“For the priests of Vermont Kingdom, this was probably the best option they had.”
My thoughts gradually grew clearer when I heard his calm explanation.
I studied Alois, who was sitting in front of me. Although his expression was calm…how should I put this? It felt like he was happy.
Somehow, I felt like I could understand what he was feeling.
Even I would be in a good mood after saving so many people.
I turned to look outside the window of the carriage. The sun was as bright as ever, unaware of what had unfolded on this land, and the sight left an unpleasant taste in my mouth.
The temple we arrived at was beautiful and immaculate. It exuded a clean and refreshing energy that anyone would love, and I couldn’t stop my hardened expression from softening.
“I can confidently say that I don’t trust anyone, but I cannot confidently say that extends towards priests.”
The carriage came to a stop, and Alois stepped out first then held out his hand toward me.
My legs felt weak so I hesitated for a moment, and he moved as if to carry me again like he did earlier. I rejected his help and stepped out of the carriage on my own.
Once outside the carriage, I stood in a section of the temple’s garden.
And standing there were priests, numbering almost a hundred.
From their midst, a woman in her forties approached me and knelt, so I held out my hand.
The leader of this place didn’t have much in the way of divine power, but she was likely a paladin as she donned an eye-catching white armor.
She took my dirty hands that I had yet to wash and brought them to her lips.
“I salute thee, O Blessing of God.”[1]
“…May His Grace rest upon you, you may rise.” [2]
When I took back my hand, she rose to her feet and took a stand behind me in a very natural manner.
“Allow me to lead you to where you will stay.”
Her voice cracked at the end of her sentence. I could feel her tension.
My eyes fell on the priests who were standing in a submissive manner.
“You have worked hard, Your Holiness.”
I sighed at those words and waved my hand indifferently like it was nothing.
“You’ve worked hard too. I wasn’t the only one doing the work, was I?”
“…”
As long as I had someone to attend to me, I could go back to my room and wash up by myself so…
“So, you should all go and rest.”
“But…!”
“I’ll hear everything I need to hear tomorrow. You will tell me everything, without leaving anything out.”
“…”
“So go and rest before I change my mind.”
Even the priests were sent away.
I felt a little relieved when I sensed Reneben’s divine power as I entered the temple.
With the help of the servant, I made my way to my room.
“Lady Emilone, the monkeys have been moved to the temple.”
I paused halfway up the stairs and turned to look at Alois.
“You went to the palace?”
“I did.”
“And how was it?”
I imagined those selfish, greedy nobles scrambling for some course of action, so I asked.
“They wanted to see Your Holiness, but I stopped them.”
“…I see.”
I didn’t bother asking how he stopped them.
If I had met nobles in the hopeless state I was in earlier, I doubt I could have held on to my sanity.
“Alois, you once said something to me.”
As I reached for the door, my rough hands caught my eye. I looked at my palm, riddled with cracked and hardened blood and I curled my lips.
“That what you lack is status and power. And that is why you are building that power and raising your status.”
“…That is correct.”
“I am here now.”
His gaze fell on me. I opened the door slightly.
“Under my name, under the shelter of Saintess Emilone, do whatever you want to do.”
“…”
“I shall allow it. That status? That power you’re talking about? As my person, do whatever it is that you desire.”
Once my words sank in, a silence fell over the two of us. Then Alois bowed towards me.
“…A dependable ally indeed.”
I mumbled to myself once I was alone in the room.
He wasn’t someone that I had to look after, if anything, he was someone who looked after me.
In that regard, Alois was truly a very dependable ally.
* * *
The bathroom was warm.
I lowered myself into the cold water and closed my eyes.
It would have been nice to soak in warm water but the bloodstains on my body were like unerasable marks, and they refused to come out easily, so I decided to wash in cold water.
“Are you really not going to join me?”
Marien waved its fluffy tail around and dipped a hand in the water a few times, then quickly ran away, clearly not a fan.
I didn’t think the water was that cold but…
I watched the beads of water collect on my palm then I stood up.
The once-clear water had turned a faint pink.
“Come here, I’ll draw warm water for you.”
I felt like all the dirt and grime had finally washed away so I brushed my damp pink hair back and filled the bath with fresh water.
I got bored waiting for the bath to fill so I put on a robe and poured scattered petals and perfumed oil into the water.
“Come here, ok?”
I finally caught the monkeys, who kept running away to avoid a bath and sank into the slightly lukewarm water with them in tow.
Their distinct red fur shivered at first and they tried to run but soon, they stopped seemingly tired.
“See? Isn’t it nice?”
I leaned back and closed my eyes, thinking this might just be their first successful bath. My eyes felt heavy, like waterlogged cotton, so I closed my eyes and sat there for a while.
“Don’t wander off carelessly.”
I couldn’t help but mumble to the animals who couldn’t speak, while hugging them to my chest.
“Stay where I can protect you. Hm?”
I caught one of the monkeys as it tried to slip away again and gently rubbed its cheek.
“I’ll protect you, so just behave, okay?”
After giving them little kisses on the cheek, their tension seemed to ease. Soon, the monkeys, clearly oblivious to my words, gleefully splashed around in the water.
Watching them play, I rubbed my eyes, whispering to myself:
“I will protect my people, even if I have to bet my life on it.”
Even if they were demons before, even if they were shunned by others as symbols of misfortune, I will stay by their side until the very end.
* * *
That evening, under instigation from Alois, a trial was held.
A trial that belongs to no nation, a trail that only a Saint could hold.
The Saint’s Trial.
That very day, the king was dethroned.
The nobles who held positions of power also met the same fate.
And by Alois’s choice, a long-abandoned princess ascended to the throne as the new ruler of the Vermont Kingdom.
The first female ruler of the Kingdom of Vermont and one who ascended the throne despite not being born of the direct royal lineage.
A delicate-looking princess had become the Monarch.
* * *
The trial lasted until the early hours of the morning and my body felt utterly drained, yet a bittersweet ache lingered in my chest.
I could still recall the image of the king being dragged from his throne and shoved into shackles.
Stripping him of his power through force, severing his tendons painlessly and sending him to exile.
Part of me didn’t want to let him off so easily, but… in some way, this conclusion felt like a happy ending.
“Lady Saintess, delegates from every country are seeking an audience with you.”
“…Hmm.”
“Will you see them?”
“Since they’ve come all this way, I should at least show them my face.”
Alois came up behind me and began to massage my shoulders. The soothing sensation made me close my eyes as I let him work.
At this point, I was so used to these massages that they no longer felt strange.
“Just a little more hard work and we’ll be able to leave this country soon.”
“I thought there’s still a lot to deal with. Already?”
“Well, they have a new Queen.”
Hearing that, I felt suspicious, and leaned back, naturally leaning against Alois.
“Tell me, Alois, what exactly is the new queen’s strength?”
“What do you mean?”
“What made you choose her as the new ruler? I’m very curious.”
Alois’ hand on my shoulder paused.
“It’s nothing special. When I was observing the royal family of Vermont, she seemed to be the most ideal.”
“In what way?”
I picked up a macaron from a nearby plate, split it in half and popped one piece into my mouth. Then, holding out the other half, I brought it to Alois’s lips. He accepted the pink macaron from my hand, and the powder brushed against his upper lips.
“She was the only one in the royal family who opposed the implicit enslavement of the people, and she showed a desire to learn.”
“What if she changes her mind after she gains power?”
“In that case…”
He trailed off.
“I’d rather not imagine that.”
“I agree with you there.”
My shoulders felt relieved, and I moved his hand away.
“Is it my turn to massage you now?”
“No need for that. If I let the Saintess do such a thing, I’ll be in serious trouble.”
“Yet it’s fine if I work a prince like a servant?”
“Comparing a mere prince with the one and only Saintess already makes no sense.”
Alois waved his hand. Then he gave a gentle smile.
I stared at his coy face then turned around.
“When I meet with the high-ranking nobles of each country, what do you think I should do, Alois?”
“Act as you always do, Lady Saintess.”
“…As I always do, huh.”
I racked my brains but the only thing I recall doing was standing before nobles and mocking or ridiculing them.
“What I mean is, just act like it’s nothing, feel free to be unbothered.”
“Unbothered?”
“Yes. It doesn’t need to be a calculated action, just move as your heart guides you. That is more than enough.”
Translator’s Corner:
[1] So, this greeting is somewhat similar to the usual [I greet God’s blessing] but said in a very respectful manner so I used ‘old english’ to make it sound more venerated.
[2] Another switcheroo to the usual [May God’s blessing be upon you]. I wonder if the sayings differ among those in the temple.
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- Emilone’s Temptation Labyrinth – Chapter 137 - September 25, 2025
It’s a pity we didn’t get to see the trial but I suppose the author was beginning to stray too much from the original premise. This stopped being subtle romance and went into crusader king’s territory. I’m enjoying it still though.