Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 166

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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 166
Jeina muttered in a sharp, icy voice.
“Another reason to eliminate Franz. How dare he turn citizens into fighting dogs?”
Jeina had already been furious at the Imperial Princes for their contempt toward the common people, but this incident clearly crossed a line.
Her clenched fists trembled visibly.
‘A curse that induces hallucinations and makes people attack those around them? That’s something you’d only see in the Demon Realm.’
Franz could handle such a curse?
He clearly had an accomplice skilled in curses.
“Lina, did a Demon cast this curse?”
“Who knows? It’s too crude to be the work of a Legion Captain-class demon. The lower ranks all have similar skill levels, so it’s hard to distinguish… Though I’ll admit, it’s difficult for a human to create.”
In other words, Franz either had a curse master beyond human capability at his side, or a non-human entity was involved.
‘This won’t end as simple political maneuvering.’
An ominous atmosphere began to settle around us.

* * *
Imperial Prince Franz had been in a foul mood lately. Since his assignment to his Direct Dominion, every policy he implemented ended in failure.
‘Damn commoners, what’s so difficult about them?’
He built a grand theater to raise citizen satisfaction in his domain, only to be rejected because ticket prices were too high. When he tried inviting nobility to cover the deficit, they refused because of its name as a “commoner’s theater.” The theater ultimately became the Empire’s largest abandoned building.
Next, he heard grain prices were falling due to a bumper crop, so he lent the Castle’s underground warehouse for storage. More than half the grain rotted. This only increased his losses, while taxes remained unchanged, causing farmers to go bankrupt en masse. The administrator subtly blamed him, mentioning the space was meant to be used as a wine cellar.
Franz believed all these failures were the fault of domain residents making unreasonable demands.
‘I lowered taxes and built cultural facilities. Shouldn’t they just be happy on their own?’
His management textbooks said so—listen well to the people’s voices and respond wisely.
So he did everything they asked, and this was the result.
Perhaps he should have ruled with an iron fist instead. He thought this too late.
Then one day, he heard rumors that irritated him. His two younger sisters, Jeina and Deina, were seeing remarkable prosperity in their Direct Dominions.
Administrators were already trying to teach him by showing examples from other domains, and when Jeina and Deina’s cases began appearing among them, his anger became unbearable.
‘How dare my younger sisters outperform the eldest son? The audacity!’
Of course, Franz didn’t attribute their success to their abilities. It must be due to exceptional administrators or fortunate coincidence.
“There must be corruption behind both domains’ success. Investigate thoroughly! As the First Prince, I cannot overlook the deception of the Princesses!”
He eventually issued such an order. The administrators looked bewildered, but they couldn’t defy a prince’s command and reluctantly began their investigation.
What came back was exactly what the administrators expected—a spotless report.
Jeina’s Direct Dominion had no issues in policy, welfare, or security, and Deina’s tourism venture was so successful that even the Sun Cult studied it as a reference.
The only fault he could find was the use of the title “Saint,” but… unless the Emperor objected, it wasn’t Franz’s place to intervene.
‘Damn it, at this rate I won’t be able to show my face when I return to the Imperial Palace. His Majesty is watching my achievements…!’
Since arriving at his Direct Dominion, his presence in political circles had been steadily fading. Even Gilbert, who was managing his domain without incident, was said to be surpassing him.
With the Emperor’s choice of Crown Prince still uncertain, falling behind his brothers was absolutely unbearable.
While he was wracking his brains over this, the Empress visited his Direct Dominion.
“Mother, what brings you here so suddenly?”
“Franz, I heard you’ve been having difficulties lately. I came because I wanted to lend you a hand.”
The Empress he knew was not someone who acted out of goodwill. She smiled as she spoke to the bewildered Franz.
“The eldest son can’t be this powerless. Would you like to hear this mother’s plan?”
The plan she unveiled was so audacious that even Franz hesitated.
Releasing a poison into the Grain Warehouse that would drive people into hallucinations and make them attack those around them.
If discovered, it was a dangerous plan that would jeopardize even Franz’s position.
The Empress soothed the hesitant Franz with a confident tone.
“Don’t worry, dear. This poison will never be discovered. Even if it spreads, we can resolve it with the antidote.”
“B-but that sounds like you’re actually hoping this poison spreads….”
“Of course—how else will you become a hero by using the antidote?”
Only then did Franz understand the Empress’s intention.
The poison spreads through Jeina’s Domain, and he resolves it. Then Franz becomes a hero who prevented the plague, while Jeina remains an incompetent Lord.
There were gaps in the plan, but it was tantalizing.
Even if Jeina managed the situation perfectly, it didn’t matter. The mere rumor of a plague affecting the grain would be enough to shake her reputation.
‘Besides, if Mother is on my side, I’ve already won. That means High Society is on my side!’
Even if he were suspected in some unlikely scenario, there was no need to worry. With the Empress’s influence, such suspicion could be turned into mere gossip.
A plan with no reason to refuse.
In the end, Franz took the Empress’s hand.
“I understand, Mother. What can I do to help?”
“That’s my son, always listening to his mother. First of all….”
The Empress laughed brightly and explained the plan in detail.
Afterward, Franz threw all his effort into the Empress’s plan. He recruited merchants traveling through Jeina’s Domain, investigated the location and quantity of grain stored in the Grain Warehouse, and simultaneously allied with Noblemen who would spread rumors of the plague.
Though he lacked talent in Domain management, his execution was swift. He pushed forward with the plan without Jeina noticing, and ultimately succeeded in spreading the poison just before the grain was distributed.
His sense of timing was so excellent that even the administrators watching were impressed.
‘Now I just need to wait for the rumors spreading through High Society to ripen. If the plague doesn’t spread to Jeina’s Domain naturally, I can force it to spread to neighboring Domains and blame Jeina’s Domain as the source. That’s the end of it.’
A plan that couldn’t be stopped unless the poison’s true nature was revealed.
Just as he was about to savor the moment of victory after so long.
“What? A Saint has appeared?”
An unexpected development occurred.
A Saint appeared in Jeina’s Domain… Deina had arrived.
“The Saint purified the poison? What nonsense! Explain properly!”
“W-well….”
The administrator who brought the information stammered as he relayed the situation in the Domain.
After rumors spread that diseased grain existed in Jeina’s Domain, several Noblemen raised their voices demanding that her Domain be opened for a full investigation.
No matter how capable Jeina was, she couldn’t ignore the demands of her trading partners. In the moment when she had to provide answers one way or another… Deina appeared.
‘This Domain’s grain is cursed. Do not worry—I shall purify it all in the name of the Sun God.’
She who appeared so suddenly went straight into the contaminated Warehouse. And she purified all the grain, it was said.
She even brought all the surrounding Noblemen who had been calling for a full investigation inside with her.
“Purified? How does that make sense? That’s poison! It’s useless without the antidote!”
“I-I’m not entirely sure either. According to my informant, when Princess Deina offered her prayers, the grain regained its original color….”
Impressed by the sight, the Noblemen called her a true Saint and withdrew, while the farmers who had faced the crisis of losing their grain cheered her name.
Jeina herself also praised the grace of the Sun God and Princess Deina’s achievement.
She spoke of how her sister Deina had filled the void within her.
To humble herself and elevate Deina—it was behavior the usual Jeina could never have imagined.
From Deina’s miraculous transformation into a Saint to Jeina’s erratic conduct, nothing had unfolded as anticipated.
And the real problem came next.
“Princess Deina has declared that all of this stems from a curse. Since purification proved effective, the curse is undeniable… Therefore, she has publicly vowed to find whoever cast it.”
Franz’s complexion drained to an ashen pallor.
I couldn’t discern the method by which she’d eliminated the poison, but one thing was certain—she knew its true nature.
‘If Deina can uncover the source of this poison, then I….’
Desperation seized him, and he issued a frantic command.
“A-assassinate Deina.”
“Sir?”

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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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