The Prince's Nanny, Her Specialty Is Assassination - Chapter 88

Chapter 88: LOVE & POISON (12)

‘In a situation like this, it must be the custom of nobles to act humble.’

But “Rachel Brown” was not a pureblood noble, and I was even further from humility than anyone.

“I have learned nothing, Your Majesty.”

I pretended to hesitate for a moment, then continued, “So all I know is that a reward should be given in money.”

“R-Rachel, to say something like that so openly…”

Edwin was flustered, not knowing what to do.

But the Empress herself let out a laugh. She looked at me with amused eyes, as if she were watching an entertaining animal.

“Indeed, compensation is usually given in money. So, how much do you want?”

“That, I will leave to Your Majesty’s will.”

I bowed politely.

“Someone like me can’t dare to put a price on Your Majesty the Empress’s life.”

I had twisted my words as much as I could, but in the end, it meant: name the price of your own life.

As the Empress of an empire, if she valued her own life too cheaply, she would be thought miserly or stingy. So from her position, she had no choice but to name a high price.

As expected, I felt everyone around me staring in shock.

“What an interesting woman.”

Fortunately, Melanie seemed to like me this way. She raised a hand toward the maids who were glaring at me and smiled.

“I will send someone soon.”

“Thank you.”

Meanwhile, the First Prince Adrian and Brigitte were looking at me with disapproving eyes.

As if they were staring at a money-grubber. If they had been grown adults, I might have secretly taught them a lesson, but since they were still young children ignorant of the world, I let it go.

“By the way, I will report what happened today to His Majesty myself when the time is right, so all of you must keep silent.”

From the beginning, other than the princes and Brigitte, no one knew the Empress had swallowed poison.

They had only been told that she had collapsed because of her usual headaches.

With Melanie’s request as the last word, we left the Empress’s Palace and returned to the Third Prince’s Palace.

***

Several days passed after the Empress had nearly been poisoned.

The fact that someone had tried to poison the Empress finally reached the Emperor’s ears.

Once he knew, the Emperor executed most of the attendants who had worked in the Empress’s Palace and selected new ones.

When everything had been settled, the reward promised by the Empress finally arrived at the Third Prince’s Palace.

“Wow, unbelievable!”

Catherine couldn’t hide her astonishment at the enormous amount of gold coins and treasures being carried into the Third Prince’s Palace.

“Are all of these for you, Nanny?”

“So it seems.”

I watched with satisfaction as the Empress’s attendants carried in the chests of treasure.

At my side, Sage muttered nonsense about how the gardener’s pay was too low and whether I could spare him a bonus, but I ignored him cleanly.

“With this much, the repairs for the palace this year won’t be a problem!”

Looking at the endless carts loaded with gold and jewels, Catherine muttered nonsense in all seriousness.

“Maybe I should just marry you, Nanny.”

“What?”

“Marriage is reality, and I think I’d be happiest marrying someone capable.”

She must have caught Sage’s nonsense disease.

When Catherine suddenly linked arms with me, I pushed her cheek away.

“I must decline.”

“Hey, I’m good at housework, I’m affectionate, and I’m the perfect bride candidate, so why refuse?”

“That is exactly why I refuse. Marry a handsome man for love instead.”

“Wow, no need to be so serious about it, is there?”

As Catherine and I were bickering, Emilia showed interest in the gold.

“Achel, that’s the same color as Lia’s hair!”

The child in my arms reached toward the gleaming gold. It seemed she was more fascinated by the gold that matched her hair color than by the colorful jewels.

“Shiny! So pretty!”

“Do you like gold the best, Your Highness?”

“Mm-hm! It’s pretty!”

“You have good taste. You should pick gold over mediocre jewels. Gold never loses its value. If you want to build wealth later…”

Catherine gasped and slapped my shoulder. “Why are you teaching such things to the princess!”

“I’m teaching her how to gain practical sense.”

“She can’t even add or subtract yet! Why would you teach her that, you materialist!”

And just before, she was saying nonsense about marrying me for my practical sense.

I shook my head at Catherine, who was taking Emilia from my arms.

“By the way, where did Prince Edwin go?”

Catherine gave Emilia a gold ring and looked around.

“I haven’t seen him for a while.”

“He went to the knights.”

“Wasn’t today supposed to be a rest day?”

“He said he had an appointment.”

I looked in the direction of the Gloria Knights.

‘The boy is already opening his eyes to troublesome emotions.’

By now, he must have met her.

“Of all things, he had to choose a difficult opponent.”

I was displeased, but there was nothing I could do.

All I could do for now was support the young prince’s innocent love.

***

Thud, thud.

Edwin leaned against the wall of the archery grounds inside the knights’ quarters, tapping the dirt floor lightly with the tip of his shoe.

Although there was no knights’ training today, he was waiting here for someone.

“Prince Edwin.”

At the familiar voice, the young prince quickly lifted his head.

It was Lady Brigitte Crowner.

“I did not expect you would call me out with a letter.”

Edwin stared blankly at Brigitte in her ivory dress, then shook his head.

He had barely managed to ask Philip to deliver a letter to Brigitte.

Up until that moment, he had doubted whether Brigitte would even agree to meet him, but now that she had come to the promised place, he was so overjoyed he could have leapt into the sky. All the more reason he had to keep his wits about him and achieve his purpose.

“Uh, how is Her Majesty the Empress? I heard you’ve been nursing her at her side…”

“Ah.”

At his words of concern for the Empress’s health, Brigitte’s expression darkened slightly.

Edwin asked worriedly, noticing how she looked somewhat pale, “Um, are you alright?”

“…What?”

“You don’t look well.”

Perhaps it was the genuine warmth in his voice filled with concern that made her emotions burst forth.

Brigitte bit her lower lip, then cried out with a choked voice.

“After what happened, how could I possibly be alright?”

“Uh, huh?”

She looked at Edwin’s flustered face and spoke through tears.

“If I hadn’t insisted on having the banquet, none of this, none of this would have happened…”

Brigitte collapsed on the spot.

She buried her face between her knees and muttered, “Sob, sob, I foolishly got excited and couldn’t refuse when they offered to hold the birthday banquet for me. Even a five-year-old child knows that holding a banquet loosens the palace’s security…”

This was the second time Edwin had seen her cry, but this time she looked even more pitiful.

Unable to think what to do, Edwin finally crouched beside her.

“But didn’t Her Majesty tell you that day too?”

That it wasn’t your fault. At Edwin’s words, Brigitte quietly sobbed for a long time before lifting her head.

Her eyes and nose were red like a ripe apple. But her expression was as resolute as if she had never shed tears at all.

“So what was the reason you asked to see me?”

“Ah, uh, that…”

Flustered, Edwin rummaged through his chest and pulled something out.

What the young prince took out was a small pentagonal jewel box and a silk pouch.

“Because that day, I couldn’t give you a present…”

Brigitte’s tearful face turned to one of surprise as she sniffled and accepted the gift.

“May I open it?”

“O-of course! It’s yours!”

At Edwin’s permission, Brigitte slowly opened the box.

Inside was a necklace.

A bluish gem pendant that shimmered with rainbow colors hung from a thin silver chain.

“I, I made it myself.”

At Edwin’s words, Brigitte’s eyes widened.

“You made this yourself?”

“Yes.”

“You have quite the skill with your hands.”

At the young lady’s praise, Edwin scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

“I’ve always liked fiddling with things alone since I was young…”

Brigitte only half listened to his answer as she examined the necklace carefully.

Looking closely, she saw that the part surrounding the pendant was shaped like a snake.

The eyes and scales were delicately carved, showing the effort put into it.

“This is…”

Brigitte stared at the snake-shaped carving for a while before finally bursting into laughter.

“Why a snake? Are you teasing me?”

“Ah, no, I wasn’t teasing you…!”

Watching the flustered young prince, the duke’s daughter secretly smiled mischievously.

She deliberately puffed out her cheeks slightly and made a pouty face.

“Too bad, I’m not afraid of snakes anymore.”

“Yeah! That’s exactly what it’s for!”

At her words, Edwin nodded hurriedly and added an explanation.

“Long ago, warriors would stuff or carve the head of a defeated enemy and hang it up. It was a way to celebrate victory.”

Hearing his explanation, Brigitte thought for a moment, then laughed brightly.

“So this is my first victory trophy?”

Brigitte looked at Edwin, who nodded shyly, then suddenly thrust the necklace box back toward him.

Edwin blinked in surprise at her. “D-do you not like it?”

“That’s not it. When someone gives a necklace, shouldn’t they put it on for the recipient themselves? Isn’t that proper manners?”

“Oh…”

Startled, Edwin accepted the box again, only to be shocked once more.

Because Brigitte had suddenly turned around and lifted her hair up with her hand.