The Prince’s Nanny, Her Specialty Is Assassination - Chapter 157
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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 157. Preparation (2)
“Ha.”
I knew she would act like this.
I sighed as I watched Emilia jumping around excitedly.
“Wh-what should we do? Shouldn’t we stop her?”
“What exactly would you stop?”
Catherine covered her mouth, not knowing what to do.
“Still, they’re all noble young ladies from respectable families. Even if she’s Princess Emilia, making them play horsie is too…”
“It is rather inhumane.”
“Exactly!”
It wasn’t easy for humans who walk on two legs to be forced to crawl on all fours, carrying a small child on their delicate backs across the ground.
Both physically and mentally.
“Well, it should be fine.”
Fortunately, the new maids before my eyes weren’t human.
“Playing horsie sounds fun.”
“Should we get down on all fours right now?”
After hearing the explanation about playing horsie, the maids immediately knelt down.
Not caring that grass stains would get on their silk clothes.
“There are five of us. How about one of us plays the role of a carriage?”
“Good idea. Sola, you carry Princess Emilia.”
“Got it.”
The maids whispered among themselves, then crawled on the ground and formed a line.
“No, wh-what are you doing right now…”
“Let’s just watch.”
I held back Catherine who was trying to intervene and quietly observed.
“We’re ready now.”
“Princess Emilia, please get on quickly.”
Four maids in front, one maid in back.
Emilia climbed onto the back of the maid behind her.
The child grabbed the waist sashes of the maids in front with both hands and let out a cheer.
“Kyaaaaaaaa!”
“Ehihihihihing!”
Somnia’s dolls seemed to have instantly grasped their new master’s preferences and intentions.
They began moving forward on their own, making horse sounds.
“A four-horse carriage.”
“No, this isn’t the time for such observations, Caretakerrrrr!”
“If Princess Emilia likes it, isn’t that enough?”
Catherine watched the Princess riding a human four-horse carriage with horrified eyes and trailed off.
“That may be true, but…”
“Then I’ll leave the maids’ education to you.”
“Caretaker? Where are you going?”
“I’m going to write a letter to the person who sent the maids.”
I lifted one corner of my mouth.
“Since they sent such exceptional talent, I think it would be proper to express my gratitude quickly.”
* * *
A dilapidated inn without even a sign, located near the Imperial Capital.
I faced Somnia in a cramped guest room.
“So, you must have liked the girls I sent? Seeing how you immediately summoned me to the Imperial Capital?”
Today was exactly the third day since new maids had entered the 3rd Prince’s Palace.
“I’m sure I said to meet immediately. Haven’t you still broken the habit of letting my words go in one ear and out the other?”
“Listen here, Caretaker. I’m the owner of the continent’s top trading company. And if I came running every time someone called, wouldn’t that make me a dog, not a person?”
Hissssss.
The acrid smell of burning grass spread in all directions.
Somnia put a pipe in her mouth and laughed lightly.
“Anyway, since this body has graced you with her presence, show some appreciation.”
What a cunning woman.
I crossed my arms and frowned.
“What’s your scheme?”
“What do you mean?”
“I asked you to send maids, not to send magical dolls you created.”
Somnia lay diagonally on a bed that looked like it might collapse at any moment and tilted her head.
“If you’re dissatisfied, get a refund.”
Those annoying eyes that were confident there could never be any dissatisfaction.
“I’m not dissatisfied. I’m just asking because I’m curious about your true intentions.”
As I straightened my posture from leaning against the wall, I sensed movement.
I could feel Somnia’s guards waiting outside the door and window growing tense.
“True intentions.”
Somnia lightly tapped her pipe once.
Ash fluttered down to the floor.
“Let’s call it a kind of insurance.”
“Insurance?”
“Yes, insurance for the things you promised.”
The things I promised.
Was she talking about the promise to grant her a noble title when the 3rd Prince becomes Emperor?
“Do you think I’ll break my promise?”
“No, it’s more like…”
Somnia wrinkled her nose.
“For successful transactions, it works well to treat people a bit excessively well at first.”
Her long eyes curved like a crescent moon.
“Those magical dolls? Each one is worth a castle.”
This is insane.
No wonder when I asked her to send ten maids, she said she could only send five even if it killed her. So this was the reason.
“Are you planning to arbitrarily rack up debt?”
“If our transaction happens to fall through due to unfortunate circumstances, you won’t be able to pay the penalty fee.”
Somnia waved her pipe and laughed.
“I’m a merchant, you haven’t forgotten that fact, have you?”
“…You’ll take away everything those dolls see and hear in the 3rd Prince’s Palace?”
Unlike humans who have limitations and distortions in memory, magical dolls record and store everything they see and hear.
Accurate information from inside the Imperial Palace would easily fetch not just the price of a castle, but the price of a small kingdom.
“That’s right, as expected of a former Assassin Group captain.”
Somnia’s lips curved in a gentle arc like an overturned boat.
“I had no choice either. You made an impossible demand first.”
She burst into hollow laughter as if she still found it absurd.
“You asked me to find ten women in their 20s or 30s who have accurate knowledge of imperial etiquette, possess noble surnames, and have self-defense skills sufficient to guard a princess.”
“…I thought the Golden Goose could manage it.”
“I appreciate you thinking highly of my abilities, but that’s impossible for anyone.”
Somnia stretched as she raised her massive body.
“Noble surnames can be bought, but do you know how difficult it is to find women who meet all the other conditions? Especially not just one, but ten all at once – that’s impossible, impossible.”
I looked at Somnia with an unpleasant expression.
Seeing me like that, she smiled brightly.
“Still, dolls would be better than the black-haired beasts. Those things only carry out the orders they’re given, no matter what anyone says.”
Unlike humans, dolls don’t betray or ruin things by putting emotions first.
“And they have combat abilities too. They could probably take down about ten knights single-handedly and still have energy left over…”
Somnia stopped mid-sentence and raised both hands.
It was because I had grabbed her by the collar.
“It’s fine, so everyone stand back.”
At her words, the guards who had drawn their swords hesitantly returned to their positions.
“Yes, I’ll admit it. I did propose unreasonable conditions. But I definitely would have added this as well.”
I gritted my teeth and muttered in a low voice.
“That it was fine if you couldn’t satisfy all the conditions, but to absolutely find someone who posed no risk of harming The Princess.”
“Wow, look at that expression. It’s so scary my knees are shaking.”
Somnia wrapped her hands around mine that was gripping her collar.
“Don’t worry. Those things will absolutely never harm The Princess. I swear it.”
“You expect me to believe that now?”
“Ugh, just believe me!”
She shouted as if frustrated.
“If those things harm The Princess, then I’ll hand over all my assets to The 3rd Prince and commit suicide, deal or no deal. Is that good enough?”
To say she’d hand over all the assets she’d risked her life to accumulate.
Somnia was someone who never lied when money was involved.
I slowly relaxed the strength in my hand.
“…There had better be no lies in those words.”
“Ugh, I’m telling you it’s true.”
Somnia straightened her wrinkled collar.
“And if I lie, you’ll come to kill me anyway. Right?”
“Good thing you understand that well.”
“Really, so violent.”
She muttered complaints and called in the guards who had been waiting outside.
“Well, now that I’ve explained everything, I’ll be heading back.”
When Somnia finished speaking and gestured, one of the guards set down a large luggage bag in front of me.
“That’s the items you asked me to prepare before. From the looks of it, you really are planning to go to the Subjugation Campaign.”
Somnia smiled mischievously.
“I do hope you return alive and well.”
That woman even has a talent for worrying in an annoying way.
“Don’t worry.”
I lifted the luggage bag with one hand and headed for the door first.
“I absolutely won’t die until I keep my promise.”
“How very reassuring.”
Somnia waved her hand at my back.
“See you again next time!”
Surrounded by her guards, she wore an intrigued smile.
“Good fortune to you, Caretaker.”
* * *
Ten days remained until the Subjugation Campaign.
All the Prince’s Palaces were working feverishly to prepare to see off their masters.
“You’re really going?”
Seiji asked while adjusting his straw hat.
“What if you die?”
“I’m not afraid of death.”
Since I’ve already died once.
I bowed my head while swallowing those words.
“Is this everything?”
“Yes.”
Seiji pointed to the medicine bottles on the table one by one and explained.
“This is super-strong hair dye – once you dye it, you won’t need to worry for a month. Just don’t forget to touch it up every time your hair grows.”
“What about the medicine to delay menstruation?”
“That’s the yellow bottle next to it. If you drink one drop a day at any time, you should be able to keep postponing the cycle. But be careful – if you miss even one day, it won’t work.”
Besides those, there were ointments good for cuts and bruises, and various emergency medicines.
“You said you didn’t need body modification drugs, right?”
I nodded instead of answering.
If I used body modification drugs, I wouldn’t be suspected of being a woman even if I went around naked.
But those drugs had too severe side effects.
“Yes, it would be troublesome if I fainted during a fight or suddenly started vomiting.”
I can just change my voice anyway.
My chest won’t show if I wear armor, and short men aren’t that rare either.
“Well, I think that’s all the preparation I can do for you.”
Seiji dusted off his hands and sat down in a chair.
“But has that problem been resolved?”
“What problem?”
The old sage frowned and scratched under his nose.
“The mage.”
He asked while twisting his long beard.
“The other princes will bring at least one mage each to this monster Subjugation Campaign. What does Edwin plan to do?”
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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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