The Prince’s Nanny, Her Specialty Is Assassination - Chapter 232
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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 232. Return (6)
“Hey, did you hear that news?”
A tavern located in a corner of the Imperial Capital.
People clinked their tankards, each the size of a child’s head, chattering noisily.
“Of course I did. The Emperor finally changed, didn’t he?”
Today’s drinking snack was news about the new Emperor.
“Due to the Previous Emperor’s sudden passing, the missing heir to the throne returned and inherited the position.”
“That’s good news. The Previous Emperor was so old and sick that you’d wonder if he had any sense left.”
Just a few days ago.
Leon Kingdom announced the enthronement of a new Emperor.
The heir who was thought to be missing had returned to succeed the aged Previous Emperor, or so they said.
“To commemorate the Emperor’s enthronement, Leon Temples across the entire continent are giving out one sack of wheat and one jar of butter for free.”
“Our kids went to the temple early today too. We thought it was one per household, but it turned out to be one sack per person, so there was quite a commotion.”
“The new Emperor seems generous. Finally doing something befitting a cleric.”
People welcomed the new Emperor’s enthronement.
It seemed to be because the previous Emperor had been so debauched and greedy.
In any group or organization, the direction of activities changes according to the leader’s disposition.
“This Emperor also said he’d abolish the custom of mandatory donations for birthday blessings.”
“Really, is that true?”
“I heard it clearly from my cousin who works errands at the temple.”
“Then is that rumor true too?”
Then one man looked around and lowered his voice.
“The rumor that the heir killed the Previous Emperor and took his place.”
“Huh? What are you talking about? Don’t you know that if clerics or holy knights kill each other, they lose their clerical status and get banished from the Holy Kingdom?”
“You’re more naive than you look. Who follows such laws these days? Do you know how closed off the Holy Kingdom is? It’s no different from here. They fight among themselves, and if they don’t like someone, they poison them to death.”
Places where people live are all the same.
Everyone nodded in agreement with the man who spoke those words.
“Weren’t the Previous Emperor and Johannes, who became Emperor this time, famous for not getting along?”
“That’s just like a fight between a family elder and a young person. Just because they didn’t get along doesn’t mean he killed someone who was like his godfather…”
“It’s not impossible though. The Emperor who was fine despite his age, indulging in wine and women, suddenly died, right? There must be a reason.”
The men sitting around the table all sighed in unison.
“This Emperor, what was it. He’s famous for his excellent character! He travels around the continent doing volunteer work.”
“Right, even thieves know how to do that. How could such a distinguished cleric do such a thing…”
“Hiccup, then wouldn’t it be fine as long as he didn’t kill directly?”
Another man, already heavily drunk, hiccupped.
He tried to straighten his swaying shoulders as he continued speaking.
“Originally, high-ranking people don’t like to dirty their own hands! Hiccup! Maybe he hired an assassin, hiccup!”
“This guy’s drunk and talking nonsense. Do you think there’s an assassin who could break into the heart of the Holy Kingdom and take the Emperor’s head?”
“Why not! There could be at least one!”
The flushed-faced man spoke meaningfully with half-glazed eyes.
“You know, hiccup, The Crimson Reaper! The monster with green eyes!”
A brief silence fell at the mention of The Crimson Reaper.
Then explosive laughter burst from everyone sitting at the table.
“This guy’s really drunk! Why are you talking about old ghost stories?”
“The Crimson Reaper? Does such a person really exist?”
“Even our kids have graduated from such stories. I didn’t know there were still people who believe rumors from the back alleys.”
As everyone laughed at him, the drunk man staggered and got angry.
“No, they really exist! They do! Hiccup! You idiots, you don’t know how famous The Crimson Reaper is. That person once destroyed an entire castle alone!”
“Oh my, mister, you’ve been drinking since broad daylight. Go home, wash your feet, and sleep!”
“What! I’m not drunk yet! Bring me more alcohol!”
The drunk man staggered and banged his tankard on the table.
He seemed to have completely forgotten about The Crimson Reaper.
“Anyway, a proper cleric has taken the Emperor’s seat, and those monsters have disappeared, so life should be livable for a while!”
“Right, so let’s hurry up and toast!”
Their faces, celebrating the new Emperor’s enthronement and the success of the subjugation campaign, were as bright as sunlight.
Joyful voices continuously shouting “cheers” filled the tavern.
Clang.
Thanks to this, the bell sound from the tavern door was buried without any presence.
No one noticed that the person who quietly went outside had green eyes like The Crimson Reaper.
* * *
The day of the third banquet celebrating the success of the subjugation campaign.
Since there was no government meeting that day, it was the day with the most attendees at the banquet. Everyone in the Imperial Capital had gathered in the banquet hall attached to the Imperial Palace, raising their cups in celebration. Because of this, the other palaces were relatively desolate.
Tap, creak.
A window in the main building of the 3rd Prince’s Palace opened with a very small sound.
Just as a shadow that entered through the gap of the open window naturally seeped into the corridor.
“Welcome.”
The dim moonlight illuminated the face of a man leaning against the wall.
He showed a gentle smile toward the shadow standing in front of the window.
“I was waiting.”
Had his hair grown in the meantime?
His dyed black hair had become a bob cut that barely reached his shoulders.
“…Why are you here, Prince Kaiden?”
The shadow, no, Rachel looked surprised as she pulled down the mask covering her face.
“Weren’t you supposed to return to the kingdom?”
“The Emperor invited me to the banquet.”
“I didn’t receive word that you were here…”
“I arrived after you last made contact.”
“But why are you here? If you were invited to the banquet, aren’t you attending…”
Kaiden straightened his body and approached Rachel.
The two people standing by the window faced each other.
“…You don’t seem to be injured anywhere.”
Kaiden reached out and touched Rachel’s cheek.
His eyes, bathed in moonlight, had a brighter hue than golden.
“Were you late because you went to the Holy Kingdom?”
“Ah, yes. Something came up.”
Her face was annoyingly calm.
Kaiden continued speaking with his hand still on Rachel’s cheek.
“Why didn’t you tell me beforehand before leaving the cave?”
“Tell you what?”
“That you were going to the Holy Kingdom.”
“That was suddenly decided on the way back. Still, there was an unexpected gain. I’ll tell you the details later…”
“It seems you really are oblivious after all.”
“Pardon?”
“Do I seem like I’m questioning such facts?”
He felt slightly deflated by her look of confusion.
His anger about her going to the Holy Kingdom without telling him, about her taking on dangerous work alone, seemed to melt away by itself.
“…Never mind, what could I expect from you.”
Kaiden chuckled softly at Rachel’s expression.
Then he lowered the hand that was on her cheek and pulled Rachel into his arms.
“At times like this, you should just say you’re sorry for being late without words.”
“…I’m sorry for being late without a word.”
Another laugh escaped at the somehow guilty voice.
Kaiden whispered with his face buried in Rachel’s nape.
“I missed you, Kayla.”
He could feel the small body in his arms trembling finely.
“Don’t you like embraces now that we’ve even kissed?”
“…No, that’s not it.”
Her voice, which always maintained a clear and steady pace, had become slow.
“It suddenly reminded me of the past.”
If it was something from the past where someone called her name, embraced her, and said they missed her, it must surely be related to that bastard.
Kaiden’s eyes instantly turned fierce.
“…Then let’s go with Rachel.”
The young king lifted his head and met Rachel’s eyes.
He could see himself reflected in those green eyes somehow filled with regret. He was quite satisfied that he was at the end of her gaze.
“I may have had no place in your past, but I want only me to exist in your present.”
Kaiden gripped Rachel’s shoulders.
A shorter height than before, a smaller frame than before, more delicate shoulders than before, a different face than before—but it didn’t matter.
Though her name and appearance were different, the woman before him was no different from the one he had been searching for.
“So.”
Kaiden corrected his words.
“I missed you, Rachel Brown.”
Then he grinned at Rachel, who had a dumbfounded expression on her face.
“Now, what should you say at a time like this?”
“…Your Highness.”
“Don’t tell me I have to teach you the answer to this too…”
It was before the young king could finish his response.
Rachel stood on her tiptoes and wrapped both arms around his neck.
Boom.
Brilliant fireworks burst outside the window, adorning the third night of the banquet.
Kaiden stared blankly at Rachel, who lightly kissed him and smiled.
“I missed you too, Prince Kaiden.”
Rachel smiled mischievously at him.
Her face, with the right corner of her eye slightly crinkled, looked impish.
“This is how it’s done, isn’t it?”
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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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