Life as a Tower Maid: Locked up with the Prince - Chapter 20

TM has been completely translated on Patreon

Chapter 20

Translator: Yonnee

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“Your Highness’ life and my life could hardly be considered mundane.”

Well, look at us now. We’re two people locked up in a tower.

But was that all? The early genre of this novel was confinement. I just went ahead and changed it to an office setting with me as the employee and Albert the employer.

Albert was going to suffer for another year. He would have lived being buried under work until Seo Ina appeared.

When would Albert be happy?

I didn’t have the answer to this question. And I couldn’t possibly ask Albert.

The happiness that you feel when you can buy whatever you want…

I know how precious it was to live with some small happiness in your life.

The same was true in this tower. In the reality that I was flung into, it’s just better for my mental health to be grateful for what’s given to me. It wouldn’t do me any good to look only at the bad sides of things.

I clenched my fist and spoke resolutely.

“My goal is to live a normal life.”

“…It seems like you’ve become a different person since a few days after you entered the tower.”

Well, he’s not wrong. I smiled wider even though my heart was being pricked with guilt.

“Was it too idealistic? I think I went crazy when I saw Your Highness’ face. Because the Prince is so handsome.”

“……”

“Of course. I’ve come to my senses now, so Your Highness doesn’t need to worry.”

But because I thought I should change the subject, I asked Albert a question instead.

“Prince, how about you? What are you going to do once we leave this place?”

Albert blinked, as though he didn’t expect that I’d ask him the same question.

As he tapped his chin with one finger, he tilted his head to the side.

“I don’t know if I can tell you. You’re the one who trapped me here.”

“Umm…”

“I think it was your plan to be with me for the rest of our lives here.”

But to that, I made a serious expression.

“Your Highness still doesn’t believe me?”

“No.”

I was about to make a disappointed face, but because Albert’s answer came so fast, I was surprised instead.

After that, I just gaped at him because I didn’t know what to say.

As he saw my stunned face, his lips curled up into a smile that was so blinding.

His voice flowed out like a calm wave.

“It was a joke.”

“…Your jokes aren’t funny, Prince.”

Albert nodded.

“I never knew that was the case. It’s the first time I made a joke.”

That sounds about right.

“But I think it’s pretty fun seeing your shocked expression.”

“So, what is Your Highness going to do after getting out?”

The sunlight that seeped into the curtains fell over Albert’s features.

He spoke in a low voice.

“I will be King.”

Why was it that… his face looked lonely to me.

“I have to be King so I can live, Rosé.”

“……”

“It’s a fight that would end only with one person dying. I know this kind of struggle very well.”

I realized that he was talking about his family. His two brothers, who fought until death for the position of a count.

I wondered what kind of life it was, just to survive. But I didn’t ask him. I was a person who didn’t derive to know.

In Albert’s life, I’m nothing.

In order to remain like that, I had to keep this narrow line between us.

Just as he said, Albert would eventually push out Rosteratu and take the throne.

His relationship with me had changed, but Albert’s future remained the same.

I was curious. Would it be the same once Seo Ina appeared?

Would Albert fall in love like he did in the book? Or would he love someone else?

I hope Albert lives well.

It was a scary future, but he’ll achieve great things.

In this world where Albert lives in, killing people was as natural as him exuding charisma yesterday. It was strange from a modern person’s point of view.

Because our worlds were different in the first place.

I listened earnestly to his words.

“And I’ll be very busy after I become King.”

Since he’d have to strengthen his hold on the position, he’d work hard to rule the country and guide the nobles. I nodded.

“Your Highness, it’s good to work hard, but you shouldn’t overwork yourself.”

“Haha… Do you think I’ll do that, Rosé?”

“Yes. Because you’re a perfectionist.”

Albert was good at everything. He was able to rise to his place now because he worked himself like a dog, especially with this physical and mental strength.

But there’s no way that he wouldn’t get tired. Everyone needed to take a break once in a while. He’s such an unrealistic person that I sometimes forget that he’s human.

“I want you to be happy, Prince.”

To me, he’s not just a character in a book, but a person who was right in front of me.

Even if we weren’t close, I still wished him happiness.

Albert stared at me silently without saying a word.

He wouldn’t have expected me to say this. I wondered if there was anyone in his life who wished him the same thing.

As the atmosphere sank heavily, I smiled to try and change the mood.

“I hope you don’t just work every day. It’s nice to relax while eating delicious food. You should know how blissful it is—the powerful combo of sweet and salty!”

“Thank you for worrying about me.”

Albert, who had been sitting by his desk, approached me.

He patted my head just like last time.

His hands were so gentle, so I didn’t move away and just kept silent.

“But, Rosé.”

“Yes?”

I had bowed my head, so I looked up at him again.

With a faint smile, he spoke.

“I don’t exist in your life.”

Albert would be out of my life the moment we left this tower.

I couldn’t say anything to his unexpected question.

As though I was making excuses, I answered.