Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 84

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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 084

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Not long after the Military Academy Banquet concluded, Gregory proposed that I attend the Spring Flower Ball with him.

I accepted readily. The Empress had extended a similar invitation to me as well.

‘To commemorate Princess Deina’s return, wouldn’t it be wonderful if we all attended the Spring Flower Ball together?’

With that, she had arranged an event where the entire Imperial Family would participate.

‘The Empress tried to invite me to a banquet she hosted before, when I was attempting to return. She’s clearly scheming something.’

At least it wasn’t out of goodwill. The Arena transaction had fallen through when Loreil and Jeina’s engagement was broken, leaving me as the sole beneficiary. From her perspective, I was an irritating obstacle.

‘Still, I can’t keep declining invitations. The Spring Flower Ball is nominally a family affair, so it would be wise to accept at least once.’

She was gathering the entire Imperial Family to celebrate me—I had no good reason to refuse. Accepting Gregory’s proposal seemed like the right moment to observe the Empress’s true intentions as well.

And so time passed, until the day of the ball finally arrived.

The Spring Flower Ball was held in a park on the Outskirts of the Capital—an endless meadow dyed in spring blossoms.

I arrived at the venue with my companions.

Today’s party consisted of Gregory, Emma, and Atlas.

In truth, Atlas’s joining us wasn’t something I had sought. She had simply received an invitation to the ball as well. Since we were acquainted, it would have been awkward to enter separately, so we decided to go together.

“It is an honor to accompany Your Highness, the Princess.”

“Y-yes, quite.”

Though her fanatical devotion was somewhat burdensome.

‘That aside, I heard only influential nobles receive invitations, so how did Atlas manage to come?’

Atlas couldn’t answer that question either. Apparently, the invitation had been issued under the Imperial Palace’s name, so she couldn’t determine the exact sender.

Could it have been sent by the Chamberlain of the Imperial Palace?

In any case, after entering the Park together, I spoke to Atlas and Gregory.

“The ball won’t properly begin for a few more hours. I’ll be in the VIP Seating Area over there until then, so don’t cause any trouble.”

“Yes.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Gregory was fine, but I couldn’t predict where Atlas might wander off to, which made me uneasy. Since I couldn’t trust her completely, I gave Gregory a final instruction.

“Watch that girl carefully. If it looks like she’s about to cause trouble, stop her.”

“Yes.”

I made my way toward the VIP Seating Area set up at the edge of the Park.

The Spring Flower Ball proceeded differently from a typical banquet.

The Imperial Family and high-ranking nobles gathered in the VIP Seating Area installed around the perimeter of the Meadow, while those who hadn’t received invitations wandered the Meadow at their leisure.

Though it was called a ball, there was no formal opening ceremony or such formality. Among High Society events, this one was particularly free-spirited.

If I had to describe it, it was closer to a pleasure ground for the nobility.

‘Looking at it this way, it seems the Imperial Family watches the nobles at play.’

I settled into a seat beneath an elegantly decorated Tent. On the table before me lay an array of delicate refreshments arranged beautifully.

After accepting a cup of tea from a Chamberlain and discreetly sampling a pastry, I caught sight of the Imperial Family members across the way.

‘The First and Second Princes each have their own factions, while Jeina and the Empress are in close conversation.’

The two princes, locked in succession rivalry, appeared to be competing over who held greater influence, dividing the Meadow in half between them. Gregory and Atlas seemed to be resting tactfully on the opposite side of the Meadow.

Then Jeina spotted me.

“….”

I waved my hand in greeting. She frowned as if something displeased her, but soon approached the tent alongside the Empress.

I bowed first to the Empress.

“Your Majesty the Empress, it is an honor to see you.”

“How delightful to see you, Princess Deina. You should have announced your arrival. I didn’t even notice you’d entered.”

“The venue was so crowded I scarcely had a moment. My apologies.”

The Empress smiled warmly, as she always did.

“There’s no need to apologize. We are family, after all—such things are perfectly understandable.”

Her words of understanding were, in truth, an acknowledgment that she had already deemed my conduct discourteous.

Indeed, in such formal gatherings, it was customary to pay respects to the highest-ranking person first.

I offered a ceremonial smile, assuring her I would be more mindful, then gestured toward the remaining seats.

“I noticed you were engaged in intimate conversation. Shall I withdraw and leave you to it?”

“Not at all. Family conversation is far more precious than a private one.”

The Empress summoned a waiting Chamberlain.

“Since the family must all be seated together, prepare additional places. And send word to Franz and Gilbert to join us here.”

“Very good, Your Majesty.”

It seemed the Empress intended to hold a family council here. She had the table rearranged so that everyone could be seated together.

The Empress took the place of honor at the head, the two princes on her right, while Jeina and I sat together on the left.

‘The Emperor’s position,’ I thought to myself.

Moreover, it seemed that Jeina, the Second Princess, held a position of greater precedence than I, though such matters were of little consequence to me.

I leaned close to Jeina, who sat beside me, and whispered.

“It’s been a while. How is Chloe?”

“I’m educating her. She’s not stupid.”

It was a tone distinctly Jeina’s—she spoke down to anyone who wasn’t of Imperial blood. Jeina glanced sideways at the Empress issuing orders to a Chamberlain, then turned to me.

“I heard you caused another incident recently.”

“Ah, you mean the Military Academy business? That was unavoidable…”

“Those low-level soldiers don’t matter. I’m talking about House of Medici.”

“House of Medici? You mean Atlas?”

Just as I was about to ask what connection he had to this, a man’s voice interrupted our conversation.

“It’s good to see you looking so healthy, Deina.”

“…It’s been a while, Gilbert.”

The man who had approached without warning was none other than the Second Prince, Gilbert.

Unlike Franz, he carried a composed demeanor, and his tousled hair and glasses made a striking impression. He settled into the seat across from me with a knowing smile.

“I should have visited the Separate Palace first. I apologize.”

“No, don’t worry. You must have been busy.”

We exchanged pleasantries with smiles, but I found myself gripped by tension once more. Unlike Franz, whose hostility was unmistakable, Gilbert was impossible to read.

There was no possibility he viewed me with goodwill.

In the past, Gilbert had been the first to voice loudly that the cursed Imperial Family member should be cast out.

As the price of that stance, he now commanded considerable religious power behind him.

‘So the Traditionalists in the Temple back Franz, while the Reformists back Gilbert.’

Gilbert, who had profited politically by using me—a public enemy—surely wore that smile as a mask.

“You’re welcome to call me brother, just like you used to.”

“That’s a funny joke.”

I laughed and brushed past his jest.

Gilbert glanced around for a moment, then asked me with a puzzled expression.

“By the way, doesn’t Deina have a lady’s maid? The woman beside you is a maid, isn’t she?”

Emma was currently attending to me in silence behind my back. I nodded.

“I haven’t found someone I’m satisfied with yet.”

“Oh, I thought you’d brought someone else…”

“Someone else?”

“…It’s nothing.”

Gilbert smiled faintly and turned his gaze toward the Empress.

“Mother, is Franz not here yet?”

“He seems to have some business remaining.”

The Empress frowned slightly, her eyes fixed on Franz, who was conversing with a woman in the meadow. Naturally, she was not his formal fiancée.

Since the Spring Flower Ball was not an event where propriety was paramount, his indulgence was on full display.

“Really, what is he thinking?”

What was amusing was that the Empress didn’t even restrain Franz. Blood runs thicker than water, as they say.

After waiting a bit longer, Franz approached us.

“Ah, I apologize for being late, Mother. The lady wouldn’t let me go.”

“It’s fine, come sit. The tea will grow cold.”

Franz settled into his seat with a smug smile, but upon spotting Gilbert and me, his expression darkened considerably.

“Damn it. I should have requested a separate table for this.”

“Bear with it, Franz. This gathering is meant to celebrate Deina.”

“I haven’t the slightest intention of celebrating. And don’t speak to me, Gilbert. I find even sitting beside you repugnant.”

“….”

Gilbert’s smile fractured. The two men, clearly unwilling to continue their exchange, turned away and sipped their tea in silence.

‘This is rather entertaining.’

I’d been irritated at the prospect of encountering the Imperial princes, yet witnessing such a scene wasn’t entirely unwelcome. I wondered if they might actually resort to drawing blades before the evening ended.

“…Hmm?”

As I took a sip of my cooling tea, something peculiar registered on my tongue.

A sharp, acrid taste mingled with an unsettling sweetness—flavors that had nothing to do with the tea leaves themselves.

‘This is poison.’

An assassination attempt in such a public setting? I found it almost unremarkable in its brazenness.

I nudged Jeina, who was about to drink her tea beside me.

“…?”

Then I leaned close and whispered so only she could hear.

“Don’t drink that. It’s poisoned.”

“…!”

Alarmed, she set down her cup. Glancing around, she realized the Empress and both princes were already drinking from the same teapot, and her brow furrowed.

“Why are you only warning me?”

“Hm? Well, I don’t care whether anyone drinks poison or not—except for Jeina.”

“….”

Jeina suddenly bit her lip.

“You….”

She then spent a long moment searching for words, muttering under her breath. But her voice was so quiet that I couldn’t hear what she said.

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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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