Life as a Tower Maid: Locked up with the Prince - Chapter 66

TM has been completely translated on Patreon

Chapter 66

Translator: Yonnee

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“Am I really someone you can easily trust?”

“You’re asking a weird question.”

“…No, it’s just, it hasn’t been long since you’ve met me, Prince. It’s a bit burdensome to receive your trust.”

That’s right. His blind trust was quite heavy as it was. The same was true of how the way he thought of me changed so easily and so quickly while we’re confined alone here.

What on earth did Albert see in me that he could change his mind just like that?

Albert tucked back a lock of my hair behind my ear.

“It’s easier than you think to see just what kind of person you are, Rosé.”

“……”

“That’s why I also know—it’s difficult to meet someone like you.”

Someone like me… what. It’s much obliged to hear such words from Albert.

“And there are times when I wonder if you’re the one I’ve been waiting for all this time.”

I couldn’t understand the meaning behind what he whispered just now. The one you’ve been waiting for? I don’t think the original story mentioned something about a person Albert’s been waiting for all his life.

Even so, the questions that formed in my mind soon evaporated.

“It’s true, what you said about being burdened because of me.”

“……”

“But isn’t this a good way to shackle you to me?”

“…Shackle?”

“You’re still thinking about leaving me.”

Albert’s matter-of-fact tone left me speechless.

“I have no intention of sending you away.”

And at his low-pitched words, his eyes glinted with a strange light. I could see a momentary flash of madness burgeoning within his persistent gaze.

“…But the contract?”

“The contract will still be fulfilled. Though I never said I’d let you go so far away from me, it seems like you’re planning to do just that.”

…This prince was always so many steps ahead. I really couldn’t win against him. The land in the capital was definitely going to be more expensive. If he wants me to be near him, then I’d feel just how big the gap between the rich and the poor was even more—yet he didn’t seem to mind this.

No, perhaps he never even thought about it. Considering his position, it wouldn’t be the first thing on his mind.

I couldn’t even openly say, ‘Yes, I really was planning to never see you again after leaving the tower, Prince.’

But even as he was taking such risks for me, I couldn’t lie either and say, ‘Alright, I’ll only be by the Prince’s side for the rest of my life.’

I mean, I do think Albert will wake up and be hit with the truth of reality later, too. Because he’s a wise person.

Eventually, I chose not to say anything. And I knew that Albert could also surmise why I closed my lips like this.

Even so, Albert’s eyes curved beautifully into two crescent moons. He looked at me with a satisfied expression.

“Silence isn’t bad either.”

“……”

“But rather than a voluntary silence, it’s better if this silence is something I’ve induced.”

The hand resting at the nape of my neck pulled me in gently. Albert’s lips got closer.

“Rosé.”

As he called my name, the tacit question hovered in the air between us. I willed myself to stay silent,

“I’m someone who’d collapse—who’d fall—just for you.”

Until Albert said this.

Would there ever come a day when I’d be able to win against this man? I let out a sigh.

Understanding my unspoken consent, Albert’s lips took my breath away.

The kiss was short, expressing how he cared for me as I was sick.

Yet, it was still so intense.

* * *

Albert made all the preparations for our departure. He also successfully copied my handwriting for the weekly reports I had to submit to Rosteratu, writing them all himself.

In the meantime, I took advantage of my good relationship with the stationed soldiers. They agreed to receive my reports two weeks in advance.

Albert once again put a coat over me as we were getting ready to step out of the tower. I could barely stand because it felt like someone was constantly hammering at my head.

“I’ll warn you now—the moment we go out, you might feel even worse pain.”

“…Because the hex is going to be triggered.”

Despite feeling terribly nervous, I nodded. After finishing our preparations to leave the tower, I held Blanc in my arms.

“Sick… people… can chaaange…”

“Yes, Blanc. We’re going out so that I can get better.”

Albert then beckoned for me to come closer to him. I steeled my resolve, thinking that we’d have to walk again like before, though I was worried about how painful the headache was going to be.

“Fly.”

The same way we left the tower last time, Albert uttered the spell, his voice resounding against the silence.

Then, we flew up in the darkness of the night.

“Huh…?”

The headache I was so worried about didn’t worsen, but rather than that, I was more surprised about something else.

As we soared into the sky, Albert was holding me in a princess carry just like in the fairytales.

“It’ll be faster if we travel like this.”

“Your Highness isn’t the type to say nonsense after all.”

I readily acquiesced. At this, Albert smirked. He seemed to like my answer.

“I’m glad you believe me.”

With Blanc in my arms, and me in Albert’s embrace, we traveled at a much faster pace as though he couldn’t feel our weight.

Actually though, I was glad that I wouldn’t need to look at the scenery below. I was still feeling very nervous, even as I was in his arms.

I tried to shut my eyes,

“Don’t close your eyes.”

Until I heard Albert’s words.

I hurriedly answered.

“It’s scary looking down.”

“Then just look at me.”

While Albert said this with a light tone, he glanced at me for a moment and met my gaze.

As though saying, yes, just like that.

t/n: don’t mind me over here, just feeling really soft and vulnerable while i have ‘felt this way’ by crj on loop the whole time i was translating, bye