Extra S*ave Saves the Crown Prince Chapter 43

Thud, the table shook slightly as it hit my body. My thigh hurt, but I couldn’t show it. Both pairs of eyes were on me because I had suddenly shot up from my seat.

 

Sihien looked at me with concern, wondering if something was wrong, while Caesaria frowned as if to say, “What are you doing?”

 

“Sez.”

 

Sihien set down the teacup he was holding. That small gesture brought me great relief.

 

“What’s the matter?”

 

Caesaria also put down her teacup. Her tone wasn’t cold, but her expression and gaze were sharp enough.

 

“Ah, well, right now…”

 

Right now, what? Hurry up and think of something to say! I needed a reason for suddenly standing up. I couldn’t say, “I was worried there might be something in the tea!” I had to stop them from drinking it, but the only way for everyone to get up from this table was for everyone to finish their tea.

 

I glanced again at Caesaria’s nape. The now transparent pendant looked highly suspicious. I kept thinking, “Surely not,” but I couldn’t let my guard down. Too many things weren’t going according to the Original Story.

 

Sihien quietly watched me, then pushed his chair back as if to stand.

 

What should I say? If they ask why I got up? Should I just say I’m hurt? But I look too fine for that. What do I do? If I throw myself onto the table, all the teacups will spill, right?

 

Fine, I’ll just pretend to faint and collapse onto the table! I’ll think about what comes next after that! I had just made up my mind when—My hands and feet turned cold, and cold sweat broke out. The bruise on my side seemed to throb with pain again. It felt like water pooling above my head was about to pour down. A Beasts.

 

Bwooooooo—!

 

As expected, the sound of a horn blared. When I came to my senses, Sihien was already standing beside me.

 

“W-what’s that sound?”

 

Caesaria’s voice came from behind, flustered. I was spared by the appearance of a Beasts, but it was hardly a welcome turn of events. After exchanging glances with Sihien, we both rushed out the door at the same time.

 

Flap, flap. The flag was moving vertically. My heart sank. That meant a Beasts had appeared outside the fortress again. I could hear the sound of something breaking in the distance.

 

“Your Highness! It’s in front of the watchtower. What should we do about Lechegno?!”

 

Baslo came running. The watchtower was at the exact opposite end from here. That meant the noncombatants needed to evacuate through the small door at this end of the fortress, as they had been trained.

 

Sihien looked toward the watchtower for a moment.

 

“Should I tell them to leave by carriage?”

 

“For now, evacuate them together.”

 

“Yes! Understood!”

 

This time, Sihien looked down at me. I saw a flicker of concern pass through his otherwise impassive gaze. I nodded slightly to show I was okay. His large hand came to rest on my head.

 

A warm energy flowed down. Into that warmth, I poured all my desperate wishes for everyone’s safety, for no one to be hurt.

 

“Young Lady. You must evacuate.”

 

Baslo called out to Caesaria, who was still inside the tent. Even in this situation, she walked out gracefully.

 

“Sez, you too, quickly.”

 

“Yes!”

 

My mind had already finished evacuating, but it was hard to run ahead of Caesaria, so I just fidgeted and followed behind. I really shouldn’t be going this slowly.

 

“Gasp!”

 

“Kyaaaaaa!”

 

As we slipped between the tents, a Beasts appeared right in front of us. It was at the far end, so there was some distance, but its massive size made it feel threatening. I saw three pitch-black forms rampaging wildly. Arrows rained down on them like a storm.

 

『Sez!!!!』

 

At the memory of a scream mixed with a wail, my side ached again for no reason. I had to keep my wits about me. If things went wrong, I might have to use my teleportation ability again. I forced my eyes wide open to stay conscious.

 

“Arrows! Get more arrows!”

 

“Run! What are you doing over there!”

 

Since we were near where the knights were gathered, I could hear voices from those carrying weapons all around.

 

“Young Lady! You must move quickly!”

 

Caesaria was staring at the Beasts, frozen like a statue. Her maid Sally, who always followed her, was stiff as well.

 

“You need to evacuate now!”

 

I deliberately spoke close to the maid’s ear.

 

“Ah, Miss.”

 

Startled, Sally began to move, supporting Caesaria.

 

“No! This way, this way!”

 

They almost headed toward the Beasts but hurriedly changed direction. It must have been a shock seeing a Beasts for the first time. If I could, I wanted to push them from behind to make them move faster.

 

“Aaah!”

 

“Move, I said move!”

 

“Get in line!”

 

“Ah, don’t step on me!”

 

When we got to the place where we had to move in two lines along the wall, it was utter chaos. Judging by their clothes and faces, most of them were from House Lechegno. Having never been trained, everyone was pushing forward, desperate to escape.

 

“Are they trying to get themselves trampled to death?”

 

Baslo, who was guiding the Young Lady, muttered loudly enough for all to hear.

 

“Do you all want to die? Get in line! In line!”

 

The knight who had been organizing the line had already been pushed to the back. Baslo broke through the chaos with brute force, shouting as he went.

 

“If you line up, you’ll get out faster!”

 

I couldn’t just stand by, so I joined in from the back, persuading the servants. No one would get out if we stayed bunched up like this.

 

“Ah!”

 

“Sez?”

 

I got hit by someone’s elbow and fell on my butt, and saw a crutch next to me. It was Priest Oment.

 

“We have to let the Young Lady go first!”

 

“It’s the Young Lady! The Young Lady!”

 

The maid and servant protecting Caesaria shouted, but only those at the back flinched; there was no sign of order being restored.

 

“Agh! Do you all want to die together? Move! Move!”

 

In the end, Baslo started pushing people aside one by one from behind, forcing his way forward. Those clustered in panic at the door slowly began to come to their senses and pressed against the wall.

 

Other knights came and used force to push people to the sides and back. A path barely wide enough for Caesaria to pass was finally made.

 

“The Young Lady has to go first!”

 

Sally shouted as well. Those who were nearly trampled screamed as they tumbled out.

 

“Sez!”

 

Baslo called for me again without even looking back.

 

“Yes!”

 

I was busy pulling those who’d been pushed aside with the priest and getting them to stick to the wall.

 

“Follow me!”

 

“I’m fine!”

 

“Sez, do as the knight says.”

 

Oment gently pushed me from the side. His eyes were serious, probably because of the previous incident when I was caught by a Beasts. Honestly, I might be the safest here. I couldn’t reveal that I was the only one who could evacuate instantly.

 

“Aaaah!”

 

A scream rang out—a huge chunk of debris had flown from somewhere and embedded itself in the ground. Someone could have been hit. Looking further, I felt like the Beasts had gotten even closer.

 

“Line up! Everyone can get out!”

 

“Come on, one at a time! One at a time!”

 

In my urgency, I started persuading people from the back along with the priest.

 

“Damn!”

 

But after seeing the debris, the barely organized line started to fall apart.

 

“You have to protect the Young Lady! What are you doing!”

 

Sally’s sharp voice rang out from within the crowd. As everyone tried to get out, the hard-won space was shrinking again.

 

“Move! Move!”

 

Baslo managed to hold the line with his strength and dragged the Young Lady to the door.

 

“Sez! Where are you!”

 

Baslo called for me again.

 

“I’ll be right there!”

 

I was almost pushed out, so I thought I could make it to the door. At least Caesaria had made it to the front, thank goodness. Seeing Baslo carve a path through that pressure made me realize again how formidable he was.

 

“If you all want to get out, go in order!”

 

Priest Oment, limping, was desperately trying to keep order. Maybe he realized that no one would get out at this rate, because people at the back started to move a little.

 

“Just get in line! In line!”

 

I joined in, tapping shoulders and urging people to move back. Those at the back were trembling, unable to even look toward the Beasts.

 

“Huh?”

 

Suddenly, my body lurched as I was pulled backward. Someone had grabbed me by the scruff of the neck. I saw Priest Oment exchange a nod and a glance with someone behind me.

 

“Uh, uh?”

 

“Coming through!”

 

I was half-dragged along, and the voice was familiar. Baslo had somehow made it back here.

 

“K-knight!”

 

Maybe because of a previous incident, people shrank back as Baslo passed. In an instant, I was at the door and he let go of me outside the fortress.

 

“Why bring a slave?”

 

Sally’s voice was small, probably meant to be a whisper, but I heard it clearly. Beyond the fortress, Caesaria, her maid, and others were already coming in one by one. I glanced at Caesaria—her face was completely pale. She was leaning on her maid for support.

 

“Priest!”

 

“Sez.”

 

Only after most people had come in did Oment appear. He must have stayed at the back to help, even though he wasn’t well. I helped him sit down on the flattest spot I could find, since he looked like he couldn’t stand any longer.

 

“Thank you.”

 

He took a small cloth from his pouch and handed it to me. Sweat was running down his face.

 

“I’ll open the door once everything’s organized.”

 

Baslo closed the door, apparently after everyone had evacuated. I bowed my head in thanks, and he raised one arm in greeting.

 

“Good job.”

 

When I looked back, people from outside House Lechegno were looking at me. Was it because I’d been organizing the line? I hadn’t really done much, so I felt embarrassed. The knights were the ones who really worked hard.

 

“Miss, please sit here.”

 

There wasn’t a proper place to sit, so someone had found a tree stump. With Caesaria’s personality, she might have refused, but she sat down slowly, as if standing was too hard.

 

Then our eyes met. I tried to look away first, but she gestured for me to come over.

 

“What are you doing? That’s rude.”

 

As I got closer, Sally’s sharp words flew at me. Maybe she didn’t like that Caesaria was looking up at me. I had no choice but to lower myself.

 

“Haa.”

 

Caesaria put her hand to her forehead and let out a deep sigh.

 

“Did you know?”

 

“Sorry?”

 

“That can’t be.”

 

Her hand went up to her pendant. She seemed to be talking about what happened earlier. She wouldn’t have tried to harm the Crown Prince… would she?

 

“No, it can’t be.”

 

She looked uneasy, muttering to herself as if questioning. I wanted to ask her, too. Right? You weren’t really going to go that far, were you?

 

“Miss!”

 

Caesaria tore the pendant from her neck and threw it away. The empty thing hit a stone and shattered with a crack. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, looking extremely anxious.

 

“Miss, are you all right?”

 

Her hand, covering her eyes, was trembling. Sally, anxious, glared at me for no reason.

 

“My offer still stands.”

 

Her voice trembled, but she didn’t look at me. She still covered her eyes.

 

“…I’m sorry.”

 

Suddenly, her blue gaze shot toward me.

 

“You insist on staying?”

 

It must have been an environment hard to understand for a noble young lady. Forcing her way through people desperate to survive, waiting in a desolate place with nowhere to sit, seeing a Beasts up close. None of it could have been expected.

 

“Don’t misunderstand.”

 

Her low voice was a warning.

 

“You’re just a slave. Nothing more.”

 

Her voice wasn’t loud, but it hit my ears with perfect clarity.