Emilone’s Temptation Labyrinth – Chapter 132

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Side Story: Alois Eseah, Ronella Nestro (3)

 

 

“To make such rude remarks and on top of that, speaking as if you yearn for the Saintess?”

“Let’s be honest here, shouldn’t you be at least on Crown Prince Eseah’s level to be the Saintess’ match?”

“Hahaha! You’re absolutely right, Lady Shaiyan. Do they think acting like that will make Her Holiness pay them any attention?”

And just like that, the hall became noisy in an instant.

Wondering what was going on, I rubbed my forehead and looked around.

Apparently, there were more people who sided with me than I had expected as many were raising their voices.

Since I didn’t particularly like noisy situations to begin with, I lowered my gaze quietly.

At that moment, as if waiting for it, Alois reached out his hand.

I looked up at him while he leaned slightly towards me.

Judging by the faint amusement in his expression, he had obviously mentioned the ‘companionship ceremony’ inside the hall on purpose.

“I don’t like noise, Alois.”

Well, I knew he was like this, and I’ve accepted that about him, so I sighed and placed my hand on top of him.

Alois smiled prettily and whispered into my ear in a very low voice.

“I’ll remember that. But sometimes, isn’t this kind of thing fun?”

His voice was so soft that no one else could hear, but to me, it rang loud and clear.

His breathing, too.

“…I’ve always thought this, but Alois, I really never want you as an enemy.”

“Enemy? After the companionship ceremony goes smoothly, I’ll be someone who exists only for you, Lady Emilone.”

He leaned closer as if to say, ‘isn’t that right?’ and I rested against his chest.

If there’s nowhere to lean, I’ll just find one. When I looked up, he was still smiling down at me.

But the emotion in those slightly intrigued red eyes had long since changed.

Those bright red eyes, filled with desire, were making it clear that they wanted me now.

“No, Alois. You shouldn’t become someone who exists only for me. Don’t the people of Eseah Kingdom need you too?”

Before I knew it, the hall had become so noisy I couldn’t even make heads or tails of why.

When will this commotion end? Since I had unintentionally become the cause of their quarrel, I couldn’t sneak away either.

As I watched them with a detached gaze, Alois tilted his head for a moment, as if in thought, then looked down at me intently.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“No reason. It’s just, most people want to possess the person they love and want that person to be entirely theirs, no?”

“…”

“But it seems Your Holiness doesn’t want to possess me?”

That question felt like he was testing me.

Alois often told me he loved me, but I never did the same. Because of that, he sometimes acted like this, as if teasing me.

But this wasn’t about making sure I loved him back like others did.

He simply enjoyed teasing me.

Even now, looking at that smiling face of him, I was sure of it.

I used to think that smile was just pretty, but after seeing it so many times, I had come to tell the differences within it.

“The only thing I want to possess is a man who can take responsibility for his own country, Prince of Eseah.”

“Then I’ll have to work hard to become the kind of man the Saintess wants to possess.”

“Do your best. And stop playing these games.”

At that moment, I started to feel a growing urge to quiet the hall and return to the temple as soon as possible.

But seriously, what were they even fighting about?

“Even if the Saintess didn’t choose Prince Alois of Eseah, you wouldn’t have a chance!”

“Hah, you never know with people. Honestly, someone like me might just win the Saintess’ favor.”

No, even if I were to reincarnate several times, that would never happen.

Perhaps reading that from my expression, Alois let out a rare, obvious chuckle. Since it was so unusual for him to laugh aloud, I sighed and raised my hand.

And when a few gazes turned my way, I took action.

“…!”

“…!”

Naturally, the hall, that had become no better than a marketplace, fell silent.

Regardless of whether an emperor or a crown prince was present, or whether I, the Saintess, was present, those noisy nobles had been chattering non-stop, but now, they collectively stared blankly in our direction as if they had been awakened from a hypnotic spell.

Well, understandably…

Because I was kissing Alois.

I held Alois’ neck tightly and pressed his lips to mine.

Recalling the goodnight kiss from the night before, I felt his soft lips and slowly let my hand fall away.

As always, Alois didn’t allow me to leave.

Only when the nobles started awkwardly clearing their throats and backing away did he finally pull away. And he looked more satisfied than I’d seen him all day.

“Let’s go.”

At my words, everyone moved as if a spell had been lifted.

Normally, nobles wouldn’t raise their voices or openly criticize one another, but now they began glancing around awkwardly with flushed faces.

What Jessie had once said came to mind.

That after midnight at noble parties, you’d see something truly new.

Well, it was certainly new and surprising.

An attendant rushed over with the shawl I’d left with them.

Just as they were about to place it on me, Alois took it and politely asked,

“Shall I wrap it around you?”

“…Sure.”

Wondering what this was all about, I nodded, and he gently draped it over my shoulders.

After that, we left the banquet hall, and no one tried to stop us.

The Emperor and Crown prince, who seemed wary of Alois and hadn’t approached us again after their initial greeting.

And for some reason, Ronella stood there like a statue, her face blank of any expression.

“It feels nice.”

A cool breeze greeted us as we stepped outside.

I glanced sideways at Alois, and he gestured with his chin toward the carriage ahead.

“The carriage is ready. What do you want to do? We could take a walk, or go straight to the temple. I’m fine with either.”

He spoke obediently.

I glanced at Alois, who was offering me a choice as if it truly didn’t matter to him. Honestly, there was nothing more difficult than trying to guess Alois’s true intentions.

“I want to go back to the temple. I’m tired today.”

“Alright, I’ll escort you.”

Ah, come to think of it, I should call Ronella to the temple later.

But Ronella couldn’t go deep into the temple.

Calling her to my room felt a bit inappropriate so maybe I should invite her to the audience room instead?

“Alois, your room in temple should be prepared in advance. It will probably be near my room.”

“That sounds good.”

On the way to the temple, Alois told me various stories, his voice pleasing to my ears. The rumors circulating among nobles lately, the gossip among the common people, and so on.

I liked it when Alois shared these things.

The temple was so out of touch that no one knew what was trending among the people or what the nobility was currently obsessed with.

“And the most talked-about topic these days is the Saintess’ return.”

“…”

“The citizens of the Empire naturally welcome the return of the Lady Saintess.”

The carriage rattled gently which was something I found pleasing. I also liked the way my snow-white robes glowed faintly under the moonlight spilling through the window.

However, I didn’t like all the news that Alois was sharing with me.

I lifted my gaze from the window to meet his eyes.

As if expecting it, he met my eyes directly.

“So, Lady Emilone. You know it’s time to make a choice, don’t you?”

“…Alois, sometimes, I get annoyed because you’re too smart.”

Alois carefully leaned forward.

The motion was so natural that I just watched him blankly till he was close.

“I will soon change my country from a ‘kingdom’ into an ‘empire.’”

“Mn, a place like Eseah Kingdom could manage that easily.”

Eseah had long been considered the wealthiest nation on the continent. If a country like that made up its mind, there was nothing it couldn’t do and thanks to that, it was easy for it to grow to a point where it could threaten even this empire.

“I’ll probably have to return to the Kingdom of Eseah right after the companionship ceremony. It’s hard for crown prince to be away from his country for too long.”

When I made room for him, he immediately sat beside me like he was merely waiting for me to move.

His familiar scent welcomed me.

“And after that comes the question. Will Your Holiness return to Eseah Kingdom with me? Or will you remain in the Empire as before?”

At those words, I crossed my legs out of habit.

One of the white shoes I’d taken off earlier slipped off with the motion.

Alois picked up the shoe that had fallen to the floor with a soft thud.

Though he hadn’t been sitting next to me long, he was now on one knee on the floor of the carriage, which barely shook thanks to the driver’s skill.

He looked completely at ease.

“Let me put it on for you.”

Having to weigh between the Eseah Kingdom and the Empire, what a situation.

The hard shoe touched my foot.

As he helped me slip it on, I parted my lips and looked down at him, who was quietly gazing up at me.

“I’ll stay in the Empire for a while.”

Even if the companionship ceremony with Alois took some time, it would be less than a month.

In such a short span, I couldn’t possibly visit all the people dear to me.

I thought of Reneben, Jessie, and the children at the temple/

“And Alois, the day I return to Eseah Kingdom will be the day it’s no longer called a kingdom, but an empire.”

There were many countries on this continent.

But only two countries were called an Empire.

If the Kingdom of Eseah joined them, that number would become three.

“Are you disappointed I’m not going with you?”

I tilted my head, and my unadorned hair slipped down smoothly.

Without saying a word, Alois brushed the hair aside and placed a soft kiss on the end of it.

“No, I’m actually a little excited.”

“Why?”

“Because the Lady Emilone believes that I will grow the Eseah Kingdom into an empire.”

I rescued my poor hair, which had become a sacrificial victim, from his hands.

My deep pink hair shimmered transparently under the moonlight.

Sometimes, I looked at this pink hair and wondered.

All those with divine power had white hair, so why was only mine pink?

Well, having lived in this world so long, I had long since let go of that question…

But whenever Alois held onto my hair like that, it made me wonder again.

“Then I must believe that.”

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