The Baby Who Regressed Refuses Childcare - Chapter 108

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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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With each step, the soft texture of snow wrapped around the soles of my feet.

 

The cold air carried a subtle scent of pine, and the clear sounds of winter birds filled this winter day.

 

Next to the large snowman I had just built,

 

“Philomena Longton visited Karin Empress again last night.”

 

I was receiving a report on the secret instructions I had given Hermann.

 

“Hmm, haven’t found out what the two of them do when they meet yet?”

 

“Yes. They seem to meet mainly within the Empress Palace…”

 

After thinking it over, I nodded to Hermann as if that was enough for now.

 

Hermann bowed deeply to me, then walked past the toys scattered in the snow field back to the main manor.

 

“Awin, you can come out now.”

 

As soon as I spoke, someone lightly jumped down from the tree beside me.

 

The branches swayed and the accumulated snow fell with a thud onto my nose.

 

I brushed off the snow and looked ahead.

 

Awin, who had grown much taller than me, was standing there.

 

“Annellia, is there anything you can’t do?”

 

“Mmm, there’s nothing I can’t do.”

 

When I answered while adjusting the hat on the snowman, Awin nodded.

 

“I know. I was just asking to let you know how impressed I am.”

 

“What’s so impressive? You already knew Chairman Hermann is my advisor.”

 

“I knew that. But I didn’t know you’d have your advisor investigate the Empress…”

 

Awin was looking at me with somewhat excited eyes.

 

“Annellia, do you know you’ve changed a bit lately?”

 

“Me?”

 

“You seem more mature somehow. Especially when you give orders to Chairman Hermann…”

 

Perhaps from the cold, Awin’s cheeks were flushed red.

 

I puffed out my chest and laughed proudly.

 

“Annellia will be six soon, so it’s time to become mature! But more importantly…”

 

I wrapped a scarf around the snowman and composed my expression seriously.

 

“You and your master are doing well with what I asked, right?”

 

Awin smiled brightly and nodded.

 

“Of course. I’m recording every single day Jayden Abner leaves the West Wing. How long he stays out when he goes too.”

 

Awin and Owen’s rooms were located in the West Wing where Jayden’s room was.

 

So as soon as the Senianna incident was resolved, I asked the two of them.

 

To roughly track Jayden’s movements.

 

‘And I found something out.’

 

Surprisingly, Jayden was regularly leaving the duke’s castle.

 

Just like Philomena Longton.

 

‘I really want to follow him sometime.’

 

The problem was that it would be very difficult.

 

In Philomena Longton’s case, I could have Hermann tail her.

 

But Jayden was different.

 

‘Jayden is Grandmother’s son first, and the Abner Prince.’

 

Hermann had worked for Abner much longer than he had for me.

 

It meant he had quantitatively more time serving Jayden and Grandmother than serving me.

 

So I couldn’t ask him to investigate Prince Jayden of Abner.

 

‘It’s not that I don’t trust Hermann, but it’s better to be cautious with such matters.’

 

I rubbed my nose while thinking deeply.

 

Jayden had perfectly covered his tracks in the Senianna incident.

 

Of course, since I had suspected him for a long time, I could provide circumstantial evidence if asked.

 

‘But…’

 

After the Senianna matter was resolved, remembering Grandmother crying in front of me, I couldn’t muster the courage.

 

‘Imagine telling her it was all her son’s doing.’

 

I sighed deeply, and white breath spread in the air.

 

‘Let’s lay low until I get really solid evidence.’

 

Going through the Senianna incident made me realize something.

 

‘I thought he was just a crazy bastard with a nasty personality, but he might have bigger backing than I thought.’

 

After all, black magic was involved in bringing Senianna here.

 

‘First, I need to learn something about black magic.’

 

I also needed to find out exactly what Jayden was thinking and who he was conspiring with to pull off such things.

 

Until all preparations were complete, it was better to hide the fact that I suspected him.

 

It was at that moment when I was nodding while looking down at my gloved hands.

 

“Annellia. Your eyebrows are frozen. Let’s go inside now.”

 

Awin said with a worried voice.

 

As he said, the winter in Abner Territory was incredibly cold.

 

But strangely, I didn’t mind this cold.

 

“Awin. I must be a child who really doesn’t feel the cold.”

 

“I told my brother the same thing. You get really hot in summer, but on cold days like this you make snowmen by yourself.”

 

We began walking side by side toward the main manor.

 

The crunching sound of stepping on snow echoed pleasantly.

 

“Awin. Should we ask for some warm hot chocolate?”

 

“Yeah. Let’s do that.”

 

“Would it be too shameless to ask for cake too?”

 

“Not really, but I think the Head Chef won’t give it to you saying it’s bad for your health.”

 

While having this serious conversation, we arrived in front of the main manor.

 

As I was brushing off the snow from my body, Logrio opened the door for us.

 

It was when I went inside and was taking off my coat.

 

“Ah, ah, Young Lady!”

 

Someone’s voice came from the central staircase across from us.

 

When I looked up, Miel was running over with her hair flying.

 

“Young Lady, Young Lady! L-look at this!”

 

Miel held out something she was carrying while stammering.

 

I took it with a bewildered expression.

 

Owen, who had come down the stairs following Miel, lifted his chin and said.

 

“Well done. As expected of my student.”

 

I tilted my head and then looked down at what was in my hands.

 

“What’s this? Some letter… Oh? It’s a notice?”

 

I roughly threw off my gloves and quickly read through the text.

 

“Thank you for applying to the Pharmaceutical Academy Gifted Program exam. This notice is…”

 

The letter was a notice that I had passed the entrance exam for the Pharmaceutical Academy Gifted Program that I had taken in the Imperial Capital a few weeks ago.

 

I looked at Miel with a deflated expression.

 

“What. It’s just an acceptance notice. Annellia already knew she would pass.”

 

“That’s not it! Please read to the end, okay?”

 

I frowned and looked down again.

 

Looking closely, the notice included how many students took the exam and what the average scores were.

 

And at the very end.

 

“Oh. There are rankings.”

 

My eyes widened.

 

I swallowed hard.

 

“Out of ninety-two students…”

 

A huge smile gradually spread across my face.

 

“…I’m first place.”

 

“Wow! Lia, really?”

 

Awin poked his head out from beside me and looked at my notification letter.

 

Miel was practically bouncing up and down in her seat.

 

“I told you so! I said our little miss is definitely a genius! I said so! Our child is first in the nation! First place at the difficult Academy of Pharmacy!”

 

Feeling my lips twitch, I cleared my throat with a cough.

 

“It’s not first in the nation. And it’s not first place at the Academy of Pharmacy, it’s just first place in the Academy of Pharmacy’s Prodigy Program. It’s just being first among children, that’s all.”

 

“How is that just anything! Even our little miss is only five years old, while most of the others are twelve!”

 

“Hmph, it’s nothing much.”

 

I tried to act composed, but the corners of my mouth kept turning up.

 

My legs, which had been fine even in the cold outside, were now trembling with excitement.

 

“…She’s happy. Very much so.”

 

“That’s right.”

 

I could hear Owen and Awin exchanging words beside me.

 

That’s when it happened.

 

“First place? You really said first place?”

 

The sound of clattering came from the stairs once again.

 

Looking up, I saw Grandmother hurriedly coming down the stairs with Wendel.

 

She had come so quickly that Grandmother’s hair was slightly disheveled.

 

“My granddaughter is first place! Our ignorant Abner family that only knows how to use brawn has produced a Prodigy Academy valedictorian!”

 

Grandmother was so happy that she was smiling broadly, something she rarely did, and even her hands were trembling.

 

“Well done, Lia! You’re so admirable. I’m truly proud of you!”

 

Grandmother lifted me up and pulled me into a tight embrace.

 

Unable to contain myself, I shouted in an excited voice.

 

“Yes! Lia will stand as the representative at the entrance ceremony! I’ll receive an award too!”

 

“That’s right, that’s how it is. I suppose all the servants will have to go to the Imperial Capital that day. Miel, does Lia have clothes to wear that day? Contact the dressmaker immediately.”

 

I pictured the opening ceremony where students, the Apothecary Dean, and numerous scholars would attend.

 

‘I’ll be going up on the dais.’

 

It was a place I had never once been able to go up to in my previous life.

 

It was a place where only Hiana had always gone up with the things I had made.

 

Tears welled up in my eyes, so I secretly buried my face in Grandmother’s shoulder.

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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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