Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 36

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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 036

 

“And you, Deina.”

 

After confirming that Franz had returned to his seat, the Emperor looked at me, still lying there, and spoke.

 

“You noticed when I entered the banquet hall. How clever of you.”

 

“I don’t know what you mean…”

 

I stood up with Gregory’s support. I tried my best to look pitiful, but it didn’t seem to work on him at all.

 

“To dare think of using me, normally I would punish you for such a crime…”

 

He clicked his tongue while looking at the nobles who were watching our exchange.

 

“I’ll overlook it just this once. Go out and compose yourself properly before returning.”

 

“I am grateful for His Majesty the Emperor’s consideration.”

 

After bowing respectfully, I left the banquet hall with Gregory. Just before leaving, the Empress, who had been standing behind the Emperor, looked at me with a sly smile.

 

It was a leisurely smile, as if she had seen everything I had done.

 

After leaving the banquet hall, we headed to the dressing room following a servant’s guidance. It was to smooth out the wrinkles in my dress.

 

“I’ll handle this myself, so you may leave.”

 

“Understood.”

 

It would have been nice to have Liribel by my side, but since this wasn’t an occasion where I could bring a maid, it was more comfortable to do it myself.

 

‘I wonder if the wrinkles will come out if I just press them with my hands.’

 

Just as I was thinking that and reaching for the dress, Gregory stepped forward.

 

“I’ll help you. Please undress.”

 

“Oh, thank you.”

 

If it were someone else, it might be different, but with Gregory, we had seen everything there was to see in the Demon Realm. I casually let him help me undress.

 

After skillfully removing my dress, he used an iron in the corner of the dressing room to smooth out the wrinkles.

 

As I sat in a chair watching him intently, Gregory suddenly asked a question.

 

“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t make enemies?”

 

“I did.”

 

“Then why did you confront Prince Franz?”

 

“He’s an exception.”

 

Gregory looked at me with eyes that seemed not to understand. I stretched to relieve my stiff body.

 

“I could never form an alliance with Franz from the start. He’s like a public enemy.”

 

“I understand his faction is the largest…”

 

“That’s right, but it’s a stubborn faction that has no intention of allying with anyone.”

 

It means they’re a faction that will become enemies anyway, regardless of whether I’m careful or not. Setting aside Franz’s particular dislike of me, the nature of his faction itself doesn’t allow for alliances.

 

In that case, it was more effective to turn my back on Franz’s faction from the beginning and keep relationships open with the remaining factions.

 

“Moreover, he’s the legitimate prince endorsed by the Temple. Could he possibly become friendly with a princess rumored to be cursed like me?”

 

“But if you increase his hostility, won’t the prince’s faction attack Your Highness more intensively…”

 

“That’s impossible too. Through that fight just now, I became the weak victim. If they rashly target me, their reputation will be completely destroyed, won’t it?”

 

Since even the Emperor took my side, Franz’s side can no longer blame me.

 

Even if they try to bring up charges of disrespect, we’re both members of the imperial family, and even if I did curse at him, the fact that he pushed down a woman who had been bedridden until a month ago won’t disappear.

 

Gregory, who had been adjusting the dress frills, finally nodded as if he understood.

 

“…Indeed, this world is complicated.”

 

“That’s right. Here, sometimes reputation and justification are more important than power.”

 

We deliberately didn’t mention the word Demon Realm out loud.

 

“In some ways, it seems to suit Your Highness well. Didn’t you solve various problems this way in the past too?”

 

“…That’s old history.”

 

Back then, there were several times when I recklessly started trouble and failed. I smiled bitterly and changed the subject.

 

“Speaking of which, you’re asking a lot of questions today. What’s the occasion?”

 

Usually, he would just answer “Yes, understood” to everything, so I didn’t expect him to ask so many questions. Even when he was curious about something, he wouldn’t speak up unless I asked him directly.

 

At my words, his hands, which had been arranging the dress, paused.

 

“I felt I needed to hear the reason to be able to endure it.”

 

“Endure what?”

 

“The murderous intent to kill Prince Franz.”

 

“…”

 

Gregory raised his head to look at me. In his dry eyes, within the small pupils, I could see Gregory’s viscous killing intent that I had witnessed on past battlefields.

 

“I knew all of this was Your Highness’s plan. Provoking the prince, him trying to attack Your Highness, it was all planned.”

 

‘No, not to that extent…’

 

Honestly, there was also an emotional reason of wanting to get back at Franz. It wasn’t just once or twice that I’d been wronged by that bastard. Probably 30% of the servants who tormented me at the separate palace came on his orders.

 

‘Now that it’s over, I thought of rational reasons and just pieced them together… I can’t say that.’

 

Gregory’s momentum was ominous. If I said the wrong thing, he seemed ready to throw down the dress and storm into the banquet hall for a massacre.

 

“The moment he laid hands on Your Highness, I slaughtered his body dozens of times in my head. And that’s still the case now.”

 

“Ah… I see.”

 

“Therefore, I tried to suppress this anger with a reasonable cause. If there was an understandable reason, I could postpone punishing his foolish actions.”

 

‘So he didn’t forgive him.’

 

Well, repaying grudges to the end was also a principle of our unit.

 

“I seem to be still immature. To think I would try to interfere with Your Highness’s plans just because of anger.”

 

“No, you don’t need to blame yourself that much…”

 

“I will strive harder in the future.”

 

“Mm-hmm.”

 

Since he was contemplating and growing on his own, there was no reason to stop him. I nodded reluctantly.

 

“The dress maintenance is finished. Shall I help you dress?”

 

“Ah, no. I’ll put it on myself. Wait outside.”

 

“Understood.”

 

He respectfully handed me the dress and went outside. Though it was a bit difficult to put on by myself, after hearing that conversation, it was a bit hard to face him normally.

 

It felt like I was deceiving an innocent child.

 

‘Somehow, Gregory’s loyalty seems stronger than before.’

 

Had there been some change in his feelings?

 

I had resolved not to ask about Demon Realm matters, but perhaps I should hear about it at least once.

 

* * *

 

When I returned to the banquet hall, the appetizers were just beginning to be served.

 

Usually there would be the Emperor’s greeting before that, but I seemed to have arrived somewhat late.

 

Gregory and I quietly took our seats. And as I was examining the food brought by the servant.

 

‘Huh? Isn’t that Loreil?’

 

I spotted Loreil sitting at the end of the nobles’ section. I definitely hadn’t seen him earlier, but he seemed to have entered at some point.

 

He also seemed to have noticed me, as he gave a brief nod.

 

“…”

 

Then he looked back and forth between me and Gregory with unreadable eyes.

 

I turned my head to look at Jeina. She was still sitting next to the Empress.

 

“Don’t look around like a child.”

 

“Didn’t things work out well with Loreil?”

 

“…”

 

Jeina frowned for a moment. Then she swallowed the pickled appetizer before speaking.

 

“There’s no working out or not working out. I don’t want to be involved with him.”

 

“What? But last time…”

 

Only then did I notice the expression of the Empress beside her. She was glaring at Loreil with wide eyes.

 

‘Wow.’

 

I could feel a chilling hostility that was incomparable to Franz’s. With her already large eyes opened like that, I could understand the expression about devouring someone with your eyes.

 

‘I don’t know what happened, but it seems Loreil had a fight with the Empress.’

 

It definitely wasn’t something I should get involved in. I deliberately looked away toward my plate, pretending not to notice.

 

“Britz Jabok, was it?”

 

Then the Emperor addressed Gregory. Gregory answered respectfully.

 

“I am honored that you remember my name, Your Majesty.”

 

“Since he’s the young man who partnered with my lacking daughter, of course I remember him.”

 

He took a sip of wine and continued speaking.

 

“I heard you two met at the Arena.”

 

‘He’s playing dumb when he knows everything.’

 

The Emperor would have completed a thorough background check on Gregory the moment he heard my report about bringing him as my partner. There was a high chance even his shady past had been exposed.

 

Yet he asked nonchalantly.

 

“To attend such an occasion from that brief encounter, I’m curious about the reason. What attracted you to my daughter?”

 

‘Did this man eat something wrong?’

 

Somehow his words sounded as affectionate as a real father would speak. Of course, his voice was still sharp. I was bewildered wondering what he was thinking with that attitude, when Gregory answered naturally.

 

“Her Highness the Princess has the power to draw people in with just a single word or glance. I was simply captivated by that charm.”

 

“You speak as if it was love at first sight.”

 

“You may interpret it that way. It’s true that I want to stand by Her Highness’s side in any form.”

 

‘Why is he acting like this too!’

 

At his unsolicited answer, I unconsciously dropped the food I was holding.

 

I wasn’t the only one surprised. Loreil at the far end was squinting his eyes and glaring this way.

 

I was wondering what that man was suspicious about now when.

 

“Tsk.”

 

This time I heard a tongue-clicking sound from beside me, as if expressing displeasure.

 

It was Jeina.

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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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