The Prince and the Nanny (2)
Where on earth did the idea that a prince couldn't be dirty come from?
Did it crawl out of someone's ass instead of their mouth? Is that why it makes no sense?
I suddenly feel like quitting.
On my second day as a nanny, I'm already thinking about walking away.
I really am not cut out for dealing with kids.
I kept my face blank as I opened my mouth.
"No, Your Highness. You are dirty."
Edwin's eyes widened in shock at my single sentence.
"W-what did you say?"
"You smell, too. Did you bathe after visiting the stables yesterday?"
"O-of course I did!"
The boy had no talent for lying.
I watched his wavering gaze and pressed on.
"Really? Because I can smell horse dung coming from the top of your head."
"What? Horse dung?"
"Yes. Horse dung. Quite pungent."
Edwin grabbed his own hair, mouth falling open.
The idea that his scalp smelled like manure must have been quite the shock.
Shock or not, he showed no intention of bathing again.
Then I'll have to do it myself.
Resigned, I dipped my hands into the water to wash his face myself.
The water was freezing.
The weather had warmed, yet the morning air was still cold—why use water this icy?
Did the prince order this?
Assassins sometimes used ice water in winter to sharpen their senses on purpose.
I don't understand.
Edwin was acting strange, too.
He avoided my eyes, glancing around as if checking for someone.
Hm?
I quickly turned toward the maid who had brought the washbasin.
When our eyes met, she smiled calmly and held up a towel.
"Would you like a towel?"
What in the world was this nonsense?
Does she really not know, or is she pretending not to?
As the nanny, I needed to say something.
I spoke to the maid in a calm tone.
"His Highness's water is far too cold. Bring warm water instead."
"Pardon? That can't be right. I brought warm water."
"I just dipped my finger in. It's cold."
"Then it must have cooled while sitting."
The maid's expression turned bored and indifferent.
"Besides, His Highness said he already finished washing. Do I really need to fetch more water?"
My brows furrowed at her reply.
A mere maid was talking back when the prince's nanny had given an order.
The hierarchy here is a complete mess.
The maid kept smiling at me.
"Nanny?"
Only then did I read the meaning in her eyes.
So what? What are you going to do about it? You don't care about the prince either, do you?
She seemed convinced I was the same type as her.
How tiresome.
I smiled back at her still-grinning face.
Then, without hesitation, I dumped the prince's wash water all over her.
Splash!
"Kyaaaaah!"
The maid screamed as the cold water drenched her.
Emilia woke at the shrill sound, rubbing her sleepy eyes.
"Mmm, what? Water play? Lia wants to play in the water too."
No one laughed at the little princess's cute remark.
The maid simply clutched her arms and shivered, staring at me.
"W-what is this...?"
"How does it feel?"
I smiled as I asked.
"Do you really think the 'warm' water you just brought could cool down this much in such a short time?"
The maid looked at me in horror.
"Don't make me repeat myself next time."
I handed her the basin with a firm tone.
"Bring fresh water. This time, it had better actually be warm."
"Y-yes!"
The maid had no room to refuse.
She dashed out with tears clinging to her lashes.
I watched her retreating figure with disdain.
Then I felt a burning gaze from below.
The source was Prince Edwin.
He stared up at me, mouth agape.
"What is it?"
At my question, Edwin studied my face in silence.
From his reaction, he seemed slightly frightened by what I'd done.
Unexpected.
He'd been hissing like a stray kitten, so I'd assumed he had no fear.
So he's actually timid, and that's why he acts so prickly.
I knelt and brushed the damp hair from his forehead.
"Your Highness, if something like this happens again, tell the head maid. Staying silent won't solve anything."
Edwin's eyes widened at my words.
He stared at me for a long moment before lowering his gaze.
"...What's the point of telling that old hag? She always sides with the maids."
Edwin muttered in a weary voice far beyond his years.
"I'm sick of it."
I looked down at the top of his head, eyes narrowing.
What could have happened to this child to put such a dark expression on his face?
No matter how much of an outcast he is, he's still the emperor's son.
Why did the prince, born with the most noble blood, wear the same face as street urchins? I couldn't understand it at all.
"It wasn't like this when Emma was here."
I paused at the familiar name that slipped from the prince's mouth.
Emma—the previous nanny who had recommended me.
Of all names, it had to be the same as hers.
I thought of a certain woman and asked casually.
"So she's no longer working here?"
"No."
His voice had gone strangely cold. I looked up.
Edwin's face was suddenly right in front of mine.
His bright blue eyes looked shattered.
"She died."
The words coming from a child's mouth carried an unsettling clarity.
Yet his expression was far too indifferent.
As if he knew exactly what death meant.
"Because of me."
The follow-up made my lips part slightly.
"I-I brought it!"
The maid rushed back in with the washbasin.
Steam rose gently from the water she carried.
At least she understood instructions.
I offered the fresh warm water to the prince.
"Do it properly this time."
Edwin, who had looked so serious moments ago, scowled at the basin.
Then he obediently dipped his hands in.
I thought he might comply without complaint, but I was wrong.
Splash, splash.
He stubbornly stuck to his cat-washing method.
...It seemed he simply hated washing his face, regardless of water temperature.
Unable to watch any longer, I placed Emilia on the bed and rolled up my sleeves.
"W-what are you doing?!"
"Pardon me for a moment, Your Highness."
After politely excusing myself, I grabbed the back of his neck.
"Let go! What are you—pffft pffft pffft!"
"Scrub like this! Scrub properly!"
"Mmph mmph!"
I rubbed his face with my palm before he could get another word out.
"Since you're already wet, I'll wash your hair too."
"Aaaagh!"
Thanks to me, Edwin ended up thoroughly clean from head to toe.
But he looked like someone who had been swindled.
"Nanny! Lia too! Lia wants to play in the water! Do it for me too!"
I picked up the clinging Emilia and handed Edwin a towel.
"Dry yourself."
The boy who took the towel had shame and humiliation written all over his face.
Edwin gritted his teeth and glared at me.
As expected, from then on he started ignoring everything I said, like he was getting revenge.
"Wear this outfit."
"No! I don't like it!"
"Then what do you want to wear?"
"I'm wearing what I had on yesterday!"
Edwin insisted on putting on the clothes he'd rolled around in at the stables.
"...Just wear this."
"No! I don't like it!"
"Then I'll have them bring something else—"
"I'm wearing what I had on yesterday!"
Who did he inherit that stubbornness from?
Edwin shook his head while hugging the filthy clothes.
No choice, then.
I leaned close to the whining prince's ear.
"If you don't change into the new clothes, I'll run straight to the head maid and tell her everything that happened yesterday."
"W-what?"
"If that's what you want, I'll do it."
Edwin shouted in outrage.
"You said you weren't on that old hag's side! Liar!"
"I never lied. As your nanny, I simply cannot allow you to walk around looking filthy."
"Ughhh!"
Edwin, unable to contain his anger, was about to throw the clothes when his little sister intervened.
"Brother, those clothes are prettier!"
At his sister's single remark, Edwin finally gave up and reluctantly changed into the new outfit.
He wouldn't listen to me, but one word from his sister made him obey.
Edwin cared for his younger sister far more than I'd expected.
"Nanny."
Emilia, who had been quietly nestled in my arms, whispered in my ear.
"Lia did a good job, so give me a treat!"
Whether having such a clever little sister was a blessing or a curse for him, I couldn't say.
* * *
I took the freshly dressed siblings down to the dining hall.
The table was already set with a meal.
A feast.
White bread, an unfamiliar fish dish, roasted chicken, and colorful fruits.
It was a luxurious spread that commoners might never see in their lifetime.
But the prince merely picked at his food before setting his fork down.
"I'm done eating."
Looking closely, his plate was piled high with nothing but vegetables.
"Food is precious. You should eat as much as you can while you have the chance."
Edwin made a displeased face at my nagging.
"Vegetables taste bad."
Eating for taste? As long as it wasn't rotten or poisoned, wasn't that enough?
The picky eater struck me as odd.
Not that I cared whether the prince starved or stuffed himself to death.
But I had a duty as his nanny.
To take good care of him.
"Then, Your Highness, how about a bet?"
"A bet?"
Edwin frowned at the sudden suggestion.
"Yes. The loser has to eat all the remaining vegetables. What do you say?"