Extra S*ave Saves the Crown Prince Chapter 48

 

『Ugh. What is this. What is this.』 

 

I remembered Aunt Noah’s scolding voice back on Salt Island. Whenever I went to wash or change clothes, she would sigh deeply as she looked at my back. I must have been in worse shape than most slaves.

 

In fact, even before I possessed this body, whip marks were already carved into it. Especially across the shoulder blades and around the shoulders.

 

Of course, after that, more wounds were added, and as I grew older, the scars became denser.

 

To anyone who saw it, it was just an ugly back, with no sign of the mark of Epilo. That’s why it hadn’t been a problem when I entered the Crown Prince’s palace.

 

But just because the scar wasn’t visible didn’t mean this body wasn’t Epilo. Whether by luck or design, only that mark on my back was hidden.

 

“Sir Knight. What will happen to her?”

 

“She defied His Highness’s orders, so she will have to be punished.”

 

“She’s the only one left alive in her family. Please, consider her feelings.”

 

The woman who stabbed the Epilo man had her hands bound by the knights. The villagers felt more sympathy for the woman than for the one she stabbed.

 

“That Epilo bastard. She should have stabbed him harder.”

 

The woman who had lost her whole family showed no sign of regret. Her eyes, full of poison, looked as if she wouldn’t care if she died right now.

 

“She won’t run even if you let her go. Please, at least let her pray.”

 

At the word ‘pray,’ the woman’s expression crumbled for a moment. The priests were about to hold a memorial for those who had suffered from the Beasts.

 

The memorial was to begin by gathering the belongings of the deceased and burning them in one place.

 

“Sir Knight, please, I beg you.”

 

The knights who were about to drag her away all looked at Baslo at the same time, as if on cue.

 

“Tsk.”

 

Baslo gestured with his chin for them to let her go. He meant for them to let her attend the memorial for her family, not to drag her away.

 

“Thank you!”

 

The villager who had pleaded on her behalf bowed deeply. The woman, who had looked as if she’d rather die, lost all her strength at the mention of the memorial.

 

The way she trudged away looked nothing like someone who had just stabbed a man.

 

It was a completely different atmosphere from when she was filled with hatred, telling him to die. The grief of losing her family came through clearly.

 

“Sez? What are you doing here?”

 

“…Huh?”

 

“You’ve been standing here not moving for a while. Are you okay?”

 

Baslo was worried. He was sincere. But I had definitely seen his hatred for Epilo. He might be fine with me being a slave, but not with me being Epilo.

 

If someone who had been so considerate suddenly changed, that would really… hurt.

 

“Yeah, I guess you’re not okay. You just saw an Epilo right in front of you.”

 

His words, as if it were only natural, were underlain with resentment and hatred toward Epilo. He fought Beasts every day, so I could understand. It made sense.

 

But I couldn’t help the pain in my chest.

 

“Tsk. You’re out of it.”

 

Baslo waved his palm in front of my eyes. For some reason, the more I looked at him, the stranger I felt.

 

“I’m fine! Thank you.”

 

I saw people preparing for the memorial nearby. Now that I thought about it, there might be something useful among the relief supplies in the supply wagon.

 

“Huh?”

 

As I tried to head for the supply wagon, someone grabbed me by the back of the neck. It was Baslo.

 

“Where are you going?”

 

“T-the supply wagon.”

 

“There are plenty of strong guys around here.”

 

Baslo let go, so I turned around.

 

“His Highness went that way earlier.”

 

“…Huh?”

 

He pointed with his finger, and it looked like the outskirts of the village. It seemed he had deliberately moved away from the Divine Power.

 

“Go on.”

 

“But there are the relief supplies and the memorial…”

 

“Tsk. Your face is pale as a ghost, what are you going to do like that?”

 

I touched my cheek with one hand. My body felt oddly light, as if I couldn’t muster any strength.

 

“His Highness probably called for you. Go on.”

 

I could feel his caring heart. It was obvious that Sihien hadn’t called for me, but I was grateful for the thought and bowed. Baslo gestured for me to hurry up and go.

 

It was only after I started moving that I realized I’d been standing in one spot for a long time. My body kept shivering as if I were cold. I decided it would be better to rest for a bit and come back later. There were people suffering more than me, so I couldn’t afford to complain.

 

But there was nowhere in the village to sit and rest. Instead, the scenery made me want to cry, so I bit my lip. Fortunately, my vision was blurry enough that I couldn’t see clearly.

 

If everyone thought this devastated village was all because of Epilo—

 

Anyone would be filled with hatred. But the man I saw earlier couldn’t possibly have had the power to summon Beasts. The fact that I couldn’t explain this made my chest tighten. If only I had read the Original Story thoroughly, maybe I’d know a clue. I chewed over my regrets again and again.

 

As I walked, a smoky smell entered my nose. It was familiar, yet I never wanted to get used to it. It was the smoke from burning Beasts.

 

And there he was.

 

Sihien was quietly watching the smoke rising from the ashes. I wondered what he was thinking, spending time here alone.

 

『Epilo are to be executed on the spot.』 I recalled his emotionless voice. He was just reciting the laws of the Empire, but when he spoke, it felt as if the ground fell away beneath me.

 

If, like Baslo, his gaze was filled with hatred, or if he looked at me with those cold, indifferent eyes he used for others—I clutched my collar with one hand. I didn’t even want to imagine it. I grabbed onto a large tree and slowly sat down.

 

I wanted to go to him, but I was afraid my imagination would become reality. I pulled my knees up and buried my face in them. Doing this seemed to calm my trembling body a little.

 

The Epilo are not demons.

 

There’s no way they could summon Beasts.

 

They’re just living their lives like anyone else.

 

I know better than anyone that Epilo man is innocent.

 

Being unable to do anything felt powerless. Even if, as in the original novel, it was true that Epilo opened the rift between dimensions, there was no way that man was involved.

 

Just as this slave was born on Salt Island and simply lived, so too did he live his own life.

 

But I couldn’t explain any of that. The hatred and resentment of the villagers, who wanted to kill him right away, sent chills through me.

 

Just for being Epilo, they treated a neighbor they’d lived with as a demon. Even though he, too, was someone who had lost someone precious.

 

…Huh?

 

Suddenly, a warm sensation came down over my head. It was a familiar warmth. I slowly raised my face.

 

Sihien was right in front of me.

 

He knelt on one knee to match my height. The villagers had knelt before him, but he was lowering himself for me.

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

He spoke as if certain something was wrong. Under the moonlight, seeing his face reminded me of the expression I’d seen at the lakeside.

 

The face that smiled, lifting the corners of his mouth. No one would imagine such an expression on that mask-like face. You wouldn’t believe it unless you saw it yourself.

 

“Sihien.”

 

“Speak.”

 

He was the one who allowed me to call his name when we were alone. For him, the fact that I was a slave seemed completely unimportant. Even now, he was focused on me, as if nervous about what I might say.

 

“…I think there will be more villages like this in the future.”

 

Honestly, I wanted to ask if he could be this kind to anyone, no matter who they were. And what he thought of Epilo.

 

But the words caught in my throat and wouldn’t come out.

 

“…I see.”

 

He let out a deep sigh.

 

“But this isn’t something you have to bear.”

 

Again, a warm sensation pressed down from above my head. He believed in my foresight, but he had never once asked if I knew anything. He never asked me to explain in more detail.

 

He always seemed more worried that I might be troubled by it. His touch was filled with sincerity. He was always like that.

 

If anyone else saw, they’d be shocked at what the Crown Prince was doing for a slave. Just the sight of him kneeling on the ground was already beyond common sense.

 

But what if, on top of being a slave, I was also Epilo?

 

I’d already realized, through Lady Caesaria, how fast rumors spread. If people found out I was Epilo, Sihien would be shocked, but it would be even worse if others found out.

 

Never mind what happened to me—his reputation as Crown Prince would plummet.

 

“Sez.”

 

Suddenly, warmth flooded my entire body. He wrapped me completely in his cloak.

 

Only then did I realize I was trembling. I wasn’t cold, but my body shook. Each time, his arms held me tighter.

 

As if to say it was okay, not to tremble.

 

I leaned my forehead against his chest. If someone asked what was most precious to me, I could answer without hesitation: this embrace.

 

I loved his scent so much that if I could just stay like this, I’d never want to move again.

 

But that made it even harder to speak.

 

The truth is, I’m also Epilo. I wanted to ask if he thought of me as someone to be executed on sight, but I couldn’t bring myself to say it. I would have to tell him someday, but for now, it was just a thorn stuck in my heart.

 

“Shall we go back?”

 

His low voice rumbled above my head. Even in that resonance, warmth flowed, and I bit my lip to hold back tears. Enafork was the front line, but at the same time, it felt like ‘home.’ Being in a different village made me realize it even more. It was a feeling I’d never experienced since coming to this world.

 

It was all the sense of security he’d given me. I hadn’t even repaid him a fraction of his kindness, so I couldn’t betray him.

 

Being a slave was already more than enough.

 

I clenched my fists tightly. If I could be of help to him, I’d do anything, but if it would only be a burden, I would do whatever it took to prevent it. I vowed and vowed again to focus on that one thing.

 

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

 

“Come here.”

 

After the memorial was over, a few knights volunteered to stay and help rebuild the village.

 

The woman who stabbed the Epilo was given special leniency, and the villagers were deeply moved. Everyone came out to see Sihien off as he departed.

 

“I’ll take the carriage.”

 

But at that moment, Sihien called me. I whispered so only he could hear.

 

I didn’t want to leave any impression that we were close in front of everyone’s eyes. If—by any chance—my identity were ever revealed, I didn’t want this scene to be used against me.

 

“It’s fine. Come here.”

 

“Uh, it’s just that if I ride a horse, I, I get dizzy. I’m sorry!”

 

Especially to the people of this village, I didn’t want to be seen with him even more. I felt their pain at losing loved ones, but the image of them hating the Epilo man was still vivid.

 

If they found out that the Crown Prince, whom they looked up to with such admiration, was actually with an ‘Epilo’—I couldn’t bear to look at Sihien’s face, so I quickly turned and ran toward the carriage. I’d whispered, so the others probably hadn’t heard.

 

I believed that staying away from him now was for his sake.