The Prince’s Nanny, Her Specialty Is Assassination - Chapter 65

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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 65. Fair Trade (2)

‘Horses are property. Stealing imperial horses is tantamount to embezzling imperial assets.’

I looked down coldly at Gail, who was kneeling and at a loss for what to do.

‘Either way, this benefits me.’

It was fortunate that Gail was overly bold.

Thanks to that, I was able to get a hold on his weakness like this.

“I know several others were involved besides you.”

They say the water downstream can only be as clear as the water upstream.

All those who joined Gail in stealing horses were servants of the Second Prince.

“What do you think will happen when the higher-ups find out about this?”

“No, that can’t happen!”

At my words, Gail crawled on his knees toward me and grabbed the hem of my skirt.

“Please, no! Anything but that, please!”

“Please?”

“Ah, fine! I’ll do whatever you say! One horse is enough, right?”

“Two horses.”

Gail’s eyes wavered at the mention of two horses.

His sweat-soaked hand was already moving toward his pants pocket.

‘How obvious.’

He probably has a knife hidden in his inner pocket.

‘Is he calculating even in this situation? He’s quite cunning.’

I knew he was cunning from when he rigged the Monte game.

Back then and now, he’s always just one step short.

I snorted at his transparent intentions.

‘Is he wondering whether it’s better to grant my request and keep quiet, or just kill me here and now?’

I snorted while watching Gail rolling his eyes frantically.

‘Ridiculous. Does he think he can beat me just by holding a knife?’

It was somewhat insulting to my pride.

‘I guess one punch wasn’t enough to show him the difference in our strength.’

It seems this guy underestimated me more than I thought.

I decided I needed to increase my training and spoke again.

“Of course, I’ll pay the price.”

“Huh?”

“Didn’t I say this was a trade?”

I threw 5 gold coins on the ground.

Gail’s gaze wavered as he saw the coins that fell to the ground.

“5 noma.”

The Bentrum Empire’s gold coin ‘noma’.

The gold coin bore the face of the current emperor, Cabellius III.

Those coins, less than half the size of a palm, were the only currency accepted anywhere on the continent.

“I’ll give you 5 noma per horse. This is the advance payment.”

Meanwhile, Gail’s eyes looked quite different from before after seeing the gold coins.

I noticed the greed in his eyes and smirked.

“I’ll give you the rest when I receive the horses.”

10 noma for two horses.

Considering the selling price, it was practically dirt cheap, but it wasn’t a small amount of money.

10 noma was equivalent to an imperial knight’s first year salary.

For Gail, it was an amount he had no reason to refuse.

“You, how did you get this much money…”

“The source is legitimate, so don’t worry about it.”

Gail glanced at me and stuffed the coins into his chest.

“Hmph! You’re no different from a thief! Trying to buy horses for this measly price!”

“You’re not one to talk.”

“Damn it. How did I get stuck with such bad luck…”

He grumbled but didn’t seem to have any intention of giving up the money.

Well, he was bold enough to steal imperial property because he was blinded by gold.

Since I threw gold right in front of such a person, there’s no way he wouldn’t accept it.

“I don’t need anything mediocre. Bring me thoroughbred-class horses or better.”

“What? Then I should get at least 20 noma per horse!”

“Do you have anything else to say?”

When I asked back in a threatening voice, he backed down.

“N-no. Nothing. When do you need them by?”

“By the day after tomorrow at the latest. Bring the goods yourself.”

Gail frowned.

“That’s too rushed! And why does a caretaker need horses anyway?”

“That’s neither something you need to be curious about nor something you need to know.”

“Hey…!”

“And just so you know, the fact that I made a deal with you must be kept strictly secret.”

I bared my teeth and smiled at him along with the threat.

“If you cause problems by blabbing, remember that I won’t just sit back and take it either.”

I took a step closer to Gail and grabbed his plump chin.

“From the moment you accepted those gold coins, we’re practically accomplices.”

“Wh-what…”

“If you tell others about me, I’ll also reveal everything about how you embezzled imperial property and tried to steal horses for money.”

That was exactly why I deliberately paid Gail in gold coins.

Financial transaction records could serve as evidence proving numerous situations by themselves.

“Isn’t this a truly fair trade?”

“Ugh, uhhh.”

I released the terrified Gail’s chin and smirked.

“Then I’ll see you on the promised date, accomplice.”

* * *

As back alleys tend to be, the back alleys of the Empire’s capital were also a den of all sorts of riffraff.

Pickpockets, gamblers, pimps, drug addicts, smugglers, slave traders, and even contract killers.

It was a place ruled by those who were naked and starving, and those who reeked of blood.

‘It’s been a while.’

I thought it would feel strange since I’d gotten used to living with two warm and soft children.

I pulled down my worn hood and slowly walked deeper into the alley.

Step, step.

The sound of low shoe heels hitting the uneven stone path echoed.

The back alley dwellers who would rush like hyenas when they spotted innocent civilians who took a wrong turn stared at me intently.

‘They must find it strange that a woman came to a place like this alone.’

However, no one picked a fight with me first.

‘Well, if they were that stupid, they would have died long ago.’

There were no back alley dwellers stupid enough to attack just because someone was small and looked like a woman.

There were quite a few women among mercenaries and assassins, and there were many monster-like strong fighters who looked like old people and children, so it was natural.

Thanks to that, an unwritten rule had long been established in the back alleys that you shouldn’t carelessly mess with anyone first, regardless of who they were.

“You son of a bitch!”

I opened the door of a shabby tavern without even a sign and entered.

As soon as I opened the door, shouting and cursing assaulted my eardrums.

“How dare you pull cards from the bottom in front of me!”

“Did you see it? Did you see it?”

“Hey, bring more drinks over here!”

Inside the tavern, rough shouting and lewd jokes were being exchanged.

Those gathered there were all holding cards in their hands or rolling dice.

They looked like people afflicted with some disease where they’d die if they weren’t holding something in their hands.

“Heeey?”

Just then, a drunk, burly man approached me.

“What brings such a lovely lady to this shabby place?”

The man casually draped his arm over my shoulder.

Yeah, well, occasionally there are idiots like this who are stupid but lucky enough to survive.

“Remove your hand.”

I gave a cold warning without even looking at the man who had his arm around my shoulder.

“Unless you want it cut off.”

I deliberately used a low, masculine voice.

I didn’t want to cause unnecessary trouble by using my real voice.

The man seemed to sense my killing intent and flinched before stepping aside.

“Hey.”

I approached the bar inside the tavern and called for the tavern keeper.

Then an old man with a kind-looking face came over to me.

“Looking to order something?”

“Something I kept here.”

The tavern keeper listened to my words and smiled broadly.

“Name?”

“Angela.”

“Wait just a moment.”

The tavern keeper went out the back door and returned shortly after.

In his left hand, he was carrying a large travel bag.

“Here it is. Is this what you kept here?”

I glanced at the bag the tavern keeper placed on the bar and smirked.

“That’s right. And I’d like to order one more thing.”

“What would that be?”

This time, instead of answering, I handed him a piece of paper.

The tavern keeper unfolded the paper I gave him and flinched.

“You really want this?”

“Of course.”

I took out 5 noma from my pocket and handed it over.

“This is the down payment. I’ll pay the same amount again when I receive the item.”

The tavern keeper seemed to think for a moment, then grinned and pocketed the gold coins.

“Understood. Should I send the item to the address written on the paper?”

“Yes.”

I picked up the travel bag that was on the bar and left the tavern.

Clang.

A sharp metallic bell sound rang loudly as if seeing me off.

That sound reminded me of something I had forgotten.

“Ah, right.”

I hurriedly headed toward the bustling city center.

I needed to stop by a bookstore on the way back to buy the fairy tale book I had promised the Princess.

* * *

“Th-this is…!”

Edwin and all the household members of the 3rd Prince’s Palace were stunned when they saw the horse I had brought.

“What a magnificent horse!”

“Wow, its coat is so glossy! It must have been fed only the finest feed.”

The maids who knew about horses each threw out compliments.

Seiji also stroked his beard while examining the horse with curious eyes.

“It’s a horse!”

But the person who showed the most enthusiastic reaction was the 3rd Prince Edwin.

“Do you like it?”

The horse I gave Edwin was a brown mare with white hair only around the hooves.

It had a cute appearance, as if it were wearing socks.

“This is really my horse? Really?”

Edwin also seemed to like it, unable to control his rising smile.

“I chose a gentle one that listens well, so you should be able to tame it easily.”

The boy who had been examining the horse with sparkling eyes turned to look at me.

“But why did you bring two horses?”

“Ah, this one is for me to ride.”

A black horse that was white only at the ear tips and muzzle, with the rest looking like it had bathed in ink.

Snort—.

It kept snorting, seemingly displeased that I was holding its reins.

“I need to accompany Your Highness during the hunting competition.”

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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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