Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 36

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

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Pretending to Be Human: Episode 036

“And you, Deina.”

The Emperor watched me still sprawled on the floor, speaking only after confirming that Franz had returned to his seat.

“You noticed when I entered the Banquet Hall. Quite cunning of you.”

“I’m not sure what you mean, Your Majesty…”

I rose with Gregory’s support, doing my best to appear pitiful, though it clearly had no effect on him.

“To think you would dare attempt to use me… Under normal circumstances, I would demand punishment for such insolence…”

He clicked his tongue while observing the nobles who were watching us intently.

“This time, I shall overlook it. Now go, compose yourself, and return.”

“I am grateful for Your Majesty’s mercy.”

I bowed respectfully and left the Banquet Hall with Gregory. Just before departing, the Empress, who stood behind the Emperor, smiled knowingly at me.

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

After leaving the Banquet Hall, Gregory and I proceeded to the Dressing Room under the Chamberlain’s guidance to smooth out the wrinkles in my dress.

“I can manage this myself. You may leave.”

“Very well.”

I wished Liribel were here with me, but it wasn’t appropriate to bring a Maid to such a place, so I preferred to handle it myself.

‘Perhaps I can just smooth it out with my hands.’

As I reached for the dress with that thought, Gregory stepped forward.

“Allow me to assist you. Please disrobe.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Gregory was different from anyone else—he was someone who had seen everything worth seeing, and much that wasn’t, even in the Demon Realm itself. I entrusted my disrobing to him without hesitation.

With practiced efficiency, he removed my dress and smoothed out the wrinkles with an iron from the corner of the Dressing Room.

I sat in a chair, watching him intently, when Gregory suddenly posed a question.

“Did you not say you would not make enemies?”

“I did.”

“Then why did you confront Prince Franz?”

“He’s an exception.”

Gregory’s eyes betrayed his confusion. I stretched to ease the stiffness from my body.

“From the start, an alliance with Franz is impossible. He’s like a public enemy.”

“I understand his faction is the largest…”

“True, but it’s a stubborn faction with no intention of allying with anyone.”

In other words, they’re destined to become enemies regardless of how carefully I tread. Setting aside Prince Franz’s particular dislike of me, the very nature of his faction made alliances untenable.

It was far more effective to turn my back on the Franz Faction from the beginning and keep relations open with the other factions.

“Besides, he’s the legitimate heir chosen by the Temple itself. How could someone like me—a princess rumored to be cursed—ever befriend him?”

“But if you cultivate hostility, won’t the Prince’s faction intensify their attacks on Your Highness the Princess…?”

“That’s impossible. From our recent confrontation, I’ve become the vulnerable victim. If they target me carelessly, their reputation will be utterly destroyed.”

Now that the Emperor himself has taken my side, the Franz Faction cannot blame me.

Even if they invoke sacrilege, we are both Imperial Family Members, and regardless of whether I was at fault, the fact that they pushed down a woman who had been bedridden until a month ago will not disappear.

Gregory, who had been arranging the dress’s ruffles, finally nodded as understanding dawned on him.

“…Indeed, this world is quite complicated.”

“That’s right. In this place, sometimes reputation and justification matter more than raw power.”

We deliberately avoided uttering the words “Demon Realm” aloud.

“In some respects, it seems to suit Her Highness the Princess well. Haven’t you resolved several matters in this manner before?”

“…That was a long time ago.”

Back then, I had blundered into trouble and failed more than once. I let out a bitter laugh and changed the subject.

“Anyway, you’re asking quite a lot of questions today. What’s gotten into you?”

I never expected him to ask so many questions—normally he would simply respond with “Yes, understood,” to whatever I said. Even when curiosity stirred within him, he would not open his mouth unless directly prompted.

At my words, his hands, which had been arranging my dress, came to a halt.

“I felt I needed to hear the reason, or I wouldn’t be able to endure it.”

“Endure? Endure what?”

“The murderous intent toward Prince Franz.”

“….”

Gregory lifted his head and looked at me. In his dry eyes, within those small pupils, I glimpsed the visceral killing intent I had witnessed on the battlefield long ago.

“I knew from the beginning that all of this was Your Highness’s plan. Provoking the Prince, his attempt to attack you—it was all calculated.”

‘No, not to that extent….’

Truthfully, there was an emotional reason too—I wanted to land a blow on Franz. He had tormented me more than once in the past. Likely, at least thirty percent of the servants who had made my life miserable in the Separate Palace had acted on his orders.

‘After it was all over, I came up with rational justifications and simply attached them retroactively… I can’t say that.’

Gregory’s demeanor was ominous. If I said the wrong thing, it seemed he might cast aside the dress right then and there and storm into the Banquet Hall to unleash a massacre.

“The moment he reached out his hand toward Your Highness, I dismembered his body dozens of times in my mind. And that remains true even now.”

“Ah… I see.”

“Thus, I sought to quell this anger through justifiable means. If the reason were sound enough, I could even postpone punishment for his foolish actions.”

‘So he hasn’t forgiven me after all.’

Then again, it was a principle of Our Unit to repay debts to the bitter end.

“It seems I still lack maturity. To think I would attempt to interfere with the Princess’s plans merely out of anger.”

“No, you needn’t reproach yourself so harshly….”

“I shall strive to improve myself further going forward.”

“Mm.”

There was no reason to stop someone who wished to ponder and grow alone. I nodded reluctantly.

“The dress has been prepared. Shall I help you into it?”

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

“Very well.”

He handed me the dress respectfully and departed. Though the garment was somewhat cumbersome to don alone, after hearing that exchange, I found it difficult to treat him with complete normalcy.

It felt as though I were deceiving an innocent child.

‘Somehow, Gregory’s loyalty seems to have grown even stronger than before.’

Had something shifted in his heart?

I had sworn not to pry into matters of the Demon Realm, yet perhaps I should hear him out once.

* * *

When I returned to the Banquet Hall, appetizers were just beginning to be served.

Normally the Emperor would offer his greeting beforehand, so it seemed I had arrived somewhat late.

Gregory and I took our seats quietly. Just as I was examining the food the Chamberlain had brought.

‘Hm? Isn’t that Loreil?’

I spotted Loreil seated at the lowest end of the Nobleman’s section. I hadn’t seen him earlier, but it appeared he had slipped in at some point.

He noticed me as well, offering a brief nod of acknowledgment.

“….”

Then his gaze shifted between me and Gregory, his eyes betraying no emotion.

I turned my head to observe Jeina. She remained seated beside the Empress as before.

“Don’t look around like a child.”

“Did things go poorly with Loreil?”

“….”

Jeina’s brow furrowed for a moment. After swallowing the pickled appetizer that had been served, she finally spoke.

“There’s nothing to go well or poorly. I simply have no desire to be entangled with him.”

“What? But last time….”

Only then did I notice the Empress’s expression beside me. Her eyes were wide open, fixed upon Loreil with an intensity that made my skin crawl.

‘Wow.’

The hostility radiating from her was incomparable to anything Franz had ever displayed. With her already large eyes opened so wide, I finally understood the old saying about eyes that could devour a person whole.

‘I’m not sure what happened, but it seems the Empress and Loreil must have had some kind of confrontation.’

This was clearly none of my business. I deliberately averted my gaze to my plate.

“Britz Jabok, was it?”

At that moment, the Emperor addressed Gregory. Gregory responded with utmost courtesy.

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

“Of course I remember the young man who became my inadequate daughter’s partner.”

He took a sip of wine and continued speaking.

“I heard you two met at the Arena.”

‘He knows everything, yet he’s playing dumb.’

The moment the Emperor heard my report about bringing Gregory as my partner, he would have completed a thorough background investigation. There was a high chance he’d even uncovered my murky past.

Yet he asked without any hint of concern.

“To attend such an occasion based on such a brief encounter—I’m curious about the reason. What about my daughter captured your interest?”

‘What’s gotten into this man?’

His words carried a warmth that sounded like a real father speaking. Though his voice remained sharp as ever. I was bewildered, trying to fathom his intentions, when Gregory answered naturally.

“The Princess has a power that draws people in with every word and glance. I simply fell under that charm.”

“You speak as though you fell in love at first sight.”

“You may interpret it that way. Regardless of the form, it’s true that I wish to stand by Her Highness’s side.”

‘What is he doing now!’

Without thinking, I dropped the food I’d been holding at his unrequested declaration.

I wasn’t the only one shocked. Loreil at the far end of the table was glaring at me with narrowed eyes.

I wondered what suspicion that man harbored now.

“Tsk.”

A disapproving click of the tongue sounded from beside me.

It was Jeina.

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

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