Pretending to Be Human Is Exhausting Again Today - Chapter 90

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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 090

After that, Loreil fell silent for quite some time. He kept his mouth shut until the music ended, making the dance we shared feel awkward on my part.

‘He said he liked the terms of the deal, but his expression says otherwise. Is there something more he wants to say?’

As I pondered quietly, a thought suddenly struck me.

‘That’s it—he might be secretly dating someone!’

I had underestimated High Society. This was a world where even without rumors or an engagement, one could easily have a lover or two.

‘Franz’s situation is proof of that. I was naive.’

Moreover, before the scandalous rumors about him surfaced, Loreil had been a suitor even the Empress coveted. It wouldn’t have been strange if he had some prior connection.

“I apologize, Loreil.”

“…?”

“I was rude. I should have asked first whether you had someone by your side.”

“What nonsense is that?”

“You weren’t refusing because you have a lover, were you?”

“No!”

‘If it’s no, then it’s no—why raise your voice like that?’

His voice was so loud that the other dancers nearby startled at the outburst.

“I… from the beginning… well, in any case, Your Highness the Princess should work on breaking the habit of jumping to conclusions so easily.”

“But you just said I was smarter than the princes.”

“That’s a different matter entirely.”

I couldn’t understand him at all. But Loreil, as if unwilling to explain further, furrowed his brow and spoke.

“I’ll inform you of my answer to your proposal at a later time.”

“When exactly is later? I’m rather busy with my Direct Dominion….”

“Later!”

The music ended at that very moment. Even so, Loreil bowed respectfully and withdrew.

‘I’m not sure what bothered me so much about that.’

It was a proposal he had made with considerable resolve, yet I felt somewhat disappointed.

* * *

Afterward, I remained in place until the ball ended, hoping to discern the High Priest’s true intentions, but I gleaned nothing of particular value.

The High Priest departed after conversing with the Empress, and Franz and Gilbert did likewise.

Notably, Gilbert seemed elated that the poison had proven ineffective against him, regaining his composure and approaching me with an easy smile, but I deliberately flaunted Atlas at my side to drive him away.

He glared at me as though he wished to kill me, then vanished.

Since Franz’s gaze followed suit, I even suggested to Atlas that she consider purchasing a mask in the future.

She offered to have her face reconstructed if she disliked her appearance, so I hastily retracted the suggestion.

“Sigh, I’m exhausted.”

Though I hadn’t revealed it to others, the one who had worn me down so thoroughly was neither the imperial princes, nor the High Priest, nor Loreil who had suddenly disappeared.

It was the Empress.

‘So, Princess Deina, what do you think about an arranged meeting?’

After the High Priest left, she revealed her true purpose in inviting me to the banquet—an offer to find me a betrothed.

‘There’s a family with a storied history in the Western Region. Their legitimate heir happens to be unmarried….’

Her intention was transparent. She meant to entangle me with someone within her sphere of influence, making it easy to manipulate me.

Unlike my other legitimate siblings, I had no connection to her, so she played the fiancée card.

Even though our relationship was strained, she remained my mother, making it difficult to refuse outright. I extracted every excuse I could muster and postponed my decision.

‘Given the Empress’s nature, she won’t give up. She’ll arrange more matchmaking meetings before long. I’ll need bait like Loreil to manage this.’

Exhausted by her relentless matchmaking offensive, I boarded the carriage in a state of complete collapse.

“Truly, I may actually have to attend one of these arranged meetings.”

As I muttered the same words, Gregory, who had escorted me to the carriage, wore a peculiar expression. But I was too fatigued to pay it any mind.

After a series of complications, I arrived at my bedroom in the Separate Palace and threw myself onto the bed.

“Ah, so this is only the beginning.”

I was merely a novice who had just stepped onto the battlefield of High Society.

Ahead lay the Spring Festival, summer boat outings, autumn harvest celebrations, and countless other events I had to attend. Each came with its own rules and customs.

‘If only I had my own faction, things would be easier.’

Like Franz and Gilbert.

People who would follow my words without justification, whom I could trust my back to without hesitation.

With such a faction, I wouldn’t need to bear everything alone as I do now.

‘Let me see who I can count as my allies…’

I counted them off on my fingers one by one.

Maids Liribel and Emma, Guard Knight Ruslara, Assassin Ivan, merchant Grid, Atlas who promised to become my adjutant, and Gregory, my actual adjutant.

‘Should I include Viscount Gorden? Even if I do, it’s still too few.’

I considered summoning more Demons, but knowing that Asmo-rina existed in this world posed too great a risk. Besides, I still hadn’t uncovered the High Priest’s true purpose.

‘Even with Ivan gathering intelligence within the Imperial Palace, it’s insufficient. I need someone well-versed in information from across the realm.’

This incident at the Military Academy was merely a stroke of fortune. One day, a lack of intelligence might thrust me into an unfavorable position.

I didn’t aspire to the vast power wielded by the princes. At minimum, I desired enough strength to protect myself.

‘If only I could resolve everything through sheer force… but that’s hardly realistic.’

I buried my face in the pillow and exhaled a weary sigh.

Lamenting now was pointless. From this moment forward, I needed to steadily expand my circle of allies.

Moreover, I had to manage my Direct Dominion as well. The shortage of talented individuals would undoubtedly continue to shackle my progress.

‘The Demon Realm was far more convenient, now that I think about it.’

There, my emotions may have been taxed, but I never experienced inconvenience in my duties. I was surrounded by subordinates far more capable than myself.

Of course, Asmo-rina was an exception to that.

As my thoughts multiplied, drowsiness crept over me. With hazy eyes, I organized tomorrow’s tasks.

‘First, I’ll secure confirmation of the Direct Dominion, send a letter to Loreil, and arrange an appointment with Viscount Gorden in between…’

Amid this tangle of thoughts, a single question flickered through my mind.

‘Come to think of it, who actually invited Atlas?’

I’d assumed the Chamberlain had summoned him since the invitation came from the Main Palace, yet he never even made eye contact with Atlas.

Even Gilbert believed I had invited Atlas.

Then who on earth sent that invitation?

‘The Empress? No, if that were the case, she would have spoken with Atlas at least once. Franz and Gilbert are obviously out of the question. Then who could it be…?’

I couldn’t continue my thoughts through the fog of drowsiness.

I resolved to investigate further when time permitted, and surrendered to sleep.

Gentle rest found my weary body.

* * *

In the depths of night, the Flower Garden glimmered beneath the moonlight.

The flowers, cultivated with meticulous care, displayed their splendor so brilliantly that even the Spring Flower Ball seemed pallid by comparison.

Yet the man standing at the center of the garden—the Emperor—did not spare them a single glance.

Instead, he posed a final question to those prostrating themselves behind him.

“So you obtained no information whatsoever?”

At his cutting words, the elderly High Priest, who had been bowing his head, responded in a servile tone.

“I beg your pardon, Your Majesty. We could not identify any intruders at the ball.”

“Yet it was you who suspected a Demon might be present there.”

“I am deeply ashamed.”

The Emperor clicked his tongue in displeasure.

“I thought this time we might finally grasp the thread of this calamity.”

The calamity he spoke of referred to the strange disaster that had occurred in the Neutral Zone.

One day, a colossal moving tree had suddenly appeared, laying waste to the entire Neutral Zone before vanishing without a trace by the next dawn. As a result, localized earthquakes had erupted across the Empire.

The event was far too surreal, so the Emperor had immediately dispatched both military forces and Priests.

Upon arrival, the Priests declared with certainty that this was the work of Demons. The traces of malevolent magical power had been unmistakably thick.

And those traces of magical power had been directed toward the Capital.

The Emperor had immediately mobilized the Priests to track the Demon’s footsteps.

But the result was failure. The traces of magical power had vanished, and no incident had occurred at the Spring Flower Ball, which had been considered the only lead.

‘Someone is clearly interfering. Otherwise, there is no way the clues would disappear so cleanly.’

The problem was that I couldn’t identify who had intervened.

Even mobilizing all of the Imperial Palace’s intelligence networks, I couldn’t even catch a shadow of them. It was deeply disturbing.

“Was there no one among the participants who displayed magical power?”

“There was not. We were unable to shine the Golden Mirror on the likely suspects, but….”

“Enough. Relying on such an antiquated relic is foolish.”

It was an insult to the Sun God’s authority, yet the High Priest could not speak. For now, the Emperor was far more terrifying than the Sun God.

“There’s no help for it. If I cannot find them, then I must make them come to me.”

The Emperor gazed at the High Priest and asked.

“Is it true that Demons are drawn to the souls of humans who die tragically?”

“Ah, yes, that is correct. Strong resentment and souls naturally summon Demons. When we actually hunted Demons ourselves….”

“Then a thousand would suffice, wouldn’t it?”

“A thousand? I beg your pardon?”

“If a thousand people die unjustly, you can summon Demons, is that not so?”

The High Priest trembled, as though he had never expected to answer such a horrifying question.

“It would be possible. At that scale, even the Demon King would drool….”

“Excellent. A trial execution might be worthwhile.”

From where, and whom, was he ordering killed? The Emperor answered that question alone.

“The Direct Dominion I’m giving to Deina happens to be in a remote location. It has a population of two thousand, if I recall. I can afford to sacrifice half to my father.”

At the tyrant’s words, devoid of blood and tears, all the Priests fell silent.

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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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