Extra S*ave Saves the Crown Prince Chapter 55

Before sunrise in Enapork. In the bluish air, the horses are snorting restlessly. The highest-ranking person is about to leave, but not many have come out to see him off.

 

They said it was because there was no need to lower morale by making his absence widely known.

 

Besides, the real purpose of going to the palace was a secret known only to a few.

 

“Be careful. Don’t overdo it.”

 

Oment the priest came out to see us off, even though it was so early.

 

“Yes, I’ll be back.”

 

Ever since we shared each other’s secrets, Oment sometimes made that kind of face. As if he was setting a baby out by the roadside, or as if he was seeing someone else in me. He almost hugged me absentmindedly, then flinched and looked around.

 

“Ah.”

 

Then, as if he made eye contact with Shihien, he quickly stepped back.

 

“Um… Sez…”

 

Someone called my name, and when I turned around, I saw someone I hadn’t seen in a while.

 

“Lord Rond?”

 

It wasn’t his usual confident face, so I almost didn’t recognize him at first. I’d heard he’d been staying in the infirmary, but I hadn’t expected him to look so gaunt.

 

“Well. That is. I, uh. I mean. I…”

 

“Are you feeling better?”

 

He couldn’t meet my gaze and just stared at the ground. Then, as if something welled up inside, his eyes grew moist.

 

“Thank you.”

 

Ah, he must have come to say this. Rond’s face turned as red as a beet. I’d only ever seen him full of bravado, but now he seemed like a different person.

 

Did he think I’d saved him on the day the Beasts appeared in Enapork?

 

“I didn’t do anything. I hope you get well soon.”

 

“I’m going to become a knight. For real.”

 

“Oh, are you starting your training now?”

 

“I’ll definitely show you when I become a knight.”

 

“Yes, I’ll look forward to it.”

 

“So you’ll come back, right?”

 

“Pardon? Yes.”

 

Rond looked at me with teary eyes, then turned and ran off by himself. Of course I’ll come back here, so why did he ask?

 

“He’s been spacing out in the infirmary, but he’s talking a bit today?”

 

Oment the priest seemed to find him odd, too, and chimed in from beside me.

 

“Once people leave Enapork, they usually never want to come back.”

 

Baslo, who was loading the horses behind us, added his own comment. He was to accompany us on this trip as one of Shihien’s close aides.

 

“Sez. Have you said all your goodbyes?”

 

“Yes!”

 

“Looks like we’re just about ready.”

 

About seven knights who would be accompanying us rode up and lined up in formation. They would only go with us to a certain point, then return to Enapork.

 

“Shihien, we are ready.”

 

When Baslo reported, Shihien, who had been talking with Lekes, walked over to us. His black horse was already standing at the front, waiting for its master. But instead of going ahead, Shihien approached where I was.

 

Surely he’s not going to ask me to ride with him again, is he? My heart started pounding. I deliberately avoided his gaze and pretended to check the luggage cart.

 

“Get in.”

 

But my prediction was off. Shihien opened the carriage door and called me.

 

Honestly, it seemed like just one luggage cart would have been enough, but there was an extra carriage, so I figured it was just in case. Of course, my seat had already been prepared inside the luggage cart.

 

“…Pardon?”

 

Shihien gestured toward the inside of the carriage with his chin. He looked like he would keep the door open until I got in. Even in the chilly dawn air, I suddenly started to sweat.

 

“Ah, I, um, over there…”

 

“Sez, take good care of the luggage inside. Got it?”

 

Someone gave me a push from behind—it was Oment the priest. He pushed me again, as if there really was luggage inside. When I looked at his face, he winked one eye.

 

Looking around, no one seemed to find this strange.

 

Wait, it’s really okay for a slave to ride in this carriage? Really?

 

Since Shihien told me to get in, no one objected.

 

Ah, I really don’t know anymore.

 

Shihien offered his hand to help me up, but I pretended not to notice and climbed in by myself.

 

Telling myself, He’s only letting me ride so I can take care of the luggage inside.

 

As I awkwardly took my seat, Shihien slowly closed the door for me. I could see Oment waving enthusiastically from behind him.

 

“Your Highness, please have a safe trip.”

 

I heard Lekes’s voice, and before long the sound of hooves echoed on the ground. I clutched the cloth pouch and braced for the jolts, but the carriage rolled along very smoothly.

 

And so, before the morning had even come, we left Enapork with Shihien at the lead.

 

Clip-clop, clip-clop.

 

The sound of many horses’ hooves overlapped and echoed. No matter how much I tried to get used to it, my heart kept pounding. To think I’d get to ride in a carriage like this alone in my life. What a luxury.

 

The carriage wasn’t big, but it was more than spacious enough for one person. Oment had told me to take care of the luggage, but that was just to put me at ease. The only luggage was a blanket and some jerky. Even that felt like a kindness for my sake.

 

There was no need to hold on to keep anything from flying out, or to grit my teeth for fear of biting my tongue.

 

I’d ridden in plenty of luggage carts before, but this was a world apart in terms of comfort. It was so comfortable it almost made me uneasy.

 

Tap.

 

I slid open the wooden window a little. Since morning had already passed, bright sunlight streamed in.

 

We must have been passing through a forest, because the scent of trees was strong. A pleasant breeze ruffled my hair, and the sunlit trees sparkled beautifully. Even the sound of hooves pounding the earth was like music, giving a sense of peace.

 

Ah, I wish we could go to the palace as slowly as possible.

 

I desperately wished this quiet time would last as long as it could. Only a few people shared the true reason for going to the palace, but since it was autumn, it was easy enough to guess.

 

『Please let me come with you, too.』

 

If Baslo hadn’t casually asked, “Sez, you’re coming along this time, right?” I might have missed it. I went to Shihien under the pretense of bringing him Noveni. I knew better than anyone why he had to go to the palace, so I really wanted to go with him.

 

『It could be dangerous.』 

 

『I promise I won’t be a burden.』

 

 I remembered vividly how he was before he lost control. I tucked away the memory of him suffering, chained up, in a drawer in my heart.

 

The more time I spent with him, the more painful that memory became. Now, I couldn’t even bear to take it out and look at it properly.

 

『You’re the type who doesn’t avoid things even when you should.』 That’s what Shihien said, taking a deep breath. He didn’t say, “Let’s go together,” but that was as good as permission.

 

After that, just in case he changed his mind, I deliberately avoided any chance to see him. But I never imagined he’d even prepare a carriage for me like this.

 

If it’s a carriage like this, I could ride it for days without getting off.

 

Whenever I rode in a luggage cart, I usually wanted to get out as soon as I got in, but this was the opposite. If they told me to ride for days, I felt like I could. Having been treated so kindly, I resolved to do whatever I could to help.

 

Just in case, I’d packed some herbs, and I’d help with meals or anything else I could during camping. I’d make sure to help out as much as possible so I wouldn’t be a burden.

 

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

 

“Mmm… Something smells delicious…”

 

Somewhere, it smelled like stew was cooking. I could tell there were big chunks of meat and plenty of vegetables.

 

A gently simmered stew was a real delicacy in Enapork. That mouthwatering smell was filling my nose.

 

I wasn’t much of a cook, but I was good at helping with prep and cleanup. On the way to the palace, I pictured in detail all the ways I could help whenever we cooked.

 

But something felt off. The delicious smell was getting stronger and stronger. Since we were riding through the forest, we shouldn’t have reached a village yet. It felt like I’d only just gotten into the carriage, but something felt strange.

 

Flash—my eyes opened.

 

The scenery outside the carriage was tilted to the side. I hurriedly sat up. It was relatively dark, but it felt more like shade than night. No way!

 

Bang!

 

I flung the carriage door open.

 

At some point, we’d arrived at a clearing in the woods. I could see stew boiling vigorously over a campfire.

 

The knights were either tending their swords or sitting and drinking something. It wasn’t a large space, but the shade encircled it, making it a very pleasant spot to rest.

 

And it was obvious to anyone that we hadn’t just arrived.

 

This is crazy, seriously.

 

How could I have slept so soundly, oblivious to the world?

 

“Oh? Sez. I was just about to wake you. You need to eat.”

 

It was Baslo, passing by with the horses’ reins. He bent over to tie the horses to a wooden post at the front of the carriage.

 

I felt like tearing my hair out. My mind had been so troubled that I’d barely slept all night, but this was ridiculous.

 

“I’m sorry. I should have helped.”

 

“Hm? There are plenty of people here to work.”

 

Baslo, having tied up the horses, spoke nonchalantly. Looking around, no one seemed to be giving me any resentful looks. They just looked at me as if to say, “Oh, you’re up now.”

 

But no matter how I thought about it, this didn’t feel right. I hadn’t come along to be treated so comfortably. I wasn’t even someone who deserved to be treated this way…! At the very least, I resolved to do all the cleanup myself.

 

“Um, by the way, where is Shihien…?”

 

“Oh, right. He should be here by now.”

 

Baslo looked off somewhere beyond the woods.

 

“Sez, do you want to go get him?”

 

Yes, I nodded. It would look natural to go fetch him for a meal, so I was relieved.

 

The place Baslo told me about was a small pond between the trees. Since people didn’t come here often, the grass had grown up to my knees.

 

But where the horses and people had passed, the grass was trampled down, making a path to follow. The deeper I went, the more densely the trees grew, so sunlight only filtered through in patches.

 

After a short walk, the pond appeared. In fact, more than the pond, what caught my eye was a huge black horse. Standing alone like that, it looked even more massive.

 

The horse wasn’t tied to a tree; its reins trailed loosely on the ground. And at the end of them was a familiar figure’s hand.

 

Shihien was sitting with his back against a tree by the pond. He had one knee up, with his arm resting on it.

 

It felt strange to see him with his eyes closed like that. I’d shown him my sleeping face plenty of times, but I’d never once seen him asleep.

 

Sunlight filtered through the leaves and dappled over him. He hadn’t done anything to me, but my chest felt ticklish. Just quietly watching him like that made me happy.