Life as a Tower Maid: Locked up with the Prince - Chapter 46

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Chapter 46

Translator: Yonnee

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It seemed like moving away from the tower wouldn’t completely make him free. I don’t know the pain he was going through because I never experienced it, but the traps that Rosteratu had placed must not have been easy to overcome.

Albert stared at me languidly.

“I can’t believe I’m confiding in you so obediently, but I guess I’m also rather relieved.”

“……”

“Normally, you wouldn’t be this frank.”

Then, looking down, I murmured softly.

“Don’t be too surprised.”

After dipping the towel into the basin and squeezing out the water, I placed the towel on Albert’s forehead.

What should I do with this guy?

If he showed me his weak side like this, it’ll make me want to comfort him. Because I knew he was human, too. And because I had also experienced something similar.

After contemplating it for a moment, I eventually opened my lips to speak.

“Prince. Please don’t feel pressured just because I pointed it out.”

Albert smiled half-heartedly.

“I know.”

The steadfast answer touched my heart.

…No, don’t be shaken. You’re just trying to cheer him up now.

I don’t know what kind of life he’s been living. I can’t even comprehend what kind of position he was in.

All I know is what Albert has shown me inside this tower. That was just a part of him as a whole.

So I can respect his choice.

But it doesn’t end there.

“If you’re sick, please tell me you’re sick.”

I don’t know what kind of gaze I have now, or what kind of expression I’m making.

Albert stared at me for a long time before he answered in a hushed tone.

“…Okay.”

When I heard his weak answer, I surmised that maybe I was saying the words that he wanted to hear.

“If you’re sad or having a hard time, please say that you are.”

“…Okay.”

Wasn’t it too tragic to live without having a friend you can confide in?

“I’m a bit dense, so I won’t know unless Your Highness tells me.”

If there’s no reason to make excuses, then just make a reason for it.

“I know what kind of virtues you must uphold as a prince, but if Your Highness can pay a little attention to this impertinent maid’s request, that would be nice.”

Has Albert ever told anyone that he was in pain?

He might feel that it’s unpleasant to say it, though it wouldn’t be his own thoughts but his convictions doing this. He and I lived in different worlds, but even I can see this.

“Prince, can you let me know how you’re doing right now?”

“Don’t you already know, Rosé?”

Seeing him narrow his eyes, I smiled brightly.

“No, Prince. Like I said, I’m a bit dense.”

At times like these, I realized how fortunate it was that I’m a maid.

Albert doesn’t have to keep up formalities with me. Until the end, there wasn’t any reason for him to hide his feelings from me. Because I’m not a noblewoman who’s in the same league as him.

“Please say you’re sick.”

“I think you want to hear it more than I want to say it.”

“Please say it anyway.”

Albert couldn’t help but chuckle. Then, he spoke.

“I’m sick.”

It was a nice gesture, much like indulging a child to grant their wish. But it didn’t end there.

After he spoke, a moment of silence stretched between us.

Albert blinked.

He looked away, then his gaze headed back to me.

It was a strange gaze.

“How fascinating it is, just saying it. You can feel this way just by uttering those words.”

I don’t know exactly how Albert was feeling.

However, just by looking at his expression, it can be guessed that he was feeling something new.

It was a blessing to say that you’re sick when you’re sick, and to say that you’re sad when you’re sad.

I just wanted him to know about it a little.

Albert was still staring at me.

At the intense gaze, I grew shy, so I tried to avoid his eyes. I stood up.

“I’ll go bring some water for you, Prince.”

But then Albert held my hand.

Just as Albert usually did, his touch was neither too strong nor too light.

I turned back to look at him.

While he was lying down, it was so strange to see him looking up at me.

I was always looking up at him, but there were rarely any times that it was the other way around.

Like the day I cut his hair.

Albert spoke.

“I still don’t know why you wanted me to tell you that I’m sick, Rosé.”

“But I think you’ve already realized it.”

“Didn’t you say you’re a bit dense?”

“I have this much tact, Your Highness.”

At what I replied, Albert was silent for a moment. I don’t think I’d ever seen him actually speechless before.

“Why do you want to know whenever I’m sick, Rosé?”

“Because I’m the one who takes care of Your Highness.”

But Albert didn’t let go of the topic there. His red irises were like the deep color of a sun setting over a horizon.

Then, with a voice that was like a chain over my neck, like a trap that I wouldn’t be able to get out of, he said,

“Why do you want me to tell you I’m sad whenever I am?”

He wanted a proper answer.

After a while, I answered.

“It’s only human nature—a fundamental conduct that a person has to call them human.”

But of course, this would be something unfamiliar in Albert’s perspective.

And of course, I knew exactly why Albert asked that question.

There’s nothing special about him treating me in this way, so even if it completely slipped past him, he knew that this behavior was unexpected.

The fact that he regards me as a woman.

Of course, a man and a woman didn’t always have to be in that kind of relationship. If we avoid physical contact from now on, we may be able to maintain an appropriate relationship.

Romance won’t solve everything. It’s easy for him to come closer to me, but it wouldn’t be easy for me to approach him at all.

“Even until the bitter end, you won’t say what I want to hear.”

Albert smiled bitterly. However, rather than an amused smile, it was more like he was smiling in vain.