Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 26

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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 026

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After my victory in the arena, a letter arrived for Ruslara from the nobleman she had contracted with. He confirmed her win and declared the contract void, promising to return the Abandoned Mine to her family.

Faced with such an unambiguous surrender—devoid of any hidden schemes—both Ruslara and I found ourselves genuinely bewildered.

‘I was certain he would counterattack.’

What’s more, the seal impressed upon the letter belonged to a nobleman I had never encountered. According to Ivan, he hailed from some obscure rural family in the Empire’s remote borderlands. The location was also quite distant from the Abandoned Mine.

Ivan added that a house of such modest standing was likely nothing more than a front.

“I could investigate if you’d like, but the distance is too great for me to travel alone. Do you have any subordinates in that region?”

How could I? Ivan was the only informant the Black Hand had.

So I decided to send Ruslara back to her homeland. Though she seemed reluctant to leave my side, it was better for her to return quickly, if only for her family’s sake.

“Even if decades are but a fleeting moment to fairies, I’m certain she worries. Go and set Mihilda’s mind at ease.”

At the mention of her grandmother’s name, Ruslara conceded and withdrew.

After sending her away, I returned to my routine at the Separate Palace.

‘Now I must await the Emperor’s summons.’

Word of the arena’s successful conclusion would surely have reached his ears by now. Next came the matter of my return to high society.

The Emperor was a hundred times more troublesome than the Empress, and the mere thought of meeting him drained my resolve.

“By the way, Princess.”

“Yes?”

“There’s something I wanted to ask you.”

I was sitting in the Study of the Separate Palace, reading a book on Imperial history to organize my thoughts, when Ivan emerged from the shadows.

Liribel, who had been attending to me, startled visibly.

“Liribel, bring me some tea.”

“Yes, of course!”

After sending her out, I gestured for Ivan to take the seat across from me.

“What’s on your mind?”

“Don’t you deal with the spies in the Separate Palace? They bother even me.”

“Ah, that’s what you mean.”

I set down my book and sighed.

He was right—the Separate Palace still harbored countless spies. It was hardly an exaggeration to say that everyone except Emma, Liribel, and a handful of trusted servants was a spy.

‘Even the attendants sent from outside were spies. It’s like an open treasure vault.’

Planting spies in every palace was standard practice for any nobleman or member of the Imperial Family. Even my Separate Palace, barren of secrets as it was, naturally attracted them.

“Do you think I want to leave it this way? I simply have no choice.”

“Just dismiss them and hire new ones. The Imperial Palace has no shortage of applicants, does it?”

“Well, I suppose I could gather some if I tried…”

Other members of the Imperial Family secured their servants through their own networks—either receiving support from the nobles who followed them, or drawing from families loyal to the Imperial Family.

‘The first option is impossible for me, and the second would require going through the Empress, but I can’t trust her judgment.’

If I replaced them only to bring in more spies, I’d merely be reducing my workforce for nothing.

After explaining the situation adequately, Ivan tilted his head in confusion.

“Just hire people who aren’t spies. Surely your enemies wouldn’t be foolish enough to send only spies.”

“That’s the problem. Without information, how can I tell the difference?”

“A master spy wouldn’t even show up here. Distinguishing them should be easy enough, shouldn’t it?”

“…Can you actually do that?”

Ivan shrugged with an expression that said, *Why wouldn’t I be able to?*

‘Now that I think about it, he’s supposed to be quite a skilled Assassin.’

It was a fact I often forgot because of his reckless manner and attitude. From my perspective, his abilities seemed mediocre at best, yet apparently he was considered top-tier in the Empire.

“Those trained as Spies have distinctive habits. Once you identify those, it’s easy to spot them.”

“What kind of habits?”

“Their heartbeat sounds different when they lie, or they hold their breath to listen more carefully when their master’s name is mentioned—things like that.”

I wore an expression of disbelief. All of these were things an ordinary person couldn’t possibly detect.

“You can’t do that either? Then, should I handle it?”

“….”

Seeing that confident expression of his, I wanted to give him a sharp flick on the forehead, but I held back.

‘Filling the Separate Palace with my own people would certainly be convenient… but I’m not sure I can trust Ivan.’

Even if Baobhan sith’s enchantment had worked, extracting genuine loyalty was impossible.

Ivan spoke of his Assassin’s creed, insisting he would honor a contract made with his life on the line, but I saw him as someone who could betray me at any moment.

Entrusting the Separate Palace’s personnel to such a person carried considerable risk.

“If you’re really suspicious, why not conduct interviews together? You can hire whoever the Princess thinks is suitable, right?”

“…Why are you being so cooperative? I thought you’d only do what you were told.”

“There are several reasons….”

Ivan folded his arms and paused, choosing his words carefully.

“First, wandering around the Separate Palace is unbearable. There are so many spies that their gazes tangle together. Second, it wounds my pride to have information about my master stolen by such incompetent spies.”

“My master? What exactly do you think of me?”

Ivan answered with perfect composure.

“Literally. A master who will revive me and our organization.”

“I have no intention of taking an assassin organization under my command.”

“That’s how it’ll turn out. You’ll need tools to do the dirty work, after all.”

“That’s…”

I couldn’t bring myself to deny it. Even without shedding blood directly, I needed shadows to survive as a Princess.

I pressed my furrowed brow with my fingertips to smooth it and exhaled a sigh.

‘Now I understand what Ivan wants.’

He intended to nurture the declining Black Hand beneath me.

“…Fine, let’s discuss this another time. Anyway, you’ll help me select servants?”

“Yes, I have nothing to do right now anyway. You told me to stop investigating the Imperial Palace, right?”

“There will be many events in the Imperial Palace ahead, so it’s dangerous.”

As the year drew to a close, nobles from across the Empire were visiting the Imperial Palace. With many skilled individuals gathering, there was no need to take unnecessary risks.

“Good, let’s start while we’re on the subject. Call Emma for me.”

“Understood.”

Ivan waved his hand carelessly as he left the Study. While watching his departure with complicated feelings, something suddenly occurred to me.

‘That aside, why is he speaking so casually?’

I’d have to correct that habit at the Training Ground one of these days.

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Upon receiving word, the Empress promptly assembled a roster of servant candidates. She seemed to have anticipated that I would make this request.

The letter I received through Emma carried a tone suggesting this was a bonus—a gesture of goodwill on her part.

With nothing else to occupy my time before the Emperor’s summons, I requested that Emma participate in the interviews as well.

“Your Highness, there will be chamberlains and attendants present. I’m not certain if my presence is appropriate for such an occasion….”

“It’s fine. I’ll handle them. Right now, the only people I can trust here are Liribel and you.”

“…Understood.”

I understood Emma’s hesitation—chamberlains and attendants were typically of noble birth. But trustworthy subordinates were few and far between, so I had no choice but to ask.

Emma deliberated for a moment before nodding in agreement.

Ivan, now dressed in servant’s attire instead of his dark coat, pointed at himself with his hand and spoke.

“What? You don’t trust me? Me?”

There was no need to answer such a noisy brat.

Soon, the servant candidates began arriving at the Separate Palace one by one. I instructed them to wait in the Dining Hall, then gathered the palace’s original servants in the Lobby.

Before hiring new servants, I needed to dismiss the spies.

“Your Highness, what is this about?”

“Why have servants from the Main Palace been brought here….”

I surveyed the servants, uncertain of why they’d been summoned, and gestured to Liribel standing at the far end.

“Liribel, why are you standing over there? Come here.”

“Yes, yes!”

Color bloomed across Liribel’s face as she glanced at the attendant beside her. She immediately rushed to my side.

“Well then… I’ve gathered you all here to inform you of those who no longer need to work at the Separate Palace. Those of you who are named should pack your belongings and leave the Separate Palace.”

“….”

“You understand the reason, I’m sure?”

The Lobby fell silent at the sudden dismissal. Some faces remained unmoved, while others glistened with cold sweat—those who felt the sting of guilt.

Yet they possessed enough sense not to protest or demand explanations for their departure.

I swept my gaze across them once more, then turned to Emma. She nodded, signaling her readiness.

“I’ll begin. Those who must leave are….”

I raised my finger and pointed to the far right where Liribel stood.

Then I drew my hand across to the far left.

Encompassing every soul standing before me.

Only then did several of the Servants grasp the situation, their mouths falling open in shock.

“From here to there. All of you leave my house. There will be no severance pay, so understand that clearly.”

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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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