Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 28

—————

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

—————

Pretending to Be Human: Episode 028

“At least my mind feels relieved.”

Just then, Ivan interjected casually.

“Aren’t they going to report something strange to their master? That they sensed tremendous power from the Princess….”

“You think anyone would believe that? They’d assume she just made up nonsense to save her own skin.”

“Fair point, I suppose.”

Just a month ago, I couldn’t even walk on my own, and now I’d become someone frightening enough to intimidate the servants—it was utterly absurd.

A report that the Princess actually wielded dark magic would have been far more believable.

‘That rumor circulates about me anyway, so it doesn’t matter.’

I left the Lobby with a light heart. Following behind me, Ivan suddenly remembered something and spoke.

“But is it really okay to dismiss so many? What about handover procedures and such?”

It was a useful question for once.

“It’s fine. The Separate Palace was never well-managed anyway, so the new staff should manage well enough among themselves. Emma and Liribel will handle my duties.”

The confusion that would arise from hiring new servants was something I’d anticipated. Ivan nodded at my words in understanding.

“Oh, Emma. Among the people you hired, there’s a merchant too, right?”

“Yes, I’ve also attached a list of necessary supplies to the letter being sent to the Empress. A professional Merchant Guild will arrive.”

Ivan, overhearing our conversation, interjected once more.

“A merchant? What’s that about?”

‘Why is he so curious about everything today?’

I glanced at him and sighed before explaining.

“The Separate Palace requires many things, so I’m looking for a Merchant Guild to manage it. There are limits to what I can request from the Main Palace.”

“Can you really just bring in outsiders like that?”

“It’s a privilege of the Imperial Family.”

Given that the Empress had approved it, it meant I was permitted to exercise such privileges.

“Hmm, a Merchant Guild, merchants, I see…”

Thinking his curiosity must be satisfied by now, I headed toward the Study to conduct the interviews, but Ivan fell into contemplation, murmuring the word “merchant” to himself.

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. I feel like I’m forgetting something. What was it?”

Soon after, he shook his head as if it wasn’t anything significant and followed me.

Once we arrived at the Study, we began preparing for the interviews.

I placed a roster containing the personal information of the Servants on the table, and had Liribel stand in the Corridor to usher in the Servants one by one.

Emma and Ivan stood behind me.

As a precaution, Ivan and I had agreed that he would signal me if he spotted anyone who appeared to be a Spy.

“Then, since we’re on the subject, shall we interview the merchant first?”

“Yes! I’ll bring them in right away!”

At my words, Liribel hurried off to the Dining Hall, saying she’d return shortly.

Shortly after, a young man entered the Study under Liribel’s guidance.

‘White hair?’

This man had a striking appearance.

His thin, fox-like eyes and slightly upturned lips were impressive, and his deep green eyes were equally striking, but it was his snow-white hair—brighter than the golden locks of the Imperial Family—that drew all attention.

They say snow-colored foxes dwell in the Northern Region, and I found myself thinking that if such a beast were to become human, it would wear precisely this face.

I examined his credentials first.

‘He’s barely reached adulthood. His guild deals in textiles and grain, and the name is Coco Guild… Quite ordinary for someone with such striking features.’

Both his merchandise and guild scale were ambiguous at best. One might call it barely scraping into the merchants who frequented the Imperial Palace.

Just as I finished reading through his brief credentials, the white-haired man before me arrived with a smiling face and offered his greeting.

“It is my first time meeting you, Princess… Ah, is this greeting improper by protocol?”

“It’s fine. Do as you please.”

I was not fond of those greetings about the sun and such. The man bowed gratefully, then continued with his introduction.

“I am honored to be called upon for this meeting. I am Grid, the proprietor of the Coco Guild!”

At that moment, Ivan, standing behind me, coughed unnaturally.

“Cough, ahem!”

‘What’s wrong with him?’

It was different from the signal we had arranged beforehand. Wondering if he had choked on something, I glanced back to find him avoiding my gaze while beads of cold sweat formed on his brow.

He looked like a dog who had caused some major disaster and was now avoiding his master’s eyes.

‘What has he done this time?’

But I could hardly interrogate him in the middle of an interview. I made a mental note to press him later and turned my attention back to the white-haired man, Grid.

“Pleased to meet you, Grid. First, have you ever conducted business with the Imperial Palace before?”

“No, this is my first time.”

“Then….”

The formal tone, which I had not used in some time, felt unfamiliar, but I managed to proceed through the interview without incident.

Yet the answer that came back was decidedly strange.

“Grain is your primary commodity, but who are your main trading partners?”

“Mercenary Groups. We smuggle to those stationed far from supply lines. The hungrier they are, the higher prices they’ll pay.”

…He spoke with such subtly unethical confidence.

“Textiles are famous in the Western Region, I’ve heard. Do you trade there?”

“No, instead I’ve hired seamstresses from the Western Families.”

“…How does that matter?”

“Cheap fabric embroidered with a Western Family’s name doubles in value. Did you know? Under Imperial Law, even if the production origin is the Southern Region, if the artisan is from the West, it can be sold as a Western specialty.”

…He explained his business methods with such ease, dancing between the illegal and the lawful.

‘What kind of person is this?’

Despite his youth, his talent for earning money was ruthlessly exceptional. Even I, listening to him, found myself impressed at certain points.

But this was hardly an answer suitable for an interview. Who would boldly confess their own immorality when meeting with the Imperial Family?

Just as I was thinking to dismiss him as yet another peculiar merchant, Grid smiled wickedly and spoke.

“Therefore, Princess, I can procure absolutely anything you desire.”

“Hmm?”

“Whether it be materials for dark magic, forbidden herbs—I will find a way to sell them to you. Fulfilling a client’s desires by any means necessary…that is my principle.”

‘He sounds just like a demon.’

To think that I, a former Demon in my past life, would hear such a proposal—it felt surreal. It was as though a stranger were offering to guide me through the homeland where I’d lived for centuries.

Naturally, I sensed no demonic power from Grid. A different energy lurked beneath the surface, but it was the complete opposite of what a Demon possessed.

I answered with a reluctant expression.

“That’s hardly something a merchant should say.”

“Come now, are you going to keep pretending you don’t know? You’re aware of my identity, aren’t you?”

“Aware of what, exactly?”

Grid tilted his head, as if my vague question struck him as peculiar.

“I am the head of the Black Market, and—”

I tilted my own head in response.

“…?”

“…Wait, you truly didn’t know?”

“How would I know that?”

My exasperation slipped through, and my usual manner of speech escaped me unbidden.

“How would you know? Well, didn’t that man behind you tell you?”

“Ivan? Why would he?”

“Because he followed me from the Arena.”

‘What in the world is he talking about?’

I turned immediately to look at Ivan. The man who had been avoiding my gaze while sweating moments ago was now attempting to escape through the Study window.

Naturally, I seized him by the collar and stopped him in his tracks.

“You followed him?”

“Yes. Moreover, the aura of the underworld emanated so strongly from him that I naturally assumed he was following me because he knew my identity… Wait, you mean you weren’t informed?”

Only then did Grid seem to grasp the situation, his mouth falling open in shock.

Overwhelmed by a tide of humiliation and fury, I yanked Ivan’s collar closer and spoke.

“Hey, Ivan.”

“Yes, yes.”

The fool who never listened when I insisted he use formal speech finally got it right this time.

“You were worried about forgetting something before you came to the Study earlier.”

“Y-yes, that’s right.”

“Don’t tell me it was a report about that merchant Grid?”

“….”

Ivan clamped his mouth shut like a squirrel hoarding an acorn.

I gripped his collar tightly and spoke again.

“Answer.”

“Yes, sir.”

‘This stupid Assassin.’

To think such a fool was considered a promising Assassin—Black Hand truly deserved to crumble.

“Explain from the beginning. In detail.”

“Yes….”

Ivan respectfully clasped his hands together and explained the situation to me.

‘So… at the Arena medal ceremony, he spotted a group whispering about Ruslara, and that group was Grid? Grid is a famous target in the Black Market.’

The self-proclaimed capable Assassin Ivan had recognized Grid’s identity and thought he should report it to me immediately.

But after sleeping at the Separate Palace and waking up, he simply forgot.

‘And this is what I call a Subordinate.’

Liribel’s Maid’s information network was far superior. I suppressed the urge to strike Ivan on the head.

Ivan had squeezed his eyes shut, bracing himself for the blow.

“Sigh… Is there anything else you need to report besides that?”

“No, sir.”

“Then stay over there. Until the next interview.”

“Yes, sir.”

Without a word of complaint, he made his way to the corner of the Study.

—————

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

—————