“You’ll understand once you see it for yourself. A place where anyone can enjoy. It’s a beautiful place with many stories and home to many high-ranking officials.”
At the mention of high-ranking officials, I traced the edge of my lips with my fingers.
“Since you won’t tell me where we’re going even if I ask…”
“…”
“I have no choice but to go and see for myself.”
I already expected this.
It might seem like all I had to do was to visit these various countries and casually resolve everything but…that wasn’t true.
Alois had prepared this stage step by step before I arrived.
The only thing left was the appearance of the person who could resolve it.
I stretched out my stiff body like a cat and smiled.
“I wonder what’s waiting for me this time. It’s making me nervous.”
Alois did not reply to that.
* * *
Being on the sea was torture, but after getting some shut eye, we quickly arrived at our destination.
I slowly opened my eyes that I had been shielding them with my arm and sat up.
“We’ve arrived?”
“Indeed. We just need to get off now…”
The ship had already docked at the port.
I must have dozed off on the hard deck.
When I looked down, I noticed Reneben’s white priest robes scattered on the floor while Alois’s outer coat covered my body.
My body ached with soreness, probably because I’d slept on such a hard surface.
Right then, a smell brushed past my nose, and I instinctively covered my mouth and nose with my sleeve.
“Lady Emilone?”
“…Dammit.”
Without hesitation, I pressed down on my foot and stepped off the ship.
The moment I did, a pungent, unpleasant smell surged towards me, and I sneered.
Because at this point, I couldn’t possibly mistake what scent this was.
I turned to look at Alois, who was just getting off the ship.
Though it was a port, it seemed to have been abandoned a long time ago. Not a single soul was in sight.
That explained how we could enter the country illegally, without any official procedures.
“Reneben, please take care of the kids.”
Just like Alois said, this looked like a country meant for enjoyment.
Keeping my sleeve tightly pressed against my nose and mouth, I asked Reneben to look after the monkeys.
While thinking that I probably shouldn’t have brought these monkeys that are more like baggages along, I glanced at the little guys and spun around.
Alois was also covering his mouth and nose with a handkerchief.
“…This smell.”
Reneben muttered quietly as he cradled the monkeys in his arms, and soon, he followed suit by covering his face with his sleeve.
“A mix of aphrodisiacs and drugs.”
“Correct.”
Reneben guessed the source of the scent, and I chuckled.
“Unfortunately, things like this don’t work on me. Once I get a little used to it, my head will clear right up.”
The same applied to Reneben who was the High Priest.
With my mouth and nose covered, I took slow, measured breaths.
Once I got used to it, I lowered my hand.
“Did you know, Alois?”
“What are you referring to?”
“In the garden of the temple, there is a flower said to have been planted and nurtured by the Goddess of Beauty, Tiero.”
“Pardon?”
Hearing the question in his voice, I continued explaining in a friendly tone.
“Verinea, commonly known as an aphrodisiac.”
“…Hmm?”
“There are hundreds of Verinea flowers blooming in temple’s garden that no one else can enter.”
In short, an aphrodisiac like this had no effect on Reneben or I.
“So, Alois, don’t worry and guide me.”
A thick mist blanketed the surroundings.
That alone told me that this country was anything but ordinary.
Then again, the fact that Alois brought me here in the first place already told me that it wasn’t.
“I’ll be sure to fully enjoy myself.”
I had no idea what kind of place this was.
But since he wanted me to have fun, I figured I might as well enjoy myself properly.
Meeting his gaze, I saw his red eyes gleam faintly as he raised his arm, motioning toward the mist.
“Then allow me to guide you. This way.”
The strong scent I inhaled the moment I stepped into this country told me that this experience was not going to be a cake walk either.
* * *
I pulled the hood of the robe Alois handed me tightly over my head.
After getting off the boat, we surveyed our surroundings and found a village, so we headed there.
Thankfully, since we were near the sea, there were many places to stay for the night. Alois selected the best place among them.
After hiding my white priest robes, I went into the lodging.
“Reneben, you wait here with the kids.”
“But…!”
Once we got a room, I pulled down the brown hood that smelled like straw and spoke to the fidgeting Reneben.
“I can’t send you off alone, Your Holiness.”
“My, I’m not alone though…”
I couldn’t bring the monkeys along to a destination I didn’t even know.
And while my body was impervious to poison, Reneben was not the same.
Bringing him along would only be a hassle.
Of course, that meant Alois was in danger too, but Alois was the one who had invited Reneben and I to this country.
While Alois was out shopping for clothes, I used this chance to grab Reneben’s shoulders tightly.
“Please, just wait here quietly for now.”
“Lady Emilone…”
“I’m not ordering you, I’m asking. If you really want to follow me…”
I sat Reneben down on a chair and tapped his ankle lightly with my toe.
“…I won’t stop you.”
Sure enough, he winced in pain and tensed his feet.
“I saw you twist your ankle earlier. I told you to tell me things like this.”
“…I didn’t want to worry you…it’s so minor. It’ll heal fast.”
“This is exactly why I’m saying no. Hiding things like this only makes me worry more.”
Reneben’s face turned uneasy at that.
“But…”
“Just rest. I’m the one who brought you all the way to this foreign place. I’ll feel bad if I don’t let you rest at least.”
“…”
Reneben’s eyes trembled.
While thinking his violet eyes were beautiful, I took this as my chance to press a little harder.
“And right now, you need to rest and save up your strength. So you can protect me later.”
“…Lady Emilone.”
Thankfully, Reneben decided to stay behind.
Well, saying I need his strength was an excuse; I just wanted him to get some rest.
Unlike Alois whom I could use without any concern, Reneben was someone I wanted to protect.
“…Alright, I…will remain here and watch over things until Your Holiness returns.”
“That’s a good boy.”
I patted his head like he was a child.
As I was running my fingers through his snowy hair, a knock rang out.
“I’m coming in.”
It was Alois’s voice.
The door opened before I could even answer.
His arms were full of various items, but when I saw his attire, I tilted my head.
“…And this is?”
“Uniform worn by the nobles of this country. I’ve prepared some for Your Holiness and Lord Reneben as well so please change.”
Alois’ attire didn’t look that different from the Empire’s attire.
When I unfolded the clothes he gave me, a luxurious yet elegant dress came into view.
“You want me to wear this?”
“The place we’re going to isn’t one that accepts just anyone.”
Alois smiled meaningfully, and all I could do was shrug.
* * *
Leaving Reneben in charge of the monkeys, I stepped out of the lodging and walked alongside Alois.
The sound of my heels clicking against the ground felt unfamiliar.
I had grown used to the comfortable robes and shoes of the priesthood.
The fabric draped against skin was soft to the touch.
As we walked, I tucked a few loose strands of hair behind my ear while the surrounding gazes poured in.
“Alois.”
“Yes?”
“Do I look that…strange?”
We were dressed differently from usual.
I had silver hair and black eyes thanks to an artifact that Alois provided. I felt awkward seeing silver hair falling over my eyes, so I looked back at him.
Meanwhile, Alois had retained his usual brown hair but changed his eye color to violet.
“You look beautiful.”
“…That’s not what I meant.”
“I’m not saying empty words. You look more beautiful than anyone.”
“…”
I realized asking Alois of all people was useless. After rolling my eyes, I trudged after him.
“That aside, there are a lot of commoners around here.”
“That’s because they live near the port. But don’t worry.”
Since Alois and I were playing nobles, the common people only looked at us with fascination.
The faint scent that had been tickling my nose since earlier had gotten stronger. And the more we walked, the more I detected other scents mixed in.
Excitement was etched on the faces of the common people, who were probably intoxicated by this scent.
It wasn’t overboard, just a subtle scent that changed your mood. But if you kept smelling this, it would definitely take a toll on your body.
“Just a little further, and you should start seeing everything, from nobles to all sorts of things you’d rather not see.”
The deeper we went, the stronger the smell of drugs that I could sense. Addictive drugs perhaps?
Wrinkling my nose, I felt annoyed for some reason, and I spat.
“You’re the one who told me to have fun.”
“Of course.”
“Then take me somewhere I can have fun.”
“I don’t lie.”
Alois stopped walking after a while and stood in front of a door guarded by knights in white armor.
It was an ordinary looking door. If I were to be more frank, it looked run-down.
“Open the door.”
“Who are you?”
“A guest invited by the Burning Butterfly, of course.”
A code phrase perhaps?
I stood behind Alois, quietly observing the situation.
The two knights cleared their throats as if taken aback by Alois’s appearance and opened the door.
Once we stepped in, we saw stairs leading underground and without hesitation, we descended down the stairs.
Advanced chapters available on Patreon.
- Emilone’s Temptation Labyrinth [Chapters 83 – 86] - March 16, 2025
- Emilone’s Temptation Labyrinth – Chapter 82 - March 4, 2025
- Emilone’s Temptation Labyrinth – Chapter 81 - March 4, 2025