I liked this side of Alois.
I couldn’t move my eyes from the confidence exuding out of him.
That dizzying feeling I felt the first time I saw this side of him came rushing back.
“Al…Alois.”
The crown prince suddenly sprang to his feet.
He really was clumsy. He couldn’t hide his panic and it showed plainly on his face as he pointed at Alois.
Even the empire’s crown prince wasn’t this bad.
It was hard to believe this man was the future sun of the Kingdom of Eseah, meant to stand equal to the Empire someday.
“It’s been a while, elder brother.”
Alois tilted his head with a smile. It was as if all the light in the room poured down on his face.
I tucked my hair behind my ear as I watched Alois step into the room.
‘Too bad the king isn’t here.’
But Alois never made wrong choices.
This meeting room was filled only with high-ranking nobles.
He had chosen to reveal his true self to them.
“Hah, right! It has been a while.”
“Indeed. It’s the first time since you tried to kill me through Marquis Kazia’s daughter, isn’t it?”
His gentle and soft image was nowhere to be found.
The crown prince took a few stumbling steps back in shock.
His throat trembled as he swallowed.
“You haven’t changed even after all these years, elder brother. I can’t believe you haven’t made progress even after 41 assassination attempts.”
Alois clicked his tongue and walked toward me.
I reached out and cupped Alois’ face as he drew near and pressed a kiss to his cheek.
“Are you really Prince Alois…?”
“Yes, Duke Lerynel. But should you really be here? I heard the mine you purchased recently collapsed. I would think you’d be busy handling the aftermath, no?”
“…What are you—!”
The man addressed as Duke sprang to his feet in alarm.
“Alois! The Saint is present. How can you be so rude?!”
“Elder Brother…”
Alois looked at the crown prince as if he didn’t understand what he was saying.
The other nobles clamped their mouths shut at the crown prince’s words.
I had welcomed Alois so what was with this forced outrage?
“Are you really…the Fourth Prince?”
A second duke, who had been silent, finally spoke up.
Alois blinked and clapped his hands cheerfully.
“Yes, Duke Jevernin. It’s a shame I couldn’t greet you properly at the last party, but I’m glad I can do so now.”
“Im…Impossible…”
That brightly smiling face was the Alois they knew.
The duke stammered in shock. Because anyone could tell that this was Alois’ face.
There was no one else in the world who could smile so beautifully with such a perfect face.
“That Prince Alois Eseah…?”
“This is…”
“Ah…”
Just from his expression, everyone’s faces changed.
It was obvious that unpleasant suspicions were forming in their minds.
Like the thought that they had all been dancing in the palm of Prince Alois’s hand.
And they wouldn’t be wrong.
They had indeed all been played by Alois.
“Well then, let’s meet again another time.”
There must have been some who adored that kind-hearted Alois.
I saw a relatively young noblewoman trembling as she held back tears.
No doubt the room would descend into chaos in a few minutes.
Leaving behind the nobles whose souls seemed halfway gone, I returned to the room with Alois.
Once we were alone in the quiet room, laughter kept slipping out.
Barely managing to hold it in, I asked,
“Did you enjoy that?”
He’d just landed a blow on the nobles, how could he not be pleased?
“I’m not sure…”
“Hmm?”
I asked, barely holding back a burst of laughter.
Alois mulled over my question for a long while before answering.
“I enjoyed it.”
“Of course you did.”
Hearing him say it with a slightly trembling voice was refreshing.
It was hard not to keep grinning.
From now on, no one would see Alois as someone easy to deal with.
If anything, they’d be on edge.
“Honestly, all kinds of things went through my mind. If you hadn’t been there, Father and my eldest brother would’ve summoned me and punished me.”
“Punished?”
“They would’ve surely fabricated something and used it to bring me down.”
It was entirely plausible.
He covered his face with both hands and let out a deep breath.
“That’s why this feels good. My heart is lighter than I expected.”
“That’s good to hear.”
I meant it.
If I could, I would’ve loved to take pictures of the nobles’ shocked expressions at Alois’s reveal.
I clicked my tongue in disappointment.
“Because standing in front of people while hiding your true self is hard work.”
He gave a small smile.
Because he agreed with me.
In front of nobles, every action had to be measured.
I, too, had suffered under their constant scrutiny.
“That’s why you were like a sweet spring rain to me, Lady Saintess.”
“…?”
Because of that, I could fully understand Alois’s struggles.
That’s what I was thinking when he suddenly cut in.
He wore a dazzling smile, and I felt like flowers might bloom behind him at any moment.
“Because you accepted me just as I am.”
“By that, do you mean…I made you feel comfortable enough to be yourself around me?”
At that, his eyes widened, and his expression turned faintly sad.
“Have I ever shown my true self to anyone other than you, Lady Saintess?”
“Hmm…well, there’s Reneben, isn’t there?”
“The High Priest only knows because I trust you.”
Alois responded instantly, as if it needed no thought.
His large eyes fixed on me, and I furrowed my brows at the sight.
“But didn’t you just take off that mask?”
“Huh?”
“You’re acting again… like you’re putting on a performance in front of me.”
Alois raised a hand and brushed his face.
His fingers slid down his porcelain-like skin.
“That’s not it…”
His eyes sparkled as he leaned forward.
As our gazes locked and he continued to lower his head, I instinctively stepped back.
It seemed no expression of discomfort would stop him.
Even when our faces were close enough to touch, his expression didn’t waver.
“You’re weak against me when I’m like this, aren’t you?”
“…”
Just as I thought we’d make contact, Alois tilted his head back.
He straightened his posture and let out a sly smile—it was irritating.
“I used to hate that part of myself.”
“What part?”
“…You know, playing dumb, sitting quietly like a pretty little decoration. That kind of me.”
It must have been before he took off his mask.
He had to act like he didn’t know anything even when people mocked him openly.
He had to swallow his words even when he had something to say.
Living in fear that his true self might be exposed, how could that ever be comfortable?
“Of course, it wasn’t that difficult. I’m naturally talented at that sort of thing.”
Just as I was about to feel touched by his hardship, he ruined it.
I looked up at him, feigning annoyance, as he shrugged nonchalantly.
When I gave him a strange look, Alois tilted his head.
“No, it’s just… hmm, just. You’re annoying.”
“Huh?”
“Annoying.”
I repeated it, sulking slightly for emphasis.
Alois looked at me like he found it all amusing.
Soon, Alois twisted his lips into a grin and slowly blinked.
A glint shimmered in his red eyes.
Even though I saw that look in his eyes, I pretended not to notice and quietly stepped away.
“Ah!”
Of course, he caught my wrist in no time.
Just as I was about to sit on the sofa, Alois pulled me toward him, and my body stumbled.
I ended up collapsing into the plush sofa as if falling into it.
As I blinked, stunned, Alois looked down at me.
“Hoo.”
I let out a half-sigh.
Alois climbed onto the sofa.
One hand braced on the backrest, the other holding my hand, he half-lay on the sofa, looking down at me.
“How is it?”
“How is what?”
I looked up at him without avoiding his gaze, wondering what he was trying to do.
As if he’d expected this, Alois lowered his body.
“…?”
“You’re not even looking away.”
“What are you talking about?”
Alois spoke as if he were disappointed.
I was too busy trying to understand what he meant.
“Earlier, you avoided me.”
“…Huh? Ahh…”
“But I’m the same person, and now your reaction is different.”
Alois let out a long sigh and looked down.
His long lashes fluttered and cast shadows over his pale cheeks.
“Alois.”
He might’ve been exaggerating a bit, but the way he acted, it didn’t seem like a lie.
I called his name with a sigh.
Alois lifted his head, and I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled.
He lowered his head as I guided him.
I kissed just beside his lips.
Our faces bumped along his high nose bridge, and I quickly pulled away.
“Did you like that?”
“…That alone isn’t nearly enough.”
Alois leaned in again, but I covered his mouth with my hand.
His expression was full of protest.
“But now’s not the time for this, is it?”
His frustration only seemed to grow.
I glanced outside at his sulking face.
“By now… your brother’s probably furious.”
“It’s fine. He’s done nothing but act as Father’s puppet since childhood. He can barely do anything on his own.”
“Hmm?”
It was clear he only had eyes for me now.
Though he didn’t like talking about it, I kept asking as if I didn’t notice.
“He’s a well-trained royal puppet. He doesn’t move unless Father gives him orders.”
He rubbed his face against my hand. That cat-like gesture made me burst into laughter.
“So, Lady Saintess, you don’t need to worry about him—”
Before he could finish, I removed my hand from his mouth.
Then I firmly grabbed his hand.
I smiled sweetly—then betrayed his expectations.
I dragged him all the way to the door and shoved him out.
He looked flustered as he faced the waiting nobles and the crown prince, but I pretended not to notice and waved my fingers gently.
*.*.*
- Honey, I’m Going on Strike – Chapter 82 - February 26, 2026
- Honey, I’m Going on Strike – Chapter 81 - February 26, 2026
- Honey, I’m Going on Strike – Chapter 80 - February 26, 2026