Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 124

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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 124
“I’ll accept that proposal.”
“Truly?”
Alberto’s complexion brightened. He smiled with relief, as if he had been worried I might refuse.
“With the Princess’s assistance, matters will proceed much more smoothly. It will be a tremendous help to Loreil as well.”
“Does Loreil dislike Franz as well?”
“Hmm? He hasn’t mentioned it to you?”
When I shook my head, Alberto rolled his eyes in bewilderment.
“Are you aware of the recent rumors circulating about Loreil, Your Majesty?”
“The ones about his half-brother…”
“Precisely. And the one who spread those rumors most zealously is none other than Prince Franz.”
This was the first I’d heard of it.
But thinking about it, it was exactly the sort of rumor Franz would enjoy spreading.
‘It wouldn’t be surprising if he harbored secret inferiority toward him.’
Despite his recent poor reputation, Loreil was a notable nobleman who had achieved remarkable results for someone entering political circles so late.
To Franz, the most arrogant of the Imperial Family, he must have been a thorn in his side.
‘I knew Loreil was troubled by the rumors, but I never considered who might be spreading them.’
I realized anew how little I actually knew about Loreil.
“So then, what is your reason for trying to stop Franz?”
“Ah, well, you see…”
Alberto paused, considering how best to explain.
“I have a half-sister. She’s not registered in the nobility records—born of a concubine, you understand.”
His eyes grew distant, as if recalling the past.
“Despite her unfortunate birth, she was a bright child. My mother treated her harshly, and the servants often ignored her, but… I never once heard a word of resentment from that girl’s lips. She always faced her hardships with remarkable strength.”
“…It seems you were close to her.”
“Yes. I didn’t speak of it openly for fear of the family elders’ judgment, but I regarded her as my true sister. She was fond of me as well.”
He fell silent for a moment. Then a bitter smile crossed his face.
“But… not long after she came of age, an unexpected person entered her life.”
I had little difficulty predicting what came next.
“Don’t tell me it was Franz?”
“Yes. That libertine extended his hand to my sister.”
I could easily imagine how the resentment had come about. I pressed my forehead and sighed.
“While I was away for my succession training, the Prince met with my sister repeatedly. Absurdly, she fell for his refined and gentle demeanor.”
“…That man becomes a different person when he’s courting someone.”
It was one of the primary reasons I particularly despised Franz.
He wasn’t as intelligent as Gilbert, nor as righteous as Jeina, yet he possessed an exceptional talent for winning the affection of the opposite sex.
In truth, being kind to the opposite sex wasn’t inherently a flaw. The real problem was that his kindness never lasted.
“Once the other person genuinely falls in love with Franz, he discards them without mercy.”
“You understand well. My sister was abandoned by the Prince in exactly that manner.”
A sordid habit—once someone of the opposite sex fell into his hands, he would show them no further interest.
Prince Franz had a nature where, the moment his partner began to cling to him, he would consider the affair won and discard any lingering attachment.
‘Nowadays, he suppresses that nature and only meets the same person, or so they say….’
What Alberto spoke of was the past—a time when no one had restrained Prince Franz’s rampage.
“His Highness’s affections cooled rapidly, while conversely, my half-sister became increasingly obsessed with him. Eventually, despite the dissuasion of those around her, she made her way to the Imperial Palace. Naturally, His Highness rejected her request for a meeting…and then, she encountered the Lady of Count Jorn.”
The Lady of Count Jorn referred to Prince Franz’s betrothed.
She was the timid woman I had met at the banquet as well.
Alberto exhaled deeply and continued.
“She apologized to my half-sister. She said she was sorry, that it might be best for her to forget His Highness now…It was surely an act of pure kindness, but it seems it became a grave wound to my half-sister instead.”
If only the betrothed had been a wicked person—then she could have hated her.
Realizing that even an object of hatred had vanished, Alberto’s half-sister finally acknowledged that her love had ended.
And the choice she ultimately made was….
“In the end, not long after returning from the Imperial Palace, she took her own life. She left only a single line in her suicide note: an apology to me.”
Alberto sank deeply into his chair.
He spoke as briefly as possible, as though unwilling to elaborate further, yet a sharp pain was evident in his eyes.
“I regretted it. I wondered if I should have abandoned my duties as heir and helped that child instead…But the past cannot be undone. So I concluded that the only way to console my half-sister’s spirit was through revenge.”
To accomplish that, I had to prevent Prince Franz from becoming Emperor. Once he ascended to the throne, no act of vengeance could succeed.
“It was around that time I began to involve myself in such sordid affairs.”
“Then, this Golden Plains as well….”
“An organization prepared for Prince Franz, of course. Though I confess it has also served my own selfish interests. Haha!”
He rose from his seat with a bright laugh, as though attempting to shift the mood.
“Well then, since I’ve explained everything…shall we part ways now? I will arrange the sum you mentioned and have it sent to Monos shortly.”
He guided me toward the door with a smile.
“I’m delighted the transaction has been concluded. I look forward to the Princess’s cooperation going forward.”
It seemed this was his signal to end the conversation. Perhaps he simply wished not to dwell on the past any longer.
I found myself unable to offer any consolation. All I could do was withdraw from his presence.

* * *
The next day, the substantial sum of gold coins that Alberto had promised arrived in Monos.
I immediately asked Viscount Gorden to use these coins to purchase food supplies.
‘With this amount of money, I won’t need to worry about food for at least half a year. Of course, I have no intention of using it solely for food purchases….’
The most important thing was transforming this Direct Dominion into a self-sustaining environment. The funds I’d borrowed from Alberto had to become the foundation for the Direct Dominion’s industry.
The problem was that suitable industries were nowhere to be found.
‘The location isn’t ideal for establishing a Trading City since it’s nestled in the mountains. There’s limited arable land, and the mountains don’t possess abundant resources. There’s no historical significance to become a tourist destination either….’
I was grateful to have extinguished the immediate crisis, but the lack of viable uses for such a substantial sum of money was troubling.
The people around me were equally at a loss.
Only Viscount Gorden, the sole person with domain management experience, smiled wryly and spoke.
“Honestly, I think simply maintaining the status quo would be quite an accomplishment.”
“That’s not enough. Besides, I still need to repay the borrowed funds.”
“An industry that maintains tax revenue while repaying debt… I can’t think of anything. Unless a miracle from the gods were to occur.”
There was no way I, who carried misfortune wherever I went, could bring about such a miracle.
‘Perhaps I should open a fortune-telling shop through divine possession like last time? But that’s not a healthy industry. I couldn’t generate income regularly.’
I wished there were a dungeon somewhere in a corner of this place, like in the Demon Realm.
As I continued my endless deliberation, an unexpected visitor arrived.
“Princess! It’s been so long!”
“Chloe?”
The former princess of Jins Kingdom, who should have been under protection at the Imperial Palace, was Chloe.
She arrived in Monos carrying a full load of luggage.
When I asked what brought her here, she laughed sheepishly and replied.
“Princess Jeina was my education supervisor, wasn’t she? When she departed for the Direct Dominion, my schedule became empty. So I came to visit you, Princess Deina.”
“The Imperial Palace permitted you to leave so freely?”
“Yes, they didn’t say much about it.”
I couldn’t fathom what the Emperor was thinking, allowing an exiled royal family member such freedom.
At that moment, seeing me at a loss for words, Chloe smiled confidently.
“Of course, I didn’t come just to see you. I came to be of help to you, Princess.”
“Help me?”
“Before I came, I heard about it. You’re troubled by the Direct Dominion’s industrial development, aren’t you? I have a brilliant solution for you!”
Rather than wondering where she’d heard this, I was more curious about what the solution was. As I waited for her answer with eager eyes, she raised her finger with a flourish and spoke.
“It’s you, Princess! We’ll make you into a brand!”
“…What did you say?”
“Ever since you resolved the plague, you’ve been spoken of among the Empire’s citizens like a ‘saint.’ Everyone whispers about you, curious and wanting to see you in person.”
Chloe’s eyes gleamed with inspiration.
“We’ll use that. We’ll make Monos into a ‘Land of Miracles.’ We’ll create a pilgrimage site dedicated to the Sun God and profit from the believers’ donations!”
At such a blasphemous suggestion, I found myself momentarily speechless.

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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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