The Prince’s Nanny, Her Specialty Is Assassination - Chapter 181
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 181. Inside the Encampment (2)
“Marriage, you say?”
I looked up at Kaiden with disbelieving eyes.
“Why are you asking about such a thing?”
“Just curious.”
“Are you that curious about other people’s private lives?”
“I just asked whether you have thoughts of marriage or not.”
Kaiden shrugged his eyebrows as if it was nothing.
“If you don’t want to answer, you don’t have to.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to…”
Marriage.
Honestly, I had never thought about it.
At least, not since I was revived in Rachel Brown’s body.
‘When I was Kayla, I had thought about marriage before.’
The first person I ever thought about marrying was the one who killed me.
When I can’t even trust love anymore, how could I think about marriage?
“I have no thoughts of marriage right now.”
“Right now?”
For some reason, Kaiden’s voice had a slight edge to it.
“Does that mean you’re thinking of getting married later? With whom?”
“What? No, it’s not that I have someone specific in mind…”
Unlike before, I was now an aristocratic lady.
Though they say love marriages are common, among high-ranking nobles, marriage was still a good business tool.
‘If Edwin becomes crown prince, it wouldn’t be bad to threaten and marry the heir of a family that could lend him power.’
There were quite a few noble couples who only held the ceremony and lived like strangers for life.
Of course, the topic of heirs would come up in the process. But a child to continue the line could simply be adopted from the husband’s relatives.
“I just.”
I applied more ointment to Kaiden’s wound.
“I only thought that if a situation arose where marriage was necessary, I could find an appropriate partner and do it.”
“Marriage sounds like it’s just a means to achieve some purpose.”
“You’ve guessed exactly right.”
Kaiden seemed to mull over my answer before speaking again.
“Then what’s your ideal type?”
“Pardon?”
“Didn’t you say that if a situation arose where marriage was necessary, you’d find an appropriate partner?”
He asked with an utterly serious expression.
“What are the criteria for an appropriate partner?”
“Why on earth are you curious about such things?”
“Well…”
The conversation suddenly stopped.
Kaiden frowned and replied dryly.
“I’m just curious about what criteria aristocratic women use to judge an appropriate partner.”
Ah, could it be that he has his eye on some noble lady from Adamant?
So he’s asking because he wants to know what he needs to do to become the kind of man that would appeal to noble ladies.
‘But didn’t he say that I was the most precious person to him?’
Did his feelings change already?
It feels like just yesterday he was crying over Kayla at the place where I died.
I thought for a moment and shook my head.
‘Well, being precious doesn’t necessarily have to include romantic feelings.’
Maybe I saved Kaiden’s life in the past, or demanded a life debt in return.
“Well, if we’re talking about an appropriate marriage partner.”
“If we’re talking about?”
“Someone with unremarkable looks, from a prestigious family, with as much money as possible and as short a lifespan as possible.”
“…I think I misheard the last part.”
“If you heard ‘as short a lifespan as possible,’ then you heard correctly.”
Kaiden was speechless.
When I glanced up, he had an extremely shocked expression on his face.
“What are you so surprised about?”
“…I didn’t know you preferred those with short lifespans.”
“Of course the shorter the lifespan, the better.”
This was a standard I set under the premise of a marriage done purely out of necessity, based only on conditions.
“Someone who leaves behind only the family name and a fortune worth millions and departs gracefully would be the most appropriate marriage partner.”
“…I see.”
Kaiden muttered in a somehow dazed voice.
“I’ll keep that in mind. Though it’s hard to understand…”
“I’ve finished applying the ointment, so now I’ll wrap the bandage.”
Really, what on earth was he trying to say?
I let Kaiden’s words go in one ear and out the other as I began wrapping the bandage.
‘This is a bit awkward.’
Because Kaiden was so large, I had to practically embrace him with both arms every time I wrapped the bandage.
‘But why is this guy so quiet?’
Just moments ago he was talking so much it was noisy.
Kaiden hadn’t said a single word since I started wrapping the bandage.
Swish, swish.
Only small breathing sounds and the sound of cloth being wound filled the tent.
Somehow I felt stuffy inside my chest and found it hard to breathe.
“Ah, now it’s all done…”
Having finally finished the treatment, I raised my head.
But there was gold right in front of my eyes.
“It’s not a wig.”
Kaiden touched my hair with one hand.
Because he spoke from such a close distance, I could feel his breath touching my eyelashes.
“Did you actually cut and dye your hair?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm.”
Letting out an incomprehensible sigh, he lifted one corner of his mouth.
“Black suits you well too.”
Why is he suddenly complimenting my hair color?
I slowly leaned my upper body back while keeping my eyes downcast.
“Thank you.”
“But more than black.”
Kaiden flicked my short hair with his fingertips.
His gaze toward me was somehow strange.
“I think red would have suited you better.”
“Doesn’t that color stand out too much?”
During my assassin days, my hair was originally red.
It was such a conspicuous color wherever I went, how troublesome it was.
“Well then, I’ll be going now.”
I stood up from my seat, shaking off the awkwardness and embarrassment that had lingered until just moments ago.
“You’re leaving already?”
“Now I have to go do my escort duties.”
Kaiden openly showed a regretful expression.
‘Strange guy.’
It wasn’t like we were particularly close enough to feel sad about parting ways.
I couldn’t understand why he always looked at me with those lingering eyes.
“The rain hasn’t stopped yet.”
“I can handle getting a little wet from this much rain.”
I gathered my luggage and opened the tent door to step outside.
Kaiden stood at the door as if to see me off, watching me.
“You’ll catch a cold. Please go inside.”
“At least let me see off the benefactor who treated me.”
“Oh, I was a benefactor? I thought I was a caretaker.”
“I’m too old to have a caretaker.”
“I’m glad you realize that.”
“Yes, perhaps I might die soon.”
“If you invite me to the funeral, I’ll try to attend.”
I hadn’t even said anything particularly funny.
Yet Kaiden burst into laughter again after just a few words from me.
‘He’s not just foolish, but also has cheap laughter.’
The Knight King of Adamant had many unexpected aspects the more I dug into him.
‘Where on earth did my past self meet this guy?’
My memories of Kaiden were still vague.
It was truly strange. There was no way I wouldn’t remember such an outstanding and peculiar person.
“Well, see you tomorrow then.”
Whether he knew my thoughts or not, Kaiden offered his farewell.
“…Kayl.”
Along with a smile that was somehow childishly bright, unsuited to his nicknames of Wolf King and Knight King.
* * *
“Another failure.”
The Marquis of Redcliff ground his teeth.
“Didn’t you say you could definitely eliminate that mutt?”
“I apologize.”
Ian offered a meek apology to the marquis sitting before him.
“An unexpected person appeared at the operation site.”
Who would have thought the 1st Prince would be there.
Ian felt just as disappointed.
“Didn’t you yourself say that we shouldn’t rashly touch the Crowner Ducal House first, my lord?”
He answered in the most polite and gentle voice possible.
“The bigger the task, the more slowly and carefully we must approach it. Today isn’t the only opportunity, so please don’t be too disappointed.”
“Count Miller.”
The Marquis of Redcliff raised his cup.
Inside the silver cup was wine as red as blood.
“I hold your abilities in high regard. Manipulating the Holy See and releasing variant monsters to catch the Emperor’s attention were all your achievements.”
Red eyes beneath wrinkled eyelids flashed.
“However, if failures continue, I have no choice but to suspect.”
The Marquis of Redcliff glared menacingly at Ian, who was quietly bowing his head before him.
“I wonder if your achievements weren’t due to your abilities, but merely passing luck.”
“…I apologize for causing you concern, my lord.”
Ian smiled faintly while keeping his head bowed.
Veins bulged on the back of his clenched hands behind his back.
“But please don’t worry.”
Once he set his sights on prey, he never let go.
Once he undertook a mission, he never gave up until he succeeded.
Ian recalled his old creed.
“Among the princes, the one who laughs last.”
He recalled a goal as old as his creed.
For the day when he would reclaim everything he had lost and make his name known to the world, he could do anything.
“Will definitely be Prince Lloyd.”
Even if it meant placing a crown on the head of someone unworthy.
“Yes, don’t forget that resolve.”
The Marquis of Redcliff took a sip of wine.
He suddenly opened his mouth as if something had occurred to him.
“If this subjugation campaign ends well, I’ll introduce you to a good marriage prospect.”
The conversation suddenly jumped in an unexpected direction.
Ian asked back with a reluctant expression.
“…A marriage prospect?”
“Yes, how long will you remain single? To establish a proper household, you need to find a mistress first.”
The marquis asked as if doing him a favor.
“You can choose from daughters of noble families with good lineage but poor finances. Do you have any preferred type of woman?”
A preferred type of woman.
The expression disappeared from Ian’s face.
“…Well.”
He stared into empty space with hollow eyes, then lifted the corners of his mouth.
It was a chilling smile that seemed somehow twisted.
“A woman with red hair and green eyes might be even better.”
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————