Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 27

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Struggling to Pretend to Be Human Today Episode 027

 

“W-wait a moment!”

 

The man at the front stepped forward. The man wearing an apron had an unfamiliar face, but his voice was familiar.

 

‘Ah, he was the Head Chef, right?’

 

That meant he was the man who always put poison in my meals.

 

“What is it?”

 

“We know Your Highness suspects us! But we’ve changed!”

 

“Changed?”

 

I tilted my head, wondering what kind of absurd nonsense this was.

 

Then the man and several other servants stepped forward together.

 

“A-although we committed unforgivable acts, we haven’t done anything recently! As proof of that, lately…!”

 

“There was no poison in the meals.”

 

“Y-yes, that’s right.”

 

Indeed, they hadn’t attempted to assassinate me recently. The meals came back normal, and they followed orders well when given.

 

“So what? What do you want me to do about it?”

 

I let out a hollow laugh.

 

“Should I praise you for that? It’s what you should have been doing all along.”

 

If they had worked like that normally, I might have at least felt some everyday gratitude.

 

But I hadn’t forgotten how they used to treat me.

 

The maid who looked at me like filth, the gardener who watched as if waiting to see when I’d die, the Head Chef who experimented with poisons and seasonings while making my meals…

 

Some of them were people who deserved to die immediately.

 

“W-we’re also reflecting on our actions…”

 

“If you’re truly reflecting, then shut up and leave. That would be the greatest help.”

 

“I-if we go back, we’ll die!”

 

The Head Chef suddenly rushed toward me.

 

Ivan instantly stepped out and blocked his path.

 

In that moment, seeing the glinting dagger from his chest, I immediately stopped Ivan.

 

“Don’t kill him.”

 

“…Tch.”

 

Ivan clicked his tongue, withdrew his hand from his chest, and kicked the man down.

 

“Ugh!”

 

Ivan glanced at the sprawling Head Chef like he was looking at a filthy bug and said to me.

 

“Why keep him alive? From what I hear, he deserves to die.”

 

“I agree with that, but it’s not time yet.”

 

I crossed my arms and sighed.

 

I wanted to punish them too. The resentment from the past hadn’t disappeared. But if I did that, I’d have to make enemies of the nobles and Imperial Family behind them.

 

‘The fact that they stopped the assassination attempts means their backers are also considering how to reestablish their relationship with me.’

 

Of course, I had no intention of joining hands with the backers. However, I wasn’t foolish enough to make enemies when I had no power.

 

Now was the time to take a gesture of tolerance and observe their movements rather than punish them.

 

‘I have to endure until I have the power to strike back.’

 

But Ivan didn’t seem to understand what I meant.

 

“Why bother waiting? If Your Highness just kills them directly…”

 

“Ivan.”

 

I covered his mouth with my hand. And I sent him a look that said I wouldn’t let it slide if he said more.

 

Ivan, suddenly intimidated, hurriedly nodded.

 

He probably said that with my abilities in mind. Meaning why bother being cautious when I had that level of skill.

 

‘If only I could act so carefree.’

 

After warning the naive boy to watch his words, I turned back to the Head Chef.

 

Just then, I noticed some servants who had come to work outside the lobby window glancing this way.

 

“Emma, the curtains.”

 

“Yes, understood.”

 

Quick-witted Emma immediately drew all the curtains in the lobby. In the darkened lobby, standing before the terrified Head Chef, I spoke quietly.

 

“You said earlier that you’d die if you went back? What does that mean?”

 

“M-my master… won’t let me live.”

 

“Why?”

 

“You know, don’t you? To silence me!”

 

“…Ah.”

 

Right. Since my return to high society was confirmed, they wouldn’t want to leave any unnecessary variables either.

 

No matter how much assassination and scheming ruled the Empire, attempted murder of Imperial Family with clear evidence was a serious crime subject to collective punishment.

 

A real spy would have sensed their end approaching.

 

I ran my hand through my hair and muttered indifferently.

 

“Too bad. So they should have killed you properly if they were going to kill you.”

 

Then I heard someone trying to suppress laughter behind me.

 

“Pfft…!”

 

When I turned around, I saw Emma covering her mouth.

 

Could she possibly like this kind of joke?

 

“Anyway, what happens to you after you leave my house is none of my business. Try begging your master nicely.”

 

‘Ordinary spies would be kept alive, but those who participated in assassination would die.’

 

Then the Head Chef, his face turning deathly pale, grabbed the hem of my dress and desperately cried out.

 

“P-please! Working at the Separate Palace means our lives are guaranteed!”

 

“So I don’t care about your circumstances…”

 

“Ten years, ten years! I’ve worked here for ten years! Even so, don’t you feel any guilt when someone is going to die!”

 

“…What?”

 

“People have something called affection, is it so hard to show mercy once! If Your Highness would just help us once… w-we would…”

 

I quietly stared at the Head Chef. I could feel the shadows in every corner of the lobby writhing in response to my anger.

 

‘Endure, I must endure.’

 

If my magical power went out of control in this state, everyone in the lobby would die. I couldn’t take the lives of Emma and Liribel, regardless of others.

 

Unlike the Demon Clan, it seemed difficult to control intense emotions in a human body, as magical power surged wildly and coursed through my skin.

 

The Head Chef, feeling the pressure of magical power right before him, couldn’t speak properly and trembled like a leaf.

 

“Guilt, you say guilt.”

 

“Hii, hiik!”

 

I crouched down and met the Head Chef’s gaze.

 

He had been clutching the hem of my dress, but now tried to escape by pulling his upper body back, though his legs wouldn’t obey and he couldn’t retreat.

 

“Did you feel guilt when you looked down on me?”

 

“That’s…”

 

“When you put poison in my food, when you poured ice-cold well water on me claiming to help me wash, when you mocked the smell in my bedroom, did you feel guilt then?”

 

“…”

 

“You never once considered me your master. You never saw me as Imperial Family either. Yet you dare ask me for guilt? Isn’t that ridiculous?”

 

That’s why I trust Emma.

 

She watched all of this happen, but she did her own work perfectly.

 

She never insulted or ignored her master under any circumstances. Only the nights when she was in charge of me were nights I could sleep peacefully.

 

“Listen carefully, the reason I’m letting you live now is to maintain friendly relations with your master.”

 

Of course, that’s a lie. I don’t forget grudges.

 

“So you must stay alive until you leave this Separate Palace. There was only one choice from the beginning.”

 

So this was a necessary release for the day of revenge that would come someday.

 

The Head Chef, his face now completely drained of color, stammered.

 

“Th-then after that…”

 

“Whether you die from your master’s kicks or get hit by a carriage on your way out, I don’t care.”

 

I extended my finger and poked the Head Chef’s chest. I could feel his fierce heartbeat at my fingertip.

 

“My hatred for you will never fade. Be grateful I’m not killing you here.”

 

“But if you leave the Separate Palace, you’ll die anyway….”

 

“Then shouldn’t you be grateful to me instead?”

 

My fingertip pierced through the clothes and touched his skin. I smiled brightly and continued speaking.

 

“Originally, your life should have ended right now, but you can stay alive until you meet your master, right? Your lifespan has increased, so why aren’t you grateful?”

 

“Hic, hic….”

 

The Head Chef finally began to lose his reason to the magical power and killing intent. His breathing became labored, and his eyes grew hazy. If I left him like this, his brain would be ruined and he wouldn’t be able to report properly to his master.

 

I withdrew my finger and stood up from my seat.

 

Just then, a window that hadn’t been properly closed opened from a strong wind, pushing the curtains aside. Feeling the pouring sunlight, I gave my final notice.

 

“If you understand, then get lost. I don’t want to explain twice.”

 

The colleagues nearby hurriedly helped up the Head Chef whose legs had given out and couldn’t move.

 

The dismissed ones were the first to rush out of the lobby, and those who had been watching the situation followed behind them. They were so frightened that some were crying or trembling.

 

As I quietly watched the departure of servants who had been with me for ten years, Emma cautiously approached.

 

“You showed great restraint.”

 

“Well, I think I acted emotionally.”

 

“No one would think that.”

 

I smiled bitterly.

 

“Emma, do you know what kind of person that Head Chef was ten years ago?”

 

“I don’t know.”

 

“He brought me a cake for my birthday. It was a strawberry cake with a cat drawn on it.”

 

‘It was really delicious.’

 

Now I couldn’t recall that taste at all.

 

Instead, only the terribly bitter taste of the poison he had put in the soup tormented the tip of my tongue.

 

That fact was regrettable.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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