Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 85

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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 085

I was about to ask Jeina why she was acting this way when the two princes suddenly raised their voices and began arguing.

“But Franz, don’t you think you should ease up a bit? Your fiancée is suffering. You didn’t even invite her, did you?”

“That’s none of your concern, Gilbert. Worry about your own weak fiancée instead.”

“She can manage without me….”

It wasn’t worth listening to anyway. I turned my attention away from them and looked at Jeina, only to find she had already returned to her usual expressionless face.

She asked me in a low voice.

“If it’s poison, do you know what kind?”

“I’m not entirely sure, but it’s probably not a fast-acting poison.”

“Is it lethal?”

“I can’t say for certain.”

“…It could be a dangerous poison, so why are you so calm about it?”

Jeina frowned, unable to comprehend my composure. I smiled faintly and drank the remaining tea from my cup.

“I’m used to it. Besides, it’s weaker than what I consumed at the Separate Palace.”

“….”

“I must have developed a tolerance from ingesting so much poison back then.”

Of course, such a convenient explanation couldn’t possibly be true.

The real reason was my magical power that had granted me this resistance.

“Tolerance… I see.”

Jeina fell silent in thought for a moment, then lowered her teacup below the table.

“Give me that cup.”

I exchanged it for my own.

“Check if there’s poison in my tea as well.”

“Huh?”

“Go on.”

The tea had been poured from the same pot. It was natural to assume it would contain poison.

But the moment I took a sip of Jeina’s tea, my eyes widened.

“Wait… there’s no poison in this?”

“As I thought.”

Jeina sighed and spoke.

“The poison was only in yours. Really, what kind of fool would try to poison every member of the Imperial Family?”

“Could the poison have been applied to the cup itself?”

But that made no sense either. How would they know where I would sit and poison only my teacup?

Jeina, equally ignorant of the truth, covered her mouth with her fan and murmured.

“I don’t know the method, but the culprit is probably among us. Only high-ranking nobles or members of the Imperial Family can access the VIP Seating Area.”

I hadn’t been able to check the teacups of the other Imperial Family members, but if only mine contained poison…

“Everyone except Jeina would be a suspect.”

“…Why am I excluded?”

“Because you wouldn’t resort to insulting the Imperial Family in such a public manner.”

Such a petty method as poison in a public place didn’t suit her at all.

Jeina nodded thoughtfully, humming softly.

“You have a discerning eye.”

I gazed down at the teacup she had handed me, my mind turning over the possibilities.

‘That aside, if I could at least identify the type of poison, I might discern the perpetrator’s intent… Ah!’

In that moment, I recalled that someone capable of analyzing poisons was attending the ball.

It was Gregory.

‘Gregory is well-versed in toxins. I should ask him about this.’

I noticed the court orchestra was preparing to perform. Soon it would be time for everyone to gather in the Central Field for dancing.

The Spring Flower Ball allowed guests to dance freely with whomever they wished, making it the perfect opportunity for a private conversation.

“I’m going to dance for a bit.”

“What? You already have a partner?”

“Yes, Britz Jabok.”

“I see…”

Jeina’s expression hardened momentarily, but she quickly composed herself, mindful of the eyes around us.

“Make sure you conduct yourself properly so as not to tarnish the honor of the Imperial Family.”

“Don’t worry.”

I left the two princes still quarreling behind me and made my way toward the flower meadow. The Empress, for her part, was busy trying to break up their fight.

‘Even now, she remains devoted to her children.’

Her maternal love seemed unchanged by the passage of time.

I quickly located Gregory. Fortunately, he had been looking for me as well, and we found each other without delay.

“Your Highness the Princess, would you honor me with a dance?”

‘What’s gotten into him?’

Gregory extended his invitation with a surprisingly graceful bow—an action I could never have imagined from him in the past. My eyes widened in astonishment.

“…Is that not acceptable?”

“No, I’m just a bit surprised.”

I smiled softly and took his hand.

“I never expected you to be the one asking me to dance.”

“As your partner, I thought it only proper to do so.”

‘We were only partners during the banquet.’

There seemed to be some misunderstanding, but since I had intended to dance with him and speak anyway, I decided to let the matter slide for now.

As a cheerful spring melody filled the air, we began to dance.

“Gregory, I have something to ask you.”

“Please, speak.”

The moment I called him by his given name rather than his title, Gregory sensed the gravity of the conversation and lowered his voice.

“I just drank poison from the VIP Seating Area. Someone laced my black tea with it.”

“Then I shall find the culprit and execute them.”

“No, listen to the rest of what I’m saying first.”

His temperament was certainly hasty.

I leaned my head against his shoulder under the guise of the dance’s natural movement and continued.

“But I can’t identify what kind of poison it was. My tongue felt numb, and it had a sweet fragrance to it… Do you know what it might be?”

“….”

“Gregory?”

“My apologies. Could you please repeat that?”

Perhaps the music had drowned out his words. I explained once more, carefully and deliberately.

After hearing my full explanation, Gregory responded with measured composure.

“It appears to be a form of paralytic toxin. Among naturally occurring paralytic toxins, many emit a sweet fragrance to lure prey.”

“Is paralysis all it does? Are there other symptoms?”

“I cannot say for certain. If I were to taste it myself, I could make a proper determination, but….”

He paused mid-sentence, then continued with uncharacteristic hesitation.

“If you’ve just consumed the tea, I could analyze the Princess’s saliva to identify its nature.”

“…You’re asking me to spit on you?”

“Just a drop or two would suffice. You could place it in my hand.”

“Absolutely not. That’s completely out of the question.”

I had no idea what he was thinking. I regarded him with an expression of utter disbelief.

“What would people say? Do you want them to start calling me the Princess who spits on people? Is there another way?”

“If that displeases you….”

He fell silent, considering, before shaking his head.

“No. I shall conduct the investigation myself.”

“How do you intend to do that?”

“I will infiltrate the VIP Seating Area. If I conceal myself in the vines at the rear, the humans will never notice.”

The music ended at just the right moment. Before the next dance could begin, Gregory excused himself to visit the VIP Seating Area. And just before he departed, he left me with these parting words.

“Regarding the method of poisoning… I believe it would be wise to consult with Atlas.”

“Why?”

“From our brief conversation, her technical understanding is quite remarkable. She possesses knowledge on par with a Demon Realm artificer—you may be able to glean crucial clues from her.”

Coming from Gregory, who favored talented subordinates, his assessment was trustworthy.

‘Though I suspect her character is the real problem, not her skill.’

I acknowledged his words and turned to search for Atlas.

“Were you looking for me?”

“Ugh!”

She emerged from behind me as though she’d been waiting for this very moment.

‘How did I not sense her approach?’

Even in the chaos of the ballroom, for her to elude my perception—she was truly exceptional.

“Your Highness, would you honor me with a dance?”

“Oh, um… yes. Of course.”

I took her hand and began to dance. While the steps were designed for a male-female pair, her considerable height ensured our movements flowed seamlessly together.

‘Such an ordinary appearance, yet…’

Straight ash-gray hair cascading to her waist, a monocle that lent her a scholarly air, and sharp, refined features. By appearance alone, she was quite striking.

That such a student could actually be a bomb-maker—I still found it difficult to believe.

“Atlas, there’s something I wanted to ask you. Truth is, I just drank poisoned black tea a moment ago…”

“Shall I detonate it?”

“No, hear me out. …And you didn’t happen to plant a bomb here too, did you?”

“I was joking. The Princess seemed tense.”

Truly an odd personality. She and Ivan would make quite the match.

I felt a dull throb building in my head as I continued.

“Anyway, something was off about the poisoned black tea. I poured from a single teapot into everyone’s cups, but the others’ tea was perfectly normal.”

I gave her a brief account of what happened in the VIP Seating Area. After hearing the full explanation, she nodded.

“I understand. There’s likely a mechanism in the teapot itself.”

“The teapot?”

“If you look closely, there should be a hole in the handle. By blocking it with your hand while pouring, a different liquid flows out instead. It’s rare in the Empire, but commonly used in the Eastern Region.”

“Can you explain it more simply?”

“Think of it as two teapots hidden inside one. When you block the air vent of one chamber, the other flows out first. If you need an explanation of fluid branching….”

“No, that’s enough. It’s like when you draw water through a pipe and block the outlet—the water inside stops flowing. That’s the principle being used here, right?”

“Exactly!”

I’d only spoken off the top of my head, yet Atlas’s eyes sparkled with amazement. It was the most animated expression I’d seen from her yet.

“As expected, the Princess is brilliant. A true genius. To grasp the truth and theory from merely three sentences!”

‘Does she think I’m an idiot or something?’

I couldn’t tell if this was praise or an insult.

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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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