxes were paid faithfully. With this amount of revenue, the territory should at least have the basics in place, even if not wealthy…”
I had reviewed the report myself. At least until last year, there had been no major issues with taxation.
I spoke to the bewildered Viscount Gorden.
“Let’s meet with the Territory Administrator first. There should be an Official Residence here, shouldn’t there?”
“Yes, I have a map, so I’ll guide us there.”
Viscount Gorden mounted his horse and led the entourage forward.
Soon we arrived at a building that appeared to be the Official Residence at the end of the desolate road. Unlike the surrounding area, the Official Residence was an immaculately maintained manor. To anyone’s eyes, it was clearly the home of a corrupt administrator.
Viscount Gorden, acting on my behalf, knocked on the manor’s door and called for someone, but strangely, no answer came.
“…?”
Instead, I discovered a letter wedged beside the door. Viscount Gorden opened it and froze.
“What’s wrong? What does it say?”
I took the letter from him and examined its contents, then exhaled deeply.
‘Of course. The Emperor would never give me an ordinary Domain.’
The contents were blatant.
An anonymous loan shark was demanding that the Territory Administrator repay a substantial sum of money.
Moreover, there was even a threat attached: if he didn’t repay within the deadline, the loan shark would expose all his embezzlement and misdeeds.
It seemed the administrator had used the Direct Dominion’s public funds entirely to pay off that debt.
I gazed once more at the desolate streets.
‘The reason they’ve fallen into poverty is because of the Territory Administrator sent from the Imperial Palace.’
How am I supposed to manage a place like this?
A headache was already beginning to form.

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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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