The Duke and the Nanny (1)
“You’re angry with me?”
No, the one who had been enthusiastically tormenting the prince just moments ago was Princess Emilia.
Yet for some reason, she was directing her temper at me. As expected, children really were impossible to understand.
“…Me? Angry with Your Highness? Surely not.”
When I rolled my eyes and answered, Edwin narrowed his eyes into thin slits.
“Really? Truly? You’re not mad at me at all?”
For such a little brat, he was awfully persistent.
“Ouch!”
I pressed firmly into the center of his calf, and the boy let out a sharp cry.
“Hey! You! What are you doing?!”
“Then why would you bring up the knight commander in front of me?”
“What about Sir Jerome?”
Edwin asked back, looking genuinely wronged.
“Weren’t you the one who liked Sir Jerome?”
What was he even talking about?
I frowned deeply.
“What possible reason would I have to like that man?”
“But you were the one who sent me to the Gloria Knights, and…”
Edwin continued, carefully watching my reaction.
“I thought you respected Sir Jerome.”
“The reason I sent Your Highness there is simply because the Gloria Knights are the empire’s finest order.”
I had vaguely heard through rumors that the Gloria Knights’ training was on another level compared to other orders.
After all, the best always had a reason for being the best.
I added in a displeased tone, “Not because I respect Duke Jerome Crown.”
Edwin hesitated for a moment, then spoke in a small voice.
“Then… do you dislike Sir Jerome?”
“There’s no way I could like a man like that.”
At my answer, the boy’s eyes widened into perfect circles.
“Why don’t you like him? Sir Jerome is strong, honorable, and a righteous knight. Isn’t he cool?”
“…Would you like to know exactly why I dislike him?”
Instead of answering, Edwin gave a big nod.
His large eyes were filled with curiosity.
I stared at him for a moment before tightening my grip.
“Aaaargh!”
“Once the massage is over and you’re still awake, I’ll tell you.”
“Mmmph!”
Edwin buried his face back into the blanket and writhed in agony.
About thirty minutes passed like that.
“Your Highness, it’s finished.”
I wiped my hands and rose from the bed.
“Your Highness?”
“Nanny, big brother’s snoring! He’s snoring!”
At Emilia’s words, I quietly observed Edwin.
His back rose and fell in a steady rhythm. It seemed he had fallen fast asleep.
Well, he has every right to be exhausted.
The knight order’s training was even more brutal than I had imagined.
A single teardrop still clung to the corner of the sleeping boy’s eye.
Did I knead him too hard?
I felt a pang of guilt for acting so childishly.
Why did you have to take Jerome’s side? What a detestable little rascal.
I lightly poked his nose.
“Mmm…”
Edwin immediately furrowed his brow and let out a soft whine.
That man isn’t as great as you think he is.
I helped the boy into his outer robe and pulled the blanket up over him.
And I’m stronger than that bastard anyway.
I gave his forehead a light flick, then quietly slipped out of the room, careful not to wake Emilia, who was dozing off in my arms.
“Nanny! Naaaanny!”
Someone was pounding on my door hard enough to break it at the crack of dawn.
“…What is it?”
I had just been about to crawl into bed.
Frowning, I opened the door to find Catherine’s pale white face.
“W-well, you have a visitor.”
“A visitor at this hour…”
At that moment, a large hand grabbed the edge of the door.
“Let’s have a word, Lady Rachel Brown.”
A massive man wrapped in a robe from head to toe.
The uninvited guest at dawn was none other than the commander of the Gloria Knights, Jerome Crown.
To think I was taking a stroll through the garden at dawn with someone who had once been my target.
Dying and coming back to life really did bring all sorts of experiences.
“This is my first time at the Third Prince’s Palace. It’s quite grand.”
Jerome offered pointless commentary on the palace scenery.
Unable to hold back my irritation any longer, I brought up the main topic first.
“What is your reason for seeking me out?”
“Are you always this direct?”
“I have no desire to listen to your impressions of the palace while sacrificing sleep.”
At my curt reply, the duke let out a short chuckle.
“Haha, you really aren’t ordinary, are you?”
He placed a hand over his chest and continued.
“How is His Highness Edwin doing? I heard he fainted during training earlier today.”
“He recovered quickly. Though he did mention some muscle pain.”
“I see. Well, children at that age usually have energy to spare.”
The duke’s expression darkened as he spoke.
Was he thinking of the frail First Prince?
He walked in silence for a long time before finally stopping.
“You were originally a commoner, Lady Rachel Brown.”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“And you were adopted by the Brown County family? Do you keep in frequent contact with your adoptive parents?”
He had thoroughly investigated my background in the meantime.
When I frowned instead of answering, he shrugged with feigned innocence.
“My apologies. I had no choice if I wanted to confirm whether you were trustworthy.”
Even if he dug, he wouldn’t find a speck of dust.
‘Kyla Angel’ might have been different, but ‘Rachel Brown’ was nothing more than an ordinary woman.
Still, I wondered what he wanted to say that required investigating me first.
“So, am I trustworthy?”
When I answered with a hint of sarcasm, he smiled awkwardly.
“I apologize for doubting you.”
“Then what exactly are you trying to say?”
I glared at him, urging him to get to the point without wasting words.
The duke glanced around before lowering his voice.
“Ahem. The reason I came to see you is to make a proposal.”
“What kind of proposal?”
“I believe the reason His Highness is participating in training is to strengthen his body. Am I wrong?”
“…That is correct.”
At my answer, the duke’s eyes curved into long arcs.
“And strengthening the body would naturally mean learning the sword.”
He puffed out his chest like a proud goose.
“The truth is, after watching His Highness train today, I was deeply moved.”
So he was moved all by himself—what did he expect me to do about it?
When I looked at him with an unimpressed gaze, Jerome continued.
“Given your position, there must be limits to finding exceptional talent, so…”
As I stared at him with clear displeasure, he spoke in a confident voice.
“I have decided to personally instruct His Highness…”
“I must decline.”
“Yes, of course you would decl— Huh? What did you say?”
The duke’s face hardened in an instant.
“I just offered to become the prince’s personal instructor. Did you understand what I said?”
“Yes. And I said I must decline. Now if you’ll excuse me.”
“Why?!”
His expression showed he truly could not comprehend it.
The duke stammered as he grabbed my wrist.
Hah, I really hate it when people touch my body.
Still, I couldn’t very well twist a duke’s arm.
I glared back and forth between my wrist and his face until he quickly let go.
“My apologies. But I must know the reason. Why are you rejecting my offer?”
“…Is there any reason I must tell you?”
“There is no one in this empire who could be a better teacher than me.”
How obnoxious.
He was just as arrogant now as he had always been.
“Your Grace, you said it yourself last time. That you would never become Prince Edwin’s teacher.”
“That was…”
“I also have no confidence in enduring the wrath of Her Highness the Second Empress. His Highness Edwin would be extremely anxious as well.”
Once I gave him a reasonable excuse, the duke quickly fell silent.
“On the contrary, I would like to ask you something.”
I smoothed out the sleeve he had crumpled and asked in return.
“Why the sudden change of heart? I was under the impression you had no interest in His Highness whatsoever.”
Jerome Crown was an outstanding knight, but he was not particularly quick-witted.
Before he could find a response, I spoke again.
“Participation in the knight order’s training only. Wasn’t that what Your Grace promised, and what His Majesty permitted?”
“Wait, His Majesty permitted it? How would you know that…”
“I happened to encounter His Majesty at the residence. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to speak with him.”
In truth, I had learned most of it by eavesdropping on their conversation.
The duke could only move his lips wordlessly at my words.
“So that is enough. The fact that you permitted him to join the knight training is already more help than we could ask for. Now if you’ll excuse me.”
I gave a polite bow and turned to leave.
“Stand right there! I never said you could leave!”
He really knew how to push my buttons until the very end.
I turned back toward Jerome, who had shouted behind me.
“I’m sorry, but I am not one of the dogs you keep, Duke Crown.”
“What?”
“I am not a dog that comes when you call and leaves when you command.”
Jerome’s face twisted instantly at my words.
He growled in a low voice.
“There is a limit to rudeness. Do you even know who you are speaking to right now?”
“How disappointing, Duke Crown.”
I spoke without changing my expression.
“I thought you were not the type of man bound by mere titles.”
At my response, Jerome raised his eyebrows in disbelief.
Did he think lowering his voice and threatening me would make me scared?
“Since you seem unable to understand why I rejected your proposal, I will be honest with you.”
I slowly approached the duke.
Before we knew it, we were standing so close our chests nearly touched.
“I do not trust you, Your Grace.”
My figure was reflected in Jerome’s startled eyes.
‘Rachel Brown,’ with her gentle, harmless eyes, was smiling softly.
“That is the one and only reason I am rejecting your proposal.”