Emilone’s Temptation Labyrinth – Chapter 98

She looked down at me and began to tell her story in a dry voice.

* * *

There was once a demon that fed on human desires. If anyone had seen this black mass, they would have called it a mutant—it was that unusual.

It was such a worthless and insignificant demon that no one paid any attention to it, but unlike other demons, it had intelligence. Growing up in the forest, the demon hunted rabbits and birds, slowly growing in size.

There was plenty to eat in the forest, and since no one came by, life was easy. But as a creature born from human desire, the demon held a deep yearning for humans.

It was greedy. It always wanted more. It coveted what humans had.

‘What is it about humans…’
.

And so it lived hidden in the forest for hundreds of years. A demon that couldn’t speak human tongue spent decades forming a mouth capable of doing so.

To look more human, the demon reshaped its body. It formed two legs and began to walk upright.

It created hands and used them to pluck fruit from high branches. It formed a body to resemble a human’s appearance.

“Let’s go to the market today.”

Humans were weaker towards women than men. And so, it created long hair and copied the appearance of the most beautiful woman it had ever seen.

Then it began to mimic the sweetest person it had encountered in its centuries of observation.

It was kind to people, listened to them with a gentle voice, and spoke to them sweetly.

“Am I human?”

It could survive without eating and it didn’t have to sleep but the demon slept in human form and ate like a human.

It acted like a human and thought like a human. So, it asked itself, am I human?

Just like that, the demon lived for hundreds of years more. It couldn’t read human letters, so it slowly learned how. It didn’t know what history was, so it asked people about it.

“How can I make people like me?”

“Is there anyone who doesn’t like you? I doubt there’s anyone who’d hate such a kind and pretty girl like you.”

So, it tried even harder to be loved by more humans.

It smiled beautifully, wore pretty skirts, and was kind to everyone.

People liked the demon when it was like that.

So it drifted around for several decades.

Since it didn’t have human emotions, it learned about emotions. Since it wanted to know how to people skillfully, it tried to talk to many people.

It met many, parted from many, and learned by watching them.

“I want to be loved.”

As a being that was not human, the demon longed for many things. It desired human emotions and wanted someone who would care for it.

And then one day…

It witnessed the death of the most beloved and lovely noble ducal princess, Ronella Nestro, in a carriage accident.

The demon felt greedy for this child, who had already passed.

“I can take her place…”

And so, the demon took the form of the young girl. It shaped itself into the delicate and lovable figure of the late princess Ronella and hugged its parents who were crying in relief that their child was alive.

“I am human.”

To those who desired the status and beauty of the body it now had, it smiled with all its charm. It acted, talked and responded as they desired.

They desired many emotions from it, and each time, it acted like a well-oiled machine to fit the situation.

* * *

“Emotions don’t always act exactly as we want them to.”

At some point, her voice had returned to that gentle and soft tone characteristic of Ronella.

“You were wrong to steal the place of the real Princess Ronella.”

“I…know. But I don’t regret it. Even if the same thing happened again, I’d make the same choice.”

I looked into Ronella’s eyes while she stared straight at me.

“And you were also wrong to turn a blind eye to the evil deeds of the dark mages.”

“But…but they started following me around for no reason. I had no choice but to keep them by my side. Well…yes, I did think of them as disposable.”

I decided to ignore the last part that she muttered under her breath. Now that Ronella’s mask was off, the person left was someone I didn’t very well.

“A lot of people revere me as the Saintess too. But if they were to do something evil, I’d definitely kick them out.”

“…But regular people tend to keep those who treat them well, no?”

She spoke slowly.

Seeing that, I pulled her into a tight embrace.

I couldn’t see her face clearly as she leaned into me, but I could still sense what kind of feeling lay behind those words.

“That’s for regular people. What about you? What do you want to do?”

She raised her body. Her lips were quivering and she looked up at me with a distorted expression.

“I think it’s disgusting. Seeing those dark mages carrying the same energy as me is unbelievable. That black energy feels dirty to me.”

“Mm-hmm. That’s more than enough.”

“…”

“You said you have no emotions? That can’t be true. You’re expressing your thoughts right now. That alone is more than enough.”

Her lips began to tremble.

Then, as if nothing had happened, the trembling stopped. I could tell that she was pretending to be composed.

“Saintess, I really hate you. I’ve lived my whole life in loneliness, and the fact that it feels like you can embrace even that loneliness, makes me hate you.”

“It’s okay to hate me. I don’t really like who you are right now either and…Hm, and I don’t know what to call you. After all, you’re not Ronella, right?”

“No, right now, I am Ronella.”

Her face distorted slightly.

But I could tell this was a real ‘emotion’.

I placed my hand on her cheek. I could no longer feel any warmth from her skin. Unconsciously, I flinched, and she stroked my own check, looking unsurprised.

“I am a demon. I have no warmth and even if I get cut, I don’t bleed red…I’m different from humans.”

Her beautiful face, now twisted, looked truly pitiful. The fact that I felt this way for her was already…

“But you tried, didn’t you?”

I was moved by the emotions I felt from her and replied like it was nothing.

“You said you’ve been trying for hundreds of years. I admire that. If it were me, I couldn’t have done it. I don’t know how hard it was to feel emotions, but…if you tell me, I think I can understand.”

She looked at me, as if wondering why I was saying that. In her trembling eyes was an emotion I couldn’t quite name, and I found myself smiling softly.

“Can you tell me how hard it’s been for you?”

“You’re the Saintess, Lady Emilone…Do you really need to hear the story of a demon like me?”

She was speaking to me in a roundabout way, and I paused for a moment to think about it, then I firmly cupped her cheeks with both hands.

“Let me ask you again. Have you ever harmed a human?”

Her eyes widened in surprise, then she shook her head rapidly as if that was a ridiculous question. Then suddenly, she stopped and glanced up at me.

“But…I did send demons after you to hurt you. And I did a lot of bad things to target you…”

I looked at Ronella, who seemed to be watching for my reaction. Sure, thinking about those memories still made me a little upset, but…

“Then you just have to apologize.”

“…?”

“Apologize. To me. You’re sorry, right? Isn’t that why you keep studying my reaction?”

“…I am indeed sorry to you—.”

“Then, apologize.”

“…I’m sorry. Lady Emilone.”

She stammered, looking a little embarrassed, and for some reason, I felt amused. That part of me made me laugh so I covered my mouth with a hand and answered lightly, like it wasn’t a big deal.

“Then it’s fine.”

“…”

She slowly stood up, and I also rose to my feet, brushing the dust off my white robe.

She tilted her head, as if asking what that meant.

Somehow, seeing her attire even more crumpled and disheveled than mine, I took off the sheer outer robe the priests put on me earlier.

It’s better than nothing, anyway…As I draped it over Ronella, I spoke.

“There are too many people in this world who’ve given up on being human. They kill their own families, their comrades, those who cared for them…They betray, hurt, wound others…”

“…Why are you telling me this?”

“Because even if you’re not human, aren’t you more human than those people?”

“But still… you’re the Saintess, Lady Emilone.”

“Correct. And because I’m a Saintess, I can say these things.”

She looked like she didn’t understand what I was saying at all.

It wasn’t a fake expression of ignorance but true and genuine confusion.

“Because I’m me, because I’m the Saintess Emilone…I can protect you.”

“…Why? Me?”

“Yes. You.”

She still looked like she didn’t understand, so I grabbed her forearm and pulled her to her feet.

“Because you told me you want to to live.”

She made a face like a child. Her legs gave out, and she dropped back down with a thud.

When I reached out to grab her, she stumbled and stood up holding my hand, still making the same face.

* * *

By the time Alois opened the door and walked in, everything was practically over.

“Lord Reneben.”

Enough time had passed that it wasn’t surprising, but it looked like the nobles had been sent home, and the inner hall looked spotless.

All of the staff members in white and black uniforms were unconscious and their eyes were closed.

“Your Highness Alois.”

After Reneben poured divine power into the last man, he noticed Alois. Reneben turned to Alois in surprise.

“You’ve back already?”

“My thing ended sooner than expected. More importantly…where is the Saintess?”

“She went downstairs.”

“Then I’ll follow.”

She must be struggling with a dark mage. As an ordinary person, even if he went down, he might not be of much help but still…

Just as he was thinking down, the door to the staircase below clicked open.

Alois turned, thinking ‘there’s no way it’s already over’, then he saw a familiar figure with pink hair and immaculate white robes.

“Lady Emilone.”

“Oh, Alois.”

She was covering her mouth and nose with her hand, but when she saw him, she sighed in relief.

“I was worried you wouldn’t be here…”

“I’m glad you’re safe.”

“Your Holiness, are you alright?”

“Of course I’m not hu—.”

Alois and Reneben asked at the same time. I was about to tell them not to worry, but Alois’s hand moved faster.

“This…”

The part of my robe where Ronella attacked earlier was torn. When Alois saw the tatters on my shoulder, he frowned.

“Thankfully, you don’t seem that injured…”

Before he could finish his sentence, something suddenly darted out and wrapped itself around Emilone’s waist.

Naturally, Reneben and Alois’s eyes were drawn to the slender arm that suddenly appeared around Emilone’s waist.

“Wait…you.”

“…”

Emilone also looked taken aback and turned around. When she saw the small-framed woman with black hair revealed behind her, she couldn’t help but sigh.

“…Why are you here… Haa.”

Alois rubbed his forehead.

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