Chapter 10: The Prince and the Nanny (4)
“Stop crying, please.”
I sighed as I looked at Edwin who showed no intention of stopping his sobbing.
“I'm sorry I'm late, but I found you eventually, didn't I?”
“Hah—!”
Without permission, he wiped his nose on my sleeve. I looked at the sticky snot stuck to my dress and my face twitched with resentment. I hid my sleeve behind my back and continued:
“Stop crying. I was only late because the butler stopped me on the way.”
I had caught her peppering me with scoldings, asking how I could get around so calmly while the prince was missing. I still remember her shocked look when I told her I was playing hide and seek with the prince.
Edwin looked up at me, his eyes still teary.
“…Why did you even bother looking for me?”
(Why?! Isn’t this the purpose of hide-and-seek?)
It was a very strange question.
“Because if I don’t find you, the game won’t be over.”
I answered simply, as if it were self-evident. The prince bit his lip in disappointment, as if he wished to hear another answer.
I put him on his feet, then got up, and gently patted the little princess's bottom. Unlike her crying brother, Emilia quickly stopped crying.
“Anyway, since I won, you have to eat all the vegetables.”
At that moment, Edwin's face turned pale as if he had seen a ghost.
"It's cold! How am I supposed to eat it now! Vegetables get worse when they're cold!"
In the dining hall, the prince was complaining at the pile of vegetables on his plate.
“I'll have them heat it up for you.”
"No! Forget it!"
After looking at it angrily for a long time, he desperately took a piece of it and tried to feed it to Emilia. Unlike him, the princess chewed with pleasure.
“A bet is a bet, Your Highness.”
I pulled the princess away from him, and the prince shot me an angry look.
“Do you enjoy torturing me?”
"Torture? Vegetables are good for your health."
“What's the point if it's disgusting?!”
“Your Highness, the world of competition is always cruel. The loser, whoever he is, must keep his word.”
Edwin grimaced at the word loser, but eventually swallowed the vegetable.
“Ooooh—!”
He trembled with his whole body as if death was easier than death, showing a miserable scene.
After a long struggle, he finished his plate and ran straight to the garden without turning around.
"Oppa! Wait, Leia!"
The little girl ran after him through the green grass, as if nothing had happened.
I stood under the shade of a tree, my arms crossed, recalling what I heard that morning.
“She is dead.”
That's what he said about his former nanny.
(Since the servants avoid mentioning her, her death must have been dishonorable.)
She looked at the little prince running, wondering:
(He looked like he was close to her... How could he act so lighthearted after losing someone dear?)
Is it his nature, or is he simply ignoring it?
Then I noticed a sparkle on his wrist: the bracelet I got back from those boys. Under the sunlight, he looked strangely familiar.
(Why have I been so curious since I saw it? It's just a cheap item, so why hold on to it?)
I couldn't help myself and asked him directly:
“Your Highness, may I ask you a question?”
He turned to me with a frown, still angry at the vegetables.
"What is it?"
“That bracelet… is precious to you, isn’t it?”
He paused for a moment, then raised his eyebrows questioningly:
“Why do you want to know?”
“I always see it on your wrist as if you are guarding it.”
He remained silent, and Emilia interjected enthusiastically:
"That bracelet is from Emma! Emma gave it to my brother!"
"Leah! Don't say anything!"
He snarled at her in confusion, but the child showed feigned innocence.
He sighed, then turned his head to me. After a moment, he said sharply:
"Yes. It's precious. It's Emma's keepsake."
He was still fiddling with the bracelet with his hand.
“It was her last will and testament.”
"commandment?"
“She said she wanted me to be happy... that was probably her last request.”
(To wish for the happiness of a child who is not her own until the last moment... is similar to that woman... in the same way of thinking.)
Suddenly, Edwin grabbed my little hand.
“Take a gift.”
He opened his fist at me. A moment ago he was angry, and now he's giving me a gift?
"Thank you."
I extended my hand gratefully, but he smiled slyly:
"Ha-ha-ha! It's revenge!"
He placed something long green in my palm. It was a big grasshopper.
“….”
He looked at me eagerly, waiting for me to scream or panic. But I didn't give him the reaction he wanted.
“I'm not keen on insects...so I'll give it back to you.”
She quietly grabbed the grasshopper by its hind legs and placed it above its head.
The prince and the grasshopper froze together in astonishment.
"Ahh! What is this!"
He started shaking his head frantically until he shook it off, breathing angrily.
"This isn't funny! I'm going to my room!"
“As you wish.”
"Emilia! Let's play inside!"
He grabbed his sister's hand and dragged her to the palace.
I was about to follow them when I felt a twinge in the back of my head. He turned quietly. Behind me was a tall wall and dense trees.
(Even if he is a despicable prince, someone is constantly watching him... How suspicious this imperial family is.)
I stared up at the trees, a faint smile on my face.
(No matter who is watching, his skill is not high.)
But a sharp voice interrupted my thoughts:
"Hey! Why don't you come?"
The two brothers looked at me innocently.
“Coming.”
There is no point in worrying about these details if I do not intend to stay long. I arranged my dress and walked briskly.
(Fuck my moment.)
As I was walking with the two children, the butler intercepted us.
She ignored me completely, bowed to the prince and then stared at him with a stern look.
“Your Highness, did you leave the palace yesterday?”
Edwin trembled like a frightened deer.
(He calls her the evil witch in front of me, but now he trembles in front of her.)
After a long silence, he muttered:
“N-no, I didn’t…”
"Tell the truth. Did you go out or not?"
Her cold tone made his fear increase.
“Lying is wrong, Your Highness.”
“H-Okay...”
“One of the servants said he saw you in the stable. Didn’t he?”
(Ah... that maid who brought the washing water... I mentioned the stable in front of her.)
(Already reported? Pretty faithful, isn't she.)
“I will ask one last time, Your Highness. Are you out or not?”
“I just…”
“If it is not true, I will punish the maid who made a false report.”
Then he quickly shouted:
"G-I went out for a bit! Just a walk!"
(Why is he so afraid? How can this be the same kid who challenged those boys yesterday?)
The butler's gaze grew harsher.
"A picnic? Didn't I tell you not to go out without permission?"
“He went out with me.”
I raised my head and answered. The prince froze, astonished that I was standing next to him.
“What do you mean, Miss Brown?”
“He felt upset about being confined to the palace, so I took him for a walk.”
(A fitting response from a nanny, if I may say so.)
But her face grew frowning, even more so than it had appeared on our first meeting.
"absurdity."
She narrowed her eyes and said sternly:
“Miss Brown, by what authority did you dare to remove His Highness?”