Extra S*ave Saves the Crown Prince

“It works better if you chew it.”

He stroked the Novenium with his thumb, then raised his eyes to meet mine.

“Just like then.”

Then…

A scene flashed through my mind like lightning for a moment. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Just thinking about it, I could practically smell his blood as I struggled to push the chewed up herb between his lips.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

And he actually remembered that, when he was clearly barely conscious in pain?

I felt a searing heat rising from deep in my chest and it was spreading up the nape of my neck to the tip of my head.

My cheeks and ears felt particularly hot, as if something had scalded it.

It wasn’t something I’d done with any intention in mind, of course, but the thought of him remembering it made my face burn.

“Do you feel hot?”

“Yes? No? Yes. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Oh, a little.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

I was hot, but admitting it made me feel even hotter.

I lowered my gaze slightly. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.I was uncomfortable every time I looked him in the eye for some reason.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

My gaze lingered on his parted lips, which made me feel even hotter.

The corners of his lips, which seemed to have been painted by a remarkable artist, gently twitched up and down.

What?

The corners of his lips lifted?

I turned my gaze up to his eyes. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.I could see the faintest hint of a smile in it.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

So faint, in fact, that most people wouldn’t recognize it, but there it was!

‘He smiled, I think he smiled, he just smiled!’

I wanted to pause the time in front of my eyes, so I won’t forget this moment.

I don’t want to forget this face.

A part of me wanted to grab my chest to calm it down, but I only breathed low to maintain my composure.

Druk.

He pulled the chair back further, indicating for me to sit down again.

‘Yes, I would be happy to.’

I bowed slightly at the waist and sat down on the chair again.

I was flabbergasted that the crown prince would pull out a chair himself, just for a slave to sit in.

I clutched the bulging cloth pouch tightly with my hands.

He continued to stroke the Novenium herb with his hands while staring intently at me.

I realized that just this moment alone, and me facing him, made me feel so glad that I had come to Einfork.

That punishment was definitely godsent, and I was grateful for it.

“So, why are you here?”

The quiet air suddenly turned heavy.

My contented heart froze in place immediately.

He only moved his mouth, but I could feel the chill in it.

I racked my brains for words to express.

I was trying to figure out where to start, but I eventually gave up and just said it as it was.

“I was punished to go to Einfork, so I came, but—”

“… Punished?”

“Yes. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.It was more of a reward for me, actually.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

I meant it.

It wasn’t a punishment at all.

For me, being exiled to Einfork was a reward. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.After all the punishment could have been worse, If the higher-ups knew they’d probably regret their decision.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Just looking at his face at this very moment, made me feel that it was indeed a reward.

“You–”

He wanted to say more, but cut himself off instead with a sigh.

I smiled softly, I really meant it.

He took a breath and closed his eyes.

After a moment of silence, he spoke again.

“What did you do? Why did they punish you?”

“I didn’t really do anything…. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.I don’t know, maybe I offended someone higher but—”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Someone higher…”

Who actually punished me?

Was it the princess who had summoned me and forced me into a situation where I could be punished?

Or was it the Duke of Lé Chenío, who angrily demanded that I be removed from the palace at once?

Or was it someone else who wanted to send me straight to Einfork?

I’m not really sure who it was.

“Who.”

Another dry voice was let out.

His face showed no emotion, but I can feel the coldness in his eyes.

Even though I know his anger was not directed at me, the hairs on the back of my neck still stood up instantly.

“I’ve heard that Duke Lé Chenío was very angry, but I’m not sure if he’s the one who sentenced me to go to Einfork.”

“Lé Chenío?”

The air was getting even heavier.

My chest felt tighter, as if someone had squeezed it.

“Did you meet the princess?”

I gave a small nod, I didn’t really have a choice.

I was being crushed by the pressure in the atmosphere after all.

He looked convinced before I could even answer, though.

I was suddenly worried about where the direction of the original novel was taking.

I was aiming to give him a happy ending, no matter what, but was it really happening?

He squeezed his eyes shut and seemed to catch his breath.

He was clearly upset.

His hand, which he had put down for a moment, was clenched into a fist.

He was holding back a lot of emotion, as evidenced by the redness on his neck.

‘I’ve never seen him look so scary before, he’s always been so expressionless, and now he’s showing his emotions. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Ugh.’read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

I suddenly remembered what Mary, the maid from the crown prince’s palace, had told me— ‘Once he made up his mind, and his face showed an angry emotion, everyone around him would have no choice but to keep their heads down.’

I felt like I couldn’t breathe well in this atmosphere, even though I was doing my best to bear it.

I let go of the cloth pouch I was clutching for a moment and ran my fingers over his large clenched fist, not because I was thinking about anything, but because I really didn’t want him to suffer in anger.

Snap.

His closed eyes suddenly opened with a snap, and his deep-set golden orbs were looking at my fingers, resting on his fist, then back at me.

“Your Highness.”

The reason he is angry is because I came here. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.I shouldn’t be here, because Einfork is the front line, the most dangerous place by his standards.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

I eventually realize that underneath his anger is a concern for me, and I feel a stabbing pain near my heart.

“I’m here, and I’m grateful to be here.”

I actually felt grateful that he was angry at those people who sent me here, because he feared that I might be put in danger.

I’m truly grateful.

Although I know the word ‘Grateful‘ is not even enough to express what I felt at this moment.

“Hah.”

He let out a long breath.

His eyes narrowed as if he’s heard something stupid.

His expression didn’t even fluctuate when they were suturing his wound without anesthesia, though the corners of his eyes did crinkle.

He sighed again, his shoulders rising and falling, then relaxed his grip on his fist, his thumb grazing the tips of my fingers as if he was stroking the Novenium herb again.

I could feel the heat of his body coursing through my fingertips and spreading throughout mine.

“Seth.”

His voice came out cracked.

“Yes.”

“You can go and rest.”

He stood up like a man cutting off something else again.

How tired he must be after he got injured while battling with the demons.

“Yes, Your highness.”

I was relieved that he didn’t say that he was going to find a way to get me back to the palace right away, or that he was going to kick me out because I didn’t belong here.

I let out a small sigh of relief.

“Oh, if you don’t mind.”

Maybe because I was so relieved, the words I hadn’t thought of came out of my mouth.

“Do you want me to stay with you when you sleep?”

“What…?”

He immediately stopped running his hand through his hair like a statue.

He had been there for me when I was sick, and I couldn’t help but think that sometimes servants are there to nurse their superiors as well.

Just having someone by my side when I was running a fever was a great encouragement to me.

I wanted to give him that same sense of security and comfort, but was it such a surprise..?

Oh, is there any way that he could have taken it the wrong way?

Oh, that’s not what I meant!

That’s not what I meant at all!

“Oh, no! I just thought that if you sleep alone when you’re sick, you might be— Uh, You might get thirsty. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.I– Uh, just wanted to be there for you. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.It’s not like that.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“It’s dangerous.”

“What?”

“It will be dangerous, if you’re around.”

Ah, he was probably talking about his power.

Sometimes the crown prince would make sure that no one was around him to try and control the power that wanted to erupt from his body.

Today, with his wounds, he could be considered more dangerous.

Perhaps. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.That would be the danger. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.He meant.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Fortunately, he didn’t misunderstand me too badly.

If a stranger heard me, they might think that I was being too direct…

Sigh. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.It was definitely a stupid day.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

I did another stupid thing again.

Thump, thump.

His footsteps sounded loudly.

My face heated up as I looked up at the table, then the floor, then the couch, all the while, he was within inches of me.

His hot hand came up to my face, cupped my cheek, and brushed against it.

I could vividly feel his thumbs caressing the tips of my eyebrows.

His body temperature was high, and the heat alone made me feel better. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.He could have touched me right there, not just brushed against me.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Go get some rest.”

It’s so unfair why does he have such an attractive face with such an attractive voice.

I leaned back, not sure if I should be grateful or resentful of this unfair world.

But I knew one thing for sure— I was so glad I came to Einfork.

⚘

Two nights after that.

The crown prince’s barracks were off-limits at the moment, and no one could go near it.

It was a common occurrence, and no one seemed to think anything of it.

It would be nice for him to have someone by his side when he’s feeling uncomfortable though.

I sighed unnecessarily to myself.

“Hah.”

“Hmm.”

My sighs were matched by sounds behind me. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.I was sweeping the herb warehouse as part of my daily routine.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

I glanced over and saw the Priest O’mont watching me with his arms crossed.

As I rose to my feet, with the broom in hand, his eyes immediately narrowed.

“Excuse me, father, is there something you want me to do?”

“… No.”

He looked like he wanted to say something, which is odd.

I went back to sweeping the floor diligently with the remains of the herbs.

I tried it to be as dust-free as possible, but I couldn’t help it.

I coughed a little as I swept every nook and cranny.

“Hmmm.”

I think it would be better to get outside with all the dust I’ve been kicking up.

However, O’mont hadn’t moved from his seat and was still staring intently at me.

He was making strange ‘Hmmm.’, noises.

“Seth.”

“Yeah.”

“Hmmm.”

He squinted and looked me in the eye.

“This is, uh, suspicious.”

“Suspicious…?”

I looked down at my outfit. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.I looked the same as always, but what was suspicious?read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Well, Seth, I was wondering if you and… With his highness?”

“Yes? No, no, no.”

“No?”

No, no, I shook my head vigorously.

I gave up trying to figure out what he meant and focused on the broom and sweeping.

“Father, I’m going to throw this out.”

“Hmmm… Right.”

He was looking at me a little peevishly with his hand on his chin.

His squinty eyes are part curious, part serious.

I gathered up the trash for burning and left the beautiful herbal warehouse, pretending not to hear the words,

“Suspicious, suspicious,” behind me.

I threw away the remains of the herbs and the trash to be burned and brushed off my clothes.

Cleaning always made me feel like I had accomplished my homework.

I wonder if I’m destined to clean for the rest of my life.

(T/N: Sigh Seth…)

“Huh? This?”

I saw a bow standing out in the darkness. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Out of curiosity, I picked it up, wondering if someone had thrown it away, but it was much heavier than I expected.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

I tried pulling the drawstring once, mimicking the position of an archer.

The string didn’t pull all the way out, and my fingers were sore.

It was almost like I couldn’t pull the string until my arm was shaking.

I was just trying to fake it until I realized that not everyone can do this.

“Stay put, don’t move.”

The familiar low voice sounded and it immediately froze me into place.