Extra S*ave Saves the Crown Prince Chapter 28

 

“Sihien.”

 

As I pronounced his name, a breeze swept by. Petals fluttered thickly between us, obscuring my view.

 

His face, seen through the white, shining blossoms, looked like a painting itself. I didn’t want to ever forget that beauty, so I stared without even blinking.

 

He covered his mouth with his long fingers, then lowered them again. As his eyes blinked slowly, I didn’t miss the slight furrow at the corner of his eyes.

 

Even with his expressionless face, I realized now that whenever he felt a stir of emotion, he would frown like that.

 

“So this is what it feels like.”

 

As the wind died down, the blossoms gently settled once more. I felt a brief envy of the white flowers resting on his shoulders and in his hair.

 

“To be called by one’s name.”

 

His voice, spoken softly as if to himself, pierced my ears. Then he cast his gaze toward the lake, where petals danced in the wind.

 

“Huh…?”

 

At his words, it felt as if I heard the sound of pages flipping rapidly in my mind.

 

“Sez.”

 

“Yes, Your Highness.”

 

“From now on, when we’re alone, call me by my name.”

 

His voice drifted over, as if he were intoxicated. He was looking far off toward the lake, so I couldn’t quite see his expression.

 

And I clenched my fists. A scene I’d read in the Original Story came to mind. Neither his mother, nor his father, nor anyone else—no one had ever used his name, “Sihien.”

 

Like “Crown Prince,” his name might have been mentioned as a pronoun when he wasn’t present, but no one had ever called him by his name right in front of him.

 

“Sihien.”

 

In the Original Story, when the heroine, Lady Cesaria, called his name, he was helplessly drawn to her. She was the first to call him by name.

 

[…He suddenly thought of death. The moment she called his name. He thought, if his life were to end here and now, there could be no greater happiness….] 

 

It was so heartrending that I read and reread that phrase. How happy must he have been, how much joy did he feel, to think he wanted to die right then and there?

 

“Truly, tragic men are the best. This is why I read angsty stories.”

 

I remembered how I’d been satisfied with myself as a reader, enjoying that line. But here, every day was a life I had to actually live, so those memories had been set aside for a while.

 

But the feelings I had as a reader were on a completely different level from the emotions that surged now, as I looked at him before me.

 

He was here, breathing, blinking, reaching out to me. With a hot pulse, he was fully alive right before my eyes.

 

“Are you unwell?”

 

Perhaps noticing my odd breathing, he approached. He came right up to where I was sitting and knelt on one knee to meet my gaze. I wanted to keep my composure as if nothing was wrong, but in the end, I failed and buried my face in my hands. I felt like my face was twisting in a strange way.

 

“Sez.”

 

His fingers moved over my head, my shoulders, my arms. With every pass of that warmth, I felt his urgency.

 

“I’m sorry. Just give me a moment like this.”

 

I still didn’t lift my face as I spoke. I needed to buy some time so he wouldn’t worry.

 

This man, hailed as the Empire’s hero, had never once in his life heard anyone call his name. The pity, regret, and sorrow squeezed and released my heart.

 

Since I couldn’t erase my emotions from my face like he could, I had no choice but to hide them, if only for a moment.

 

‘What did he think when I called his name?’

 

He looked toward the lake as he heard his name. Maybe, just as I was hiding my face now, he too didn’t want to show his expression. Originally, the first person who should have called his name was the heroine of the Original Story. How would his heart, which should have been drawn to her, change now?

 

I had no idea how the Original Story, <Blood-Soaked Moon>, would unfold from here.

 

“Sez.”

 

His presence right in front of me felt so vivid. The large hand resting gently on my shoulder, his breath, the anxious tone in his voice—they all reached me more sensitively and keenly than ever.

 

“Show me your face.”

 

His tone was commanding, but the gentleness within made me feel like I would melt. I took a deep breath and lifted my face again. With the lake as a backdrop, he filled my vision.

 

A person who, from birth until now, had never once been called by his own name.

 

“Sihien.”

 

“Mm.”

 

His answer, a vibration in his throat, made my chest ache. His face was only about three handspans away, so this time I could clearly see the emotion melting into his eyes.

 

All I did was call his name. Yet his golden eyes shimmered as if he’d seen a beautiful landscape. Compared to that shimmering, the surreal scenery around us seemed ordinary.

 

“Speak.”

 

“I just… wanted to try calling you once.”

 

At my brazen words, he let out a small breath. The tension on his face melted away into a relaxed expression. The corners of his mouth loosened, and the ends of his eyes softened slightly.

 

Still kneeling to meet my gaze, he reached out a large hand. His hot fingers came near my ear, brushed my hair, and then completely cupped my cheek.

 

Even though only one cheek was covered, I felt warmth spread through my whole body. As if I were basking in front of a fireplace.

 

You can rest for a while.

 

That warmth seemed to whisper to me. All the time I’d lived until now felt as if it was being embraced by that heat.

 

It was my first time, too.

 

To feel someone else’s deep warmth so closely. This body heat, focused solely on me, was so warm that it felt like something inside my chest was melting.

 

It wasn’t something I thought about; I just unconsciously leaned into his hand. Just tilting my face slightly to the side made the warmth press in even deeper.

 

If only time could stop like this.

 

I thought I could understand why he’d suddenly thought of death in the Original Story. Right now, this moment’s tranquility filled me so completely, I felt satisfied to the point of needing nothing else. I just wanted to stay like this forever.

 

Looking into each other’s eyes, peering into each other’s souls. Staying this warm, always.

 

Clank, clank.

 

The sound of chains, unheard for a while, rang out from deep within. The face consumed by pain overlapped with his face now. He wore such a peaceful expression now.

 

I pitied him, born with a fate of suffering, and wanted him to be happier. I wanted to do everything I could for him. I loved this time we were sharing together so much.

 

I hoped he felt the same.

 

I hoped this time could be a small comfort to him as well.

 

Whoosh, swish.

 

Suddenly, a breeze blew and all the petals on the ground took flight at once. As if alive, they began to swirl around us.

 

Fwaaah.

 

This time, a stronger gust blew for a moment, showering me with petals.

 

“Heheh.”

 

It felt like the petals were playing a prank, and I couldn’t help but laugh. I didn’t even have to look to know my face was covered in petals. As I blinked and brushed one off my eyelashes, my vision brightened.

 

He was smiling.

 

Until now, even when he smiled, only I could barely notice it. But now, anyone could see he was smiling. My heart pounded so hot it almost hurt.

 

Because he usually never showed emotion, the difference was even more striking. It really looked as if a radiant light was shining on his face from somewhere. It was so beautiful it made my eyes sting. Even if you combined the lake reflecting the Milky Way, the petals shining white in the moonlight, and everything else, right now, this face was the most beautiful of all.

 

“Why?”

 

“Because you’re beautiful.”

 

My lips answered on their own. I was definitely wearing a dazed expression.

 

“The petals! The petals are just so beautiful.”

 

He smiled softly again, then began picking the petals off me one by one. There were some in my hair, on my eyebrows, on my lips, on the tip of my nose. I loved the delicate, warm feeling of him removing the petals, so I wished the wind would blow once more.

 

I wanted all the petals to fly to me, so he could pick them off one by one.

 

The wind blew toward me, but I could see petals resting on his hair and shoulders as well. As my heart thumped, I picked the petals off him one by one, too.

 

When I brushed his hair lightly with my fingers, a couple of petals fluttered away. They were the same kind of petals, but the ones on him looked even more beautiful and lovely for some reason.

 

Of the petals I picked from him, I secretly slipped a few into my cloth pouch, pretending to throw them away.

 

Maybe some petals had gotten into his hair, because he slipped his fingers behind his ear. The rustling movement tickled, and I flinched a little.

 

“Hoo.”

 

He suddenly froze, then stood up. He turned his head away, so I couldn’t see his expression. I dusted off my bottom and slowly got up as well. The ticklish feeling of his fingers on my ear still lingered. Strangely, I felt endlessly regretful.

 

“Sez, let’s go back.”

 

“Yes.”

 

All the way back down, my heart pounded with lingering regret. Of course, I couldn’t stay there forever, but it felt as if I were leaving something behind. Remembering the warmth that had cupped my cheeks, I hugged my own face for no reason. He still matched his pace to mine as he walked ahead, but he didn’t look back.

 

Watching his broad back, my face grew hot, so it was a relief he didn’t turn around.

 

I didn’t even know how I walked, just staring at his wide shoulders, and before I knew it, we were in front of his tent. The regret still hadn’t faded, swirling through my whole body.

 

“Your Highness. Have a peaceful night.”

 

I even regretted not calling his name. At this rate, I’d regret everything in the world. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself.

 

“I’ll walk you back.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“Where are you staying?”

 

“Ah, it’s all right. It’s not far at all. Um, Your Highness—”

 

As I said it was fine, he started walking ahead. It was late, so there were far fewer people about than before. In the quiet night, we walked together between the tents.

 

“This is it.”

 

I wished the walk to the herb storage was longer, but we arrived sooner than expected. He gazed quietly at the herb storage, visible in the moonlight.

 

“Thank you.”

 

I bowed and straightened, but he was just stepping into the herb storage. Huh? Surprised, I hurried after him.

 

“Is there something you need?”

 

He slowly scanned the herb storage from ceiling to floor, as if searching for something.

 

Did he need more Noveni herbs? I kept some dried separately, just in case.

 

I followed his gaze, checking as well. The storage was always filled with herbs, so their scent lingered faintly; some people disliked it and pinched their noses.

 

I liked the smell, but I worried that he might not.

 

“Do you work here?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“And your quarters?”

 

“This is both my workplace and my quarters.”

 

His expression looked a bit stiff, so I tried to smile. I wanted to ease him a little, but instead, the corners of his eyes seemed to furrow slightly.

 

“This is your quarters?”