Extra S*ave Saves the Crown Prince Chapter 18

Three days had passed since the Thorn Knight had visited. Since then, the Crown Prince had not appeared even once.

 

On the first day, I walked on air, my heart fluttering because of the ribbon. On the second day, I wondered, Why isn’t he coming? By the third day, I had come to my senses.

 

It seemed I had been completely swept away by the comfort and peace I’d experienced for the first time since coming to this world. What was I thinking, waiting for him here of all places?

 

“Huh?”

 

“Ah!”

 

As I opened the door, I ran right into Mary, who was just about to come in.

 

“Where are you going?”

 

“Oh, I think I’m all better now…”

 

“Hm? You haven’t even taken off your bandages yet, have you?”

 

“I don’t think it’ll get in the way of my work at all. Mary, thank you for everything.”

 

I thanked her sincerely. She’d taken care of my meals, brought me water. She could have looked like she was just doing her duty, but she didn’t. She even told me to call her if I needed anything.

 

“Did you tell His Highness?”

 

“I was going to, but… I haven’t seen him…”

 

“Ah. He’s been busy lately. He’ll have to leave soon. Still, I heard he ordered us to make sure you’re well taken care of…”

 

“He’s leaving?”

 

“Yeah? He’s going to Enapoke.”

 

“Oh.”

 

The days the Crown Prince spent in the capital each year could be counted on one hand. I had overlooked that for a moment. I hadn’t even considered such an obvious fact—I really must have been completely enchanted by this comfort. I shook my head slightly. I needed to get a grip.

 

“Well then, Mary, I’ll go back to the quarters now.”

 

“But, Sez…”

 

Mary looked very conflicted. The reason the Crown Prince wasn’t coming to this room was probably not just because he was busy, but because I was here.

 

He spent so little time in the capital, and I couldn’t keep him from resting properly during those few days. I was also really curious where he was resting at night, instead of his own room. But I couldn’t explain all this to Mary.

 

“We’re already short-staffed, so I’m sure they’re having a hard time without me. And I think I should go see His Highness in person.”

 

“That’s true, but…”

 

Mary’s face grew serious at the mention of being short-staffed. Even if our jobs were different, everyone in the Crown Prince’s palace could relate.

 

“If you happen to see His Highness, could you please tell him I’ll come find him to thank him properly?”

 

“Sure, I can do that…”

 

Anyway, I’d end up chasing after the Crown Prince to Enapoke, so I’d see him again. But to go to Enapoke, I’d have to pass through several gates first. Feeling a little anxious, I said goodbye to Mary, who still looked uneasy, and left the room.

 

.*. *. *. *. *. *.

 

“Sez! Are you okay?”

 

The moment I returned to the slave quarters, I missed the place I’d just left. I would never forget the feel of that bed. Who knew if I’d ever get to sleep in a bed like that again—maybe I should have stayed until they kicked me out?

 

But I shook my head. I’d been occupying a room meant for my master to rest in. I couldn’t just keep living and eating in the Crown Prince’s room forever. Besides, I had work to do.

 

“Sez, I heard all the rumors.”

 

“Huh? What rumors?”

 

Even though it was just the two of us, Eva pulled me into a corner and whispered.

 

“They say His Highness, well, he carried you in his arms.”

 

She stopped there and covered her face with both hands. For some reason, my own face grew hot.

 

“So the rumors are out.”

 

“Of course! That’s not something that happens every day!”

 

Right. A slave in the Crown Prince’s arms—if I’d heard that about someone else, I’d have been shocked and made a fuss too.

 

“You must have been really scared, Sez.”

 

“Huh?”

 

Not at all. I wasn’t scared—I was so happy, that was the problem. I wanted to stay there even longer.

 

Eva looked at me with pity in her eyes.

 

“I heard His Highness said he’d punish you himself. He didn’t… hit you or anything, did he?”

 

“No! He just had me treated. But he said he’d punish me himself…?”

 

“Yeah. By palace law, you should already be…”

 

Eva shook her head. Even though I was the one hurt by a royal, the slave was the one to be punished? Was it for wielding a knife against royalty or something? Ugh. What an unfair world.

 

The Crown Prince hadn’t punished me at all—he’d even fed me buttered corn himself and checked my fever. If I told Eva that, she’d probably faint, so I decided to keep it to myself.

 

“Still, I’m really glad. That you’re safe.”

 

She was such a sensitive kid. Eva hugged me, her voice trembling.

 

“You were worried. Thank you, Eva.”

 

“Sez, just hang in there a little longer. He’ll be leaving soon.”

 

Eva patted my back to comfort me. But I grabbed her shoulders and looked her in the eye.

 

“Do you think the slaves will go with him?”

 

Maybe my gaze looked determined, because Eva gave me a look like, ‘What’s gotten into her?’ and looked me up and down.

 

“Yeah, probably. There’s a lot more luggage now.”

 

“Really?”

 

“But don’t worry. Only certain people are chosen to go to Enapoke.”

 

“I want to go.”

 

“What?”

 

Eva looked at me like she thought she’d misheard, then pressed her hand to my forehead. She compared it to her own.

 

“No fever…”

 

“Do you think I could go if I volunteer?”

 

“Are you crazy?!”

 

She’d just been comforting me, but now her face changed completely. She looked like she was stuck with a real lunatic.

 

“Why would you want to go there?”

 

“I’ve always wanted to see Enapoke.”

 

“So you didn’t hurt your arm, you hurt your head!”

 

She even took a step back. She was clearly convinced I’d lost my mind.

 

“How can I go?”

 

“Sez, you’re not healed yet. You should lie down.”

 

I was serious, but Eva just told me to rest and left the room, looking bewildered.

 

As she closed the door, she shook her head. She definitely thought I was spouting nonsense.

 

.*. *. *. *. *. *.

 

“I want to go to Enapoke, Overseer.”

 

“What?”

 

I went to see Solga, the slave overseer. If she allowed it, I could be included in the group.

 

“I heard you’ll be leaving soon. Please let me go with you.”

 

“Sez, you’re not better yet, are you?”

 

She looked me up and down several times. Why was everyone treating me like I was crazy?

 

“What do I have to do to go?”

 

Solga pressed her hand to her forehead.

 

“Sez, I admit you’re special. But that’s not a place just anyone can go. You have to be able to protect yourself.”

 

“I can protect myself.”

 

If danger comes, I can even teleport—my ability is greater than anyone’s. I couldn’t say that, but I hoped my sincerity came through.

 

Solga looked me up and down again.

 

“Why do you want to go to the front lines?”

 

“If I can be of any help at Enapoke, I’ll do anything.”

 

“You could die there.”

 

“I’m prepared for that.”

 

Solga’s mouth fell open. Honestly, I wasn’t that determined. I just wanted to see the rift the Epirons had opened with my own eyes.

 

I didn’t expect to close the rift or stop the Beasts or anything grand like that, but as a possessor, maybe I could help somehow—I needed to find out.

 

And, of course, help the Crown Prince while I was at it. And enjoy looking at his handsome face.

 

“Please. I won’t get in the way.”

 

“Sez.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Her expression turned serious, and I felt a glimmer of hope. I was about to say I’d be fine even if I had to ride in a baggage cart.

 

“If you feel anything wrong with your body, you can rest longer.”

 

“Overseer.”

 

“No matter how short-staffed we are, it’s better than having an accident. So promise you’ll tell me if anything’s wrong.”

 

She was clearly convinced something was wrong with my body. Wanting to go to Enapoke was apparently that crazy. I must have looked like someone volunteering to walk into hell.

 

That night, I went back to work for the first time in a while. I felt too guilty to put it off any longer.

 

『Are you really okay?』 

 

Eva kept looking me up and down, not wanting to get too close.

 

『You didn’t get some weird punishment, did you?』 

 

I didn’t know what kind of weird punishment she meant, but she still seemed to think I’d lost my mind. I guess I’m the first slave to ever volunteer for Enapoke, judging by everyone’s reaction.

 

Well, since it’s come to this, I might as well go down in history as the first slave to volunteer.

 

Splash.

 

As I threw water with all my strength, I realized—I’m really suited for this work. Scrubbing away the grime, rinsing it off and making it shine made my chest feel refreshed.

 

It was a little inconvenient to keep water from getting on my arm, but I didn’t mind. With all distractions gone, I could just focus on making this bathhouse as clean as possible. I wanted to make it shine more than ever.

 

With that in mind, I scooped up water and splashed it onto the floor.

 

“Ack!”

 

Then I threw the bucket and shouted.

 

Thunk, thunk, thunk.

 

The sound of the bucket rolling across the floor echoed slowly.

 

“Y-Your Highness!”

 

A familiar silhouette was leaning against the entrance to the bathhouse. I’m usually good at sensing people, but he must have had some ability to blend into the air itself.

 

I had no idea how long he’d been standing there watching me. The moment I saw him, my heart really dropped and then jumped back up.

 

“Did you want to work that badly?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“Badly enough to come back before you’re even healed.”

 

He didn’t sound accusatory, just stated it matter-of-factly. His gaze was on my injured arm.

 

Honestly, I really did feel clear-headed and refreshed from cleaning. But knowing he’d been watching me scrubbing away by myself made the back of my neck burn.

 

“Your Highness, I wanted to thank you before I left. I’m sorry.”

 

I put my hands together and bowed. Normally, I’d have to kneel, but I’d already been rude so many times, I figured this much was fine.

 

“Sez.”

 

“Yes.”

 

I kept my head bowed. I wanted to show my gratitude sincerely.

 

“I’d like to see your eyes.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

Without thinking, I looked up. I was even more nervous, afraid the sound of my pounding heart would echo in the bathhouse.

 

“Hm.”

 

He met my eyes, took a deep breath, and exhaled.

 

“Sit down. Let’s talk.”

 

He gestured inside with his eyes. He meant the space set up as a changing room before entering the bathhouse. It was arranged like a room, with a small sofa like a bed and some simple refreshments always prepared.

 

But I looked down at my clothes, which were wet and splashed all over. I felt guilty even sitting on the always-soft, well-kept sofa.

 

“Sit.”

 

It wasn’t a commanding tone, but a gentle invitation. Still, I couldn’t refuse a superior’s order, so I closed my eyes and sat on the smallest sofa. I was sitting diagonally across from him on the long sofa.

 

We’d eaten at the same table, but the difference in our status was still impossible to forget.

 

Why did he ask me to sit down? What did he want to talk about?

 

The sound of water flowed in through the open bathhouse entrance. I waited quietly for him to speak.

 

“I’ll be leaving for Enapoke soon.”

 

“Yes.”

 

I was grateful he brought up Enapoke first. It felt like an opportunity.

 

“Before that, there’s something I want to ask you again.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Don’t you want to leave the palace?”

 

—