The Prince’s Nanny, Her Specialty Is Assassination - Chapter 287

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 287. Interrogation (2)

“…You were the one who made rash judgments first.”

I had no disagreement with Jerome’s words that neither of us was qualified to blame the other. Nevertheless, I quietly protested with my head bowed.

“As you said, if that kid who died that day had survived, there was a high chance he would have become the organization’s dog. But…”

No one in this world chooses to live a bottom-feeder life by choice.

There’s always invisible fate, or unavoidable circumstances at play.

I slowly raised my head.

“If he had just stayed alive, and if there had been even the smallest opportunity, that child might have escaped from that hellhole and lived an ordinary life.”

If my wrists and ankles weren’t bound, I would have grabbed him by the collar.

I glared directly at Jerome as I threatened him.

“Don’t you dare lecture me when you’re the one who arbitrarily decided someone else’s fate.”

“…You are.”

Jerome opened his mouth with a furrowed brow.

“A far more idealistic person than I thought.”

I thought you would stick to thoroughly calculating methods befitting the notorious reputation of The Crimson Reaper.

Jerome shook his head while still frowning.

“Easy to say. Could a child already brainwashed by the organization even encounter an opportunity to escape from that cesspit?”

“You just need to create the opportunity.”

“Are you saying this as if you could have created such an opportunity?”

Jerome stared at me intently before straightening his back.

His eyes held an unreadable expression. He seemed to think quietly for a while, then returned to his chair and sat down.

“That was a long digression.”

“I think so too.”

“Don’t you think a criminal talks too much, Brown Lordling?”

“I told you I have nothing to do with treason.”

“That’s merely your claim. All claims are just possibilities unless evidence emerges.”

Jerome crossed his arms while resting his right leg on his left knee.

“Brown Lordling.”

His voice suddenly dropped low.

“You said you remained as The 3rd Prince’s caretaker because you wanted to help the princes.”

“That’s correct.”

“Then your act of helping would include putting The 3rd Prince on the throne.”

It was an obvious fact that didn’t need answering.

Jerome continued speaking as if he hadn’t expected an answer anyway.

“From now on, I’ll ask about matters I’m personally curious about, not as part of the interrogation.”

“Do as you please.”

“Why did you send The 3rd Prince to the knight order where I am? You couldn’t have trusted me.”

“Well.”

I replied quickly with an expressionless face.

“Just because I don’t trust you doesn’t mean I don’t trust what you possess.”

Jerome was Count Crowner, and the Gloria Knight Order was the Empire’s finest knight order, directly under The Emperor.

I had some expectation that if Edwin trained in such a place, he could quickly catch The Emperor’s attention.

“Hmm.”

Jerome asked with a somewhat embarrassed expression as if something had occurred to him.

“Didn’t you tell me back then that you couldn’t trust people based on status or position alone?”

“I said I couldn’t trust people. I didn’t say I would ignore the power that status and position hold.”

The conversation between Jerome and me continued.

“Was saving The Empress from being poisoned also part of your plan?”

“If you’re asking whether The Empress nearly being poisoned was my plan, then no.”

“What’s your relationship with The Emperor? Does he know you’re also working as a caretaker?”

“How could he not know? I personally helped him reach his current position with my own hands.”

“Then was delivering that document he gave you to me really his will?”

“…No.”

Jerome looked at me with surprise.

“You’re saying that delivering that document recording the collaboration between The Marquis of Redcliff and the Holy Kingdom was your will, not The Emperor’s?”

He frowned as if he couldn’t understand.

“Why did you do that? If The 3rd Prince had revealed it directly, it would have become his achievement.”

“Do you really think so?”

At my counter-question, Jerome’s eyes narrowed slightly.

He stopped fidgeting with the report and shrugged his shoulders.

“Well, it would have been too much for The 3rd Prince to directly confront the Redcliff Marquess’s Estate.”

He seemed to think for a moment before speaking again.

“Then what was your reason for saving Adrian in the subjugation campaign? I heard it was The 3rd Prince’s order, but I don’t think that’s true.”

That frail 3rd Prince wouldn’t have had the presence of mind to give such orders in the middle of rampaging monsters.

Jerome asked with a fairly accurate assessment.

“What was your reason for saving my nephew, Brown Lordling?”

His gray eyes, identical to his young nephew’s, turned toward me.

“If your goal was to put The 3rd Prince on the throne, then leaving Adrian alone at that time would have been much more…”

“Count Crowner.”

I had no intention of using honorifics.

I didn’t bother trying to hide my displeasure.

“I don’t know how lowly you regard me.”

“I’m sorry if it sounded sarcastic. But I’m asking an essential question…”

“If you think that because I’m someone who kills people for money, I must have a reason to move when saving people too, you’re wrong.”

While there may be reasons for killing people, there are no reasons needed for saving them. Because I know that person and I are not different. At least that’s what Emma taught me.

“I simply couldn’t leave Prince Adrian to die in that place, so I saved him.”

Other reasons were just additions.

The act of doing something first and then unnecessarily embellishing it to look plausible.

“No matter how important the goal is, I’m not cunning enough to use a child’s life. Because I’m an adult.”

Jerome remained silent for a while.

He just quietly looked at me.

“…Rachel Brown Lordling.”

Quite a long time had passed.

Jerome, who had been sitting with an unreadable expression, finally opened his mouth.

“Would you consider making a deal with me?”

“A deal, you say.”

“Yes.”

Jerome continued with the calmest face I’d ever seen from him.

“To be honest, The Emperor considers you a dangerous element. The interrogation is just for show, and regardless of what answers you give, he wants you disposed of in connection with treason.”

As expected.

I knew The Emperor would think that way.

‘The Emperor also used assassins when ascending to the throne, so he knows the terror of these people better than anyone.’

I could understand The Emperor’s distrust of me.

Not only had I perfectly concealed my identity all this time, but I had also been acting as a caretaker by The 3rd Prince’s side.

‘Regardless of whether I actually participated in treason or not, he wouldn’t consider me a trustworthy person.’

So what should I do?

Was there a way to escape from here while avoiding The Emperor’s eyes?

As I was weighing various possibilities, Jerome spoke again.

“But I think differently from His Majesty.”

It was an unexpected answer.

I stared intently at Jerome.

“Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much from you either, but…”

Jerome met my eyes and fell silent for a moment.

Then, as if he had made some decision, he continued with resolute eyes.

“Now that I’ve had this direct conversation with you, I understand.”

“What do you mean?”

“The fact that you’re not an assassin, but a real caretaker.”

What did he mean by that?

I frowned, trying to gauge Jerome’s intentions, when he added an explanation.

“Adrian confessed to me. About the illness that child has been hiding all this time.”

Jerome ran a hand over his face as if troubled.

“While that child was suffering like that, I, who calls myself his uncle, knew nothing.”

“Prince Adrian didn’t want to cause you worry…”

“You knew that Adrian had such an illness.”

Of course I knew.

I had seen him coughing up blood with my own two eyes.

“Adrian said he asked you to keep his illness a secret. But he didn’t expect you to truly tell no one.”

“…I simply kept my promise.”

“Yes, a promise.”

Jerome took a deep breath and said,

“Your character, which keeps promises with children so thoroughly, seems closer to that of a caretaker than an assassin.”

What exactly was he trying to say by drawing this out so much?

“Rachel Brown Lordling, I will stake my name on getting you out of here safely.”

Was he finally opening his mouth about a deal?

I waited for Jerome’s next words.

“I intend to recommend The 3rd Prince for the position of Crown Prince. Staking the name of the House of Crowner and my title as military commander on it.”

Had he finally judged that Adrian had no capacity to take on the Crown Prince position? If Jerome had made that decision, it would increase the means to persuade The Emperor.

‘It’s beneficial for me, but.’

Such luxurious deals always came with a commensurate price. I looked at Jerome with wide eyes.

“In exchange.”

A single thin ray of light crossed between Jerome and me through the gap in the curtains drawn over the window. Like a line that would never disappear, that could never be crossed.

“Swear that you will never enter the Imperial Capital again, that you will never approach The 3rd Prince, Princess Emilia, or any other members of the royal family again.”

Before my eyes, only a long, thin crack shone brightly.

* * *

“Your Highness, this is troubling.”

The Maid Captain of the Imperial Palace was at a loss.

He tried to help Edwin, who was kneeling in the front courtyard of the Imperial Palace, to his feet.

“Please return quickly. His Majesty said he would not meet with anyone…”

“No, I can’t go. Not until The Emperor agrees to meet with me.”

Edwin knelt and shook off the maid captain’s arm.

His bright blue eyes gleamed fiercely as he stared at The Emperor’s study on the second floor.

“Until he says he’ll return Rachel to me, I won’t move a single step from here.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————