Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 32

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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 032

 

‘They must have thought His Majesty the Emperor favored Deina without reason. But that couldn’t be the case.’

 

The idea that an Emperor rumored to have blue blood flowing through his heart would move due to petty emotions.

 

For Jeina, who was considered the person who understood the Emperor best, this was incomprehensible.

 

The Emperor was someone who moved thoroughly for profit. Religion and faith, commoners and nobles, and even family were nothing more than pieces on a chessboard to him.

 

Then there was only one reason why the Emperor showed particular interest in Deina.

 

‘He knew she was extraordinary.’

 

Just like Jeina, who had regarded and respected Deina as family more than her two older brothers.

 

Jeina recalled the Deina of the past.

 

She who was exceptionally clever compared to her other siblings.

 

Her one and only older sister who had tried to teach her how to live as Jeina, not as royalty.

 

‘Though even reminiscing about it is terrible now.’

 

The Deina and Jeina of that time no longer exist.

 

As long as they were royalty leading the Empire, they could no longer escape from responsibility and duty.

 

But if Deina regained her past brilliance and grew into a threat to Jeina and the princes…

 

“Oh my, what a coincidence to meet in a place like this, Jeina.”

 

“…Your Majesty the Empress.”

 

Just then, cutting through Jeina’s contemplation, a familiar voice reached her ears.

 

The person she encountered in the small park between the Separate Palace and Main Palace was none other than Empress Chersil.

 

The Empress stopped Jeina from offering her greetings and approached with a smile.

 

“I told you to call me mother in private settings like this, Jeina.”

 

“I cannot do that. Now that I’m an adult, I must set an example.”

 

“Really, how disappointing… More importantly, what brings you here?”

 

Jeina hesitated for a moment. She could have made up an appropriate lie to get through the situation, but there were suspicious aspects.

 

‘Meeting by coincidence? That’s ridiculous. There’s nothing to see around here except the Separate Palace. But to say she followed me on the day I was going to the Separate Palace… the timing is too convenient.’

 

Jeina had headed to the Separate Palace immediately upon hearing the Emperor’s command. Even if the Empress had followed right away, there wasn’t enough distance and time. The palace where the Empress lived was on the complete opposite side from the Separate Palace.

 

‘Then… was she actually planning to go to the Separate Palace?’

 

But she couldn’t understand the reason. Currently, there were too few connections between the Empress and Deina.

 

Moreover, the Empress had never once visited the Separate Palace until now. All this time, she had looked at the Separate Palace as if it were a filthy garbage dump.

 

Yet now she was going to the Separate Palace – there must be a special reason.

 

“I can hear the sound of worries swirling in your head from here. You’re not answering my question and suspecting your mother’s intentions?”

 

The Empress, familiar with Jeina’s attitude, shook her head with a sigh, resting her chin on her hand.

 

“My goodness, I don’t remember raising such a cold child.”

 

“I apologize. The reason I headed to the Separate Palace was to deliver His Majesty the Emperor’s command.”

 

“Ah, I see. There was no need for Jeina to go personally… Were you that curious about Princess Deina?”

 

“It was my duty as royalty.”

 

The Empress smiled bitterly at Jeina’s rigid response. Judging that continuing the joke would be useless, she erased her smile and spoke.

 

“Since you answered nicely, this mother will tell you about her schedule too. Mother was also planning to go to the Separate Palace. I have something to tell Princess Deina about the banquet.”

 

“What would that be?”

 

“Think about it yourself.”

 

The Empress smiled, indicating she wouldn’t reveal more. But the answer to this problem could be easily extracted.

 

She had just finished having that very conversation with Deina.

 

“Is it about Lord Loreil?”

 

“Correct. Why did you think so?”

 

“Because that’s about the only interest Your Majesty the Empress would have in Princess Deina.”

 

Jeina had already suspected that Loreil’s sudden cessation of helping Deina was the Empress’s scheme. And now she was visiting the Separate Palace she had never even glanced at before – the reason was obvious.

 

The Empress praised her as admirable and continued speaking.

 

“For this banquet, His Majesty the Emperor said to bring a partner, right? I thought I’d recommend a good partner to her…”

 

“You’re planning to warn her not to ask Lord Loreil to be her partner.”

 

“Warning? It’s advice.”

 

At the Empress’s sly tone, Jeina almost let out a sigh.

 

‘She really wants to pair me with Loreil, doesn’t she.’

 

A daughter’s marriage is decided by her mother. Jeina didn’t raise unnecessary objections to this marriage proposal.

 

“Of course, even without my advice, there’s no way Lord Loreil would accept Princess Deina’s request.”

 

“Well, we’ll have to wait and see about that.”

 

Jeina’s lips curved up slightly.

 

The Empress tilted her head at that expression.

 

“Does Jeina think Lord Loreil will accept?”

 

“I don’t think the possibility is zero. She has a unique… charm.”

 

Jeina had never praised Deina in front of the Empress in her entire life. The Empress’s eyes widened at this incomprehensible answer.

 

“Jeina has a very high opinion of Princess Deina.”

 

“I merely stated facts.”

 

Rather, Jeina found the Empress’s complacent judgment more incomprehensible.

 

If she had seen Deina when she was healthy and perfect as royalty, she couldn’t have made such an assessment.

 

‘Well, I suppose His Majesty the Emperor is the same way.’

 

Though she had been thinking similarly to His Majesty the Emperor, there was one thing even Jeina couldn’t accept.

 

‘That’s probably why he tried to pair a worthless person like Loreil with Deina.’

 

Jeina recalled what she had just said to Deina.

 

‘He probably tried to pair you with Lord Loreil. But it wouldn’t work since you’re not on the same level.’

 

That was exactly right.

 

Deina was too good for someone like Loreil.

 

In her view, a suitable groom for Deina’s level hadn’t even appeared yet.

 

The Empress, unaware of Jeina’s thoughts, only wore a curious and puzzled expression.

 

* * *

 

On the evening when my younger sister Jeina returned, I called Liribel and Ivan. And in the dim bedroom, I began a secretive conversation.

 

“The Emperor attached a condition to the banquet. I must bring a partner.”

 

“A partner means…”

 

“I must bring a fiancé or someone equivalent.”

 

“Oh my!”

 

Liribel covered her mouth with an excited expression, clearly delighted. She seemed to really enjoy this kind of topic.

 

On the other hand, Ivan slouched and raised an objection.

 

“Do you even have such a person, Your Highness?”

 

“No. That’s why it means I need to find one myself.”

 

“Isn’t that a bit strange? You said the reason for entering society was to find a fiancé. But you haven’t even entered society yet, so how can you bring a man?”

 

It was a reasonable objection, coming from Ivan of all people.

 

“Right. As you said, the Emperor set this condition knowing I would fail. And his purpose is probably to publicly embarrass me.”

 

“What do you mean by that? Wasn’t he going to give you a reward for successfully completing the event?”

 

“That’s the carrot. This is the stick. He knows I’m not very interested in engagement.”

 

Liribel, finally catching on to the Emperor’s intention, clapped her hands and said.

 

“Ah, it’s a warning! To focus on finding a fiancé instead of doing other things!”

 

“Exactly.”

 

Ivan clicked his tongue as if it was absurd.

 

“Why not just say it directly? Why give a warning through such troublesome means?”

 

“That’s what being a noble is like. Since I can avoid one-sided commands by making all sorts of excuses, he’s publicly embarrassing me to make me move directly.”

 

It was a method worthy of the Emperor – giving a carrot then immediately wielding the stick to make someone work.

 

Ivan shook his head, saying he couldn’t understand what royalty were thinking.

 

“Fine, I get that the Emperor is a twisted person. But what does having Grid collect strange materials have to do with this? You also said you were ‘calling a friend’ earlier.”

 

“Yes, now we’re getting to the main point.”

 

I began placing the materials Grid had delivered onto the bedroom floor one by one.

 

‘Actually, this was something I planned to do when Ruslara came… but I have no choice.’

 

The pattern drawn by the ingredients was a hexagram. It was a very classical magic circle used for summoning.

 

“Calling a friend naturally means calling a partner to participate in this banquet.”

 

Noblemen were excluded since they had no decent acquaintances.

 

People like servants were naturally excluded since bringing them would only make them the next assassination target.

 

Ivan, who was active as an informant, couldn’t even be considered as a candidate from the start.

 

Then there was only one method left.

 

‘I can just create my own person entirely.’

 

Calling a friend for that purpose. In other words.

 

“Demon Clan summoning.”

 

It was about bringing a subordinate from the Demon Realm.

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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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