Chapter Eight: The Prince and the Nanny (2)
(Where in the world did he get the idea that princes don't get dirty? Did it come out of his mouth or from...? I can't fathom it.)
(I suddenly feel like I want to leave everything.)
On only my second day as a nanny, I really felt like quitting.
(I knew...kids aren't my thing.)
With a straight face, I said:
“No, Your Highness, you are dirty.”
Edwin's eyes widened in shock.
“W-what?”
"And you smell as well. Did you wash yourself after you came back from the stables yesterday?"
“B-Of course I did!”
What a bad liar.
She watched his confused eyes and asked him again:
"Really? Because I smell horse manure on your head."
“What? Horse manure?!”
“Yes, very smelly.”
He clutched his head in horror, his mouth open, at the thought that his hair might smell like dung. However, he showed no intention of re-washing himself.
(Looks like I have to do it myself.)
I sighed and dipped my hand into the bowl. But the water was ice cold.
(Why is the water so cold? Did the prince order this?)
In winter, killers would use cold water to sharpen their senses. Is this the same thing?
There's something fishy about Edwin. He was avoiding my eyes and turning anxiously towards someone else.
(Hmm?)
I quickly turned to the maid who brought the water. I exchanged glances with her, and she smiled coldly and picked up the towel.
“Do you want the towel?”
(What nonsense? Are you really ignoring or just playing stupid?)
As a “nanny,” I had to speak up.
I said in a calm, commanding tone:
“The water is too cold for your highness. Get warm water.”
“What? That’s impossible. I brought warm water.”
“I tested it a moment ago, and it was cold.”
“It must have cooled down quickly then.”
The maid answered boredly, as if she was tired of the discussion.
“Anyway, His Highness said he took a bath. Do I really have to get new water?”
I furrowed my brow. How dare a maid argue with the prince's nanny?
(The system here is completely corrupt.)
She smiled at me sarcastically and said:
“Nanny?”
Then I read the challenge in her eyes.
(What are you going to do? You don't care about the prince either, right?)
(Silliness.)
I smiled at her as well.
Shh!
She poured the entire bowl of water over her head without hesitation.
“Kyaaah!”
The maid screamed as the cold water covered her. Emilia, who was half asleep, rubbed her eyes and sat up.
"Huh? What's going on? Shall we play with water? Leia wants to play too!"
No one laughed at the princess's innocent comment. The maid was trembling and staring at me in horror.
“W-What is this…?”
I smiled and said:
"What do you think? Do you really think that warm water can cool down that much so quickly?"
Her eyes were filled with fear.
“Don't make me repeat myself.”
She pushed the empty bowl into her hands.
“Get new water. This time, make sure it's really warm.”
“N-yes!”
She ran out of the room crying.
Then I looked down, to find sharp looks from Prince Edwin. He stared at me with his mouth open.
“Is something wrong, Your Highness?”
He remained silent, watching me warily. He seemed to feel some fear of what I did.
(Unexpected. I thought he was bold because he was attacking like a stray cat, but the truth is that he is acting like this because he is afraid.)
She sat down in front of him and brushed his wet hair away from his forehead.
“Your Highness, if this happens again, tell the butler. Silence will solve nothing.”
His eyes widened in astonishment, then he whispered:
“…What’s the point? The evil witch always sides with the maids.”
His voice was tired, not worthy of a young child.
(Oh my God...what did this little guy go through to look so tired?)
(No matter how "vile a prince" he is, he is still the emperor's son.)
How could a prince of the purest blood of the empire look like a homeless child? I didn't understand.
“It wasn't like this when Emma was here.”
I froze when I heard the name. Emma—the former nanny who recommended me.
(Of all the names...why does it have the same name?)
I asked coldly:
“Did you quit work?”
"no."
My head shot up towards his cold voice. His face was so close. His bright blue eyes looked broken.
“She is dead.”
His words were very sharp for his age. However, he did not show any expression, as if death meant nothing to him.
“Because of me.”
My lips parted in surprise.
“I-I brought water!”
My nervousness was cut short by the maid as she entered carrying a new, steaming bowl.
She handed the water to the prince.
“This time, wash well.”
He furrowed his eyebrows as he silently placed his hands in the bowl. For a moment I thought he would obey, but then he went back to his childish movements.
Bsh… bsh…
Splashing water on his face like a cat.
(So, it has nothing to do with water temperature... he just hates showering.)
In the end I couldn't take it. I put Emilia on the bed, lifted my sleeve, and approached him.
“W-what are you doing?!”
“Excuse me, Your Highness.”
I said politely as I grabbed his neck from behind.
"D-let go of me! Pooof! Pooof!"
"You have to scrub good! Like this!"
“Ahh!”
She vigorously washed his face, not caring about his resistance.
“Since you're already wet, let's wash your hair too.”
“Nooo!”
When I finished, he was clean from head to toe...but he looked like he'd been scammed.
"Achille! Leah wants to play with water too! Wash Leah!"
Ignoring the excited princess, she offered the towel to the prince.
“Dry yourself.”
He took the towel, his face red with anger and embarrassment, and he looked at me angrily.
Then, he began his disobedience as a response.
“What about wearing this today?”
"No! I don't want it!"
“So what do you like to wear?”
“I want yesterday’s clothes!”
It was dirty clothes from the stable.
“...Just wear this.”
"I said no! I hate him!"
“Should I bring something else then—”
“I told you I wanted yesterday's clothes!”
(What stubbornness! Who did he inherit from?)
He hugged the dirty clothes to his chest, refusing.
(Okay.)
She whispered in his ear:
“If you don’t change, I will go to the butler and tell her everything that happened yesterday.”
“W-what?!”
“If that's what you want, I'll do it.”
He shouted angrily:
“You said you weren't on that witch's side! Liar!”
“I didn't lie. But I can't let the prince walk around dirty.”
“Ooooh!”
He almost threw the clothes away, but his sister intervened.
“Oppa, this is more beautiful!”
With one word from his sister, he gave up and changed his clothes.
(So... he cares about his sister more than I expected.)
“Achille.”
Emilia whispered in my ear:
“Leah did well, give me candy!”
I don't know if it's good or bad luck that his little sister is so cunning.
After they got dressed, I took the two brothers to the dining hall. The table was ready for breakfast.
(What a feast.)
White bread, exotic grilled fish, roasted chicken, and colorful fruits.
A luxurious meal that common people cannot dream of. But Prince Edwin barely touched his food.
"I finished."
I looked, and his plate was piled high with vegetables.
“Food is a blessing. You should eat as much as you can while it is available.”
He furrowed his brow in exasperation:
“I don't like vegetables.”
(Does he eat for taste? As long as the food is not spoiled or poisoned, isn't it enough?)
His fussy eating was a mystery to me. I didn't care if he ate or was hungry, but as his nanny, I had to take care of him.
“So, Your Highness, what do you say we bet?”
"bet?"
sulk.
“Yes. The loser eats all the remaining vegetables.”