Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 17

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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 017

“That’s enough.”

In the moment when two destinies crossed.

Deina wedged herself between the two combatants.

In one hand she held her own blade, while in the other she caught the sword the Intruder had thrown.

“This can’t be… it’s impossible.”

The Intruder’s voice wavered weakly.

Just before Deina intervened, he had witnessed with his own eyes his prized throwing technique fail spectacularly.

‘She anticipated that I would throw my sword at the last moment?’

Unable to defend herself after striking downward with her blade, Ruslara chose a different tactic—she lowered her body and charged straight at the Intruder.

His sword, which had been aimed at her heart, shifted its trajectory toward her shoulder, while Ruslara’s blade, rising from the ground, found its mark directly at his heart.

Had Deina been even one second slower, the Intruder would have lost his life.

Watching the stunned Intruder, Ruslara smiled faintly.

“You seem desperate to lose your sword. Perhaps you should receive some proper training?”

“…”

The Intruder could not have known that this very advice was what Deina had given him on their first encounter.

The Assassin, defeated even in his ambush, had no excuses left. He lowered his head in submission, accepting his defeat.

“I lost. Do as you wish. Kill me or torture me, whatever you prefer.”

“What are you talking about? Don’t you remember our agreement?”

Confused by her words, he lifted his head again.

Realizing her oversight, Deina casually tossed the sword she’d been holding to the ground and spoke.

“Actually, that deal was only supposed to happen if you lost.”

“What? What do you mean?”

“When I set the condition earlier, there was no mention of it being contingent on your victory.”

“That’s… well, but…”

Then what was the point of this duel? To restore Ruslara’s pride through victory?

Deina shrugged at his bewilderment.

“Anyway, you’re alive, so that’s what matters. Now then, shall we start with introductions?”

‘Somehow… I feel worse than if I’d actually lost.’

But having been defeated, he couldn’t very well complain. The Intruder opened his mouth with a reluctant expression.

“…My name is Ivan. I’ve only recently come of age…”

Unaware that Ruslara standing behind him was channeling magical power, he began to slip into a trance even as he introduced himself.

* * *

After the Assassin Ivan departed, I collapsed onto the bed without strength.

My body wasn’t tired, but my mind was cluttered from everything that had happened.

Burying my face in the pillow, I exhaled a short sigh.

‘I should have asked the Empress to introduce me to her subordinates from the start.’

No, if I had, I’d just be exhausted from suspecting whether they were a spy instead.

Living as a member of the Imperial Family truly wasn’t easy.

It might have been simpler if I’d just freely wielded the power of the Demon Clan.

I could have enhanced Ruslara with my magical power to secure her victory with ease, then hunted down the Assassin’s mastermind and destroyed them physically. That option existed.

‘But I would have coughed up blood torrentially.’

Even now, whenever signs of hemoptysis appeared, Liribel’s complexion would turn ashen with worry. I had no desire to burden her with needless concern. After all, she was precious to me precisely because she treated me as a complete Princess.

Besides, I didn’t want to obtain freedom through such methods.

‘If my Demon nature were exposed, there would be no peace or anything else. This approach is best.’

I convinced myself that this exhaustion was simply the fruit of my efforts.

I was muttering to myself about how I wanted nothing more than to hole up in my bedroom and rest for three days, when—

“Um, Princess.”

Liribel called to me through the slightly ajar door.

“What is it?”

At my listless voice, she spoke in a timid tone, as if mortified.

“A visitor has arrived….”

“Who now?”

“From the Prime Minister’s Family….”

‘Loreil, then.’

I’d anticipated his visit eventually, but this was sooner than expected.

I waved my hand dismissively, saying I’d be right out.

‘I heard he was busy, yet he found the time.’

His sudden, unannounced arrival only deepened my conviction about the secret I’d already suspected him of harboring.

I threw on a cloak and made my way to the Reception Room.

Loreil approached me with his usual composed demeanor and offered a respectful greeting.

“Forgive my sudden visit without notice, Princess Deina. I grew concerned about the Empress and thought it best to check in….”

“Please don’t worry about it. I promised to tell you what the Empress and I discussed, but I failed to make time for it—that’s my fault.”

I offered him a slight smile to convey that we both had made mistakes and all was forgiven. Loreil returned the smile, grateful that I had accepted his apology.

“You came to hear about our conversation, then?”

“For the most part, yes.”

For the most part.

In other words, he intended to verify something else as well.

I pretended not to notice and continued with my explanation.

“The Empress seemed quite fond of you, actually. So….”

And I embellished the conversation from that day appropriately.

In truth, I had been the one to discern the Empress’s true intentions, but in my revised account, I made it seem as though she had revealed them first.

This was to frame the narrative so that I had no choice but to accede to the Empress’s proposal.

“So she’s considering an engagement between myself and Princess Jeina.”

“That’s right. You hadn’t heard anything about it?”

“Not a word.”

In that instant, a flash of fierce anger crossed Loreil’s eyes. He likely believed he had concealed it well, but I could read emotions born of hostility better than anyone.

“An engagement… so they were already in league.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s nothing. Rather, it seems you’ve also approved of this proposal, Princess Deina.”

“Yes, I apologize, but it was unavoidable. I couldn’t very well defy the Empress’s orders….”

“I understand.”

Loreil had no intention of pressing the matter further and withdrew gracefully.

Instead, he shifted his attention to another subject.

“By the way, Your Highness, did anything unusual occur in the Garden?”

“What do you mean…?”

“I heard in passing from the Imperial Guards that there was a skirmish. Since you were present at the scene, I thought you might have witnessed something.”

‘Ah, so that was his true objective.’

He was being rather direct about it—he seemed pressed for time.

I rested my chin on my hand and feigned deep contemplation.

“You’re right, there was some commotion. But I’m afraid I didn’t catch the details. The night air was so bitterly cold that I hurried back to the Separate Palace.”

“I see. …Actually, I heard that the suspect involved in that skirmish headed toward the Separate Palace.”

“My, is that so?”

Loreil nodded, his expression taking on a dutiful air as he spoke.

“The suspect may be hiding somewhere in this vicinity. Would it be acceptable if I conducted a search of the area?”

“….”

“I have been entrusted by His Majesty with ensuring your safety, Princess Deina. Furthermore, for the sake of precaution, I would like to station guards around this area.”

‘How convenient.’

What he called an investigation for safety was essentially a search of my residence.

‘Bringing up the assassin was merely a pretext to search the Separate Palace.’

He seemed desperate to find any evidence that I was a Demon.

Since I’d already let slip that I knew a battle had occurred, I had no grounds to refuse.

Moreover, he claimed the Emperor himself had ordered him to ensure my safety. If he arrived with the Imperial Guards from the Main Palace, there was nothing I could do to stop him.

Yet if I agreed, Ivan—the Assassin sleeping in the Guest Room of the Separate Palace—would be in grave danger.

‘The magical aftereffects will keep him unconscious through tomorrow at least… If he’s discovered, it’ll be catastrophic.’

Loreil might very well sense Ivan’s magical aura just from his lingering presence, even weakened as it was.

Outright refusal was impossible. So was acceptance.

That left only one option.

‘I’d hoped to let this slide quietly… but if he’s going to push like this, I have no choice.’

I’d have to make him abandon the idea himself.

“Oh! That reminds me.”

I clapped my hands together as if struck by sudden recollection, speaking with deliberate casualness.

“When the commotion broke out, the Empress seemed absolutely furious. She kept asking how such a thing could possibly happen.”

“Well, an Intruder did appear, after all…”

“So I casually mentioned it to her—that such a swift person must be…”

I let a slight smile play at the corners of my mouth.

“…like the Black Hand from the Empire’s fairy tales.”

“…”

I’d only just brought Ivan over to our side moments ago. Chronologically, Loreil wouldn’t yet know of Ivan’s defection—though he might have noticed his disappearance.

But now that I’d suddenly revealed knowledge of the Assassin’s identity, there was only one conclusion he could draw.

Princess Deina might know the Assassin’s true identity and who was behind him.

So who was truly behind the Assassin?

‘It’s obvious. Either Loreil or the Prime Minister’s Family.’

Only the Empress, myself, and Loreil knew that we would meet in the Garden. Narrowing down the suspects to him was inevitable.

The Empress had likely caught on by now, but she would have no choice but to remain silent. After all, there was no concrete evidence.

As for me, I had indirectly conveyed to Loreil that I possessed evidence by mentioning the Black Hand.

‘I know everything—that you had the Empress followed, and all about the Assassin you sent to kill me.’

Or perhaps,

‘I captured that Assassin myself.’

That’s how he should interpret it.

Naturally, what followed was the unspoken message: ‘So don’t try anything foolish and back off.’

Loreil was not a man who would fail to grasp such a subtle allusion.

“Well now… that’s quite an amusing jest.”

Loreil’s lips curved upward in a smile. His eyes, of course, remained cold.

“Ah, but Your Highness, something has come up, so I’m afraid I must postpone the investigation.”

“Of course you must.”

“Thank you for your understanding.”

“Think nothing of it.”

I smiled back at him.

With my lips alone.

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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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