Emilone’s Temptation Labyrinth – Chapter 62

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T/N: Ezua has been changed to Ezra moving forward.

–

In the end, I could only turn around and grab the bed, crying out in pain.

“Ah…Alois, save me.”

“…You are expecting too much of a delicate, little fawn.”

“Are you serious…?”

I shook my trembling hand asking for the medicine he seemed to have brought along with the glass of water, and he reluctantly helped me stand straight.

“…I want to hurl.”

“You have to drink this for your health, Saintess.”

“Your Highness Alois, you can’t treat a Saintess like this just because no one is around. How is this okay? Huh?”

A smell akin to a cesspit wafted to my nose and I craned my neck back in horror, but Alois grabbed the back of my neck. I glared at Alois who was telling me to just drink it.

“Once you drink this, your nausea will subside.”

“But the smell…”

“Quickly.”

“…”

Ever since that incident with Young Lord Ezra, he would treat me like he was trying to soothe me whenever we were alone together.

Even his ever so amiable expression was gone, and most of the time, he either looked serious or expressionless.

In the end, I had to swallow the stench-filled medicine down my throat.

“…Urck!”

“…”

“I thought you said it would settle down.”

My stomach felt like it was churning once the strange smell was added to the equation. My mind was spinning, and it felt like something was trying to torment me by poking me all over.

“…Ahh.”

Alois barely managed to calm me down as I ran to the window then a beat later, he seemed to realize something.

“Your Holiness, does medicine not work for you?”

“…”

“Then it would have been better if you didn’t take that.”

I wanted to retort with ‘Do I look like I could remember that right now?’ but I knew that if I opened my mouth, that nasty smell would come right out, so I just shut up and huddled down.

“If I knew this would happen, I would have summoned a mage.”

“Ugh… huh?”

“We have been implementing a magic-powered flight mechanism. It’s still under development in my kingdom so please keep it a secret.”

“…”

“We have several prototypes, but we don’t have the right form yet. Right now, it’s just a floating object that carries people on top, with someone else controlling it.”

I was about to ask why we didn’t go with that option since it would be far better, then I paused. I didn’t even know I would get seasick to begin with.

Alois gently rubbed my back while I sat miserably on the floor.

“I can put you to sleep…if you want me to?”

“…But once I wake up, I won’t be able to sleep for a long time.”

Alois closed his mouth, seemingly convinced by my words.

I managed to shut down all his fussing and got up unsteadily then collapsed onto the bed.

“…I’m not really sure if I should be seeing Your Holiness like this.”

“…정말 제가 이런 성녀님을 뵈어도 될지 걱정이네요.”

You were patting my back when I was throwing up and now, you’re worried?

I gave him a look and Alois shook his head.

“Watch your clothes in front of a man.”

I strained to look down and noticed that my priest robes had rolled up, exposing my thighs, and I shrugged.

Now that I thought about it, Alois and I always spoke politely to each other and acted like we knew everything but in reality, we were in an awkward relationship where we knew nothing about each other.

“I should be the one telling you that. If you unbutton your uniform and strut around the party like last time, you’ll be eaten by those noblewomen.”

I figured he might not like the fact that I was lying down carelessly so I forced myself to sit up.

Perhaps I made a mistake by relaxing so much like we were close when we weren’t even that close…

“That day, they were just in the mood for prey.”

“Hm?”

“Many butterflies are drawn to my appearance, you see.”

“…”

Alois had once walked around a party with a few buttons undone, and I had to button them back personally. After I had fixed them, he disappeared somewhere, then I realized he probably went to talk to someone who had the information I needed.

Whether it was a man or woman remains a mystery.

“Don’t look so serious. That day, I was just talking with a count that my country is having exchanges with.”

How could I not take this seriously…

Seeing the doubtful look on my face, Alois thought it was time to change the subject and opened his mouth.

“If it’s that uncomfortable, would you like to step out to the balcony?”

Perhaps he thought it would be better to leave than stay in this room where the monkeys were jumping around. He handed me a glass of water with ice and spoke like he was making a suggestion.

“…Do you want others to see me like this?”

“It doesn’t matter…actually, maybe it does. If it affects Your Holiness’ reputation, then mine will also…”

He trailed off, but I knew what he was saying without him saying it.

“…I’ll just suffer.”

Divine power was useless, medicine was useless…

Yes, my healing ability was so great that my teeth could grow back in a day if they fell out and poison was useless on me, and I couldn’t fall sick but…

This was just….

“Urck.”

Honestly, I had never hated this ability even when I was in pain or injured, but now I truly did.

Even when my arms were ripped to shreds and my back was so hurt that the bone was exposed, I never felt this horrible but right now, I could only desperately wish for this seasickness to end.

*

“Do you want to eat?”

“…I think I should feed the monkeys first.”

I had no choice but to take Alois’ offer to help me sleep, and when I woke up, it was midnight.

It felt weird falling asleep with just a few taps on my neck and somehow, my body felt so light that I wanted to try it again if I had the chance.

Alois entered the room and asked if I wanted dinner while the look on his face seemed to ask if I felt better.

Not wanting to risk throwing up in front of a prince again, I declined.

…Ah, seriously…

If I could turn back time, I would go back and refuse Alois’ help no matter what.

I was filled with so much regret as I remember how I abandoned all dignity, throwing up and collapsing all over the place in front of Alois.

“These things…what do they eat?”

The monkeys, who were very wary of Alois, ran over and huddled under my bed.

I told them not to climb up earlier and they were so adorably obedient. When I spread my arms, they jumped in like they had been waiting for the chance.

“Hm…what do you guys want to eat?”

“Can you talk to monkeys too?”

“…I was just asking.”

I really missed the days when he acted like a weak, innocent faw…

Oh, right. I was so inebriated by the seasickness that I started talking about how he used to be cute when he was making innocent eyes at me like a fawn.

Huuu… Regret surged in my chest but as they say, there’s no use crying over spilled milk.

I glanced at the monkeys again and gently stroked their chins.

“They like it when I talk to them like this.”

As if they understood me, they snuggled into my arms, and I rubbed their faces with pride.

“It’s always fascinating watching them interact with you, considering they were once demons.”

Alois pulled up a chair and sat across from the bed where I was sitting.

“Do they have names?”

“…Not quite.”

“Names are a sign of affection.”

“I’m not good at giving names.”

Even though the fluffy little guys were jumping all over my body, they couldn’t possibly upset me.

Although, I did feel a little queasy from all the wriggling before my eyes.

Just then, one of them clung to my chest and nuzzled its face into my neck, so I easily picked it up and spun it around to show Alois.

“Why don’t you name them?”

“Me?”

“You.”

“Why me?”

I smiled, using my silence to say there was no reason in particular.

“When a Saint gives a name, it usually acts as a seal. It is said the name carries a blessing that purifies negative energy and binds all evil.”

“Isn’t that a good thing?”

“Unfortunately, these kids were once demons so they could be considered negative energy. I want to avoid sealing them forever.”

Only then did Alois understand what I meant and he extended his gentle hand to the monkey I was holding.

“Kiiieek!”

“…!”

“…”

Oh my goodness…

I was surprised, and Alois, who almost got bitten on his finger, was surprised too.

“I’m not sure I should be naming them,” Alois said after a brief pause.

“…Think of naming them as a way of getting closer, how about that?”

Alois exhaled softly.

If his sigh could be seen, I’m sure it would have filled up the entire room.

“Fel, Marien.”

“Hm?”

“I think Fel and Marien sound good.”

He withdrew his hand and answered without a pause. I repeated the names after him.

“Fel and Marien, huh…”

“In the ancient tongue, Fel means ‘deep loyalty’ and Marien means ‘unchanging heart’.”

“…Do you want them to have deep loyalty and an unchanging heart towards me?”

Every time his red eyes fell on me, it felt like my blood seized in my veins.

“Of course.”

“…”

“They were demons before and now, they stay next to you. I don’t want them to harm you or bring any harm to you.”

“…Fel and Marien.”

The pronunciation differed slightly from the imperial tongue, so I had to say it a few times to get it right.

I held the hand of the one with a big mole on his ear and opened my mouth.

“Fel sounds perfect for you.”

“Then the remaining kid—.”

“Marien.”

Deep loyalty and an unchanging heart.

“Did you know, Alois?”

“Know what?”

“In this world, there is no one more cruel than humans. They betray each other and act indifferent to each other’s plights. But animals don’t do that.”

Marien used both hands to pick up an orange which I had given to it earlier and offered it to me like it wanted me to eat it.

The adorable gesture made me burst into laughter.

Only after laughing to my heart’s content was I able to continue.

“Animals who love humans can never abandon them. It’s the humans who abandon them.”

“You’re saying these kids will love humans.”

“Who can say… But I am human too, aren’t I? When they show me this much love, there’s nothing more I can ask.”

I accepted the orange from Marien and peeled it, neatly stacked the peels on the table right next to the bed.

“Would you like a bite too?”

I took a bite of the orange which emitted a refreshing smell and held it out to the two kids who were expectantly waiting.

There was only one piece, so they were growling at each other like they were going to pounce and I quickly restrained them.

“Shh—”

I pulled back the orange and used my other hand to create a barrier between the two, signaling them to stop, and they quieted down almost immediately.

“Let’s start with you first.”

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