Extra S*ave Saves the Crown Prince Chapter 19

“Don’t you want to leave the palace?”

“No.”

He’d asked me this once before. Without even thinking, my answer was no.

“If you say you want to leave the palace, I’ll let you go.”

Once a slave’s affiliation was decided, it was as good as a lifelong contract, to the point where they were branded. Moreover, palace slaves, like those from Salt Island, were the property of the royal family and were even more strictly forbidden from moving around. There was always the risk they’d take inside information outside, so even if it meant killing them, they were never allowed out of the palace.

Yet here he was, saying he’d break all those ironclad rules if I just said I wanted to leave.

My heart pounded so hard it almost hurt.

“I like it here, Your Highness. I don’t want to leave.”

“What if you were no longer a slave?”

“Pardon?”

It felt as bewildering as being asked, “What if you were no longer human?” He’d just said something incredible, yet he was looking at me with his usual emotionless expression.

If I were no longer a slave?

I should be happy.

Of course, I’d be able to escape the lowest class, but the thought didn’t actually make me happy. Since possessing this body, my time here had been the most peaceful. The brand still hurt so much it appeared in my dreams, but aside from that, honestly, things weren’t bad. Cleaning the baths, my coworkers—at last, I felt like I’d regained something called “everyday life.”

And, more than anything.

Just the fact that I was here in this space with him made every day worthwhile.

“You don’t look particularly pleased.”

He wore a strange expression. I couldn’t tell if he was pleased or regretful. I thought I could read his emotions a little after watching him so much, but right now, I had no idea. Maybe even he couldn’t define his own feelings.

A slave refusing freedom.

Even I thought it was ridiculous.

But I truly wasn’t happy about the offer.

If I left the palace, I’d obviously be far from the Crown Prince. I’d lose the chance to see this beautiful face up close.

Giving up my slave status would mean giving up the chance to see him. Just that fact alone made me not want to leave.

And one more thing.

“Your Highness, I never want to—”

My throat tightened, and I had to stop for a moment. Saying it out loud made me want it even less.

“I don’t want to start over somewhere I know nothing about.”

If I wasn’t a slave, I’d have to adapt to a whole new life. The thought alone made me recoil. I didn’t want to leave what I’d grown used to and have to adapt to something new all over again.

Once again, with no one I know. I didn’t want to struggle to settle in alone.

“…I understand.”

“Just you saying that means so much to me. Thank you.”

I meant it. Just the words that he’d let me stop being a slave almost made me cry. He kept stabbing deep into my heart without warning, like this.

“I’m the one who’s grateful.”

“Pardon?”

“So you don’t have to thank me that much.”

My chest ached so much it almost hurt. What’s gotten into him today? What could he possibly have to thank me for? All I remember is being cared for by him. Surely he’s not still grateful for what happened in the cave in the past.

『You’re alive.』 T

he words he said as I felt my heartbeat.

『Thank you for being alive!』 The cheerful words the knight of the knight tree had tossed out.

Strangely, those words floated through my mind.

My body trembled, and I felt like I might cry, so I bit down hard on my lip. Don’t cry, Sez.

“That hurts.”

His fingers reached out and touched my lip, which I was biting. His eyes crinkled as if he himself were in pain.

If this kept up, I felt like I’d fall endlessly for him, so I desperately tried to think of something else. There was something I wanted even more, right now, at this moment.

“Your Highness, actually, there’s somewhere I want to go.”

“Tell me.”

His tone was commanding, but the low voice sounded more considerate than anyone else’s, so I clenched my fingers. I had to hold myself back so I wouldn’t fall for him again.

“I want to go to Enapok.”

For a moment, the air grew heavy. I saw his expression harden frighteningly. His face looked as if all emotion had vanished.

“Sez.”

“I promise I won’t be a burden. I’ll stay so quiet, no one will even know I’m there.”

I rattled on, afraid he’d think I was crazy like everyone else. He just sat there quietly, as if letting my words pass, then let out a deep sigh.

“Did you see the future?”

“Pardon? Ah, yes.”

I hadn’t, but I felt like I had to say yes. I had to go, no matter what.

“What did you see?”

“…The area where Beasts appear is getting wider and wider.”

This was something I’d read in the Original Story. The Beasts that started appearing outside Enapok would eventually appear throughout the entire empire. If things went as in the original.

“You can even see the exact locations where they appear?”

“No, not that much.”

He seemed lost in thought. There were probably very few people who knew that Beasts had appeared outside Enapok.

“If I go to Enapok, I might be able to see more of the future. Your Highness, so if you take me, I’ll definitely be able to help—”

“Denied.”

“Your Highness.”

“Is there anyone else who can see the future?”

Strictly speaking, I wasn’t seeing the future—I’d just read the novel. I shook my head quietly.

“That’s good. Don’t tell anyone in the future, either. You don’t have to risk yourself just because you know the future.”

His gaze lingered intently on my injured arm.

“Your Highness, even aside from that, I want to go to Enapok.”

“Denied.”

He cut me off like a knife. It was the first time he’d shown such firmness.

“Your Highness.”

But I couldn’t give up. If he just allowed it, no one else could object to me going to Enapok.

“Do you even know what kind of place it is?”

He stopped mid-sentence, closed his eyes, and steadied his breathing. Enapok, the place he’d been since he was ten. Of course I knew what it was like.

“I know.”

He slowly opened his eyes. His golden gaze was deeply subdued.

“You know.”

A place where screams and wounded never ceased. Where the smell of blood never left, enough to numb your nose. Death was everywhere—it was truly the front line.

“I saw it in a dream.”

“And you still want to go…?”

Usually, when I said I’d seen it in a dream, people all made the same face—like I was talking nonsense. But he was different. He believed I’d really seen it, without a hint of doubt, and continued.

“Yes. I want to go. I really will make sure I’m not a burden to anyone.”

“No.”

“Your Highness…”

When I met his golden eyes with all my desperation, he stood up. Like someone trying to cut something off, he ran a hand over his face.

“In the fall, I’ll come back.”

His birthday was in the fall. Now that Salt Island was gone, he’d have to come to this palace to keep his rampage in check.

In other words, he was telling me not to come to Enapok, but to wait here and see him again in this palace.

Sitting on the sofa, I looked up at him standing, and he seemed even taller. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone taller than him here.

Just thinking I wouldn’t see his face again until fall made me go limp with regret. He’d be in Enapok, fighting fierce battles with Beasts until then. I don’t know why, as a mere slave, I kept feeling pity for the Crown Prince.

He reached out and gently touched my hair poking out from under my scarf. Then his fingers moved toward my eyebrow, but in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to touch me and just brushed past. Watching his slowly clenched fist, I swallowed down my emotions again and again.

“Take care of yourself.”

That’s what I wanted to say. But he beat me to it.

Since I hadn’t given up yet, I couldn’t tell him to be careful. So I just stood up and bowed deeply instead.

Who would ever approve something the Crown Prince had forbidden? The thought was daunting. As I watched his back as he turned to leave, I wiped my eyes for no reason.

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

“Sez, the slave master is calling you.”

The next day, I was staring blankly at the group of slaves preparing to leave for Enapok.

“The slave master?”

“Yeah, she looked like she was in a hurry. You should go quickly.”

Could it be? I’d begged so much to be sent, but only got rejected. Did she finally decide to let me go? Or maybe someone’s spot opened up?

I sprinted full speed to the slave master.

“Slave master!”

“Oh, you’re here. Come with me.”

Solga hurried out as soon as she saw me. I hoped she’d say, “Come with me to Enapok.” Heart pounding, I followed her.

Slaves avoided the main palace paths as much as possible. If they had no choice, they’d use them, but usually they stuck to the woods or the outskirts. Slave master Solga knew all those routes well, and she hurried along the outskirts.

Where are we going?

I was so busy just keeping up that I couldn’t even ask.

“Sez.”

“Haa, yes?”

Just walking had me out of breath. We’d left the Crown Prince’s palace, and now the imperial palace was coming into view. The two palaces were quite far apart, so I could already tell the walk back would be tough.

“Never mind. Let’s hurry.”

She looked like she wanted to say something, but then pressed on. I heard her sigh several times.

She really must not want to send me. Understandable, since she’d been so adamant before.

But my legs hurt so much. Did we really need to hurry this much? I figured maybe there was something to prepare at the imperial palace and forced myself to keep going. We moved so quickly through so many paths that eventually I gave up trying to remember where we were.

And once we entered the main palace, I had to walk hunched over, making it even harder. I couldn’t even lift my head properly as I hurried along, and before I knew it, we were inside the palace. Thankfully, we didn’t have to walk far inside and stopped in front of a nearby door.

“Haa, haa.”

If only I could sit and rest for a bit. But it wasn’t night, and sitting in the hall would be a perfect excuse to get whipped.

A maid was waiting for us in front of the door with a stern face.

Knock, knock.

“Come in.”

A voice came from inside when we knocked. The slave master gestured for me to go in.

Just me? I mouthed, and she answered with a gesture to hurry in. The maid opened the door herself and let me in.

I entered, bewildered, and saw a luxurious parlor. This didn’t seem like a place I belonged.

The pink lace tablecloth was pretty, I thought, as I looked at the person sitting there.

The female lead from the Original Story was sitting there, looking at me.

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