Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 48

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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 048

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Just before departing on our journey, I couldn’t help but gasp at the sight of Ruslara that Grid had brought back.

“Good heavens, what happened to her!”

Without realizing it, I’d infused my voice with magical power, causing the people around us to stagger. Grid, covered in dust, waved his hands dismissively.

“It’s not good for the patient. Please lower your intensity. And she’s not dead.”

He said he’d completed first aid, then laid Ruslara down on the sofa. With her legs drenched in blood and her neck covered in deep bruises, she looked like a wounded soldier clinging to the edge of death.

As memories stirred and my heart grew uneasy, I reached out with trembling hands to check on her, but Gregory beside me stopped me.

“Your Majesty, I shall do it.”

“Ah, yes.”

Unlike me, Gregory calmly examined Ruslara’s condition.

“The bleeding is severe, but there’s no immediate danger to her life. However, her leg will require a couple of months of recovery before she can walk again.”

“I already told you, I’ve completed the first aid.”

Grid collapsed onto the sofa across from us, his expression weary. Fatigue was etched deeply across his face in a way unlike him.

He stretched languidly and spoke without energy.

“Besides, there’s no one trustworthy among the Imperial Palace Physicians, right? A doctor disguised as one of my employees will arrive shortly. Just leave it to him.”

“I only asked you to pick her up. What in the world happened?”

After the Deity Descent project had concluded successfully, I’d entrusted Grid with picking up Ruslara when her arrival seemed delayed.

Yet here she was, returned in this condition.

“Well, that’s…”

Grid paused in thought before speaking.

“I encountered someone called Asmo-rina.”

“…!”

At the unexpected name, both Gregory’s and my eyes widened considerably. Noticing our reaction, Grid continued slowly.

“She seemed to be searching for someone called Asmodina. She grew despondent upon realizing the woman lying there was not a soldier.”

He then briefly summarized the ensuing situation—how Asmo-rina had threatened Ruslara, demanding to know my location, and how it had driven her to the brink of death.

If I hadn’t sent Grid, Ruslara would have been….

‘Rina, you damned wretch.’

To think I would witness her tyranny here, something that occurred as casually as breathing in the Demon Realm. I exhaled deeply.

After the explanation concluded, Grid studied my expression before speaking.

“My spirit screamed upon seeing Asmo-rina. It told me she was a monster and to flee. Thanks to that, I became curious about her true nature… Does the Princess happen to know anything about her?”

“…Yes, well, since things have come to this, I’ll explain.”

Since he had saved Ruslara’s life, it was only right to share this much.

I briefly explained my relationship with Asmo-rina. I deliberately avoided using the word “Demon,” but Grid had likely already deduced it long ago.

After hearing everything—Asmo-rina’s actions seeking me out for revenge, and the rebellion in the Jins Kingdom she orchestrated—Grid stroked his chin with evident interest.

“You’re quite popular, Princess.”

“I’m not in the mood for jokes.”

“I’m serious. Surely you don’t actually believe her true purpose is revenge?”

“…What?”

“Pardon?”

Grid’s eyes widened in surprise at my peculiar reaction, and he asked again. Then, for some reason, Gregory beside him stopped Grid, saying ‘he won’t understand even if you explain it that way.’

Grid nodded, saying “Ah~ I see, that kind of setting.”

“In any case, thank you for the explanation. Thanks to you, I can handle this to some extent.”

“Handle it? How?”

“First, I’ll block any information about the Princess from reaching her, and spread false rumors instead. I’ll plant the name Asmodina throughout the Continent. No matter how much she searches, it’ll all be in vain.”

He added that he would also spread rumors using her distinctive appearance—that she was a criminal who crossed over from the Jins Kingdom.

That way, they could at least contain her tyranny to some degree.

It was an effective strategy, but quite an emotional one. As I looked at him in surprise, he grinned, baring his teeth.

“I can’t allow such a thug to run rampant in my territory. She treats human lives like insects, and if left unchecked, she’ll cause a major catastrophe.”

“That’s… I’m sorry about this.”

A merchant’s instincts were remarkable. Even I couldn’t predict what would happen if Asmo-rina were left as she was.

I wanted to punish her myself, but circumstances wouldn’t allow it.

‘Regardless, how did she know I was in the Empire? And how did she cross over from the Jins Kingdom to here? And why did she target Baban Si?’

Questions arose one after another, but I lacked clues for now.

I turned my gaze toward Gregory.

“When do you think Ruslara will wake up?”

“Once her stamina recovers, she should regain consciousness fairly quickly… but it’s difficult to say for certain.”

Moreover, Gregory pointed to Ruslara’s leg.

“Even if she does wake up, it will be impossible for her to accompany us on this journey.”

“Of course.”

There would be a gap in the Guard’s rotation, but it was unavoidable for her peace of mind.

Gregory spoke carefully then.

“Perhaps I should join as part of the Guard detail after all….”

“Don’t talk nonsense. There are already all sorts of rumors about us being banquet partners—you want to travel together too?”

Even with an Imperial mandate, if an unmarried nobleman and noblewoman traveled alone, scandal would inevitably follow.

“Next thing you know, people will be saying we’re getting married.”

“I don’t mind….”

Just then, someone suddenly threw open the window and appeared.

“It’s fine! I’ll go with you!”

It was Ivan, who had been eavesdropping on the conversation.

I had sensed his presence, but I hadn’t expected him to burst out so abruptly.

He stepped in front of Gregory, speaking with complete confidence.

“I don’t have a problem with scandal.”

‘That’s not what you meant by being fine with your skills, was it?’

I was eyeing him suspiciously at his dubious words when someone knocked on the door.

It was Liribel.

“Your Highness~ I’ve finished packing all the luggage.”

“Right, the time!”

I had delayed our departure waiting for Grid to arrive, but we had already far exceeded the scheduled time.

Since I had already contacted the Queen, I couldn’t postpone any longer.

‘Well, I should at least do this much.’

I approached Ivan and withdrew the dagger from his waist.

“Uh, huh?”

Leaving the bewildered Ivan behind, I pressed the blade of the dagger against my arm.

“Wait…!”

Three men tried to stop me simultaneously, but the blade had already grazed my skin.

‘This should be enough.’

Then I brought the wound to Ruslara’s lips. Worried she might not swallow, I gently pressed both her cheeks with my other hand to part her lips.

She drank my flowing blood as sweetly as someone who had found fresh water in a desert.

Since Baobhan sith recover their mana through blood, this would be helpful.

“Your Highness the Princess.”

“Hmm?”

After I’d given her about half a cup of blood, I was wondering whether I should widen the wound further when Gregory suddenly grabbed my shoulder and pulled Ruslara away.

“If blood is needed, I can provide it. There is no need for Your Highness to do such a thing.”

“No, but my mana is the strongest here…”

“Your Highness.”

Gregory looked down at me with an eerie gaze and spoke.

“That is not what I meant.”

“Uh, um, yes.”

The atmosphere didn’t feel right to ask what he meant instead. The others’ reactions weren’t favorable either. Ivan was irritated, while Grid stood at an angle with his head tilted, his eyes half-lidded.

‘Ah, does giving blood feel uncomfortable to humans?’

Blood-drinking was a trait rejected even among Demons. I’d thought it was fine since everyone had learned my true nature through this incident.

“I’m sorry. I’ll be more careful from now on.”

“I don’t sense any sincerity in those words whatsoever.”

Gregory exhaled sharply and released my arm.

Either way, it was time to truly depart now.

I spoke to Grid and Gregory, who would remain in the Capital.

“I’ll be back. Please look after Ruslara.”

“Before that, shouldn’t we stop the bleeding first—”

“I’ll handle it on the way. There’s a medical kit in the Carriage.”

Leaving the two men, who seemed to have much more to say, behind me, I made my way toward the Carriage waiting outside the Separate Palace.

Ivan, the only one among them who would be departing with me, sidled up and asked.

“Say, does the Princess’s blood taste different?”

“Stop with the nonsense and focus on your disguise.”

“But still—”

His fidgeting irritated me. Wondering why he was acting this way, I wiped the remaining blood from my arm with my finger and held it up to his face.

“See? It just smells like blood. To you all, it’s nothing special—”

Just as I was about to say it was merely ordinary blood, Ivan suddenly took my finger into his mouth.

“…”

I was startled by this bizarre behavior, but Ivan, having tasted the blood by gently sucking on my fingertip, murmured with a wistful tone.

“That’s not it.”

“Of course not, you fool!”

Having to bring this incompetent Assassin along as a Guard was giving me a headache.

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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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