The Prince's Nanny, Her Specialty Is Assassination - Chapter 8

Chapter 8: The Prince and the Nanny (2)

Where in the world did he get the idea that princes aren’t dirty? Did that come from his mouth or asshole? Is that why I can’t understand it?

‘I suddenly feel like quitting everything.’

On my second day as a nanny, I already felt like quitting.

‘I knew it—dealing with kids isn’t for me.’

With a blank expression, I spoke, “No, Your Highness, you are dirty.”

Edwin’s eyes widened in shock. “W-What?”

“You even smell. Did you wash up after you returned from the stables yesterday?”

“I-I did!”

He was a terrible liar.

I looked at his wavering gaze and asked again, “Really? Because I smell horse dung coming from your head.”

“What? Horse dung?”

“Yes, horse dung. It’s quite foul.”

Edwin grabbed his hair, his mouth agape. He seemed very shaken by the idea that his head smelled like manure. Despite his shock, he didn’t seem inclined to wash up again.

‘Looks like I have to do it myself.’

With a sigh, I decided to wash him directly and dipped my hands in the basin of water. But the water was freezing cold.

It might be warm during the day, but mornings were still chilly. Why was the water this cold?

‘Did the prince order this?’

In winter, assassins used ice-cold water to sharpen their senses. Was this the same kind of thing?

‘I don’t understand.’

Something about Edwin seemed off. He was avoiding my gaze and glancing at someone, clearly nervous.

‘Hmm?’

I quickly turned my head to look at the maid who had brought the water. She met my eyes and smiled nonchalantly, holding up a towel.

“Would you like the towel?”

What nonsense was this?

‘Does she really not know, or is she pretending not to?’

As a nanny, I had to say something.

In a calm tone, I commanded the maid, “The water for His Highness is too cold. Bring warm water.”

“What? That can’t be right. I brought warm water.”

“I tested it just a moment ago, and it was cold.”

“It must have cooled down quickly, then.”

The maid answered in a bored tone, as if she was tired of this conversation.

“And besides, His Highness already said he washed up. Do I really need to bring new water?”

I frowned. How could a mere maid talk back to the prince’s nanny?

‘Hierarchy is completely broken here.’

The maid continued to smile at me, unperturbed, “Nanny?”

It was then that I read the intent in her gaze.

‘What are you going to do about it? You don’t care about the prince either, do you?’

She seemed to think I was just like her.

‘How ridiculous.’

I smiled back at her.

Splash!

And then I poured the prince’s basin of water over her head without hesitation.

“Kyaaah!”

The maid screamed as the freezing water drenched her. Emilia, who had been half-asleep, rubbed her eyes and sat up.

“Huh? What’s happening? Are we playing with water? Lia wants to play too!”

No one laughed at the little princess’s cute comment. The maid just shivered, clutching her arms as she stared at me.

“W-What is this…?”

“What do you think?” I asked her with a smile still on my face. “Do you really believe that warm water could get this cold in such a short time?”

The maid looked at me, her eyes filled with fear.

“Do not make me repeat myself.”

I shoved the empty basin into her hands.

“Bring new water. This time, make sure it’s actually warm.”

“Y-Yes!”

There was no room for argument. The maid, tears welling in her eyes, fled from the room. I looked after her retreating figure with contempt.

Just then, I felt a heated gaze from below. It was Prince Edwin. He was staring at me with his mouth hanging open.

“Is something wrong, Your Highness?”

Edwin remained silent, watching me cautiously. Judging by his reaction, it seemed he was a bit frightened by what I had done.

That was unexpected. I thought he was fearless, considering how much he always hissed and spat like a stray cat.

‘It turns out he acts like that because he’s scared.’

I knelt and brushed back the prince’s wet bangs. “Your Highness, if this happens again, tell the head maid. Staying silent won’t fix it.”

The prince’s eyes widened at my words. He stared at me for a moment before lowering his gaze.

“…What’s the point? The evil hag always sides with the maids.”

Edwin muttered in a weary tone, one that didn’t suit his age.

“It’s exhausting.”

I looked at his crown, my eyes narrowing. What had this young boy gone through to make him look so worn out?

‘No matter how a Shabby Prince he is, he’s still the Emperor’s son.’

How could a prince with the noblest blood look like a stray on the streets? I couldn’t understand it.

“It wasn’t like this when Emma was here.”

I flinched at the familiar name that came out of the prince’s mouth. Emma, the previous nanny who had recommended me for the job.

‘Of all people, why does she have the same name as her?’

I thought of another woman with that name and asked indifferently.

“Did she quit?”

“No.”

I looked up at the cold tone in his voice. Edwin’s face was suddenly very close. His bright blue eyes looked shattered, like something had broken inside him.

“She’s dead.”

His words were too vivid to be coming from a child. But his face showed no emotion, as if death was nothing to him.

“Because of me.”

My mouth opened slightly, the words escaping me.

“I-I brought the water!”

Just then, the maid returned, carrying a new basin of water. Steam was rising from it, which was a relief.

I handed the warm water to Edwin. “This time, wash up properly.”

The prince, who had looked so serious a moment ago, frowned at the sight of the water. He put his hands in the basin without a word. For a moment, I thought he might obey, but I was wrong.

Splash, splash.

He continued with his cat-like washing.

…It seemed that the temperature of the water had nothing to do with it. He just hated washing.

In the end, I couldn’t take it anymore. I placed Emilia on the bed, rolled up my sleeves, and approached Edwin.

“W-What are you doing?!”

“Excuse me, Your Highness.”

I politely sought his permission as I grabbed the back of his neck.

“Let go! What are you—Pft! Pft!”

“You need to scrub! Really scrub, like this!”

“Urgh!”

I rubbed his face thoroughly, not giving him a chance to resist.

“Since you’re already wet, let’s wash your hair too.”

“Nooooo!”

By the time I was done, Edwin was clean from head to toe, but he looked like someone who’d just been scammed.

“Achel! Lia wants to play with water too! Please do it for Lia!”

Ignoring Emilia, who clung to me with excitement, I handed Edwin a towel.

“Dry yourself off.”

The prince took the towel, his face flushed with embarrassment and humiliation. He gritted his teeth as he glared at me.

Sure enough, after that, Edwin started disobeying me as if to get revenge.

“How about wearing this today?”

“No! I don’t like it!”

“Then what would you like to wear?”

“I want to wear what I wore yesterday!”

Edwin insisted on wearing the clothes he’d rolled around in at the stables.

“…Just wear this.”

“No! I hate it!”

“Should I bring something else, then—”

“I told you, I want to wear what I wore yesterday!”

Who had he inherited this stubbornness from? Edwin hugged the dirty clothes to his chest, shaking his head.

‘Fine.’

I leaned close to his ear. “If you don’t change into clean clothes, I’ll go to the head maid and tell her everything that happened yesterday.”

“W-What?”

“If that’s what you want, I’ll do it.”

Edwin shouted, his voice filled with injustice, “You said you weren’t on that hag’s side! You liar!”

“I never lied. I just can’t let you, as the prince, walk around looking dirty.”

“Ugh!”

Edwin clenched his teeth, ready to throw the clothes, but the princess intervened.

“Brother, that outfit is prettier!”

At his sister’s words, Edwin finally relented and changed into the new clothes. He wouldn’t listen to me, but one word from his sister and he complied.

It seemed Edwin cared far more for his little sister than I had thought.

“Achel.”

Just then, Emilia, who had been quietly nestled in my arms, whispered in my ear, “Lia did well, so give Lia a treat!”

Whether it was good luck or bad luck that the sister he adored was a little too cunning, I couldn’t be sure.

***

I took the siblings, now dressed and ready, down to the dining hall. The table was already set with breakfast.

‘A splendid feast.’

White bread, a fish dish I didn’t recognize, roasted chicken, and a colorful assortment of fruit.

It was a luxurious spread that commoners might never see in their lifetime. But Prince Edwin just picked at the food, barely eating a bite before setting his fork down.

“I’m done.”

Looking closer, I saw his plate was piled high with vegetables.

“Food is precious. You should eat as much as you can while you have it.”

Edwin scowled at my nagging. “I don’t like vegetables.”

He ate for the taste? As long as it wasn’t rotten or poisoned, wasn’t that enough?

His picky eating habits were a mystery to me. I didn’t care if the prince starved or overate, but I had a duty as his nanny—to take good care of him.

“Then, Your Highness, how about a wager with me?”

“A wager?”

Edwin frowned at the sudden suggestion.

“Yes. How about the loser eats all the leftover vegetables?”