The Prince’s Nanny, Her Specialty Is Assassination - Chapter 104
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 104. Guest of the Prince’s Palace (7)
“The thing they love most?”
“Yes.”
Taking what the other party treasures most as a hostage was the foundation of blackmail.
Nothing was more painful than losing what you cherish and love most in the world.
Edwin looked at me with puzzled eyes, then soon let his shoulders droop.
“Hmm, I see. But His Majesty the King of Adamant doesn’t seem to have such weaknesses…”
It might seem that way on the surface.
He was a man who gave off an aura as if he wouldn’t die even if stabbed.
But every human has weak spots that hurt when struck, and sometimes can inflict fatal wounds leading to death.
Just as Ian had been that kind of existence to me long ago.
“Everyone has weaknesses. It’s just a matter of how well they hide them.”
I offered Edwin the best advice I could give.
“Observe carefully. No matter how well hidden, weaknesses are bound to be revealed eventually.”
“Got it.”
I couldn’t sense any confidence in Edwin’s response.
He still had a gloomy expression on his face.
It seemed there were other problems besides Kaiden.
“What’s wrong? Do you have other worries?”
“Huh? Oh, that’s…”
Edwin looked at the ornate ceremonial sword placed beside his bed.
It was the formal sword to be used when performing the sword dance before the Emperor.
“The sword dance. Can I really manage practicing alone?”
Sword dancing was originally about the harmony between two people.
But Lloyd had never practiced with Edwin even once since storming out on the first day of sword dance lessons.
“No matter what, stepping onto the stage without coordinating with Brother Lloyd is a bit…”
I gently ruffled Edwin’s hair, which looked full of worries.
“It’ll be fine.”
According to the sword dance instructor, Lloyd was also practicing the sword dance with burning determination.
It was natural since he wouldn’t want to be humiliated before the Emperor and numerous envoys.
“Besides, Your Highness already has all of the 2nd Prince’s movements memorized, don’t you?”
Sword dancing was also a type of dance.
While harmony between two people was important, if one side could overwhelm the other and make them move as desired, it wouldn’t fail.
“Your Highness has done everything you possibly could, so don’t worry too much.”
“But if I make a mistake that day…”
“There’s no need to worry about things that haven’t happened yet.”
I placed my hand on Edwin’s shoulder as he still looked uncertain.
“And Your Highness will do well. I guarantee it.”
“Really?”
“Yes, didn’t I tell you before?”
That’s right, Edwin was steadily growing stronger.
Watching his physical abilities improve day by day was truly admirable.
The growth rate of a young child was that terrifying.
“Your Highness is strong. You have talent too.”
“Ah, no, not particularly…”
Edwin still felt awkward when receiving compliments.
His blue eyes moved busily from side to side, not knowing what to do.
‘Just a few months ago, this kid was spouting nonsense about not needing to wash because he was a prince.’
Seeing him become so humble, it seemed he had matured somewhat.
“If it bothers you, I’ll ask Jake to arrange a session for the princes to coordinate together.”
Arranging such a session probably wouldn’t be difficult.
The sword dance instructor would also be troubled if the two princes couldn’t coordinate indefinitely.
“There’s still some time left until the actual banquet anyway.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
I bowed my head toward Edwin, who immediately brightened up.
“Then please sleep. Tomorrow is the day the Eastern Continent’s envoys arrive, so you’ll be very tired.”
The Eastern Continent’s delegation was very large.
Edwin would probably be incredibly busy tomorrow just receiving greetings from the delegation.
“Yeah, sleep well too, Rachel.”
Edwin finally burrowed comfortably under his blankets as if all his worries had disappeared.
I confirmed that he had safely fallen asleep and left the room.
Click.
Just as I was quietly heading to my room.
I heard a sound from downstairs.
It was Kaiden.
‘Had he been with Jerome until this hour?’
I stood on the stair railing and quietly watched him.
“I greet His Majesty the King. You’ve returned!”
Then Catherine ran across the lobby toward Kaiden.
“I heard from Duke Crowner’s attendant that you’d be late. Have you eaten? Shall I have something prepared?”
“It’s fine. I already ate before coming.”
Kaiden glanced at Catherine as she took his outer coat.
“Your body.”
“Pardon?”
“Is your body alright?”
“Oh, ah! Of course! Thanks to your concern, I’m completely better.”
“Good, health comes first above all, so don’t overdo it.”
Catherine smiled awkwardly, perhaps feeling guilty about lying.
Kaiden also smiled kindly while looking at her.
“Next time I have something to ask of you, if you’re not feeling well, tell me in advance.”
For a passing remark, it had a strangely sharp edge to it.
Just as Catherine hurriedly bowed her head.
“Oh, I want to sleep soundly tonight, so don’t let anyone into my room until breakfast tomorrow morning.”
Why would someone who used to say he could only sleep with people nearby say such a thing?
‘…Something’s up.’
At that moment, a rational suspicion bloomed in a corner of my mind.
A suspicion that Kaiden Ram surely had some unknowable scheme in his heart.
* * *
It was still dawn before daybreak.
I reflexively opened my eyes while lying in bed.
‘Movement.’
Movement that had started inside the Prince’s Palace was heading outside.
‘One presence, two, three. And is there one more?’
I got up and approached the window.
Slightly parting the curtains and looking out, I saw shadows silently climbing over the Prince’s Palace walls.
‘Those are…’
Under the dim moonlight, the shapes of the shadows were briefly revealed.
They were definitely knights from the Adamant Kingdom.
‘Hmm.’
I narrowed my eyes.
One of their figures was terribly familiar.
‘Kaiden Ram.’
The young king seemed to be secretly escaping the Prince’s Palace with three subordinates.
‘What will he do if he gets caught doing that?’
Kaiden’s actions were tantamount to moving his own forces without The Emperor’s permission.
If The Emperor caught him, it might not just be a minor diplomatic issue but could even lead to war.
‘What on earth is he thinking, doing such reckless things in the dead of night?’
The purpose behind The King of Adamant’s bizarre behavior in the middle of the night wasn’t important to me.
I was only worried that if he, who happened to be a guest of the 3rd Prince’s Palace, did something to displease The Emperor, the repercussions might affect Edwin and Emilia too.
Swoosh.
I quickly donned a dark cloak, pulled up the hood, and jumped down from the window.
Then I ran silently and hung onto the wall where the knights had disappeared.
Kaiden’s group was already mounting horses prepared beyond the wall.
‘Damn it.’
How thoroughly prepared they are.
Had they been planning to leave the Prince’s Palace from the beginning?
‘This is ridiculous. What could they possibly be doing all this for…?’
I glared at Kaiden’s group as they grew more distant, then soon jumped down from the wall.
‘I’m going after them.’
Since it’s come to this, I should at least find out why Kaiden is going to such lengths to secretly leave without the palace people knowing.
If I can get some dirt on him from today’s events, I can use it somehow later.
I gritted my teeth and tracked their trail.
‘It’s been a while since I’ve done this.’
When secretly tracking targets moving on horseback, assassins had to move using only their own two legs. This was because the target must never notice they were being followed.
“Huff, huff.”
I sprinted at full speed in the direction the hoofprints led.
If this had been my body from my previous life, I wouldn’t have gotten tired from running just this much, but Rachel’s body wasn’t that robust.
‘Even though I haven’t neglected training for a single day since awakening here, this is all I can manage. I should have built up more stamina.’
I blamed myself for not building up my stamina in advance while running hard.
Fortunately, I was able to spot the Adamant knights before my legs reached their limit.
‘This place is…’
I frowned and looked around.
The place I arrived at by following the knights’ trail was some nameless riverside.
Rustle rustle rustle.
The reeds growing by the riverside swayed mercilessly in the cold night wind.
An eerie sense of déjà vu made me feel uneasy from deep in my stomach.
It felt like cold sweat was running down my spine.
Swish, thunk.
At that moment, a dagger flew and embedded itself near my feet.
It was thrown by Kaiden, who was standing far away.
“…”
He was staring intently at exactly where I was standing.
“Why are you doing that, Your Majesty?”
One of the knights questioned his action.
However, Kaiden didn’t answer.
He just quietly glared in the direction where I was hiding.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————