Side Story: Alois Eseah, Ronella Nestro (4)
I ran my fingers through the hair I rescued from Alois’ hands and turned my gaze elsewhere.
“If the companion I personally chose can’t even handle that much, it wouldn’t be any fun.”
Then I smiled. As if to show off. You might have forgotten but I used to be an actor. Putting on a convincing smile wasn’t that difficult. Let alone a smile that could captivate someone.
As expected, Alois reached out his hand as if enchanted. Up to that point, everything was perfect. Or rather, I thought it was perfect.
Except for the fact that I’d forgotten one thing.
“Lady Emilone, you said you were captivated by Ronella’s smile, didn’t you?”
Alois was skilled in acting too.
“I wonder if you know that I, too, was captivated by your smile.”
The childlike look he had, as if craving candy, vanished in an instant. His slightly unfocused red eyes now gleamed more clearly than ever, and the hand that had been hovering around me longingly had already caught me.
“You smiled just like this back then too.”
“…”
“Looking like you’re hiding your true smile.”
He looked down at me as I leaned against the window. Caging me between his arms, Alois continued.
“For some reason, I really like that smile. Strangely so.”
Yes, it was strange indeed.
From Alois’ perspective, shouldn’t he want to use me for his own ends? And yet, he liked the look of someone who seemed to be hiding their true feelings?
“Don’t make that face.”
He slowly leaned in. I watched myself reflected in his crimson eyes, wondering if this was a continuation of the kiss we hadn’t finished earlier. I looked the same as always.
Neatly arranged hair and a tidy priest’s robe.
As soon as I confirmed that, I found myself encouraging Alois, who was slowly approaching. I wrapped my arms around his neck and looked up at him. The smile on his lips slowly faded.
I liked this serious look on Alois.
He said he liked my seemingly crafted smile, but I never particularly liked that side of him. This side suited my taste more; like a beast, dangerous enough to devour me at any moment.
And just as his lips were about to touch mine, the carriage came to a halt.
I frowned, feeling like I was holding a sweet candy right in front of me, yet I wasn’t able to taste it.
Wondering if we had already arrived, I glanced out the window, but an ominous aura made me frown.
“…Shall I help?”
Alois, who had frozen mid-motion with his mouth half-open, pulled back the half-drawn curtain completely.
“No, it’s fine.”
I straightened up and pushed Alois away, removing the gloves from my hands. As I tossed the white gloves aside, Alois caught them with practiced ease.
“Wait for me. I’ll be back soon.”
What awaited us was none other than a demon.
A large demon capable of devouring humans. For such a demon to appear without any divine oracle… It must mean Ronella was involved.
“Haa, Ronella.”
The monster before us didn’t seem particularly threatening. It was just a round sphere rolling about aimlessly.
Almost like its only goal was to block our path. I didn’t think it could hurt me. A few nudges should be enough. Its range of movement wasn’t even that wide…
I lifted my head and looked around. The area was surrounded by forest, making it hard to sense any presence. I gave up and lightly dusted off my hands. I just wanted to get this over with quickly and return to what we hadn’t finished earlier.
I walked forward slowly. Very slowly.
There was no need to rush. I enjoyed the moment like someone out on a peaceful stroll. The round sphere didn’t harm anything.
I followed it as it rolled smoothly along the well-paved path like a marble. The coachman, sensing my pace, followed just as slowly behind me.
“Ronella, I don’t know where you’re watching from but I don’t like pranks like this.”
It was rolling so slowly that catching up to it was incredibly easy. I pulled out a dagger I had tucked into my robe. After making a small cut and imbuing it with divine power, the bright red mass turned to ash and vanished into the sky.
“And this kind of prank won’t stop me from going where I need to go.”
As if he had been waiting, Alois stepped down from the carriage and handed me a handkerchief. Blue and green-tinted monster blood stained the pristine white cloth.
“Should I say good work?”
“You can appreciate me with something other than words.”
At those words, he locked eyes with me as if he’d been waiting for that cue. Unbothered by the coachman sitting off to the side, he leaned in for a kiss.
Making up for what he hadn’t done earlier, completely.
***
When we returned to the temple, familiar faces were there to greet us as if they had been waiting. From Reneben, who had returned ahead of us, to Jessie and the other priests. Jessie was practically in tears.
“Jessie.”
“Lady Emilone.”
It had only been about a year, but perhaps because it felt so long, their slightly changed appearances felt unfamiliar.
For instance, Jessie had cut her hair short, and her canary-colored locks now brushed her shoulders. The head attendant had gained weight and looked like a completely different person. The maid who used to make my favorite tea had apparently gotten married, and the happiness showed in her rounder cheeks. Even the priest robes had changed slightly in design, looking simpler, but made from finer fabric with more luxurious golden embroidery.
“Would you like a hug?”
“…”
Jessie readily accepted the hug. Though I had traveled across several countries and visited other temples, being here still felt the most comfortable.
It felt like this was my true home base.
“Has everyone been well?”
With just that one question, the surroundings instantly turned lively.
“Of course, Lady Saintess.”
“Welcome back. We missed you.”
“Would you like to eat first? Or bathe?”
“The plants you told us to raise have already finished growing.”
They all spoke at once, as if unable to hold back their excitement. Watching them, I thought to myself that there was no way I’d be able to rest today. If I listened to each of them one by one, it would never end.
Still, I didn’t dislike this kind of time.
Especially listening to Jessie’s little complaints. Since she was someone close to me, her whining came off as endearing.
The real problem wasn’t with me, but with Alois.
Alois, who had practically monopolized my attention, now looked quite displeased at having it taken away by the temple members.
No wonder he was smiling so wide. To others, it may have seemed like a pleasant smile, but I knew better.
A bright, dazzling smile, more radiant than any flower or gem, meant he was in a bad mood.
“Ah, right. Alois?”
To ease his mood, I stopped walking and turned around.
He had been answering a few people’s questions, just like I had, and responded as if he’d been waiting for me to speak.
“Yes?”
“There’s something I’d like you to do.”
His red eyes sparkled like a beast that had spotted its prey. He covered his mouth with one hand and smiled, eyes narrowing.
“Could you summon Princess Ronella Nestro? Tell her I’d like to have dinner with her.”
“That’s not difficult at all.”
“Oh, and tell her I’d like to chat in my room.”
“…Of course.”
Alois, who knew the truth about Ronella’s identity just as I did, now wore a satisfied expression. Inviting someone who couldn’t even enter the temple all the way to my room was a blatant warning.
Since Ronella had done something so outrageous by sending that demon, so she needed a little cautioning.
“is that okay, Lady Emilone?”
“Prince Yuina?”
At that moment, one of the boys clinging to Jessie, Prince Yuina, suddenly spoke up.
“Is it really okay to send the crown prince of a country on such an errand?”
When did he grow up so much? I recalled Jessie mentioning plans for revenge against those who tormented him in the palace. To think he’d grown this much in just over a year.
Given his age, he hadn’t grown that much, but he was definitely no longer small enough to fit comfortably in my arms.
“You must have been studying diligently, Prince Yuina.”
“…I did my best.”
Still a child at heart, he blushed at my compliment. But that look only lasted a moment.
Perhaps he had been well-trained because he quickly masked his emotions.
“More importantly, Your Holiness, is it really okay to treat a nation’s crown prince like a servant?”
Of course, he hadn’t completely hidden his feelings. The anticipation in his eyes made it impossible not to smile.
With a gentle smile, I leaned in and whispered into young Prince Yuina’s ear.
“Of course not. It’s only possible because it’s me.”
“…”
“So hurry and grow up too, Prince Yuina, and gain enough power to boss around even highest ranking of people.”
I could see Prince Yuina’s ambition burning brightly. If he were just a little older, and he would be able to build up enough influence to rival the crown prince.
Not that I meant he should take the throne.
I simply hoped he’d grow strong enough to avoid being devoured, to rise perhaps to the level of a grand duke.
After all, despite all appearances, the empire’s current crown prince was a capable man. Fighting him head-on would only lead to bloodshed.
“Well then, shall we all head in? It’s been a while so let’s catch up.”
One way or another, the fact that Prince Yuina grew up in the temple meant the temple, and by extension, I, stood behind him. He wouldn’t be easily devoured.
And so we entered the temple and chatted away for hours.
Before I knew it, night had fallen, and only then did I gain a moment of freedom, though only a very brief one.
Alois always knocks on my door right when I start to relax and wonder when he’s going to show up.
As I lay on the bed, the knock came, and I answered.
“Come in.”
I had already said I was going to rest for a bit and not to let anyone bother me, so the only one who could be knocking now was Alois.
“Why are you alone?”
Just as I expected, it was Alois who entered.
I glanced around, pretending to look for someone, and he simply shrugged.
“Princess Ronella isn’t feeling well, so she won’t be coming to the temple.”
“If she’s unwell, the temple’s exactly where she should be.”
I rolled my eyes meaningfully at Alois. There was no one else around, but our private play had already begun.
He sighed and agreed, saying I was absolutely right, and I sat up in bed. Alois and I matched so well.
“If Princess Ronella isn’t feeling well, then I suppose I’ll have to visit her myself.”
“I’ll accompany you. Would that be alright?”
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I let my companion come along?”
We exchanged sweet words like our mouths were full of sugar.
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