Life as a Tower Maid: Locked up with the Prince - Chapter 12

TM has been completely translated on Patreon

Chapter 12

Translator: Yonnee

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Meanwhile, Albert was looking at me like I was some kind of ghost. After coughing in vain under that serious gaze of his, I spoke.

“You know what, Your Highness? People feel a whole lot better whenever they eat spicy food.”

“I’ve never heard that before.”

“Trust me. Just try it.”

The tone in which I spoke was reminiscent of a dealer selling illegal substances, but I forged ahead.

I poked a rice cake with a fork and stuck it out to Albert.

“Here you go.”

“……”

“Aren’t you hungry? You had a light breakfast.”

Albert’s hesitant hand took the fork from me. He’s almost convinced!

“Just trust me once and taste it.”

Eventually, he bit the rice cake. A rice cake full of spices went into his mouth!

As he chewed, his reluctant expression changed subtly.

How did I know, you ask? It’s because one corner of his lips went up.

After swallowing the rice cake, he breathed out afterwards.

“It’s spicy.”

“If you sweat while eating something spicy like this, you’ll definitely feel better afterwards. And Your Highness likes it, right?”

Albert looked towards me.

“Did my lips curl up again?”

“Of course~ Your Highness, if you put some of the sauce on the eggs, it’ll be delicious.”

I sliced the egg in half with a fork and evenly coated it with tteokbokki sauce. Then, pop! I put it in my mouth, where a fantastic taste started to spread.

Closing my eyes to savor the tteokbokki, now I was confident that my tteokbokki was as good as YeopX Tteokbokki and ShinX Tteokbokki.

I dipped the fish cake and rice cakes together, and the chopped vegetables were also crunchy and delicious.

“Uwahh… I’m so happy.”

Today, I had the most perfect meal in the tower.

“Happy, you say.”

His eyes blinked somewhat in surprise, like he saw something unexpected.

“So it’s that easy to make you happy, Rosé.”

“There’s a saying that people live to eat. There’s no surefire way to achieve happiness, but there’s still some happiness in eating delicious food and having fun.”

“That’s a simple kind of happiness.”

“It’s better to look at the brighter side of things than to just be depressed every day. That’s why I’m looking for reasons to be happy in my own way.”

What I said made him laugh, but with a sense that he had nothing to say. It felt like he was denying what I said.

“I didn’t know happiness was so easy.”

His eyes momentarily flashed with loneliness, but he laughed again and ate more tteokbokki.

It seemed to be spicy for him, but he’s trying not to let it show, like someone who was used to keeping everything to himself.

When I saw him pausing in between chewing, it was clear that his mouth was burning.

I took the glass of milk from the tray and offered it to him.

“…What is this?”

“If you drink milk, it won’t be spicy anymore.”

“It must be obvious to you.”

“No. It’s not that easy to read Your Highness’ expression, it’s just that I expected it. Was I correct?”

Albert picked up the glass instead of answering, then drew the glass closer to his lips. Ah, what a champ, this guy. Even when drinking milk, he’s perfect…

Then, the meal continued with me saying one or two more silly comments.

Albert succeeded in clearing his serving of tteokbokki after drinking some milk. I was actually surprised that he got through it and ate better than I thought.

“Do you feel better after eating spicy food?”

He must be under a lot of stress after being locked up here, but I asked anyway. I hope the tteokbokki helped even a little.

Albert stared at me.

“I feel pretty good, but I’m not as happy as you.”

Speaking in a low voice, he stroked my head gently. I felt like a cat for a moment.

“It’s been a while since I’ve felt this way.”

His eyes narrowed as though he was lost in thought.

As I listened to his languid tone, it felt like I was watching an ASMR video.

Still, the slender fingers were caressing my hair as carefully as possible.

I felt weird.

It’s always like this whenever Albert touches me—I don’t know how to act in this situation. Sometimes, as if I’d been enchanted, I get compelled enough to wish that I could give him everything.

Like a sailor who’s heard a siren’s voice.

But at the same time, I knew that he had no feelings for me.

For him, this physical contact was just a means for controlling me.

As I thought about this, my confusion subsided.

This is strictly a business relationship.

Party A and Party B.

“I’m glad you enjoyed the dish.”

I smiled brightly.

The smile on my face was my best defense.

It’s not difficult at all to smile.

* * *

But then, a problem happened later that evening.

“Oh… I can feel it cramping up…”

I felt a slight pain in my stomach.”

My body wasn’t prepared to eat something spicy.

It was Rosé’s first time eating tteokbokki with her body, so this was an inevitable outcome.

I stayed in bed in the attic hoping that I’d feel better, but I don’t think it’s working.

It got worse. I started to break out in cold sweat.

After curling into myself and groaning, I finally decided to prick my finger.

“A needle…”

Where is it? There should be a basket with sewing supplies around here…

While searching the attic, I realized that I left the basket downstairs. In fact, it was more accurate to say that all the things related to housework were downstairs in the bedroom.

That means I’ll have to go down and run into Albert.