Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 41

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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 041

 

Contrary to his outward attitude, Loreil had never once lowered his assessment of Deina’s danger level.

 

‘The problem is whether the Princess knows Britz Jabok’s true nature…’

 

Without entering the manor, Loreil leaned his back against the carriage door and fell into thought.

 

No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t understand how Britz Jabok and Deina had become entangled. Even if they had met at the arena, that wary Princess didn’t seem like she would open her heart so easily.

 

‘Then did Britz Jabok threaten the Princess to expand his influence…’

 

While thinking it unlikely, he couldn’t be certain as he recalled their first meeting.

 

He had confirmed from her appearance of coughing up blood right after throwing a punch that her illness hadn’t healed yet.

 

‘She’s definitely a demon or something equivalent. And she has a serious illness that makes her cough up blood when she overexerts herself.’

 

If Britz Jabok had noticed this and approached her, if he had found a way to reverse-utilize that monstrous strength…

 

‘It’s not an impossible story.’

 

Even the monsters in myths had weaknesses. If he were Britz Jabok, he would naturally have used those weaknesses to approach Deina.

 

If only she hadn’t been so wary of him.

 

‘The Princess being used by Britz Jabok – that’s the worst case scenario I can think of.’

 

Deina was already someone whose personality he couldn’t fathom.

 

If she were an evil demon clan member like in the legends, it would be easier to deal with her, but if she joined hands with an unpredictable schemer like Britz Jabok, revealing her identity would become even more difficult.

 

That wasn’t what Loreil wanted.

 

‘Whether the Princess is good or evil doesn’t matter to me. All I need is her identity.’

 

That invisible black magic power that no modern mage possessed. The one who harbored it could never be human.

 

‘First, I need to remove Britz Jabok from her side. A nobleman who might become her fiancé would be a hindrance. Especially if he’s skilled at hiding crimes.’

 

Or perhaps he should become her fiancé himself and investigate her from the closest position.

 

Loreil’s obsession had already become similar to a compulsion. It seemed like he could finally grasp the clue to the identity that had tormented him his entire life. For him, this was more important than his conflict with the Empress or the Emperor’s recommendations.

 

But he didn’t realize that this obsession was gradually eroding the rationality that usually supported him.

 

Why had he prioritized warning over interrogation with Britz Jabok? When Britz Jabok and Deina exchanged silent words at the dinner party, why had anger rather than suspicion welled up?

 

Since he thought these unfamiliar emotions weren’t his own, he never pondered to resolve the mystery of those feelings.

 

Just as he was thinking about how to deal with Britz Jabok, the manor’s main gate opened and an elderly servant poked his head out.

 

“Oh my, young master, why are you standing here in the cold?”

 

“…I was about to go in.”

 

Loreil smiled bitterly and stepped away from the carriage. The servant was startled and waved his hands frantically as Loreil approached the manor entrance.

 

“W-wait a moment, young master. Before you come in…”

 

Just as he was about to ask what the commotion was about.

 

“My son, my son has come!”

 

A woman’s voice rang out loudly from inside the manor.

 

The moment he heard it, a sensation like his blood freezing struck him. Loreil unconsciously stopped walking.

 

But as if the owner of the voice had noticed Loreil’s hesitation, she flung open the manor’s main gate and ran toward him.

 

“Oh my!”

 

She paid no attention to the servant who had fallen to the ground because of her. Instead, she ran to Loreil with her vibrant red hair flowing and embraced him.

 

“Mother, what brings you here?”

 

Her identity was none other than the mistress of the Delchis family, Vanessa Delchis.

 

With a beautiful and lively face that defied her age, she looked at Loreil with a bright smile.

 

“Well, I came because I missed my son!”

 

“You said you’d stay at the castle until spring came…”

 

“Isn’t my son more important than such schedules!”

 

Though they looked like an affectionate mother and son at first glance, Loreil’s expression grew colder as they exchanged words.

 

The servant who was getting up and composing himself was the same. Pale-faced, he glanced at the Duchess and opened and closed his mouth, trying to convey something to Loreil.

 

‘The Duke… right, is father here too?’

 

It seemed the Duke, who should have been at the marquis territory, had also come to this manor.

 

“Let’s go inside first, Mother. It’s cold.”

 

“Aren’t you being too cold? You should be happy that your mother came!”

 

“I’m sufficiently happy.”

 

“My goodness, do you know how long your mother waited? I was worried that our son might have had an accident…”

 

Then, the sound of a door opening from inside the manor could be heard. Heavy footsteps approached Loreil.

 

When the footsteps reached the main gate.

 

“Filthy thing.”

 

Splash—

 

Cold water flew toward Loreil’s face.

 

‘Holy water.’

 

He could taste the salty liquid through his closed lips.

 

Loreil turned his gaze to the person who had splashed holy water on him.

 

Red hair darker than the Duchess’s. A straight back and eyes full of hostility… It was the head of the Delchis family, Donovan Delchis, the Duke.

 

The Duke glared at Loreil as if he would devour him immediately and spoke.

 

“How brazenly you come and go from the Imperial Palace. Do you enjoy the Emperor’s flattery that much?”

 

“It’s been a while, Father. But going to the Imperial Palace was because you told me to build bridges with the Empress…”

 

“Shut that mouth! If you had really followed my orders, why would such rumors have spread!”

 

‘So it is that problem.’

 

Loreil lowered his eyes as if to show repentance. He had realized what the Duke was angry about.

 

“You must have carelessly used your power again! How dare you carelessly babble about the marquis family’s secrets…!”

 

“I’m ashamed, but I didn’t spread those rumors. Please believe me.”

 

The rumor currently stirring up high society was the scandal that the Duke and Loreil were actually half-brothers.

 

It would have been better if it were just a baseless rumor, but Loreil and the Duke knew it was based on truth.

 

As if Loreil’s words sounded like excuses, the Duke angrily swung the cane he was holding at Loreil.

 

Thud—!

 

The end of the cane hit Loreil’s abdomen, but he didn’t budge. This seemed to anger the Duke even more as he raised his voice.

 

“Ridiculous! Then who spread such detailed truth! It must be an insider!”

 

He agreed that it was information leaked by an insider. But the Duke’s attitude of suspecting him wasn’t rational.

 

And for good reason.

 

“You know I can’t go against the contract.”

 

Because Loreil could never disobey his father’s orders.

 

“…Hmph.”

 

The anger in the Duke’s eyes subsided a little. He withdrew his cane and snorted.

 

“Who knows. Maybe you found a loophole in the contract and are trying to betray me.”

 

“…I cannot do such a thing.”

 

“Sure.”

 

Then, the Duke with a raised corner of his mouth muttered spell-like words.

 

“…!”

 

Loreil staggered from the sudden chill that struck him.

 

Pain that seemed to pierce every nerve ending and indescribable humiliation overwhelmed Loreil.

 

“Son!”

 

The Duchess, who had been watching the confrontation between the Duke and Loreil with anxious eyes, tried to support him, but the Duke blocked her.

 

“It’s education time. Don’t interfere.”

 

“B-but…”

 

“Vanessa!”

 

She shrank her shoulders in fear at the Duke calling her by name rather than title.

 

“Ugh…”

 

The Duke approached Loreil, who was groaning, and raised his cane again, pushing his shoulder. Unlike before, Loreil collapsed helplessly.

 

“Yes, bound by contract, you cannot defy me. Like a demon contracted with a summoner.”

 

“Fa, ther…”

 

“I’ll let this matter slide. However, if you show such a rebellious attitude again… I won’t end it with just a warning like this time.”

 

When the Duke chanted another short spell, the pain oppressing Loreil disappeared. It felt like falling into a cesspit full of thorns with his skin peeled off.

 

Loreil suppressed the rising hatred and opened his mouth.

 

“I will keep that in mind.”

 

The Duke seemed quite pleased with that answer, raising the corners of his mouth before turning sharply and heading toward the manor.

 

“You smell of the Imperial Palace. Clean yourself thoroughly and go to the prayer room. You haven’t forgotten your evening prayers just because you’re not at the main house, have you.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Loreil, struggling to get up, bowed to the departing Duke.

 

The Duchess, thinking the situation had finally calmed down, quickly approached.

 

“Oh my, look at this cold sweat. Are you alright?”

 

“I’m fine, Mother.”

 

“Really, that man… even if it’s education, there’s no need to be so harsh… You understand, don’t you? He’s just serious about heir education.”

 

Heir education.

 

This time, Loreil couldn’t manage his expression. However, the Duchess didn’t notice the bleak smile hanging on his lips and spoke in a cheerful voice.

 

“Our Jorgue is kind, so you can understand, right?”

 

Jorgue—that was the name of his dead older brother. Loreil, who had grown accustomed to being called by his brother’s name, didn’t deny it and nodded.

 

“…Yes. Of course. I am the eldest son, after all.”

 

The Marquis’ family, especially the Duchess, still hadn’t escaped from Jorgue’s shadow.

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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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