The Prince’s Nanny, Her Specialty Is Assassination - Chapter 64

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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 64. Fair Trade (1)

“We need at least twenty… what did you say?”

Catherine, who had been counting gold coins like a madwoman, snapped back to her senses.

“I said I’ll somehow manage to get the horses.”

“Huh? You will, Caretaker? How?”

“Somehow.”

I shrugged my shoulders.

“If worst comes to worst, I’ll carry Prince Edwin and run myself.”

“…What?”

For a moment, Catherine looked horrified.

“I’ve carried Princess Emilia and crawled around before, so there’s no reason I couldn’t do the same with Prince Edwin.”

Since I said it in such a serious voice, she seemed confused.

Catherine frowned and stared at me intently.

“…You’re joking, right?”

“Of course. No matter how fast I am, how could I possibly beat a real horse?”

“Ah, you scared me! When you say things like that, Caretaker, it sounds like you’re serious!”

Strange person.

Common sense would tell you there’s no way a human could beat a horse.

Just when she seems extraordinary, she acts foolish in weird ways.

“Anyway, I know someone who might be able to help. Leave it to me.”

Catherine let out a thoughtful hum.

But no matter how much she pondered, it seemed no suitable solution came to mind.

“…Alright. Then I’ll leave the horses to you, Caretaker.”

“Well then, one problem is solved. What’s the other problem?”

“Obviously, finding someone to teach His Highness how to hunt.”

To hunt, one needed to master both horseback riding and archery to a certain level.

“That problem also seems like it will be easier to solve than expected.”

“Really? Truly?”

Catherine’s eyes widened at my words.

“What’s the solution?”

“I can teach him myself.”

Catherine placed both hands under her chin and slowly blinked.

“…You, Caretaker?”

“I am, in name at least, the daughter of a noble house.”

I don’t know exactly how much power the Brown County actually holds.

But still, being nobles in name, they would have taught their adopted daughter at least hunting.

“Hmmmm.”

Catherine seemed to ponder this time as well, but eventually accepted my proposal.

“Fine. Right now we can’t afford to be picky.”

…She doesn’t think I’m the undesirable option, does she?

She walked over to a large chest placed in the corner of the study.

When she unlocked the padlock on the chest, various ledgers and jewelry appeared.

“It doesn’t seem like such a poor household.”

“It’s woefully insufficient for the Prince’s Palace expenses. Here, take this.”

Catherine had previously told me that after her father squandered the family fortune gambling, she took over managing the family’s finances herself.

Perhaps because of that, she was very thorough and sensitive when it came to money matters.

Her spending was also modest.

“20 noma.”

Catherine handed me a heavy pouch with trembling hands.

“I think that amount should be sufficient to obtain a thoroughbred-class horse or better at the horse market.”

She squeezed her eyes shut while looking at the pouch of gold coins in my hands.

As if she couldn’t bear to watch so much money leave at once.

“Of course, even if it’s not sufficient, you’ll have to make do with that amount. That’s the best we can do.”

“Don’t worry. It’s enough.”

I answered confidently.

After all, lack of money wasn’t a problem for me at all.

* * *

“It’s been a long time, we’re acquainted, aren’t we?”

I leaned against a stable post and casually wiggled my finger.

“You, you, you!”

Gail, the 2nd Prince’s attendant who used to torment Edwin.

The guy who had been grooming a horse’s mane dropped the brush he was holding as soon as he saw me.

“Cra, crazy!”

Gail looked around frantically, then lowered his voice and got angry.

“What do you think this place is that you came here! Get lost!”

The blood hasn’t even dried on his head and now he’s speaking informally right off the bat.

I always thought he had no potential, but to act so rudely even when we’re alone together.

As expected, you have to acknowledge nobles’ temperaments.

“How surprising. You claim to be a carriage maker’s apprentice, so why are you grooming horse manes in a stable like this? Do nobles do this kind of work? Are you perhaps being punished for lacking skill?”

At my words, Gail’s face reddened as he gritted his teeth.

“Don’t be ridiculous! Apprentices are supposed to start with basic things like this, no wait, why am I explaining this to you! Get lost!”

“I was just asking out of curiosity, why are you getting angry? How embarrassing.”

When I protested as if I felt wronged, the guy scowled.

“More importantly, how did you know I was here and come find me?”

Gail finally seemed to find it strange that I had come looking for him here.

“This is the Imperial Stables.”

“I know.”

I grinned at his response and straightened up from leaning against the post.

“The reason I came is to make a deal with you.”

“What? A deal?”

Just as Gail was about to shout asking what nonsense I was talking.

“What’s going on, Gail?”

“Ma, Master!”

Master, he says.

Then that person must be the famous carriage maker.

“Gail, you rascal! I told you if you cause a disturbance one more time, I’d kick you out!”

“I didn’t cause it, this woman…”

“Woman? Where is there a woman!”

“Huh?”

Gail looked around with a stupid expression.

“She was definitely here! That crazy woman!”

“Now you’re seeing women as hallucinations? I told you to stop chasing after women!”

“Master! You misunderstand!”

“You still haven’t come to your senses! This won’t do! Clean this entire place by tonight!”

“No, that’s not work for me, it’s work for the attendants…”

“An apprentice who does nothing but eat for free, so I’m giving you odd jobs! Don’t think I’ll cater to you just because your father is a count! Stop complaining and finish it today!”

It was a statement that showed the pride and temperament typical of craftsmen.

Gail’s master shouted angrily and then stormed out of the stable.

“Master!”

Gail called out desperately to his master, but he didn’t look back.

“Damn it…”

“Is that man your master? The craftsman who makes The Emperor’s carriages?”

“Aaaahhhhh!”

Gail screamed as if he had seen a ghost.

Several horses stomped their feet, startled by his screaming.

“Be quiet. Don’t you know horses are sensitive to noise?”

As I calmly stroked and calmed the agitated horse as if nothing had happened, Gail’s face contorted.

“No, you definitely weren’t here just a moment ago, you, how did you…!”

“I’ve been here the whole time.”

Of course, I had been hanging from the stable roof for a brief moment.

It’s his fault for not noticing.

“Why are you doing this to me! What’s your scheme!”

“Didn’t I tell you earlier? I came here because I want to make a deal.”

“So what kind of deal!”

“What kind of deal would we make in a stable?”

I scratched the chin of a horse that was poking its head toward me and smiled wickedly.

“A horse deal.”

It took Gail quite a long time to understand what I meant.

He stood there dumbfounded for a while, then suddenly burst out shouting.

“Hah? What nonsense. All the horses here belong to The Emperor!”

“I know that.”

I smiled brightly at Gail.

“And isn’t your family the one that breeds the horses brought here?”

How does a mere caretaker know such things?

Gail let out a hollow laugh as if he was dumbfounded by my words.

“Ha, so what? Are you threatening me now?”

He approached me with a threatening expression.

How dare he, so fearlessly.

“Threatening? That’s not even funny! So what can you do! You’re just from some insignificant family serving that worthless prince…”

Gail was raising his voice while spitting, then collapsed to the floor.

He lay face down on the ground, gasping as if he might stop breathing at any moment.

It was a natural reaction after taking a proper hit to the solar plexus.

“I showed you just a tiny bit of what I can do.”

I lightly dusted off my wrist and asked.

“I’m curious if you’re now a little more inclined to make a deal with me.”

Gail looked up at me while panting.

His eyes held a mixture of suspicion and fear.

“You, you, what are you…”

“Of course, if you continue to refuse, I’ll keep persuading you until you agree.”

“Wh-what?”

“By any means necessary.”

Instantly, Gail’s complexion became even paler.

“H-hey! I’m just an ordinary apprentice! It’s true that our family breeds horses, but those are breeds specifically for supplying to the Imperial Court, so father manages them directly! A second son like me can’t even touch them carelessly!”

I snorted at the excuses he was rattling off.

“I know you’ve been stealing Imperial horses and selling them on the black market. Are you going to deny it?”

Upon hearing my words, Gail turned deathly pale and clenched both hands.

He trembled as if he might collapse at any moment.

“You, how did you know that…”

“When you leave a long trail, you’re bound to get caught.”

Perhaps because he’s of noble origin by birth.

For someone who called himself an ordinary apprentice, Gail had quite a lot of nerve.

Even if it was 2nd Prince’s orders, I should have realized it when he was coming and going from the 3rd Prince’s Palace like it was his own home.

– Catherine, do you happen to know about someone named Gail?

– Gail? I think I’ve heard the name.

– He’s 2nd Prince’s attendant and supposedly a carriage maker’s apprentice.

– Ah, you mean that big noble young master? I don’t know the details, but should I ask around?

Catherine went around gathering information about Gail from Imperial Palace people she was friendly with, saying she’d solve my question.

From attendants to maids to gamekeepers. It was a moment when her sociability, getting along well even with strangers, truly shone.

“To dare think of omitting horses entering the Imperial Court from the ledgers and stealing them to the black market. You certainly have guts.”

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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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