Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 145

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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 145
Jeina didn’t give me time to deliberate—she simply pulled me along.
We donned dresses to conceal our identities, then slipped out through the Manor’s rear entrance.
With me present, the Guard posed no security concern, but I had Ivan disguise himself as well, just to be safe.
“Protect Jeina. Ruslara, wait here at the Manor.”
Ruslara possessed far more striking features than Jeina or I. Normally she concealed them beneath a helm, but such disguise would prove impractical for this covert operation.
Thus I ventured into the streets of Monos dressed in an ill-fitting floral lace gown and towering heels.
‘I expected to draw attention… yet this is surprisingly manageable.’
As Jeina had predicted, the townsfolk regarded us as merely noblewomen visiting the holy site.
A few residents cast curious glances our way, but none approached.
Then Jeina adjusted her hat and spoke.
“Monos has become quite the renowned attraction in this region. It’s hardly unusual for nobility to wander about.”
“The visitor registry didn’t show many nobles.”
“Of course they’d conceal their identities. You’re popular among commoners, certainly, but among the nobility you’re branded a charlatan.”
Indeed, the aftershocks of my “saint” branding seemed to be reverberating through High Society.
It was gossip I’d missed, having avoided High Society circles recently.
‘The Countess would have noticed… perhaps she deliberately refrained from mentioning it?’
Currently, the Countess traveled throughout Monos and its surrounding Domain, serving as my secretary. While Viscount Gorden managed internal affairs within Monos, she handled diplomatic matters.
I’d protested that such assistance was unnecessary, but she insisted this work aligned perfectly with her interests.
‘As you know, my Domain has reached stability. There’s no momentum for growth. But Monos has so much potential for development… it’s quite enjoyable.’
For her, Domain management appeared to be genuinely pleasurable work.
In any case, given how frequently she ventured outside, she’d surely heard the rumors about me circulating through High Society.
She likely chose not to mention them for my sake.
Jeina seemed to share this sentiment, glancing at me before speaking.
“Don’t let idle nobility gossip sway you. Once Monos prospers, they’ll flip their attitudes like turning over their palms.”
“I’m not troubled by it. Being called a charlatan is actually an improvement over my previous reputation.”
Surely nothing could be worse than being branded a cursed Princess.
At my quip, she frowned.
Then, in a voice too quiet for me to hear clearly, she muttered something.
“I dislike how you demean yourself in such matters.”
“What was that?”
“Nothing. Let’s head to the Shopping District first. I know where the residents gather.”
Having apparently conducted prior reconnaissance, she led me toward a Tea Shop within the Shopping District.
It was a fairly spacious establishment with roughly fifty seats, though its location deep within an alley made it inconspicuous.
As I glanced around, wondering how such a place existed, I caught sight of the owner’s face and my eyes widened.
‘That’s the person Ivan mentioned before.’
If I recalled correctly, he was the resident who enjoyed drinking. He’d apparently abandoned his woodcutter’s work and opened this Tea Shop instead.
Jeina and I took seats in the center of the Tea Shop.
The moment two women in elaborate dresses entered, all eyes turned toward us. Being a place frequented primarily by residents, our presence was far more conspicuous.
I pulled my hat down low as Jeina surveyed the Tea Shop, observing as seats gradually filled, and spoke.
“Guests arrive right around breakfast time. Early rising means the industry is thriving. That’s a good sign.”
Her expression remained impassive, yet I could sense satisfaction gleaming in her eyes. It was an unexpected side of her.
Just then, the Tea Shop Owner approached us.
“Ahem, welcome. What would you like to order?”
He’d clearly never served nobility before—his discomfort was written all over his face. Jeina stared at me intently.
“You choose. I don’t know anything about this.”
“You didn’t research the menu?”
“I tried to learn about their house blend, but it turned out to be a variety I’d never heard of, so I gave up.”
‘Searching for Imperial Palace coffee in a place like this would be pointless….’
Jeina clearly couldn’t pull off the common folk act. I turned to the flustered Tea Shop Owner.
“Which would you recommend—black tea or coffee?”
“I’m not confident about the black tea. The coffee is decent enough. It has a rather strong roasted flavor, though.”
“Then two coffees, please. We haven’t had breakfast yet—do you have sandwiches? Or perhaps soup?”
“Given your attire, using a spoon would be inconvenient. I’d recommend sandwiches. I’ll cut them into smaller portions.”
“Then two sandwiches as well, please.”
He bowed lightly and withdrew with a quiet acknowledgment.
When I turned back, I noticed Jeina staring at me intently.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Do you come to places like this often?”
“No, this is my first time.”
“You seemed very familiar with it.”
“People around me just told me about it. When would I have visited a tea shop?”
I averted my gaze slightly.
In truth, during my military days, I’d conducted surveillance operations like this frequently. Blending in with my surroundings without raising suspicion was hardly difficult.
Jeina regarded me with suspicion for a moment, then turned her attention back to the tea shop. It had filled with customers.
“The proportion of women is quite high. Not just housewives, but many working women?”
“They help a lot with the Sacred Artifact Production Business. The income is steady, after all.”
“Hmm, I see. That’s ideal.”
Seeing her satisfied expression, I smiled faintly.
“Does that make me qualified as an ally?”
“Yes, it’s sufficient.”
The coffee arrived just then. She lifted her cup and spoke quietly.
“I was worried because you seemed to lack forces and knowledge about Domain management. But if it’s at this level, I won’t need to interfere.”
“So the inspection ends here?”
“No, next we’ll tour the Shopping District. I need to see the condition of the sacred artifacts and the state of the tourists. After lunch, we’re also planning to visit the Dressing Room. Clothing is an indicator of the residents’ circumstances.”
The Shopping District and attractions, followed by shopping.
The familiar itinerary made me tilt my head.
“This feels just like a family outing.”
“….”
Her hand holding the coffee froze momentarily.
She hesitated for a moment, then took a sip of coffee and spoke in a low voice.
“Think whatever you like.”
“Huh? What did you say?”
“…Just drink your coffee. Before it gets cold.”
Jeina’s mood seemed to sour in an instant. I was about to ask if I’d somehow offended her when—
“Mister, do you have any empty seats?”
A child’s voice came from the entrance. I turned my head absently and nearly dropped the cup I was holding.
“…!”
An unexpected face had caught my eye.
‘What is she doing here?’
The young girl asking the Tea Shop Owner about available seating looked ordinary enough—brown hair neatly trimmed, the kind of child you’d see anywhere.
The problem was the woman standing behind her.
Hastily tied purple hair, an expression brimming with barely suppressed irritation, and a faint aura of mana seeping through….
‘Asmo-rina!’
My daughter, Asmo-rina, was standing in front of the tea shop.
I hastily suppressed the mana flowing from within my body as much as possible. I’d always been careful to keep it contained, but now I needed to hide it far more thoroughly.
“Deina? What’s wrong?”
Jeina, quick to pick up on subtleties, noticed my expression change and glanced around the entrance.
But finding nothing unusual in her view, she turned back to me and asked.
“Do you know them?”
“Well, not exactly….”
On the off chance, I shifted my position so my face wouldn’t be visible to them. Suspicion deepened in Jeina’s eyes.
She looked ready to march over to Asmo-rina and demand to know what our relationship was, so I whispered quietly to her.
“I’ll explain later, but just go along with me for now.”
“…All right, I understand.”
Jeina nodded with a disgruntled expression.
Just then, the Tea Shop Owner approached the young girl and Asmo-rina.
“Two of you? Well, it seems all the seats just filled up, so you might have to wait a bit….”
Then he noticed the clothing of the young girl and Asmo-rina and stopped mid-sentence.
Their attire was quite shabby. Apparently thinking they were children who’d endured unspeakable hardship, the Tea Shop Owner hurriedly changed his tone.
“Ah! Or would you be all right with sharing a table? I’ll ask the other guests for permission, and then you can all dine together.”
“That works great for us!”
The young girl smiled brightly.
The Tea Shop Owner asked them to wait a moment and looked around, his gaze finally settling on our table.
Our table was the only one with two empty seats available.
‘Should I just stand up? No, that would look even more suspicious….’
While I was still uncertain, Asmo-rina made the first move.
She strode directly toward our table and asked.
“Looks like there are seats here. Mind if we sit?”
At her rough, thuggish demand, Jeina’s brow furrowed.
“If you’re going to dress like that, you should at least have some manners. Isn’t it basic to greet someone first?”
“…What did you just say?”
My daughter’s and my sister’s gazes collided head-on.

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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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