The Prince's Nanny, Her Specialty Is Assassination - Chapter 83

Chapter 83: LOVE & POISON (7)

“This is my first time being formally invited to the Empress’s Palace.”

On the day of Lady Crowner’s birthday banquet.

I visited the Empress’s Palace together with Edwin.

He kept glancing around curiously, as if fascinated by the interior.

“When I only passed by, I never realized, but now that I’m inside, it seems just as large as the Emperor’s Palace.”

As Edwin said, the Empress’s Palace boasted a scale no less grand than the Emperor’s Palace.

‘I once got lost here during a mission and wandered around for ages.’

As I recalled nearly being caught by imperial knights back then, a servant of the Empress’s Palace approached from afar.

“Welcome, Prince Edwin.”

He glanced between Edwin and me before stepping aside at an angle.

“Please, this way.”

Following the servant down a long corridor, we arrived at the rear garden of the Empress’s Palace.

An outdoor banquet hall adorned with nameless red and yellow flowers had been arranged beautifully and lavishly.

“Wow.”

The moment Edwin stepped into the garden, he looked startled.

“There are more people than I thought.”

“Indeed.”

Upon the long oval tables prepared in the garden lay all sorts of delicacies and desserts.

At one side of the table sat the Empress, with the First Prince Adrian and Second Prince Lloyd on either side of her. Both of them wore expressions that seemed rather bored.

“Thank you for coming to celebrate.”

The star of the banquet, Brigitte, sat opposite the Empress.

Several young ladies were seated around her—daughters of noble families loyal to the House of Crowner or other ducal houses.

“Ah!”

At that moment, Brigitte spotted Edwin and rose from her seat, walking toward him.

“You came, Prince Edwin.”

“Ah, y-yes.”

Seeing Brigitte approach him, Edwin couldn’t take his eyes off her.

Perhaps because it was her birthday banquet, Brigitte was especially dazzling today.

The ruby-studded golden tiara and the red dress matching the color of her hair suited her perfectly.

‘He looks like he’s about to die of joy.’

I glanced at Edwin, his ears flushed red, looking completely flustered.

‘That’s not being full of life, he just looks like a fool.’

Once again, it seemed to me that refraining from love was more beneficial in life.

I put on a calm expression and bowed politely. “Congratulations on your birthday, Lady Brigitte Crowner.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Brigitte smiled lightly at my greeting, then promptly grabbed Edwin’s wrist.

“Come quickly, let’s go greet my aunt.”

“Ah, ah, yes!”

Edwin kept staring at the wrist Brigitte held as he was helplessly dragged along.

I followed slowly behind the two of them.

“It’s been a while.”

Empress Melanie was, as always, elegant and dignified in appearance. When the children approached, she quietly smiled.

“Edwin.”

“I greet Your Majesty the Empress.”

Edwin’s voice trembled slightly, as if nervous.

Following his lead, I bowed deeply, then raised my head.

It seemed Melanie had no interest in me at all. Her gaze was solely fixed on the children.

‘Hmm.’

Thanks to that, I was able to use the opportunity to carefully scan the surroundings.

As I was checking the positions of the entrances and windows of the palace, I suddenly flinched.

‘Adrian?’

The First Prince Adrian had been sitting motionless the entire time like a doll. The only thing moving was his fingers, turning the pages of a book.

Reading in silence at a banquet prepared for his cousin?

‘An unusual one. Either that, or simply unsociable.’

That was all I thought about the First Prince.

Meanwhile, Edwin hesitantly approached Adrian and greeted him awkwardly.

“Greetings, eldest brother.”

“Yes.”

Adrian, his gaze still on his book, responded shortly. Only when the Empress tapped his arm lightly did he finally lift his head.

With a face full of reluctance, he said, “I saw your performance at the hunting competition. It was impressive.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Unexpected praise made Edwin’s face brighten. But Adrian only said what he had to and turned back to his book.

At his overly indifferent attitude, Edwin was left standing awkwardly, not knowing what to say, when a sharp voice interrupted.

“What are you doing?”

The Second Prince Lloyd, resting his chin on his armrest, glared at Edwin with clear displeasure.

“So you won’t even greet me anymore?”

“Of course not, Brother Lloyd.”

Edwin’s expression stiffened at his near-hostile tone.

“I was just about to. Hello, brother.”

“Hmph.”

Lloyd gave Edwin a displeased look, scanning him up and down.

“A pearl necklace on a pig.”

He sneered, mocking Edwin dressed up in fine clothes.

“Looks like life in the Third Prince’s Palace has gotten better lately. You’ve dressed up quite well for your station.”

His tone was utterly grating.

As I glared at Lloyd, raising one brow, a head of fiery red hair intervened.

“Of course His Highness should be dressed to this standard. Prince Edwin is also a prince of the Empire, and he should be attired accordingly, don’t you think?”

“Brigitte, you, since the last time… you keep…”

Lloyd’s expression twisted as Brigitte cut in. He gripped the armrest of his chair as if he might spring up at any moment.

“Enough.”

At that moment, Melanie, who had been quietly sipping her tea, spoke, “Other noble children are watching. As a member of the imperial family, you must know how to maintain dignity, Lloyd.”

“…Tch.”

Blood runs thicker, after all.

Melanie elegantly took her niece’s side.

In the end, Lloyd had no choice but to obey the Empress’s words and sit back down.

“Brigitte.”

“Yes, Aunt.”

From the moment I heard the birthday banquet would be held at the Empress’s Palace, I had suspected it, but this confirmed it: Melanie truly cherished Brigitte.

I narrowed my eyes slightly.

‘To think she even allowed her to call her aunt.’

According to imperial etiquette, no matter the blood relation, unless one belonged to the imperial family, one could not address the Empress by any title other than “Her Majesty the Empress.”

Even her own parents would have to call her by her title, not her name.

“Go and continue talking with your friends. It seems they are waiting for you.”

“Yes! Then, Prince Edwin, will you come as well?”

“Huh? Me too?”

“Yes, I will introduce you to my friends!”

At her words, Lloyd’s face contorted. It seemed he had never once received such an invitation from Brigitte.

“Um, Rachel.”

At that moment, Edwin called me. His face was flushed red, his wrist still in Brigitte’s grip.

“Is it all right if I go for a bit?”

“Of course. Please enjoy the banquet without worry.”

I bowed my head politely.

“I will remain here, so call me if you need anything.”

“Mm!”

The moment I gave my consent, Edwin dashed off with Brigitte toward the other noble children.

When he approached, curious gazes fell on him.

In particular, the young ladies around Brigitte’s age seemed not only friendly but enthusiastic.

“Oh my, who is this handsome one, Brigitte?”

“I’ve never seen him before in the capital.”

“Brigitte, hurry and introduce him. We’re curious.”

From their speech, they seemed to be nobles of collateral lines from the House of Crowner. They called Brigitte by name with ease.

“This is His Highness Prince Edwin Anaxinian Ventrume, the Third Prince of the Empire.”

At hearing his full name from Brigitte’s lips, Edwin looked at her in surprise. He hadn’t expected her to know his complete name.

“What? His Highness the Third Prince?”

“Prince Edwin? Ah, the one who won the hunting competition?”

“My goodness, then you must have seen the Silver-Horned Deer yourself?”

Once they realized who he was, the young noble ladies clustered even closer around Edwin.

Feeling awkward at the sudden flood of curiosity, Edwin lowered his head slightly and rolled his eyes nervously, hiding himself a little behind Brigitte.

“Don’t crowd him like that. His Highness looks uncomfortable. Step aside!”

“Wow, Brigitte, your usual way of speaking came out. How about you finally drop that ridiculous eastern accent?”

“What? Ridiculous? So you’ve been thinking that all this time? You’re all dead!”

“There’s the Brigitte temper, the temper!”

The young nobles of the House of Crowner seemed unreserved with each other.

More like friends than cousins.

‘Usually direct and collateral bloodlines don’t get along. How unusual.’

Brigitte playfully struck her cousins who teased her, then burst into laughter together with them.

And Edwin just stood there, staring at her blankly.

A sigh escaped me.

‘For someone who wants to impress her, he’s completely dazed.’

Catherine told me to assist properly, but with him like this, there was nothing I could do.

‘Well, he’ll have to figure it out himself.’

Affairs of love are not something that succeed just because someone helps.

I watched the prince for a while, then quietly slipped away.