The Prince's Nanny, Her Specialty Is Assassination - Chapter 26

Chapter 26: Reflection (2)

‘Insolent brat.’

Lloyd, the Second Prince of the Empire, recalled the events from earlier that day.

‘A lowly fool dared to defy me?’

Lloyd despised his half-brother.

‘I hate everything about him.’

His unnecessarily handsome face, the way he was so assertive despite being weak—he hated it all.

The only tolerable traits were his cowardice and quick-wittedness.

That was why it was entertaining to see him grovel when intimidated just a little.

But occasionally, Edwin would deeply offend him.

Like today.

‘A weakling with pride? How laughable.’

Seeing his brother get riled up and rush at him simply because he was struck—it was pathetic.

Watching him desperately climb on top of him was laughable beyond words.

‘And that woman.’

Lloyd recalled the face of the woman who had blocked his way today.

She had clearly identified herself as the Third Prince’s nanny.

“Stop.”

Lloyd, who feared nothing in the world, had felt fear for a moment.

In those mysterious green eyes, there was the intensity of someone who would cut off his arm if he didn’t stop.

She looked as if she wasn’t afraid of a prince at all.

‘Just like that old hag. Disgusting.’

Lloyd remembered the face of someone long dead.

The old woman who had been Edwin’s previous nanny.

Unlike the new one, she had been polite and timid.

But when it came to Edwin, she would lose all sense of restraint.

That was likely why her death came early.

‘Was her name Rachel Brown?’

Grinding his teeth, Lloyd recalled Rachel.

He vowed that one day she would meet the same end as the previous nanny.

“What are you thinking about so deeply, Lloyd?”

At that moment, the woman sitting across from him asked.

The blonde woman dressed in a pale pink gown was incredibly beautiful.

Perhaps it was her sunset-hued eyes and defined features—

She resembled a splendid flame.

A woman as beautiful as fire, yet dangerous enough to burn everything around her in an instant.

Helena Redcliffe. She was the Second Empress of the Ventrume Empire and Lloyd’s birth mother.

“I heard what happened in the garden. You got involved with that fool again.”

Helena twirled the silver goblet in her hand, speaking with clear displeasure.

“I told you not to associate with that thing.”

“Mother, it was him who first—”

“Are you talking back to your mother?”

“But Edwin’s nanny was the one who first—”

Smack!

Before Lloyd could finish, she had already risen and slapped him across the face.

Though it should have been shocking, Lloyd, as if used to it, turned his face back to center.

“Did I give you permission to argue with me?”

Helena glared coldly at her son.

“And stop with the nanny nonsense! That fool was obsessed with his previous nanny too.”

She touched her forehead in annoyance.

“He made such a fuss that I had to personally get rid of that old woman, and now he’s whining about another nanny?”

Lloyd lowered his head silently at his mother’s words.

“I just met with His Majesty. He said, in front of the King of Adamant, that you failed to control your emotions.”

Helena scolded her son.

“You embarrassed yourself before His Majesty! And you call yourself the next emperor?”

She referred to her son as the “next emperor” even though he had not yet secured the crown prince’s title.

That meant she had no doubt her son would inherit the throne.

“…I’m sorry.”

“Ha, how did I give birth to such a fool—!”

Helena slammed the table beside her with a loud bang.

“Your half-brother was called by His Majesty again today and received praise! Only fifteen, and already crafting diplomatic strategies!”

It had started again.

The endless comparisons to his eldest brother had begun from the moment he was born.

“At least you’re better at swordsmanship, so I told you to train harder! But you skipped your lessons again today?”

Helena shouted in exasperation.

“You should be working to earn merit, yet you go and disgrace yourself before His Majesty?”

The Emperor was someone who always wore a pleasant smile, yet would cut down what displeased him without hesitation.

Hadn’t he slaughtered his own siblings to seize the throne?

Helena knew better than anyone what kind of man the Emperor was.

“Lloyd, I don’t care if you kill cats or servants.”

Her red eyes gleamed dangerously.

“Those things don’t matter. You just have to become emperor.”

Emperor of the Empire.

What a seductive ring those words had.

Helena grabbed the shoulders of her young son, who barely reached her chest.

“Swear to me, Lloyd. Swear that you’ll never again do anything to fall out of His Majesty’s favor.”

Lloyd stared blankly at his mother’s face, then lowered his head.

“…Yes, Mother.”

The Second Prince answered obediently, but his eyes looked strangely hollow.

***

“N-Nanny, what is this?”

“It’s exactly as it looks.”

Catherine rubbed her eyes and read the paper in her hands again.

Upon confirming my resignation letter, Catherine let out a scream.

“R-resignation?! Nanny, are you quitting?!”

“Yes.”

“Why? Why?! Why?!”

“The job does not suit me.”

Catherine was flustered by the firm response.

“Then w-when are you planning to leave? You submitted your resignation so soon…”

“In a week.”

“What? In a week?”

Catherine quickly counted the days and grabbed my hand.

“Nanny, can’t you reconsider? You’re leaving after barely a month? That makes no sense!”

“It’s because it has been a month that I’m leaving.”

“Huh?”

Exactly one month.

Not too short, not too long.

The perfect timing to leave before getting entangled in more troublesome matters.

‘Good thing the nanny’s salary was higher than expected.’

With the gold coins I had on hand, I was confident I wouldn’t starve even outside the palace.

If it wasn’t enough, I could earn more out there. That’s why I had built up my stamina so diligently.

“Still, deciding so suddenly…”

“It’s not sudden. I’ve been thinking about it from the beginning.”

“But…”

I recalled the voice that haunted me every night.

“Then take this chance to think long and hard about it. Why I’m doing this.”

The dark reed field. The poison spreading through my body. The burning scent.

Everything was still vivid.

“There’s something I must do.”

I had to leave this place.

Revenge—that was the only purpose I had to fulfill in this life.

That was why I had no room to worry about the King of Adamant, who vanished with a suspicious smile, or the chick-like Third Prince and Princess who clung to me, or even Catherine, who smiled whenever she saw me.

“Sigh, if you’re saying this much, then I guess there’s nothing I can do.”

Catherine looked at me with eyes full of regret.

“I wanted to work with you for a long time, Nanny.”

“Someone like you will surely find a better nanny than me.”

“But she won’t be like you.”

Her face turned gloomy.

“There’s no one else as strange and kind as you.”

“Why do you have to add ‘strange’?”

“You’re not an ordinary person, Nanny. Who else could stand so confidently before the Second Prince?”

She shuddered as if recalling the incident from a few days ago.

“Just thinking about it still gives me chills.”

Catherine rubbed her arms furiously.

“I was worried you’d actually lose your arm.”

“I don’t do anything that would get my arm cut off.”

“Oh please! If His Majesty hadn’t shown up at just the right moment, it would’ve been slice, just like that! Slice!”

Just the right moment, she said.

I smiled silently.

It was true—His Majesty passing by just then was lucky.

And the fact that only I noticed his presence was also fortunate.

Thanks to that, I had been able to drive off the Second Prince.

“He appeared at the right moment, so it worked out.”

“Honestly, Nanny, I can’t tell if you’re bold or reckless.”

I stood up before Catherine could continue. “That’s enough idle talk. I have work to do, so I’ll excuse myself.”

“…Nanny.”

As I stepped outside, Catherine called after me.

Her expression was rather serious.

“Do you have something else to say?”

“Um, how do you plan to tell Their Highnesses?”

“Tell them what?”

“That you’re quitting, Nanny.”

Her eyes were filled with concern.

“Both of them are really fond of you. If you say you’re leaving, they’ll surely be sad.”

“Catherine.”

“Yes?”

“Do I have to worry about things for when I’m no longer their nanny?”

My rather cold words left Catherine speechless, her lips opening and closing.

It was cold, but it was true.

The one who leaves is eventually forgotten, and sorrow fades.

It always had.

“I’ll be going, then.”

Leaving Catherine, still silently mouthing words, I walked out of the office.

Tap-tap-tap—

Just then, I saw a flash of golden fabric disappear around the corner with a loud rustle.

“……”

I looked toward the corner briefly, then turned away.

One more week. In exactly one week, I would be parting with this place.

***

“Brother, brotheeer—! Wake up!”

Emilia shook her brother, who was lying in bed, with all her might.

Despite the bruise on her shoulder, the princess was completely energetic.

“Wake uuuup—!”

“Emilia, I’m tired.”

“No! Get up! Get uuuup!”

Edwin finally sat up under his sister’s persistent urging.

He had been feeling sluggish and exhausted since yesterday, and it left him in a bad mood.

The young prince opened his mouth with a grumpy tone.

“What is it?”

“Brother, something terrible happened!”

“Something terrible?”

“Achel said she’s not going to be our nanny anymore!”

At the princess’s words, Edwin’s eyes trembled.