The Prince's Nanny, Her Specialty Is Assassination - Chapter 61

Chapter 61: The Emperor’s Invitation (2)

‘Father and Rachel met again?’

When? How? Why?

Could it be that Rachel has fallen out of favor with Father because of what happened in the garden?

If the other party is Father, there’s nothing I can do.

Edwin’s lips began to tremble slightly.

“…You’re always so frightened.”

At the emperor’s words, Edwin quickly looked up.

He was staring at Edwin with an observant gaze.

“What is it that you’re so afraid of?”

What am I afraid of?

Edwin’s pupils trembled.

The young prince was afraid of everything in this imperial palace.

‘This is a place where you can lose everything even if you do nothing.’

In fact, Edwin had once lost the person who meant everything to him.

“Are you afraid of the Second Consort?”

At the emperor’s words, Edwin’s shoulders flinched slightly.

“Or are you afraid of me, who turns a blind eye even though I know everything?”

Edwin’s lowered lashes quivered.

It would be a lie to say he wasn’t afraid.

His father was the emperor of this country, but because of his indifference, Edwin had always suffered.

“You may already know, but I became emperor after killing my siblings.”

The emperor spun a golden cup and continued, “No one acknowledged it, but I believed that I alone could lead this country.”

The emperor’s eyes sank deeply.

“I still don’t regret what I did that day. My siblings were nothing more than livestock dependent on their imperial blood.”

His voice was as cold as ice.

“If they bring harm to the empire, I can cut them down, even if they’re my blood. That’s all I did back then.”

He spoke with a firmness that suggested he wouldn’t hesitate to do it again.

“Conversely, if someone benefits the empire, even someone I’ve once cast aside, I can reconsider them.”

The young prince inhaled sharply.

In the air, the gazes of father and son met.

“That is all I have to say to you.”

After staring into Edwin’s eyes for a long time, the emperor rose from his seat.

“There will be a breakfast gathering tomorrow. You should attend as well.”

“A breakfast gathering? But I…”

The breakfast gatherings were irregular meetings of direct imperial family members.

It was merely a shared morning meal, but Edwin had not attended such a gathering in years.

“It is an imperial order.”

But the emperor firmly cut off Edwin’s words.

“It’s not a good look to constantly be absent from family meals. I won’t repeat myself.”

“…Yes, Father.”

Edwin bowed his head deeply, then quickly came to his senses.

He summoned the last drop of courage and called out to the emperor.

“F-Father!”

“What is it?”

“W-What about Emilia…?”

Emilia had never properly met her father, not even once.

Edwin wanted to take this opportunity to introduce his one and only younger sister to their father.

“Emilia?”

But at Edwin’s words, the emperor slightly furrowed his brows.

As if he couldn’t quite recall.

“Ah, you mean your sister.”

Not my daughter, but your sister. Such a cold designation.

Edwin bit his lip and looked at the emperor.

“Isn’t she too young to attend a breakfast gathering?”

“Ah, y-yes.”

“Then, I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”

Without hesitation, the emperor left the office.

The duke standing outside glanced at Edwin through the gap in the door, then followed the emperor.

“…Huh?”

Left alone in the office, Edwin sat blankly.

What had just happened?

‘So, Father told me personally to attend the breakfast gathering…’

Edwin’s eyes widened.

The young prince sprang to his feet and dashed outside.

“Your Highness, did you speak well with His Majesty… Your Highness?”

“Your Highness! Where are you going? You’re not finishing your training?”

The knights in the training grounds called out to him, but Edwin left the quarters without looking back.

An indescribable emotion surged across his face.

***

“Don’t worry too much.”

Despite my reassurance, Edwin showed no signs of brightening up.

He had returned to the palace yesterday looking pale and recounted his conversation with the emperor.

The conclusion was that he had to attend today’s breakfast gathering.

“Yes. Don’t worry. Surely His Majesty won’t eat you alive or anything.”

Catherine, who was fixing Edwin’s attire in place of me—since I was terrible at dressing him—joked. But her comfort was ineffective.

“What if he asks why I came?”

Edwin looked at me with a tearful face.

“Can’t you come with me?”

“I heard even attendants aren’t allowed at the meal. I wouldn’t be of any help.”

“But still…” Edwin muttered weakly, “I don’t know why Father is suddenly acting like this.”

I had a good idea.

Since Edwin, who no one expected anything from, had endured a month of training, it must have sparked some interest.

“Oh, right, Rachel!”

Then, the sullen boy suddenly raised his voice.

“You met Father again? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Heavens, Nanny! You met His Majesty?”

The two of them turned their excited gazes toward me.

I hadn’t told them because their fuss was annoying.

“Yes. I met His Majesty on the first day of His Highness’s training.”

I answered casually, and Edwin looked surprised.

“Father was there at that time?”

“I was surprised too. The emperor of a country walking around without guards.”

“Father is said to be as strong as Sir Jerome. He probably doesn’t need protection.”

It was quite an interesting fact.

Had I known, I would’ve crossed swords with him before I died.

“No, that’s not what’s important! Rachel, you said you told Father I wanted to become strong.”

“It’s true, isn’t it?”

Edwin blushed at my words. “Still, to say that to Father…”

“His Majesty was pleased,” I replied nonchalantly. “He said it was nice to see Your Highness making an effort to change.”

It was a similar sentiment, so it wasn’t a lie.

Edwin’s eyes widened. “Really?”

“Of course. He even said he would keep watching.”

“Then…”

“His Majesty seeking Your Highness out wasn’t a sudden whim.”

“Is that so…?”

Edwin let out a sigh of relief.

“Oh my, oh my! That’s wonderful, Your Highness!”

Catherine fussed excitedly beside him.

But Edwin still looked uneasy.

“What’s wrong?”

“…I’m still scared.”

“Of what?”

The boy’s expression darkened.

“…Because others won’t see it that way.”

By others, he must mean the Second Consort.

And that wretched Second Prince.

“Don’t worry too much, Your Highness.”

“Don’t worry? You don’t understand, but I…”

He must not have wanted to speak of how he was treated in the palace.

He couldn’t finish his sentence.

“Your Highness.”

“Yes.”

“Frankly, Your Highness is worrying needlessly.”

“How is it needless…”

I smiled, showing my teeth to the flustered boy. “I’m saying you shouldn’t worry so much because you won’t even be noticed at the breakfast gathering.”

***

This is the Imperial Palace.

Without a bodyguard, Edwin had to be accompanied by me and Catherine.

But from here on, entry was restricted.

Following a servant of the imperial palace, Edwin went up alone to attend the breakfast gathering.

“Why did you say such things? Nanny, you’re really mean sometimes.”

Catherine stared blankly at the spot where Edwin had disappeared, then turned to me.

“Why would you say he wouldn’t even be noticed? Didn’t you see his face?”

“I didn’t.”

“You’re always so insensitive about these things! He looked like he was about to cry!”

“I only stated the truth.”

It was a breakfast gathering of all members of the imperial family.

Honestly, I wanted to sneak in and watch, but I held back.

‘If I did something like that, I might bump into the emperor again like last time.’

One could never be too careful.

“How could you say that’s just stating the truth…”

I shrugged at Catherine’s still confused expression. “They’ll probably just exchange pleasantries among the elder imperials and not even glance at him.”

“Huh? Isn’t that even worse? His Highness must be so nervous all alone…”

“Don’t worry. Unlike before, he’s become much braver. There’s no need to worry.”

Even if it was brief, he had faced monsters head-on.

‘There’s no way he’d be scared of mere humans now.’

Once a person experiences extreme fear, they tend to become numb to other things.

Just like mercenaries who survive the battlefield become fearless.

“You’re so cold at times, Nanny…”

Just then, a servant approached us.

“Are you attendants of His Highness the Prince?”

“Yes, we are.”

“A meal has been prepared for attendants on the first floor. May I guide you?”

“Let’s go, Catherine.”

“Oh! Wait! Nanny!”

Catherine grumbled but eventually followed behind me.

“Let’s go together!”

Since it’s the Imperial Palace, I could expect a feast.

I quickly forgot about Edwin and briskly walked ahead.