Emilone’s Temptation Labyrinth – Chapter 108

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I found the glittering, extravagant world beautiful.

Whether it was a nobles’ party filled with jewels and gold coins, or a festival held byA those with calloused hands from labor.

“I like how the people in my country live.”

The moment we stepped out of the alley, it felt like the world had changed.

I stood still for a while, silent, and Alois quietly covered his mouth with his hand and chuckled.

“You’ll like it too, Emilone.”

“You remember the last country we visited? You said the same thing then, that it would be fun.”

“Hmm… well, it was fun. For me.”

“What part of it?”

I walked slowly, letting him lead me. The people around us didn’t pay us any attention.

No one’s gaze lingered.

This feeling, where no one cared about me or Alois, felt strangely refreshing. Maybe that’s why I felt a bit liberated, too.

“Well, Lady Ronella ended up following you, didn’t she?”

I nearly faltered at his words.

My face, hidden under the robe’s hood, twisted slightly.

“Ronella isn’t following me. I just listened to her. And I told her I’d protect her…”

Her feelings were like reeds in the wind.

She looked at me like I was a savior, just because I listened to a few of her words.

“She simply judged it was in her best interest to stay on my good side.”

Still, the way she clung to the smallest gestures, as if yearning for affection, felt a little pitiful.

“Well…”

Alois trailed off then spun around fully to face me.

He grabbed my hand and, without saying another word, started walking forward again.

Somehow, I had a feeling he was smiling.

Even though I couldn’t see his face, it didn’t feel like his usual fake smile. I was strangely curious.

“The Lady Ronella I saw… seemed sincere toward you.”

“Hm?”

“She’s a demon, right…? Can she change her gender at will…? What if she comes back as a man…”

He spoke as if lost in thought, starting and stopping mid-sentence.

“What are you talking about?”

“Just thinking out loud. Don’t worry about it.”

I gave him a look and tugged at his collar, turning him to face me. Alois flinched slightly, then released my hand that he was holding.

“Perhaps… I’m just a little worried?”

“If you don’t explain properly… I can’t say anything back.”

Since he didn’t seem willing to explain, I gripped the hand he tried to let go of more tightly.

Thankfully, we were in a quiet part of the street with few people passing by.

“If you want to enjoy the festival, then explain it to me.”

Alois’s eyes widened.

Every time I saw his crimson eyes, I always thought they looked like jewels.

While that familiar thought flashed through my mind, I waited for his reponse.

“I don’t know how to explain it properly. That’s the problem.”

“Alois.”

He tried to wriggle out of it again, but that wasn’t going to work on me. In the end, he let out a deep sigh.

I narrowed my eyes and gripped his hand tightly as if interrogating him.

“It’s just that… talking about Lady Ronella reminded me. That I’m a little worried.”

He spoke slowly, then, as if embarrassed, covered his face with the hand I wasn’t holding.

“It’s only natural that you chose me, Lady Emilone. You need me on the path you want to take.”

“Need? That makes it sound like you’re talking about an object.”

“Allow me to correct myself. I belong to you, Lady Emilone.”

“…Continue.”

He resumed walking. For some reason, he walked deeper into the crowd.

“As much as I need you, Lady Emilone, you must need me too.”

“Because right now, you’re the best option I have.”

“Exactly. Thanks to that, I even rose to the position of your companion.”

Alois said it proudly.

No one here paid any attention to us. Everyone was off chasing the lights of the festival, enjoying themselves.

“But what if Lady Ronella were someone with better conditions than me?”

“Hmm?”

I had a good idea of what he meant. If it’s Lady Ronella… yes, she was definitely a dangerous presence.

“That would be a threat to me. The threat of losing Lady Emilone.”

He clearly wanted to say that she might be able to offer me more than this kingdom.

And, unsurprisingly, he didn’t stop there.

“She could probably remake herself in any form she wanted. She could even pose as the emperor. Maybe that’s why she’s friendly with the crown prince.”

Ronella, or rather, the demon who took over her body, had copied her appearance perfectly and replaced the real thing.

Hearing him say that, I couldn’t help but let out a short laugh.

After finishing his little theory, Alois bowed slightly as if embarrassed and groaned.

“I know. I know Lady Emilone wouldn’t choose a demon like that. I do know, but I can’t help feeling uneasy.”

He said such a potentially hurtful thing so casually that Ronella might have been devastated if she had heard.

A demon, sure. She was living by borrowing someone else’s appearance, but she wasn’t all that bad.

“I’m anxious.”

He said again.

I nodded along like it was nothing, but paused at the emphasis in his voice and looked up.

“Why are you anxious?”

“Emotions never go the way we want them to. And you’ve always cherished Ronella. That’s why I’m worried.”

I pouted slightly.

My stomach churned a little, and I pressed my hand against my chest instead of answering.

Maybe he didn’t expect a response either, since he quickly resumed our little escapade.

This really was an escape.

“If there’s anything you want to eat, just say so.”

“Ah, then I’ve been wanting to try that one for a while.”

Tonight, I wasn’t Saintess Emilone. I was just Emilone, enjoying myself.

And here, no one called Alois ‘prince’ or ‘Your Highness.’

It seemed like a small thing, but it made a big difference.

“That one?”

“The one next to it. The one skewered with vegetables and meat mixed together.”

It was hard to believe that just moments ago we’d been having a serious conversation.

Now, the mood between us was light and cheerful.

“I’ve never had something like that before.”

“Well, I suppose the temple wouldn’t serve food you have to pick up with your hands.”

While we stood in front of the skewer vendor and waited, we chatted.

The woman selling the skewers paused while pouring on the sauce and looked at me.

“The temple? Did you just say temple?”

“Hm? Ahh.”

Alois brushed off what he’d just said without a second thought.

“We’re both temple servants. Orphans entrusted to a small provincial temple.”

She handed me the skewer I’d picked.

It wasn’t premium meat. The sauce wasn’t the kind meticulously crafted by many hands.

It was just meat on a long wooden stick. And yet, it looked so delicious.

“Oh my, how blessed you are! I don’t know how you ended up all the way in the royal capital, but I hope you enjoy the festival.”

Alois gave a polite bow. Normally he would’ve flashed a bright smile, so I tilted my head, a bit puzzled by his serious demeanor.

Once we walked a little away from the skewer stand, I asked him casually,

“Why didn’t you smile just now?”

“Hmm?”

“I mean when the vendor greeted us. Usually, you’d smile brightly in response.”

Alois flicked his sleeve. It was like he was telling me to look at his robe that reeked of straw.

“They can’t see my face anyway. No point in smiling if it can’t be seen.”

“Is that so…?”

Every single action of his was calculated.

I thought it was just like him and bit into the scallion at the top of the skewer.

“You’re not surprised anymore, huh?”

“…?”

I hadn’t expected much, remembering the food we’d eaten last time in the village below the mountain.

But surprisingly, this skewer tasted quite decent.

“Before, when you discovered my true nature, you always had this intrigued look on your face.”

Thinking this was actually pretty tasty, I started eyeing the other food stands.

“Well, that used to be fun.”

“It’s not anymore?”

He lifted my wrist, guiding the skewer to his lips and biting off a piece of meat.

Since he bought it, I couldn’t really protest… so I just silently watched him eat.

“It’s just that I’ve gotten used to it.”

There were more fun things at the festival than I’d expected.

If I had one complaint, it was being jostled constantly by the crowd.

Alois must’ve sensed that because he rested his hand on my shoulder and gently pulled me closer to him.

“Maybe it’s because we’ve spent so much time together.”

I let myself be pulled in and mumbled.

“I’ve grown used to you now. Just like you know me well, I know you too.”

I said it confidently.

Just then, it seemed like some mercenaries were fighting off to one side.

At the shrill scream that pierced my ears, I grimaced, and he covered my ears with his hands.

“We’re not here to work, we’re here to have fun, remember?”

“Alois.”

“Mercenaries fighting is hardly anything unusual. Someone will probably get hurt, and if you see that, Lady Emilone, you’ll definitely try to heal them, won’t you?”

He was telling me to leave my duties behind for the night.

And yet, even he looked clearly displeased.

When he said he knew me well, he hadn’t been lying.

The slight drop in his voice and his expressionless face proved it.

“I hope you won’t, just for today.”

“You’re afraid I won’t be able to enjoy myself if they find out I’m the Saintess?”

When he raised the corner of his lips without a word, I sighed and pressed my temple, brushing away his hands that were still covering my ears.

“Then it’s fine, as long as they don’t find out I’m the saintess, right?”

* * *

The commotion caused quite a stir.

Two burly men, easily twice the size of Alois and me, were swinging an axe and whip at each other, and I wanted to cover my eyes immediately.

A tree nearby was slashed down with a sharp sound.