The Prince’s Nanny, Her Specialty Is Assassination - Chapter 174

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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 174. Trap (5)

“What? A debt? What do you mean…?”

Edwin made a face that showed he had no idea what I was talking about.

I casually blocked his path.

“Let’s get out of here first.”

The ground tremors were subsiding.

The shadow of the centipede monster that had attacked us seemed to be growing more distant as well.

“Let’s move right now while the monsters are quiet.”

“Wait, are you saying we should just run away by ourselves like this?”

Several knights protested my words.

“We should regroup first, then join up with the knight order that went ahead and defeat that thing.”

“That’s right, running away like this would tarnish the 3rd Prince’s honor…”

Times like this make me hate working with knights.

Whether they’re commoners or nobles, I don’t understand why they’re all so stubborn.

“You can only protect honor if you survive.”

I pointed up the slope with my thumb.

“If we go back up there, we’ll all be skewered to death by monster feet before we can even join up with the knight order that went ahead. Is the honor you speak of a dog’s death?”

Moving with a small elite group might be one thing, but having the entire knight order move together would be problematic.

If we faced the monster like this, far from defeating it, even escaping quickly would be impossible.

‘Moreover, there are two children here.’

I looked back and forth between Edwin and Adrian.

The two were awkwardly asking about each other’s well-being.

Seeing them in their disheveled state didn’t make me feel very good.

‘The 1st Prince is even injured.’

Among the knights, more than a few were injured as well.

It would be difficult to expect agile mobility from them.

“Let’s go to the base at the extermination site through a different route.”

The Adamant extermination force that went ahead and the Empire’s other extermination forces would eventually head to the base anyway.

I took out the map from inside my coat and spread it on the ground.

It was the map Kaiden had hidden and sent in the Princess’s gift.

“If we go around following this valley below, we should be able to reach the base directly. Let’s take this route.”

At my words, the knights gathered in small groups.

They looked at the map I had spread out and showed slightly surprised expressions.

“Wait, what is this map?”

“I’ve never seen a map with terrain features drawn in such detail.”

“They said he was a mercenary, but how did he get such a valuable map?”

“I could tell from when he took out the monster pheromones. He’s definitely not an ordinary person.”

What an enthusiastic reaction.

I ignored everyone’s gazes and misunderstanding-filled speculation as I put the map back in my coat.

“I heard that clerics from the Holy Kingdom are waiting at this operation’s base. So wouldn’t fighting there have much better odds of winning?”

The knights finally seemed to understand my intention at the mention of clerics and nodded repeatedly.

“There are clerics? Then we can be at ease.”

“Well, this extermination zone is close to the Holy Kingdom’s border after all.”

It was quite a positive reaction.

I put the map back in my coat and continued speaking.

“Then let’s move to the base. Since Prince the First will be joining us, our goal will be to safely escort both princes to the base.”

Once we unified our purpose, everything after that was swift.

We began moving along a path as far as possible from where the monster was rampaging. Rain was still falling heavily overhead.

* * *

About 30 minutes had passed since we started walking along the sound of the valley’s water.

Fortunately, we couldn’t sense any monster presence along the route we had chosen.

“I think we just need to go another 30 minutes.”

“That’s fortunate to hear.”

Pinet wiped his rain-soaked face and smiled at my words.

Despite wearing raincoats because of the continuous rain, our entire bodies were damp.

Water had also filled our shoes, making squelching sounds with every step.

“I feel exactly like a frog in the rainy season. I want to dry myself off quickly.”

“Damn it, I want to hurry up and down a cup of hot wine.”

The knights exchanged trivial chatter among themselves as they hurried their steps.

“Prince the First, are you uncomfortable?”

“I’m fine, so don’t worry about me.”

Meanwhile, Prince Adrian was being carried on Bata’s back due to his sprained ankle. At first, he had stubbornly insisted he would never be carried, befitting a prince.

However, once he realized his pace was far too slow, he obediently chose to be carried on the knight’s back.

“Kayl.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

I turned my head at Edwin’s call.

The rain-soaked boy’s face was full of dissatisfaction.

“Don’t ever do that again.”

“What do you mean?”

“Doing dangerous things on your own without my permission.”

Was he talking about when I rushed out to rescue Adrian?

I stared intently at Edwin’s profile.

“But if Prince the First had died there, wouldn’t Your Highness have been sad?”

“…You saved brother Adrian because you were worried I’d be sad?”

“Isn’t that right?”

“Well, yes, I would have been sad if that happened, but…”

Edwin suddenly frowned.

Then he suddenly gripped my right hand tightly.

“But I would have been even sadder if Re— I mean, if Kayl had died or gotten hurt.”

As soon as I heard those words, strength entered the hand Edwin was holding.

‘I thought he had grown a lot.’

Edwin’s hand clasped in mine was still very small and tender.

Just like a twelve-year-old child.

“…I understand.”

I replied while turning my gaze forward.

“I know.”

“Someone who knows wouldn’t do such things. You really are…”

Edwin pouted his lips.

“A stupid idiot, ugh!”

The rocks laid out in the valley were all slippery because of the rain.

I immediately caught Edwin’s arm as he nearly slipped while stepping on a rock.

Thanks to that, we could avoid the misfortune of the boy cracking his head.

“So I’ll make a promise here and now.”

Edwin was looking at me with his eyes wide open.

“That I will never die or get hurt from now on.”

Whether he was surprised by nearly slipping, or surprised by the promise I made.

The young prince remained frozen with his eyes still wide open.

Then, thinking of something, he narrowed his eyes and straightened his posture.

“That means you’ll continue doing reckless things because you won’t die or get hurt, right?”

Hmm, unnecessarily perceptive as always.

I escorted Edwin with one corner of my mouth twisted upward.

“It can’t be helped. I am Your Highness’s guard, after all.”

“Actually, you’re not a guard but a watch…”

“There are many listening ears, Your Highness.”

“Tsk.”

Edwin clicked his tongue as if annoyed.

The kid who had been walking ahead silently suddenly whipped around to look at me.

“…I’ll say this for now.”

Edwin muttered while looking down.

“Thank you for saving Adrian.”

The kid trembled with his small fists clenched tight.

“I couldn’t have saved him with my own strength. If you hadn’t been there, both he and I would have…”

“I merely did what a guard should do.”

I placed my hand on Edwin’s head and stepped forward.

“No matter how strong a person is, they cannot save everyone. That’s why we join forces with others, and that’s why the profession of guard exists.”

Just like how people hire assassins because not everyone has the circumstances to kill directly.

“So you don’t need to think about taking away my share of the work.”

Edwin looked embarrassed when I removed my hand from his head.

The kid smoothed down his disheveled hair and stuck close to my side.

“I get it, so don’t touch my head in front of other people.”

What’s this, all of a sudden?

He used to make a fuss asking me to touch his head.

Did his preferences change in the meantime?

“Why?”

“Why? It’s obvious.”

Edwin looked at me as if I was being ridiculous, then quickly lowered his gaze.

The tips of his ears were flushed red.

“I need to maintain my dignity as a prince in front of the knights, but because of you I’ll look like a little kid.”

“Ah.”

I never thought he’d be concerned about something like that.

Well, at twelve years old, it was about time to care about appearances.

The younger they are, the more they want to look like adults.

“I apologize. I’ll restrain myself from now on.”

Just as I offered Edwin a perfunctory apology.

The encampment of the expedition headquarters came into view beyond the thicket.

‘As expected, the others arrived first.’

The King of Adamant and the Marquis of Redcliff had already arrived at the encampment.

I narrowed my brow as I watched the two people who had rushed out of the encampment upon hearing the news.

‘What’s with that expression?’

The Marquis of Redcliff openly showed a displeased expression as soon as he saw us.

It was completely expected, so I wasn’t surprised at all.

“…You.”

But the King of Adamant was different.

Kaiden—he came running at full speed as soon as he saw me.

“You’re safe. Are you injured anywhere?”

Since we had a somewhat secret alliance, his concern was understandable.

But the ones he should be worried about first were the princes.

Not me, a mere guard.

‘Is he in his right mind with the marquis watching?’

Sure enough, the Marquis of Redcliff was looking this way with a strange gaze.

“Prince Edwin, His Majesty the King of Adamant seems very worried.”

I had no choice but to act as if Kaiden was addressing Edwin instead of me.

“You should let His Majesty know that Your Highness is safe.”

“Ah, I’m fine! I’m not hurt anywhere!”

Edwin answered spiritedly to my words.

The Marquis of Redcliff’s suspicious gaze finally lifted.

“Oh, but Adrian sprained his ankle badly and needs treatment.”

The moment Edwin uttered those words.

Sighs of relief burst out from inside and outside the encampment.

“The First Prince is alive!”

“Good heavens, heaven has helped us!”

“Quickly bring the captain!”

Soon the operation base was engulfed in unexpected commotion.

It was because of the news of the First Prince’s safe return after going missing in the monster attack.

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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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