The Prince’s Nanny, Her Specialty Is Assassination - Chapter 102
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 102. Guest of the Prince’s Palace (5)
“Wh-what are you doing there….”
Unlike Edwin who froze in shock, Kaiden gently set the princess down on the floor and offered a greeting.
“Good morning, Your Highness the 3rd Prince.”
“Ah, well….”
Edwin couldn’t find words to say and eventually returned the same greeting.
“Good morning, Your Majesty the King.”
“Uung, Ria wants to ride again! Ride again!”
Emilia threw a tantrum, demanding to be given another piggyback ride.
“Ria, come here!”
Edwin pulled Emilia’s hand and hid her behind him.
‘What should I do?’
He recalled the Emperor’s words to treat their guest well.
‘My teacher also said that if I handle the diplomatic mission well, I could gain recognition from The Emperor for having diplomatic skills….’
He had been told that diplomacy was like making friends.
But for a young prince who found it difficult even to make friends his own age, to become friends with the king of a nation.
‘But I never expected Emilia to cause such trouble.’
Just as Edwin was wondering how to apologize for his sister’s rudeness.
“The painter must not have been very skilled.”
The King of Adamant made an unexpected comment.
Edwin looked at him with wide eyes.
“It would have been better if they had painted her more beautifully and with more vitality.”
Kaiden couldn’t take his eyes off the portrait of the 3rd Imperial Consort hanging on the wall.
Edwin stared blankly at Kaiden who was looking at his mother’s portrait.
“Looking closely, the brush strokes don’t seem very detailed.”
“Ah….”
Is that so?
Edwin wore a puzzled expression.
He was a complete novice when it came to paintings, and had never once looked closely at his mother’s portrait.
Naturally, he had no way of knowing such trivial details as how delicate the brush strokes were.
“Your Highnesses.”
Then, Kaiden spoke again.
“You resemble the Imperial Consort very much.”
“Ah, I’ve heard that often. Though I’m not sure myself….”
Edwin unconsciously fidgeted with the pearl bracelet hanging on one of his wrists.
“That bracelet.”
Meanwhile, Kaiden slightly furrowed his brow as soon as he saw Edwin’s bracelet.
“Is it yours, Your Highness?”
“Ah, yes. It’s a keepsake left by The Previous Caretaker.”
“…A keepsake, you say?”
“Yes.”
At the prince’s answer, Kaiden’s expression became subtle.
Edwin glanced up at the man who was much larger than himself.
‘Why is he making that face.’
The young prince thought the emotion cast over Kaiden’s expressionless face seemed close to sadness. Though he couldn’t understand why.
“Um….”
Edwin was about to say something, but Kaiden was faster.
“I just woke up and I’m hungry. When do you have meals?”
“Ah! You should eat! I’ll tell the attendants. It will be ready soon.”
“I would appreciate that.”
“Yes!”
Edwin hurriedly left the reception room, dragging Emilia who was insisting she wouldn’t leave.
“….”
Left alone, Kaiden slowly turned his head.
He looked up at the portrait and said.
“I warned you, didn’t I, sister.”
An endlessly cold voice flowed from his lips.
“I told you not to live so kindly.”
The last princess of the Kingdom of Lionel, Idis Lionel.
The youngest sister who was the only kind one among Kaiden’s half-siblings.
Foolishly kind to the point of being sold off to the Empire as a hostage.
“You didn’t come here to die and end up preserved in a frame, did you?”
Kaiden stared quietly at Idis’s portrait.
But there was no way the portrait could answer him.
“…With your personality, to leave behind such little ones and go first. You must have been too resentful to close your eyes.”
Kaiden frowned as he looked at Idis in the portrait who wore a faint smile.
“Do you think something will change by smiling like that? Foolish sister.”
The young king of Adamant clicked his tongue and turned away coldly.
As if he had no attachment whatsoever to a mere portrait.
* * *
The dining room of the 3rd Prince’s Palace, decorated more lavishly than usual.
The maids carried food with tense faces.
‘Everyone seems overly nervous.’
That was understandable, since today was the first day of formally serving a meal to the guest visiting the 3rd Prince’s Palace.
‘Well, I suppose it’s the same on this side too.’
I swallowed a sigh as I watched the beads of sweat forming on Edwin’s nape.
The silverware the boy was holding kept slipping around on his plate, unable to find its way.
‘He’s getting worked up over nothing.’
Edwin was watching for an opportunity, wondering if he should say something first.
But whether he understood the young prince’s feelings or not, Kaiden simply continued his meal in silence.
‘Hmm, he also seems like a well-educated young master.’
Kaiden’s dining etiquette was impeccably refined.
I had expected someone of common birth wouldn’t bother with manners, but his posture was so proper it seemed he had been taught etiquette correctly.
‘Well, it would be a disgrace to the nation if a king appeared ignorant.’
He must have brought in an etiquette teacher after his ascension to learn properly, even if belatedly.
Otherwise, he couldn’t have displayed such elegant knife work….
Clang.
I snapped to attention at the sharp clashing sound.
It was because Kaiden had lightly tapped his plate with the fork he was holding.
Golden eyes were watching me.
‘Is staring at someone eating such a big deal.’
Instead of avoiding his gaze, I responded by meeting it directly.
Invisible sparks flew between our eyes that met in midair.
“Prince Edwin.”
Then, Kaiden turned his gaze from me and spoke.
“May I make a request of you?”
Despite his serious tone, his expression was quite refreshing.
“Of me?”
Edwin, who had been struggling with meat that was particularly difficult to cut today, looked at the king with surprised eyes.
“What kind….”
“I’d like to tour the Imperial Capital. Could you guide me?”
Who would have thought the God of War had such a cute hobby as sightseeing in foreign imperial capitals.
I watched Kaiden with suspicious eyes.
“Of course that’s possible….”
Meanwhile, Edwin was about to nod readily but stopped and furrowed his brow.
Unfortunately, the 3rd Prince’s schedule was particularly packed today.
After breakfast, he had to immediately participate in sword dance practice.
“You seem busy.”
Kaiden looked at Edwin, who couldn’t answer easily, and smiled brightly.
“Then could you assign someone trustworthy in Your Highness’s place?”
It would be two more days before the full Founding Festival banquet began.
From the diplomatic mission’s perspective, having to wait indefinitely would be boring.
“Ah, then the Housekeeper….”
“The Housekeeper? You mean that woman who guided me yesterday? I heard she’s not feeling well, so how about assigning someone else.”
“Catherine, I mean the Housekeeper is sick?”
Edwin looked toward me with a puzzled expression.
‘Right, of course you’d be confused. Catherine is perfectly fine right now taking care of Emilia’s meal.’
I gave Edwin a small signal with my eyes.
Though he tilted his head as if something didn’t add up, he naturally changed the subject.
“Then I’ll assign another maid….”
“Hmm, if Your Highness doesn’t mind.”
Kaiden removed his hands from the tableware and leaned back against his chair.
He fixed his gaze toward the Prince, or more precisely toward me, and smiled brightly.
“I’d like to request guidance from the person standing behind Your Highness.”
What is this man saying right now?
I widened my eyes and sent an unfriendly look toward Kaiden.
But that damn brat, I mean Edwin, readily accepted his proposal.
Without even asking for my opinion.
“Ah, if it’s Rachel, I can trust her. She’ll guide you well.”
Edwin, shouldn’t you at least ask why he specifically pointed me out?
Handing me over to someone else so easily, I almost felt betrayed.
“Then I’ll be counting on you, Brown Lordling.”
Kaiden flashed me a smile while wearing an extremely kind mask.
‘I really want to crack open that head and see what he’s thinking.’
I quietly stared at the smiling Kaiden before lowering my head.
“…Not at all. Rather, it’s an honor for me to serve you, Your Majesty the King.”
Lamenting my fate of having to obey when my master commands, both then and now.
* * *
Receiving attention from many people in broad daylight was truly burdensome beyond measure.
But today I had no choice but to endure and bear it.
It was all because of the man behind me who was looking around with apparent interest.
“That person is the rumored King of Adamant?”
“They say he’s the God of War. He doesn’t look it though.”
“But who is that woman….”
The gazes of people walking around the Imperial Capital were fixed on Kaiden.
It was only natural since the famous founding king of Adamant was strolling through the Imperial Capital.
“The place you see over there is the Empress’s Palace. And the place visible next to it is the 1st Prince’s Palace.”
I deliberately kept walking while looking straight ahead and continued my explanation.
I didn’t want to mix in private conversation with this man who had been bothering me since last night.
“And this place, as you well know, is the Central Garden. It’s the largest garden within the Imperial Capital. And the place visible to the east is the 2nd Imperial Consort’s Palace and The Second Prince’s Palace.”
“I see. Then what’s that place over there?”
The place Kaiden pointed to with his finger was the Gloria Knight Order Headquarters where silk banners were proudly fluttering.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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