Life as a Tower Maid: Locked up with the Prince - Chapter 58

TM has been completely translated on Patreon

Chapter 58

Translator: Yonnee

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Albert glanced at me and raised the corners of his lips.

“You did a good job.”

It was a smile that Albert did only whenever he was in a good mood. A wave of relief washed over me only then.

Those words seemed light, but they weighed a lot more to me. After hearing this, I felt a lot better.

“That’s a relief.”

I smiled broadly with pride.

After that, I wiped him off and changed him into new clothes again, just as I did this morning.

This was the second time I was doing it, so it’s easier than the first time… It was so much more nerve-wracking the first time to the point that I felt like dying.

Physical contact with Albert made me feel the same things no matter how many times it happened. It’s the same as with me not ever getting used to his looks.

After changing his clothes, I made dinner for him. I made porridge already, so I cooked some additional stir-fried potatoes and fresh kimchi. Except for the other ingredients, only the potatoes were chopped as strips and cooked in oil. Stir-fried potatoes were the perfect quick side dish to pair with rice.

I gave a serving of the potatoes and some porridge to Blanc, then I went back up to the room and ate dinner together with Albert.

Fresh kimchi matched anything and everything. When I took a spoonful of porridge and garnished it with the spicy kimchi on top, the flavors went well together.

The prince’s headache was getting better, too. Though of course, he always just kept saying he was fine. But just to be certain, I observed that the times he frowned or clenched his hands into fists had gotten lesser.

It was entirely Albert’s fault that I’d become this good at reading people’s mannerisms.

However, this time, another problem sprung up.

It was my own physical condition.

Albert’s sickness wasn’t even a cold that I could catch, but my head also started to throb as though I’d caught the bug from him.

It felt like someone was hammering on my head. But I didn’t show that I was in pain because I wasn’t the patient.

I was used to enduring like this, too. And, well really, I was used to pain as well. It’s not a big deal for an office worker to have a light migraine.

I thought it would get better as time passed by.

That’s why I let it happen.

So, since Albert had now gotten better,

“…Rosé?”

This time, I was the one who collapsed in pain.

* * *

Rosé’s physical constitution seemed to be weaker than I originally thought.

But rather than the fact that I’d fallen ill, what flustered me more was Albert’s overprotective reaction.

I tried to refuse, but Albert laid me back down on the bed. There was also that unexpected touch.

It was unfair that he said I agreed to it while I was half-asleep, but it was fine since he let me lay down on the bed.

Anyway, now that I was here with our roles switched entirely, Albert stared down at me with a serious expression.

“Hm…”

Albert placed his hand over my forehead, which was so warm that his hand felt cool. He compared our temperatures by alternately touching my forehead and then his own.

With a tone that expressed how he couldn’t understand the situation, he muttered.

“It wasn’t an illness that could have been transferred to you. This is strange.”

I had the same questions, really. I took in a shaking puff of breath and spoke slowly.

“At least, I don’t think it was something I caught from Your Highness… But I also don’t know why I’m sick like this…”

The headache got worse and worse.

“I had cast a spell so that the tower’s magic wouldn’t be passed to you, so why…”

Albert’s murmurs rang loudly in my ears. It felt like someone was shouting right next to me.

“…I-I feel cold, too…”

Did I catch a cold while we were in the north?

My symptoms were similar to what Albert had felt, but at the same time, it was different. I also broke out in cold sweat, but I didn’t have a fever.

I decided to look at this situation positively. It couldn’t be helped because I was sick anyway, but.

“I’m glad that you’re all better, Prince.”

Anyway, Albert was standing in front of me, and he looked a whole lot better. That’s enough for me.

I felt comforted by the fact that the person I was taking care of was now not sick anymore. Psychological pain was much crueler than physical pain.

“I can’t believe this…”

Albert laughed in disbelief as he heard my words, then he ruffled my bangs. Crackle, crackle. Static electricity suddenly appeared right then.

“Ack! Prince, it’s prickly!”

When I protested, Albert sighed and straightened my hair again. As though he was shaping pottery, his touch was delicate.

Since the situation was like this, I should rest well. I made up my mind like that. As though I was determined to cash in on my monthly leave from work, I declared firmly.

“Prince, let me have a break from work for a while.”

“I really can’t believe this…”

Albert pinched the tip of my nose lightly, but soon let go. Ouch… You’re just hurting me more.

“Prince, it hurts…”

As I protested with all my might, Albert replied with a low voice.

“Do I seem like a person who’d still make you work when you’re like this?”

Only then did I realize he was a little angry. Oh, he did deserve to be angry. Albert’s gaze, which had been looking around over my face without anything to focus on until now, reached my eyes.

His eyelashes fluttered as though they were butterfly wings as he blinked. His eyes shone like rubies.

The fingertips that were arranging my hair soon swept down to my jawline.

This touch, seemingly charged with a lot of conflicting emotions, seemed to want to lift my chin up. However, he soon let go.

Albert whispered quietly.

“Get some rest.”

And his voice was like a pleasant echo to my ears.