Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 49

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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 049

 

Finding my reaction amusing, Ivan smiled cheerfully.

 

“Your expression finally relaxed a bit.”

 

“What?”

 

“Your expression has been terrible ever since Ruslara got hurt. It looked like you were about to rush off and catch that Asmo-rina person right away.”

 

‘Was it that obvious?’

 

Without realizing it, I raised my hand to touch my cheek. Indeed, my mouth seemed to be set in an unusually rigid line.

 

“Ruslara wouldn’t want you to fight either. After all, she was prepared to die rather than reveal your location.”

 

“…You’re right.”

 

I was suddenly reminded of my military days. There was nothing more troublesome than a commander who had lost their composure. While I hadn’t been the most rational and reasonable commander in my past life, I shouldn’t repeat those same mistakes now that I’d been reincarnated.

 

I acknowledged my mistake and calmed my mind.

 

“Still, drinking blood didn’t seem like a joke to me.”

 

“It wasn’t a joke? I was genuinely curious if it really tasted sweet.”

 

“…”

 

I silently climbed into the carriage prepared in the courtyard in front of the separate palace. I didn’t want to look at Ivan’s face.

 

* * *

 

The gates of the Imperial Palace opened, and several carriages departed.

 

As the ornate and massive carriages, fortified as if they could survive even war, filed out in a line, the gatekeepers watched with curious eyes.

 

Many were there to catch a glimpse, wondering if that was the rumored princess.

 

In the captain’s office of the Imperial Guard that managed those gatekeepers.

 

In front of a large window overlooking the gates, a man was watching Deina’s departure.

 

Though his face was hidden by a large robe, his identity could be discerned from the platinum hair that spilled out.

 

“Finally leaving.”

 

It was none other than the master of the Empire, Emperor Bernhard.

 

He observed the departing carriages with his arms crossed, as if he had become the captain of the guard himself.

 

Then, a masked man emerged from the shadows in the corner of the room.

 

“Confirmed that the princess has boarded the carriage.”

 

“Companions?”

 

“Excluding servants, she’s alone.”

 

“Put a tail on her immediately. Be careful not to get caught.”

 

The Emperor muttered that the girl’s senses had been unusually sharp lately as he stroked his beard.

 

‘Has it been more than ten years since that girl left the capital? This should make for quite a good experiment.’

 

Confirming how far she could go was one of the reasons for attaching a tracker.

 

Deina probably thought the Emperor had given her an exceptional mission, but the reality was different.

 

The Emperor wasn’t even aware that he had given Deina a mission. To him, this was simply an experiment.

 

“The curse is in our shadows.”

 

It was an opportunity to see how that tiresome phrase was being applied, using the rare subject of a princess.

 

Even if Deina failed to complete the mission and died, it didn’t matter much to him.

 

After all, he had Deina’s replacement, Jeina.

 

This was a light procedure with no loss even if it failed.

 

‘But something feels unsettling.’

 

For some reason, the Emperor felt uncomfortable in a corner of his chest and tightened his grip on his beard.

 

All the unexpected incidents that had occurred so far had been beneficial to the Emperor. Deina regaining her health and returning to society were welcome coincidences for the Emperor.

 

Moreover, while Deina might harbor hostility toward the Emperor, she hadn’t shown the foolish attitude of defying his orders.

 

Yet his intuition rang a subtle alarm.

 

Like missing a step on stairs, he felt as if danger lurked beneath his feet.

 

But he couldn’t guess the cause. This was unusual for the Emperor, who knew every detail of palace affairs.

 

‘No, it’s needless worry.’

 

The Emperor soon denied his own feelings.

 

‘Whatever secrets that girl has, she can’t threaten us.’

 

It was a conviction that wouldn’t change even if Deina had become a different person.

 

As long as she was royalty, as long as she lived within the Empire, she could never defy him as Emperor.

 

The Emperor muttered while looking at the carriages that had now become dots in the distance.

 

“Let’s see how much this curse will take effect.”

 

With each step forward, Deina’s journey would transform into a path to hell.

 

He hoped that hell would last just a little bit longer.

 

* * *

 

“Princess, you look really comfortable.”

 

It was the third day of camping.

 

Watching my complexion improve day by day, Ivan spoke with apparent amazement.

 

“Do I?”

 

I tilted my head and put the remaining soup on my spoon into my mouth. Even though it was preserved food, it was so delicious – such luxury compared to my military days.

 

“Usually nobles start looking unwell after about two days of camping. But you, Princess… somehow you’re getting more color in your cheeks.”

 

“Well, the outside is more comfortable than the Imperial Palace.”

 

If Emma had heard this, she would have glared at me saying I should maintain my dignity. I shrugged my shoulders for no reason and put my finished plate on the tray.

 

As Ivan said, I was feeling more comfortable in body and mind the longer the journey continued.

 

It was natural that my mind felt at ease without people to be wary of, but for some reason my physical condition was good too. It felt like taking highly effective nutritional supplements.

 

‘Is it really because the air is good? Or because I’m getting farther from the temple?’

 

I couldn’t figure out the reason for that much.

 

“But Ivan, seeing that you have time for small talk, I guess guard duty is leisurely?”

 

“Of course.”

 

Ivan wore a confident expression.

 

“The people who came with us are the elite of our organization. Princess, you don’t need to worry about anything.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

I observed the unfamiliar servants doing odd jobs around the carriage. They were all Ivan’s fellow assassins in disguise.

 

‘It’s not that they lack skill.’

 

But that was only by Ivan’s standards; from my perspective, there were many inadequacies.

 

“Still, I think they need training.”

 

“What? What’s the problem now?”

 

“Well…”

 

I picked up the fork from the tray. Then I grabbed the handle end and lightly threw it toward the bushes.

 

The fork flew with a whooshing sound and struck precisely in the forehead of someone hiding in the darkness.

 

“Ahhh!”

 

‘Screaming? You’re disqualified too.’

 

I clicked my tongue and pointed at the fallen person.

 

“A spy. He’s not dead, so capture him and interrogate him.”

 

Ivan, his expression hardening, quickly ran over and restrained the person who had fallen to the ground. Soon his colleagues gathered and took the man somewhere.

 

When Ivan returned, he asked with a furrowed brow.

 

“How did you know?”

 

He clearly looked like his pride was hurt, so I shrugged and answered.

 

“Because I sensed his presence.”

 

“That’s what I’m asking – how did you know? Even we who were patrolling didn’t notice.”

 

“You guys only looked for those emitting killing intent. That’s why you missed him.”

 

I felt no emotion from the person who had been hiding. No killing intent, of course, but also no excitement or wariness toward the enemy. His presence was as quiet as a wild animal.

 

“Search and guard duty have different natures. It’s not just about identifying dangerous individuals, but confirming whether that area is safe.”

 

“That…”

 

As if wanting to argue back, Ivan moved his lips for a moment, then soon let out a deep sigh and scratched the back of his head vigorously.

 

“Damn, I wanted to show that I don’t make mistakes in my main job.”

 

“Hey, assassination is your main job.”

 

“What are you talking about? Right now, being the Princess’s subordinate is my main job.”

 

“….”

 

This guy’s getting more silver-tongued by the day.

 

I told him to stop with the pointless jokes and held out the tray to him. Ivan cleared the tray without complaint.

 

Mealtime was just ending. Tomorrow we would arrive at our first stop.

 

‘Then I’ll have to meet with the local nobleman. I wonder if they’ll welcome the cursed princess.’

 

The thought of having to engage in another battle of wits with nobility made my neck stiffen.

 

I was stretching and getting up from my seat when I saw Ivan running toward me.

 

“Your Highness! An unwelcome guest, an unwelcome guest has arrived.”

 

“Who came? An assassin?”

 

“Someone even worse!”

 

‘Did Franz come looking for me?’

 

Just as I was about to calmly tell him to explain who it was, a familiar-looking man appeared from the opposite direction.

 

Black hair visible even from a distance….

 

“Lord Loreil?”

 

It was Loreil, heir to the Prime Minister’s Family.

 

Facing my bewildered self, Loreil politely greeted me.

 

“What a coincidence, Your Highness. Were you camping?”

 

“What….”

 

“My carriage broke down and I’d like to ask for help. May I trouble you?”

 

I immediately looked at Ivan. Disguised with his hat pulled low to hide his face, he whispered quietly to me.

 

“The carriage really is broken. Something happened – it’s smashed to pieces at the bottom of that cliff road.”

 

“Could it be staged?”

 

“I can’t tell that much.”

 

I let out a short sigh.

 

I absolutely didn’t believe this was a chance encounter, but I had no justification to refuse either.

 

‘At least it’s fortunate there won’t be any rumors spreading here.’

 

It was lucky we had dealt with the spy just before this.

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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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