The Prince’s Nanny, Her Specialty Is Assassination - Chapter 56

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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 56. Adult and Child (1)

“So you’re saying Count Crowner is the son born from the Previous Duke’s former wife having an affair with a commoner?”

It was a sentence that was quite difficult to understand.

I pondered for a while before opening my mouth again.

“…Then Jerome isn’t related to the Previous Duke by even a drop of blood, is he?”

“Not exactly. The Previous Duke and his former wife were cousins.”

What kind of messed up family tree is this.

When I frowned, Seiji chuckled as if he had expected this reaction.

“The more prestigious the family, the stronger their obsession with pure blood.”

Seiji shrugged his shoulders as he added.

“That’s why there was a lot of talk when the Previous Duke adopted him as well.”

“Was there a particular reason to adopt Jerome? There must have been other boys in the family.”

“I doubt it? The Crowner family was particularly lacking in heirs to begin with.”

Even so, to make an illegitimate child born from adultery the heir to the family.

Wasn’t that completely un-‘aristocratic’ behavior?

‘Besides, didn’t the Previous Duke already have a daughter of his own blood?’

The current Empress, Melanie Crauner.

There was no law in the Empire preventing women from becoming family heirs.

‘There were quite a few nobles who passed their titles to their daughters.’

Moreover, it was common for royalty to hold leadership positions in noble families.

“I can’t understand it.”

“Maybe there weren’t any outstanding knights in the family at the time. After all, House of Crowner is a knight family.”

Seiji continued with an indifferent expression.

“Jerome was a well-known mercenary in the Empire back then.”

So he had that kind of past.

No wonder his fighting style was so aggressive for a knight.

‘Was that why he showed no mercy even to the child?’

But what I was interested in wasn’t his unfortunate background.

“Not that kind of thing, don’t you know any weaknesses? Preferably something fatal.”

At my persistent questioning, Seiji finally showed irritation.

“Look, even if I’m a sage, come on. How would I know something even the head of the Assassin’s Guild doesn’t know?”

That’s true too.

I clicked my tongue.

Then, Seiji suddenly exclaimed as if something had occurred to him.

“Ah, I remember one thing.”

“What is it?”

“Twelve years ago, I was invited to a banquet at the ducal house.”

Seiji nodded and narrowed his eyes as he added a comment.

“If I remember correctly, that banquet was probably to commemorate the birth of Jerome’s daughter.”

The prosperity of descendants was the duty of those with noble status.

It was common to see noble families holding banquets to celebrate the birth of a child.

Of course, it was rare for families to hold festivals for an entire month celebrating the birth of a daughter rather than a son.

“What’s with that expression?”

“…What do you mean?”

“You look extremely disgusted. Did I say something wrong?”

“Ah, it’s not because of you.”

It was just disgusting that a person who knew how to cherish and love his own daughter like that could so casually cut the arm of a child who was an assassin in name only.

Quite, very much so.

‘Jerome’s daughter.’

I looked up at the ceiling.

A daughter who resembled that monster.

I couldn’t imagine it well.

‘That child is pitiful too. Why did she have to be born as Jerome’s daughter of all people.’

If she was a girl who resembled Jerome, she probably wouldn’t be called a beauty.

I prayed for the duke’s daughter that the child’s mother was a beauty.

“But why are you suddenly asking about the duke’s weaknesses?”

“…Getting one hit in wasn’t satisfying enough.”

At my answer, Seiji’s eyes suddenly lit up as he thrust his face toward me.

“What? Did you already have a fight? How did it happen? Who won?”

I pushed his face away and stood up from my seat.

“I’ll be going now.”

“Are you going to get another hit in? Maybe by approaching his daughter?”

Seiji looked at me with expectant eyes.

“No.”

But this time I wouldn’t be able to meet his expectations.

“No matter what, I can’t use a child.”

I picked up the robe hanging by the door.

“I am an adult, after all.”

“Hmph.”

Seiji made a deflated expression.

He rested his chin on the table and let out a small laugh.

“An assassin with strange principles. You’re still such an oddball.”

“It’s because I’m an assassin that I need principles.”

If you just killed and used anyone indiscriminately, you couldn’t be called an assassin.

You’d just be nothing more than a murderer.

“Assassins have professional ethics too.”

“…You’re joking, right?”

I ignored Seiji’s serious expression and left the cabin.

The sunlight was particularly dazzling today.

‘I wonder if he’s training well?’

As soon as I saw the young leaves glowing yellow in the sunlight, a certain child’s image came to mind.

Thinking of Edwin, who would be rolling around diligently, made me chuckle.

To think I could smile just by thinking of someone other than Ian.

It was truly a strange thing.

* * *

Under the shade of a tree near the training grounds.

Edwin was standing side by side with Jerome.

The knights glanced at the two of them sideways as they passed by.

And for good reason, as they were such a mismatched combination.

The most insignificant prince in the imperial family and the most famous duke in the Empire.

‘Wh-what should I do?’

However, Edwin didn’t have the luxury to notice their gazes.

Because his hero was standing right next to him.

He didn’t dare make eye contact with the duke and only stared straight ahead.

“Yesterday was your first day of training.”

“Yes.”

In terms of rank, the duke was equal to a prince.

Edwin answered the duke’s question like a soldier at full attention.

Only then could he properly look at Jerome for the first time.

Jerome was also looking straight ahead like the prince, but it was quite different.

He possessed something that Edwin lacked.

Presence.

That aura that flowed from him even when he simply stood still was quite overwhelming for the young prince.

Edwin quickly lost his spirit and dropped his gaze to the floor.

“I heard you endured remarkably well for your first day. Have you perhaps received training separately before?”

“No, never….”

“Is that so. Then that’s impressive. You have talent.”

At the duke’s words, Edwin’s head shot up.

“Really, truly?”

“Those fellows are used to the training, so enduring it is natural for them, but Your Highness was experiencing it for the first time.”

It felt different from Rachel’s praise.

To hear praise from the idol he had always respected!

Edwin bit his lips, not wanting to show his excitement.

He didn’t want to give him a frivolous impression.

“So, I was thinking.”

Jerome turned his head toward the prince.

“I would like to offer Your Highness some guidance.”

“…Guidance?”

Edwin was bewildered.

The Empire’s greatest knight wanted to teach him.

Surely he should be overjoyed to the point his heart would burst.

But Edwin couldn’t simply rejoice.

Because it didn’t make sense to him.

“Um, why me…?”

“Because I saw talent in Your Highness.”

Jerome wore what seemed like the most trustworthy smile in the world.

“I’m not good-natured enough to stand by and watch talent go to waste.”

He said he had talent.

Edwin’s heart began to pound.

“Do I really have talent?”

To the prince’s question, Jerome answered with a question.

“What do you think is necessary to become a knight, Your Highness?”

“…Pride and honor, perhaps?”

Edwin recalled the virtues of chivalry he had read about in books.

Hearing the answer, Jerome chuckled as if he found him endearing.

“That’s not wrong, but those are things you can only uphold after becoming a knight.”

Jerome made a fist with one hand to show him.

“What’s needed to become a knight is ‘grit.'”

He turned his gaze back toward the training grounds.

He could see knights running with pained expressions.

“Natural talent is important too. But what makes talent bloom is effort, and what sustains effort is grit.”

He looked at Edwin again.

“Your Highness possesses exceptional grit.”

“Ah….”

Edwin let out a small exclamation.

“And I have the ability to make Your Highness the Empire’s greatest knight, if you possess that grit.”

Jerome placed his hand on Edwin’s shoulder.

“Your Highness won’t be staying cooped up in the palace forever, will you?”

At that moment, the prince’s small shoulders trembled slightly.

“I heard you’re scheduled to go to the Holy Kingdom after your coming-of-age ceremony. Is that correct?”

“…Probably.”

“If Your Highness doesn’t wish it, I could personally petition His Majesty.”

Jerome smiled broadly.

“Even His Majesty couldn’t arbitrarily send my disciple away to the Holy Kingdom. Haha.”

Edwin looked at the hand resting on his shoulder.

That rough, large hand—the very hand he had once hoped would be extended to him directly.

– I will help Your Highness be able to ‘choose’ anything.

But perhaps because it was different from that rough yet small and warm touch.

At this moment, Edwin found his touch terribly uncomfortable.

“What do you say, Your Highness?”

Jerome pressed for an answer.

Yet his face looked very relaxed.

Like someone who already knew what the prince would answer.

“Well.”

But Jerome’s prediction was shattered to pieces right then and there.

“I’m truly grateful for the offer, but I think I need to consider becoming your disciple a bit more.”

The moment Edwin carefully moved to avoid his hand.

Jerome’s expression twisted ever so slightly.

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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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