Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 37

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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 037

 

‘What is she angry about?’

 

Jeina’s sudden anger was also strange.

 

‘Ah, does she think it’s presumptuous for a mere baron to look down on royalty?’

 

Given her royal supremacist ideology, it was the kind of anger that could be expected.

 

Anyway, now wasn’t the time to worry about Jeina or Loreil.

 

I reached under the table and tapped Gregory’s leg.

 

‘Keep it moderate. Just act like a partner.’

 

Whether he understood my words or not, Gregory nodded briefly.

 

The Emperor took a sip of wine and spoke with an unreadable expression.

 

“How surprising. As far as I know, Baron Britz hasn’t shown much interest in such occasions.”

 

The real Baron Britz, despite his good public reputation, wasn’t one to frequently show his face in social circles.

 

People thought he was too devoted to work to pay attention to socializing, but…

 

‘In reality, he was going around killing people. That was more enjoyable to him than the nobles’ romantic games.’

 

Therefore, the Emperor’s words could be interpreted in two ways.

 

Either it was purely a question about what his interests were, or it was a question about why he set aside that hobby to choose me.

 

I considered the latter more likely.

 

‘Just deflect appropriately. There’s no evidence anyway.’

 

I signaled Gregory with my eyes. He nodded slightly and spoke to the Emperor.

 

“It’s true that I haven’t had much interest in social circles. But Her Imperial Highness changed my prejudices.”

 

“Changed, you say? Your hobbies as well?”

 

“Yes, that’s correct. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say Her Imperial Highness saved me.”

 

‘Why are you talking like that!’

 

His words were now beginning to sound almost like worship.

 

‘Did he not understand my intention? How many years have we been together!’

 

I had trusted my comrade who had fought alongside me on battlefields for decades and exchanged meaningful glances, but it all became useless.

 

There was no way the Emperor would accept this absurd answer. I worried about what question he would ask next.

 

“Hmm, I see.”

 

“…?”

 

But the Emperor didn’t ask another question and merely savored his wine.

 

That strange silence continued until the meal ended.

 

‘Something’s odd.’

 

This wasn’t the banquet I had expected. I thought the Emperor would aggressively interrogate me about why I had recovered my health and survived the assassin.

 

In fact, the other royalty and nobles seemed curious about that too.

 

However, the Emperor seemed to have no interest in such topics at all.

 

‘It’s been years since I had a direct conversation with the Emperor, yet he’s treating me as if he saw me yesterday.’

 

Did he expect me to return? Or does it really mean he’s not curious about such trivial matters?

 

“Your Imperial Highness.”

 

“…”

 

“Your Imperial Highness?”

 

“Ah, yes?”

 

While I was lost in thought, the meal seemed to have ended completely. My head was too complicated to remember how I ate. Gregory spoke carefully to my bewildered self.

 

“The banquet has ended, and they say we’ll enjoy conversation in the banquet hall afterward. They said participation is optional.”

 

I wiped my mouth with a napkin and glanced at the nobles heading to the banquet hall one by one.

 

“Let’s go back. I’m a bit tired.”

 

“Understood.”

 

Gregory naturally escorted me. As I grabbed his arm to stand up, Loreil appeared in front of me, having approached at some point.

 

“Your Imperial Highness, you don’t look well. Are you alright?”

 

‘Why is he acting friendly?’

 

I was suspicious, but I gave him a formal smile for now.

 

“Thank you for your concern, Loreil. Perhaps because it’s been a while since I came to the Main Palace, there are many things I’m not used to. Aren’t you going to the banquet hall?”

 

“I have few acquaintances, so I’d like to decline this time.”

 

‘Of course. Most of the nobles here are on the Emperor’s side.’

 

Loreil was the heir of the Prime Minister’s family, practically the representative of the Nobility Council. It was already unusual for him to participate in such an event.

 

So naturally, I thought he had been invited as Jeina’s partner.

 

‘As for why he didn’t come with Jeina… let’s not ask.’

 

Sometimes it’s safer not to know.

 

“That’s unfortunate. There must be people who want to become close with Loreil.”

 

“Your Imperial Highness probably has similar feelings toward you.”

 

“Then that’s fortunate.”

 

Ha ha, ho ho, we briefly exchanged laughter.

 

“Then I shall take my leave now.”

 

“Let’s go together.”

 

“…Alright.”

 

I nodded reluctantly.

 

Gregory seemed unconcerned since he wasn’t a real partner, but it was rude for another man to interfere with a woman’s departure when she already had a partner.

 

However, since he showed no signs of backing down, I decided to go along with him for now.

 

As we left the banquet hall, someone called me in the corridor.

 

“Deina.”

 

“Your Imperial Majesty.”

 

The Emperor was approaching from the end of the corridor. I thought he had headed to the banquet hall, but it seemed he had been waiting for me near the exit.

 

He stopped us from bowing with his hand and spoke with a frown.

 

“Why are the three of you together?”

 

‘That’s what I’d like to know.’

 

But as if he wasn’t really curious, he dismissed it as unimportant and spoke to me.

 

“I have something to say. Come to the reception room.”

 

“Right now?”

 

“Are you refusing?”

 

“No, but they’ll be waiting for Your Majesty at the banquet hall…”

 

“They have more conversations they can have without me. Don’t make such trivial excuses.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

The answer was predetermined anyway. I sighed where he couldn’t see and instructed Gregory.

 

“Baron Britz, then I’ll be going for a moment.”

 

“Yes, I’ll wait.”

 

Then Loreil, who was beside us, suddenly interjected.

 

“I’ll guide him to the rest area. Let’s wait there.”

 

“Thank you for your consideration.”

 

I was anxious not knowing what his scheme was, but I had no other reason to refuse. I sent Gregory a look telling him not to let his demon identity be discovered, then followed the Emperor.

 

The Emperor, who hadn’t brought any attendants, opened the reception room door himself and told me to come inside.

 

He plopped down on the sofa and stared at me silently with his arms crossed.

 

‘Now that I think about it, he really has a giant-like build.’

 

His fierce eyes, always furrowed brow and mane-like platinum hair, beard covering his chin, and a large frame a head taller than mine.

 

If not for his fancy clothes, it wouldn’t be strange to mistake him for a hunter from some mountain range rather than an emperor.

 

Yet despite all that, his royal presence remained intact – should I call that impressive?

 

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”

 

“I’m checking.”

 

“Checking what?”

 

“Whether you’re really Deina or not.”

 

“…!”

 

I almost showed my surprise at the unexpected words. I desperately managed my expression and spoke.

 

“You speak as if I’m a different person. Are you saying I’ve become a ghost or something?”

 

“No, that’s not it. You are Deina. Your way of speaking, your atmosphere, even your eating habits are perfect. Even a god-sent actor couldn’t imitate it that well.”

 

‘It’s creepy that he knows his child’s eating habits so well.’

 

But I didn’t bother adding any words.

 

“It’s just so strange. How exactly did you regain your confidence?”

 

“I’m the same as always.”

 

“No, you’re different. You’ve changed.”

 

He stood up from his seat again and approached me. Then, looking down at me with the privilege of the Imperial Family, those blue eyes, he spoke.

 

“When you heard insulting words from the nobles, when you confronted that Franz bastard, your reactions were different from before. Unlike the past when you worried about your own conduct, you were confident as if such things posed no threat to you.”

 

‘As expected, he was watching everything from the beginning.’

 

He was indeed a sinister and despicable Emperor compared to his appearance. He probably had been watching the movements of the Imperial Family and nobles long before I entered.

 

If Franz hadn’t tried to resort to violence, he might have appeared even later.

 

“That was strange. What exactly was the catalyst for this change? In fact, rather than having changed, isn’t it that someone else is pretending to be a princess?”

 

“I have always been Deina.”

 

“That must be so. It has to be. If…”

 

The Emperor’s blue eyes gleamed white.

 

“If you’re not of the Imperial Family, I’ll cut off your limbs and hold you responsible.”

 

A thick murderous intent emanated from his body. It was the kind of murderous intent I’d only felt on battlefields. He must be trying to intimidate me.

 

But instead, my mind regained its composure.

 

Because it was the tension I always felt on battlefields. Without realizing it, the corners of my mouth turned up.

 

‘For a human, not bad.’

 

My evaluation of the Emperor rose very slightly.

 

Indeed, this kind of direct expression was more comfortable than political maneuvering that hid true intentions behind a smiling face.

 

The Emperor flinched momentarily when he saw my smiling face.

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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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