Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 89

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————

Pretending to Be Human: Episode 089

“Ahem.”

Loreil cleared his throat briefly before continuing.

“It’s true that I needed a reason to stop the High Priest. Even if the target wasn’t Her Highness the Princess.”

Something about this felt off. By his account, it sounded as though the High Priest’s true objective had never been me in the first place.

When I asked about it, he answered firmly.

“I cannot divulge any further details. It is a matter of family honor.”

A matter of the Prime Minister’s Family—an excuse I couldn’t possibly press him on.

‘Besides, he did help me, so it would be awkward to pry further.’

When someone helps you, gratitude is the proper response. I spoke with a sigh in my voice.

“In any case, thank you. Thanks to you, Count Loreil, I was able to avoid unwarranted suspicion.”

“So you’re finally admitting you’re not human?”

“Wouldn’t anyone find it unsettling? If that centuries-old artifact made a mistake in its judgment, I’d be executed on the spot.”

“Hmm, I see.”

He pressed the question of whether I was truly human, but I sidestepped it gracefully. Just as I hadn’t pried into his affairs, he seemed content not to press further either.

“By the way, when did you enter the ballroom?”

“When Her Highness the Princess was dancing with Prince Gilbert. Everyone’s attention was focused there, so no one noticed my arrival.”

He seemed to be referring to when I had teased Gilbert. As if recalling Gilbert’s expression at that moment, Loreil let out a small laugh.

“I’ve never seen Prince Gilbert display such a variety of expressions before. It happened with Prince Franz as well, but it seems Her Highness the Princess prevailed this time too.”

“Those two are just foolish.”

“Only Princess Deina in the entire Empire could describe the princes in such a manner.”

As the music reached its crescendo, I surrendered my waist to his hand and spun with effortless grace. Though this was my first dance with Loreil, our rhythm was remarkably natural—almost uncanny in its synchronicity.

Loreil seemed to feel it too, a faint smile crossing his lips.

“Truthfully, when I heard that the young lady of House of Medici had been brought to the ball, a chill ran down my spine. I never imagined you would be so conscious of Prince Gilbert and Atlas….”

“What are you talking about? Why would Gilbert and Atlas matter?”

“…You truly didn’t know?”

I nodded. Loreil exhaled softly.

“The incident at the Capital Military Academy—you didn’t deliberately involve yourself knowing about it?”

“I was simply searching for a banquet where I wouldn’t stand out, and happened upon it by chance.”

“The incident that occurred at that New Year’s celebration banquet was orchestrated by Prince Gilbert.”

“…What?”

Seeing my bewilderment, he briefly explained the situation.

“Prince Gilbert has had his eye on House of Medici for some time. However, when House of Medici became engaged to the Berg Family—Prince Franz’s faction—he began to interfere. The first move in his scheme was….”

“Cadet Cocomo?”

“Precisely. Of course, thanks to Prince Gilbert’s cunning machinations, that cadet likely has no idea she was being used.”

It was astonishing. Yet there was still something that didn’t sit right with me.

“Cadet Jo-han said that it would be better if Franz broke off his engagement with Atlas, didn’t he?”

“That was… likely due to Prince Franz’s preferences.”

“…I see.”

In that moment, Atlas’s face came to mind. A beauty with a cold, sharp countenance—precisely the type Franz favored.

‘So Franz was egging Johan on just to get close to Atlas himself… Should I really cut ties with this guy?’

For the safety of those around me, for the sake of the Empire itself, I wondered if a bold decision was necessary.

To summarize, it was simple. Franz had taken an interest in Atlas, and Gilbert sought to seize the House of Medici. Their ambitions overlapped, and this incident was born from that collision.

“If the plan had succeeded, after the engagement was broken, Cadet Johan would have been paired with Cadet Cocomo, and then Prince Franz and the Gilbert Faction would have approached Atlas.”

“Yes.”

“And then I appeared and took Atlas away.”

“Precisely.”

And here I was, brazenly bringing that very Atlas to the Ballroom.

Gilbert must have thought I was deliberately provoking him.

‘No wonder Gilbert was unusually emotional today.’

An act committed in a fit of rage spiraling into such a massive incident—even I hadn’t anticipated this.

‘Come to think of it, Jeina mentioned Atlas today.’

‘I heard he’d caused another incident recently.’

‘…What I mean is, the House of Medici.’

It seemed everyone but me knew about Atlas’s situation.

I was suddenly acutely aware of how lacking my information network truly was.

“Sigh.”

Seeing me exhale in self-reproach, Loreil spoke quietly.

“To solve a case without information… Your Highness the Princess is like the eye of a storm. You always seem to be at the center of incidents.”

“I hear that often enough as it is.”

Ivan, Grid, and finally Loreil. That made three times already.

I steered the conversation away, signaling that I wanted to drop the subject.

“Now that I think about it, I’ve been noticing the stares from those around us….”

Throughout the dance, I felt the weight of countless eyes upon me. Their gazes carried wariness far more than curiosity.

And half of those stares weren’t directed at me—they were fixed on Loreil.

“It seems trouble follows Count Loreil just as relentlessly as it does me.”

“I cannot deny it.”

Loreil stood at the center of just as many rumors as I did. Whispers that he was the illegitimate half-brother of the current family head, and even darker speculation—that he might be the reincarnation of a true demon.

Only when I observed the gazes directed at him did I realize his standing had transformed. He was no longer what he once was.

Yet Loreil remained unmoved by such scrutiny.

“These rumors will fade the moment another scandal erupts. People are always captivated by the next noise, after all.”

It was a composure rarely seen among the nobility these days.

Perhaps because I’d just witnessed that fool Gilbert, I found myself appreciating Loreil’s demeanor.

‘Come to think of it, Loreil has changed considerably since last year. He suspects, but doesn’t act rashly.’

The way he’d grasped something of my secret yet refrained from spreading it carelessly. And his manner of settling debts cleanly, ensuring mutual favors were properly balanced.

With such equilibrium between us, deepening our connection didn’t seem like a poor choice.

‘Until now, I kept my distance deliberately. But inevitably, our paths will intertwine further. The Nobility Council is a door I’ll have to open eventually.’

My reason for keeping Loreil at arm’s length had been singular—his relentless curiosity about my true nature.

But now that he’d released that obsession, he made for a remarkably compelling business partner.

My hesitation was brief.

“Loreil, are you perhaps uninterested in a contractual engagement?”

“…What?”

In that instant, Loreil’s composure crumbled. He barely managed to steady himself as he stumbled.

“What do you mean by that?”

“You said you had no fiancée, didn’t you? That you’ve only recently entered High Society.”

“That’s… correct.”

Loreil had suddenly become the heir due to his brother’s absence.

Whether his family neglected him or not, the situation of having no fiancée would have been quite burdensome for him as well.

It was much the same for me.

“I was able to make my return under the pretext of finding a fiancée. So we could say our interests align perfectly.”

“So you’re suggesting we become engaged?”

“More precisely, it would be a contract to become engagement candidates. I’m not asking for an actual betrothal vow—rather, we’d cultivate the appearance of mutual interest.”

If we created the impression of being interested in each other, neither the Emperor nor the Prime Minister’s Family could interfere with us.

‘Before long, the Emperor will press me to find a fiancée. This would serve as an excellent shield then. Conversely, Loreil can use me the same way.’

It was a transaction where both of us stood to gain.

In the past, my reputation had been so poor that I could never have matched with the Prime Minister’s heir, but now our circumstances were not so different.

In other words, we could make quite a convincing contractual couple.

“…For a moment, I thought Your Highness was proposing to me.”

“What are you talking about? A proposal is something you make to someone you truly wish to give your heart to. Think of this as a transaction with no sincerity whatsoever—not a confession.”

It would be a shame if my first proposal and first love slipped away because of a deal like this.

“Not in the slightest….”

For some reason, Loreil’s steps, which had just returned to their rhythm, began to falter again. He spoke with a stiffly frozen smile.

“How remarkably rational of you.”

“Are the terms not to your liking? I thought it would be advantageous for Count Loreil as well.”

“No, not at all. It’s quite, extraordinarily rational, and I find it most agreeable.”

He pulled my hand forcefully, though it wasn’t the right moment to turn. My steps tangled as a result, and my head pressed against his chest.

Looking down at me, he smiled, baring his teeth.

“Your Highness the Princess is so rational in all matters. How admirable that must be.”

“Um… thank you?”

Had this man developed some peculiar faith like Viscount Gorden? His sudden compliments were becoming frequent.

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————