The Prince’s Nanny, Her Specialty Is Assassination - Chapter 75

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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 75. Paran’s Hunting Competition (4)

“…As expected, there’s no other way.”

The Emperor quietly muttered to himself in response to Jerome’s words.

After thinking for a moment, he took a step forward.

“I wonder if everyone enjoyed the hunt to their heart’s content. I express my deep gratitude to the participants who made this occasion shine.”

All eyes focused on The Emperor’s voice.

“Though this was arranged for enjoyment, it is still a proper competition, so we must determine a winner.”

He carefully looked around at those gathered before him.

Right in front were 1st Prince Adrian and 2nd Prince Lloyd’s group.

Adrian stood with his usual indifferent expression, while Lloyd looked up at his father with anticipation.

‘The victory is mine.’

No one at this gathering had hunted more beasts than the 2nd Prince.

To anyone watching, the victory clearly belonged to Lloyd.

At least until just a moment ago.

“Captain! The 3rd Prince has returned.”

Philip, who had briefly left his post, came running urgently and announced the 3rd Prince’s return.

Since it happened just when The Emperor had paused his speech, his words clearly reached everyone present.

“…Edwin?”

Meanwhile, at the news of Edwin’s return, one person’s eyes showed excessive agitation.

It was 2nd Prince Lloyd. He frowned deeply while biting his thumbnail.

“I, I’m sorry for being late, Your Majesty.”

Edwin, who appeared belatedly, was breathing heavily.

Had something terrible happened to him? The 3rd Prince’s condition was pitiful.

His golden hair had turned ashen, covered in dust, and his entire body was covered in mud and weeds as if he had rolled in a swamp.

“I, I came as quickly as possible after hearing the horn sound…”

Edwin mumbled and trailed off.

“…Since I haven’t announced the winner yet, you’re not late.”

The Emperor lightly looked his youngest son up and down before continuing.

“But I don’t see your game cart. Where are the beasts you hunted?”

“Ah, th, they’re being brought now.”

The Emperor frowned, displeased with Edwin’s hesitant attitude.

“Very well.”

He turned his head again and raised his hand.

“Then we must decide the winner now. Officials, check the participants’ game counts.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At The Emperor’s command, the waiting officials began counting the game loaded on the carts.

Beside the carts that officials had finished checking, some looked disappointed while others wore satisfied expressions. The officials who completed the final verification rushed to The Emperor.

“So, who acquired the most game?”

At The Emperor’s question, the oldest official stepped forward and bowed.

“Yes, Your Majesty. The person who acquired the most game, with a total of 35 beasts, is 2nd Prince Lloyd…”

It was the moment when the winner was finally about to be decided.

“Please wait a moment.”

A polite and clear voice came from behind.

The one who interrupted the hunting competition’s winner announcement was none other than the 3rd Prince’s caretaker, Rachel.

She appeared a step later than her master, pulling a game cart.

“The 3rd Prince’s game still remains, doesn’t it?”

At her words, complaints erupted from the noble group following the 2nd Prince.

“How dare a mere attendant interfere in such matters!”

“The result is obvious, yet she’s causing unnecessary interference.”

“She must want to save her master’s pride.”

But Rachel continued speaking, paying no attention to the criticism behind her.

“I apologize for the sudden interruption. However, shouldn’t a competition be conducted fairly?”

At her words, The Emperor’s eyebrow slightly raised, but no one noticed.

The Emperor looked down at Rachel quietly, then nodded slightly.

“Check the 3rd Prince’s game as well.”

“Ah, yes. Your Majesty.”

Though the officials looked puzzled, they quickly moved at The Emperor’s command.

They approached the game cart Rachel had brought.

“Ah, no!”

“What is this!”

“Good heavens!”

And simultaneously let out sounds that could have been sighs or exclamations.

Like people who had seen something they shouldn’t have.

* * *

“Why are they acting like that?”

“Is there some problem?”

“Maybe the 3rd Prince’s game is too pathetic.”

Curious gazes turned toward the 3rd Prince’s game cart.

Those gathered kept craning their necks, curious about why the officials were making such a fuss.

“What’s the matter?”

The Emperor was equally puzzled.

When he showed displeasure, the officials hesitated while reading the situation.

“Your, Your Majesty, the thing is…”

“I asked what the matter is.”

“The, the thing is! The 3rd Prince has brought a silver-antlered deer!”

Instantly, the crowd stirred.

The silver-antlered deer was famous for its beautiful silver antlers and was a sacred animal depicted on the Empire’s flag.

“A silver-antlered deer…”

“Good heavens!”

It was not only a precious beast due to its small numbers but also an animal rarely seen due to its strong wariness of humans.

There was even a superstition that encountering a living silver-antlered deer would bring a year free of illness and full of good fortune.

“Prince Edwin, how could you do such a thing!”

Before The Emperor could show any reaction, Empress Helena shot up from her seat.

Though displeasure was evident in her red eyes, her voice remained utterly graceful.

“To hunt such a precious beast as the silver-antlered deer without permission! How shameless!”

Helena covered her mouth with her fan and poured out words like rapid fire.

“Your Majesty, isn’t the silver-antlered deer a symbolic animal of the Empire! It’s a sacred animal that no one can hunt without Your Majesty’s permission! Even for a prince, this is unacceptable!”

“That’s right, Your Majesty.”

Not wanting to miss this opportunity, the noble group following the 2nd Prince joined in unison.

“Even though this is a hunting competition, the crime of harming a sacred animal…”

“His Highness couldn’t have been unaware of this fact. Severe punishment must be given to maintain discipline…”

Just as public opinion was flowing in an unfavorable direction.

Rachel, the caretaker who had brought the game cart, approached the 3rd Prince’s side.

She whispered something in the confused prince’s ear.

Then Edwin took a deep breath as if making a great decision and stepped forward.

“Father.”

“Yes, Edwin.”

The Emperor looked down at his son with emotionless eyes.

He asked for confirmation.

“Did you really hunt the silver-antlered deer?”

“I did hunt it, but I didn’t kill it.”

“…What?”

Edwin approached the cart with a solemn expression and carefully pulled on the rope.

Then something staggered to its feet from the cart.

The creature looking around with large eyes was unmistakably a living silver-horned deer.

“My goodness.”

“A living silver-horned deer! I never thought I’d see such a thing with my own eyes!”

“I understood it was impossible to capture one alive without killing it first, given how sensitive they are….”

Even with a rope around its neck, the silver-horned deer showed no signs of discomfort and obediently stepped down from the cart as Edwin led it.

It was truly a wondrous sight.

“The Emperor.”

Edwin carefully led the deer and approached The Emperor.

The young prince bowed his head respectfully toward him standing on the platform.

“3rd Prince Edwin wishes to present this silver-horned deer to The Emperor.”

At Edwin’s words, The Emperor’s gaze became peculiar.

He looked back and forth between Edwin and the silver-horned deer, then soon smiled.

It was a satisfied smile.

“…Well done.”

At The Emperor’s words, 2nd Empress’s expression became terribly distorted.

Needless to say, Lloyd’s face nearby crumpled as well. The expressions of The Nobles following him were also quite unpleasant.

“Hmm, quite impressive.”

On the other hand, the expressions of The Empress and the group supporting 1st Prince showed little change.

Rather, Count Crowner seemed to find it very interesting that Edwin had not only returned safely but had also captured a precious silver-horned deer alive.

His daughter Bridget was also staring intently at Edwin as if finding it fascinating.

“Even the most skilled hunters say it’s difficult to catch a silver-horned deer alive. But Edwin, you’ve accomplished that.”

Instead of answering, Edwin bowed his head slightly.

While he was the first to spot the silver-horned deer, it was Rachel who had captured it.

He recalled The Caretaker’s figure in the forest, grabbing onto the deer’s neck with movements faster than The Monster.

– I was worried something terrible might have happened to you.

Rachel, who had ridden over with her hair half undone, did not scold the prince.

She simply checked if he was injured and lightly brushed off his hair.

– Since Your Highness discovered the deer after getting lost, one could say heaven helped.

Rachel knocked out the silver-horned deer and loaded it onto the cart.

And she left Edwin, who kept trying to hide his face, with one remark.

– I’ll hear about that wound after the competition ends.

Her tone was so commanding that anyone listening might mistake Rachel for the prince’s master rather than The Caretaker.

Of course, the person in question didn’t mind at all.

‘Well, there’s no way Rachel would just let it slide.’

Just as Edwin secretly let out a worried sigh, The Emperor opened his mouth with an extremely satisfied expression.

His voice was loud enough for everyone gathered at the competition grounds to hear.

“If the one who caught the most difficult beast to capture doesn’t become the winner of the hunting competition, then who would be the winner, wouldn’t you agree?”

Though it sounded like he was seeking agreement, it was practically a declaration.

It was a verdict that 3rd Prince Edwin was the victor of this 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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