Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 12

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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 012

‘But why on earth?’

Whatever the relationship between the Empress and the Emperor, it mattered little to me. What truly intrigued me was why the Empress sought me out.

“Do you have any idea why Her Majesty the Empress wishes to see me?”

“I’m afraid not. To be honest, I was quite bewildered myself.”

Loreil withdrew a letter from his breast pocket—a missive sealed with a golden border, clearly sent by the Empress.

I accepted it and unfolded the parchment.

The contents were as straightforward as Loreil had described.

‘Close communication is necessary, so I am sending this to the Prime Minister’s Residence. I wish to meet Princess Deina. To help her… A simple letter without even a greeting.’

Had it been a letter from an ordinary nobleman, such brevity would have been deemed discourteous.

Yet it only deepened my confusion.

‘The reason for helping, and what exactly does she intend to do?’

Faced with such an utterly vague letter, both Loreil and I found ourselves at a loss for words, sitting in silence side by side.

Yet regardless, the sender was the Empress. Having received her invitation, I could not refuse.

“I understand. When exactly shall I meet with her?”

“According to the chamberlain who delivered the letter, it is to be tonight at midnight. The location is the greenhouse in the Imperial Palace Gardens.”

The timing was equally abrupt. The sun was already on the verge of setting.

My head throbbed with concern, and I pressed my palm to my forehead. Noticing my distress, Loreil spoke.

“Shall I accompany you?”

“No, that won’t be necessary. It seems she wishes to meet with me alone.”

Besides, even if he had delivered the letter, I couldn’t simply trust Loreil.

While we were allies in the Arena’s affairs, politically speaking, the Prime Minister’s Family was the Imperial Family’s enemy.

Loreil nodded lightly, as if he had expected my refusal.

Then, saying it would be helpful, he briefly shared information about the Empress.

When I looked at him as if asking why he would go so far, Loreil added:

“In exchange, I would appreciate it if you could tell me what conversation you had.”

It wasn’t a bad bargain for me either, so I accepted.

After that, he rose from his seat, saying his business was concluded and he would take his leave.

Just before leaving the Separate Palace, he asked as if he had only just remembered something.

“By the way, who helps the Armored Fighter with his training?”

“He’s been doing it alone.”

“Truly?”

“…Yes.”

He gazed at me. Though his expression was mask-like, his eyes betrayed his emotions.

‘It’s as if he’s saying, “Do you expect me to believe that?”‘

I smiled faintly and added:

“How could someone as frail as I am possibly help?”

“…”

‘I think he just let out a slight scoff.’

Loreil left the Separate Palace without another word.

* * *

Midnight, in the Imperial Palace Gardens.

As the year drew to a close, the Empire’s winter had reached its peak.

I wrapped myself in a thick coat and made my way toward the greenhouse nestled within the gardens.

“Princess Deina.”

“If you’re too cold, you can return first.”

“No, I’ll wait here!”

Liribel assured me that compared to her homeland, this cold was nothing, and pledged to attend to my needs.

I glanced at Ruslara standing behind her. She had awakened late in the evening and, donning her helmet, had volunteered to serve as my guard and followed along.

“I will not allow anyone to enter, no matter what.”

I regarded Ruslara’s resolute expression with complicated eyes. I had told her to reflect on the fruits of her training, yet somehow her loyalty had only grown stronger.

“No, there’s no need to be so desperate about it. This is the Main Palace—it’s safe here.”

“But for your sake, Princess Deina….”

“Ruslara, you’re weak, so just stay put.”

“…Yes.”

Only then did Ruslara’s momentum falter. I patted her shoulder and stepped into the greenhouse.

‘How warm.’

Unlike the biting wind outside, the greenhouse felt as though spring had arrived.

I could faintly sense magical force permeating the space—clearly, the Imperial Palace had spared no expense on enchantments.

“This way, Princess Deina.”

In the center of the Greenhouse, a woman sat before a table, waiting for me.

“Your Majesty the Empress, I pay my respects.”

I approached with measured steps and offered a formal bow. The Empress laughed, saying there was no need for such formality between us.

“We are mother and daughter, after all. Please, speak freely.”

“…Yes.”

I was momentarily taken aback. This woman had never once called me daughter, yet here she was invoking our maternal bond.

Regardless, the Empress seated me in a chair and began pouring tea with her own hands.

A rich black tea, wholly unsuited to the late hour, filled the cup before me.

‘This kindness is excessive.’

Looking more closely, the refreshments arrayed upon the table were equally extraordinary.

Scones still warm from the oven, glistening brioche, butter melted to perfection—I could almost believe we were in the Imperial Palace Reception Room rather than a Greenhouse.

I observed the Empress while maintaining an expression of calm composure.

Empress Chersil, still wearing that serene smile, possessed a youth and beauty that belied her having borne four children.

The platinum hair that marked the Imperial Family, sapphire-blue eyes clear and round, hair braided and pinned with meticulous care, an evening gown adorned with jewels.

She remained as radiant as the sun itself, unchanged from before.

Which made her all the more daunting. Kindness from such a person always carried a price.

“Has Loreil told you what we discussed?”

Loreil—the casual form of address struck me as peculiar.

The phrasing felt distinctly odd.

I nodded slightly in response.

“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress said she would help me….”

“That’s right. I want to sponsor Princess Deina.”

She clasped her hands together as she continued speaking.

“I heard that once your health recovered, you took over hosting the Arena. I can’t tell you how delighted I was!”

I could be certain of one thing: her claim of being delighted was a lie. The Empress and I had never shared an intimate relationship, not even once.

“As a gesture of congratulations, I’d like to help Princess Deina make a safe return to society. That’s why I called you here.”

“I’m grateful for your kind intentions, but… I must confess I’m bewildered by such a sudden proposal.”

“Don’t feel burdened! This is something I’m doing because I want to.”

‘Anyone watching would think she was my real mother.’

It was absurd, but I maintained my composure and smiled. To uncover her true intentions, I needed to keep the conversation going.

“I would be deeply grateful if Your Majesty the Empress would assist me.”

Speaking as though I were moved, the Empress raised her voice with even greater brightness.

“I knew you’d be pleased! Well then, first of all….”

The Empress began laying out her plans with cheerful enthusiasm.

For all the commotion she’d made, the assistance she described was remarkably hollow.

She spoke of bringing an orchestra to perform a celebratory concert at the Arena, of sponsoring a substantial sum of money….

Such things wouldn’t hurt, but from my perspective, they weren’t particularly beneficial.

The reason was simple: if she helped so conspicuously, any success of the event would be credited to the Empress, not to me.

‘She even subtly added that she was sponsoring it under her own name.’

What I wanted was proof that Princess Deina had overcome her curse and regained her health—not rumors that the Princess had made her return thanks to the benevolent Empress.

‘Is that why she offered to help me? It hardly seems like sufficient motivation….’

It was far too trivial to be called a virtuous deed. I had never believed in goodwill born from a pure heart in the first place.

I let her plans flow past my ears while organizing information about the Empress in my mind.

‘Outwardly, a flawless Empress with no blemishes. Perfect bloodline, exceptional children… No matter how I think about it, there’s nothing lacking.’

With such an Empress, that task hardly seemed like it would be of much help.

If that were the case, then I wasn’t the true objective….

‘Wait, I’m not the only one entangled in this matter.’

In that moment, a certain premonition flashed through my mind.

To confirm it, I subtly added to my words.

“I appreciate the kindness, but I should probably confirm Loreil’s opinion as well. He’s been helping me under the Emperor’s orders….”

“Oh my! Don’t worry about that.”

The Empress clapped her hands as if she had been waiting for this, and spoke.

“If Princess Deina wishes it, I’ll speak to Loreil separately. My chamberlain will attend to Princess Deina from now on.”

The Empress emphasized the words ‘if she wishes.’

“And what about Loreil?”

“He’ll return to his original position.”

‘Just as I thought.’

A small laugh escaped me. At last, I could see through the serene Empress’s true intentions, at least in part.

The reason I had to avoid the Emperor’s gaze. Her sudden kindness toward me.

And most importantly, her words just now—to separate Loreil and me.

The scattered clues that seemed unrelated had finally converged into a single truth.

‘The Empress’s true purpose wasn’t to help me—it was to separate Loreil from my side.’

I could even hazard a guess at why she wanted to drive a wedge between us.

The joy of finally uncovering the answer bubbled up unbidden, and a hollow laugh escaped my lips.

“Your Majesty, would it be permissible to ask just one more question?”

“Oh, of course. By all means.”

“Does Jeina know about our meeting today?”

Jeina—my younger sister.

And unlike me, the Empress’s beloved daughter.

“…Why would you ask that?”

“Well, your ‘Mother’ is working so diligently to arrange your marriage, surely your sister ought to know about it, shouldn’t she?”

“….”

“An engagement to the heir of the Prime Minister’s Family, no less.”

I smiled brightly, as though offering my congratulations.

“You must be delighted to have such a wonderful mother.”

Willingly stepping forward to remove the elder sister who stands in the way of her daughter’s betrothal.

Where in this world could one find a mother so devoted?

A hairline fracture appeared in the Empress’s radiant, confident smile.

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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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