TCNS 07

Chapter 7: The Prince and the Nanny (1)

“Childcare is definitely hard labor.”

I sighed as I closed the door.

“Or maybe that brat is just an unusual case.”

Thinking of that annoying prince’s face made my blood pressure rise for no reason.

Instead of chasing after Edwin, who had run off with the bracelet, I chose to leave him alone. And then, of all things, I got caught by the head maid for leaving Emilia alone. It was my bad luck that she found Emilia sneaking into the kitchen, unable to bear her hunger, and stealing food.

“If I see you shirking your duties one more time, your pay will be cut. Understand?”

Damn it.

To think that I’d be threatened with money by an ordinary person. My pride was hurt, but I had no choice. I needed funds to escape from this place, and every penny counted. So, I had no option but to spend the whole day trailing after the imperial siblings. Of course, Edwin ran away every time he saw me, his face twisted in a grimace.

I let out a deep sigh.

“Who would have thought I’d end up making a living as a nanny.”

The word ‘nanny’ suddenly brought up old memories. I, as Kyla Angel, was an orphan. Born in an era where monster and barbarian attacks kept everyone on edge, I was abandoned the moment I was born and spent seven years in an orphanage attached to a temple. There, I met a woman—a woman who called herself the mother of children like me who had lost their parents. We called each other ‘family.’

But our peaceful life didn’t last long. Even the temple couldn’t escape the raids of the barbarians. The temple burned, and the children were scattered; I didn’t even know if they were alive. Barely managing to escape with my life, I was captured by a strange slaver. He sold me to the assassin guild ‘Breath of the Angel’ for a high price. Apparently, despite my poor upbringing, I was larger than others my age, and that convinced the former guild leader to take me in.

My first memory of that place was the face of an instructor ordering me to kill a puppy whose eyes hadn’t even opened. It was five years before I could see the outside world again. And, by chance, I reunited with the woman who had raised me. She was still playing the role of mother to homeless, parentless children. Unlike me, who couldn’t say a word in our sudden reunion, she hugged me the moment she saw me and cried.

“I’m so glad you’re alive. Truly, I’m so glad, Kyla.”

I couldn’t bring myself to tell her what kind of work I did. After reuniting with her, I continued to visit her from time to time. Being with her felt like coming home. Not that an orphan like me really had a home. But the former guild leader, who had marked me as the next leader, wouldn’t allow our meetings.

“What’s the use of talent if you’re defective?”

The former leader clicked his tongue, pressing the tip of his sword against my chest after I’d returned to the guild.

“You killed all the members I sent to kill that woman. Is she your real family or something?”

Instead of arguing, I lowered my gaze and made a vow.

“I will never meet her again. So please, leave her alone.”

“Do you think she’ll understand you if you do that? You, who’s already become a murderer?”

He looked at me, covered in the blood of my fellow assassins, with genuine pity.

“This is why women can’t be trusted. Too sentimental.”

He didn’t take his pitiful gaze off me.

“Kyla, your weakness will be the death of you one day.”

What did I say back then? I couldn’t quite remember. I only knew that I ran into her a few more times after that—coincidences disguised as fate. In my hazy memories, I could see her laughing with the children.

‘Emma.’

I whispered her name in my heart. By now, she was probably back home, spending a happy life with her real family. She deserved that much.

Sometimes, even the blurry outlines of old memories can be comforting. With that thought, I closed my eyes and fell asleep. It was a rare, very deep sleep.

***

“…Damn it.”

Dawn was breaking outside the window.

“It wasn’t a dream, after all.”

I sat up, staring at the ceiling that still didn’t feel real. When I opened the window, cold air rushed in. I looked outside and saw servants bustling about, despite the early hour. Watching such an ordinary scene made my heart feel unsettled.

I’d lived my whole life as an assassin and died that way. The guilt over killing had long since faded, and I’d never felt any pride in my life. Maybe that was why I sometimes wondered what it would have been like to live a normal life.

“You’re more romantic than you look, Kyla.”

Ian’s voice popped into my head involuntarily. That bastard, the one who killed me, often called me ‘romantic.’ He also frequently told me I wasn’t fit to be an assassin, that I didn’t suit the role of a leader.

‘And that’s why I liked him.’

When everyone else told me I was born to be an assassin, he alone said I wasn’t suited for it. I think I liked that about Ian. Probably.

‘Not that any of it matters now.’

Shaking off useless memories, I turned my body. A modest dress was hanging neatly on the wall, as if it had been waiting for me. Yesterday, while eavesdropping on the palace staff, I’d learned a few things.

‘First, I came back to life a year after I died.’

I had no idea why there was a one-year gap. I couldn’t even begin to grasp how I had come back to life. There must have been a reason, but there was no way to figure it out right now.

‘Second, the real Rachel Brown got her position here through the recommendation of the previous nanny.’

No one would answer when I asked what had happened to the previous nanny. The moment I mentioned ‘Madam Conrad,’ people would change the subject. All I knew was that the real Rachel Brown had been close to the previous nanny.

‘Third, security is tighter than usual due to the visit of a foreign king and his delegation.’

I’d planned to sneak out and gather information about the organization and Ian, but that would have to be postponed. Apparently, the king of some newly-formed kingdom had arrived with his knights. Why now, of all times?

‘Talk about perfect timing.’

If I got caught sneaking out while a foreign king was visiting, I could end up facing a terrible death, accused of who knows what. This body’s physical abilities weren’t bad, but they were nothing compared to my previous body. I had no desire to get caught during an awkward escape attempt and be executed.

‘I’ll have to lay low for now.’

I stared at the dress hanging on the wall.

‘Right. This isn’t childcare; it’s a mission.’

My job was to play the role of ‘nanny.’ Not just for one client, but two. An ill-tempered prince and a troublemaker princess.

‘No matter how hard it is, I’ll endure it. It’s just a means to earn money, after all.’

Once I’d saved enough money and regained my strength, I’d make my escape. I tidied the hem of the dress I was wearing, eager for the day I could leave this place behind.

“Let’s go.”

After getting dressed, I energetically opened the door. It was the start of my second day as the prince’s nanny.

***

Maybe it was because I spent all of yesterday running after the imperial siblings, but luckily, I managed to find the prince’s room without any trouble. Holding the still half-asleep Emilia, I entered the room, and Edwin looked at me with surprised eyes.

“What are you doing here at this hour?”

He looked as if he hadn’t expected me to come bother him this early. I hadn’t expected a warm welcome, but his obvious displeasure irked me.

“It’s only natural for a nanny to come wake Your Highness.”

“That’s odd. You haven’t come at this hour even once in the past two weeks.”

The maid who had just entered with a basin of water also glanced at me curiously.

‘Judging by their reactions, the real Rachel Brown wasn’t suited for the role of nanny either.’

To hide my discomfort, I lowered my head. “I apologize. I’ve been getting used to this unfamiliar place and have neglected my duties to Your Highness. I will correct this going forward…”

“Enough.”

He yawned widely and then obediently got out of bed. It seemed he’d given up running away from me like yesterday.

“I need to wash up.”

Still half-asleep, Edwin stood in front of the basin of water. Then, he started doing something I couldn’t understand.

‘What is he doing?’

Edwin dipped only the tips of his fingers into the water, then rubbed his eyes. He repeated the process a few times before staring at me.

“I’m done washing.”

Done? What exactly had he washed? His eyeballs?

I let out a quiet sigh. I never imagined I’d have to teach the prince how to wash properly.

“You need to wash behind your ears too.”

Even though I pointed it out, Edwin shook his head in annoyance.

“Ugh, I did it properly!”

What exactly did he mean by ‘properly’? I forced a smile at him.

“Your Highness, it’s the parts that are hard to see that tend to get dirty. Behind your ears and your neck…”

“I’m not dirty!”

“And what makes you so sure?”

At my question, Edwin shouted confidently, “Because I’m a prince!”