Life as a Tower Maid: Locked up with the Prince

ght.
You can do it roughly.”

But no, actually it does matter! My meager skills would bring harm to the Prince’s appearance!

“Your Highness, do you really have to leave this to me? Why don’t you just grow it out? I think the Prince will look good with long hair.”

“I’ve already considered it.
Just do as I say.”

But Albert was adamant about it.

Eventually, Albert and I had a compromise.

I’ll cut his hair, but it will be tomorrow.

I really really really don’t want to.
When I told him that I wouldn’t do it, the prince just persuaded me by saying he’d increase the land he’ll give me later.

So I was left with no choice.

I’m a slave to capitalism after all.

 

* * *

 

I took a nap after lunch, then before I set off to cook dinner, I took a pair of scissors.

It was to practice within only one day.
This was to preserve Albert’s beauty.

Imagining that Albert’s hair was right in front of me, I tried to wield the scissors, moving it around.
But after a short while, I gave up right away.

Yep, this isn’t working.
It’s not in my range of skills anyway…

I went down to make chicken.
Maybe he’ll forgive me for cutting his hair roughly if I feed him something delicious.

Blanc was sleeping atop the kitchen counter.

The surface must be too hard for him.
After contemplating for a while, I climbed back up to the attic and took an extra blanket for him.

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Albert, who was immersed in his research again today, looked at me curiously when he saw this.

“Are you going to sleep in the kitchen, Rosé?”

When he narrowed his eyes, his gaze felt cold again.

I quickly answered so that a misunderstanding wouldn’t be formed.

“No, this is for Blanc.
He likes it in the kitchen, but it must be cold in the evening.”

“There are more spells in place in the kitchen, that’s why I can’t go there.
The dragon fledgling could be attracted to that place because it’s filled with magic.”

“Oh, I guess so.
Then, I’ll be downstairs.”

“Sure.”

I turned around and went down the stairs towards the kitchen, keeping my steps careful because the blanket in my arms was blocking my vision.

But even as I was being careful, I took the wrong step.
My body lurched forward right then.

“Ahh…”

It’s going to hurt a lot if I fall down these steps.

I closed my eyes and imagined the worst.

“You have to be more careful, Rosé.”

But I didn’t fall.

Albert’s arm was wrapped around my waist.
I ended up getting a back hug from Albert.

I felt a strange sense of déjà vu.

But still, even if he scolds me here, it’s true that Albert saved me here.

He was able to catch me in an instant and hold me close, and he did this in one fluid motion.

Having watched his exercise sessions before, I realized Albert’s strength for the first time.
The agility and strength he steadily developed all this time had saved my life.

And since I was so near to him, there was a pleasant scent.

I was too close to Albert.
To the point that his hair was tickling my nape.

Goosebumps rose where his hair touched.

Albert whispered softly into my ear.

“Are you alright?”

And his hushed voice gave me even more goosebumps.

My heart pounded for a moment.
This was very wrong.

I nodded quickly.

“Yes.
Thank you very much.”

“You have to be more careful when descending these stairs.”

“Yes, of course.
But there are times when one can only be too careful.”

It’s not my fault this time, Prince.
I really was being careful.

When I protested, Albert raised an eyebrow.”

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“So you didn’t do anything wrong?”

“No, Your Highness is always right.
You saved my life, too.
Prince, are you hungry? I’ll be making chicken today, partly to celebrate you giving your permission to let Blanc stay here.
It takes a long time to make, so—I’ll be on my way!”

I didn’t want to fight with Albert again, so I hurried down the flight of stairs, the blanket still in my arms.

Then as soon as I arrived at the kitchen, I closed the door behind me.

“Wow, seriously… That was dangerous.”

My heart fluttered for a moment.

I placed a hand over my chest, where my heart was still pounding.

I don’t know if it was being so frantic because I almost died just now, or if it was because of Albert.

“Whoa, okay, let’s calm down.
The Prince probably doesn’t think it was a big deal anyway.”

But as I closed my eyes, I could still feel Albert’s touch.

His actions didn’t mean much to him.
If I get excited alone, I’ll be the only one who loses.

I said this over and over like a chant.
Then, I opened my eyes.

“Whaaat…?”

Blanc tilted his head to the side.

“No.
It’s nothing.”

Albert won’t be part of my ordinary life.
I’ll live peacefully with Blanc.

After also muttering this to myself, my heart finally settled down.

I folded the blanket I was holding, then placed it on the countertop.

“Blanc, you won’t be cold in the evening anymore.”

“This is miiine…?”

Blanc’s eyes widened as he asked, then he went up to the counter again.

As he touched the soft blanket with his paw, he soon rubbed his face on it, seeming to like the soft texture.

“I liiike it…”

Blanc really seems like a cute baby dragon when he’s being like this—a child who’s innocent to the world.

But this child was going to die soon.
I couldn’t believe he’ll undergo so many hardships.

I suddenly became curious.
How had Blanc survived thus far?

“Blanc, you said you’re already 499 years old.
How have you been living so far?”

With his head tilted to the side, Blanc replied with a cute smile.
His eyes were really pretty whenever he smiled.

“I was asleeeep…”

“Huh?”

“I just kept sleepiiing… Because I’m a little dragon fledgliiing… I just went into a cave and sleeept…”

Blanc continued speaking in a meandering voice.

“I’ll just go around for a year and see the wooorld… then I’ll diiie… so I just slept all that tiiime… because I’m scaared… of the paaiin…”

Blanc had a cheerful expression despite his words.
This only made my heart hurt even more.