The world I used to live in, huh.
“What kind of place do you think it was?”
I lowered my eyes and asked. It wasn’t something I had ever been asked before… and I hadn’t expected Alois to be curious about it.
“At the very least, I’m sure it was as beautiful as the Saintess herself.”
His words sounded like flattery, and I shrugged. Just then, the faint aroma of sweet tea wafted up from the pot the maid was pouring. Taking in the fragrance, I began to speak.
“It was a world without magic.”
Reneben’s eyes widened in surprise, and Alois was no different.
A world without magic.
To them, it must sound like an unimaginable, alien concept.
“How…did you live in such a place?”
Alois looked serious, and Reneben, in a rare display, looked unsettled.
They must have assumed that the place I came from was similar to theirs.
“People will always find their own way to survive. When magic does not exist, they develop other means to progress.”
After speaking, I picked up the teacup in front of me.
Alois was watching my every move as if he wanted to commit it to memory then he turned his head slightly and sighed.
“A world without magic… I can’t even imagine it.”
“Since there’s no magic, there’s also no demons and no caste system.”
Alois was intrigued. Stories of new places were always captivating, especially for someone like him.
“It wasn’t a perfectly peaceful world, but it was one that protected the idea that all power stems from the people, the commoners as you might say.”
“That sounds like something out of a fairytale.”
To me, wielding divine power, clashing with the Empire’s emperor, and doing all this running around felt more like something out of a fairytale.
“Now that I think about it, you’ve given up everything to dedicate yourself to this world, Lady Emilone.”
Alois’s quiet words made Reneben look at me with newfound realization.
“It’s not accurate to say I’ve given up everything, Alois. I did think so at first, but now I’ve gained just as much as I’ve lost.”
As I spoke, the warmth from the tea seemed to spread through my body. I gently lowered my gaze and set the teacup back down.
“When a tower crumbles, it is up to you to consider how to rebuild it. If I gave up everything just because the castle I built fell apart, the Emilone you see now would not exist.”
In the beginning, I felt a little resistant.
A strange world, unfamiliar people, incomprehensible ways of thinking—all of it was challenges that I found difficult to embrace.
However,…
“So you rebuilt your tower without giving up?”
“I did. Rather than inheriting a seat made for me; I built my own.”
I sought knowledge of what I didn’t know and learned to improve my shortcomings.
That was entirely my own will.
Alois tilted his head, and the soft strands of his brown hair flowed with him.
“If it was me, I don’t think I would be able to rebuild.”
His crimson eyes flickered as he blinked, and his ambiguous words left a brief silence that I broke with a question.
“…Why do you say that?”
“Because I’ve already built so much. If I had to give it all up and start all over, I’d crumble before I could even begin.”
“Don’t worry. You won’t crumble.”
I meant it sincerely.
The word ‘collapse’ didn’t seem like something that could ever come near Alois.
“I know. The tower I’ve built isn’t one that can crumble.”
Hearing his words, which were as clever as ever, I awkwardly bit into my sandwich and winked at the stiff Reneben.
“Ah, Reneben… Now that I think about it, is there anything else that needs to be done?”
“We’ve been up all night so…I doubt there’ll be anything for a while.”
Reneben spoke confidently, and I glanced at Alois, who looked equally self-assured as he sank into his chair. Since everything had been taken care of, Alois must have helped quite a bit…
Recalling last night’s events, I made up my mind and called out to him.
“Alois, I’d like to visit the temple today.”
“I’m listening, Lady Emilone.”
“I don’t need that much time to sort out my thoughts.”
I recalled Alois’s words that he would show me outside once I was ready. And I respected his judgment.
“I never go back on a decision once I’ve made it.”
I didn’t yet know what he wanted me to see or endure that required such determination.
“I still don’t really know what you’re trying to hide or why you keep mentioning my resolve…”
Alois’s eyes narrowed.
“But it’s human nature to uncover that which is hidden, is it not?”
“…There are also those who prefer to leave things hidden.”
“Unfortunately, I’m not one of them.”
I shrugged, and he tilted his head back slightly, exposing his delicate neck as he let out a soft sigh.
“Your decision is simply…”
He stopped mid-sentence and withdrew his slightly outstretched hand.
Watching his fist clench tightly, I broke the silence.
“I am ready.”
It was a simple declaration.
In short, I was prepared, and all he needed to do was guide me.
“Haa, I was expecting this answer, but I thought it would take a little longer.”
Doesn’t that mean my behavior was unexpected?
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“You always…stray from whatever path I expect.”
Seeing Reneben fidgeting nervously, I leaned in and kissed him lightly on the cheek before standing up.
Startled, Reneben quickly rose with me, and I spoke nonchalantly.
“Apparently, that is how you greet those you’re friendly with in the Vermont Kingdom.”
“…”
“Well then, Alois, since it’s settled, lead me to where I need to go.”
I laced my words with just enough authority to leave no room for refusal.
“…As you wish.”
Alois stood up as well and lightly dusted off his hands.
“I will take you to the temple.”
“Hmm. Alois, the place I want to go and what I want to see…isn’t really the temple. The temple is just an excuse. You know that too, right?”
“I know. But when we get to the temple, you’ll find what you’re looking for.”
Since it was the temple, I opted for my most formal and elegant priestly robes.
As I draped a white veil over my head, I looked at Alois, who was adjusting his coat with a frown on his face.
“…This is likely unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.”
He sounded thoroughly displeased.
Now that we were alone, his expressions were openly on display.
“Since you’ve chosen to go, I hope you won’t regret it, Lady Emilone.”
His advice made me uneasy for no reason. But I turned away and replied lightly.
“Regret, you say…Regret isn’t something I—.”
I couldn’t finish my sentence because a firm grip suddenly seized my shoulder.
“You shouldn’t be considering this so lightly.”
His furrowed brow and the contemptuous look directed at some unseen enemy made me instinctively swallow hard. For a moment, I thought it was directed at me.
“There is nothing more useless than regret. It’s foolish to regret something that cannot be undone.”
“…Then why—.”
Alois grasped my shoulder, half-turning me, and looked down at me.
I had never thought of him as particularly tall, but at that moment, his gaze bore down on me, and I instinctively tensed.
Even though he looked slender, his body was lean and strong, with well-defined muscles. He was far stronger than me, despite my regular sword practice.
I tried to pull away from his grip, but the resolute look on his face told me he wasn’t letting go so I gave up.
“Because I regretted it. Foolishly, I let myself feel the thing called regret back then.”
“…What in the world did you see?”
I reached out, cupping his face with both hands, and gazed steadily into his eyes.
The twisted scowl on Alois’s face was unfamiliar to me.
“How ridiculous.”
If it were someone else, would they have comforted him?
“How foolish, to still be shackled by something as trivial as regret.”
“…”
“Instead of wallowing in your suffering, why not find a way to overcome your regrets?”
I chuckled, my tone deliberately scornful. As I traced my fingers over his skin, Alois slowly loosened his grip on my shoulder.
“…Just like you say, I’ve found a way to move forward, Lady Emilone.”
His deep gaze settled onto me. Moving my hand from his cheek, I pointed at myself with my index finger.
“And that way is me?”
“It took me a long time.”
“Oh my.”
It seemed I really was his answer.
“In other words, you’re saying I have the power to resolve whatever caused you to regret.”
“That is a sore spot.”
“What a lovely surprise.”
***
The king tried to stop me.
The same face I’d seen during last night’s banquet—the prince of Vermont—stood in my way.
Of course, it wasn’t hard to brush him aside.
“When the Saintess says she wishes to visit the temple, trying to stop her doesn’t exactly paint a good picture.”
‘Maybe they’re part of the heretical faction or something, hm?’ I jokingly uttered to Reneben but to my surprise, he nodded seriously, his face stern.
I was joking but when Reneben looked so serious like it was actually the case, I was taken aback instead and cleared my throat.
“Alois, shall we go now?”
While the prince was frozen in place, I walked passed him and climbed into the carriage.
It didn’t take long to settle into my seat, and as I did, I glanced at Alois, who had once again donned his gentle smile.
Seeing him kindly bidding farewell to the king made me feel irritated for no reason.
“…Alois, where did that scowl from earlier go?”
Advanced chapters available on Patreon.
- Emilone’s Temptation Labyrinth – Chapter 73 - January 27, 2025
- Emilone’s Temptation Labyrinth – Chapter 72 - January 27, 2025
- Emilone’s Temptation Labyrinth – Chapter 71 - January 20, 2025