Life As A Tower Maid: Locked Up With The Prince

Mercy listened to Albert’s answer while looking straight at him the whole time. But now, she bowed her head deeply once, then raised her head again.

She lost.

“Then, time is of essence, Your Majesty. Please go.”

There had never been a time that Albert’s choices had disappointed Mercy.

And his choice this time would certainly be the right one, too.

“Your Majesty should decrease your workload. No, not just that, please definitely lessen it. I’ll talk to Duke Liam and Schubert first, then I’ll use my illusory magic.”

Albert had enough capacity to juggle his duties and his search for Jung-in at the same time, but at the end of the day, he was still human.

If he were to work nonstop, it’s only obvious that his body would break down eventually.

With Mercy’s illusory magic, even if Albert was away, she could make other people see that he was still there.

If she were to help him like this, then Albert would have more time to find Jung-in.

With a smile perched upon his lips, Albert soared into the sky.

This was the start of his work.

* * *

I easily got permission from Emmett to go on an outing with Albert.

He even agreed right away the moment I brought it up.

“I was about to go out today, too, actually.”

Of course, Emmett wasn’t going out just to spy on us. He was a busy man who had other things to do.

According to today’s agenda for the festival, a fireworks display would be held by the mages.

Apart from that, since Emmett was told that the lord of the magic tower was going to be in attendance, he finally decided to set his plan into motion.

And the plan in question was none other than… extorting money from the lord of the magic tower. It’s ridiculous!

When Albert heard about it, he was naturally astonished and he tried his best to dissuade his teacher. However, the child’s warnings fell on deaf ears.

After hearing such a thing, Albert couldn’t sit still and ended up going out.

The weather was especially cold today. Worried that Albert might catch a cold, I firmly put layers and layers on him.

A fur coat, a warm scarf and the beanie we bought last time. After being sufficiently clothed, Albert became as fluffy as a cute little bear.

I couldn’t believe I was given the chance to see my beloved during his childhood like this. I knew it was an ordeal, but at this moment, I was blessed with the kind of fortune that would never happen again in my lifetime.

Just looking at Albert filled me with joy.

That aside, all the time I made sure he was eating properly was worth it. Albert’s face had become slightly plumper.

It was a small thing, but it was a big change for me, as someone who looked at him every day. It’s only a given, since all my care and attention were focused on Albert and Albert alone.

For someone who’s to become a heartbreaker in the future, was it really allowed for him to be this adorable now?

I couldn’t resist the temptation in the end—I hugged Albert very tightly. I couldn’t bear it without holding Albert in my arms.

“Albeeeeert…”

How can anyone be thiiiis cute? Hm? How??

“Can’t… breathe…!”

Albert broke free of my hug with a bright red face.

Though reluctant, I let him go. Of course, I shouldn’t continue if he couldn’t breathe.

“You were just so cool that I couldn’t help myself.”

“…Cool, you say, yet you were cuddling me like that?”

“I’m just saying—that’s your charm.”

Having praised Albert once more, I took his hand and prepared the spell for our traverse through the sky.

However, with Noir in his arms, Emmett asked while slightly tilting his head to the side.

“You don’t have to walk there. I can just teleport us.”

But if we teleport, we won’t be able to walk beneath this pretty night sky. I recalled how Albert had taken my hand back then, walking together with me across the starry expanse.

It was so lovely that I wanted to see it again.

Then I caught sight of it. The corners of Albert’s lips lowered as though he was sad to hear that we were going to teleport instead!

“I like taking strolls at night though. The sky is clear tonight, too, so it’d be nice to look at the stars.”

“……”

“But honestly, I’m too afraid to go alone. Can you come with me, Albert? I know you’re still mad at me, but…”

When I trailed off, Albert just took my hand and clasped it tightly, acting as though he was doing me a great favor.

“Then, it can’t be helped. Let’s walk.”

But the smile on his face couldn’t be denied.

As Albert opened the window, the wind made his gray hair flutter faintly. His moderately round forehead was exposed to the breeze.

“Wow…”

His ruby eyes, looking out into the night sky, were just so pretty.

And within his gaze was a kind of innocence that was still intact. It was completely different from when he was in front of Duke Masen earlier.

For a moment, I thought— I wish Albert could just live a peaceful life.

Had he lived the kind of life that would have preserved his smile, even if he’d be less mature than he was now, he would have been much happier.

But regardless of anything, in the end, I would still love him.

“Let’s go.”

With the night sky as the backdrop behind him, Albert turned to me and took my hand.

Seeing us like that, Emmett just shrugged his shoulders.

“I don’t quite like feeling the biting wind on my skin, so I’ll see you at the festival instead.

And along with Noir, Emmett disappeared. He’s seriously so smooth with handling his magic.

Before stepping out the window, I put on a fly spell on both me and Albert.

My white hair sparkled in contrast to the dark night sky.

Nevertheless, the ocean of stars above shone even more brightly compared to the first time I had walked through the air.

And just like the first time we did this, we enjoyed walking through the evening sky.