The Prince’s Nanny, Her Specialty Is Assassination - Chapter 83

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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 83. LOVE & POISON (7)

“I’ve never been formally invited to the Empress’s Palace before.”

On the day of Crowner Ducal Princess’s birthday banquet.

I visited the Empress’s Palace together with Edwin.

The boy seemed fascinated by the interior of the Empress’s Palace, constantly looking around.

“I didn’t realize when passing by, but now that I’m inside, it seems as big as the Imperial Palace.”

As Edwin said, the Empress’s Palace boasted a magnificent scale comparable to the Imperial Palace.

‘I got lost here many times in the past when I took the wrong path during missions.’

As I recalled the past when I almost got caught by the imperial knights, an attendant from the Empress’s Palace approached from afar.

“Welcome, Prince Edwin.”

He looked back and forth between Edwin and me, then stepped aside diagonally.

“Please follow this way.”

Following the attendant through a long corridor, we arrived at the Empress’s Palace Gardens.

The outdoor banquet hall decorated with unknown red and yellow flowers was splendid and beautiful, clearly requiring much effort.

“Whoa.”

Edwin showed a surprised expression as soon as he entered the garden.

“There are more people than I thought?”

“Indeed.”

On the long oval table set up in the garden, all kinds of formal dishes and desserts were laid out.

The Empress sat guarding her position at one side of the table, with 1st Prince Adrian and 2nd Prince Lloyd seated on either side. They wore somewhat bored expressions.

“Thank you for coming to celebrate.”

Bridget, the protagonist of the birthday banquet, sat in the seat opposite the Empress.

Around her sat several young ladies. They were from noble families following House Crowner or young ladies from other ducal houses.

“Ah!”

Then, Bridget spotted Edwin and stood up to walk over.

“You came, Prince Edwin.”

“Ah, yeah.”

Edwin looked at Bridget approaching him and couldn’t take his eyes off her.

Perhaps because it was her birthday banquet, Bridget was dressed particularly splendidly today.

The golden tiara embedded with rubies and the red dress similar in color to her hair suited her extremely well.

‘He’s absolutely smitten.’

I watched Edwin, whose ear tips had turned red as he stood there not knowing what to do.

‘Rather than being full of life, he just looks like an idiot.’

Indeed, it seems not engaging in things like love would be more helpful in life.

I bowed with an indifferent expression.

“Congratulations on your birthday, Bridget Crowner Ducal Princess.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Bridget smiled lightly at my greeting, then immediately grabbed Edwin’s wrist.

“Let’s hurry and go greet my aunt.”

“Ah, ah, okay!”

Edwin was helplessly dragged away, his gaze fixed on the wrist Bridget had grabbed.

I slowly followed behind the two.

“It’s been a while.”

Empress Melanie displayed her usual elegant and noble bearing.

She quietly smiled as the children approached.

“Edwin.”

“I greet Your Majesty the Empress.”

Edwin’s voice trembled as if slightly nervous.

I followed Edwin in bowing politely, then raised my head.

Melanie seemed to have no interest in me whatsoever.

Her gaze was directed solely at the children.

‘Hmm.’

Thanks to this, I was able to take the opportunity to observe the surroundings in detail.

As I was checking the locations of the Empress’s Palace entrances and windows, I was momentarily startled.

‘Adrian?’

1st Prince Adrian had been sitting still like a doll since earlier.

The only thing moving was his fingers turning the pages.

A prince quietly reading only books at a banquet for his cousin.

‘What an odd fellow. Or perhaps he lacks social skills.’

That was the extent of my impression of the 1st Prince.

Meanwhile, Edwin approached the 1st Prince hesitantly and offered an awkward greeting.

“I greet my eldest brother.”

“Right.”

Adrian, who had been responding briefly while keeping his gaze fixed on his book, finally raised his head when the Empress lightly tapped his arm.

He continued speaking with a face clearly showing annoyance.

“I saw your performance well at the hunting competition. It was impressive.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Edwin greeted with a bright face at the unexpected praise.

However, Adrian turned his eyes back to his book after finishing what he had to say.

Edwin stood still, unable to find words due to such an indifferent attitude, when a provocative voice was heard.

“What are you doing?”

2nd Prince Lloyd was glaring at Edwin with displeasure, his chin resting on the armrest.

“Are you not going to greet me now?”

“Of course not, Brother Lloyd.”

Edwin’s face hardened at the almost provocative tone.

“I was just about to. Hello, Brother.”

“Hmph.”

Lloyd looked Edwin up and down with a displeased expression.

“It’s like putting a pearl necklace on a pig’s neck.”

He sneered mockingly at Edwin who had dressed up.

“Has the 3rd Prince’s Palace finances improved lately? You’re wearing good clothes despite your status?”

What an irritating tone.

I was glaring at Lloyd and raising one eyebrow when bright red hair intervened.

“Of course His Highness should dress this well. Prince Edwin is also a prince of the Empire, so there should be dignity befitting that status, shouldn’t there?”

“Bridget, you’ve been constantly…”

Lloyd’s expression twisted as Bridget intervened.

He gripped the chair’s armrest tightly as if he would jump up from his seat immediately.

“Stop it, all of you.”

Then, Melanie, who had been quietly sipping tea, spoke up.

“The other noble children are watching. You should know how to maintain dignity as royalty, Lloyd.”

“…Tch.”

Indeed, blood is thicker than water.

Melanie elegantly took her niece’s side.

In the end, Lloyd had no choice but to sit in his seat, unable to respond to the Empress’s words.

“Bridget.”

“Yes, Aunt.”

I had felt it since the Empress offered to hold the Ducal Princess’s birthday banquet at the Empress’s Palace, but the Empress certainly cherishes Bridget greatly.

I narrowed my eyes.

‘To think she even allowed the title of aunt.’

Originally, according to the Empire’s etiquette, no matter how related by blood, unless one was also royalty, one could not address the Empress by any other title.

Even if they were the Empress’s parents, the principle was to address her with the honorific title ‘Your Imperial Majesty’ rather than the Empress’s name.

“Go and continue talking with your friends. It looks like they’re all waiting for you.”

“Yes! Then would Prince Edwin like to come along too?”

“Huh? Me too?”

“Yes, I’ll introduce you to my friends!”

At her words, Lloyd’s face contorted.

Poor guy seemed to have never received such an offer from Bridget even once.

“Um, Rachel.”

Just then, Edwin called out to me.

The boy was blushing while Bridget held onto his wrist.

“Can I go for a bit?”

“Of course. Don’t worry about me and enjoy the banquet.”

I bowed my head slightly and answered politely.

“I’ll stay here and keep watch, so please call me if you need anything.”

“Okay!”

As soon as I gave permission, Edwin ran off with Bridget toward where the other noble children were gathered.

They sent curious glances as Edwin approached.

Especially the young lordlings around Bridget’s age—their reactions were more than friendly, they were enthusiastic.

“Oh my, who is this pretty person, Bridget?”

“I’ve never seen this face in the Imperial Capital before.”

“Bridget, hurry up and introduce us. I’m curious.”

Judging by their speech patterns, most seemed to be noble children from branch families carrying Crowner blood. They called Bridget familiarly by her name.

“This is the Empire’s 3rd Prince, His Highness Edwin Anaxinianus Bentrum.”

Edwin looked at Bridget in surprise when his name came from her lips.

As if he hadn’t expected her to know his full name.

“What? The 3rd Prince?”

“Prince Edwin? Ah, the one who won this hunting competition?”

“My goodness, then you must have seen the silver-horned deer in person?”

Meanwhile, the young noble lordlings crowded around Edwin even more once they realized his identity.

Edwin seemed awkward with all the curiosity directed at him, slightly lowering his head and just rolling his eyes around. He hid his body slightly behind Bridget, who was holding his wrist.

“Don’t press him so overwhelmingly like that. Can’t you see His Highness is uncomfortable? Move aside!”

“Wow wow, Bridget’s real speech pattern is coming out. Yeah, since it’s come to this, how about you stop that ridiculous Eastern Continent accent now?”

“What? Ridiculous? You’ve all been thinking that this whole time? You’re all dead!”

“Bridget’s personality is showing, her personality!”

The Crowner family children had a feeling of being informal with each other, I suppose.

It felt more like friends than cousins.

‘Usually direct and branch family members don’t get along well. How peculiar.’

Bridget playfully hit her teasing cousins and eventually burst into laughter with them.

And Edwin was staring blankly at that scene.

I couldn’t help but sigh.

‘The boy who wants to make a good impression is standing there completely spaced out.’

Catherine told me to properly assist him, but if he’s acting like that, I can’t help even if I want to.

‘Well, he’ll figure it out himself.’

Romance isn’t something that goes well just because someone helps you with it anyway.

I watched in the Prince’s direction for a long while before quietly slipping away from my spot.

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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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