The Prince's Nanny, Her Specialty Is Assassination - Chapter 60

Chapter 60: The Emperor’s Invitation (1)

Since the day I decided to stay here as a nanny,

I had consistently added small amounts of poison to Edwin and Lia’s meals.

It was to build their immunity to poison.

‘An attempt at poisoning could happen at any time.’

Starting a few days ago, I began increasing both the variety and quantity of poison in Edwin’s food.

Edwin clutched his chest and looked at me with eyes full of resentment.

I felt a little sorry, but it couldn’t be helped.

‘This is about all I can teach him myself.’

Though I couldn’t teach a prince the art of killing, I could teach him how to survive it.

It was one of the few things I could give Edwin.

“Scorpion venom affects the nerves, and if a lethal dose is consumed, it can kill a healthy adult male within two hours. How do you feel now?” I asked casually, as if inquiring about the taste of food.

Though he was wheezing, Edwin stubbornly opened his mouth.

“…I can’t breathe well.”

Compared to when he first ingested poison and had been too scared to say a word, this was remarkable progress.

“That’s normal.”

Since it was a very small amount of poison, the effect would not last long.

As Edwin’s breathing gradually returned, I didn’t forget to give him a reminder.

“Remember the taste of the poison and how it feels to be poisoned. Someday, that memory might save your life.”

With teary eyes, Edwin made a face like he was about to cry.

He quickly gulped down the glass of water on the desk.

“How can something that has no taste feel this horrible?”

“That’s what poison is. If it tasted bitter, wouldn’t everyone realize it was poison?”

Yes, the true danger of poison lay in its deceptiveness.

“You’re like sweet poison, Kyla.”

Suddenly, the words whispered by the man who killed me came to mind.

At the time, I had thought it was just a clichéd metaphor for love. But now, I realized it had simply been a statement of fact.

Just as I had been sweet poison to him, Ian ended up becoming poison to me as well.

“Hey, are you okay?”

While I was caught in the residue of the past, Edwin called out to me.

He looked at me with concern.

“Are you okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“You don’t look well.”

“Me?”

“Yeah.” Edwin frowned. “You’re not sick, right?”

Did I really look unwell?

I shook my head, trying to push away Ian’s face that kept resurfacing. “Not at all. I was just lost in thought for a moment.”

“What kind of thought?”

“…The person who hit me in the back of the head and ran—no, ran away.”

To be exact, the bastard who stabbed me in the back and ran.

‘Now that I think about it, I had forgotten for a while. My ultimate goal.’

I had been so focused on nanny duties to keep my promise to Emma that I’d nearly forgotten the reason I came back to life in the first place.

‘It’s about time I headed out beyond the palace.’

It seemed I needed to start gathering information on the organization and Ian soon.

Just as Edwin left with his empty dishes—

“Nanny! Nanny!”

From a distance, Catherine came running.

Behind her, Sage followed with a disgruntled look, carrying Lia on his back.

“Did you hear the news?”

“What news?”

“Next month, the King of Adamant is coming to the imperial palace again!”

Next month must be the founding festival period.

‘Kayden Ram.’

I recalled the young King of Adamant who had smiled meaningfully.

‘A crafty guy.’

From the way he smiled at me, to the scent of the soap I used before I died that he wore, to the time he randomly sent Edwin a bow and arrow as a get-well gift—

Everything about him was shrouded in mystery.

“You mean Kayden Ram Adamant, the King of Adamant?”

At that moment, Sage joined the conversation.

He spoke while loosely jostling Lia, who was whining.

“The one who destroyed the Royal House of Lionel and founded the Kingdom of Adamant.”

“Do you know anything about him?”

“No, not personally. But he’s so well-known that it’s common knowledge.”

Catherine nodded at Sage’s words. “Right. Even in the Empire, fairy tale books based on his exploits are selling like crazy!”

Fairy tale books? Who would think of turning someone like him into a children’s book protagonist? What was the author even thinking?

“Fairy tale books? Lia likes fairy tales!”

At that moment, Lia pulled Sage’s hair and shouted.

“Lia wants to read a fairy tale too! A war hero fairy tale!”

“Your Highness, it’s not a fairy tale. It’s a heroic tale.”

“Uung, whatever! I want to read it! Read it!”

As Lia began to throw a tantrum, Catherine looked troubled. “Uh, what should I do? That book isn’t in the prince’s library.”

“Then is it available in another library?”

“Uh, no. Probably not. Since it’s for children and it praises the king of another country, it likely wasn’t brought in.”

At her words, Lia’s face twisted as if she would cry at any moment.

“Lia wants a fairy taaaaale…!”

“I’ll buy it for you, Your Highness.”

Before Lia could cry like a crow, I beat her to it.

“I’ll probably be going out soon. When I do, I’ll get the fairy tale book you wanted to read, Your Highness. So don’t cry.”

“Uung, really?”

“Yes, really.”

At my promise, Lia beamed brightly. “Yay! Achel, I like you!”

“Yes, I like you too, Your Highness.”

“Yay! You have to bring the book back quickly!”

Cradling Lia in both arms as she reached out toward me, I let out a sigh.

It looked like I’d have to move up my outing plans sooner than expected.

***

‘Finally, it’s today.’

Edwin clutched his pounding chest.

Today was the day he was supposed to receive his first private swordsmanship lesson from Philip.

That would have been the case if everything had gone according to plan.

“You are always so energetic.”

“Y-Your Majesty!”

Emperor Cavelius III appeared before the knights of the Third Unit, who had just descended from the mountains.

The commander, Duke Jerome Crowner, was with him.

“We greet our liege!”

As knights who had pledged direct loyalty to the Emperor, even their greetings were extraordinary.

Calling the Emperor their liege, they knelt in perfect unison.

Only one person stood awkwardly, unable to kneel or move.

The Emperor looked at him and offered a blank greeting. “It has been a while, Edwin.”

“F-Father… I greet you.”

He lowered his head before the Emperor, who stood imposingly before him.

Though he was the one who had brought Edwin into this world, he was also the most awkward person in it.

The Emperor’s gaze scanned Edwin from head to toe. “You look better than before.”

What did he mean by that?

As Edwin bit his lip, the Emperor continued, “Since it’s been a while, shall we have some tea?”

“…Pardon?”

Leaving the bewildered Edwin behind, the Emperor asked Jerome, “Is there a drawing room in the residence?”

“Please use my office. I will have tea prepared.”

“Much appreciated.”

The Emperor immediately turned away.

As Edwin stood dazedly watching him, the Emperor turned his head again. “What are you doing just standing there? Do you not want to have tea with your father?”

“N-No, not at all!”

Edwin quickly chased after the Emperor.

Curious gazes followed the two of them as they entered the residence.

“Who was it that called His Highness the Third Prince a shabby prince?”

“Yeah, who was it? Come out. You’re getting scolded.”

“So the rumors weren’t true, huh?”

“A father and son can at least share a cup of tea. It’s not that big of a deal.”

“Still, the fact that His Majesty came all the way here personally must mean there’s a reason, right?”

Among the murmuring knights, Philip stood silently.

The Emperor was not someone who moved without reason.

Even if it was just to have tea with his own child, it was surely a calculated act.

Philip quietly watched Edwin’s back as he followed the Emperor.

It was the back of an ordinary, small, unimpressive child, not one who could possibly draw the Emperor’s interest.

‘However…’

Even so, no one could say what might happen now that the Emperor had sought him out.

Who knew how the fate of that young prince would change from this day forward?

***

“It’s been a long time since we’ve sat face to face like this.”

“I-I’m sorry.”

“There’s no need to be. I didn’t come looking for you either.”

Seated across a table, the conversation between father and son was far from warm.

“How is the training? Is it bearable?”

“…It was hard at first, but I’m fine now.”

“Good. That’s a relief.”

The Emperor quietly sipped his tea.

After a brief silence, he spoke again.

“What is the reason?”

“Pardon?”

“I’m asking why you suddenly decided to join knight training.”

He fiddled with his teacup and looked at Edwin.

“You’re not the kind of child to do such a thing.”

“Well, uh…”

What should he say?

Cold sweat formed on Edwin’s back.

“Are you trying to play prince now, of all times?”

“T-that’s not it, I…”

The Emperor wore an utterly indifferent expression.

Seeing Edwin unable to reply, the Emperor tilted his head slightly.

“I met your nanny again. She’s quite a bold woman.”

At the word ‘nanny,’ Edwin’s face turned pale.

“The previous nanny also came to see me directly. Seems you’re quite lucky with people.”

As he recalled the deceased nanny, Edwin’s complexion grew even paler.

“She said you wanted to become strong. Is that true?”