The Prince's Nanny, Her Specialty Is Assassination - Chapter 51

Chapter 51: The Emperor, Cavelius III (1)

“That was unexpected.”

Jerome, Commander of the Gloria Knights, murmured to himself as he exited the Imperial Palace.

The only reason he, who was not a morning person, visited the palace this early was to report to the Emperor about the Third Prince and his nanny.

But contrary to his expectations, the Emperor’s reaction was lukewarm.

“Do as you wish.”

When he asked if he could include the Third Prince in the knightly training, that was the only response he got.

It was a vague reaction—neither showing interest nor disinterest.

Jerome frowned as he recalled the Emperor’s indifferent expression.

“What could he be thinking?”

Jerome had known the Emperor since they were young.

As an adopted son of a duke and the outcast of the imperial family, Cavelius III and Jerome had gotten along quite well.

Even so, Jerome still found him impossible to read at times.

Just like today.

‘He says do as I wish, but if it’s not to his liking, he’ll throw a fit later.’

Jerome tried to read the Emperor’s intent, but eventually gave up.

“Well, he didn’t say no. He said to do as I please, so I will.”

The Duke concluded simply and turned toward the knights’ quarters.

He didn’t yet know.

That his decision would become a major turning point in a boy’s life.

***

“Welcome, Your Highness. I’m Philip Meyer, Vice Commander of the Gloria Knights.”

Knight, Philip Meyer.

With a sharp and meticulous impression, he was quite well-known in the capital.

He was a commoner who had risen to the position of vice commander in his late twenties—a remarkable talent.

“N-nice to meet you, Sir Philip.”

Edwin gave an awkward greeting as he looked at the knight saluting him.

“Please speak comfortably. I’m just a mere knight.”

“Pardon? Ah, still…”

“Your Highness will be participating in the Third Unit’s training.”

After saying what he had to, Philip quietly looked down at the Third Prince.

The young prince clearly looked nervous.

‘They say the Third Empress was very beautiful. It seems he takes after his mother.’

Philip inwardly admired the prince’s appearance.

Honey-golden hair, beautiful blue eyes, delicate and distinct features.

His looks were dazzling—almost too beautiful for a boy.

‘Though that seems to be all there is to him.’

A prince born of a fallen princess. A burden long since discarded. A pretty-faced boy.

That was the extent of Philip’s first impression of the Third Prince.

“The nanny has come along as well.”

Philip looked at the prince’s nanny with a dissatisfied gaze.

“We meet again.”

But the nanny, Rachel, was unfazed by his reaction.

“I came to observe. It’s part of my duty as a nanny.”

“The training will take about three hours. You intend to wait here?”

Thinking no woman could endure the harsh spring sun, Philip turned his body.

“I can’t leave a flower-like lady under the hot sun. I’ll escort you to the parlor…”

“You must’ve seen flowers wither under spring sunlight.”

Philip stared blankly at her unexpected reply.

“I appreciate the kindness, but my duty is to stay by His Highness’s side. I’ll remain here.”

At her firm declaration, the knight let out a sigh of resignation.

In the end, he withdrew his insistence.

“Understood. Then I’ll guide you directly to the training grounds.”

***

Edwin braced himself on his knees, staring only at the ground below.

His breath caught in his throat, and his lungs had long since reached their limit.

A strange, rasping sound came from near his solar plexus.

It felt even more exhausting than when he had been chased by a monster in Luxen.

“Pick up the pace! You slugs! And you dare call yourselves the Empire’s top knights?!”

At the furious shout from ahead, Edwin jerked his head up.

The group of Third Unit knights from the Gloria Knights, lined up in formation, had already left him far behind.

‘The Third Unit is supposed to be the weakest in the Gloria Knights, right? And yet…’

Even so, Edwin couldn’t catch up to them.

There were many who looked to be in their early teens among the knights, so he couldn’t use his young age as an excuse.

Crushed by mounting shame and defeat, Edwin grit his teeth.

“Huff.”

He watched in a daze as the knights grew more distant.

Then he started running again.

“Urgh!”

A groan leaked out between clenched teeth.

But he didn’t give up.

Because he remembered what Rachel had told him before coming here.

“Your Highness will now participate in the knightly training.”

“What? That’s ridiculous!”

“It’s only physical training, so don’t worry.”

“But how could I possibly…”

Rachel had spoken firmly to the already frightened Edwin.

“Your Highness, you said you wanted to become stronger, didn’t you? I promise you this.”

Her eyes had been more serious than ever.

“If you cannot endure this training, Your Highness will never become strong.”

Edwin stomped forward with all the strength he could muster.

The image of his nanny, who always looked straight at him, flashed through his mind.

His nanny, who stood tall as if she would never accept giving up.

“Uaaaaah―!”

Edwin screamed and chased after the knights.

‘Running is my specialty! I can’t fall behind even in this!’

This time, he was running not to escape, but to catch up to someone.

That made it all the more impossible to lose.

“Grrrk!”

Even though his breath caught in his throat, Edwin didn’t give up.

His handsome face contorted so badly it no longer resembled that of a prince.

Because of that, the young prince didn’t realize that more than one person was watching him.

“So, what’s the reason for gracing my office at this hour?”

Commander Jerome addressed the figure standing by the window.

The man, who had been watching the group of knights climbing the rear mountain, slowly turned his head.

“Your Majesty, the Emperor.”

Copper-brown curly hair and piercing blue eyes.

A modest appearance and slight build that didn’t suit the title ‘Emperor.’

He was the Emperor of the Ventrume Empire, Cavelius III.

“It’s troubling when you roam around without an escort,” said Jerome to the Emperor without reservation. “At my age, I’d rather not get scolded by my younger sister.”

“The Empress isn’t the type to nag,” answered the Emperor easily, as if used to his jokes.

“Well, that girl is only weak in front of Your Majesty.”

“That might be true.” The Emperor leaned against the railing and continued, “So why did you bring that child here?”

His gaze landed on Edwin’s head as the boy struggled to keep up with the knights.

“You told me to do as I pleased, Your Majesty.”

“This time, you really did do as you pleased.”

As the Emperor’s displeasure showed, Jerome shrugged. “Sometimes, I just don’t want to read too deeply into Your Majesty’s words.”

“What a disloyal subject.”

“Not at all.”

The Emperor chuckled at Jerome’s reply.

“You’re the only one who dares speak to me like that.”

“Didn’t Your Majesty allow it?”

“Yes, I did. You are more precious to me than blood.”

The Emperor stared silently at the ridgeline for a while.

“Edith Lionel, was it? That child’s mother.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Speaking as if she were a stranger entirely unrelated to him, the Emperor’s voice was dry.

“Back then, I truly believed Lionel would dominate the west.”

Jerome said nothing and looked at the Emperor.

Edith Lionel, the Third Empress and only princess of the Lionel Kingdom.

More than ten years ago, Cavelius III had taken her as his Empress solely to form an alliance with Lionel.

But the Third Empress died after giving birth to a princess, and the Lionel Kingdom fell to the King of Adamant.

So, in effect, the original purpose of the alliance was lost.

“That boy has no qualities of a ruler.”

The Emperor looked coldly at Edwin.

Though one might find his desperate running admirable, it seemed the Emperor did not.

“Do you think effort can compensate for a lack of talent, Duke?”

“To some extent, I believe so.”

“Quite the opposite of me.”

The Emperor twisted one corner of his mouth in scorn.

“He lacks innate talent. Therefore, he’s a useless card to me.”

“That remains to be seen.”

At the Duke’s response, the Emperor turned his head.

His eyes were drawn out with suspicion.

“Duke Crowner, why did you take the boy in?”

“I told you before. It was simply because the Third Prince’s nanny personally asked me.”

“The nanny?”

The Emperor frowned.

“If you mean the nanny, is it that woman from back then?”

“Pardon?”

“…It’s nothing.”

The Emperor waved his hand and changed the subject.

“That’s not like you. To grant the request of a mere nanny.”

“As Your Majesty knows, I have a hard time refusing women’s requests.”

“You refused the Empress’s request just fine, yet you talk well.”

Recalling the Second Consort whining to him to punish Jerome’s insolence, the Emperor clicked his tongue.

“So, a duke of the Empire was swayed by a nanny’s words?”

“Haha, I suppose you could say that.”

“Don’t spout nonsense you don’t mean, Jerome Crowner.”

In that instant, the atmosphere around the Emperor shifted.

A cold air descended into the room.

“Speak your true intent. Do you not wish for your nephew to ascend the throne?”