Chapter 26: Reflection (2)
“You insolent bastard.”
Lloyd, the Second Prince of the Empire, recalled the events of what had happened earlier that day.
“Do you dare, you lowly fool, challenge me?”
Lloyd detested his half-brother.
“I hate everything about it.”
That unnecessarily handsome face, that self-confidence despite his weakness… he hated it all.
The only thing he could tolerate about him was his cowardice and quick wit.
That's why it was so funny to see him kneel down in supplication at the slightest threat.
But every now and then, Edwin dared to make him very angry.
As he did today.
“Weak and full of pride? "How ironic."
To see him get angry and lunge at him just because he got slapped… it was pathetic.
And to see him desperately clinging to him until he climbed on top of him...it was a laughable sight.
“And that woman...”
Lloyd remembered the face of the woman who crossed his path today.
She clearly introduced herself as the Third Prince's governess.
"to stop."
Lloyd, who had never known fear, felt frightened for a moment.
In those mysterious green eyes, there was the radiance of someone who would not hesitate to cut off his own arm if he did not stop.
She looked at him as if she was not afraid of a prince at all.
“Just like that old woman...disgusting.”
Lloyd conjured the face of a long-dead woman.
The old woman who was Edwin's former nanny.
Unlike the new one, she was polite and shy.
But when it came to Edwin, she lost all control.
Perhaps this was the cause of her early death.
“What was her name? Rachel Brown?
Lloyd gritted his teeth as he remembered it.
He swore that this new nanny would meet the same fate one day.
“What are you thinking so deeply about, Lloyd?”
At that moment, the woman sitting in front of him asked.
A blonde woman wearing a pale pink dress, very beautiful.
Maybe it was because of her sunset-colored eyes and clear features—
It's like a sparkling flame.
A woman as beautiful as fire, but dangerous enough to burn everything around her in an instant.
Helena Radcliffe.
She was the second Empress of the Ventrum Empire, and mother of Lloyd.
“I heard about what happened in the park. I got involved with that idiot again.”
Helena twirled the silver cup in her hand, speaking in a clearly displeased tone.
“I told you not to mix with that garbage.”
“But, mother, he was the one who started first—”
“Are you arguing with your mother?”
“But it was Edwin's governess who got in my way—”
Slap!
Before he could finish his words, she had gotten up and slapped him in the face.
Although the situation was shocking, Lloyd put his head back in place as if he was accustomed to it.
“Did I let you argue with me?”
She stared at him with icy eyes.
“And stop that nonsense about the nanny! That idiot was obsessed with his previous nanny too.”
She placed her hand on her forehead tightly.
“He made such a fuss that I personally had to get rid of that old woman, and now he is mourning another nanny?”
Lloyd lowered his head in silence at her words.
“I met His Majesty the Emperor. He said in front of the Adamant King that you failed to control your emotions.”
Helena scolded him.
“You have made a fool of yourself in front of His Majesty! And you dare to call yourself the next Emperor?”
She called her son the “next emperor” even though he had not yet achieved the title of crown prince.
This means that she did not doubt for a moment that the throne would be his.
“...I'm sorry, mom.”
“Hah! How did I give birth to an idiot like you?!”
She hit the table next to her with a loud thud.
“Your half-brother was summoned by His Majesty again today and lavished praise upon him! He is not yet fifteen years old, and is developing diplomatic strategies!”
It's started again.
The waterfall of comparisons that has not stopped since he was born.
“At least you are better at sword arts, so I asked you to practice more! But you skipped your lessons again today?”
Helena shouted angrily.
“You should work to gain glory, but you go and tarnish your reputation before His Majesty?”
The Emperor was a man who always had a smile on his face, but he ruthlessly cut down everything that displeased him.
Didn't he personally slaughter his brothers to seize the throne?
Helena knows better than anyone what kind of man he is.
“Lloyd, it doesn’t matter if you kill cats or servants.”
Her red eyes sparkled dangerously.
“All that doesn't matter. All you have to do is become emperor.”
Emperor of the Empire.
What charming, resonant words.
She held her young son's shoulders, which barely reached her chest.
“Swear to me, Lloyd. I swear that you will never do anything again to lose His Majesty’s favor.”
Lloyd looked blankly at his mother's face, then lowered his head.
“…yes, mom.”
The Second Prince answered meekly, but his eyes looked strangely… empty.
“M-Nanny, what is this?”
“It is exactly as you see it.”
Catherine rubbed her eyes and read the paper again.
As soon as I confirmed that it was my resignation letter, I screamed in panic.
“Resignation?! Nanny, are you leaving work?!”
"Yes."
"Why? Why?! Why?!"
“Because the job is not for me.”
Catherine was confused by my firm response.
“So… when are you planning to leave? You submitted your resignation letter so quickly...”
“In a week.”
“What? In a week?!”
Catherine quickly counted the days, then took my hand.
“Nanny, can’t you think again?! You’re leaving in just one month? This is unreasonable!”
“It makes sense. Because exactly one month has passed, and that's why I'm leaving.”
“Huh?”
Exactly one month.
Neither too short nor too long.
Perfect timing to leave before I get involved in more annoying matters.
“Fortunately, the nanny’s salary was higher than I expected.”
With the gold coins I had, I was confident that I wouldn't go hungry even outside the palace.
If that's not enough, I can earn more there. That's why I built my physical strength diligently.
“But to suddenly decide...”
"It wasn't surprising. I was thinking about it from the beginning."
“But...”
I hesitated for a moment, then the memory that haunts me every night came back to me:
“Think carefully about why I did this.”
Dark reed field.
The poison that spread through my body.
Burning smell.
They are all still fresh in my memory.
“There's something I have to do.”
I have to leave this place.
Revenge—that is the only purpose of this life.
So I had no time to worry about the Adamant King who disappeared with a suspicious smile, nor about the Third Prince and the Little Princess who were clinging to me, nor even about Catherine who smiled whenever she saw me.
“Ah… If you are so insistent, I have no help.”
Catherine looked at me with eyes full of regret.
“I've wanted to work with you for a long time, Nanny.”
“Someone like you would definitely find a better nanny than me.”
“But she won't be like you.”
A dejection appeared on her face.
“You will never find anyone as strange and kind as you.”
“Why do you add the word stranger?”
“Because you are not an ordinary person, Nanny. Who else would stand so confidently in front of the Second Prince?”
She shuddered as she remembered the incident a few days ago.
“I still get goosebumps just thinking about it.”
She rubbed her arms violently.
“I was worried he would actually cut your arm off.”
“I'm not doing anything that might cut my arm off.”
“Oh, for God’s sake! If His Majesty had not passed by by chance at that moment, you would now have your arm cut off! Just like that… in the blink of an eye!”
Coincidence, huh.
She smiled silently.
It was true that His Majesty's passing at that time was fortunate.
And that I was the only one who noticed it was also luck.
Thanks to him, she was able to deter the Second Prince.
“He showed up at the right moment, so it worked for me.”
“Honestly, I can't tell if you're being brave or reckless.”
I stopped before she could finish. “Enough chatter. I have work, so I’ll excuse myself.”
"…nanny."
When I got out, Catherine called me.
Her features were serious.
“Do you have anything else to say?”
“Um...how will you tell Their Highness?”
“Tell them what?”
“You're resigning, Nanny.”
Her eyes were filled with worry.
“They are both very attached to you. If they knew you were leaving, they would be very sad.”
“Catherine.”
"Yes?"
“Should I worry about what will happen now that I'm no longer their nanny?”
My cold words made her speechless, opening and closing her mouth without a sound.
It was cold, but it was the truth.
The one who leaves is eventually forgotten, and the sadness fades away.
It was always like this.
“I'll go now.”
I left Katherine standing in silence and left the office.
Knock-knock-
At that moment, she noticed a golden cloth disappearing around the corner with the sound of a rushing movement.
“……”
I looked around the corner for a moment, then turned my back.
Only one week left.
At the end of it, I will leave this place forever.
"Brother! Ahh! Wake up!"
Emilia shook her brother lying on the bed with all her might.
Despite the bruise on her shoulder, she was full of energy.
"Get up! Get up!"
“Emilia… I'm tired.”
"No! Get up! Get up!"
Edwin finally sat down under his sister's constant urging.
He had been feeling lethargic and tired since yesterday, which put him in a bad mood.
The young prince opened his mouth in a complaining tone:
“What's wrong?”
“Brother, something terrible has happened!”
"monstrosity?"
“Achille said she wouldn't be our nanny anymore!”
At the princess's words, Edwin's eyes trembled.