Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 35

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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 035

 

Finally arriving in front of the banquet hall. Noisy conversation could be heard from inside the door. I asked the attendant beside me.

 

“Who has entered so far?”

 

“Only His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress remain.”

 

In other words, I was essentially the last attendee.

 

‘What’s gotten into that Emperor?’

 

I thought he might make me attend first to embarrass me, but surprisingly he seemed to have shown consideration for me. This way, the attendees would know that I was the protagonist of this banquet.

 

It wasn’t a bad start for my first step back into high society.

 

“Your Highness Princess?”

 

As I fell into thought, Gregory called me cautiously.

 

I shook my head saying I was fine and spoke.

 

“I’m fine, Britz Jabok. Let’s go in.”

 

Linking arms with him, I stepped through the banquet hall door that the attendant opened for us.

 

“Princess Deina and Britz Jabok are entering.”

 

“….”

 

The commotion in the banquet hall stopped abruptly. The gazes of countless seated people focused on us.

 

‘Half wariness, half curiosity… no goodwill.’

 

This was what I had expected. Rather, I was relieved there was no one welcoming us with a smiling face like the Empress.

 

The sharp tension reminded me of a battlefield, making me feel much more at ease.

 

I followed the attendant’s guidance toward my seat.

 

The banquet’s structure was in an angular horseshoe shape, with nobles seated at tables on both sides, and the Imperial Family seated side by side around the Emperor at the center table.

 

My seat was at the lowest position among the Imperial Family, next to Jeina.

 

While walking, I could hear several nobles whispering.

 

“Britz Jabok, how well she brought him.”

 

“I thought they had no connection, how did this happen?”

 

“Well, perhaps Her Majesty the Empress….”

 

‘High-ranking nobles aren’t necessarily more cultured.’

 

Wherever you go, there are people who can’t keep their mouths shut.

 

Well, a princess who had been confined brought a renowned young nobleman from the capital as her partner, so it was bound to cause a stir.

 

The Emperor and Empress would have known in advance, but for the nobles, it must have been a somewhat surprising pairing.

 

I left their gazes behind and took my seat.

 

“How have you been, Jeina?”

 

I smiled and spoke to Jeina in the seat next to me. She responded in her characteristically dry tone.

 

“Don’t speak to me carelessly.”

 

No nagging meant she had been doing well.

 

I glanced at the seat next to her. For some reason, I could see the Empress’s seat directly. In other words, I couldn’t see her partner’s seat.

 

‘Wasn’t she supposed to come with Loreil?’

 

All the other Imperial Family members had their partners seated next to them. Naturally, it would be proper etiquette to enter with one’s partner… could it mean Jeina entered alone?

 

Then, an intruder sitting on the opposite side stood up and approached me.

 

He was an intruder with platinum hair neatly swept back revealing a straight forehead, characterized by his sanpaku eyes. Seeing his arrogant face after a long time, I gave a formal smile.

 

“It’s been a while, Prince Franz.”

 

“Not calling me brother, you’ve become quite wise, Deina.”

 

His identity was the First Prince, Franz. Still flaunting unnecessary intimidation, he rudely placed his hand on my chair and leaned diagonally while looking down at me.

 

“Since this was a banquet requiring partners, I naturally thought you’d come alone, but you seduced a man to bring along – quite capable. Was the confinement to the Separate Palace actually just a false rumor?”

 

‘Starting with childish behavior from the get-go.’

 

I clicked my tongue inwardly. At Franz’s blatant words, several nobles sent interested glances our way.

 

Seeing him use crude language that no Imperial Family member should ever utter, Franz truly seemed to have grown not at all during this time.

 

I maintained my smile and answered.

 

“It was a chance encounter. While hosting this arena event, I met Britz Jabok who came as a spectator….”

 

“Ah, so you neglected event management and went around meeting men?”

 

‘This bastard really.’

 

I take back what I just said. Franz seemed to have devolved even further in intelligence than before.

 

Though I was displeased by the base tone I hadn’t heard in a long time, I held back from showing it.

 

‘No, Franz may be annoying but he’s not particularly foolish. He must be doing this with some scheme in mind.’

 

I quickly scanned the surroundings.

 

Jeina was staring at the table without saying anything, and the other prince was also in a wait-and-see state.

 

Naturally, there was no one anywhere who would help me.

 

‘Normally Jeina would say something about maintaining dignity, but she’s staying quiet. The Second Prince who would check Franz is also silent… this might be a pre-agreed initiation.’

 

The reason for such a childish initiation was obvious. They intended to figure out what kind of person I was again.

 

If I were my childhood self, I would have confronted his provocation, and if I were my teenage self, I would have bowed my head feeling servile emotions.

 

Those in the banquet hall seemed to want to confirm which version of Deina I was.

 

After thinking for a moment, I reached a conclusion.

 

‘I was never going to have a good relationship with Franz anyway. So let’s go with what’s comfortable.’

 

What was comfortable here naturally meant attack.

 

“Going around meeting the opposite sex… could anyone match Prince Franz?”

 

“What?”

 

“Today you brought the daughter of the Countess of Jorju. Didn’t your other two fiancées… no, fiancée candidates come?”

 

“You….”

 

“Well, it would be difficult to bring them. You’d need to prepare as many as three fiancée seats, and that would make His Majesty the Emperor’s seat cramped, wouldn’t it?”

 

His face turned bright red at the successive criticisms.

 

‘Getting worked up over just this much.’

 

My smile deepened at his quite entertaining reaction.

 

For reference, Franz was a well-known lecher. Besides his official fiancée, he was known to be involved with two other women, whom society called by the derogatory term ‘fiancée candidates.’

 

Naturally, their reputations weren’t good either.

 

‘Do you think people won’t know about your scandals just because you brought your real fiancée to an official occasion like this?’

 

I glanced at the pale-complexioned woman sitting next to Franz’s seat. Unlike Franz who was getting heated here, a thick air of gloom surrounded her.

 

She was the biggest victim of this petty scandal.

 

“You’ve gotten quite bold. Are you the type who raises your head when there’s a man next to you?”

 

“Is there such a personality type? Then why can’t Your Highness raise your head in front of His Majesty the Emperor even with your fiancée next to you… I’d like to share some of my courage with Your Highness.”

 

Franz ground his teeth.

 

“You don’t seem to know your place. Enough, Deina Ripeon.”

 

Then he grabbed my collar.

 

“Just because His Majesty the Emperor helped you a little, do you think your status has changed? A penniless nobody with no power or wealth. Someone like you could be eliminated right now…!”

 

His voice grew louder and louder. At the same time, the nobles who had been watching noticed some presence and held their breath while straightening their posture.

 

Sensing the change in the banquet hall, I blocked Franz’s words with my index finger and leaned in slightly. Then I whispered in his ear.

 

“What, you’ll kill me? Then try killing me.”

 

“…!”

 

“Go ahead, right now.”

 

“Urgh…!”

 

Whether my laughing provocation was the trigger, he finally couldn’t contain his anger and pushed my shoulder with all his might.

 

It was an obvious attack I could dodge with my eyes closed, but I offered no resistance whatsoever.

 

Then, Jeina, who had been watching the situation from beside me, cried out my name in surprise.

 

“Deina!”

 

‘How unusual for her to worry about her sister.’

 

I winked slightly to tell her not to worry and relaxed my body. Since I didn’t even take a proper falling position, it would be quite a spectacular fall, but showing a pitiful appearance was what I desired.

 

And for good reason.

 

“What is this commotion.”

 

At the very moment I was sprawled disgracefully on the floor, the Emperor entered the banquet hall.

 

“Your Majesty… the Emperor.”

 

Disheveled hair and a dress wrinkled from having the collar grabbed. A disgraceful posture collapsed on the floor.

 

Looking as pitiful as if I had been punched by Franz, I looked up at the Emperor.

 

‘It would be good to act with eyes seeking sympathy, but… it’s not easy.’

 

From the start, the Emperor didn’t sympathize with me either. Rather, he surveyed the interior of the Banquet Hall and quickly assessed the situation.

 

Franz frozen with his arm extended and me collapsed on the floor.

 

The nobles who had been watching the two of us with great interest, but had already straightened their posture upon noticing the Emperor’s entrance.

 

Having finished his assessment in an instant, he clicked his tongue and spoke to Franz.

 

“You thundering fool. Is maintaining dignity for just a moment that difficult?”

 

“Y-Your Majesty the Emperor. This is a misunderstanding…”

 

“Silence. A bastard who raises his hand against a sick person… You have only two options. Apologize and sit down, or apologize and get out.”

 

“…I apologize.”

 

Franz finally bowed his waist. The moment our eyes met, I gave him a short wink just like I had done to Jeina.

 

‘Good work, you fool.’

 

Grind, he gnashed his teeth once again.

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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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