Life as a Tower Maid: Locked up with the Prince - Chapter 275
Chapter 275
Translator: Yonnee
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Albert entered the room, carrying a pleasant scent as if he had bathed before meeting me.
Upon closer inspection, he seemed to have changed his clothes, wearing something I hadn’t seen before.
He was hiding something from me.
His eyes, red as blood, met mine. Albert ruffled his hair.
“She’s still alive,” he said.
I looked at him intently as he spoke softly. As expected, he had returned from torturing Rosé.
It wasn’t surprising. I had anticipated this since I finished talking to Rosé and left the dungeon.
All this while, Albert had spared Rosé solely for my sake.
Leaving her to live out her last day in peace seemed too unfair, considering the suffering and pain she had caused.
I would have done the same.
Even without such a reason, I would have understood Albert.
I would have justified his actions with any number of reasons.
Because that’s what love is.
Striving to understand every action your partner takes.
Initially, many of Albert’s actions frightened me, but now they seem like distant memories from a bygone era.
Albert came and sat down in front of me, where I was leaning against the bedside.
Taking a deep breath, he placed his hand on the back of mine. His hand, just dried from washing, was warm.
He gave me a smile that was as beautiful as a painting.
“There’s nothing for you to fear. It’s not a side of me you haven’t seen.”
But just because he cleaned up doesn’t mean he can hide the troubled look in his eyes.
And this time, he was mistaken.
“Your eyes still look troubled…”
I murmured, caressing the corners of his eyes. Albert smiled brightly, crinkling the corners of his eyes.
“I’m being considerate because I don’t want you to be afraid.”
I know. He’s holding back for my sake. But we must confront this.
If we gloss over such issues, misunderstandings will only accumulate.
“But what if I want to understand that side of you too?”
Albert’s eyes flickered in response to my words, his lips sealed.
“…You’d be afraid. I know you will.”
“Overcoming that is what love is, so…”
I want you to share everything with me. Holding his hand gently, I spoke again.
“And you can stop making Schubert skulk around.”
At my words, he exhaled softly and pursed his lips.
His apprehensive face showed he wanted to hide the truth from me.
“I’ll be by your side as much as you want.”
No matter how long it would take to ease his fears, my answer wouldn’t change.
Despite my words, Albert took his time to respond.
“Are you disappointed?”
It didn’t matter how I found out.
What mattered most to him now was how I was feeling after learning the truth. I quickly shook my head.
“How could I be disappointed? It’s just…”
I pondered what he’d most want to hear.
Though I knew words alone couldn’t alleviate anxiety, this was also a way for me to show my care for him.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t give you that level of trust.”
Because that’s my sincere sentiment toward Albert.
Honest conversations can make many things possible.
“I never truly intended to leave you, but it always seems my fault when situations turn out that way.”
“Don’t even think such nonsense.”
Albert firmly cut me off. I knew he would interject. I continued.
“This is how I really feel, what you didn’t know.”
And then, resting my forehead against Albert’s shoulder, I whispered.
“So, tell me everything without hiding it.”
After a moment, I raised my head and looked directly at Albert.
Albert’s voice, holding the back of my head gently, deepened.
“Even if I said I wanted to lock you up and have you only look at me for the rest of your life?”
I had expected as much, having heard the surface of it while we were still in the tower. I nodded thoughtfully.
“…I’ll try. Because I love you.”
“Even if I wanted to keep everyone who talks to you away from you?”
…Hmm, I could understand this as separation anxiety from not being able to see each other for a year.
Of course, it would require ample time for treatment.
“It’s okay to be jealous. That’s acceptable too.”
Albert squeezed his eyes shut, then reopened them.
Our eyes met, his pupils nearly invisible to me.
It was like looking into the depths of the unknown, a chill slowly creeping over my body. Albert exhaled a short breath as he looked at me.
“……”
The face staring at me already knew I was frightened.
“Hey, my reaction now is a physiological response. You should know that, but I guess you don’t know me as well as you think.”
In other words, I’m saying we needed to learn more about each other. I gripped his hand tightly, widening my eyes.
To show that I wouldn’t always be scared. Albert watched my actions and chuckled lightly.
“See? If you had just told me your true feelings, I would have accepted everything. Why worry unnecessarily?”
“…Yes, it was needless worry.”
Albert murmured softly, then pressed his forehead against mine and muttered.
“How could I not love you?”
He pulled away from my forehead and embraced me tightly. His warm embrace felt as refreshing as the ocean and as cozy as a deep forest.
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