As soon as I lost the game, the crowd’s reaction was almost celebratory, as if this was the moment they had been waiting for.
I savored their eager gazes and picked up my glass of water with ice floating atop the surface.
“You lost at just the right moment.”
“Haa?”
“I promised to make this fun for you. I won’t break that promise.”
“Good. I’ll trust you on that.”
I answered after taking a sip of the chilled water.
At the very least, I knew Alois would keep his word.
Things were already starting to get dull, so there had to be something to shake things up.
Just then, my eyes met those of a woman who looked to be in her early forties, dressed in white uniform.
Compared to the other staff members in their black uniforms, her outfit stood out starkly.
Her tidy shirt was buttoned up to the collar, her white trousers were crisp, and her blonde hair was neatly pulled back.
“…?”
Though her uniform was the same design as the others, the striking contrast of the white seemed to indicate she was an important person.
Then again, it shouldn’t be surprising that a place like this would have its fair share of secrets.
“It looks interesting over there.”
“Huh?”
“The game that woman in white is overseeing.”
Hearing that, Alois who had quietly draped my discarded shawl over my shoulders, following my gaze.
“It seems fun?”
“Yes. Let’s go try that game.”
Alois’s voice became more subdued. Not the light tone he used in public, but the cold and serious one he only revealed to me.
“If that’s what you wish.”
“…”
“Allow me to escort you.”
He held out his hand in an escorting manner. But I simply stared out his outstretched hand for a while.
“You do not wish to be escorted?”
“…”
He acted as if it was only natural that I would hold his hand. Then again, I knew this too. That right now, there was no way I would shake off his hand and go alone.
I placed my hand lightly over his, letting him guide me forward.
The elaborate dress I wore that was certainly no priest garb, was far from comfortable, but with him matching my pace, walking wasn’t as annoying.
“Is there anyone that wants to join the next round?”
With immaculate timing, just as we neared our destination, the blonde woman called out in a clear voice.
It seemed the man currently playing was on a winning streak.
The surrounding spectators had the look of hungry hyenas, waiting for the perfect moment to pounce.
Alois, standing beside me, suddenly placed both hands on my shoulders and pushed me forward.
“We’ll go.”
“Ah, understood. I assume you’re already familiar with the rules of the game. This gentleman over here has wagered an olive tree, a symbol of the Goddess.”
“…Olive tree?”
“Yes, the Olive Tree is a symbol of Goddess Mercio who is worshipped by the Kingdom of Nevercio, and it is famous for bearing the goddess’s mark. That is what this gentleman has chosen to stake. What will your noble selves like to offer in return?”
…Hah? The goddess that the Nevercio Kingdom worshipped was Goddess Mercio. As a country named after goddess Mercia, the land was filled with the goddess’s blessing.
For swearing allegiance to her, the goddess gave the Kingdom of Nevercio an olive tree. A symbol of prosperity and peace.
Because of that, there were very few olive trees in the Nevercio Kingdom, and each one was engraved with the mark of the Goddess, so they were considered very sacred.
“What…did you say he wagered?”
“An Olive Tree of Goddess Mercio.”
And right now, in front of me, the Saintess, this man was using the sacred tree as a wager.
“Lady Emilone, calm down.”
I wasn’t particularly fond of the god who had thrown me into this world, but I understood that all my power came from him, so I trusted and followed him.
At the very least, as long as I bore the title of Saintess and wielded its authority, I understood exactly what my duty was.
“…The Goddess’ olive tree. Even our temple only has a handful of them.”
I muttered under my breath, grinding my teeth.
Mercio’s olive tree was blessed by the goddess herself, so it was treated with great care in the temple and even I, the Saintess, had to tread very carefully…
“And yet, this man…”
Was selling them off?
He must have acquired the tree in some territory he owned.
An olive tree must have sprouted in a territory he owned and in that case, it would be proper to treat the tree carefully and sacredly according to procedure.
“Alois. Find out who that man is.”
I leaned against Alois and whispered in a low voice.
“In this place, identities are strictly guarded… But if Your Holiness commands it, nothing is impossible.”
Even after I said that, I couldn’t let go of my anger.
Yet, unable to suppress my growing anger, my words turned sharper.
It was only a few months ago that a child nearly lost their hand for accidentally touching an olive tree near the temple.
I had barely managed to stop that and now…
“To think something dares to wager the Goddess’ Tree before a Saintess. He has quite the guts.”
Of course, he didn’t know I was the Saintess.
“Would you like to wager? If so, please state your bet.”
The woman in white pressed for a decision.
Swallowing my anger, I straightened my posture and stopped leaning on Alois.
Tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear, I strode forward and took a seat across from the man.
“Then I shall wager the Flower of Purulos in return.”
“…Did you say the Flower of Purulos?”
“Yes.”
“By Purulos, you mean Purulos of Hergenia?”
The wager should have come from Alois, but I spoke without hesitation and took a deep breath.
I looked at the woman calmly, wondering if she was going to make me repeat myself, then I turned to my opponent.
“Since you’ve bet the Goddess’s olive tree, then I’ll bet the Flower of Purulos, said to have been born from the tears of Purulos, the God of Beauty.”
The man furrowed his brows, clearly taken aback.
The god I served was the main deity, but that didn’t mean other gods didn’t exist.
They simply did not interfere in the human world as much as the main deity did. However, they all left behind a symbol of themselves to represent them.
“Purulos, you say…Please show proof of your wager then.”
Proof of my wager?
I slipped a hand into my coat and rummaged for a moment.
I had it in my priest robes before changing into this dress, so I was glad that I had the foresight to transfer it.
Retrieving a palm-sized letter envelope gilded with gold, I held it up.
“I was surprised considering even I don’t have Purolos’ items…I didn’t know you had it yourself.”
Well, technically, this was just a document proving ownership of a mountain filled with Purulos flowers but…frankly, even this document was something Reneben acquired during our travels.
Apparently, a newly discovered land was overflowing with Purulos flowers…something like that.
“Purulos, indeed. That’s certainly a worthy wager.”
The blonde woman said while Alois let out a thoughtful hum, and smiled at my gaze.
“But what will you do if you lose the Purulos flower?”
I returned his smile for a brief moment—then, without hesitation, grabbed him by the collar.
His eyes widened slightly in surprise.
As if I had never smiled, I narrowed my eyes in displeasure and traced my fingers along his sharp jawline.
“Do you think I’ll lose?”
“…I only say so because you lost earlier.”
Alois gently grasped my wrist.
I released my grip on his collar, though I didn’t ease my frown, and spoke in a cold voice.
“I know when to lose and when not to.”
“Of course. I know.”
As if placating me, he gracefully removed the shawl draped over my shoulders. Following his lead, I sank into the plush chair and tilted my head slightly.
The hair I had tucked behind my ear slipped forward, falling carelessly over my shoulders.
Alois watched me in silence then reached out and gently tucked the strands back into place.
I leaned into the chair, remaining still as he smoothed out my hair.
Then as I swept my tousled with one hand, I turned his gaze to the man seated across from me and spoke.
“I shall be in your hands.”
“Of course.”
I expected it but when the man spoke in such an arrogant tone, I felt irritation creep in.
Alois released my hair just as I was about to get annoyed.
“What game would you like proceed with?”
“I think we can go with whatever game the young lady wants.”
Calm down, Emilone.
I took two deep breaths, barely swallowing my anger.
I couldn’t possibly mistake the sinister intentions in the eyes of the man sitting across from me.
How dare he?
“I hope you don’t regret those words.”
I dragged my chair back with a slow scrape, crossing my legs arrogantly and tilting my chin upward.
Though I had directed my question to the blonde woman, it was the man who answered in her place.
I cast him a leisurely smile, one that did not reach my eyes.
“I hope your Goddess’s Olive Tree won’t be lost to me.”
“You must be quite the noble miss to be offering the Flower of Purulos.”
As I was wondering what game to play, I saw a passing attendant walking by with a tray and I took a square wooden box from it.
“But I assure you, I am not so foolish that I’ll lose to a mere young miss.”
“…Hmm.”
I casually tapping my ankle against the air without uncrossing my legs.
Then still keeping my smile, I rolled the wooden box in my hands.
“To me, you already seem foolish enough.”
“Hah?!”
To be using the Goddess’s Olive Tree as a gambling token.
I guess he’d never considered what would happen if word of this reached the temple…or reached someone like me, for example.
Advanced chapters available on Patreon.
- Emilone’s Temptation Labyrinth – Chapter 100 - May 6, 2025
- Emilone’s Temptation Labyrinth – Chapter 99 - May 2, 2025
- Emilone’s Temptation Labyrinth – Chapter 98 - April 30, 2025