Extra S*ave Saves the Crown Prince Chapter 4

A few months passed after that.

 

On a rainy night, I couldn’t sleep despite my exhaustion, and in the end, I knocked on the chapel door again.

 

“Priest. This place is really going to explode.“

 

“Yes, you never know what will happen in life.“

 

He might as well just laugh at me like everyone else. The way he says it makes it feel even more like a wall.

 

“You need to ask for help. From the temple or wherever.“

 

“Sez. If anything happens here, I’m ready to ask for help anywhere.“

 

“Soon, it’s going to explode.“

 

“Let’s pray for the blessing of the gods. Shall we pray together?“

 

“I really do know the future, Priest. You have to trust me.“

 

“Sez. I always trust you.“

 

“Then why don’t you believe me this time?“

 

“I do believe you.“

 

Oh, gods.

 

He was a priest with an exceptional ability to make me actually seek out the gods. We just couldn’t communicate. He was gentle, devout, and a good person who pitied me. But when it came to the explosion, nothing got through.

 

In the end, there’s no other way.

 

I counted the days until the day I would meet him.

 

＊ ＊ ＊

 

 Splash, splash.

 

Waves crashed against a sheer cliff. Under the yellow moonlight, the pitch-black sea surged. On the calm, windless night sea, the sound of water being rowed melted into the air. A single sailboat was approaching the cliff, riding the waves.

 

Whenever its direction seemed about to veer off, an oar would appear and steer the boat straight. The boat was heading directly for the cliff in a reckless manner, yet no sound could be heard from it.

 

There were four men aboard: two rowing on either side, one standing still facing forward.

 

And the last one was lying neatly on the boat.

 

Creak, creak.

 

The sailboat, about to crash into the cliff, suddenly disappeared as if sucked in. There was a gap between the cliffs, just wide enough for the sailboat to pass through, but the inside was relatively spacious.

 

As they entered the cave-like space, the water depth dropped sharply. The sound of the boat’s bottom scraping the ground echoed inside.

 

Splash, splash.

 

The two who had been rowing jumped out and pulled the boat forward. There were posts ready to tie the boat, and they fastened it with ropes with practiced ease. It looked like they had come here many times before.

 

“We’ve arrived.“

 

Once the boat was secured, the man at the front bowed deeply. There was no response from the boat.

 

Two men with their hoods pulled low approached and stood at either end of the one lying down. They were about to lift the stretcher and carry him off the boat.

 

Fwoosh.

 

As they disembarked with the stretcher, the remaining man lit a torch. Torch stands were already set up inside the cave, and he lit them as he went.

 

The pitch-black cave quickly brightened with light. The one lying on the stretcher was limp as if dead.

 

Drip, drop—a sticky liquid periodically dripped from beneath the stretcher.

 

“Ugh.“

 

A groan echoed from deep within. The men paused for a moment, then continued moving deeper into the cave.

 

They arrived at another cave, its walls densely inscribed with letters.

 

“Your Highness.“

 

The stretcher was carefully set down, and the three men, still hooded, knelt on one knee. Their shadows flickered on the walls in the torchlight.

 

Those with good instincts could feel the pressure of this space pressing in on them. After a moment of silence, their lord slowly opened his eyes.

 

As golden eyes appeared, the men bowed even lower.

 

“…Tie me.“

 

A sharp voice, like scraping metal. The kneeling men squeezed their eyes shut, then opened them. But everyone knew there was no time to waste.

 

Their lord would soon lose control and explode with the power he held. To the point he couldn’t control it himself.

 

Before that, they had to close the entrance and get to safety.

 

“Yes, Your Highness.“

 

Chains were already prepared on the inner wall to bind him. Judging by their thickness, they were far too much for restraining a single person.

 

As they lifted his upper body to bind him, thick blood oozed out.

 

The wounds had been treated for the moment, but their lord would naturally heal once his rampage ended. It was the power of dragon’s blood.

 

They bound their lord to the chains with the reverence of a sacred ritual.

 

The words carved into the cave walls were the only witnesses to the scene beneath the torchlight.

 

＊ ＊ ＊ 

 

A year passed, and the day came.

 

This time, I was fully prepared.

 

I’d twisted leaves to make a vessel and filled it with water, and I’d ground up herbs in advance to increase the amount.

 

“Hoo, hoo.“

 

Maybe it was because I’d been waiting for this day, but my heart beat faster for no reason. As I prepared to move to that place, I had to take several deep breaths.

 

‘After all, he’s the only one who can stop the explosion.‘

 

If this salt island remains as it is, the male lead won’t lose anything. The prince won’t have anything to use against him, and he won’t lose a place to go wild. Of course, that means I get to live, too.

 

The only thing that bothers me is, if I stop the explosion, how will the male and female leads meet?

 

‘Ah, whatever. Surviving comes first. They’re the protagonists—they’ll meet somehow.‘

 

I closed my eyes and pictured the space between the rocks. Heat rose from my toes and flowed through my whole body. When I opened my eyes again, I was in the space between the rocks where I’d nursed my pain alone.

 

As I carefully stepped down onto the rocks, I felt an even more chilling sensation than before. The torches were still weak, making the shadows appear even darker.

 

Seeing the letters, I was reminded anew of the terrifying sensation of that power, enough to make me gag. Goosebumps prickled my skin. But there was nowhere left to retreat. Stepping on my fear, I cautiously moved forward one step at a time.

 

A familiar scent filled my nose.

 

There he was.

 

I hoped not, but as expected, he was covered in wounds. He was still unconscious, bound in chains.

 

How long has he endured this time alone?

 

Was it when he was ten, that he was driven into battle with Beasts? He was a child who’d barely held a sword, sent to die.

 

He survived day by day like that, and now he’d earned the title of hero of the Empire. But even on the day of his birth, he was spending it alone in pain like this.

 

‘I’m never reading another angsty novel again.‘

 

It’s only thrilling in the story—when it happens in reality, it’s unbearable to face. He was hanging there, wounds from battle left untreated.

 

There was no need to check what was soaking the floor. Even if his wounds healed automatically after his rampage, this was too much.

 

Calling him the Crown Prince, yet not even treating his wounds and leaving him alone to wait for his rampage. They must have cleared everyone out for fear of danger.

 

“Too cruel.“

 

I couldn’t do anything about the deep wounds, so I placed the ground herbs I’d brought near his face. I put some on his shoulder wounds with gentle hands, and on the wounds on his neck, placing the herbs wherever I could, hoping they’d help. The sharp scent spread quickly.

 

He must be thirsty. To give him water from the leaf vessel, I carefully lifted his face with one hand. He must have grown taller over the year—I had to stand more on tiptoe.

 

“Gasp.“

 

His face, nearly free of bloodstains, looked incredibly fierce. It struck straight into my defenseless heart. Anyone could tell at a glance that he was the male lead—his looks were breathtaking.

 

I forgot for a moment about giving him water, just admiring that aggressive face. Even hanging in chains, he looked as if he could walk into an elegant party the moment he opened his eyes. Even his blood-soaked lashes looked like they were styled to highlight his decadent beauty.

 

‘How could anyone look at this face and call him a monster?‘

 

Was he too handsome to be threatening? Did they mean he was a monster who used his looks as a weapon? Ridiculous thoughts flashed through my mind. His appearance was that confusing.

 

“Oh, water.“

 

I snapped out of it, suddenly remembering. I’m losing it. I quickly dripped water onto his lips as carefully as I could. The water slid down from his lips to his chin, and I felt sorry for it. I hoped at least some would go down his throat.

 

Gulp.

 

As if my wish had gotten through, his Adam’s apple started to move. Good, that’s it. I poured all the water I’d brought in the leaf vessel into him.

 

“…Sez?“

 

I froze, having been watching only his Adam’s apple. His real voice was small and low, but it couldn’t have sounded any louder. First, I quietly withdrew the hand that had been supporting his face. The heat from him lingered on my fingertips.

 

Then I cautiously met his gaze. I was reflected in those golden eyes. It had been a year.

 

“Are you… okay?“

 

The words slipped out before I knew it. Of course he wasn’t okay. Honestly, I was just surprised that he remembered my name. My mouth moved before I could think.

 

Nod.

 

But he moved his head slightly. How could he possibly be okay! Blood was streaming from his wounds!

 

I bit my lip hard. His eyes looked so sincere when he said he was fine. It made me want to cry. Anyone could see this was not okay. What on earth is going on in his mind?

 

He stared at me intently. Maybe it was because his body temperature was so high. That golden gaze felt incredibly hot. Even before he opened his eyes, his face had been aggressive, but now, combined with those golden eyes, he looked even more vivid. His looks are definitely bad for my heart. Why is he looking at me like that?

 

Two voices in my head had a conversation.

 

Maybe he wants to kill you. You’re the only slave on this island who knows the Crown Prince is here. He has to erase the evidence.

 

No. Maybe, but even knowing my name, he hasn’t sent anyone after me in a year. And those eyes aren’t looking at me like he wants to kill me. On the contrary. On the contrary….

 

It looks the opposite.

 

“Um, actually, there’s something I want to tell you.“

 

Facing those golden eyes, my lips went dry and my chest ached for no reason. I felt like I’d overflow with pity for someone who thinks he’s fine when he’s not. So I steeled myself and spoke.

 

“I can see a little bit of the future. I think this salt island is going to explode soon. It sounds crazy, right? But could you trust me, just this once, even if it sounds unbelievable? If you could just abandon a small boat and get away, I think you could survive somehow. Of course, it sounds ridiculous, but—“

 

“…All right.“

 

“I really mean it… What?“

 

All right. It took a moment for those two syllables to register as meaning. My brain seemed to stop working.

 

“Are you… really believing me right now?“

 

“…I’ll come… to get you.“