Alois lightly tapped my head.
“It’s a bit of an odd thing to say now, I suppose.”
“…”
“But I felt I had to tell you.”
He spoke gently. His soft tone, like it could lull me to sleep at any moment, brushed my ear along with the breeze.
“That you make a mess of my thoughts.”
“Since when?”
It was a thought I’d had while looking at him under the moonlight earlier that dawn.
I asked casually in a dry tone.
“Well… maybe from the beginning, or from some point on…”
He frowned, as if he couldn’t quite define it.
“I just wanted to say… becoming your partner means I’ll be by your side.”
He spoke as if he had already reached a conclusion.
“Lady Emilone.”
He stepped away from the railing a little and called out to me, as if he’d finished saying all he needed to.
Whenever he called my name in that voice, my eyes couldn’t help but be drawn to his lips.
With a face that looked almost painted, he continued.
“Royal father will ask for you soon.”
“For me?”
“Yes.”
Alois answered firmly, as if he was certain that the king was going to seek me out.
I let out a sigh as I pictured myself in a private conversation with the king.
No matter how I imagined it, it didn’t seem like it would be a pleasant scene.
“He must be trying to separate me from you.”
Alois said it as though there was no room for reconsideration.
And barely a moment after those words left his mouth, a knocking came from behind.
After knocking for quite a while, a servant announced that he came by royal command and asked for the door to be opened.
“Let him wait for a bit.”
It was just the right time for a meal. The king likely wanted to use it as an excuse for a conversation.
“Your Holiness, my father is not a good man.”
I stopped mid-step and turned my head at Alois’s words.
He sighed and, as if he was sharing a secret, he spoke in a quieter voice.
“He’d burn down the slums for the sake of the nobles. He believes slavery should be reinstated for the benefit of nobles.”
Before I could ask anything more, Alois turned away.
***
Sure enough, once I came for dinner, I could tell the king wanted to talk.
The table was lined with dishes of every kind.
The king rose to greet me as if he had been waiting.
“I was hoping I could talk to Your Holiness.”
The King of Eseah spoke politely.
As I looked at him, I kept thinking the same thing. He really reminded me of Alois.
That gently smiling face, that voice that seemed to coax people.
“To meet Your Holiness is the greatest honor of my life.”
I studied the king’s face closely while taking a seat.
The smile he wore felt slightly eerie.
“I hope the food suits your taste.”
He definitely had a way with words.
It was the same impression that Alois gave me.
I looked over to the surface of the wine glass in front of me. Clear droplets had formed on it, and I could see trails at every angle.
“And what do you wish to talk about?”
I didn’t delay any longer and got straight to the point.
I didn’t really care for the delicious-looking banquet before me or the king’s smiling face.
The king looked at me with surprise, then he closed his eyes and opened them again.
His gaze had changed.
“Is it true that my fourth son has become Lady Saintess’ companion?”
I already expected this question.
Since it was so predictable, I flicked the wine glass with my index finger and the glass tipped over.
The red wine flowed out, soaking into the white tablecloth.
“Something tells me you already know the answer, don’t you?”
“…Of course. But since it concerns Your Holiness of all people, and my soon, I wished to ask you directly.”
I could see caution in the king’s eyes.
It disappeared quickly, but the wary reaction was clear enough to make me smile.
Compared to Alois, who could conceal his emotions very thoroughly, this was easier to handle.
“As you’ve heard, it’s true.”
I raised my hand and waved the king’s servants away.
There were almost 15 people standing around us, which was way too many. The servants looked taken aback by my gesture and glanced at the king.
Before the king could say anything, I frowned and spoke sharply.
“I gave an order. What gives you the nerve to ignore it?”
“…”
The king shut his mouth tightly.
He was likely about to send out the servants to gain my favor after realizing I didn’t want them around but I didn’t give him the chance.
Flustered, the servants hurried out, and finally, only the two of us were left.
“If you wish to speak with me from now on, don’t go calling people who don’t need to be there.”
“But, Lady Saintess, someone must serve—”
“You are here, are you not?”
I picked up the wine glass I had tipped over and held it out to the king.
When I flicked my wrist as if telling him to pour the drink, he froze.
After all, anyone could tell it was an insult.
But he quickly collected himself and picked up the bottle.
The red liquid sloshing inside almost looked like blood.
“Does it suit your taste? It’s the finest wine in the royal palace. I hope it pleases you.”
“Of course. I’m grateful for such a fine wine.”
The aroma that spread through my mouth was bitter.
For a moment, I wondered if he slipped in poison or sleeping powder, but it didn’t seem like it.
Only a fool with no clue of their depth would try something like that anyway.
Though bitter, it did seem to be genuinely fine wine.
Of course, it wasn’t to my liking, so I put it down quickly.
Silence followed.
The stillness was awkward, so I tilted my head and brought the conversation topic back again.
“So, is there more you wish to say to me?”
“Of course.”
The king glanced at the fine wine I had set down, seemingly displeased, before raising his gaze again.
Since I had spilled wine on the tablecloth, a strong scent was starting to rise.
“Could you tell me what it is about my son that you like?”
Was it a rude question? I’d say it was barely within the bounds of decency. Something a father might ask.
I considered whether to answer, then decided I might as well.
There was no real reason not to.
“He’s beautiful.”
The king’s eye twitched slightly.
I was certain that underneath that mask, his face must be frowning.
“And he’s kind, too.”
“That’s true. Alois has been kind to everyone since he was young.”
Kind to everyone, he said.
In other words, he was telling me that Alois was only being kind to me because I was the Saintess, not because I was special.
“So you are already aware, King Eseah. I quite like that kindness.”
It was a half-truth, half-lie.
Alois was kind. Kind to everyone.
But if one realized that kindness was something manufactured…it might leave a strange feeling.
“Alois is the child I’m most proud of.”
“Is that so? From what I’ve heard, your crown prince is outstanding in every way.”
Feeling hungry, I picked up the knife and fork.
The servant had said it was tender leg meat.
It was coated in a brown sauce and looked delicious.
“The crown prince is excellent, of course, but he’s no match for Alois.”
Alois wore a gentle mask and achieved many merits.
He had proven to those around him that he was useful.
If you looked only at Alois’s ‘abilities’, anyone would think he was remarkable. It wouldn’t be strange to think Alois might even surpass the crown prince, the one set to inherit the throne.
“However, Lady Saintess, Alois does not have the qualities of a king.”
Unlike me, who had begun to eat, the king hadn’t touched his food.
“If Your Holiness becomes Alois’s partner, I will grant him the title of Grand Duke.”
“…”
I continued eating without a word.
Perhaps he thought my silence meant agreement, so the King continued speaking.
“Alois is too soft. He might be swayed by those below him, but he’ll never be able to command them.”
Since Alois wore that soft mask, it wasn’t odd that he thought that way.
“Of course, with you by his side, I doubt there’ll be a major problem, but a ruler who cannot command those beneath him is bound to face problems eventually.”
He was speaking to me, but he was practically criticizing Alois.
“Your Holiness, do you believe that Alois has the qualities of a ruler?”
“Well, what do you think, King of Eseah? Didn’t you just say you’d give him the title of Grand Duke?”
A noble who couldn’t manage his subordinates was a useless ruler.
Neither the Emperor nor the Crown Prince were good rulers, but they had at least one exceptional trait:
The ability to command others.
That was something that those who stood in high positions needed to possess.
“As the companion of the Saintess, he ought to have a title befitting of his position. For Alois, the title of Grand Duke will suffice.”
Alois would never be satisfied with that.
Why was the King of Eseah so wary of his own son? Because Alois’s birth mother wasn’t the queen?
That sounded plausible but I’d have to ask Alois myself.
“King Eseah.”
I knew his name. But I had no intention of saying it aloud.
To me, he was just ‘King of Eseah’. And eventually, even that title would be too generous.
“Do you think I’d be satisfied with the mere title of Grand Duke?”
“…Lady Saintess.”
“Alois is soft, indeed. So is his personality. He is also not that great that at handling people.”
That is, while he’s wearing that mask.
Once that mask came off, everyone would fall silen.t
I erased the blank expression from my face and gave a gentle smile.
The thought of the nobles being shocked made me laugh without meaning to.
“But King…do you really think that is all there is to Alois?”
I couldn’t help but sneer.
I was asking him if he really thought such a capable person would allow himself to be pushed around by the people below him.
“Do you truly think Alois has no clue about the people trying to use him?”
King Eseah let out a startled breath like he was caught off guard then he changed topics, seemingly unshaken.
“I have been watching that child for over twenty years. I know he’s kind at heart, just like his mother.”
And for over twenty years, Alois had hidden himself so well.
It was truly amazing.
*.*.*
- Honey, I’m Going on Strike – Chapters 47 – 49 - November 22, 2025
- Honey, I’m Going on Strike – Chapter 44-46 - November 14, 2025
- Honey, I’m Going on Strike – Chapters 42-43 - November 8, 2025