The Prince’s Nanny, Her Specialty Is Assassination - Chapter 278

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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 278. Last Dance (4)

Below the rooftop was chaos, while above our heads was silence.

Ian lay on his back, quietly looking up at me.

“…The current Emperor, Cabellius III, had many siblings.”

Why was he suddenly bringing up the Emperor?

I gripped my sword tighter and pressed it against his throat.

“Don’t even think about spouting nonsense…”

“My father was a noble who supported a different prince before the current Emperor ascended to the throne.”

This was a story I hadn’t heard even in my first life.

I stared down at Ian with wide eyes.

“Why are you so surprised? You already knew I was of noble birth.”

Of course I knew well that Ian was a noble.

I even knew that his family had fallen to ruin, he was sold to the slave market, and unluckily was dragged away by The Former Captain to join The Organization.

“…I…”

A few strands of Ian’s bangs silently fell to the side.

“I have never forgotten that day when I lost everything, not for a single moment.”

Moonlight shone on his ash-gray eyes that held nothing.

And within them was my own disheveled reflection.

“And that day was when I first met you, Kayla Angel.”

* * *

Misfortune always smelled of burning.

At least Ian’s misfortune always did.

“No matter what happens, you must never come out until Mother returns. Do you understand, Ian?”

Though it was a dark night, outside the window was red light.

Ian grabbed onto Mother as she pushed him under Bed.

But Mother shook him off and opened the door anyway.

Aaaahhhhh.

Outside was filled with people’s screams.

They were all Ian’s family, servants, and attendants.

“Why on earth…?”

Ian wanted to know why this sudden tragedy had struck.

But unfortunately, there was no one kind enough to explain to a mere twelve-year-old child how such events had come to pass.

Creeeeak.

How much time had passed?

Ian, who had been trembling under Bed with both ears covered, held his breath.

Instead of Mother who said she would return, unfamiliar presence entered Chamber.

Creak, creak, creak.

The unfamiliar footsteps wandered around near Bed before stopping.

Ian slowly turned his head to the side, forgetting even to breathe.

Beside Bed, he could see old boots covered in blood.

Creak, thud.

The feet wearing the old boots were smaller than expected.

The owner of the feet silently sat down on Bed and didn’t move.

“Hey, did you clear everything out?”

Not long after, others entered Chamber.

The Men with rough voices came in and wandered around.

“Honestly, these high-ranking folks are such trouble. Getting your whole family massacred just for backing the wrong side.”

“Don’t say useless things. So did you handle Count and Countess properly?”

“Of course. Though Countess was a bit troublesome since she kept her mouth shut till the end.”

Ian covered his mouth. His vision blurred and he couldn’t see ahead.

He never dreamed he would hear news of his parents’ death from the mouths of strangers while hiding under Bed.

“Hey, Newcomer.”

The Men called to someone.

Then the boots sitting on Bed shifted slightly to the side.

“Are you done searching this room? No suspicious people?”

A moment of silence passed before the boots—no, The Newcomer—spoke.

“There were none.”

It was quite a high voice for a man.

It was also strangely out of place for such a situation.

“You sure?”

“I’m certain.”

The Men listened to The Newcomer’s words and clicked their tongues.

They deliberately broke a few more vases and dishes in the room before turning to leave.

“Then you hurry up and assemble too. We’re going to burn this whole place down soon.”

Burn down the entire Manor? Then what should I do?

Ian gasped while covering his mouth. He felt his hands and feet growing cold.

“Senior.”

Then The Newcomer called to The Men heading outside.

“Is the assembly point Main Gate or The Rear Gate?”

“What’s with you? Forgetting such basic things? Usually you’re sharp as a blade…”

The Man sneered at The Newcomer’s question for a few words before answering roughly.

“Main Gate, Main Gate. Come running as soon as you finish cleaning up. If you’re dawdling, we’ll leave you behind.”

They disappeared while giggling among themselves.

The Newcomer stayed still for a while before getting up from Bed.

And silently left the room, closing the door.

“Hah!”

Ian crawled out from under Bed as soon as the presence disappeared.

Though it was a brief moment, he felt like he had become a bug hiding in fear of being spotted and killed. It was truly horrible beyond words.

Clatter clatter clatter.

Ian escaped outside through Terrace instead of the door.

He crossed stone walls and railings at full speed, heading for The Rear Gate.

It was when he was desperately running, straightening his staggering body again and again.

Whoooosh.

Misfortune always smells of burning.

Ian stopped running with all his might and unconsciously halted his steps.

“Is that definitely Countess?”

Mother. Ian unconsciously opened his mouth.

Though he knew he should escape, his feet wouldn’t move.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

The voice carried on the wind was familiar.

It was the voice of The Newcomer who had been in the room with him earlier.

“Then that’s the last one. Handle it.”

As soon as The Man’s order was given, The Newcomer threw Ian’s mother straight into The Pyre. The flames had already swallowed Countess, whose breath had already ceased.

Crackle, crackle, crackle crackle.

Ian hid in the darkness and stared blankly at the scene.

The flames that devoured Mother and the burning gray smoke. And one person standing like Gravestone before it.

“Let’s move toward Main Gate now. The client’s side will handle the rest.”

Even as The Men turned and left, The Newcomer stood there without moving an inch. As if watching the flames burning the corpse for entertainment.

“Let’s go. What more is there to stay for, Newcomer?”

Only when one of the group urged did The Newcomer slowly turn around.

Though it wasn’t clearly visible in the darkness, his short hair seemed to glint with a reddish hue for a moment. Perhaps it was just reflecting the light of the flames.

Crackle, crackle, crackle.

As is typical for noble families sacrificed in political strife, Ian’s family also had everything reduced to ashes overnight. The sole survivor was Ian, and Ian alone.

* * *

“The rest is as you know it.”

Ian smiled as if nothing was wrong.

“The surviving child of a noble house wandered the streets with no relatives to rely on, was caught by slave traders, and sold to the assassin’s guild.”

The strength naturally drained from my hands.

I stared down at Ian blankly while still straddling him.

He raised his hand and tucked a strand of my hair that had fallen forward behind my ear.

“And then I met you, Kayla.”

Thirteen-year-old Ian and sixteen-year-old me.

We met during our most unstable and precarious times and became comrades.

“In that hellhole, you became my teacher, friend, comrade, and lover.”

With those words alone, the day I first met Ian came flooding back regardless of my will.

‘What am I supposed to learn from some girl? I’ve been learning swordsmanship since I was three…’

‘If you want recognition, try beating me with that fancy swordsmanship of yours.’

Our first impression was absolutely terrible.

It was common for teenagers who met at rock bottom to clash while nursing their pride.

‘Are you even human? How are you this strong?’

Ian would shout after losing to me time and again.

He was different from the other guys who either couldn’t accept defeat at all or dismissed my skills.

‘Hey, teach me dagger techniques. Come on? Please teach me.’

‘Ask the other guys to teach you.’

‘The other guys are weaker than you. I want to learn from the strongest person!’

When did it start?

When Ian began following me around everywhere.

‘…You idiot, at least you, at least you should run away.’

‘Damn it! Don’t say useless things! We’re comrades, aren’t we, Kayla!’

When did it start?

When I began to think of Ian as my person.

‘I like you, Kayla.’

‘I don’t dislike you either.’

‘You fool, I like you as a woman.’

When did it start?

When what I thought was simple camaraderie transformed into romantic feelings.

‘Congratulations, now I should call you Kayla Angel instead of just Kayla.’

In my memories of the past, Ian was always smiling at me.

Except for that cold expression I saw at the very end.

“…You.”

When I opened my mouth, a trembling voice spilled out.

No matter how hard I tried to compose myself, it was useless.

“How long have you known?”

These were facts I had no idea about.

The fact that the family we burned that day was Ian’s family.

The fact that the boy who alone survived under the bed that day was Ian.

“Just how long have you…”

“Since I began to truly love you.”

Ian was still smiling.

“…If I had known beforehand.”

In his ash-gray eyes, empty like ruins, I could see very old pain and anger.

“I never would have loved you.”

Words wouldn’t come out, as if something was stuck in my throat.

“When I learned the truth belatedly, there was nothing I could do.”

Ian looked at me and smiled with a pained expression.

Like someone suffering from a deep stab wound to the heart.

“Because I was already in love with you.”

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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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