The Baby Who Regressed Refuses Childcare - Chapter 10

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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‘Violent, they said. Kills people like crushing ants and only chases after women, they said.’

I swallowed a sigh as I looked at Tian’s face, which had turned red as a beet.

“Hurry up. Or just unbutton a few buttons so I can see. I need to check if you’re hurt.”

I intended to check if there were any bruises on Tian’s body.

Surely they wouldn’t have done that to the Crown Prince, but seeing the situation earlier, it didn’t seem entirely impossible.

Tian answered with a bright red face.

“I, I’m not hurt! I’m not weak enough to get injured from just being grabbed and pushed around a bit!”

I frowned.

‘Just grabbed and pushed around a bit?’

Did this even make sense when dealing with the Crown Prince?

Even if someone had just brushed past him lightly, it couldn’t be dismissed as ‘just a bit’ when it came to a member of the imperial family.

But I didn’t say more and carefully examined Tian.

At least there were no visible bruises or wounds on his face.

His neck was the same.

However, I couldn’t be reassured.

They might have deliberately targeted areas that wouldn’t be visible.

‘Why is he so shy? He’s only eight years old. I can’t exactly strip him down to check.’

As I pondered, I suddenly felt the Crown Prince’s resentful gaze.

For some reason, the Crown Prince was glaring at me with his fists clenched tight.

Soon he spoke in a sharp voice.

“You. Don’t you dare think of pitying me.”

Then he snatched the white cloth from my hand and threw it on the floor.

“And there’s no need for such useless acts either.”

I widened my eyes.

“Huh? I wasn’t pitying you. I was just angry.”

The Crown Prince closed his mouth.

“Your Highness gave me jerky. So I was just being angry together with you.”

“If, if you were angry, why did you wipe my face?”

“I already told you… I was worried you’d catch a cold…”

“You don’t catch colds from sweating a little!”

“You do. I came from the orphanage, and there are tons of kids there. They all sweat in winter and catch colds shortly after.”

The Crown Prince huffed but couldn’t argue further.

I pressed on with my momentum.

“And that old man was being mean, so why are you getting angry at me?”

The Crown Prince looked taken aback.

“What?”

“If I were Your Highness, I would have paid him back the same way. I’d have the power to get revenge too.”

I quickly approached him.

And spoke very seriously.

“Since we’re talking about it. I don’t know Your Highness’s full situation, but…”

“…”

“Why are you being treated like that? You’re not someone who deserves such treatment. Your Highness is a really strong kid.”

I was happy until I was at least twelve.

At the orphanage, I grew up as a bright and cheerful child under Ann’s affection,

and after being adopted by the Longton Family, I lived materially well until Hiana arrived.

‘But who would have known that the Crown Prince, of all people, was suffering such abuse?’

Moreover, I knew the future where he would be deposed.

In my previous life, after being deposed, he was expelled from the palace and found dead a few months later.

‘…So I can’t help but be concerned.’

My voice grew slightly louder.

“Also. What you did for me earlier too. What kind of imperial family member worries about someone who called them a deposed prince?”

Then I added, watching his reaction.

“Of course, I’m just a kid, so please forgive me just this once.”

“…Ha.”

An exasperated breath escaped from the Crown Prince’s mouth.

I quietly turned my gaze away and suddenly froze.

Come to think of it, something had occurred to me.

‘But isn’t the Dowager Empress there? I know the Dowager Empress supported Crown Prince Tian until the end.’

‘The Dowager Empress’s support couldn’t provide any strength to the deposed prince. What could an old woman in the back room do?’

My eyes turned back to the Crown Prince.

‘Right, there was the Dowager Empress.’

In my previous life, the Dowager Empress alone supported the deposed Tian until the end.

I heard that after the Empress passed away, the Dowager Empress was the one who observed the longest mourning period.

“Have you tried telling grandmother… I mean, Her Majesty the Dowager Empress?”

The Crown Prince frowned.

“What?”

“About the butler bothering Your Highness. Have you tried reporting it to Her Majesty the Dowager Empress?”

The Crown Prince, who had been moving his lips, shook his head with a somewhat sullen expression.

“…I don’t know about grandmother. She’s hard to see in the first place.”

“Why? Why is she hard to see?”

The Crown Prince’s face became gloomy.

Seeing that reaction, I slowly nodded to myself.

‘Was it worth eating scraps for years in my previous life?’

Even with limited information, I could roughly piece together the picture.

‘This might actually work out well. It wouldn’t be bad to side with Karin Empress, who produced a new prince.’

After Crown Prince Tian was deposed.

The one who newly took the Crown Prince position was the Second Prince, Karin Empress’s son.

‘Since Crown Prince Tian’s violent nature was a false accusation, all of this was ultimately a rigged game.’

In that game, only one person clearly benefited.

Karin Empress, who made her son the Crown Prince.

I shrugged with a nonchalant voice.

“That’s strange. She’s your grandmother, so why is it hard to see her?”

The Crown Prince’s expression became complicated.

Of course, I already knew the answer.

‘Obviously Karin Empress blocked it.’

To prevent the Crown Prince from contacting the Dowager Empress.

She must have decided it would be easier to manipulate him if the Crown Prince was completely isolated in the Imperial Palace.

Was it because of the jerky I ate earlier?

My mind felt like it was spinning rapidly.

I grabbed the Crown Prince’s hand without hesitation.

“Listen, Your Highness. If that old man bothers you again…”

Then I approached him and whispered something softly in his ear.

“…do it. You must!”

As I pulled my lips away, the Crown Prince stepped back with his face red again.

I belatedly had a slight concern.

‘Did I act too casually with the Crown Prince?’

Then I shook my head inwardly.

‘…No. She’s still a fool who needs another 10 years to grow up.’

“What do you mean you couldn’t find Tian?”

At Karin’s cold voice, Jacque bowed his head awkwardly.

“I-I’m sorry. He wasn’t anywhere in the mansion…”

Of course, it was a blatant lie.

He had just encountered the Crown Prince in the East Wing and was on his way back after fleeing.

“What are you doing right now?”

That little brat who had boldly talked back to him.

As Karin Empress’s closest aide, he knew the faces of most noble ladies in the Empire.

However, he had never seen that young girl before.

“He can’t be called just a child anymore. When will His Highness become worthy of inheriting the throne?”

Karin Empress let out a sigh-laden murmur.

Sharon Abner, who was sitting across from her, asked.

“It seems the Crown Prince is causing His Majesty quite a headache.”

“Don’t you know how I feel about Tian? I think of him as a child born from my heart, yet he keeps going astray…”

“You must have many worries.”

In front of them lay a military weapons supply contract between the Imperial Family and the Abner Family.

“Anyway. Please take care of the next 5 years as well. If you continue as you have, I couldn’t ask for more.”

“You flatter me.”

Then the door opened.

Unexpectedly, it was Tian who entered.

“I’m sorry. I got… lost in the East Palace Garden.”

Karin Empress’s brow furrowed.

‘Stupid fool.’

He had fled in fear after being scolded a little, then got lost in a ducal house.

Though irritation surged, Karin didn’t show it at all, as always.

The problem was that there were many watching eyes around.

She raised her gaze and stared at Sharon Abner across from her.

Sharon Abner, the current head of the Abner family, was currently tied to the Imperial Palace through a weapons supply contract.

‘When will this old woman’s spirit finally be broken?’

Karin had been engaged in a tense tug-of-war with Sharon for several years.

Her boldness in never backing down against the Imperial Palace.

And her cunning way of somehow steering contract conditions to her advantage.

But Karin had let Sharon gain as much profit as she wanted.

‘Abner still needs to grow a bit more.’

Karin rose from her seat.

And spoke coldly to Tian.

“I’ll hear the details when we return to the Imperial Palace. Prepare to leave.”

“…Yes.”

Immediately, maids rushed over to put a coat on Karin and arrange her dress hem.

Karin nodded to Sharon Abner.

“I’ll be going now. Perhaps we’ll meet at the Palace next time.”

“His Majesty’s birthday banquet is in autumn, so it seems likely.”

“Right. No need to see me off.”

Butler Jack was waiting for her with the door held open.

Karin crossed the threshold of the luxurious reception room and said quietly.

“I don’t want to share even the same air as the Crown Prince. A different carriage.”

And she walked down the corridor carpeted with dark brown rugs.

She failed to notice that Tian’s gaze following her was slightly different from usual.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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