Life as a Tower Maid: Locked up with the Prince - Side Story 1
Side Story 1
Translator: Yonnee
—
Wee-woo, wee-woo! The sirens blared deafeningly.
The sound of people murmuring could be heard, and through the hazy smoke, the fact that an accident had occurred was loudly announced.
In her fading consciousness, the woman muttered through her tears. Blood was flowing from her body, but it was of no importance to her.
What filled her mind now was her daughter who would be at school. Her daughter, who she loved more than anything in the world.
The thought of dying here and leaving behind that child, who always seemed so young to her, made her whole body tremble.
“Jung-in, what should we do…”
The man beside her, half-conscious and dazed, felt the same.
He gritted his teeth and tried to rise but failed.
Whether he had lost too much blood or suffered brain damage from the collision, he had no strength left to move his body.
He feared death. But what terrified him more was the thought of their only daughter being left alone.
Their beloved daughter, whom they could never say ‘I love you’ to enough.
How could they leave that child alone in this harsh world?
They needed to be there to watch, protect, and cheer on her bright smile.
If they both died at the same time, who would be there for her?
Tears streamed down their faces as the couple looked at each other, reaching out their hands.
“Dear, we should at least pray for our Jung-in…”
“Is it you two?”
At that moment, their hazy minds cleared, and they heard a strange voice.
The blood flowing from their bodies stopped, and their heads lifted involuntarily.
The couple blinked in bewilderment as they faced the owner of the voice.
It was something no human could achieve. The surrounding noises faded away, and they felt as if they had suddenly entered another world.
The pain in their bodies felt distant, like a vague memory. Their bodies felt light, as if they had just woken up from a deep sleep.
The man before them, too beautiful to be human, had red eyes that were impossible to see in Korea.
Those eyes, which should have felt alien, sparkled like the twilight, making it hard to look away.
“I am Albert Grey.”
The man introduced himself unexpectedly, pointing to himself.
Is even the Grim Reaper global these days…? They tilted their heads in confusion as Albert continued.
“I cannot change your future.”
His firm answer was the truth.
Albert knew that saving them would erase the Jung-in he knew and alter the future.
It takes significant will and sacrifice to save those destined to die.
Jung-in knew this too, which was why she didn’t insist on seeing this moment when traveling through the past.
He felt the same. He wouldn’t change the fact of their death now.
But as he waited for Jung-in again and formed new bonds with people, he pondered.
He remembered Jung-in’s family, who seemed happier than he was.
Jung-in, left alone, must have struggled, but her parents, who had to leave their beloved daughter, couldn’t have found peace either.
So.
“Jung-in will be happy.”
He thought he could at least tell them how happy Jung-in would be.
So they wouldn’t die in worry and pain.
They were the ones who brought her into this world and raised her. At least, they deserved a proper goodbye.
“Thank you for bringing her into this world.”
Thank you for raising her so preciously and beautifully. Thank you for allowing her to meet me.
Albert cast a spell. The moments he shared with Jung-in filled the couple’s vision.
The times Jung-in spent getting to know Albert played out like a movie.
For the couple, it was a miraculous experience.
It felt unreal, like magic, but the fact that all of this was reality hit them hard.
Seeing Jung-in’s face, a bit older than now, brought tears to the couple’s eyes once again.
Though the series of memories passed, one thing was certain.
“…I don’t know if this is just a hallucination before we die.”
Their daughter was happy.
She might have moments of wandering, but she would ultimately be happy.
With the man who appeared before them.
“…Please take good care of her.”
They could tell the man before them was a good person.
The affection in his eyes when he mentioned their daughter’s name couldn’t be faked.
Albert smiled.
“Likewise.”
The three of them shook hands.
* * *
“Hurry, get them to the emergency room!”
The rescuers who had pulled the couple from the car moved swiftly. A faint smile formed on the couple’s lips as they lay on the stretchers.
And soon, their hands fell limp to the ground.
It was a happier end than before.
Albert watched them quietly.
“I thought we’d meet them right away…”
Standing beside him, Blanc tucked his windblown hair behind his ear and complained softly.
“It’s best to do what we can.”
“I understand…”
Blanc quickly agreed, knowing the reason for their visit here.
But having waited 500 years, he was indeed eager to see Jung-in.
After bidding the couple a respectful farewell, Albert narrowed his eyes.
“Now, shall we go?”
Albert’s words brought a bright smile to Blanc’s face.
“Great!”
The two of them started moving again.
This was before meeting Jung-in again. It was an encounter she would never know about.
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