The Prince’s Nanny, Her Specialty Is Assassination - Chapter 20

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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 20. A Stormy Night (2)

“Neitche?”

Emilia reflexively sat up and called the caretaker’s name.

Then, as if waiting for that moment, the door opened.

“You really weren’t sleeping.”

Rachel stood there in nightclothes, holding a lamp.

“Neitche―!”

Emilia rushed into her skirts with tears hanging in her eyes.

“I stopped by because the light seemed to have gone out.”

Rachel picked up Emilia who had clung to her and walked toward the bed.

She placed the princess on the bed and transferred the flame to the lamp in the room.

“Ria didn’t blow it out. When Ria woke up, it was already out.”

“It’s a night with a severe storm. It must have been blown out by the wind.”

Rachel checked the window gaps and locked the latch even tighter.

“Then I’ll be going now.”

“Wait, Neitche!”

Emilia grabbed hold of the caretaker who was about to leave the room as soon as she finished her task.

“What’s the matter?”

“Neitche, Ria is scar…”

Before Emilia could finish her words.

Rumble―

At the thunder that echoed once again, the young princess finally burst into loud tears.

“Ria is scared―! I hate lightning―!”

“Then, excuse me for a moment.”

With that response, Rachel casually climbed onto the bed.

She settled down and lay right next to the princess.

Emilia looked at the caretaker with a bewildered expression.

“Neitche?”

“I’ll stay by your side until the thunder stops.”

Rachel pulled the blanket up to their heads while holding the princess.

“This way the sound will be a bit quieter.”

Emilia’s eyes widened.

The thunder definitely sounded quieter than before.

“How is it?”

“Mm-hmm, it sounds quieter.”

“Aren’t you scared anymore?”

“Mm-hmm, just a little scared.”

Emilia gazed intently at the caretaker lying next to her.

Though she couldn’t see her face in the darkness, she could hear her breathing and feel her warmth.

Somehow it felt cozy.

Emilia wiggled her fingers.

It was truly strange.

Even though it was the same darkness, it felt so cozy like this.

‘Emma was like this too.’

Emilia recalled the face of her former caretaker who was no longer here.

The person who, even though she couldn’t light fires, would always hold her on stormy nights and sing lullabies until she fell asleep.

The young princess unconsciously burrowed into Rachel’s embrace.

She stiffened her entire body at the small warmth that nestled against her.

“Neitche.”

“…Yes.”

“Aren’t you scared, Neitche?”

“Of what?”

“The darkness and the thunder.”

“I’m not scared.”

The caretaker added in a dry voice.

“Because it all passes.”

“Passes?”

When night passes, morning comes, and when thunder stops, clear skies appear.

As it always has.

“So I’m not scared.”

Rachel carefully stroked Emilia’s soft hair.

“Your Highness doesn’t need to fear such things at all either, because it will pass soon.”

“Mm-hmm.”

It will pass soon. This frightening darkness and the screaming thunder too.

Emilia repeated the caretaker’s words to herself and half-closed her eyes.

Feeling reassured, drowsiness washed over her. It might have been because of the pleasant floral scent emanating from Rachel.

“Mmm, then what are you scared of, Neitche?”

“Me?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Rachel remained silent for a long while.

She gazed steadily at the princess who was blinking as if about to fall asleep soon.

“…Well.”

Between the distant sounds of thunder.

The caretaker said no more.

Her gaze was fixed on the face of the soundly sleeping princess.

The stormy night was passing.

* * *

After spending that stormy night, Emilia clung to me even more.

“Neitche, play with Ria!”

“Neitche, eat with Ria!”

“Neitche, carry Ria on your back!”

Her increased clinginess was a bonus.

“Neitche, tell me a story from long ago!”

“It’s getting late, so how about going to sleep now, Your Highness.”

“Ria will sleep if you tell her a story.”

The young princess pulled the silk blanket up to her chin and her eyes sparkled.

It looks like she won’t be sleeping on time tonight either.

As I was sighing inwardly, Edwin, who was beside us, added a comment.

“Just tell her one. It’s not that difficult.”

Ever since hearing about the stormy night, Edwin would stay by his sister’s side until she fell asleep before returning to his bedroom.

In any case, he was devoted to his sister.

“What kind of story would you like?”

“Tell me a princess story!”

A princess wanting to hear a princess story.

I couldn’t understand it at all.

“But Your Highness is a princess.”

“Ria isn’t a princess. Ria is an imperial princess.”

Isn’t that the same thing? How difficult.

I fell into contemplation.

‘Speaking of princess stories.’

What on earth should I talk about?

The princesses I had met so far fell into two categories.

Princesses who asked me to kill their political enemies, and princesses who asked me to kill their husbands.

But would it be appropriate to tell such stories to a child who wasn’t even ten years old yet?

“Princess stories again?”

Just then, Edwin frowned and scolded his sister.

“Aren’t you tired of princess stories, Ria?”

“I’m not tired of them at all! Do you hate princesses, brother?”

“…I hate them.”

“Why? Why do you hate princesses? Princesses are pretty and kind!”

“They’re weak.”

Was he thinking of someone in particular?

Edwin’s voice grew lower.

“I hate weak things.”

“Then do you hate Ria too?”

Emilia looked at Edwin with disappointed eyes.

“Ria is weak too.”

“You’re silly. You’re weak because you’re a baby, obviously.”

Edwin smiled as he gently pinched his sister’s nose.

“And it’s okay because I’ll protect you.”

“That’s right! Because brother is a prince! Princes are the strongest in the world!”

“You’re just realizing that now?”

They’re just playing around.

That Edwin boy, he can’t even beat a single servant, yet he talks about protecting someone.

“Then who protects Your Highness the Prince?”

“What? Well, that’s…”

Edwin seemed at a loss for words at my question, stuttering for a moment.

Then he got angry instead and raised his voice.

“You can protect me! You’re my caretaker!”

I paused for a very brief moment.

“Your Highness.”

“What! What! Do you have a problem with that?”

“You must not hope for others to protect you. You should know how to protect yourself.”

Edwin’s eyes widened when he heard my words.

Then he suddenly chewed his lips and frowned.

“What? So you’re saying you won’t protect me?”

“Of course not. It’s natural for me, as your caretaker, to protect Your Highness.”

“But?”

“However, I cannot stay by Your Highness’s side all day long, can I?”

“That’s—!”

Edwin started to say something but then closed his mouth.

He glared at me with unfriendly eyes and turned his head away.

“Hmph, lecturing me over one little joke. I know how to protect myself just fine!”

“Is that so?”

“Yes!”

He raised his voice at me, seeming quite sulky.

“I can take care of myself just fine without anyone protecting me!”

“Then that’s fortunate.”

I extinguished the lamp placed by their bedside.

“Now it’s really time to sleep.”

“Nooo! What about the princess story?”

“Ah, the princess.”

Come to think of it, I had promised to tell a princess story.

I looked at the moon rising outside the window and bowed.

“It’s too late now. Both Your Highnesses should sleep now.”

“Ahhh—! Neitche, you said you’d tell us a princess story!”

Emilia whined, but it couldn’t be helped.

I couldn’t very well tell a story about an enraged princess who commissioned the murder of a maid and her cheating husband.

“Instead, I’ll have the Housekeeper come tomorrow. She knows many more interesting stories than I do.”

“Really? Catherine will tell us stories?”

“Yes.”

Well, I hadn’t discussed it with her, but she’d probably agree if I asked.

It was unfair to Catherine, but it couldn’t be helped.

At this rate, I would have been forced to squeeze out random stories until Emilia fell asleep.

“Well then, sleep well.”

Anyway, today’s caretaker duties had ended safely.

Now, it was time for myself.

* * *

“Caretaker, did you not sleep well last night?”

Catherine looked worried as she watched me yawning constantly.

“Yes, well.”

I covered my mouth as another yawn escaped.

To think I was training alone in my room and didn’t even notice dawn breaking.

‘Am I getting desperate too?’

To eventually go outside and find out the reason for my death, I had to make this body at least somewhat useful.

‘The problem is that even doing the same training, my body just won’t keep up.’

In my previous life, I was naturally born with martial bones.

But now, trying to do assassin training with an ordinary woman’s body was killing me.

“I had trouble sleeping.”

“Shall I brew you some herbal tea that’s good for sleep?”

“No, it’s fine.”

I waved my hand dismissively while rubbing my bleary eyes.

Catherine looked at me and put her hands on her hips.

“This won’t do. Go get some sleep, even if it’s just for 30 minutes.”

“Pardon?”

“Caretaker, your eyes aren’t even focusing right now, you know? How can you assist Their Highnesses in that state? Don’t you think so?”

She pushed me away forcefully.

“I’ll look after Their Highnesses for a while, so go rest.”

“Still…”

I don’t like leaving my work to others.

I hesitated for a moment.

Emilia and Edwin were chattering away during breakfast.

Maybe just for a very short while would be okay.

‘It’s not like there’s no one to look after them.’

Unable to resist the temptation of sleep, I eventually accepted Catherine’s proposal.

“Then I’ll leave them in your care for a moment.”

“Yes. Don’t worry.”

I was trying to quietly slip away when the children looked in my direction.

Seeing those bright, sparkling eyes made me feel strangely uncomfortable.

“But you haven’t finished eating yet.”

Edwin made a displeased face when I tried to leave.

“Your Highness, it seems the Caretaker didn’t sleep well last night. Perhaps you could tell her to rest for a while?”

“Didn’t sleep well?”

The boy glanced at me reproachfully.

“You went to bed early yesterday, so what were you doing that kept you from sleeping?”

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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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