Side Story: Alois Eseah, Ronella Nestro (6)
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I simply met Ronella’s gaze and stared at her.
I engraved myself into those green eyes that looked so clear and transparent. The feeling I had when those beautiful eyes captured me in their entirety was something words could never describe.
“Yes, Ronella?”
Even the awkwardness lingering across her pale face looked beautiful, and I smiled faintly, staring at her as if enchanted.
But beauty was just that. Beauty.
I reached out and lightly grasped her long, black hair. Both Ronella’s and Alois’s eyes followed my fingertips. The soft strands flowed smoothly through my hand.
“I’ll ask again. Why do you think I came to see you?”
Although there was a table between us, the distance between Ronella and I felt incredibly close. And soon enough, her graceful expression collapsed.
Ronella let out a deep breath, her gentle mask breaking as if she could no longer bear it. Even the sigh slipping through her red lips captured my gaze.
“I can’t allow that, Lady Emilone.”
Right at that moment, the world went dark. Of course, the hand that covered my eyes belonged to Alois.
He leaned down and whispered into my ear.
“If you look at someone else like that when I’m right here, I’ll get jealous.”
I knew he meant every word. I was about to respond when Ronella cut in.
“It appears I am more charming to Lady Emilone than you.”
“You say that over just a momentary glance, Princess Nestro?”
The two of them started talking to each other as if talking while I was stuck between them was their favorite hobby.
“I wouldn’t call that ‘momentary’, would I?”
“It was merely a ‘moment’.”
With my vision blocked, their voices sounded even clearer. Listening to their gentle voices intertwine, I leaned back slightly.
I withdrew my hand which had been stroking Ronella’s hair and stepped out from Alois’s embrace. Only then did I get a full view of both their faces.
“Ronella, shouldn’t you answer my question first?”
I stopped Ronella, who was trying to divert the subject while straightening her slightly disheveled hair. At my words, her back straightened immediately.
“And Alois, I was speaking. Don’t interrupt.”
Alois glanced sideways at Ronella before bowing politely.
“I’ll be careful next time.”
Even if he was my prospective companion and the crown prince of Eseah, I was still the Saintess. The one who oversaw this entire continent and essentially, someone who had to bury her face in paperwork day and night.
I was resting a bit more these days, but I still felt dread when I thought about my time in the Eseah Kingdom.
“Ronella, will you answer me now?”
I turned away from Alois and faced Ronella directly. She was clutching her white linen nightgown so tightly that the hem was all wrinkled.
“…That, I assume it’s because of the demon I sent.”
I smiled gently at those words. As I stepped toward her, her shoulders flinched. But she didn’t need to tremble that much.
When I stopped in front of her and brushed her hair aside, her green eyes widened like round beads.
To me, Ronella was like a fragile child, so I resolved to treat her delicately and kindly.
“So it really was from you.”
“…”
“Thank you for not lying.”
“No… I lost control of my emotions, and without realizing…”
Ronella mumbled her reply. Alois, seated with his chin resting on his hand, quietly watched her.
Soothing Ronella wasn’t all that difficult.
What she wanted was pure affection, and I simply had to give her that.
I intended to teach her, one by one, the emotions she did not yet understand.
“I was wrong.”
When I stared at her, Ronella, no longer wearing the mask of Princess Nestro, hesitated a few times before carefully muttering.
Her voice was so small that Alois, sitting a little farther away, didn’t seem to hear, but I heard her clearly. Her words were as sweet as candy to me.
“I’m sorry.”
I didn’t need to see it to know how much effort Ronella had put into saying those short words. From her trembling eyes to her hands turned pale from gripping too hard.
“You must have come here to hear that, Lady Emilone.”
I nodded silently.
Ronella met my eyes with a nervous expression. I could see the visible worry on her face.
“Correct. I came because I wanted to hear you say that.””
Of course, she quickly lowered her head so I couldn’t her expression anymore.
“Thank you for apologizing, Ronella.”
At those words, Ronella covered her face with her hands and collapsed into her chair as her legs gave way. She must have been quite nervous as I could see cold sweat trickling down her neck.
“I was so worried you wouldn’t accept it, since I sent the demon in a fit of anger.”
When she lifted her hands from her face, the usual bold Ronella had returned. Honestly, I preferred this side of her over the frightened, hesitant one.
“Why wouldn’t I accept your apology? It was just one mistake.”
At my words, Alois, who had been silent until then, lifted his head. Then he spoke like he was waiting for that sentence.
“But there won’t be a second time.”
For someone who usually stayed quiet, the fact that he kept speaking meant he was very angry with Ronella.
Ronella raised a brow like she was about to retort then she sucked in a deep breath.
“…I won’t make this mistake again.”
I thought they might start another round of meaningless bickering again… but Ronella admitted her fault with surprising ease and looked at me coyly.
Then, like a puppy begging for praise, she stared up at me, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Yes, Ronella. I hope there won’t be a second mistake. Because I trust you.”
With a victor’s smile, Ronella lifted her chin proudly. Then she tilted her head slightly toward Alois, obviously wanting to provoke him.
Fortunately, Alois only responded with a masked smile.
Thanks to that, things seemed like it would end smoothly. At least, until just before we boarded the carriage back to the temple.
After finishing that conversation without any issues, we stepped and found Veron Nestro waiting for us.
He had been pacing near the door with a tense face, but once he saw Ronella, his expression lit up. I gave him a small nod in return.
Only then did Veron Nestro turn to me, smoothing out his expression before he spoke..
“I’ve ordered lunch to be prepared if you would like to join us, Lady Saintess. And Your Highness of Eseah?”
“Lunch? Is it already lunchtime?”
Alois pulled a watch from his coat, checked the time, and nodded.
“It’s a little past noon.”
It seems I had spent more time talking with Ronella than I expected.
Honestly, I would’ve liked to stay for lunch to watch Veron Nestro’s reaction and continue chatting with Ronella, but Alois and I didn’t have that kind of time.
Perhaps sensing that, Alois looked at me with a troubled expression.
It looked so much like the one Ronella had worn earlier that Veron Nestro unconsciously stiffened.
“My apologies, Ducal Prince Nestro. We already have a prior commitment, or we would have loved to dine together.”
A prior commitment he says… I lowered my gaze at Alois’ choice of words.
Commitment…right. It is a commitment indeed.
Thinking that, I walked toward the carriage waiting in front of the ducal residence.
The pristine white temple carriage had drawn a small crowd who pretended not to be curious but were clearly fascinated by its novelty.
There was something captivating about temple carriages imbued with divine power. Kind of like Alois and Ronella.
“Lady Emilone.”
I was about to climb into the carriage, lost in idle thoughts, when a strange look flashed across Alois’s face.
And it didn’t take me long to realize what that emotion was.
“Let’s see if Lady Nestro truly meant it when she said there won’t be a second mistake.”
Because he lowered his head and kissed me on the cheek.
Before I could even process what happened, he pulled away, smiling in satisfaction.
The victorious smile on his face wasn’t directed at me but at Ronella.
And yet, the people who were stunned were the onlookers who had come to see us off…and me. I definitely wasn’t getting mad about the kiss he stole.
If anything, I thought it wasn’t enough.
“Alois.”
That’s why, the moment I called his name, I didn’t notice Ronella rushing over like wildfire.
With her black hair flying, she suddenly planted herself in front of me, her round eyes stretched into sharp lines.
Considering Ronella usually hid her anger, this reaction felt surprisingly fresh.
She hadn’t reacted at all the last time that we showed affection in front of her but it seems Alois’ provocation worked this time.
“Lady Emilone.”
But to me, Alois was my lover and soon-to-be companion, and Ronella was like a little sister whom I cherished deeply.
That’s what Ronella meant to me, but it didn’t seem to be the case for her.
“If you would permit it, I will give everything I have to bring down the Kingdom of Eseah.”
Seeing the half-serious, half-joking look in those blazing green eyes, I couldn’t help but laugh for a long time then I finally climbed into the carriage.
***
After visiting the Nestro ducal residence, Alois and I had one more place to go.
There was a reason we had no choice but to decline Veron Nestro’s invitation for lunch.
When we arrived at the temple, the elder priests were already kneeling on the ground to receive us.
But today, I wasn’t the one they were welcoming.
“Allow us to escort you, Lord Alois.”
Yes, today was the day of Alois’s companionship ceremony.
Actually, we planned to hold it another day, but I couldn’t wait and brought it forward. And seeing the secretive, yet delicate companionship ceremony being carried out made my heart tremble.
The thought that Alois of Eseah would soon be entirely mine put me in an undeniably good mood.
He began to walk forward, guided by the priests.
I watched him from behind. Even as the attendants removed my outer robe and handed me new gloves, my eyes were only on Alois.
This man would soon be mine… it was such a sweet thought.
Right at that moment, Alois turned back to look at me. He seemed to be thinking the same thing as I was.
I planned to stay in the Empire for quite some time.
During that time, I would look after Ronella, and also pay attention to the temple, which I had been neglecting.
By then, Alois’s companionship ceremony would have been completed without issue.
The thought alone made my lips curve into a smile.
I had someone I loved, someone who loved me, and someone who understood me.
To me, happiness lay in these everyday moments.
And today, another one of those ordinary days was quietly passing by.
I walked with purpose.
And for a brief moment, I whispered softly into Alois’ ear, whom I had to be apart from during the companionship ceremony.
“Alois, I love you.”
Yes, I was truly content.
- Emilone’s Temptation Labyrinth – Chapter 135 - September 18, 2025
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