It didn’t take long to arrive at the banquet hall.
“Is the king inside?”
I raised my hand to stop the servant who was about to announce my arrival and asked.
He nodded with a noticeably flustered expression.
“His Majesty is present, along with the other princes and princesses.”
“I see. Understood.”
How many princes and princesses did the Kingdom of Eseah have again?
I remember there being at least more than ten.
I wondered if they were all as fair in appearance as Alois. If the king had only taken beautiful women, it might’ve been possible.
But of all the people I had seen so far, the one I could confidently say was the most beautiful was Alois.
I had never once thought someone was more beautiful or more lovely than him.
‘Maybe my standards have gotten higher.’
The attendant began announcing my arrival, going on about divine blessing and whatnot. As the doors opened, a grand hall came into view, certainly no less splendid than those of the Empire.
Perhaps because it was labeled a banquet, the food laid out was well-prepared and more than suitable for a meal.
The shawl draped over my shoulders felt heavy.
By this time, Alois should’ve come out to greet me but seeing no sign of him, I began to walk forward with steady steps.
‘So quiet.’
I could only hear the sound of my footsteps.
The white shoes I wore, shaped like walkers, rang loudly against the marble floor.
They weren’t the sharp, pointed heels noble ladies usually wore, so I wore them often.
They didn’t hurt my feet, and since they were typically worn only by those from the temple, no one found them strange.
“Your Holiness.”
I was thinking about my shoes which were making noise with every step when Alois’ father appeared before me.
I never planned to look for him, but I had no choice but to stop walking.
As I came to a halt, the music that had paused began to flow once more.
While I glanced briefly toward the musicians playing from the far side, the king spoke again.
“How was the room I prepared for you? I imagine there were many shortcomings, since it was done in haste—”
“It was fine, thanks to Alois’s consideration.”
That king likely hoped I would say I was uncomfortable. That way, he’d have a reason to bring me back to his palace.
But I had no interest in him, and my face had hardened so stiffly it barely moved.
Calmly lowering my gaze, I waited to see what he’d say next.
I could feel his eyes looking down at me.
“Your atmosphere is quite different from earlier, Your Holiness.”
“…?”
The King of Eseah looked down at me as he spoke.
The languid gaze he sent my way was irritating for no reason, and my eyes twitched in response.
“What do you mean by atmosphere?”
It was the same thing Alois had once done to me. That way of measuring me up, trying to understand what kind of person I was.
But seeing his biological father do it made it more unpleasant than I had expected.
There was a bitter taste in my mouth.
Maybe I should find Reneben or Alois and drag them away to enjoy the good food instead.
“You seemed much gentler when you were beside Alois.”
“…And you, a king, presume to judge me so freely?”
Ah, I realized why I was so displeased.
The king before me looked far younger than expected. And while I couldn’t say he was more handsome than Alois, not even as flattery, he was still decent looking.
It seemed he was trying to use his looks to seduce me, as others had before.
Given his status and appearance, he probably wasn’t used to being rejected.
But I’d already been surrounded by people from House Nestro and Alois himself, my standards had risen sky-high.
“Where do you get the nerve to—”
My insides boiled. Thinking about how many wives and children he had made me feel like I needed to grab the back of my neck.
As I touched my forehead, trying to contain my anger, the king widened his eyes in surprise and reached out toward me.
Like father, like son.
Trying to seduce me just to pull me to his side. What a ridiculous situation. If he were twenty years younger and had no children or lovers then I could maybe, start to understand…
And yet he was looking at me with eyes full of desire. I wanted to grab his neck right now and tell him to know his place.
“Your Ho—”
“Lady Emilone!”
Just as he called me again, I covered my eyes with the back of my hand to hide the rage that was probably bubbling within.
And in the next instant, Alois suddenly appeared and snatched my hand away, as if troubled by the sight.
Where did he even come from?
Alois’ face was visibly flustered, and he looked back and forth between me and his father.
“Alois.”
Only then did I calm down a little.
I felt like I had finally been freed from a bin of filthy stares. I glanced down at Alois’ hand, which was still covering mine and steadying my dizzy head.
“Where were you?”
“Ah, um…”
Back in his usual role as the fourth prince, Alois tilted his head slightly, sneaking a glance at the king.
“I was speaking with some other guests…”
Then, noticing the king’s displeased expression, his eyes widened like he was shocked.
He began fidgeting, casting me a pleading gaze. That look, oddly enough, was a relief. It gave me an excuse to get away from the king.
“King of Eseah. If there is nothing more you need from me, I’ll take my leave.”
He looked like he wanted to say more, but I turned away with Alois and walked off.
My stomach growled. It was time to eat something and settle the hunger.
* * *
“How was it?”
“How was what?”
I approached a table where the food was beautifully arranged.
Alois picked up what looked like the simplest dessert among them.
“Since you looked like you wanted to get away from my father, I thought I’d lend a hand.”
“Well done. And where were you, exactly?”
Alois tapped the dessert with a spoon the attendant had brought him.
We were speaking in voices so low that no one else could hear us but we were close enough to look suspicious to onlookers.
It was normal for us, but probably not so ordinary in others’ eyes.
“I was called over by some nobles. Just having a regular conversation.”
Alois popped a small mini cake into his mouth.
I had planned to eat proper meal, but seeing the sweet dessert right in front of me, I could no longer resist.
Catching my gaze, Alois gave a deliberately innocent smile and gently tapped the round chocolate garnish atop the cake with his spoon.
The chocolate sculpture cracked open, and crimson syrup spilled out, covering the cake.
“You like sweet things, don’t you?”
“I do like it.”
He scooped another bite of the cake and brought it to my mouth.
The sweet scent made me obediently open my mouth. As I leaned forward, my hair fell over my shoulder, and I tucked it behind my ear to take the bite.
“How do you think Your Holiness must look to everyone around us right now?”
The dessert he chose was surprisingly good.
It felt a bit awkward to be eating like this in the middle of a banquet hall, but still. I was about to suggest we go try the meat over there when I paused.
“When you walked into the hall alone, you looked exactly as you did the first time I saw you.”
“That’s just how I always look.”
“I know. But…to me, you’ve become much softer.”
Still holding onto my sleeve, he smiled bashfully. Though his words were low and lingering, barely loud enough for me to hear, his face was the picture of innocence, likely because of the eyes watching us.
“Should I say cold? Or maybe dangerous? Rather than the air of a saintess, it feels more like that of an empress. That danger…it’s been a while since I felt that.”
Do I really look that sharp?
Alois shrugged and led me toward the back table.
“So—”
“Yes?”
“Is that why you didn’t like me, Alois?”
“…Hm.”
It was a dish where meat was wrapped in vegetables and simmered until tender. Since it was something I liked, I didn’t hesitate to put it in my mouth.
“There will never be a time, no matter the circumstance, where I dislike you, Lady Emilone.”
And just as I was about to take another bite of meat, he reached out and gently lifted the end of my hair.
No way…
Then he lifted the tip of my pink hair and softly kissed it.
“There’s no one else in this world who could treat my father that way, except for you.”
“And in front of all these people…you’re okay with this?”
His cheeks flushed red, as if embarrassed. The room was already starting to stir with murmurs.
By tomorrow morning, I was sure rumors would be flying that Alois and I were in a love more tragic and passionate than Romeo and Juliet. I bit into a leaf. Paired with the meat, the flavor was exquisite.
“You are amazing.”
He said it without ever dropping that smile.
What Alois wanted was the position of my companion. So, he acted like this here, in a room full of people, making a statement.
Holding nothing back. Letting them see everything.
In fact, it seemed he wanted the rumors to solidify as a fact.
Honestly, even if he never became my companion, if people believed he had divine favor, no one would dare touch him.
A calculated, cunning man.
And for some reason…it irritated me.
“Alois.”
“Yes, Lady Emilone?”
This time, I raised my voice enough for the surrounding people to hear.
I saw his eyes curve into a crescent smile. I didn’t take my eyes off his handsome face.
“Do you want to be my companion?”
So anyone could hear. I thought I caught a glimpse of Reneben, who had surely been dragged away earlier by noble ladies, peeking from the distance.
Now, what should I do?
The part of his body touching mine went completely still.
Even the King of Eseah, looking this way, wore a pale expression.
It’s not like anyone hadn’t expected this. The man was favored by the saintess.
They already knew there was a chance of him becoming her companion, and yet they still reacted like that.
“Answer me. Do you want to be my companion?”
The reason I asked something like this in such a public place was because Alois had led me here, just like this.
“The answer…was already decided.”
I twisted the strand of hair Alois had kissed around my index finger.
“To stand beside you, Lady Saintess…there could be no greater blessing.”
It wasn’t a bad choice, which is why I chose it.
The position of my companion would most likely remain empty forever. I’d never find someone I loved, or someone destined for me.
If that was the case, then choosing someone who could be beneficial to me, someone like Alois, didn’t seem like a bad idea at all.
There was no such thing as love involved.
I lowered my voice, low enough so no one else could hear.
“Then, Alois, let me ask you one question.”
My words came out as softly as if I were whispering directly into his ear.
The fact that I was acting exactly how Alois wanted made me chuckle quietly.
“If you had to choose…between saving every noble in this hall, or just me…”
I’d asked something like this before.
A question about saving many people, or saving the one person you loved.
“Who would you save?”
The king would surely regret inviting so many nobles to tonight’s banquet.
He would absolutely regret letting so many eyes fall on us.
Because today, I was planning to hand a new kind of power to the son he so desperately feared.
TL’s Corner:
*So, I try not to comment too much lately but I just have to…Does anyone else feel like Emilone just got steamrolled into making Alois her companion?
I mean, yeah, she’s obviously open to the idea and they’re basically very touchy already and what not but…hmmmmmmmmm. What is Alois’ end game here? I’m getting worried but also excited? haha
- Honey, I’m Going on Strike – Chapters 42-43 - November 8, 2025
- Honey, I’m Going on Strike – Chapter 41 - November 4, 2025
- Honey, I’m Going on Strike – Chapter 40 - October 30, 2025
I want to comment here but i think the comment system is broken
imo i love how she actually think with a clear mind instead of falling in love and trust him blindly