Her Children (2)
"I'm sorry."
Edwin rested one hand on the tombstone and forced a smile.
"So much has happened since then."
He began pouring out a long stream of solitary words. From the smallest details of daily life to the story of the previous head maid being driven out, the tale of Catherine taking her place, his first encounter with a monster in the plague village, accepting Sage as his teacher, training with the Gloria Knights, winning the hunting competition, and even his achievements at the founding festival.
"...There were plenty of hard times, but just as many joyful ones. It's all thanks to you, Emma. You prayed for a wish on my behalf, didn't you?"
Edwin looked directly at the name carved into the stone and smiled brightly.
"I'm truly happy. Thank you, Emma."
Why did his smile look so much like crying?
"Ah, and there's someone I'd like you to meet."
Edwin suddenly pointed at me.
"This is Rachel Brown, my new nanny. She came as your successor, but her personality is strange, she speaks so coldly, and she doesn't resemble you at all..."
He glanced in my direction, then continued in a small but clear voice.
"But she's an incredibly good person. That's why I wanted to introduce her to you someday."
I lowered my eyes at Edwin's words.
Unlike when I thought of Ian, this time a heavy tightness filled the center of my chest. It felt as if my heart had been submerged in deep, cold water.
"Nanny, why is Brother acting like that? Why does he keep talking to the stone?"
Meanwhile, Emilia seemed to find Edwin's monologue strange. She frowned as she stared at her older brother.
"And Brother, that's not Emma. Why do you keep calling the stone Emma?"
At his sister's words, Edwin slowly rose from his spot.
He quickly wiped his face with his sleeve and offered a bright smile.
"It's like sending a letter to Emma. If you speak to this stone, she can hear you."
"What? Really?"
"Yes. So if Lia has anything she wants to say to Emma, go ahead."
"I do! I do!"
Emilia stomped her feet excitedly, slid down from my arms, and clung tightly to the tombstone.
"Emma, I miss you! When are you coming? Come quick and play with Lia!"
She seemed to believe Emma was actually inside the stone.
"Come quick so we can all play together! Playing tag with Lia and Brother and Nanny and Catherine and Grandpa would be so much fun! And Lia made a friend! It's His Majesty the King! Let's play with His Majesty too! Okay?"
Emilia patted the tombstone with her small hand as if tapping someone's shoulder.
"Brother, do you think Emma heard Lia? What if Emma can't hear what Lia says..."
When Emilia turned to look at Edwin, her face filled with surprise.
"Brother? Are you crying?"
"...No, I'm not."
Edwin hung his head and shook it.
Emilia shoved her face beneath his and frowned.
"It looks like you are? Why are you crying? Did Lia say something sad?"
"No, no. It's really not that."
"But then why..."
I wrapped both arms around the young prince and princess's shoulders and spoke.
"Good day to you, Lady Konrad."
"It is an honor to meet you. I am Rachel Brown, nanny to His Highness the Prince and Her Highness the Princess."
In truth, this was not our first meeting.
I knew the woman sleeping beneath this stone better than anyone.
But this was the first time I met her as Rachel Brown, so it wasn't exactly a lie.
"I heard that you wished for Their Highnesses' happiness."
You probably don't know.
That the wish I placed in the bracelet eventually circled back to me.
"...Just as you desired, I too will do everything in my power to ensure Their Highnesses' happiness."
Yes, I could do anything.
For the woman who taught an orphan who never knew her parents what human affection was.
For the woman who still looked at me with loving eyes even after learning I made my living by killing people.
I still don't understand why you left me with nothing but a warning not to look for you.
I recalled the day Emma had disappeared after telling me never to search for her again.
Still, you were my only family.
It was Emma who had planted the belief that family could exist without blood ties.
Though that same belief had led me to the foolish assumption that I could become family with Ian as well.
But that wasn't your fault.
How could I blame the only person who had ever given me unconditional love?
Thanks to her, I had managed to preserve at least a thin layer of humanity despite my life as an assassin.
Though some called it hypocrisy.
There had been those who asked how I could love people while killing them. How I could cherish life when I knew it was worth less than a fly's.
My answer had always been the same.
That is precisely why it is precious. That is why I cannot help but love.
Only humans were capable of offering unconditional love so profound they would lay down their own lives for another, even knowing life itself was cheaper than a fly.
At least, that was what I believed.
"So please don't worry too much."
I held the two children tightly in my arms as I spoke toward the name Emma carved on the stone.
"This Rachel Brown will fulfill every responsibility entrusted to her as their nanny."
Perhaps this second life was not only an opportunity for revenge, but also a chance to stand before you with my head held high.
If we meet again someday.
I wanted to be able to lift my face, smile, and tell you that instead of killing people, I had protected the children you left behind.
"Hey, this is stuffy! Let go and talk! Why are you suddenly hugging us like this..."
"Mmm, Lia likes it! Lia likes when Nanny hugs her!"
I smiled down at Edwin, who was squirming as if uncomfortable, and at Emilia, who simply looked radiant.
The midday sunlight was dazzlingly brilliant, and the children's body heat felt almost too warm, enough to make me forget we stood in a cemetery.
"Hmm?"
Perhaps the visit to the temple had tired me.
After putting the prince and princess to bed early, I returned to my room and immediately frowned.
A soft light was leaking out from beneath the bed.
I hid the communication orb I received from the Adamant King down there.
I quickly locked the door and retrieved the orb from under the bed.
It was glowing faintly and vibrating with a gentle rhythm.
I think each communication orb had a different activation method.
After pondering for a while, I absentmindedly tapped the orb with my finger.
A translucent window immediately appeared above it.
Beyond the window sat a man with a familiar face.
Kaiden Ram, with his black hair and golden eyes that revealed nothing of his thoughts, waved at me with a sly grin.
"I greet Your Majesty Kaiden."
"I don't particularly like such stiff greetings."
"...Have you been well, Your Majesty?"
"Quick on your feet, as always."
Kaiden chuckled softly and rested his chin on his hand.
"I've been well. Same as usual."
For the founding king of Adamant, who should be drowning in work, claiming to be well was surprising. Then again, surviving daily monster hunts while remaining perfectly healthy probably counted as doing well.
"I'm glad to hear it. But may I ask why you've contacted me so suddenly?"
"My, must we have a reason to contact each other?"
"We're certainly not close enough to contact each other without one."
What possible reason could there be for a king and a prince's nanny to exchange messages without cause? It wasn't as if they were secret lovers.
"How disappointing."
"If you simply wanted to test whether the orb functioned properly, it appears to be working fine, so we can end the communication here..."
"Hey, Lady Brown."
Kaiden asked with a displeased expression.
"Do you know approximately how far apart the kingdom and the empire are?"
"I understand it takes about a fortnight by horse."
"That's at full gallop. It's quite a distance, wouldn't you say?"
It was indeed far.
I waited for him to continue instead of answering.
"Then you can probably guess how much mana it takes to bridge that distance with communication magic?"
"...I'm not certain."
"Activating the communication orb you possess requires the mana equivalent of five mages. Wouldn't it be a waste to end the call so quickly?"
Strange. The faster one ended it, the less mana would be wasted, wouldn't it?
When I frowned silently, Kaiden crossed his arms. A faint trace of irritation had settled over his handsome features.
"And the reason I contacted you first is because you showed absolutely no sign of reaching out to me."
Was I supposed to have contacted him first?
But I hadn't gathered any meaningful information regarding the organization yet.
I don't understand.
Watching Kaiden's sulky expression, I felt a sigh rising in my throat. As far as I could tell, there was no reason for the King of Adamant to be irritated with me.
"I'm sorry. I still haven't found solid evidence identifying which imperial figures have direct ties to Angel's Breath."
I offered an honest apology, but Kaiden's response remained lukewarm.
He stared at me with a pout before slowly opening his mouth.
"...Lady Brown."
His voice grew serious.
"Do you often get told that you're oblivious?"