Extra S*ave Saves the Crown Prince

‘Sleep more.’

It means, to lie back on this bed and get ‘Some More’ sleep.

That’s what he meant.

It’s not enough for him to let me take away his bed all day, he even asked me to sleep more…

“Oh, it’s all right now!”

I definitely felt a little lighter.

I was still a little groggy, but a quick wash with cold water would be enough to wake me up completely…

“!”

I quickly threw off the covers and was about to get out of bed when I suddenly felt a warmth on my forehead.

The touch of that large hand on my forehead was so good, that the corners of my mouth almost turned up for a moment.

These fingers are definitely hard, but they felt soft and fine.

I was tempted to stay still and lean my weight against them.

“The fever has gone down.”

My forehead follows along his fingers for a moment, wistful for the warmth that slowly fades away, and then…

I jolted immediately, after realizing what I was doing.

“Thank you!”

Thank you for taking my temperature?

I wasn’t sure what I was thanking him for, but the words seemed out of context after I blurted them out without thinking, but I was genuinely grateful.

No matter how high my fever was, no matter how close I’d come to death, nothing else could compare to the fact that I was able to spend the night in this bed.

I secretly reached behind my back and swept down the fluffy blanket once more.

‘Bye now, bed.’

“Wait a minute, stay.”

I was about to pull out the cloth pouch on the side of the table, but he just rushed out of the barrack while pointing at a chair on the table behind me.

He seemed to be indicating that I sit there and stay put.

So I sat on the chair as if I were a puppy waiting for its owner to pick it up.

It was not until he disappeared from view that I was finally able to breathe more comfortably.

“Oh, that’s right.”

My face started bothering me after I finally got the time to relax.

I just woke up and didn’t think about it because he was there but…

What if I had dark circles under my eye?

What if I had eye boogers?

There was no water to wash my face, so I rubbed my eyes furiously with my fingers.

It was probably too late, but still I ran my fingers in an attempt to tidy my hair.

I couldn’t see how my braided hair looked so I went to look around for something I could use as a mirror, but I couldn’t find anything.

Creak.

The sound of the door opening made me jerk upright.

He strode in, with someone else following behind him— it was the chamberlain I’d seen before.

I jumped to my feet and greeted him with a bow, then nodded to the chamberlain behind him.

In fact, from the moment they entered, all my attention was drawn to the chamberlain’s hand.

Ding.

The chamberlain put the ‘Thing‘ right down on the table.

It was a round bowl on a square tray.

I felt the heat emanating from it, which attracted my attention even more.

Click.

It was not until I heard the door click, and saw the chamberlain heading out that I realized that I was completely focused on what was in front of me.

“Ah….”

Shane sat down on a chair next to me, and held up the spoon in front, for me to grab.

It must have seemed strange to see me just staring gapingly at it.

“…Thank you for the meal.”

Obviously this wasn’t just a normal soup.

The subtle and savory smell was incredibly tempting.

The realization that I hadn’t eaten for a day suddenly dawned on me.

“Mmmmm.”

I scooped up a spoonful and popped it inside my mouth, my eyes quickly widened and a feeling of happiness spread right through me.

The smooth, melting soup tasted like chestnuts.

I savored it as much as I could, and before I knew it, I could already see the bottom.

“It’s so good.”

It’s a pity that I have to put down the spoon.

It was the kind of soup that made me want to fill my throat to the brim, even if it meant getting sick later.

The soup definitely made me feel lighter and less groggy.

The smooth, savory flavor still lingered on the tip of my tongue.

I looked at ‘Him‘ sitting next to me, with a happy feeling.

He was definitely a man who looked strong even when he was leaning back loosely.

After locking eyes with him, I was reminded of the fact that I had just survived an attack by a demon.

“It was delicious, thank you.”

The soup tasted like nothing I’d ever tasted since coming to Einfork, and it was most likely something he’d prepared especially for me.

I wondered how I could ever repay him for all he’d given me.

I’d give anything to have him feel the satisfaction I felt at this moment.

“That’s a relief.”

At times like this, I feel a kind of softness somewhere in my chest.

Especially when those deep golden eyes are warm, and when its warmth is directed at me.

“There’s somewhere I need you to go.”

His large hand was held out in front of me, and I wondered if it held a clue to where we were going.

I tilted my head a little further to look into his hand, and it hit me.

‘Could this mean that he wanted me to hold it…?’

My arms suddenly felt heavy, like it was made of lead.

I barely mustered up the courage to lift it.

I wondered what if I was wrong, but the look in Shane’s eyes convinced me I was right, once again.

So I ignored the pounding in my heart, and I placed my hand very gently on top of his.

Heat immediately rose from my neck to my face.

His large hand gradually closed around my fingers.

It was a grasping motion.

So he was indeed asking for my hand.

Even when we finally left the barrack, he still held it tightly and didn’t let go.

⚘

The place that Shane took me was not far from his barrack.

Some of the knights looked surprised, but with all my attention focused on our hands, they only seemed to pass by like a passing scenery, that didn’t mean anything to me.

I wondered if there’s a heart in my hand, why is it beating so hard.

“Open it.”

It was only when we reached the front of a barrack that he slowly let go of it.

He even stepped aside to let me open it myself.

It seemed like I was in an area where the knights’ quarters are located.

Knock. knock.

Feeling like maybe It could give me a clue, I decided to knock lightly on the door and slowly pushed it open.

The empty barrack was flooded by sunshine.

I looked up at Shane, and he gestured for me to enter.

So I cautiously entered, and the light slipping through the window was filling the barrack with warmth.

There was a table, a chest of drawers, a nightstand, and a bed.

Oh, there’s even a canopy!

(T/N: Seth and her obsession for Canopies xD)

The bed was topped with a canopy that had a yellowish and peaceful pattern.

My eyes widened at the idea of having one of the knights with such a taste of aesthetic, especially since I’d never seen anyone use a bed with a canopy here in Einfork.

“You like it.”

“It’s beautiful.”

The room was well-lit, giving off a peaceful aura.

Even the tiny dust that was blown outside seemed cozy in the sunlight, which, of course, reflected off the yellow canopy and made it even brighter.

“You’ll be staying here from now on.”

“….What?”

I clutched the cloth pouch in my hand tightly.

A strange voice sprang out of my mouth.

His words were even more shocking than when he said he would let me leave the palace if I wanted.

I’m not a knight, I’m just a slave, and I’m supposed to live in a barrack like this.

I didn’t think a knight, or even a servant, could live inside a barrack this nice.

Not to mention other slaves in the same situation as me…

“I…”

“That’s an order.”

My heart was pounding.

As if he knew what I was going to say, he spoke firmly.

How could a slave refuse a crown prince’s order?

I had so much to say, but my mouth didn’t open.

Perhaps I wasn’t the only one who couldn’t resist his ‘Order‘.

‘You sleep here?’

The memory of Shane entering the herb warehouse on the night of the demon’s attack suddenly flashed through my mind.

The warehouse was hardly spacious, but it was probably the best place to stay in Einfork.

It was managed by a priest, so it had its own security.

I didn’t even mind the smell of the herbs that stung my nostrils.

It might be shabby, but it was far more peaceful than the quarters I had at the crown prince’s palace.

However, it doesn’t seem to be the case for Shane.

“Seth.”

I was surprised that he would give me such a huge barrack.

I immediately covered my face with my hands.

The heat in my eyes was unbearable.

Hot emotions flooded through me in an instant.

The words, ‘Order.’ melted sweetly into my heart.

“Why are you crying?”

I’m not normally an emotional person, but I wonder if I’ve weakened considerably after being on the brink of death.

I suddenly burst into tears like a fountain bursting.

I felt like something must have broken somewhere.

I tried to bite my lip, but I couldn’t hold it back.

“… Too much…”

“Too much.”

Shane echoed my words as if to add an afterthought.

“Too— too good.”

After I said it out loud, more tears came to my eyes.

Yes, honestly, it was too good.

I hadn’t had a place of my own since I possessed this body, so I would have been happy even if I was given a barrack with nothing in it.

Who would have thought I’d be ordered to stay in such a beautiful place.

“Hic..”

“Hah.”

I heard a deep sigh, and my body was pulled forward slightly.

I felt as if I had touched the wall with my hands covering my face.

A familiar scent immediately flooded my nostrils.

This feeling of warmth and heat…

Felt like the coziest thing in the world for me.

Shane had taken me into his arms again.

Tap.

There was a clumsy tap on my shoulder that touched me again, deep in my heart.

I don’t know why I feel so comfortable in his arms, even though his body wasn’t soft or fluffy, but everytime I’m in his arms, everything I’ve been through seems like nothing.

“It’s so, so good.”

Nothing else comes to mind but those words.

If time were to stop completely, I wouldn’t be sorry at all.

Shane’s arms were just the right amount of warm, and the sun shining on his back, warmed him up even more.

I wanted to let go of all the complications I felt, and just breathe and live in this.

It was then that I felt…

“… No.”

The words slipped out of my mouth unconsciously.

I felt like I had the world at my fingertips, but suddenly a cold, icy stream of water poured all over me.

It felt like someone was grabbing my ankles and pulling me down.

Just before I fell into the pit, a chill suddenly gripped my heart.

Now I know what this feeling was—

“Hmm?”

Shane grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back slightly.

I felt him move to scan my face, trying to understand what was wrong.

And then, at the same time.

Pooh-

Pooh-pooh—

The sound of a horn being blown immediately pierced the quiet air.

It was a sign that a demon had appeared again.

Shane’s grip on my shoulder tightened and loosened momentarily.

“Hah.”

A deep sigh escaped his lips, and the atmosphere surrounding him had changed.

Gone were the eyes that had told me I would be staying here from now on, and in their place were deep golden eyes that held no emotion.