Chapter Nine: The Prince and the Nanny (3)
“Bet on eating vegetables?”
“Yes, do you like it?”
I decided to use his desire to embarrass me to my advantage. Edwin seemed excited about the terms of the bet and asked again:
“What are we going to bet on? I don’t want a game of Monty.”
He was wary, remembering what happened yesterday. He seemed convinced that he couldn't beat me at Monty. Does he think he can win at something else?
(What a bold kid.)
I touched my lips lightly with a handkerchief and continued:
“How about playing hide and seek?”
As soon as he heard the word, the prince's eyes lit up.
“This is my favorite game!”
He immediately jumped out of his seat as if he was ready to run.
"Hide and seek? Leia wants to play too!"
The little princess next to her brother clapped the spoon enthusiastically.
I raised her in my arms and said:
“Emilia and I will be the researchers.”
“Yaaay!”
The princess raised her hands above her head in joy. While Edwin raised his eyebrow confidently.
“Hmph, you will regret it.”
“The space will be limited to the first floor only, where the dining room is located.”
“OK. Otherwise you wouldn't have been able to find me in the first place.”
He said, acting as if he was giving me a great advantage.
I added coldly:
"If I find you, I win. If I don't find you, you win."
“And the loser eats all the vegetables, right?”
The prince checked the conditions again, then smiled smugly.
“Don't cry later if you lose.”
Edwin Anaxinian Ventrum, Third Prince of the Empire. He turned 11 this year and rarely had the opportunity to play with his peers. No noble family would accept sending their children to play with a prince who would not bring them any benefit.
He never got along with anyone, and did not find any interest from anyone except the late nanny, Emma. Maybe that's why he didn't open his heart to anyone easily. Paradoxically, the slightest amount of attention may tear down all its walls.
That's why he agreed to play Monty with Jill's gang, even in exchange for his valuable bracelet. He is rarely asked to play first.
“Hmph, this place is not suitable.”
On that day, the little prince was unusually excited. He was checking the storage room next to the kitchen.
(Where can I hide so you won't find me?)
After thinking, he chose a large box half full of carrots. The box could fit him easily. Climb inside and close the lid.
(Perfect. You'll never find me here.)
He curled up inside, laughing faintly. But suddenly footsteps approached. He peered through a small slit… Fortunately, it wasn't Rachel, but two maids.
“I have never seen such a handsome man in my life.”
“Really? Is the Adamant King that handsome?”
“Yes! With a title like the Wolf King, I thought he was scary, but I was wrong!”
The other complimented his night-black hair, his bronze skin, and his bright amber eyes.
“And his body! It was like a statue coming out of a temple.”
Her companion laughed:
“Why don't you write a poem about him?”
"It really exists! I saw it with my own eyes!"
Then she murmured dreamily:
“Oh, if only I could be held in his broad arms...”
"Stop. Do you think a king would look at a maid? Let's leave."
“You never know how to get along with people.”
As they were getting ready to go out, one of them said:
“Oh, I forgot to put this in. With all these mice lately, it would have been a disaster. Come on, help me!”
They approached the box. Smudge! A heavy sound fell over him, and then they were gone.
Silence returned. Edwin let out a sigh of relief.
(I almost got exposed because of them.)
But the situation started to get worse. The air is stuffy, his legs are numb.
(I stayed too long.)
And then a painful memory came back...
When his second brother, Lloyd, tricked him and lured him into hiding in a remote box.
"If you stay here, we win. Don't come out until we find you."
Hours passed and no one came. He was too young to disobey his brother's orders. If Emma had not come that night crying looking for him, he would have spent the whole night locked up. But when he went out, he did not forget the servants' looks behind her—looks full of contempt.
(An annoying prince... useless... selfish child.)
That day his pride as a prince was shattered.
He bit his lip now as he remembered.
(…It's not fun anymore.)
He reached out to open the lid—but there was a pause. He didn't move. Something was heavy on top of him.
His panic began to escalate.
(Did the two maids put a stone on top of it?)
His little heart trembled, he covered his ears, and closed his eyes. Emma wasn't here to save him. No one knew where he was.
(No one will know I'm missing... I might stay here forever.)
As he drowned in his fear...the lid suddenly opened.
“There you are, Your Highness.”
Rachel's face appeared before him. Her tone and actions were cold, but for a moment he saw Emma's face. Then, his tears fell like rain.
(Children are impossible to understand.)
Why is this little boy crying inside a box of carrots? I looked at him with a neutral face.
“Looks like I won the bet—”
But suddenly he started howling and crying.
“Why are you late, you idiot! Waaah!”
(I don't understand him...yesterday he ran away from me, and today he is crying because I was late!)
“Oppa, don’t cry! Don’t cry!”
Emilia screamed from my back, her eyes filled with tears.
(This is crazy...what should I do?)
She sighed and lifted the prince from under his armpits.
“Stop crying.”
But even after he was taken out, he continued to cry.
(Annoying.)
Adults remain silent with one threat...but children do not. That's why I find them difficult.
(No choice.)
Even though I'm bad at comforting, I can't leave him. If he keeps crying and gets dehydrated, I will be blamed.
Hesitantly, I wiped his tears with my sleeve.
“Sorry I'm late.”
It was a clumsy apology, without any warmth.