Reflection (2)
‘Arrogant bastard.’
The empire’s second prince, Lloyd, recalled the events of the day.
‘How dare he challenge me without knowing his place?’
Lloyd despised his half-brother.
‘Everything about him is distasteful.’
His unnecessarily refined appearance, his weak constitution paired with a strong will—none of it pleased him.
The only redeeming quality was that he was timid and quick to read the room.
So it was rather satisfying to watch him grovel after a little intimidation.
But every so often, Edwin would cross the line and truly offend him.
Like today.
‘Weak, yet still clinging to pride. How laughable.’
The sight of his younger brother flaring up and lunging at him simply because they were siblings was pathetic.
Watching him scramble to climb above his station was utterly ridiculous.
‘That woman, though.’
Lloyd recalled the face of the woman who had blocked his path earlier.
She had claimed to be the third prince’s nanny.
—Stop this at once.
Lloyd, who feared nothing in this world, had felt genuine fear in that moment.
Those enigmatic green eyes had carried the clear intent to sever his arm if he did not back down.
The woman had shown no fear of him whatsoever, despite his status as a prince.
‘Just like that old hag. How irritating.’
Lloyd thought of someone who was already dead.
The former nanny of Edwin.
Unlike the new one, she had been deferential and timid.
Yet whenever it concerned Edwin, she would turn ferocious.
That was why she had met her end.
‘Her name was Rachel Brown, was it not?’
Lloyd ground his teeth as he thought of Rachel.
He vowed that one day he would make her walk the same path as the previous nanny.
“What are you thinking so deeply about, Lloyd?”
At that moment, the woman seated across from him addressed the prince.
The blonde woman in a pale pink dress was strikingly beautiful.
Perhaps it was her sunset-colored eyes and striking features.
She resembled a brilliant flame—beautiful, yet dangerous enough to consume everything around her in an instant.
Helena Radcliffe. She was the second imperial consort of the Ventrum Empire and Lloyd’s birth mother.
“I heard about what happened in the garden. You got tangled up with that fool again.”
Helena twirled the silver goblet in her hand, her voice laced with displeasure.
“I told you not to associate with that one.”
“Your Majesty, he was the one who—”
“Are you talking back to me now?”
“But Edwin’s nanny was the one who—”
Smack!
Before Lloyd could finish his excuse, she had risen and struck his cheek.
Though the blow was startling, Lloyd calmly returned his head to its original position, as if accustomed to it.
“Who gave you permission to talk back to me?”
Helena glared coldly at her son.
“And stop going on about that nanny. That fool was just as obsessed with the previous one.”
She pressed a hand to her forehead in annoyance.
“He made such a fuss that I personally got rid of that old nanny, and now you’re still harping on about nannies?”
Lloyd lowered his head in silence at his mother’s words.
“I just came from seeing His Majesty. He mentioned that you failed to control your emotions in the presence of the King of Adamanth.”
Helena scolded her son sharply.
“Showing such an unsightly display before His Majesty! How can you still call yourself the next emperor?”
She referred to her son, who had yet to even become crown prince, as the “next emperor.”
It was a clear sign of her unwavering belief that her son would inherit the throne.
“…I’m sorry.”
“Ha, how did I end up giving birth to such an ignorant child!”
Helena slammed her hand down on the nearby table with a loud bang.
“Your half-brother was summoned by His Majesty again today and received praise! They said that even at fifteen, he’s already clever enough to propose diplomatic strategies!”
It was starting again.
The comparisons with his eldest brother, which had begun the moment he was born, showed no sign of ending.
“At least you’re better at swordsmanship, so I told you to train diligently! But you skipped your lesson again today?”
Helena shouted in frustration.
“You should be earning merits, not drawing His Majesty’s displeasure!”
The emperor always wore a benevolent smile, but when displeased, he cut people off without hesitation.
After all, he was the man who had slaughtered his own siblings to seize the throne.
Helena knew the emperor’s temperament better than anyone.
“Lloyd, I don’t care if you kill cats or commoners.”
Her red eyes gleamed dangerously.
“Those things are of no importance. All you need to do is become emperor.”
The emperor of the empire. What an alluring title.
Helena gripped her young son’s shoulders tightly, though they barely reached her chest.
“Swear it, Lloyd. Swear that you will never again do anything to displease His Majesty.”
Lloyd stared blankly at his mother’s face before lowering his head.
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
The second prince’s eyes, as he answered obediently, looked strangely hollow.
* * *
“N-Nanny, what is this?”
Catherine rubbed her eyes and reread the document in her hands.
Upon confirming it was my resignation letter, she let out a scream.
“Resignation? Nanny, you’re quitting?”
“Yes.”
“Why? Why would you do that?”
“The work doesn’t suit me.”
My firm reply left Catherine flustered.
“But when are you planning to leave? Why submit your resignation so soon…?”
“In one week.”
“What? In one week?”
Catherine quickly calculated the date a week from now, then grabbed my hand.
“Nanny, can’t you reconsider? You’ve barely been here a month. You can’t just leave like that!”
“That’s exactly why I’m leaving.”
“What?”
Exactly one month.
Neither too short nor too long.
It was the perfect timing to leave before getting caught up in anything more troublesome.
‘It’s fortunate the nanny’s salary is higher than I expected.’
With the gold coins I had on hand, I was confident I wouldn’t starve even if I left the palace.
If it wasn’t enough, I could always earn more outside. That was why I had been training my stamina so diligently.
“Still, deciding so suddenly…”
“It’s not sudden. I’ve been thinking about it from the beginning.”
“But…”
I recalled the voice that had tormented me every night.
— Then take this chance to think carefully about why I’m doing this.
The dark reed field. The poison spreading through my body. The burning smell.
Everything was still vivid.
“There’s something I must do.”
I had to leave this place.
Revenge—that was the only purpose I had in this life.
So I had no energy to spare for the suspiciously smiling King of Adamanth, the chick-like third prince and princess who followed me around, or even Catherine, who always smiled at me.
“Haah, if you insist, there’s nothing I can do.”
Catherine looked at me with eyes full of lingering regret.
“I wanted to work with you for a long time.”
“You’ll find a better nanny than me.”
“But it won’t be someone like you.”
She pouted.
“There won’t be another nanny as strange and wonderful as you.”
“Why must you add ‘strange’?”
“You’re not an ordinary person, are you? Who else would stand so boldly before the second prince?”
She shuddered, as if recalling the events from a few days ago.
“Just thinking about it still gives me chills.”
Catherine rubbed her arms vigorously.
“I was worried your arm might actually get cut off.”
“I wouldn’t do anything that would get my arm cut off.”
“You say that, but if His Majesty hadn’t appeared just in time, it would’ve been sliced right off! Sliced!”
Just in time, indeed.
I smiled silently.
It had certainly been fortunate that the emperor happened to pass by at that moment.
It was also lucky that I was the only one who had sensed his presence.
Thanks to that, I had been able to stop the second prince.
“Since he appeared just in time, everything worked out.”
“Anyway, I can never tell if you’re bold or reckless.”
I stood up before Catherine could say more.
“That’s enough idle talk. I have work to do, so I’ll be going.”
“…Nanny.”
As I moved toward the door, Catherine called out to me.
Her expression was quite serious.
“Do you have something else to say?”
“Um, what are you going to tell Their Highnesses?”
“About what?”
“That you’re quitting.”
She looked worried.
“Both of them have grown quite attached to you. If you say you’re leaving, they’ll be devastated.”
“Catherine.”
“Yes?”
“Do I need to worry about what happens after I’m no longer their nanny?”
My rather cold words left Catherine speechless, her lips parting and closing.
It was a cold statement, but it was the truth.
Those who leave are eventually forgotten, and sorrow fades with time.
It had always been that way.
“Then I’ll be going.”
I left the office, leaving Catherine still mouthing words in silence.
Thud, thud, thud—
At that moment, a flurry of golden fabric disappeared around the corner with a loud noise.
“……”
I stared at the corner for a moment before turning away.
In one week. Exactly one week from now, I would be saying goodbye to this place as well.
* * *
“Brother, Brother—! Wake up!”
Emilia shook her brother, who was lying on the bed.
Despite the bruise on her shoulder, the princess was full of energy.
“Wake uppp—!”
“Emilia, I’m tired.”
“No, wake up! Wake uppp!”
Edwin finally dragged his heavy body upright at his sister’s nagging.
His body had felt heavy and fatigued since yesterday, and his mood was far from pleasant.
The young prince spoke in a curt tone.
“What is it?”
“Brother, something terrible happened!”
“Terrible?”
“Rachel said she’s not going to be our nanny anymore!”
At the princess’s words, Edwin’s eyes trembled.