The Prince’s Nanny, Her Specialty Is Assassination - Chapter 81
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 81. LOVE & POISON (5)
“Huh, huuuh?”
Hearing the word “handsome” from the lips of the girl he had feelings for, his heart suddenly began beating like crazy.
“Th, that…”
Edwin covered his burning hot face with his arm and stammered.
“I, I’m handsome? Really?”
“Yes.”
Bridget laughed mischievously as if she found his transparent reaction amusing.
“I mean it. I think you’re more beautiful than The 2nd Imperial Consort, who’s said to be the most beautiful in the Empire.”
“What? D, don’t joke around like that.”
Should he be happy about being called prettier than his enemy?
Edwin recalled The 2nd Imperial Consort’s appearance and shuddered slightly.
Though beautiful, recalling that chillingly cold face made him feel unpleasant for no reason.
“Why? Don’t you like being told you’re as beautiful as The 2nd Imperial Consort? It’s a tremendous compliment…”
“St, stop it already. And calling a man beautiful is a bit…”
It was just then, as the two were crouched in front of the garden bickering.
Perhaps because they had mentioned The 2nd Imperial Consort’s name, an unwelcome intruder appeared.
It was Lloyd, the Empire’s 2nd Prince.
“Bridget!”
Lloyd approached with quick steps, seemingly pleased to encounter Bridget.
Then he spotted Edwin crouched beside her and made a disgusted expression.
“…I’ve been seeing you often lately, Edwin.”
He raised one eyebrow looking at Edwin, who no longer cowered in fear upon seeing him.
“Annoyingly so.”
Normally, these would have been words he’d just silently endure and let pass.
But for some reason, today he didn’t want to just let it slide.
Edwin glanced at Bridget sitting beside him and slowly opened his mouth.
“…This place is also part of the Imperial Palace, so there’s no reason I can’t come here.”
“Ha, what did you say?”
Lloyd gritted his teeth.
Normally he would have immediately punched that insolent face, but he couldn’t.
Because Bridget was present right now.
In the end, Lloyd decided to ignore Edwin.
“Hey, Bridget.”
He called Bridget with an ostentatiously arrogant expression.
“I told you that I haven’t given permission for anyone except my father to use my name.”
“Ah, right. Lady Crowner.”
Though he might have been deflated by the cold response, Lloyd immediately changed his form of address upon her answer.
“Your birthday is coming up soon, right? I heard the Empress’s Palace is holding a birthday banquet.”
“That’s right.”
“Is there anything you want? Just say it. I can get you anything.”
These were words he could say because he was an imperial prince.
Or more precisely, words he could say because he was a prince with House of Redcliffe, said to be the wealthiest in the Empire, as his maternal relatives.
‘Compared to him, I am.’
Edwin unconsciously made a dejected expression at his words.
He had no wealthy maternal family, no remarkable support to speak of.
“Well.”
Meanwhile, Bridget looked steadily at Lloyd with eyes clearly showing annoyance.
“As I’ve told you before, I’m in a position where I can have anything I want. I’m not so desperate as to need Lloyd’s help.”
“But…”
“Oh, there is one thing I’d like to ask of you.”
Bridget said with wide eyes.
“Could you please stop following me around? The 2nd Imperial Consort even sent word to Her Majesty the Empress. She said it was troublesome because you kept skipping classes to chase after me.”
“What…”
“But that’s not my fault, is it? You’re the one unilaterally following me around.”
Bridget slowly rose from her seat and looked Lloyd straight in the eye.
She flashed a bright eye-smile at the flustered Lloyd.
“So please show some restraint. It’s tiring having a man I have no interest in following me around all day, you know?”
Lloyd’s face turned bright red at the words “a man I have no interest in.”
He clenched both fists tightly, not knowing what to do, then looked at Edwin and turned even redder.
“What about that bastard then?”
It seemed even more humiliating to be embarrassed in front of the very person he despised most.
Lloyd looked at Edwin, who awkwardly averted his gaze when their eyes met, and snapped sharply.
“Why do you stick around with him?”
Lloyd continued with furrowed brows.
“Lady Crowner, do you know what kind of person he is?”
Instead of answering, Bridget just stared at Lloyd quietly.
Then Lloyd let out a sneer.
“As I thought, you don’t know. That bastard’s nickname is the Mongrel Prince.”
“Mongrel?”
“That’s right. You know his mother was a princess of Lionel, right? His Majesty the Emperor married her thinking Lionel would benefit the Empire, but the country collapsed not long after. How ridiculous is that?”
Edwin’s shameful secrets poured from Lloyd’s mouth.
Starting from his origins, to his conduct up until now, and even baseless rumors.
“In short, that guy is useless. That’s why he’s a mongrel.”
Edwin hung his head.
It was embarrassing to have his weaknesses exposed in front of Bridget, but it was even more embarrassing that he couldn’t refute a single word of Lloyd’s statements.
Whatever the case, his words were true.
“…I see.”
Bridget, who had been silently listening to Lloyd’s words, replied briefly.
And added one more thing.
“So what?”
“What?”
This wasn’t the reaction he had expected.
Lloyd frowned in confusion.
“Didn’t you understand what I was saying?”
“I understood. You mean I shouldn’t associate with people who aren’t helpful, right?”
“Right. So…”
“But that’s just your opinion, Lloyd.”
Bridget answered confidently, her blue-green eyes shining brightly.
“Other people’s evaluations don’t matter. I decide who I’ll associate with.”
She smiled sweetly at the stern-faced Lloyd.
“So while I appreciate your concern, I’d be grateful if you’d stop worrying about that too.”
Edwin stared blankly at Bridget standing in front of him.
It was truly a small and delicate back, but somehow, at this moment, it felt more reliable than anything else.
“You, how could you…”
It was just as Lloyd, trembling with something like betrayal, was about to open his mouth to say something.
“Your Highness!”
Lloyd’s attendant came running hurriedly from far away.
He saw Edwin and Bridget, hesitated for a moment, then slightly nodded his head.
Perhaps because he was with Bridget. Edwin’s eyes widened seeing the attendant bow to him as well.
In the past, he would have treated her like she didn’t exist even if he saw her, so this was truly remarkable progress.
“What is it? What’s going on?”
“The 2nd Imperial Consort urgently requests your presence.”
“What? Mother? Why?”
“I don’t really know either…”
Of all times, it had to be now.
Lloyd looked at Bridget with resentful eyes before glaring at Edwin.
He seemed disappointed that he couldn’t embarrass him further in front of the princess.
“Something urgent came up, so I have to go now. Well then.”
“Take care.”
Lloyd barely acknowledged Bridget’s farewell and turned his back.
As he disappeared into the distance with his attendant, Bridget spoke up.
“Seriously, I can’t stand annoying men.”
It was just an offhand comment.
But Edwin felt a pang in his heart.
He thought that Lloyd wasn’t the only man who annoyed Bridget.
Hadn’t he also been following Bridget around all this time?
‘Bridget must be disappointed too.’
Winning one hunting competition doesn’t suddenly transform a worthless prince into a prince on a white horse.
Edwin glanced at Bridget, who was standing there silently, then hung his head.
If he were Bridget, he wouldn’t want to associate closely with a prince who had no backing and didn’t receive the Emperor’s trust either.
“Prince Edwin.”
Edwin cautiously raised his head at Bridget’s call.
She was looking down at the prince intently.
“My birthday banquet is in a week. Would Your Highness like to come?”
“Huh, huh?”
Edwin crouched down and opened his eyes wide.
He never dreamed that she would bring up her birthday banquet at this point.
Rather, he thought their relationship might grow distant forever because of Lloyd’s words.
“Why aren’t you answering?”
“Uh, huh? Well, that’s…”
It was something he had longed for, but now that it was happening, he couldn’t even speak.
Bridget watched Edwin, who was too flustered to say anything, then turned her head slightly.
Her rosy cheeks were colored more deeply than usual.
“Since it’s the Imperial Palace, I can’t invite just anyone, and there aren’t many people I want to invite. I thought perhaps Your Highness could come and fill a seat. If you don’t want to, you can refuse…”
“No! I totally want to!”
Edwin jumped up from his spot and grabbed her hand.
“I’ll go! I’ll definitely go!”
“Ah…”
Bridget looked at Edwin with wide eyes.
Except for her father, he was the first man to grab her wrist without permission, but strangely, she didn’t feel any aversion.
She just felt that the part Edwin was holding became unusually hot compared to other places.
“I’ll definitely, absolutely go!”
“…I understand, so please let go of this.”
Edwin, who had been shouting with a face full of joy, finally realized his mistake.
He looked at Bridget’s wrist caught in his hand, startled, and quickly loosened his grip.
“S-sorry! Did it hurt?”
“…I’m not that fragile.”
Bridget gently rubbed her wrist with a slight frown.
“Then I’ll expect you to come.”
“Yeah!”
“I should go now too. I’m supposed to have tea with Her Majesty the Empress. I’ll send the invitation to the 3rd Prince’s Palace today.”
Edwin nodded his head so vigorously at her words that it seemed to make a whooshing sound.
Bridget, who had been watching him intently, gave a polite bow and went on her way.
“…Hehe.”
As soon as she disappeared, Edwin unconsciously let out a laugh.
A truly joyful smile spread across his face, which was shining brightly in the sunlight.
It was such a bright smile that it would make anyone who saw it smile as well.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————