Extra S*ave Saves the Crown Prince Chapter 17

Heavenly Hill.

 

The rear garden of the Empress’s palace was known by that nickname. Unusually for a garden, there was a small hill there. In spring, the entire hill would be covered in white flowers, creating a snowy landscape.

 

Petals would fall into the pond beside the hill, making the whole world seem blanketed in white. Especially on clear days, the blue sky mingled with the scene, creating a peaceful atmosphere as if one had come to heaven.

 

The Empress liked to set up a white sunshade in that garden and enjoy tea time beneath it. This was a famous spot accessible only to her closest confidantes; if anyone outside the imperial family visited, it became a topic of conversation in itself.

 

“As I grow older, these flowers seem even more beautiful.”

 

“Thank you for inviting me to such a lovely place.”

 

Today, Lady Caesaria was exceptionally present. The fact that she had visited would surely be quietly spreading both inside and outside the palace.

 

“I kept meaning to arrange this meeting, but only now have I called you.”

 

“I am honored, Your Majesty.”

 

The two exchanged pleasantries, enjoying the sight of white petals drifting in the air. The maids and attendants stood a little distance away from the canopy, waiting.

 

“My lady.”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

 

“I heard about what happened on the anniversary of the princess’s death.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

Caesaria raised her teacup, then slowly set it back down.

 

“You must have been quite shocked.”

 

The Empress wore an expected expression—neither smiling nor expressionless. Caesaria tried to read the emotion hidden beneath, but in the end, gave up.

 

“Yes.”

 

She should have said, “Not at all,” out of formality, but she answered honestly. She still regretted that she hadn’t been the one to be struck down by that sword instead of the slave.

 

“I called you, hoping you wouldn’t be too heartbroken.”

 

“Thank you for your concern.”

 

“The dignity of the imperial family is not something to be taken lightly.”

 

The Empress didn’t bother to hide her anger. It was closer to hatred than rage. She didn’t even hide her hostility toward the Crown Prince in official settings, so the fact that she had invited Caesaria, the Crown Princess-to-be, was contradictory in itself.

 

“My lady.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“How is the Duke of Ruchegno doing?”

 

After a spring breeze swept across the table, the Empress asked. Only then did Caesaria realize why she had been summoned.

 

“He is well, thanks to your concern.”

 

“That’s good to hear.”

 

The Empress sipped her tea. The gesture was flawlessly elegant. Yet Caesaria felt a chill deep in her chest.

 

“Please tell the Duke I am waiting for news.”

 

“Yes, I will convey your words.”

 

“After three years, I suddenly found myself curious. He’ll understand if you put it that way.”

 

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

 

This was not a message for the Duke. It was the third year since Caesaria became engaged to the Crown Prince. The Empress knew the reason why she had been matched with him. It was obvious the Duke was behind whatever orders had been given.

 

‘It’s been three years, so why haven’t I heard anything?’

 

It was no different from calling her in and asking directly. When are you going to kill him? Don’t you have a job to do? She was being openly warned. There was no other reason for the Empress, who hated the Crown Prince, to summon his fiancée.

 

“The weather is truly lovely.”

 

Caesaria’s face went pale and her shoulders trembled slightly. Realizing her words had been understood, the Empress leaned back in her chair with a relaxed expression.

 

After that, Caesaria couldn’t drink another drop of tea, and remained at the table with a noticeably darkened expression.

 

＊ ＊ ＊ 

Tap tap.

 

I tried patting the crumpled blanket to smooth it out as much as I could. When Mary did it, the blanket looked brand new with just a few touches. I must not be a professional, because it didn’t look quite right. I’d be stripping the whole blanket off to wash it anyway, but I still wanted to make it look as if nothing had happened. I thought it was the least I could do to show respect for this room.

 

Since dust was rising, I should ventilate the room. I opened the window wide. Before I knew it, the warmer breeze was pushing into the room. It was such a pleasant wind that I stood still, closed my eyes for a moment, and enjoyed it.

 

Knock knock.

 

“Yes.”

 

Thinking it was Mary, I answered. I’d been meaning to thank her for everything and promise to repay her kindness. I straightened my clothes. But the person who entered was a stranger.

 

“Oh.”

 

I was the first to speak, startled.

 

“Oh.”

 

He, too, was startled and echoed me. He looked as if he might close the door again, glanced back, then opened it a bit wider.

 

“Uh, His Highness is not in right now.”

 

He must have come looking for His Highness and was surprised to find me standing here. I told him the master was absent. But he didn’t seem all that surprised by the news.

 

“Are you going in or not?”

 

It seemed there was someone else behind the man holding the door. As if pushing the first man forward, another figure appeared in the room.

 

They looked like an uncle and nephew, or perhaps a father and son. The man who entered first had impressively muscular build. Rather than being excessive, he looked solid all over. Maybe because of his almost orange hair, his whole impression was bright.

 

The one who followed had hair somewhere between white and gray. Deep wrinkles marked his face, and a thin scar ran from his ear to his cheek, making him look anything but ordinary. Who were these people?

 

“Is your name by any chance…?”

 

“My name is Sez.”

 

I didn’t know their status, but it was surely higher than mine, so I bowed deeply.

 

“That’s right!”

 

Huh? What’s with this reaction? I kept my head bowed and glanced up. They were both staring at me wide-eyed, looking me up and down. Did I know them? No, I’d never seen them before.

 

“Ah!”

 

The younger man suddenly grabbed my shoulder.

 

“Thank you for being alive!”

 

He greeted me so enthusiastically that my body swayed back and forth like a sheet of paper.

 

“Baslo! What are you doing to a patient!”

 

Baslo? That name sounded familiar.

 

“Ah! Sorry!”

 

When his name was called, he stepped back. But his face looked as if he wanted to shake me again at any moment.

 

“Um, may I ask how you know me…?”

 

“How do I know you? His Highness thought you were dead, and—!”

 

“Baslo. Quiet.”

 

Baslo immediately shut his mouth. He was big and solid, but his expression was like a child’s.

 

“Ahem. I am Lekes, captain of the Thorn Knights. As for him, you don’t really need to know.”

 

“Captain!”

 

“How’s your arm?”

 

The captain of the Thorn Knights. He was the Crown Prince’s closest aide, but even within the Empire, he was a figure of reverence. If the Crown Prince was considered beyond human, the Thorn Knights were seen as the strongest among humans.

 

The fact that they survived fighting Beasts on the front lines was proof enough of their strength.

 

Ah! Only then did I remember seeing their names in the Original Story. Captain Lekes and Baslo were the Crown Prince’s closest aides.

 

“Oh, yes. I’m fully recovered now. Thank you.”

 

“That’s good.”

 

Captain Lekes looked at me with gray eyes. His gaze was so piercing that I had to look away. Their loyalty to Sihien was greater than most people imagined. I felt awkward, wondering how they viewed a slave occupying the Crown Prince’s room.

 

“Captain, maybe His Highness actually cares about appearances?”

 

Suddenly, Baslo whispered into the captain’s ear. But the room was so quiet, I heard everything.

 

“Nonsense!”

 

I had to work hard to keep a calm expression, pretending I hadn’t heard.

 

“Sez, you’re keeping it safe, right?”

 

“Sorry?”

 

Baslo also whispered to me. I couldn’t tell if he was joking or just genuinely cheerful.

 

“You know, that thing.”

 

“Sorry, but what do you mean by that…?”

 

My hair was braided and hanging down. Baslo glanced at my hair.

 

“Come on, the thing His Highness gave you.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

Something from His Highness? I was so startled my voice rose. If I didn’t know I’d received something, that would be a big problem.

 

“Baslo. Stop meddling and be quiet.”

 

“Every time His Highness takes it out, my heart breaks. Captain, you saw it too, right?”

 

“Tsk. I said be quiet.”

 

“Sez. You really should treasure that.”

 

“I’m truly sorry, but which thing are you referring to?”

 

“Hm? Did you get so many you can’t remember? The ribbon, of course.”

 

“Ribbon?”

 

Lekes told Baslo to be quiet, but still glanced at me. I was grateful for all the consideration I’d received from the Crown Prince, but I’d never been given a ribbon specifically.

 

“Don’t tell me you haven’t gotten it yet!”

 

“I’m sorry, I don’t quite understand, I’m not very bright.”

 

“Ahem.”

 

“He treasured it so much. Why hasn’t he given it to you?”

 

Lekes cleared his throat, and Baslo muttered to himself. Did he mean the Crown Prince had been treasuring a ribbon to give to me? But I hadn’t received anything like that. My heart started pounding for no reason. Why would he prepare a ribbon for me, anyway? Or maybe he really did mean to give it to me.

 

“Anyway, are you really all better?”

 

“Oh, yes. I was actually just about to head out.”

 

“Head out? Where?”

 

“I was going to check on my quarters—”

 

Both Baslo and Lekes stared at me with wide eyes, so my sentence trailed off.

 

“Does His Highness know?”

 

His serious tone made me think I was missing something.

 

“Ah, I haven’t seen him yet, so I haven’t told him. I was planning to come back and thank him anyway, since I’ll only be gone a short while.”

 

“Hm. I think it’d be better to tell His Highness before you go.”

 

“Sorry?”

 

“He might come looking for you in the meantime.”

 

“Ah, yes, I understand.”

 

It wasn’t like I was going far, just moving within the palace. But as someone at the bottom of the hierarchy, I couldn’t argue.

 

“Well, let’s head back, Baslo.”

 

“Already?”

 

“Tsk.”

 

I wasn’t sure whether to say goodbye or see you next time, so I just bowed deeply.

 

It felt strange to be saying goodbye like this in this room. I was just a guest here, after all.

 

“It’s good to see you.”

 

Baslo waved as he left, as if greeting me on his way in. But the sincerity in his words warmed my heart. For someone to treat a palace slave so genuinely, he must be a good person. Even if he seemed a bit overly cheerful.

 

“Ah, thank you.”

 

Tap. He closed the door with one hand and kept waving at me with the other until the end.

 

I had just met them for the first time and done nothing, yet they treated me so kindly. Baslo was nothing like the fearsome reputation of the Blood Knights.

 

『That knight came by and left your medicine. He said it was for you.』

 

“Oh! Could it be?”

 

Ah, you fool. Only after they left did I remember what Eva had said. The knight who brought medicine when I had a fever—could that have been Baslo? Why did I only realize now? I’d have to ask him next time I saw him.

 

『Sez. You really should treasure that. The ribbon, I mean.』 

 

Even though I hadn’t received the gift yet, just hearing those words made my face flush. Not even the breeze from the window could cool me down.

 

I spent quite a while fanning my red face, trying to calm myself down. It might not even be mine, so why was I getting ahead of myself? My heart thumped wildly, and I felt embarrassed at myself.

 

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