Extra S*ave Saves the Crown Prince

“Don’t you want to leave the palace?”

“No.”

It was a question I’d been asked once before. Without thinking, I said no.

“If you want to leave the palace, I will let you.”

Being a slave was like signing a life contract. To the point where they were even branded once they are assigned. Moreover, palace slaves, like the salt islands, belonged to the royal family, which made movement even more restricted.

They were not allowed to leave the palace, even if it meant killing them, for fear of bringing what they knew inside to the outside world.

But he was willing to break all those rules if I wanted to leave.

My heart immediately pounded in my chest.

“I-I like it here, Your highness, and I don’t want to leave.”

“Then what if you’re not a slave.”

“What?”

It sounded like a question, like what if you weren’t a person? He was staring at me with his usual emotionless expression, even after spitting out such a huge word.

What if you weren’t a slave?

I should be happy.

Sure, I’d be escaping the lower ranks, but I wasn’t sure If I’d like it.

My time here has been the most peaceful since I possessed this body. The slave brand was sometimes painful enough to haunt my dreams, but other than that, it honestly wasn’t bad.

Cleaning the hot spring, and interacting with my coworkers, finally gave me the sense of “Normalcy” again.

And, most importantly.

Just the fact that I was in this space with him made every day good.

“You don’t look very happy to see me.”

He gave me an odd look. I didn’t know if I liked it or felt sorry for him. I thought I could read his emotions a little bit because I looked at him so much, but now I have no idea.

Maybe he couldn’t even define his own feelings.

A slave refusing to be freed?

It was ridiculous, even to me.

But I wasn’t really happy about the offer.

If I left the palace, I would be far away from the crown prince. I would never have the chance to see his beautiful face up close.

It would be like throwing away the chance to meet him in exchange for freedom from slavery. That fact alone was enough to make me not want to leave.

And another thing.

“Your Highness, I will never again—”

I trailed off because for some reason I choked. I tried to get the words out and it made me feel like I didn’t want to say them anymore.

“I don’t want to start over in a place I barely know.”

If I wasn’t a slave, I would have to adapt to a new life, and the thought of it made me cringe.

I didn’t want to leave the things I was used to and adapt to something new again.

Without knowing anyone again.

I didn’t want to try to settle down alone.

“…I see.”

“Thank you so much for just saying that.”

I meant it. The mere mention of freeing me from my slavery was enough to make me burst into tears. He kept poking me deep inside my heart like this without giving me any warning.

“I’m the one who should be thanking you.”

“What?”

“So you don’t have to be so grateful.”

My chest tingled, then stiffened. What could he possibly have to thank me for, when all I have is the memory of being taken care of by him most of the time. Unless he still thinks he’s grateful for what happened back in the cave.

“Stay alive.”

I said as I felt my heartbeat.

‘Thank God you’re alive!’

The words were spoken by a Knight of the Thorn.

Strangely, those words echoed in my head.

I bit down hard on my lip, feeling tears threatening to fall as my body shuddered.

‘Don’t cry, Seth. This is not the time.’

“It will hurt.”

His fingers reached out and brushed against my clenched lips. The corners of his eyes were crinkled, as if he was in pain himself.

At this rate, I felt like I was going to fall into him, so I forced myself to look away. Now, at this moment, there was something more urgent.

“Your Majesty, there’s actually somewhere I’d like to go.”

“Tell me.”

The tone was a command, but it was so low, so caring, that I felt like curling my fingers around it, I just need to catch myself from slipping away again.

“I want to go to Einfork.”

For a moment, the air grew heavy, and I saw his expression harden frighteningly. It was a face completely devoid of emotion.

“Seth.”

“I promise I won’t be a nuisance, and I’ll be so quiet you won’t even know I’m there.”

I rambled on, afraid he’d call me crazy like everyone else. He stood still as if letting the words sink in, then exhaled heavily.

“Have you seen the future again?”

“What? Oh, yeah.”

No, but I felt like I had to say yes. I had to go somehow.

“What did you see?”

“…The area where the demons were coming from was getting bigger and bigger.”

This was what I’d seen in the original. Demons that begin to appear outside of Einfork will eventually spread throughout the Empire. That is, if they stayed true to the original.

“Will you be able to see which point?”

“No. Not that far.”

He looked thoughtful. Few would know that the beast had been seen outside of Einfork.

“If I go to Einfork, I may be able to see more of the future, Your Highness. So if you take me with you, I may be of some use to you—.”

“No.”

“Your Highness.”

“Do you know anyone else who sees the future?”

I shook my head silently, not exactly seeing the future, just reading novels.

“Very well, then keep it to yourself. Just because you know the future doesn’t mean you have to risk your life for it.”

His gaze flickered over my injured arm.

“Your Majesty, even if that’s the case. I would still like to go to Einfork.”

“You are not allowed.”

He cut through my words like a knife, it was the first time he had ever shown such firmness.

“Your Highness.”

But I couldn’t give up. If it wasn’t him who was stopping me from going, I would still be able to go to Einfork no matter who opposed me.

“You know what it’s like there.”

As he spoke, he suddenly closed his eyes and steadied his breathing.

Einfork. It was a place where he had been ever since he was ten years old. There was no way I didn’t know about it.

“I know.”

He opened his eyes slowly. His golden gaze sunk deep.

“I know.”

The screams and the wounded never stopped. Where the numbing smell of blood never fades. It was the front lines, where death was everywhere.

“I saw it in a dream.”

“I still want to go….”

The look on most people’s faces every time someone says that they saw it in a dream is the same. It was the look that says you’re talking nonsense.

But he was different.

He didn’t have the slightest doubt that I really saw it.

“Yes. I’d like to go. I’m sure I won’t bother anyone.”

“No.”

“Your Highness…”

I pulled myself upright as I turned to face the golden eyes with eagerness. But like someone who want to cut something off, he swept me off with one hand.

“I will return once fall comes.”

Fall was his birthday. Now that the salt islands were gone, he would have to come to this palace, where he could stop the rumpage.

In other words, he doesn’t want me to come to Einfork, but meet with him here in the palace.

I looked up at him, still sitting on the couch, and he stood up, looking even taller. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone taller than him in all my time here.

My heart sank with regret at the thought of not seeing him again until fall. He’ll be in Einfork, fighting a fierce war against demons, at least until fall.

I don’t know why I keep feeling sorry for the crown prince even though I’m the slave. I should be the one being pitied.

He reached out and gently touched a lock of my hair that peeked out from under my hood. His fingers traveled to my eyebrows and back again, never quite reaching them. I swallowed hard as I watched his slowly curling fist.

“Take care of yourself.”

My words were snatched away by him.

I couldn’t tell him to be careful as well though because I hadn’t given up yet, so I simply stood up and bowed deeply.

I wiped my eyes futilely as I watched him turn and walk away. I wondering who would give me the permission to do what the crown prince could not.

⚘

“Seth, the Slave Master wants to see you.”

The next day, I was in a panic as I watched the later slaves prepare to leave for Einfork.

“The Slave Master?”

“Uh, he seemed to be in a hurry. So get going.”

I’ve been begging him to let me go for so long, and he’s refused. Does he finally have the heart to let me go? Or did someone else have an opening?

I sprinted to the slave master.

“Slave master!”

“Ah, you’re here, follow me.”

As soon as Solgar saw me, he hurried off ahead of me. I wish he’d say, ‘Follow me to Einfork.’

I followed him, feeling overwhelmed.
Slaves avoided the roads in the palace as much as possible. They traveled by road when they had to, but most of the time they traveled in the woods or out in the countryside. Slave Master Solgar was no stranger to such paths, so he was hurrying to the outskirts at a faster pace.

Where is he going?

I was too busy following to ask questions, lest I miss him.

“Seth.”

“Ha, yeah?”

I was out of breath even though we were only walking. We had left the crown prince’s palace and the imperial palace was already coming into view. The two palaces were quite far apart, so it would be a long walk back.

“No, no. Let’s hurry.”

The Slave Master looked as if he was about to say something, but he just strode off again. He could hear me sigh several times.

I didn’t want to go. Of course, he understood why.

But my legs hurt so badly. What’s the rush?

I swallowed down my desire to rest, thinking that the palace must have something to prepare. I was moving at such a fast pace that I gave up trying to remember where I was going.

To make matters worse, once we entered the palace, I had to walk with my back to the ground. I could barely keep my head up, and before I knew it, I was already inside the palace.

Luckily, I didn’t have to walk too far inside the palace and stood in front of the nearest door.

“Ha, ha, ha.”

It would be nice to sit down and rest for a while. But it wasn’t nighttime yet, and sitting in the hallway would be an invitation for a whipping.

At the door, a maid waited for the slave master and me with a stern expression.

She tapped.

“Come in.”

She knocked on the door and heard voices inside. The Slave Master gestured for me to enter.

“Should I go alone?”

I mouthed, and the slave master still continued to gesture for me to enter. The maid manually opened the door and let me in.

I stumbled into the luxurious parlor and realize that this is not where I belong.

The pink lace tablecloth is pretty, I thought, and I saw the person sitting there.

It was the original female lead, and she was sitting there looking at me.