The Prince's Nanny, Her Specialty Is Assassination - Chapter 58

Chapter 58: Vice Commander Philip Meyer (1)

“…Huh?”

He put something in it? Poison, perhaps?

Edwin looked at Philip with a face gone pale.

“Just a joke.”

Thanks to the vice commander’s unreadable joke, a silence fell between them.

Struggling with the awkward atmosphere, Edwin decided to muster his courage.

“Um, Sir Philip. Why did you help me earlier?”

It was a question that had lingered in his mind throughout training.

Philip glanced at Edwin and replied bluntly, “Your posture was terrible, so I corrected it.”

A thoroughly logical answer.

Edwin felt sheepish but forced a smile.

“I-I see. Thank you! Thanks to you, it was easier to run than before.”

Philip stared at the prince offering thanks.

His expression was unreadable.

‘Is there something on my face?’

Embarrassed, Edwin wiped both his cheeks with his sleeve.

“…Your Highness is very different from what I imagined.”

With that cryptic comment, Philip stood up.

“Whatever the commander said, don’t let it get to you.”

He brushed the grass from his pants as he spoke.

“He’s surprisingly childish for someone of his position.”

Had he overheard the conversation between him and Jerome?

Edwin blinked.

“Still, since you’re here, you might as well train hard.”

Philip swept back his bangs and turned around.

The knight’s sharp gaze turned to the young prince.

“It’s not often one gets to train with the strongest knights in the empire.”

“Y-yes! I’ll do my best!”

Edwin sprang up and nodded eagerly.

Seeing that, Philip walked off toward the other knights.

A faint smile appeared on the lips of the young vice commander, so subtle no one noticed.

***

“You must’ve really taken a liking to him.”

Training had just ended.

Someone blocked Philip’s path as he returned to the quarters.

It was Jerome Crowner.

“Helping that brat even after hearing what I said to him.”

Jerome was visibly irritated.

As if it weren’t enough for the nanny and prince to reject him, even the vice commander had gone so far as to openly assist the boy.

Philip, either unaware or unconcerned with his mood, replied flatly, “What did you say, Commander?”

“Why, you…!”

“I merely did my duty as a training instructor.” Philip sighed and continued, “Then why did you act so out of character, sir?”

“Out of character?”

“Throwing a tantrum just because things don’t go your way… that’s childish.”

“W-what? Childish?”

Jerome’s face turned red at the accusation.

“You little… Just because I let you off easy—”

“It’s been nearly ten years since I began serving under you. But I don’t recall ever being let off easy.”

“Ha!”

Jerome let out a laugh of disbelief.

Philip spoke again, with a completely serious face, “Even if it’s for Prince Adrian, I don’t believe using the Third Prince as a shield is right.”

Jerome glared at him.

‘Philip Meyer, this stubborn fool.’

Yes. That was the true nature of Gloria Knights’ vice commander.

Still only 28 years old.

He was a man with a rigid sense of right and wrong, never crossing the lines he set, nor letting others do so.

A knight of justice, rarely seen these days.

But like justice often does, Philip also had a knack for annoying and frustrating people.

“You act like you’ve got a monopoly on speaking the truth.” Jerome clicked his tongue in irritation. “Tch, whatever. I’m done with this.”

He muttered to himself repeatedly, “That brat’s not the only option I have.”

Jerome irritably raked his fingers through his hair. “The Third Prince? I never gave a damn about that half-starved brat in the first place!”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah! So from now on, I’ll bar him from training—”

“I wouldn’t recommend that.”

The vice commander cut him off.

“I doubt you’d want to go back on your word, sir.”

“What?”

Jerome raised an eyebrow at Philip’s words.

“What are you talking about?”

“You weren’t there the whole time, so you wouldn’t know, but His Highness Edwin completed today’s training.”

“Don’t lie to me. Even the knights found it hard to handle—”

“When have I ever lied to you, sir?”

At the seriousness in the vice commander’s eyes, Jerome was at a loss for words.

“…Is that true?”

“Yes.”

He’d thought the boy would give up or collapse.

That’s why he had dared him with a mocking tone.

Jerome recalled what he’d said to the prince and was struck speechless.

“Impossible! How could that pitiful little colt finish all that training?!”

“That’s what I’m curious about, too.” Philip’s eyes curved in amusement. “That’s why I’d like to observe him myself.”

“Hah, who was it again that insisted no princes should be allowed in the Order?”

“You’re the one who said you weren’t afraid of the Second Consort, sir.”

At that, Jerome frowned. “…So you really have taken a liking to the Third Prince.”

“I won’t deny it.”

“Good grief. What’s gotten into you now?”

Jerome clicked his tongue at the unexpected turn of events.

After some thought, he finally raised a hand in surrender. “Fine, do as you please. I don’t even want to see that brat’s face anymore.”

He turned toward the training ground and said, “Gather the boys. If the prince could endure the training, they should all be in fine shape. Time for some sparring.”

“…Yes, sir.”

It seemed today was a truly cursed day for the Gloria Knights.

***

“Did something happen today?”

Edwin, having returned from training, was grinning for no reason.

Even now, as I helped him change out of his clothes.

“Hmm? A lot happened.”

“Was it something good?”

Edwin seemed to ponder deeply at my words before nodding. “Hmm, yeah! It was a good thing!”

“What kind of good thing?”

Edwin looked at me with a strange expression, then suddenly grinned. “I met someone who looks like you.”

What the. Did he get hit on the head during training?

He doesn’t seem to be in his right mind.

“…Someone who looks like me?”

It didn’t sound like something to celebrate at all.

He didn’t get beaten up out there, did he?

“Yeah. He looked indifferent like you, but was overly concerned.”

Is that supposed to be a compliment?

I gazed quietly down at the grinning prince.

He was annoying, laughing after teasing someone, but it was still better than seeing him discouraged like before.

“…Was that the only good thing?”

At my follow-up question, Edwin immediately turned his head toward me.

“No, there’s more! Even though my training load doubled today, I completed everything!”

“Really?”

“Yeah! It was super tough. But I endured and did it all! Impressive, right?”

He looked like a puppy wagging its tail, eager for praise.

“Yes. Well done.”

While praising him, a part of me felt skeptical.

‘It’s just basic physical training, but it should still be tough for him.’

Today was only Edwin’s second day participating in knight training.

‘And yet he kept up even with double the load?’

Does he really have a natural talent for this?

“Your Highness. Look here.”

“Hmm?”

At my words, he looked at my clenched fist.

“Wait, why is your fist clenched…?”

“Please dodge.”

“Huh?”

Whack—

But contrary to my expectations, Edwin got punched and grabbed his nose.

“Aaah! My nose! That hurt! What was that for?!”

“Hmm? Strange.”

If someone’s naturally gifted physically, they usually have sharp reflexes.

But despite my warning, Edwin didn’t dodge.

‘In conclusion, he’s not a genius.’

Maybe he’s just got good stamina?

“What do you mean strange! Why’d you hit me out of nowhere?!”

He flapped his arms like an angry sparrow.

“I told you to dodge.”

“Ugh! You really…!”

I caught his wildly swinging fists.

Then forced him onto the bed and wrapped him tightly in a blanket.

“Hey! I can’t breathe!”

“There’s a big difference in temperature between day and night lately. If you’re not careful, you could catch another cold. So be sure to sleep under the blanket.”

Edwin’s eyes widened at my words. “Wait, are you worried about me?”

“You have to join training again tomorrow, so you need to take care of your body.”

“…You’re so cold-hearted.”

“What was that?”

“Forget it! You ruined my mood!”

Why is he sulking all of a sudden?

He was just laughing a moment ago.

I stared at Edwin, who had pulled the blanket over his head.

“I apologize. I didn’t mean to ruin your mood.”

The pile of blankets wiggled sulkily.

“…Still, I’m glad only good things happened today.”

This time, the blanket didn’t move at all.

I let out a quiet laugh at the sight.

“May you have a peaceful night.”

***

Rustle.

Edwin peeked out from under the blanket after confirming Rachel had left the room.

“Hmph, I’m not sleeping. Stupid Rachel.”

The young prince pouted as he hugged the blanket.

“Still, I’m glad only good things happened today.”

Actually, not everything had been good.

He just didn’t say anything because he didn’t want her to worry unnecessarily.

Edwin recalled Jerome’s veiled threats.

Even thinking about that moment still made his legs tremble with fear.

‘But…’

It seemed okay to be scared.

Muttering to himself, Edwin stared at the ceiling.

Strangely enough, bad things didn’t feel as terrible as they used to.

Because he knew there were people waiting for him at the prince’s palace.

“Yaaawn.”

Emilia, Catherine, and Rachel.

As he pictured their faces, Edwin slowly closed his eyes.

The young prince’s face, no longer needing to fall asleep in sadness, was peaceful beyond words.