The Prince’s Nanny, Her Specialty Is Assassination - Chapter 321

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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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Side Story 2. The Princess’s First Love (7)

“Rachel.”

Seiji, who had been silent for a while, called my name.

“I don’t think someone who accepted a king’s marriage proposal should be saying such things.”

“…The circumstances are different, aren’t they.”

“Yes, the circumstances are different. The situation is different too.”

Seiji continued speaking while organizing medicine bottles in the cabinet.

“I understand what you’re worried about, but those children are too young.”

“But…”

“You raised her, yet you still don’t know the Princess’s personality? Emilia may have persistent tendencies, but doesn’t she naturally lose interest quickly?”

“That’s…”

“That’s enough. Worry about your own marriage, you fool. You probably have less than two months left before going to Adamant, right?”

Seiji set another large medicine bottle down on the table with a thud. His long eyebrows shot up toward the sky.

“Honestly, you should understand that mothers worry about unnecessary things.”

Mother?

I looked at Seiji with a frown.

“I am not Princess Emilia’s mother.”

“You’re her caretaker.”

“A caretaker isn’t a birth mother.”

“Do you have to give birth to someone to be their mother? The bond from raising someone is more frightening.”

Who wouldn’t know how frightening bonds can be.

I closed my mouth with my eyes half-lowered.

Seiji looked at my expression and let out a sigh mixed with a chuckle.

“They’re just children. Everyone has fallen for someone older and cooler-looking than themselves when they were young at least once. Something like puppy love.”

The old sage shrugged his shoulders.

“Princess Emilia is experiencing the same thing.”

“But unrequited love doesn’t always just end as unrequited love.”

“Are you talking about the case between Ian and you?”

For a moment, like someone who had been hit right on the mark, I lost my words.

I stared at Seiji with my arms crossed.

“As I said before, her case is different from yours. No, you two were in a very special environment.”

Seiji swept the dust and dirt from the table to the floor.

“If there’s only one person to rely on, you inevitably cling to that person. But Princess Emilia has many people around her to rely on, doesn’t she.”

Childhood memories can be intense at times, but they’re also easily forgotten.

He sat across from me with the table between us.

“To Princess Emilia, Leo is just an interesting incident that came from outside. The situation you’re worried about won’t happen. Even if it does, it would take ten years.”

“I’m worried about what happens after those ten years…”

“If they’re still crazy about each other then, we’ll have to consider it fate.”

“Seiji.”

“I’m not wrong, am I? If the golden furball still likes Leo then, who would dare to stop those feelings.”

Seiji stared at me intently and asked back.

“You know it too, don’t you. That feelings can’t be stopped just by trying to stop them.”

“Yes, I know. Because I know, I want to prevent it beforehand…”

“If you try to stop it, it’ll cause bigger trouble. And by then Princess Emilia will be old enough to have had her coming-of-age ceremony. Do you plan to continue being her caretaker until then?”

If I could, I would want to.

I didn’t answer, frowning.

“Rachel.”

Seiji looked at me and offered a word of advice.

“No matter how great parents are, they can’t solve everything for their children.”

I know that.

But why is it.

Why does it displease me to see the young Princess, who doesn’t even know what love is yet, following Leo around and looking at him with affectionate eyes.

“Just honestly say you’re jealous.”

“…Excuse me?”

“Honestly, you’re jealous that Princess Emilia, who used to follow only you around saying she liked only you, now follows only Leo around. Isn’t that right?”

“What, I would never be so childish…”

“Love is originally childish.”

Seiji chuckled.

And he took out a few dried cranberries from the snack basket on the desk and tossed them into his mouth.

“You think familial love isn’t like that? When a child who thought you were their whole world suddenly starts chasing after some unknown dark-haired boy, it’s natural to feel hurt.”

That can’t be.

I frowned deeply.

“I don’t want to hear such advice from someone who doesn’t have children. I’ll be going now.”

“Hey, is it my fault I don’t have children? What am I supposed to do about separating from my wife early? I lived without children because I maintained my integrity and fidelity as a man! If my wife were alive, I would have had at least ten children!”

“I didn’t ask.”

“How heartless! What on earth does that Sword King see in such a blunt and unfeeling person…”

Seiji continued babbling about something, but I couldn’t hear it after the door closed.

I left the cabin and slowly walked toward the Prince’s Palace.

Whoooosh.

An ominous wind sound brushed past my ears.

The sky visible above my head was colored a heavy gray as if it would pour rain at any moment.

* * *

Rumble.

I thought the sky looked ominous, and sure enough.

From dawn, thunder began along with fierce rain and wind.

Pitter-patter-patter.

I lay sideways on the bed looking out the window.

Rainwater was scattering on the glass window, carving patterns according to the wind’s direction.

‘Waaah, Racheeeel!’

On days like this, she would always come to me first.

I recalled Emilia dragging her nightgown and knocking on my door.

The image of the little child who would be in tears from fear of thunder and throw herself into my arms.

‘Come to think of it, it’s been a long time since she’s done that.’

I suddenly realized that Emilia had grown up a lot.

At some point, the child stopped looking for me even when heavy rain poured or thunder struck.

‘I’m not scared of things like this anymore! I can sleep well by myself!’

The Princess, who had grown increasingly brave, was no longer a coward who would run to her caretaker because of thunder.

‘Things like this all pass by. Right, Rachel?’

I wonder who taught her that.

Seeing Emilia no longer afraid of darkness or thunder made me feel proud yet somehow empty.

‘I should sleep.’

I closed my eyes using the thunder as a lullaby.

The rustling sound of the blanket every time I tossed and turned was bothersome, but it gradually became fainter as time passed. Just as the sleep that finally came was about to consume my consciousness.

“Rachel.”

A faint voice came from outside the door.

At first I thought I had misheard, but I hadn’t.

“Racheeeel!”

I could tell even from far away.

I immediately jumped up from my spot at the child’s calling voice and opened the door.

There stood Emilia, wrapped in a blanket like a cloak.

“Rachel!”

Emilia threw herself into my arms as soon as the door opened.

Her hands and feet had grown cold from coming all the way from her chamber to this place.

“Please come in quickly.”

I lifted the child in my arms and hurriedly closed the door.

I threw a few more logs into the fireplace and sat the child down nearby.

“You should have at least put on proper outerwear before coming. Did you come here like this?”

The blanket Emilia had wrapped around herself was soaked from the rain and wind.

I took the child’s hands and feet in both of mine and rubbed them vigorously to warm them up quickly.

“What would you do if you caught a cold?”

“Mmm, sorry. Ria forgot.”

Her tone was like that of someone acting spoiled.

Emilia pulled her knees close to her chest and watched my expression carefully.

“Um, can I sleep with Rachel tonight…?”

I had thought she was all grown up.

On Emilia’s face, that same expression from when we first met remained very clearly.

“Something like that.”

I smiled while stroking the child’s head.

“You don’t need to ask.”

“Then, I can stay and sleep here?”

“If Princess Emilia wishes it, anytime.”

Only after my permission was granted did Emilia show a relieved expression.

The child suddenly sprang up from her seat and quickly slipped under the bed covers.

“Rachel, Rachel come quickly, quickly!”

Emilia gestured from under the blanket.

At her urging for me to hurry and lie down next to her, I too lay down beside the child without resistance.

“Rachel.”

I blinked and looked at Emilia.

“I have something to confess only to Rachel.”

The young princess had quite a solemn expression.

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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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