The Prince’s Nanny, Her Specialty Is Assassination - Chapter 78

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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 78. LOVE & POISON (2)

‘Should I give some kind of warning?’

Edwin frowned and scratched his head.

‘But how do I give a warning?’

To talk about the mutant monster, he would have to reveal the fact that he went to Ruxen Village, and if he did that, he would be caught having gone out without permission before his coming-of-age ceremony.

“…Haa, I don’t know.”

While thinking only about the monster, the basic training had ended before he knew it.

Edwin sat down on a small slope near the training grounds and sighed.

After the hunting competition, the swordsmanship lessons he had promised to do with Philip were indefinitely postponed due to Philip being unusually busy.

Today too, Philip couldn’t come to training because he had to handle the mountain of knight order duties that had piled up in place of the absent commander.

‘When will I be able to swing a sword like that?’

Edwin gazed intently at the knights practicing swordsmanship in the training grounds visible below the slope.

Some were swinging their swords at scarecrows, while others were sparring with each other.

‘Huh, why is he blocking like that?’

As he continued watching, somehow the knights’ movements became clearly visible to his eyes.

Then Edwin unconsciously began analyzing their attack patterns.

‘If he thrusts to the right there, wouldn’t he win immediately?’

‘No good, he should have deflected it, not blocked it.’

‘That knight would be better if he could move faster.’

Edwin wasn’t even aware of what he was doing.

He was simply absorbed in reading the knights’ movements.

“The Lordling Krauner is very interested in Eastern Continent culture, isn’t she?”

“Mind your own business.”

Just then, a familiar voice reached his ears.

Edwin was startled and flattened himself down while turning his head toward where the sound came from.

In the distance, he could see Bridget walking with the 2nd Prince.

‘Ah.’

Her red hair fluttering in the breeze, her face sparkling in the sunlight, the hem of her skirt swaying with each step.

It looked as if time was flowing slowly only around her.

‘Is it because of the poison?’

He had heard that poisoning could sometimes cause one to lose their sense of time.

Edwin was surprised by his heart beating even more violently than before and clutched his chest.

It seemed he should ask Rachel to reduce the amount of poison intake a little.

“There you are.”

He was blankly watching Bridget’s retreating figure when it happened.

Edwin jumped in place at Philip’s sudden voice.

“Ph, Philip!”

“What were you looking at so intently?”

“N, nothing at all!”

Edwin brushed himself off, stood up, and shook his head vigorously.

Did he know that his reddened cheeks and bewildered eyes were undermining the credibility of his claim that it was nothing?

‘Well, it’s nice to see him acting his age.’

Philip already knew where the 3rd Prince’s gaze had been.

He too had been watching Bridget until just a moment ago.

Of course, for a different reason than Edwin—to make sure the 2nd Prince wasn’t being rude to his superior’s daughter.

“Speaking of which, I heard there’s going to be a birthday banquet at the Empress’s Palace.”

Edwin looked at Philip with puzzled eyes as he suddenly brought up the birthday banquet.

“A birthday banquet? The Empress’s birthday is in winter.”

Even Edwin, who was ignorant of palace news, knew that much.

The Emperor and Empress’s birthday celebrations were like festivals for the Empire.

“Ah, not the Empress.”

Philip added a word with an expressionless face.

“I mean The Lordling Krauner’s birthday banquet.”

“…Huh?”

“Since Count Jerome is away on an expedition, the Empress has decided to hold the banquet for her instead.”

Empress Melanie was Jerome’s younger sister and Bridget’s aunt.

It wasn’t unusual for an aunt to hold a birthday banquet for her niece.

“Kr, The Lordling Krauner’s birthday banquet is being held at the palace?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“Then almost everyone in the palace will attend?”

Edwin’s face brightened noticeably at the mention of a birthday banquet being held at the palace.

As if he harbored hope that he might be able to meet Bridget that day.

“Ah, The Lordling said she wants to keep it modest by inviting only a few really close people.”

“…Ah.”

Only inviting a few really close people.

Edwin’s complexion darkened slightly at Philip’s answer.

‘Then there’s no way I would be invited…’

Somehow he felt completely deflated.

The young prince hung his head low.

‘We’ve only met once, no, twice at most.’

Probably the 1st Prince and 2nd Prince would attend the birthday banquet.

Since she was cousins with the 1st Prince and engaged to the 2nd Prince.

But Edwin had no relationship with Bridget whatsoever.

‘…Anyone can exchange greetings.’

The young prince hung his head with a dejected expression.

Without even knowing the reason for the disappointment and emptiness he felt.

* * *

“Prince Edwin has been acting strange lately, hasn’t he?”

I frowned at Catherine’s words.

As she said, Edwin’s condition had been strange lately.

Not just a little strange, but quite a lot.

‘I heard he can’t even concentrate during his lessons with Seiji.’

He even came back yesterday having sprained his ankle during knight training.

According to Philip, it happened because he couldn’t avoid a stone in front of him and tripped over it.

“I’m really worried. Lately he’s barely been eating his meals.”

Catherine looked at me with a worried expression.

“Shouldn’t you ask him what’s wrong?”

“…I suppose I should.”

At this rate, all my plans might be disrupted.

I sighed and headed to the Prince’s chamber.

When I knocked and opened the door, I saw Edwin sitting at his desk.

But he wasn’t reading a book, just sitting there blankly holding a quill pen.

He didn’t even seem to notice that I had entered the room.

“Prince Edwin.”

“Whoa!”

As soon as Edwin heard my voice, he was startled and dropped his quill pen.

“Wh, what! When did you come in?”

“Just now. I knocked too, didn’t you hear it?”

“Ah, sorry. I didn’t hear…”

“What on earth is wrong with you?”

I absolutely hated beating around the bush.

When I asked directly, Edwin looked bewildered.

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“I mean the reason you keep spacing out lately. Why exactly are you doing that?”

“Me, me?”

“Yes. You didn’t even notice me entering your room just now.”

Edwin looked as shocked as if he’d been ambushed.

After staying still for a long time with only his fingertips twitching, he suddenly gave an awkward smile.

“That was just because I was thinking about something else for a moment…”

“Don’t lie to me.”

Who are you trying to fool?

I placed both hands on my hips and narrowed my brow.

“Something else, you said? What exactly is this ‘something else’ that has you spacing out for days?”

“Ah, well, that’s…”

“I heard that Your Highness couldn’t concentrate during lessons with Seiji, and got injured during knight training because you were spacing out.”

Edwin looked at me with bewildered eyes.

His lips twitched as if troubled.

“Please tell me. What exactly are you thinking about that…”

“It’s, it’s nothing! Just a little…”

“It can’t be nothing. Lying to me won’t work…”

“I said it’s really nothing!”

Edwin suddenly shot up from his seat and raised his voice.

I looked at Edwin with surprised eyes.

This was the first time he had ever raised his voice at me like this.

“…Ah.”

Edwin seemed just as surprised by his own actions.

Seeing my shocked expression, he relaxed his face and floundered.

“I mean, I just…”

“Oh my, I knew this would happen. I can’t stand it. I can’t stand it!”

Just then, Catherine appeared through the open door.

She set down a tray of tea and refreshments on the table while clicking her tongue.

“That’s always the problem with you, Caretaker. You could just have a conversation, but you always start by pressing him.”

“…What exactly did I do wrong?”

“Oh my!”

Catherine glared at me with disapproving eyes, then smiled toward Edwin.

“Your Highness, it’s time for tea. I’ve prepared some refreshments to go with it today.”

“Ah, thank you, Catherine.”

“Don’t mention it. Today’s tea leaves are quite premium, you know? Please try some quickly.”

She approached behind Edwin and gently pushed his back.

After semi-forcibly seating the young prince on the sofa, Catherine carefully sat beside him.

“How does the tea taste?”

“Mmm, it’s good.”

As he sipped the warm tea and seemed to calm down, Edwin’s expression became gentle.

Then Catherine carefully began to speak.

“Your Highness, we’re worried about you.”

She was looking at Edwin with eyes truly filled with concern.

“If you have some kind of worry, how about sharing it with us? We might be able to help you.”

“…Help me?”

“Yes!”

Catherine placed both hands on her chest and nodded vigorously.

“After all, we’ve lived longer than you, well, we’ve lived more years. And originally, the more people who put their heads together to worry about a problem, the easier it is to solve.”

“Hmm…”

“Even though the Caretaker speaks like that, she’s been so worried. Wondering if something bad happened to Your Highness without us knowing.”

“Rachel?”

Edwin quickly turned his head to stare at me.

It was a strange expression where I couldn’t tell if he was pleased or displeased.

How much time passed like that?

“Actually.”

Edwin, who had been hesitating for a while while gripping his teacup with both hands, finally opened his mouth.

“I think my condition has been a bit strange for the past few days.”

His condition is strange?

Could it be side effects from the poison immunity training?

No, if his condition was strange, he would have said something earlier. Why is he saying it so late?

I immediately knelt down in front of Edwin.

“Specifically, where and how is it strange? Are you feeling unwell? Did you have symptoms like difficulty breathing while sleeping? You should have told me earlier! What exactly…”

As I frowned and examined his entire body thoroughly, Edwin waved his hands in panic.

“No, no! It’s not like that…”

He hesitated once more, then carefully began to speak.

“Someone keeps appearing before my eyes.”

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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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