Extra S*ave Saves the Crown Prince

It had been three days since the Knight of the Thorn had come to visit, and the crown prince hadn’t shown up since then.

On the first day, I walked on clouds with my heart puffed out for the so called ribbons, on the second day, I wondered why he hadn’t come, and on the third day, I became aware of the reality.

I think I was overwhelmed by the peace and tranquility I felt for the first time in this world, that all I did was wait for him here.

“Huh?”

“Aah!”

I opened the door and bumped into Mary, who was just coming in.

“Where are you going?”

“Oh, I think I’m all better now…”

“Huh? You haven’t taken the bandages off yet?”

“No, I don’t think it’s going to interfere with my work at all, Mary. Thanks for all your help.”

I bowed sincerely.

She always made sure that I had food and water. She could have looked forced, but she didn’t. She even told me to call her if I needed anything.

“Did you tell the prince?”

“I was going to, but I haven’t seen him….”

“Ah. I’m sure he’s busy these days, as he’ll be heading back soon, but he’s instructed me to make sure you’re well fed…”

“He’s going back where?”

“Huh? He’s going back to Einfork.”

“Ah.”

There were only a handful of days in the year when the crown prince was in the capital. I’d overlooked that for a moment. I must have been so wrapped up in my comfort that I hadn’t even considered the obvious. I gave a small shake of my head. I had to snap out of it.

“Well, Mary. I’d better get back to my quarters.”

“But don’t you want to see him again Seth….?”

Mary sounded incredulous.

If the crown prince wasn’t in this room, it was likely because he was busy, but it was also likely because of me.

He’d only be in the capital for a few days, and I should let him get some rest on those few days.

I was also very concerned about where he was resting at night, even leaving his room unattended. But I couldn’t explain it to Mary.

“They’re already short-handed, and I’m sure they’re struggling without me, and I think I’ll have to go look for him myself.”

“Sure, but…”

Mary’s face turned serious at the thought of being short-handed. It was a fact shared by everyone in the crown prince’s palace, albeit in different areas of work.

“If you happen to see His Highness, would you please tell him that I’ll be sure to look for him and greet him again?”

“Yes. I can do that…”

I’ll be following him to Einfork anyway, so I’ll definitely see the crown prince again. But before I could get to Einfork, I had to go through a series of procedures. So after feeling the apprehension, I thanked Mary, who was nervous, and left the room.

⚘

“Seth, are you okay?”

As soon as I returned to the slave quarters, I immediately missed the room that I had left just now, the feel of that bed I would definitely never forget.

Should I have stayed until they told me to leave?

I didn’t know if I’d ever sleep in that kind of bed again.

But I shook my head immediately. I was occupying a room that belonged to my master, and I couldn’t stay, play, and eat in the crown prince’s chambers forever.

Besides, I had a job to do.

“Seth. I’ve heard the rumors.”

“Huh? What rumors?”

Eva unnecessarily pulled me into a corner and whispered, even though we were alone.

“That the crown prince has left with you—or rather, carried you.”

She left it at that and covered her face with her hands for a moment. I blushed unnecessarily.

“The rumor has spread.”

“Of course they have?”

A slave was seen in the arms of the crown prince. Even I would have freaked out if I’d heard anyone had done it.

“Seth, you must have been so scared..”

“Huh?”

No, it wasn’t scary. What’s wrong with them? I was actually happy. I wanted to be there the whole time.

Eva sent me a sympathetic glance.

“His highness said he’d punish you himself. He didn’t beat you… or anything, did he?”

“No! My injuries were simply treated. But he said he would punish me himself…?”

“Yes. According to Imperial law, you should have been punished.”

Eva shook her head. A slave was supposed to be punished even though it was them who was injured by an imperial member, for the reason that they were the cause why that imperial member wields a sword inside the palace, or something.

What an unfair world.

The crown prince didn’t punish me, he fed me buttered corn and gave me fever medicine. I knew Eva would get really upset if I told her this, so I got it off my chest.

“I’m so glad, though. I’m so glad you’re okay.”

She was so sensitive. Eva hugged me and sobbed.

“I made you worried, thank you. Eva.”

“Seth. Just hang in there, he’ll be gone soon.”

Eva patted me on the back, comforted me. But I grabbed her shoulders and turned to face her.

“Do you think the slaves can follow?”

The look in my eyes must have been intimidating, because Eva looked me up and down as if to say,

“What’s wrong with you?

“But Yeah. I suppose so. They’re carrying a lot of baggage.”

“Really?”

“But don’t worry. There’s a set number of people going to Einfork.”

“I’d like to go.”

“What?”

Eva looks like she didn’t hear me right, then touches my forehead.

She compares the temperature to her own forehead.

“I don’t have a fever.”

“Can I go if I volunteer?”

“Are you crazy?!”

Just a moment ago, she was patting me on the back to comfort me and her face was full of concern, and then her face changed. She looked like she was talking to a crazy person.

“Why would you go there?”

“Because I wanted to go to Einfork.”

“You didn’t hurt your arm did you? You actually hurt your head!”

She even took a small step back. She looked at me like she was convinced I was out of my mind.

“How can I get there?”

“Seth. You’re not all healed up yet. You need to lie down.”

I was serious, and Eva stumbled out of the room, telling me to get some rest again.

The way she shook her head as she closed the door, it was clear that she really thought I was crazy.

⚘

“I want to go to Einfork. Slavemaster.”

“What?”

I turned to Slave Master Solgar, who was also included as part of the crown prince party headed to Einfork.

“I heard that you’re leaving soon. Please let me come with you.”

“Seth. You’re not better yet.”

He looked me up and down for the umpteenth time. Why was everyone treating me like I was crazy?

“What do we have to do to get there?”

Solgar touched my forehead.

“Seth. I’ll admit you’re special. But not just anyone can go there, and you have to be able to defend yourself.”

“I can take care of myself.”

I couldn’t say, “I can teleport if there’s danger, which is more than anyone else can do.” but he must have gotten the message that I could protect myself.

Solgar looked me up and down again.

“Why on earth would you want to go to the front lines?”

“If I can be of any use in Einfork, I’ll do anything.”

“You could die there.”

“I’m prepared for that.”

Solgar opened his mouth. It wasn’t so much that I was prepared to die, it’s just that I wanted to see with my own eyes for once the chasm that an Ephiro had opened.

I don’t expect to be able to close it again and stop the creatures from coming in, but I had to see if I could be of any use.

And while I’m at it, I might as well help the crown prince, and admire his handsome face.

“Please, I’ll stay out of your way.”

“Seth.”

“Yes.”

Her expression turned serious, and I felt hopeful. This was the moment I thought he’d tell me that I could ride along with him.

“If you feel anything wrong with your body, you can get some more rest.”

“Slavemaster.”

“Even if we’re short-handed, it’s better than having an accident, so I must tell you about it in advance.”

It was clear that he had decided that something was wrong with me. He couldn’t believe that I was so crazy to want to go to Einfork. He looked at me like I was asking to walk myself into hell.

That night, I headed to work for the first time in a long time, feeling guilty for missing it and unable to put it off any longer.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

Eva kept looking me up and down, trying not to get too close.

“You didn’t get some kind of weird punishment, did you?”

I didn’t know what kind of punishment she was referring to, but I didn’t doubt that I wasn’t crazy.

I don’t think she’s ever heard a slave say they wanted to go to Einfork before. That’s something no one would casually say.

I guess I’ll go down in history as the first slave to apply and go.

Chhhhhh.

As I sprayed the water vigorously, I realized that I was cut out for this job. I wiped off the stains and sprayed the water again to make it shine, and it felt refreshing.

It was a little uncomfortable to keep the water out of my arms, but it didn’t feel bad. As my mind drifted away, it was nice to just focus on getting this hot spring clean, and I wanted to make it sparkle even more.

With that thought in mind, I splashed the water onto the whirlpool floor.

“Ahhh!”

I screamed immediately, after throwing the stick right back in.

Clink. Clang.

There was a slow tinkling sound as it hit the floor.

“Yo–Your Highness!”

A familiar silhouette leaned against the entrance to the hot spring. I’m pretty good at keeping up appearances, but he seems to have some sort of ability to merge with the air.

I can’t even guess how long he’s been standing there, watching me, and the sight of him makes my heart skip a beat.

“You wanted to work so badly.”

“What?”

“To come when you weren’t even healed.”

He didn’t say it in a questioning tone, just bluntly. His gaze was on my injured arm.

Honestly, cleaning had cleared my head and refreshed it, but seeing him watching me scrub and spray around made the back of my neck burn.

“Your Highness, I meant to say thank you and get out of here, I’m sorry.”

I clasped my hands together and bowed. Normally, I would have bowed, but I’d done enough rude things already that I figured this would be fine.

“Seth.”

“Yes.”

I still kept my head bowed. I wanted to say yes, to show my sincere gratitude.

“I want to look into your eyes.”

“What?”

I raised my head absentmindedly. My heart thumping so hard it made me more nervous that the sound would even echo in the hot springs.

“Hmm.”

He locked eyes with me, took a deep breath, and let it out.

“Sit down, we’ll talk.”

He gestured inward with his gaze. He was referring to the area he’d created as a changing room before entering the hot springs.

It was decorated like a room, with a couch that looked like a small bed, and light refreshments were always available.

But I looked down at my clothes, which were soaked with water splashes. I felt guilty sitting on the couch, which was always soft and luxuriously maintained.

“Sit.”

It was a gentle invitation, not a forceful tone. But I didn’t have the right to disobey my superiors, so I closed my eyes tightly and sat down on the smallest couch I could find.

I was diagonally across from him on the long sofa.

We sat and ate at the same table, but I still hadn’t completely forgotten the difference in our rank.

I wondered what he had in mind when he asked me to sit down.

The sound of water trickled in through the open mouth of the hot spring. I waited quietly for him to speak.

“I am leaving for Einfork soon.”

“Ah.”

I was grateful that he mentioned Einfork first. I felt like I had a chance.

“But there’s one more thing I wanted to ask you before then.”

“Yes.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to leave the palace?”