Extra S*ave Saves the Crown Prince Chapter 34

If I had to pick the most embarrassing moment of my life, would it be now? Maybe right now, today?

 

In front of the Crown Prince and his closest knights, I was examined by a physician and given medicine. On top of that, I even swallowed the medicine right in front of them.

 

Arnic looked as if he’d seen a ghost, Baslo let out a deep sigh, and Shihyen wore a serious expression as if he were reviewing an important document.

 

At least the physician, Limbert, treated me naturally. I doubt he’s ever examined a slave like this in his life. I guess being the Crown Prince’s personal doctor isn’t a job just anyone can do.

 

“Well then, I’ll take my leave.“

 

The physician bowed calmly. I was so embarrassed and uncomfortable that I tried to send half my soul away on purpose. Even if I weren’t a slave, being examined in front of so many people would be mortifying and awkward.

 

“We’ll take our leave as well.“

 

Baslo, who had been looking at me with a meaningful gaze, bowed as well. Arnic seemed like he wanted to say something, but with Baslo’s words, he had no choice but to bow too.

 

Now that they’ve confirmed I’m okay, I should probably leave with them. But it was hard to find the right timing. Shihyen’s gaze had me pinned the whole time.

 

Thud.

 

The door to the barracks closed.

 

Now that it was just the two of us in this space, surviving the Beasts felt like a distant memory. The only thing that filled the room was his overwhelming presence.

 

All my senses were hypersensitive to him. Even something as simple as his breathing growing deeper, like now.

 

“Rest here tonight.“

 

“Ye… Yes?“

 

I must really have a fever. Did I just hear something strange? I almost answered reflexively to whatever he said, and then I was startled.

 

“Your accommodations are still being prepared. Are you uncomfortable?“

 

Accommodations? I saw earlier that the herb room wasn’t damaged. It looked fine. I could go rest there right now.

 

“Un-uncomfortable! No, that’s not it….“

 

Isn’t this the biggest barracks in Enapork? There’s no way it’s uncomfortable. Well, I suppose it could be uncomfortable in a different sense.

 

“Then come here.“

 

Huh? I could feel my ears burning up. I definitely have a fever. Shihyen was pointing to his own bed.

 

Suddenly, I missed Baslo, who had left so obediently. If Baslo were here, he might have stopped his lord.

 

“Pardon…?“

 

He told me to come here, but then he came over himself. He held out his large palm right in front of my eyes. I tried to figure out what he meant by that gesture. What did it mean?

 

“Ah.“

 

As I just stared at his hand, he reached out and grabbed my wrist. Then, gently but firmly, he lifted my arm.

 

Like a marionette, I stood up under his strength and followed where he led. Before I knew it, I was sitting on his soft bed.

 

“Rest.“

 

After being tossed around by a Beasts, it felt like my mind had gone blank for a moment. I saw his lips moving, heard his low voice, and only after that did my mind process the meaning of his words.

 

So, the place I was sitting now was the Crown Prince’s bed. And he was telling me to rest there.

 

“Pardon? But Your Highness, you need to rest too!“

 

I doubted he’d gotten any sleep last night. Judging by the dark circles under the knights’ eyes, the one who needed to rest here was him. What did I just hear?

 

“When we’re alone.“

 

His golden eyes seemed to deepen for a moment.

 

『Call me by name.』

 

 The scene with white petals fluttering by flashed before my eyes. The words he hadn’t finished naturally continued in my mind. I remembered the expression he wore when he heard his name, and my breath caught.

 

“But Sihien, you need to rest too….“

 

When he heard the word “Shihyen,” he suddenly turned his body, and the bed vibrated. He had sat down right next to me. My heart thudded so loudly I thought it might escape. When his arm came up, I instinctively closed my eyes.

 

Ah, that’s cool.

 

When his large hand covered my forehead, a refreshing coolness spread through me. It was a completely different feeling from when I washed my face at the lake. It wasn’t just cold, but a pure, invigorating energy seemed to flow from my forehead through my whole body.

 

“Sez.“

 

“Yes.“

 

I answered without opening my eyes, not wanting to.

 

“If you ever want to go back, just tell me.“

 

His low voice flowed into me as pleasantly as the coolness on my forehead.

 

It was a voice that seemed to effortlessly unlock something locked deep inside me. I was so charmed by his tone that I realized the meaning only belatedly.

 

If I want to go back? Go back where?

 

Does he mean the Crown Prince’s palace? No way. No. After all I went through to get to Enapork. My eyes opened on their own.

 

“I… I like it here.“

 

So please don’t send me away. It took a lot to get from the palace to here, but honestly, with just a word from him, I could be sent anywhere. I looked at him urgently, trying to convey my desire to stay.

 

“…You like it?“

 

He let out a deep breath, and his hand left my forehead. I tightened my hands together, trying to steady the emptiness I felt.

 

“I mean, I hate the Beasts, of course.“

 

I never wanted to relive last night’s experience. The dull pain rising from my side was nothing.

 

The feeling of death brushing right past me kept sending chills through my heart. Just imagining what would have happened if they’d been a little later made my throat dry up. But still.

 

“But I still don’t want to go back.“

 

Scenes of the time I’d spent with him in Enapork drifted through my mind like fragments. A warm energy bubbled up from within like a spring.

 

I didn’t want to leave his side, not here where he was. My desire to stay with him was much bigger and more urgent than my fear of Beasts.

 

“…Why?“

 

“Because you’re here, Sihien.“

 

If he went somewhere I couldn’t see him, I’d feel even more uneasy. And anyway, even if I left the battlefield as a slave, there was no truly safe place for me.

 

As I followed that train of thought, I sensed him getting up beside me.

 

“Sihien?“

 

He stood up from the bed and turned his back to me. He seemed to run a hand over his face and let out several deep breaths.

 

“I have just one question.“

 

I was checking to see if he was uncomfortable somewhere, but then he asked me a question. Where had I been at night, how did I escape the Beasts? The time for questions had finally come. I took a deep breath so I wouldn’t be caught if I had to say I didn’t remember.

 

“Yes.“

 

“Did you know.“

 

“Pardon?“

 

“That you’d be caught by a Beasts.“

 

He slowly turned toward me. I’d been practicing only how to say I didn’t remember, but this unexpected question left my mind blank.

 

Did he ask because he thinks I saw the future?

 

There was no way to explain to him that I didn’t know anything not in the Original Story. The longer I couldn’t answer, the more his eyes seemed to darken.

 

How must my face look, sitting on the bed looking up at him? For some reason, my chest felt heavy, and I finally opened my mouth.

 

“…Not completely.“

 

I answered ambiguously, not quite a lie but not the truth. To explain why I’d disappeared all night, it seemed better to say I knew a little.

 

I hadn’t expected to be caught by a Beasts, but I did know that if I left Enapork, there could be Beasts. So it wasn’t entirely wrong.

 

“I see.“

 

He seemed to accept something and ran his hand over his face again. For a moment, he looked so exhausted that I almost reached out to grab his hand.

 

“Sez.“

 

When he called my name, a shiver ran down the back of my neck. I felt like deep emotion was packed into those two syllables. Instead of answering, I just looked up at him.

 

“As long as you’re safe, I…“

 

He closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them.

 

“I could have done anything.“

 

His voice, as if pressing down the emotions of last night, resonated deep in my chest. A hot lump rose up my throat.

 

Within the category of “anything,” I felt he truly would have set no limits. My eyes stung.

 

“But there was nothing I could do.“

 

The man known as the Empire’s hero stood before me with a helpless expression. His fists clenched, he looked like someone holding back something.

 

“So from now on, if you know anything, tell me. I’ll try anything.“

 

I tried to steady my eyes, but I couldn’t stop the tears from welling up. The time he’d spent last night was etched into me as well.

 

He said, “Tell me,” as a command, but his tone and expression weren’t like that at all. His deep gaze seemed to be begging, “Please,” and I bit my lip.

 

“Are you hurt?“

 

He rushed over to me. Tears fell onto the backs of my hands. Then I felt a cool touch brush past my eyes. He wiped away my tears with his fingers.

 

“No, I’m okay….“

 

I quickly wiped my tears with both hands. I was flustered by how suddenly they came.

 

But the image of him standing there looking so helpless kept replaying in my mind, scratching at my heart with something rough.

 

“Lie down.“

 

He gently pushed me back by the shoulders. I tried to get up again, but with his gentle strength, I couldn’t move.

 

“Don’t think about anything. Just rest.“

 

He checked my forehead again as I lay there. I could see his brow furrow slightly.

 

Honestly, his hand felt so cool that I wished he’d keep doing it. After wiping my eyes again, he quietly looked down at me.

 

My vision kept blurring, so I stared back at him, forcing my eyes to focus.

 

He took a deep breath, then slowly stepped back. It looked like he was leaving so I could rest. I was fine, though—I’d rather he stayed with me. No, no, wait. This isn’t my room. I need to get a grip.

 

“I will.“

 

I blurted out the words before he could fully leave the barracks. He paused at the door and turned his head to look back at me.

 

I must really have a fever. I meant to say, “I’ll rest well,” but what I really wanted to say was—

 

“I’ll make sure to tell you from now on.“

 

It was my answer to his request that I tell him if I know anything about the future.

 

Of course, I can’t tell him everything I know right now. But after I get some sleep and my head clears, I’ll have to think about what I can share with him.

 

My heart swelled with anticipation at the thought of having something I could share with him.

 

And I realized—I desperately wanted someone I could tell what I know.

 

“All right.“

 

He let out a short reply, like a breath, and left the barracks.

 

But for some reason, those two syllables made me feel so relieved. I felt like if I closed my eyes now, I’d fall into a deep sleep.