Chapter 49: Knight Commander Jerome Crowner (2)
The man said in a deep voice as he looked at me:
“What was your name again?” Reyna, right?
I answered him calmly:
“My name is Rachel, not Reyna, Commander.”
His short red hair and sharp, masculine features suited him well enough.
His huge body and prominent muscles made it difficult to believe that he was over forty.
'Maybe that's why women are still attracted to him despite his advanced age.'
The deputy commander who was accompanying him answered for me, then looked at me:
“She is the governess of His Highness the Third Prince.”
The Duke raised his eyebrows in astonishment:
“Nanny?” Then what brings the prince's governess here?'
He looked like he had just finished training, as he was wearing normal clothes and stuck in sweats.
He roughly wiped his face with the towel his deputy gave him, then sat down comfortably on the sofa.
There was nothing in his behavior that suggested aristocracy.
'It's no stranger to me, Jerome Crowner has always been like that.'
He said with a sarcastic smile:
“Oh, I forgot to offer our guest a seat. Sit down. And you, bring the tea.”
I obeyed silently and sat across from him.
Then he said in an arrogant tone:
“Huh.” You have more nerve than some of my knights, Nanny. “That’s something for you.”
Then I realized that I had forgotten the difference in status between us, so I quickly got up.
But the Duke waved his hand and said with a friendly smile:
“There is no need for formalities. "I didn't remember your name correctly myself, so we're equally impolite."
I hid my annoyance and bowed slightly.
“It is an honor to meet you.” "I'm Rachel Brown."
He said coldly:
“Yes, I heard you a little while ago.” "I'm not old enough to forget your name so quickly."
Then he relaxed his arms on the back of the sofa and extended his leg, leaning indifferently:
“So, what did you come to ask me?”
'Calf as always.'
I looked at him steadily and said:
“It concerns His Highness Edwin.”
He frowned clearly, but suddenly interrupted me:
“Let's be clear first. If you are here to ask me to be the prince's personal tutor, the answer is no. “I refused a similar request from my own sister.”
He ran his hand through his hair arrogantly and continued:
“I refused to be a tutor for my only nephew. If you come asking for the same thing, it is better to save your effort.”
I said quietly:
“Don't worry, I didn't come to ask for that.”
He raised his eyebrows in surprise:
“So what can you ask about him?”
Before I could answer, the deputy commander entered with a boy carrying a tray with tea on it.
But the boy, nervous, dropped the cup and it rushed straight to my thigh.
Everyone shouted:
“Attention!”
I was faster than all of them, but I held myself together.
'I don't have to show any martial skill. I'm just a nanny.'
I let it spill on my dress. I felt the heat of the tea burning my thighs.
“Are you okay?!”
“Hurry, get something!”
I took the towel and wiped up the mess myself.
One of them said in confusion:
“Shall we bring an ice pack?”
I answered him firmly:
“No need, I'm fine.” "I have not come to leave before the Duke hears my request."
The Duke ordered the boy to withdraw, looking at me with concern:
“Are you really okay?” Don't you have any burns?
I smiled a little and said louder deliberately:
“Even if there are burns, the groin is not a place that is usually visible to others. “It will not affect the marriage, for example.”
My goal was clear: to make him feel a little guilty.
Indeed, he seemed confused as he coughed to cover up his embarrassment:
“Hm, well... then say what you have to say.”
I raised my eyes firmly and said:
“I would like you to allow Your Highness to participate in knights’ training for only three months.”
The deputy commander in his office said seriously:
“Mr. Commander, do you really intend to agree to her request?”
Jerome answered indifferently, turning over his papers:
“Why not?” “Her request is nothing more than to include him in basic training.”
“But...”
He interrupted him with a smile:
“Then didn’t you say that it was the desire of the prince himself?” So what's the problem?
The representative objected anxiously:
“But the Emperor’s second consort will not remain silent. If she knew that her request was rejected while the Third Prince’s request was accepted...”
Jerome laughed:
“You've become more anxious as you've gotten older, Philip. "When did I care about the opinions of a Marquess's daughter?"
The representative apologized sheepishly, but remained hesitant:
“However, I don't think it's right. The third prince is outside the succession struggle, and any approach to him may harm the knights.”
Jerome replied, extending his hand towards the window:
“Don't worry too much.” Even if he started training, he wouldn't last more than two or three days with the Third Division. "He'll go down himself, and we'll send him back."
The representative sighed resignedly:
“Understood.” "I will inform the knights."
“And tell them not to deal with him in private. I don’t want any more trouble.”
“Okay.”
After the deputy left, Jerome sat in his office, recalling the photo of the nanny.
'The Third Prince's nanny… Rachel Brown.'
A very ordinary name, calm features, but somehow disturbing.
He remembered her coldness even after hot tea was poured on her.
He muttered slowly:
“Perhaps I should inform His Majesty.”
Then he rose like a monster preparing for another round of struggle.
“Oh, office work doesn't suit me.” "I need a duel."
He grabbed his sword as he yawned, and it was easy to imagine the screams of the knights back in the training ground.