Extra S*ave Saves the Crown Prince Chapter 41

“Sit down slowly.”

 

As I let his strength guide me, I found myself sitting on the bed before I knew it.

 

Only then did I come to my senses and try to get up, but he didn’t let me. I felt a gentle pressure on my shoulder.

 

“Your Highness, what are you—?”

 

I saw Caesaria, who was so shocked she covered her mouth with both hands. Anyone would think this was unbelievable.

 

Sihien turned his back to me and looked at Caesaria. I couldn’t see his expression, but I could see her face turning pale. Tears kept welling up from the pain, so I wiped my eyes with my hand.

 

“Was this your order?”

 

“What?”

 

Even in her stricken face, I could feel a mix of confusion and anger. My heart pounded for no reason. I wanted to keep her from doing anything to him, but I hadn’t expected it to happen this way.

 

“I’d like you to leave now.”

 

It was as dry as sand blowing in the wind. The lack of emotion made the meaning feel even heavier. Even though the words weren’t directed at me, a chill ran through my chest.

 

I looked up without thinking and met Caesaria’s eyes. Her face overlapped with the one who poured hot tea directly onto my thigh.

 

No, there was an even stronger emotion swirling now. Her tightly bitten lips looked so red they might bleed.

 

‘How dare a slave…’

 

I felt like I could hear the maid’s earlier words coming from her as well. Maybe it was a blessing that the pain in my side was so great I couldn’t control my expression.

 

In the end, she withdrew. Before being a fiancée, she was an imperial royal. She must not have had any reason to stay here. If only this pain would subside, I could keep an eye on her. I tried to steady my breathing to manage the pain, but it wasn’t easy.

 

“Does it hurt a lot?”

 

She hadn’t fully left yet. Sihien lowered himself in front of me and asked. I forced a smile to show I was okay.

 

I could feel my cheek twitching, so I was sure it looked completely weird. Honestly, if someone told me to stand up right now, I absolutely couldn’t.

 

Tap.

 

At that moment, I heard the sound of a violet dress brushing the threshold as the door closed.

 

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

 

Caesaria knew. Even before the tent door closed, the crown prince’s interest had already left her.

 

He was lowering himself before a slave, checking her condition. A slave being treated better than a noble.

 

The crown prince seemed like a different person with the same face, like a twin. The way he acted toward her was the complete opposite.

 

‘He doesn’t even know I came to kill him.’

 

She could harm him anytime she wanted. Yet he dared to treat her like this.

 

He should have been more wary of her than of monsters. He was neglecting the one he should have cherished above all, treating her worse than a mere slave.

 

“My lady.”

 

Maid Sally stood with a tearful face.

 

“I really didn’t mean to—”

 

“Sally.”

 

Caesaria approached the maid and grabbed her arm.

 

『Was this your order?』 

 

That dry, sharp voice echoed in her mind. How much did he need to cut her down before he was satisfied?

 

“My lady…?”

 

Sally, who felt she deserved a scolding, opened her eyes wide. The trembling from Caesaria’s grip was transmitted directly. Her face looked the same as always, but even standing upright seemed difficult.

 

“My lady, where will you be staying?”

 

When she asked urgently, a servant from Lucegno approached. He bowed and walked ahead.

 

Sally supported Caesaria as inconspicuously as possible and quickly led her out.

 

“Here?”

 

The inside of the wooden tent was desolate. The only thing giving it any presence was the luggage that had been unloaded from the carriage in advance.

 

There was nothing but a bed and a table for furniture. Even those seemed to carry a musty smell.

 

“I can’t believe it, even after I explained. How could my lady spend a night in a place like this?”

 

“It’s fine.”

 

Still trembling, Caesaria slowly sat at the table. Sally was about to go off on the servant again but gestured for him to leave.

 

Fortunately, the tent was lit by candles, so it wasn’t completely dark. The orange shadows made her face look even paler.

 

“My lady, would you like some hot tea?”

 

“…Why did you do it?”

 

“Ah, my lady.”

 

“How could you make that face right in front of me—?”

 

For a moment, Caesaria seemed to think of someone else and closed her eyes with difficulty. A hint of sadness flickered across her expression.

 

“Sally.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Why did you do that?”

 

“I’m sorry! My lady.”

 

Even though the journey to Enapoc hadn’t been easy, she’d never shown any sign of hardship. But now her face looked utterly exhausted.

 

“My lady. But… I really feel wronged. I only barely touched her arm, and she collapsed right away! I swear I wasn’t rough. That fox was obviously faking it.”

 

She hated seeing her walk out of the crown prince’s tent so brazenly. She only brushed her arm to teach the slave her place. It wasn’t enough to make her stagger.

 

But suddenly, she moaned and collapsed. She must have done it on purpose for the crown prince to see. How dare she put my lady in such a position in an instant—Sally breathed heavily in anger.

 

“I told you, didn’t I.”

 

“Yes…?”

 

“Not to look at me with those eyes.”

 

Caesaria, who had been closing her eyes, stared directly at Sally.

 

“N-no, my lady! How could I! I’m sorry! I would never!”

 

Sally looked as if she might drop to her knees at any moment. If she’d just let the slave go, things wouldn’t have escalated this far. The maid could do nothing but tear up.

 

“…Go and let me know when that slave comes out.”

 

“Ah, yes!”

 

“It’s been a while, so I should at least greet her.”

 

“…Pardon? Ah, yes!”

 

Sally hurried off to tell the servant.

 

‘That slave must still be spending time with the crown prince.’

 

Each passing moment stung her heart. She didn’t even want to imagine what they were talking about, what kind of looks they were exchanging in that tent.

 

After coming all this way, she wasn’t even welcomed, but treated like this.

 

Still, when she arrived in Enapoc, she’d hoped he’d at least be a little glad, saying, ‘How did you come all this way?’ She thought she’d at least get a look of sympathy for her trouble.

 

『Kill the crown prince.』 Her father’s voice, which came to mind several times a day, pressed down on her even heavier.

 

If she just carried out that command, everything would return to its proper place. So why was she foolishly putting it off? Maybe this was finally her chance.

 

Caesaria gripped the pendant at her neck with trembling hands.

 

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

 

I was always proud of my health, so why did I keep ending up looking so weak? I kept looking down, feeling like I’d done something wrong.

 

After Caesaria left, the physician came, and in the end, I had to lift my side and show the bruise. It was embarrassing to show my bluish skin, but I had no choice.

 

『Tsk tsk. So that’s why your fever was so high. You must have been in a lot of pain.』 

 

Even as I received both oral and topical medicine, I was restless. Sihien’s expression had hardened as he looked at my side.

 

His gaze was so intense, it felt as if the air around me had grown cold. I wanted to leave with the physician, but I couldn’t bring myself to get up after seeing his eyes.

 

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

 

He must be angry. His voice was lower than usual.

 

“Ah, I was out of it at the time…”

 

“And after that?”

 

Honestly, right after escaping the monster, the bruise was even worse than this. It was a relief nothing was broken. It hurt to even bend my back, but now it only hurt if I touched it. I was glad he saw it when it was this mild.

 

Or maybe not. He was used to injuries, so maybe he’d already guessed.

 

“I’m sorry. But I really am okay now!”

 

“You’re not okay.”

 

“…I’ll tell you next time.”

 

“There shouldn’t be a next time.”

 

“Ah! Yes!”

 

Right, there shouldn’t be a next time. What am I even saying? Suddenly, a warm sensation flowed from my head down to my shoulders. His large hand was resting on my head. That warmth made me feel as if I’d already healed. I wondered if he knew how much comfort it brought me.

 

I felt like I could stay like this all night and be fine. But unfortunately, he withdrew his hand. Only the lingering warmth remained, making the back of my neck hot.

 

He stared at his hand for a moment, then slowly curled it into a fist.

 

“…I’ll make sure there isn’t.”

 

A muttered whisper, barely audible.

 

For a moment, I didn’t know what expression to make, so I bowed my head with a sigh. I really am fine, but ever since he said I wasn’t, my chest had been tingling.

 

“Rest now.”

 

Maybe I looked tired—Sihien took a step back. If anyone was exhausted, it was him. I sat up in the soft bed. Maybe because I’d taken medicine, the pain was less than before.

 

“Good night.”

 

Before he left, I bowed deeply to him with sincerity. Instead of replying, he placed his hand on my head again. My face must have been red.

 

Like a child reluctant to give up a treat, I left the crown prince’s tent.

 

“Are you okay?”

 

I was covering my face with both hands when the knight guarding the crown prince’s tent spoke to me. He must have seen me in pain earlier. My face flushed even more.

 

“Yes, thank you!”

 

I walked faster, still covering my face. Still, I was grateful for his concern. He didn’t sound like he was teasing; it felt sincere.

 

“Wait.”

 

“Yes?”

 

Maybe it was another knight—I looked up from the ground.

 

“The young lady wishes to greet you.”

 

It was a servant from House Lucegno. I’d seen him following Caesaria around all day. The heat in my face instantly cooled.

 

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

 

Caesaria’s tent was almost as large as the crown prince’s. She was sitting at the table in the center. Even in the candlelight, her beauty was undiminished. Her upright posture radiated her usual dignity.

 

I couldn’t look her in the face for long, so I bowed deeply.

 

“Sit.”

 

There was a chair across from her at the table. But that wasn’t a place for a slave to sit. I had no idea why she’d called me. Surely she didn’t mean for me to sit on the floor.

 

“Didn’t you hear?”

 

A sharp voice from the maid behind me.

 

“Sally.”

 

“Yes, my lady.”

 

“I’d like some tea, please.”

 

“My lady… Yes, understood.”

 

Maybe it wasn’t prearranged. The maid seemed momentarily flustered. She closed the door with a less-than-brisk movement and left. Alone with her, the awkwardness was overwhelming. Even though I’d been watched all day, I never expected a scene like this.

 

“Here, sit.”

 

As if she’d read my mind, Caesaria gestured to the chair opposite her. It would be strange to refuse again, so I carefully pulled out the chair and sat down, trying to keep as much distance from the table as possible.

 

“It’s been a while. You look better.”

 

Why did she call me?