Emilone’s Temptation Labyrinth – Chapter 61

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Because he seriously looked angry, I couldn’t help but feel intimidated. I softly called his name and his gaze peered into mine.

“…”

“Please be aware of how precious you are.”

My eyes fell on his neck, which was exposed as he stared down at me, unfortunately, I couldn’t help but think it looked incredibly sexy.

He lowered the arm that was leaning on the sofa and gently brushed my bruised wrist, acting very familiar.

“Your answer?”

“…I’ll be careful.”

I was overcome by his momentum, and obediently replied.

But there was nothing wrong with what he said.

I just didn’t know whether to listen to him or not.

As I watched Alois slowly pull away from me, I unconsciously swallowed.

I felt like I had just seen his true self, a part I never thought I’d see.

* * *

Not long after the party, the day to leave arrived.

Before getting on the carriage, I firmly entrusted Jessie with the education of Prince Yuina and Chen, who were staying behind at the temple.

To be more exact, I focused on making it clear that Prince Yuina was a member of the temple, and that even imperial family couldn’t do anything about that.

“This feels nice.”

Reneben muttered softly. I had to agree with him.

My hair fluttered refreshingly in the breeze.

“Ah, that tickles!”

Just as I was enjoying the breeze, the red monkeys began to hang off my body.

They were fussing around so much that my shoulders felt heavy, and I couldn’t climb into the carriage right away.

“Wait… are you taking those babies with you?”

“Huh? Of course.”

Reneben looked at the two monkeys disapprovingly, then he soon realized that taking them along was the wisest choice and shut his mouth.

I waved goodbye to the priests and paladins who looked very reluctant to part then we set off.

I couldn’t help but smile as the trip began with Reneben and two monkeys in tow.

After traveling a little bit, we reached the sea and Reneben looked surprised.

“The ships of Eseah Kingdom are huge.”

“I’ve never seen their ships so I’m not sure what to compare it to…but they certainly seem big.”

Reneben got off the carriage first, and then I took his hand and followed.

The ship was indeed huge once I saw it up close.

As it happens, Alois was standing in front of it and his uniform caught my eye because it was in the style of Eseah Kingdom, not the Empire.

“Lady Emilone.”

Because we dressed simply, Alois was the first to recognize us.

Immediately, the gazes of the Crown Prince and Ronella, who were standing next to him, turned to me.

The Crown Prince and Prince Alois did not get along at all.

The emperor had used the excuse of illness to avoid seeing me off.

“Did you wait long?”

“Not at all. You’ve arrived earlier than expected.”

While Alois spoke, Ronella had already taken out a handkerchief and was dabbing her tears.

Seeing those tears, I was about to go over to hug her, but the Crown Prince blocked my way.

“…So you’re leaving.”

“…??”

Ronella is crying though?

Yet he’s talking to me?

I glanced over to make sure my eyes weren’t deceiving me, but it was indeed Ducal Princess Ronella Nestro standing next to the Crown Prince.

From her dark black hair, incredibly fair skin, slender figure, to her beautiful green eyes filled with tears. She looked so delicate that I wanted to go hug her if the Crown Prince didn’t.

I was really about to go hug her when the Crown Prince, who was standing between Ronella and I, spoke again.

“Do you have no plans of returning to the Empire?”

“Who knows…”

I replied vaguely, taking my gaze off Ronella and looking up at the Crown Prince.

I felt a tug on my leg and looked down.

“What are you doing?”

A monkey held up an ornament that it had certainly taken from Reneben. I wondered if it was giving it to me because it sparkled, and I patted it on the head, feeling moved.

The Crown Prince was silent again.

Besides the Crown Prince, there were other familiar faces around. Whenever I saw a crowd of noblemen I didn’t recognize, I felt how impressive the position of Saint was.

“Lady Emilone, it’s time to board.”

Once I heard that, I picked up the two monkeys who were running around, seeming to love the sea, then I noticed that the Crown Prince was still watching us.

I wished he would just talk if he had something to say…

Mmm… Eventually, his gaze bothered me enough that I couldn’t help but say one last thing before boarding.

“Thank you for looking after our servant at the party the other day.”

The Crown Prince’s eyes fell on me.

I had to struggle not to look away from his cryptic gaze.

“…I see.”

“Hm?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

I saw the Crown Prince wrap his arms around Ronella’s shoulders as if making up for his delay.

I boarded the ship, clutching the two unpredictable monkeys tightly, not wanting them to run off.

Since every country had their own priests, the only person I brought was Reneben, and it felt a little bittersweet.

As we waited for the ship to depart, Reneben spoke to me softly.

“It’s exciting leaving the empire for the first time.”

“How come you’ve never left? The High Priest isn’t bound to the empire.”

We heard it would take four days to arrive, so Alois went to organize things on the ship while Reneben and I were led by a maid to our assigned rooms.

“That might be true, but I was raised for the empire, and I grew up for the empire. Without Your Holiness’s help…I can’t imagine going up to the His Majesty the Emperor and bolding declaring my departure to another country.”

I’d heard that this was the best room on the ship, but when I saw the luxuriousness that defied imagination, I had to stop at the entrance.

“…This is far more lavish than my room.”

Reneben peeked into his room which was diagonally across from mine, then he quickly ran back to my room and looked around in wonder.

“I bet it feels very comfortable in here.”

“Tell me about it…”

“My room’s not too bad either.”

Hearing that, I let the monkeys loose in my room and went over to Reneben’s room.

“This is impressive too,” I remarked.

“I guess that’s Eseah Kingdom for you.”

“What makes you say that?”

“They are famously known for being a country that even the Empire cannot treat rashly. Because they are incredibly wealthy.”

I already knew it was rich, but I was a little surprised to learn that even the empire could not treat them thoughtlessly.

No wonder the Crown Prince was acting a little mellowed out.

“But I think I like your bed more, Reneben.”

If they were wealthy, they could definitely hire exceptional mercenaries during a war. That must be why even the empire couldn’t touch them easily.

After all, the Empire started out as a marauding nation and expanded its power and presence through active conquests.

“Should you be entering a man’s room so casually?” a voice cut in.

The bed looked as soft as the one in my room at the temple.

Just as I was thinking about how comfortable the bed would be and was about to head to my room where I had let the monkeys loose, a soft hand wrapped around my waist, causing me to turn my head.

“It’s Reneben’s so it’s fine.”

“Hmm…”

He narrowed his eyes and released his hold.

“Your Highness, you are being rude to the Saintess.”

“I will be more careful next time.”

Alois responded to Reneben’s remark.

It looked like their relationship was still awkward, so I studied as I entered my room.

“Lady Emilone.”

“What?”

“Before getting to our kingdom, I’d like to show you around other countries as well. Would that be possible?”

“…Of course.”

“Thank you for your understanding. There is a country I really want to show you and places that need your help.”

We had already talked about this to some extent, and I was thinking the same thing. After all, I couldn’t just visit his country, the Kingdom of Eseah, and leave.

“It will take four days as planned. The country is near our kingdom.”

“What kind of place is it?”

“Their King is a lover of beauty so I’m sure there will be plenty to see at the royal castle.”

He smiled in the shape of an arc, his eyes narrowing in turn.

There was a bitter taste in my mouth.

I realized there must be something else to this.

Reneben just nodded in agreement but there was definitely a reason why Alois insisted on leading me to another country.

“…Alright, I’ll get going now.”

“Have you had breakfast?”

“Not yet, but I’ll eat in my room.”

I only hoped it was for a good reason.

I wasn’t opposed to visiting other countries. If anything, I welcomed the idea, so I easily nodded along.

“You might feel sick if you eat in your room. Are you sure?”

“…Of course, I’ll be fine…”

And exactly 30 minutes later, I regretted those very words.

“Bleurgh–!”

“…Poison and sickness don’t affect you so I didn’t think this would.”

Alois muttered quietly while patting my back.

Considering I was already feeling terrible, I didn’t need his comments. I sent him a sharp glare and he quickly put on a worried expression as if he didn’t say anything.

“…Uurk!”

I covered my mouth tightly to block the sound and bent over again. I didn’t want to disturb Reneben’s sweet sleep because he had stayed up all night with the priests, knowing we were leaving the Empire.

“Didn’t you say you don’t get seasick?”

“…I never got motion sick in planes… then again, I’ve never been on a ship.”

“Planes?”

“No, not planes, cars…or not? That sounds wrong too.”

Wait, can you get motion sick in airplanes? Is it carsickness or airsickness?

My mind was so all over the place that I couldn’t tell which option was right. Feeling my brain like a top, I covered my mouth with my sleeve.

I grabbed the window ledge and threw up everything I had for breakfast then I finally collapsed onto the bed.

I pried my eyes open slightly and found Alois approaching with a glass of cold water, but he was chuckling.

“…?”

“It’s not every day you get to see the Lady Saintess in such a weak state. Quite the rare opportunity.”

I couldn’t really hear what he was saying because the sky was spinning, but it didn’t sound like he was saying anything nice.

“Your Highness.”

“Yes.”

“…I liked you better when you made innocent eyes at me like a fawn…”

I never knew seasickness could be so hard.

I had never been on a ship in my original world, so I had nothing to compare it to. And I’d flown countless times too, but… who gets motionsick on a plane?

“…A fawn… innocent eyes…”

“…”

I lay down, pondering the meaning of life because my vision was spinning yet the ship wasn’t rocking at all; in fact, it was moving quite smoothly.

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