Extra S*ave Saves the Crown Prince Chapter 44

“Lady. It must be very hard for you. If you can hold on just a little longer, the doors will open soon.”

 

Lowering my body, I looked up to see that Priest Oment had come over at some point. Looking back, it seemed like everyone’s eyes were on me.

 

They looked uncomfortable, or maybe worried. But worried…?

 

『You’re just a slave. Nothing more.』 I thought it was a small voice, but maybe everyone heard it. I felt a bit embarrassed. Maybe Oment had cut in to spare me, out of consideration.

 

『Don’t fool yourself.』 Maybe it was just my imagination, but thinking I was being cared for made my heart feel warm.

 

“Are you a priest?”

 

Seeing the wooden necklace, the symbol of a priest, Sally asked.

 

“Yes, my name is Oment.”

 

“Priest. Would you share some Divine Power with our lady? She seems very anxious.”

 

“Ah! I’m sorry. I am a priest, but I don’t have any Divine Power.”

 

There was no malice at all in Oment as he scratched the back of his head. But a look of displeasure passed over Sally’s face. It was a look that said, “What is this?” I thought priests were respected by everyone, but maybe not in front of the Lechegno family. The way she spoke, as if it was natural to share Divine Power, didn’t sound pleasant.

 

“Ah, then perhaps another priest—”

 

Sally turned to look for another priest when—

 

“Smoke!”

 

A pungent smell stung my nose. It was the smoke of burning Beasts.

 

“Get up.”

 

Oment helped me, crouched in front of Cesaria, to my feet. As I brushed the dirt off my pants, I sent him a grateful look.

 

“Miss, can you stand?”

 

I glanced at Cesaria, only to meet her eyes again. She was coldly frozen, as if furious. I couldn’t tell if it was anger at my refusal or something else.

 

As if it were natural, Sally took Cesaria and stood at the very front. Despite her face, Cesaria’s body seemed deeply shaken—her steps were unsteady and weak.

 

“Your Highness.”

 

Cesaria’s voice sounded as if she was grasping for something. As we passed through the gate and walked toward the barracks, I saw Shihyen standing there. The thick scent of blood he gave off hinted at a fierce battle.

 

He glanced at Cesaria and then looked around as if searching for someone. Soon, his gaze landed on me. It was very subtle, but I could clearly see relief fill his eyes.

 

“Your Highness. Are you hurt anywhere?”

 

“Lady. Prepare to depart now.”

 

“Right now…?”

 

“Fortunately, the carriage was unharmed, so you can leave immediately.”

 

“Your Highness, but—”

 

“Baslo. Help her get ready.”

 

“Yes! Your Highness!”

 

“Return safely.”

 

Shihyen bid her farewell as she staggered. His tone was completely devoid of emotion.

 

She seemed to want to say something, but her lips closed as if her voice wouldn’t come out. Her calm face wavered for a moment. She bit her lip so hard it turned pale.

 

After giving me a long look, Shihyen went to the barracks to receive reports. He seemed completely uninterested in whatever expression Cesaria might be making behind him.

 

Should I help her get ready to leave? Should I do something, even just out of courtesy for refusing her offer? But I doubted Cesaria would be glad for my help. Every time she looked at me, her gaze was so cold.

 

Besides, there was surely a lot of cleanup to do after the battle. Anyway, I needed to find something to do, so I started walking toward the smoke.

 

“Ah.”

 

Ah, the teacup!

 

From where I had tried to drink tea that morning, I saw Captain Lekes and Arnic following behind Shihyen, as if heading to a meeting with the knights.

 

“Excuse me!”

 

I was sure I had just walked, but how did I get here so quickly? I ran as fast as I could and barely caught up. Without time to catch my breath, I slipped past the knights and entered the barracks. The teacups were still there.

 

Since the tea was still untouched, I placed them one by one on the tray the attendant had left.

 

“Sez.”

 

I was about to carry out the three teacups when I ran into Shihien. He frowned slightly at the cups in my hands. He was showing his displeasure.

 

“Then, I’ll excuse myself.”

 

The other knights were watching, and I didn’t want to talk at length, so I quickly left. He seemed like he wanted to say something, but there was nothing I could do.

 

“Phew.”

 

No one would drink cold tea anyway. Still, it was better to be sure. Just in case.

 

Drip, drip. I poured the tea from the cups into the bushes. I really was doing this just in case. Because you never know. She probably wouldn’t have actually tried to harm the Crown Prince. No matter what, she wouldn’t go that far.

 

“Huh?”

 

As I finished pouring out the tea and turned to leave, I noticed something odd. The stiff grass quickly wilted as if melting away.

 

“No way.”

 

The spots where I poured out the first two cups were fine. Just damp. But only where I poured out the last cup did the grass shrivel up. Cold sweat ran down my back.

 

My legs gave out, and I sat to look closely at the grass. It shriveled up, even losing its green color. For it to happen so quickly, it must have contained something truly toxic.

 

This teacup…

 

I looked again at the last cup I poured out. The pattern was slightly different, so I remembered whose it was.

 

If I had drunk that pale tea, if I had just sat there not knowing, even imagining it made my throat sting.

 

That teacup had definitely been placed in front of me.

 

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

 

Clatter, clatter. The carriage rattled louder than usual. My body, once startled, was slow to recover.

 

The huge Beasts that had filled the space lingered before my eyes.

 

“Miss, hang in there. We’ll stop to rest soon.”

 

Leaning on the cold towel the maid offered, Cesaria took a deep breath. It would have been better to fall into a feverish sleep, but the pain woke her quickly.

 

“No matter how dangerous it was, how could he send us away so quickly?”

 

Even as the maid muttered complaints about the Crown Prince, Cesaria couldn’t even scold her.

 

Even after all that had been said, the looks of pity and sympathy remained. She didn’t even have the strength to be angry.

 

『Sez! Come with me!』 

 

『Good work.』 

 

『Thank you.』 

 

She wanted to forget, but the memories kept coming back. She remembered the way the people in Enapok looked at that slave.

 

Why did everyone worry and care so much for that slave? It was absurd how everyone, not just the Crown Prince, was taken in by that pretty face.

 

‘She’s just a slave.’

 

No matter how pretty, she’s still a slave. How could it feel like she was being cared for more than a noble like herself?

 

There, after the Crown Prince, she was the person of highest status. She should have been the one prioritized and cared for.

 

Cesaria clenched her fist. If only that slave disappeared, everything would be over. Her offer to take her to the Lechegno family had been her last act of mercy, but even that was refused. How arrogant.

 

‘And she acted like she knew something.’

 

She didn’t even know what was in the teacup, but acted as if she knew it all.

 

Before the Beasts appeared, that slave had stood up first. Her heart had been so startled in that moment she remembered it clearly. She had trembled all over, afraid she might know everything.

 

‘She glanced at the pendant.’

 

Something even Sally didn’t know, something only she and her father shared—there was no way she could have known. The Crown Prince had even carelessly brought the cup to his lips, it was so perfect. No matter how she thought about it, there was no way she could have known in advance, yet it still felt suspicious.

 

‘She doesn’t even know she’s being pitied.’

 

It was only because she was a slave. Because she was said to be here as punishment, people felt sympathy. The Crown Prince, the others, too. Like seeing a cat caught in the rain, that’s what they must have felt.

 

But even so, Cesaria didn’t like it. Even if she died, they would mourn for a few days and move on. Maybe the Crown Prince would realize his pity and finally look at her.

 

Her chest burned as if on fire. The slave’s bright face, the Crown Prince’s gaze full of emotion—those became blades that cut through her memories.

 

‘If only he would look at me like that.’

 

If only he would look at her, even once, the way he looked at the slave. She could throw everything away, even her father’s wishes.

 

But even having such thoughts made her heart tighten. She wanted to burn up and disappear.

 

“Miss, you must be in a lot of pain. Please hang in there.”

 

It hurt. So much. It was almost impossible to bear.

 

Clatter, clatter. Everyone knew Cesaria was in pain, but the Lechegno carriage didn’t slow down. They claimed it was to find a safe, level place, but really, fear was the bigger reason.

 

Those who had only read about Beasts in writing couldn’t fully escape their panic after seeing one in real life. Before that enormous body, they felt as small as ants.

 

And the Crown Prince, who ran toward the Beasts without hesitation, was just as terrifying.

 

Everyone was ruled by the desire to get as far from Enapok as possible. Until they felt completely safe, their speed only increased.

 

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

 

Cesaria wanted to kill me.

 

That fact left me dazed all day. I was truly relieved she hadn’t tried to harm Shihyen, but the fact that she had wanted to kill me was more shocking than I expected. Even after helping with the post-battle cleanup and returning to the barracks, I felt empty and out of sorts.

 

“Sez.”

 

She must have really hated me. Why? Because I was by the Crown Prince’s side? Because I changed the Original Story? Because I stayed in Enapok? Just because I’m a slave?

 

“Sez?”

 

“…Yes?”

 

I heard the sound of a chair sliding back. Ah, how foolish. I must have been spacing out again. Suddenly, a cool sensation spread from my forehead.

 

“Ah.”

 

“You don’t have a fever.”

 

But I felt like I was about to get one. I could feel my face turning red. Why did I feel so giddy every time his large hand touched me?

 

“Have you lost your appetite?”

 

“No! I’ll eat well!”

 

To think I was spacing out with such delicious food in front of me. Shihyen had called me to join him for dinner. The smell alone was intoxicating—how could I have been distracted?

 

Shihyen rested his hand on my head for a moment, then returned to his seat. I felt I couldn’t start eating until he did.

 

After watching him lift his spoon and bring soup to his lips, I finally began eating too. I was suddenly grateful for all this care. I really must be the most successful slave in the Empire.

 

“Sez.”

 

“Yes.”

 

He ate almost soundlessly, so I tried hard to do the same. As I savored each bite, I realized he was quietly watching me.

 

Just the emotion in his gaze was enough to make me feel full. Even after dinner was over and the table cleared, I kept savoring that sense of fulfillment.

 

“Don’t mind what the Lady said.”

 

“Cough.”

 

I coughed reflexively. I had been thinking about Cesaria, but I hadn’t been dwelling on her words.

 

But now it seemed like I had been. As expected, one of Shihyen’s eyes narrowed slightly.

 

“Um, Sihien.”

 

“Speak.”

 

“May I ask… what you think of the Lady?”

 

His gaze deepened.