Extra S*ave Saves the Crown Prince Chapter 42

“It’s been a while. You look better.”

 

Why did she call me here?

 

And to greet me with a “long time no see” on top of that. I couldn’t exactly say, “Yes, it’s been a while. Have you been well?” so I just stared at the table for no reason.

 

“I’ll apologize for what happened earlier.”

 

“Oh! It’s all right.”

 

It didn’t seem like she called me just to apologize. I remembered her biting her lip with a face gone completely pale.

 

“You looked like you were in a lot of pain.”

 

“Ah… I’m fine now. Thank you.”

 

“I heard you almost died a while ago?”

 

I nearly looked up to face her directly. Instead, I gripped the cloth pouch in my hand and took a deep breath.

 

“Yes.”

 

“Did you get attacked by a Beasts?”

 

“…Yes.”

 

“I doubt you participated in the battle yourself.”

 

“No. A Beasts suddenly appeared outside the fortress, and not just me, but everyone was in danger.”

 

“Outside the fortress? Here?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“That’s a dangerous place. You must have been scared.”

 

I was getting more and more confused about what she was trying to say. She was the kind of person who could spill tea on her own thigh with a calm face, so I couldn’t let my guard down.

 

“It’s even harder for a slave to endure such a place.”

 

Her tone was almost concerned. No matter how much I searched my memory of the Original Story, there was no scene like this. Could it be that she really called me out of genuine concern?

 

“How about Lechegno? It’s a much safer place than here.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

In the end, I looked up at her. She had a face that anyone could see was sincerely concerned.

 

“I’ll promote you to maid.”

 

“Me…?”

 

“Is anyone else here?”

 

A hint of anger flashed in her eyes. But it was immediately hidden. Did I imagine it?

 

“But I’m assigned to the Crown Prince’s palace…”

 

“Assigned? Lechegno will handle that.”

 

So this was why she called me. But I was still confused.

 

“But why me…?”

 

“I thought you’d thank me first.”

 

“Ah, th-thank you.”

 

“We’re leaving at dawn tomorrow. If you have anything to pack, get it ready in advance.”

 

Is she planning to take me and put me to work in earnest? Why go this far? Of course, from a slave’s perspective, this was a proposal to be grateful for. Not to mention, no slave actually wants to stay in Enafok for long.

 

But.

 

I know better than anyone what position she holds in the Duke’s household. Of course, I hadn’t predicted this situation, but I knew well about her background.

 

Her trust in her adoptive father, the Duke, probably hasn’t been broken yet.

 

She wouldn’t know that if she carried out the order to kill the Crown Prince, the Duke would immediately abandon her.

 

“It’s a safe place,” she believes. I felt sorry for her in a way. It’s a place like a sand pit that could swallow you whole in an instant. It’s frustrating that I can’t explain why. I can’t exactly say, “Don’t trust your father.”

 

“You look like you’re thinking ‘why’ right now.”

 

“Ah, I…”

 

“First, there’s the punishment my father handed down, and I didn’t feel right about it either. If I heard you ended up dying in Enafok, I’d feel even worse. That’s why I’m taking you with me.”

 

Her voice sounded genuinely sincere. It was clear she was trying to show how much she cared.

 

“Thank you so much for such a generous offer.”

 

I was sitting, but I bowed as deeply as I could.

 

“All right.”

 

“But I like it here, so I’d like to stay and work a bit longer. I’m really sorry for declining your kindness…”

 

“…What?”

 

“…I’m sorry.”

 

How many times have I refused offers since becoming a slave? But this time, I just couldn’t see it as a “good” offer.

 

She said it’s a peaceful place, but Lechegno holds a different kind of danger than Enafok. Isn’t the “Lechegno” family the very ones trying to assassinate the current Crown Prince?

 

“Why…?”

 

At her question, one person’s face naturally came to mind. A man skilled at hiding his feelings but with eyes as warm as a sunset. I wanted to stay by his side.

 

“I’ve received a lot of help here, and if I can be of even a little help in return, I’d like to stay.”

 

I hadn’t done anything wrong, but just refusing the offer made my voice shrink. When I first said I wanted to come to Enafok, people thought I was crazy. She probably wasn’t much different. I could feel it from the atmosphere, even without seeing her expression.

 

Tap, tap.

 

Her long fingers tapped the table. The fingers that had been drumming rhythmically curled into a fist. Soon, I saw her hand trembling slightly as if she was clenching it with force.

 

“You seem to enjoy being pitied.”

 

“…Sorry?”

 

I was looking down at her pale fist when I unconsciously raised my eyes. Her expression was still calm, but only her blue eyes shone sharply in the darkness.

 

“I mean you enjoy being treated with pity. You must think it’s genuine.”

 

Her tone was the same as when she offered to take me to the Lechegno family. So I slowly understood the meaning behind her words.

 

“Enough to risk your life to stay.”

 

She didn’t say who, but I knew who she meant.

 

Even if, as she said, Sihien’s feelings toward me were just pity, it didn’t matter. I saw sincerity in his eyes. That was enough.

 

“Think carefully about how long that pity will last. My offer stands until we leave tomorrow.”

 

Maybe it’s because she received a noble’s education, but I couldn’t figure out what she was thinking. Was she just trying to get rid of a bothersome slave, or was she really looking for a chance to assassinate Sihien, or had she fallen in love with the Crown Prince?

 

I couldn’t tell what she was feeling as she stayed here.

 

“You may go.”

 

Cesaria fiddled with the pendant hanging from her neck. I couldn’t look her in the face, so I bowed toward the pendant. Until I know her true intentions, I can’t let my guard down. For now, I mustn’t relax my watch for even a night.

 

I left the barracks, thinking I should find a place to quietly watch from hiding.

 

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

 

Tap.

 

Once the barracks door closed, Cesaria finally let out a deep breath from her upright posture. Her calm face twisted as if cracked. A look that seemed both sad and angry appeared.

 

‘She’s acting like someone who already holds victory in her hands. How dare a slave.’

 

Anyone could tell at a glance that she was a slave. Her clothes were neat, but there was no way you could call them fine.

 

But she didn’t look servile or pitiful. She looked as if she had already gained everything. So arrogant.

 

‘She wants to stay because she likes it here?’

 

She must want to stay because the Crown Prince treats her well. Thinking about him, who made her feel that way, made a fire rise deep inside her.

 

‘Poor thing.’

 

She had grown up in a brothel and had received countless pitying looks. Especially from the Duke of Lechegno, ever since their first meeting. Even now, he often looked at her with that same pity.

 

Especially when things didn’t go his way, that look would deepen. She was the only daughter of the prestigious Lechegno family in the Empire, yet she still couldn’t escape it.

 

But.

 

The slave, who should be the one receiving those pitying looks, was just indifferent. Was it because she took it for granted, or because she thought she had something to rely on? Either way, it was deeply irritating. It was obvious she was acting confident just because of her looks.

 

‘How can he look at that slave like that when I’m right here?’

 

Even if he wanted to break off the engagement, she was the Duke’s daughter. The other woman was just a slave belonging to the royal palace. How could he look at her like that?

 

She thought he was always that kind of person. She thought he was always indifferent and unemotional. She thought he was incapable of such emotional gazes, so she was okay with it.

 

‘How far are you going to cut me down?’

 

She wished she hadn’t seen that look in his eyes. She should have kept believing he was always indifferent.

 

She felt something inside her chest collapse. It felt like the floor beneath her was sinking even lower.

 

If she returned to the capital tomorrow like this, the Duke would surely look at her with that same gaze again. She could imagine the disappointed look he’d give his daughter who couldn’t even fulfill a single request. Maybe, for the first time, he might even get angry.

 

‘If only it weren’t for that slave.’

 

If she hadn’t been hovering around, the Crown Prince might have been cold, but at least he would have been the same to everyone. He wouldn’t have looked at anyone with such different eyes.

 

Cesaria clenched her fists and steeled her gaze. She sat there all night without closing her eyes, waiting for morning.

 

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

 

The morning Cesaria was to leave.

 

I thought I just had to watch her leave in the carriage, but something unexpected happened.

 

“Come in and have a seat.”

 

When I heard Cesaria was looking for me, I went to the barracks where the knights held meetings. Sihien and Cesaria were already sitting at the large table. A maid and a servant were placing hot tea on the table.

 

“I called her. I wanted to apologize for yesterday. Is that all right?”

 

What was this scene? It was nice to be able to watch Cesaria up close, but it was also terribly uncomfortable.

 

Cesaria pushed the teacup in front of the Crown Prince even further toward him. It was a gesture that made them look like they were close.

 

“Have a seat.”

 

Cesaria wore a kind face and pointed to a seat. A teacup was being set there for me. Can’t I just slip out?

 

“I just wanted to say hello.”

 

When Sihien’s expression hardened, Cesaria added another line as if to soothe him. If I refused again, it would make things awkward, so I had no choice but to pull out a chair and sit. It was a seat one space away from Cesaria, across from her.

 

“When will you be coming to the palace?”

 

“Who knows.”

 

“You’ll be coming with His Highness, right?”

 

Suddenly the question turned to me. It sounded like she was indirectly asking if I might leave with her today.

 

“Yes. I suppose so.”

 

“I see.”

 

Her gaze lost all emotion for a moment as she looked at me.

 

So, you’re staying, was the message I received.

 

She looked at me as if I was foolish for refusing her generous offer. I couldn’t meet her gaze, so I lowered my eyes to her neck.

 

The pendant she always wore looked different. The pendant that used to shine pink against her pale skin was transparent today. As if something had drained out of it.

 

And then, Cesaria and Sihien lifted their teacups at the same time.