Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 31

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

Struggling to Pretend to Be Human Today Episode 031

 

After my health deteriorated and the Emperor’s confinement order was issued, my family’s visits to the separate palace noticeably decreased.

 

It was natural for the sake of their own reputation. There was nothing good to be gained from being associated with a cursed, abandoned princess.

 

Among the imperial family, the one who visited most frequently was my younger sister, Jeina.

 

She would come to see me whenever there was a major event in the Empire, warning me that as a member of the imperial family, I must attend.

 

‘Next month is His Majesty the Emperor’s birthday. It’s his 50th birthday, and nobles from other kingdoms have come as envoys. So you must join us too, sister.’

 

A few times I attended with her help, but it never ended well.

 

Misfortunes would occur one after another, like the carriage of some prince who greeted me getting into an accident, or blood coming from my mouth when I coughed at a banquet.

 

On top of that, my physical condition kept getting worse, so during her last visit, I declined, saying I probably wouldn’t be able to attend.

 

That was the first time I saw Jeina’s anger.

 

‘Don’t be ridiculous. Are you saying you’ll abandon your duties as a member of the imperial family? Do you think the daily life and rights you enjoy now were given to you for free?’

 

She was absolutely right.

 

To her, who practiced noblesse oblige, I must have seemed like a foolish imperial family member abandoning my duties under the excuse of poor health.

 

I could only smile bitterly and didn’t make any other excuses. Expressing this pain and despair in words felt rather pathetic.

 

After dozens of reproaches and hours of persuasion, when I still couldn’t get up, she eventually gave up on me and left.

 

‘I won’t come to see you again until you become a proper member of the imperial family.’

 

Leaving behind a farewell full of disappointment.

 

‘…To think that was already 5 years ago, time really flies.’

 

My time had stopped at the separate palace, but it seemed it hadn’t for her.

 

While I was reminiscing about the past, Jeina clicked her tongue.

 

“His Majesty the Emperor has shown consideration so you can return to society, but you’d better get your act together. It would be embarrassing if someone who’s supposedly imperial family made mistakes in etiquette.”

 

“Yes, I’ll practice.”

 

Seemingly displeased with my brief answer, she crossed her arms and stared at me quietly.

 

It was still the same cold gaze that felt devoid of any familial affection.

 

“Still, your complexion has improved. At this level, we should be able to find you a decent match.”

 

“A match?”

 

“A fiancé. Surely you’re not going to say something stupid like you don’t want to get married?”

 

“…”

 

At Jeina’s question, who despite being a princess had the most similar common sense to the Emperor, I couldn’t bring myself to answer.

 

If I answered that I had no thoughts of marriage right now, she would easily spend an hour berating my incompetence.

 

“A princess’s duty is to welcome a husband suitable for the Empire’s sake…”

 

Sensing that her nagging was about to begin, I interrupted her mid-sentence.

 

“Come to think of it, do you know that His Majesty the Emperor chose Lord Loreil as my assistant?”

 

“…I heard from Her Majesty the Empress.”

 

Fortunately, she didn’t seem to notice my intention, nodding with a slightly displeased expression.

 

“He probably tried to pair you with Lord Loreil. Though it’s unlikely to work out since you’re not on the same level.”

 

“Her Majesty the Empress seemed interested too. I think she wants to introduce him to you.”

 

“I know that too. He would be a decent match for me. Though I don’t know why they’re suddenly trying to connect us.”

 

Despite her words, she didn’t seem pleased. She seemed to think about Loreil for a moment, then asked me.

 

“What did you think of Lord Loreil?”

 

“He was a decent person.”

 

‘Though he was a bit troublesome.’

 

He had been desperate to find clues that I was from the demon clan. That’s why I didn’t want to get involved with him if possible.

 

“That’s not what I meant…”

 

“…?”

 

“Never mind, forget it.”

 

She shook her head briefly and stood up from her seat. Having delivered the Emperor’s letter, she seemed ready to leave now.

 

Accordingly, Emma, who had been waiting near the door, quietly opened it. Jeina glanced at Emma and said.

 

“I heard you replaced all the servants.”

 

“That’s right, there were many people with impure motives.”

 

“Hmph, you should have done it sooner.”

 

Her steps, which had been heading out with Emma’s escort, stopped.

 

Then she turned around and looked at me.

 

“…Aren’t you going to ask?”

 

“Ask what?”

 

“Aren’t you curious about who the culprit was that planted assassins in the separate palace?”

 

I widened my eyes.

 

It was a question Jeina would never ask.

 

‘Because Jeina is one of the prime suspects.’

 

I wouldn’t have been surprised if she tried to hide it, but I didn’t expect her to ask directly.

 

I tried to figure out her intentions, but her expression didn’t change at all.

 

“…It would be a lie to say I’m not curious. But I think now isn’t the right time.”

 

“Are you confident you can find out anytime?”

 

“Something like that.”

 

Tracking their traces was easy. The reason I didn’t bother was because I didn’t want to give the impression that I knew.

 

With these kinds of problems, it’s safest when you seem to know nothing.

 

“How wise.”

 

Seemingly pleased with my words, she nodded.

 

“But be careful. The opponent will deploy even more vicious schemes from now on. Both assassinations and spies.”

 

‘She’s talking as if she’s not involved.’

 

But since I was the one who said I wouldn’t dig deeper, I didn’t bother to ask further.

 

“I’ll naturally prepare for that much, so don’t worry. A princess who was dying suddenly became useful, so there must be many people paying attention.”

 

“…Useful?”

 

At my words, Jeina suddenly frowned. Then she snorted.

 

“I take back what I said about you being wise.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“You still don’t know your place, Deina.”

 

And she turned around sharply, adding that she was disappointed. Just before leaving the room, she said in a voice mixed with sighs.

 

“Think carefully about why they tried to kill you.”

 

“What do you mean…”

 

“Also, prepare perfectly for the banquet. Don’t disappoint me twice.”

 

She left the separate palace immediately, as if that was all she had to say. As I stared blankly at her retreating figure, Liribel, who had been attending to me, carefully spoke.

 

“Does Princess Jeina really… hate Princess Deina?”

 

“At least she doesn’t like me.”

 

To Jeina, who was a perfect imperial family member, I was someone she couldn’t like even if she wanted to.

 

When we were young, she used to follow me around calling me sister, but the world we lived in then and now had changed.

 

Then, Ivan, who had been hiding in the shadows of the room, quietly appeared.

 

“But I didn’t sense any hostility? Her tone was harsh, but she wasn’t wary of the princess either.”

 

“How do you know that?”

 

“She left all her shadow guards outside the separate palace. Her guards were skilled enough to be empress-level guards too.”

 

I looked out the window. Outside the separate palace, I could sense skilled individuals around Jeina pretending to be servants.

 

Of course, I had never told her not to bring guards.

 

‘Should I consider that her attitude has changed?’

 

It was difficult to judge. Even when parting, her tone suggested she didn’t think I would be of any use.

 

I watched her retreating figure with my eyes, then said to Ivan.

 

“Have the items I asked Grid for arrived?”

 

“He said he’ll send them in the evening. But why do you need such things? Some strange herbs and a rusty dagger…”

 

“Well, that’s because.”

 

‘Should I tell him or not?’

 

Since he would find out eventually anyway, I thought it wouldn’t matter if I told him now.

 

“I’m going to call a friend.”

 

“A friend?”

 

“Yeah, I need a friend who can help me from now on.”

 

I pointed to the letter Jeina had left behind.

 

It was earlier than planned, but since the Emperor had set the stage, it seemed like the time had come to call my hometown friend.

 

* * *

 

‘What a useless princess.’

 

Jeina, who had left the Separate Palace, snorted in disbelief and quickened her pace.

 

The servants who noticed her bad mood quietly followed behind her.

 

‘Those idiots would surely laugh if they heard this.’

 

Jeina cursed Deina’s shallow judgment. Perhaps from rotting away in the Separate Palace for decades, Deina’s political sense seemed to have greatly deteriorated.

 

Deina was mistaken about her own value and the reason she should have been assassinated.

 

‘She probably thought it was about bringing shame to the Imperial Family’s honor, or targeting the Imperial Family’s surplus assets.’

 

It wasn’t a wrong interpretation. There were probably three or four people with such purposes.

 

But Deina seemed oblivious to the fact that there was a more clear-cut purpose than that.

 

‘It’s true that Deina is cursed with misfortune. But the nobles who spread those rumors uncontrollably had other ulterior motives.’

 

The rumors that spread across the entire Empire in a short time—Jeina judged that specific forces had orchestrated this.

 

And their purpose was…

 

‘It was to keep her in check. At the time, Deina was receiving excessive attention from the Emperor.’

 

There were even talks that perhaps the Emperor might give her an excessive position.

 

She was bound to be an obstacle to nobles who had connections with the princes, or conservatives who considered Jeina the legitimate princess.

 

It was natural for them to target Deina when she had weakened. They would have needed to put an end to her potential.

 

They had to kill her now, before she could grow further.

 

They had to eliminate her before followers could emerge.

 

The assassination attempt had stemmed from such obvious and disgusting logic.

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