The Prince’s Nanny, Her Specialty Is Assassination - Chapter 52
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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 52. Emperor Cabellius III (2)
“….”
Jerome gave no answer.
Seeing his expression, the Emperor continued with determination.
“Adrian is the only legitimate successor. I will definitely place that child on the throne.”
When the name of the 1st Prince Adrian came up, Jerome swallowed hard.
The Emperor didn’t miss that reaction and asked sharply.
“Do you think I don’t know the real reason you don’t support the 1st Prince?”
“…Your Majesty knows well that Prince Adrian has a frail constitution.”
When Jerome answered with a dark expression, the Emperor snorted.
“He won’t live long so he’s unsuitable? Aren’t I the same?”
“Your Majesty!”
“Why don’t you tell me I’m also unqualified to be Emperor?”
“I would never mean such a thing!”
The Emperor openly mocked the strongest knight standing before him.
“Hmph, in the end you’re just a petty person who values blood relations more than the Empire.”
“…I won’t deny it.”
At Jerome’s quick admission, the Emperor fell silent for a moment.
But it was the Emperor who spoke again.
“I can’t understand it. He’s not even your blood relative anyway, is he?”
It was a remark that struck right at the Duke’s past.
Words that only the Emperor could say.
But even hearing those words, Jerome simply bowed his head as if nothing had happened.
“Yes, you were always a sentimental person.”
Seeing that sight, the Emperor clicked his tongue.
“Unlike me.”
The Emperor tapped the railing with his finger.
“I know very well that Adrian isn’t exactly suited to be Emperor.”
The 1st Prince was clever but not cunning, virtuous but not ruthless.
Most critically, his constitution was far too weak from birth.
No matter how many precious medicinal herbs and nourishing foods they fed him, the Prince’s constitution never changed at all.
But even so, Adrian had to become Emperor.
“Only the ducal house can keep the Redcliff Marquess’s Estate in check. And Adrian is the only prince with ducal blood mixed in.”
The Redcliff Marquess family had been threatening imperial authority for decades.
The only rival was House of Crowner.
Jerome was not unaware of this fact.
“The countless nobles who follow the ducal house also support Adrian. He’s the only one who can make them follow without any conditions.”
At the Emperor’s words, Jerome recalled the face of his only nephew.
A calm and gentle face that resembled his sister.
A kind and mild disposition that resembled neither parent.
When his nephew’s powerless smile came to mind, a corner of his heart ached.
“Yet the reason you’ve been coddling that child all this time must be because you’re too soft.”
The Emperor’s voice gradually became more threatening.
“Jerome, do you remember the promise you made with me?”
He slowly approached Jerome.
“I helped you take your current position. And I haven’t forgotten the price I should receive.”
“…I haven’t forgotten either, Your Majesty.”
Jerome continued speaking while keeping his gaze fixed on the tip of his nose.
“Even if I die, the Redcliff Marquess’s Estate will never become the real power of this country.”
“Right. And we must also ensure that someone with no power doesn’t ascend to the throne.”
The Emperor placed his hand on his shoulder.
“Only those who can bear the weight of the crown should sit in that position. You know this well.”
Jerome bowed his head deeply at the Emperor’s words.
“Only Adrian can protect the Empire. And only you can protect Adrian.”
“How can you say such things when Your Majesty is here?”
“I don’t have much time left to live. You know this well too, don’t you.”
The Emperor muttered in a self-deprecating tone.
Hearing those words, Jerome’s complexion instantly turned pale.
“Your Majesty!”
“Such a fuss. It’s a fact that everyone who should know already knows.”
The Emperor waved his hand as if tired.
“Just keep your promise. In this Imperial Capital, you’re the only one I can trust.”
“…I will keep it in mind.”
Jerome recalled the oath he had made with Cabellius III long ago.
When no one acknowledged his succession to the duchy.
The Emperor used his authority to place Jerome as the head of the Crowner family.
– From now on, I am your will. You shall become my sword.
The day they became master and servant rather than old friends.
The Emperor handed him the blade of revenge he had been sharpening for so long.
Jerome sometimes resented the Emperor for placing such a burden on him.
‘But it’s my own doing.’
He was the one who accepted that oath in the first place.
Even if he went back to that time, he would make the same choice.
Because he too had something to protect.
“So keep your rebellion to a reasonable degree. Well then, I’ll be going now.”
“Your Majesty.”
At that moment, Jerome stopped the Emperor who was about to leave the study once more.
“What is it.”
“May I make one request?”
“What is it.”
“…Still, I will have Prince Edwin participate in training for three months. It’s a promise I made.”
Jerome Crowner was not one to add unnecessary words.
When such a Duke lengthened his words, the Emperor looked at him quietly.
An unidentifiable will dwelt in the Duke’s eyes.
The Emperor seemed to have already noticed what he was thinking.
“…I don’t understand. Why go to such lengths?”
The Emperor, who had turned his gaze to the window, frowned.
The 3rd Prince Edwin was getting farther and farther from the group of knights.
Though he looked like a small dot, it was certain the Prince was struggling.
“Don’t tell me you think that child could be a substitute for Adrian?”
The Emperor added with a furrowed brow.
“If so, that’s rather disappointing. I didn’t know your judgment was so poor.”
There was once a time when the Emperor too had tried to place expectations on the 3rd Prince.
But those expectations had long since been shattered.
To the Emperor, the 3rd Prince was just ‘a timid, incompetent, and weak twelve-year-old.’
“At least he could be on Prince Adrian’s side.”
At Jerome’s answer, the Emperor frowned.
“…You’re being stubbornly obstinate to the end.”
“The more cards you have, the better, isn’t it?”
“The more useless cards you have, the more of a headache they become.”
“I will make him into a useful card.”
Not backing down even a single word.
The Emperor looked at the count with displeasure, then quickly turned his head away.
“Fine, do as you please. This time I truly mean it.”
“Take care, Your Majesty.”
Jerome bowed silently to the Emperor’s back as he left the room without looking back.
The door closed, and Jerome raised his head.
There was clearly some kind of determination etched on his face.
* * *
“Stop.”
I had infiltrated Jerome’s office using stealth techniques, hoping to find some useful information.
That was my mistake. Not only did I learn facts I didn’t particularly want to know.
I ended up coming face to face with The Emperor like this.
“What are you doing here? I wasn’t aware there were any maids working inside the office building.”
Having unintentionally eavesdropped on the conversation between The Emperor and the knight commander outside the door, I tried to hurry down the stairs.
But The Emperor was quite a curious person.
‘Damn it, I wasn’t supposed to release the stealth technique.’
He deliberately called out to stop me as I was going down the stairs.
“Why aren’t you answering?”
At The Emperor’s urging, I had no choice but to turn around.
“You are…”
The Emperor frowned.
“The 3rd Prince’s caretaker.”
I greeted him as politely and respectfully as possible.
“I greet His Imperial Majesty. I am Rachel Brown, caretaker to The 3rd Prince.”
The Emperor listened to my introduction and narrowed his eyes.
His not-so-friendly gaze swept over my entire body.
“I heard you made some useless request to Count Crowner?”
“…Though it may be presumptuous to say, I have never made any useless requests to the Count.”
“What?”
Did it seem like quite an insolent attitude?
The Emperor frowned as he looked at me talking back.
“Because I thought it was my job to help Prince Edwin achieve what he desires.”
The Emperor who heard my answer stood there silently for a long while.
Then he let out a scoff as if finding it absurd.
“Achieve what he desires? You’re helping with that?”
There was clear mockery on his face.
“A mere caretaker has quite grand ambitions.”
But why was it?
He didn’t seem that displeased.
“So, are you telling me that boy Edwin asked you to get him included in knight training? Stop lying…”
“Yes, he did.”
Of course, I was the one who made the suggestion and Edwin just reluctantly accepted it.
I dared to look The Emperor straight in the face as I spoke.
“Prince Edwin definitely told me he wanted to become strong.”
“…Become strong?”
What an expression that was.
I answered firmly without averting my gaze from The Emperor.
“Yes, he definitely said that.”
He stood there silently again for a long while.
His gaze from above the stairs pierced down at my face.
“…That too is unexpected.”
It was a short and ambiguous answer.
The Emperor’s expression was just as ambiguous as his answer.
I couldn’t hold back and opened my mouth again.
“Your Majesty, I have a request I’d like to make…”
“Enough.”
Then, a cold voice pierced the top of my head.
The Emperor was glaring at me with one hand raised.
“How dare a mere caretaker mention making a request twice in front of the Emperor. Just because I granted your request in the garden, do you think you can take me lightly?”
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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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