Life as a Tower Maid: Locked up with the Prince - Chapter 43

TM has been completely translated on Patreon

Chapter 43

Translator: Yonnee

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Liam, who felt my gaze on him, turned his head for a moment. Then, he stared at me and subsequently nodded indifferently. As if he knew.

His eyes seemed to hold no malice. Though that didn’t mean he held favor for me either.

Like a fog, his gaze was difficult to read. He was completely different from Schubert, who was like an open book. He felt more like a blunt person.

“This must be the loyal vassal Your Highness has told me about.”

“Yes.”

“Please take good care of His Highness.”

It was unexpected that he brought this up with me, for Albert’s sake. Though he didn’t openly show any hostility towards me like Schubert did, I still thought he wouldn’t talk to me.

Perplexed, I nodded and replied.

“Of course.”

And that’s all I said. Time for the main event to start!

I slowly stepped back, and Liam and Albert faced each other again.

I clasped my hands tightly as I watched the two men standing there as if confronting each other. How sad it is that there’s no popcorn here. If it’s not popcorn, just anything to eat would have been great.

Schubert followed Liam into the room, like a puppy following its master.

Schubert’s eyes twitched when he looked at me, but the moment his gaze turned to Albert, they sparkled again.

Are you Jekyll and Hyde?

What a true stan. I reflected on my own shallow fanaticism as I watched Schubert. If I compare myself to him like this, I’m a loooong way off.

Liam sighed and frowned. Because he was still pale, he looked quite sick.

“Your Highness has used up so much mana, and you’re probably in a bad condition because you had to deal with the dark magic that was in me, sire. Why must you overdo it?”

Liam tried to keep Albert here.

Albert just shook his head with a calm face.

“You’re better, so there’s no reason to stay any longer.”

He was working hard while I was just sleeping. There must have been nothing I could do anyway, but I was feeling abashed for no reason.

Albert’s eyes narrowed.

“I counteracted the spell on the tower, but it’s still unstable. It’ll be better to return quickly because I don’t know when they’ll figure it out.”

He laid out the facts in a low voice.

“It will be better for us to return, Liam.”

Liam bit his lower lip and replied in a smaller voice.

“…No matter what I say, I know that Your Highness will go.”

Albert smirked.

“I understand what you’re worried about, but it’s really nothing. While leaving my spot, I still work hard while taking care of myself. It’s not like Rosteratu can be overthrown overnight.”

“Yes, I’ve been careless this time. Even if Your Highness punishes me later, I’ll accept it sweetly.”

…Whenever they exchanged words, it sounded like sweet nothings whispered between lovers—like a star-crossed couple who didn’t want to leave each other’s side.

I’ve just been appreciating their different charms while they were talking to each other, but really, this isn’t bad either. I approve of this kind of development.

While staring hard at Albert, our eyes suddenly met.

I thought about whether I should react or not, but I just flashed him a finger heart. One corner of Albert’s lips went up.

It’s a sign that he liked it.

With a calm expression, Albert continued to talk to Liam.

“Did you bring what I told you about?”

“Yes, here it is.”

Liam nodded and handed Albert a pouch. I wonder what’s inside, but I’ll just ask Albert later.

“Rosé, take this.”

Albert tossed the pouch towards me, and I caught it by chance.

“Your Highness, what’s this…?”

Raising one eyebrow, Albert gave a confident smile.

“I’ll give you a chance to take whatever you want in here.”

…Huh?

I was about to ask him again, but Albert beat me to the punch.

“It’s a dimensional pouch that expands inside. You can put whatever you want in it and take them out later.”

This ugly, ordinary-looking pouch has that kind of secret feature?

“Go ahead. We have to leave by dawn.”

Albert repeated what he said about leaving earlier.

And it hit me again—it’s really time to go back to the tower.

I shouldn’t have slept. I should have walked around more. If we’re going back anyway, why did I only stay in this room.

I couldn’t breathe.

No matter how optimistic I was, it wasn’t easy to be trapped in such a small space.

And more than that, since I came out like this and experienced again how wide and free this world truly was, I regretted it even more even though it was too late.

Since it’s like that…

It was a chicken instead of a pheasant.^[1]

With a determined expression, I asked.

“Can I really take anything I want?”

“Yes.”

“Prince, you’re the one who gave me permission.”

“Yes, yes. Do as you please.”

“Alright.”

Running close to the bed, I started my mission.

* * *

I folded the blankets one by one and wondered how it could possibly fit in the pouch, but when I brought the pouch near it, the blanket just went right in.

Where did the law of conservation of mass go when it comes to this mysterious item…? As expected, magic is a mystery.

With the determination to take all household items in this room, I packed almost everything.

I also swiped all the books in the bookshelves, some frames, vases, pillows and tables that I could pick up with my two hands.

Firm on my back were the gazes of Albert, Liam and Schubert, but I was determined. Pride won’t feed me.

If I do all this now, it can help me live in confinement in the tower with better physical and mental health.

Thanks to me moving quickly, I got finished right away.

After finally getting one last tapestry into the pouch, I turned around and looked at Albert.

“Your Highness, I have faithfully obeyed your command.”

Albert smiled as he looked at the empty room. Then, he glanced back at me and spoke in a languid tone.

“Good girl, Rosé.”

Behind Albert, Liam looked lost while Schubert was just straight up astonished.

It was clear that their first impression of me was still clearly instilled, however I don’t know if this change was a good or a bad thing.

¹ a korean proverb. the main idea of this proverb is that even if the best choice isn’t something that’s on hand (pheasant), what you have right now (chicken) is better that nothing. ↩