CH 9

Clank, clink, clank.

The thought of the crown prince using the hot springs made my arms work harder. I rubbed, wiped and scrubbed everything I could get my hands into.

I felt a little sad that no one had used the hot springs after cleaning them every day, but now maybe someone would come to use them.

I didn’t realize I was getting tired of the anticipation.

“You’re the new slave, right?”

“Oh, my god.”

I almost dropped the cloth as I cleaned with complete concentration. Judging by the black dress and white apron, she must be a palace maid.

“You’re much prettier than the rumors, aren’t you?”

Is that an attack? A compliment? I couldn’t tell.

“And this place, it’s even bigger than the rumors as well.”

She didn’t come in, just stuck her head out, looking here and there. I could see the shape of her mouth.

“Seth. That’s you, right? I’m Mary, and I’ve gotten permission from the slave master. He’s currently short-handed so can you help me for a while?”

The night was still young, and I figured I could come back and finish up later. So I nodded.

“We’re always short-handed here at the palace, and I could really use some helping hands. No one wants to volunteer because they’re scared.”

Mary seemed like a very sociable person. The palace must have purposely attracted good-natured people.

“Can you please help move these bundles? We’re running out of time to set up, and they’re supposed to be here next week.”

“Next week?”

“Yes. He always comes during the Princess’ Death Anniversary.”

“Oh…”

So there was actually an anniversary for the princess.

“Oh, you can leave it there!”

“Yes.”

The interior of the crown prince’s palace wasn’t as fancy as I expected. But then again, everything in sight must be expensive. I walked, trying not to let anything touch my body as much as possible.

“Ladder coming up. Everyone out of the way.”

“Wait. The painting needs to be further left.”

“Yikes. Someone touched the scented candle!”

It was late at night, but there were signs of people scurrying about. The “Bundles,” as the maid Mary called them, were curtains and bed sheets. Other slaves came and helped move them as well.

At first I wondered where the crown prince’s room was, but then I got tired and counted the days until it was finally over. Each sheet was light, but stacked together they were quite heavy. Moreover, I wanted to finish cleaning the hot spring one more time, which only made me feel busier.

“Oh, this is hard work.”

I helped the maid out, got caught by the gardener, ran one more errand, and returned to the hot springs. I wanted to call it a day and go home, but I couldn’t.

Splash.

I splashed water on my face to wake up. Then crossed my arms and breathed in for a while. After that, I stared at the statues and inspected every nook and cranny. I’m going to make them glow, and blind everyone!

I polished them again, wiping them clean even though they were already clean. A strange thrill rose in the pit of my stomach.

Perhaps I was meant to do this.

(T/N: When you got used to being a slave after almost a decade.)

“Ah, finally done.”

It was perfect. I couldn’t have done any better. I never thought I’d put so much effort into cleaning a hot spring. I smiled.

“Go, go, go.”

My limbs were aching. I didn’t realize it until I started moving them, but when I thought that I was finally done, I let out a loud scream.

“Ohh good.”

Satisfied, I laid on the polished floor for a moment. It was warm, always a pleasant temperature, and as I lay on my back, it seemed to ease my fatigue.

“Mmmmm.”

My body was warm but stiff. My bones felt like they were creaking. I stretched my limbs. They were cool and tingling. I counted to ten and decided to indulge myself for a moment. One, two, three, four…

⚘

I opened my eyes in a flash.

I must have fallen asleep during the counting, and now it’s time to wake up.

“!”

Suddenly, a cold sweat broke out on my warm back. It felt cold, like the hot spring had suddenly turned to ice. I was still lying down, so I turned my head to look at the side.

“Hah.”

I sucked in a breath, jerked my upper body up, but it seemed too broken to listen. When you’re too surprised, your mind immediately goes blank. I didn’t even manage to sit up properly, my gaze was already fixed. It took me a while to comprehend what was happening.

In the hot springs that I’ve polished every day, ‘He’ was sitting on a stepping stone that leads to the bath. He was wearing a loose shower robe and leaning forward with his arms resting slightly on his legs.

‘It will rarely happen, but if you ever see the royal family, even from afar. then you must bow down. Immediately.’

“Ah.”

I suddenly remembered Eva’s voice. It was clear that my survival instincts had taken over. I had to stay true to my slave instincts. I rolled onto my upper body and hung my head.

‘You’re crazy.’

Sleeping in a hot spring, and as a slave? I’d rather ask them to kill me.

‘It’s crazy! I’m crazy!’

I cursed at myself. As I rolled over, his ankle immediately came into view. I could see the deep gash that was just beginning to heal. It must have hurt like hell and he’s still putting up with it.

“You must be crazy.”

His low voice rang out. It was a low voice, like the sound of water in a hot spring. Of course I’m crazy, I’m crazy, how dare I, a slave.

“Get up.”

In fact, even if I was a slave, it was still my first time lying down in front of someone like this, and I scrambled to my feet so there would be no mistake with my words.

“Show your face.”

All that’s left is punishment, and I wonder if he will give me a pass if he had any regard for our past. I should try to appeal to him. So I lifted my head slowly.

“It looks so real.”

“What?”

I asked, unable to read his expression. I wondered if he was angry or tired, maybe because he was the master of this place. His presence loomed larger than it had in the cave.

“Come closer.”

He wasn’t going to punish me directly, right? Honestly, if a slave was caught lying on his back in the hot springs, he’d have to be prepared for punishment. I clenched my fists and took another step towards him.

He tilted his head back a little and looked up at me. The aggression in his face had only increased. My heart was pounding in my chest. His face, completely devoid of blood, was like a statue. Everything about it was perfect, as if someone had sculpted it to perfection. Even the black hair, slightly damp from the humidity, was not good for the heart.

“Smile.”

A cold sweat broke out on my back. Why had the crown prince arrived so early, when he was supposed to come tomorrow? The maids must have been in a frenzy. If he had arrived as planned, then I would have been able to return to my quarters as if nothing had happened.

“I apologize. Your Highness. I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

‘I’ve never laid here before. I swear, I’ve never been a slacker during work hours. But this is the first time I’ve ever laid down, and I’ve fallen asleep. It’s a shame, but I can’t help it. I wonder if I should get down on my stomach, maybe even my knees.’

“Huh?”

I tried to kneel, but my forearms were grabbed. A moment’s strength pulled me back up and a large warm hand was hot where it touched me.

“You…!”

He clamped his other hand over his mouth. His golden eyes were trembling as never before.

“It was not an illusion.”

“What?”

“…Seth.”

Time seemed to have stood still for a moment. The sound of the water in the hot springs faded, and my memories flashed back to the past. As if the name was the key.

I was back in the cold cave on the salt island. I could still see him bearing his pain inside. I could hear the clanking of chains right next to my ears. Then I looked at his wrists, which were now unmarked. I could still smell the blood from that day.

His fingers slowly approached. A slightly trembling hand brushed the tip of my nose, brushed my cheek, brushed my eyebrows. It never fully touched me, just brushed past me like a warm breeze.

With each passing finger, I couldn’t help but bite my lip anxiously. The salt island exploded, and many people died. I thought I could have stopped it somehow, but I failed. Still, I rode the caravan to the crown prince’s palace, picked up some odd jobs, and rode another caravan, then did it over and over again until I reached the palace.

The truth is, it wasn’t easy, it was very difficult, and I felt like telling him everything. I wanted to tell him that I was glad that he had come, that he had worked hard, that he had done well. I could feel the slightest tremor in his eyes, like he was happy to see me.

That alone made all the time slip away. I felt a tickling sensation that something inside me was melting away. He had grown up, and the lines on his body were thicker. But I could still see the bleeding, lonely face of his past. Impulsively, I wanted to stroke that same face, so I clasped my hands together.

“You’re alive.”

He said, while feeling the pulse behind my ear. It was a small whisper, like something you say to yourself. It was like he was relieved that I was alive, like he’d been wishing I was alive all along. I stared at his face, mesmerized.

“I didn’t even know you were here, and I…”

He closed his eyes tightly for a moment. Something about the look pained me, and I quickly spoke.

“Thanks to the priest, I’m here.”

“He saved you.”

“Yes. He wrote me a letter of recommendation.”

He didn’t take his eyes off me, as if I were going to disappear, and I met his deep golden gaze, uncomfortable but not unwilling. A slave looking a royalty in the eye, I couldn’t look away, even though I knew it would be an instant punishment.

“I see. So now I don’t have to look for the body.”

His tone was calm, and devoid of emotion. But the words made my head spin. ‘I don’t have to look for a body…’ Does that mean he has been looking for my body all these time?

“No way, you were looking for me…?”

“Because I couldn’t pick you up.”

I thought I was the only one who remembered those words. They kept ringing in my ears, so much so that later I doubted I’d actually heard them. He sounded as if he’d done something wrong. It almost sounded like he was apologizing.

No, but I know someone told me that. Because I had Someone who believed in me. Oh how much, How much those words, those promises to pick me up, meant to me.

“Why are you crying?”

I’m not the kind of person who cries in front of others. I shouldn’t be crying. My vision kept blurring. I could feel my shoulders shaking. A hot lump rose and fell in my throat.

I wiped at my eyes with my hand, but the moisture quickly returned. I could see the corner of his eye crinkle. His long fingers brushed my cheek as if to wipe away a tear. But he still didn’t touch them, just flicked them away.

“Hah.”

It was a very small sound, but I could hear him exhale deeply, and I could tell he was concentrating on it, straining his whole body. Like someone holding something in.

“Seth.”

He released his grip on my arm as he said my name and took a step back. I wanted to take a closer look at his face, but my vision keeps blurring.

“…You can step back.”

I tried to tell myself that I was being asked to leave because I wasn’t supposed to be inside the hot springs around this time, even though deep down I knew it wasn’t true. His fingers didn’t even touch me, and his fist curled into a ball. Something didn’t sit right with me.

I was embarrassed to be crying, so I bowed my head deeply. Maybe he wanted to hide his complicated feelings, but I was grateful that he hadn’t forgotten me, that he remembered me.

“Your Highness.”

I didn’t know what he would think, but I felt I had to say what was on my mind.

“Thank you for looking for me.”

I was embarrassed to show my face, so I bowed deeply once more and walked out of the hot spring.

But it was silent except for the sound of the water still running inside. There was no other sound.