The Baby Who Regressed Refuses Childcare - Chapter 121

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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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Meanwhile, at the same time, at the Dowager Empress’s Palace in the Imperial Capital.

“Miss Laura?”

Laura Rierie turned her head at the voice calling her.

A group of young ladies dressed in expensive gowns was entering the corridor.

The blonde young lady standing at the front spoke with an elegant smile.

“It’s been so long since we’ve met! Is this the first time since we saw each other at the salon?”

Christine, the second daughter of the Marquis of Richmond who recently acquired the Empire’s largest newspaper company.

Behind her were distinguished young ladies from prominent noble families, each famous in the Imperial Capital for different reasons.

Laura nodded awkwardly with a smile.

“Yes… Hello, Miss Christine.”

“You’ve been well, haven’t you? I didn’t expect to run into you at the Imperial Palace.”

Christine, who had smiled brightly, made an “ah” sound.

“Come to think of it, Miss Laura’s mother, Lady Rieri, is the Dowager Empress’s maid, right? So did you also receive an invitation?”

Laura nodded.

Today was the day of a small tea party arranged by the Dowager Empress.

Those gathered were young girls who had not yet had their debutante balls.

The ages varied from young ladies who had just turned ten to seventeen-year-olds approaching adulthood.

“The Dowager Empress is always so kind. She even arranges occasions like this so we can build friendships among ourselves.”

“Exactly. When Her Majesty was secluded in the palace, we didn’t have such opportunities, and you can’t imagine how disappointing that was.”

Laura stood awkwardly in front of the girls who were chattering among themselves.

Then Christine looked at Laura.

“By the way, Miss Laura, where is the Rose Garden?”

“Pardon?”

“The Rose Garden, where today’s tea party is being held. Where is it located?”

Laura opened her lips with a bewildered expression.

“Well, I don’t really know either…”

“What? Weren’t you standing here to guide us?”

Laura’s face turned bright red.

Christine frowned and shrugged her shoulders.

“I guess not, then never mind.”

And then she turned around sharply with the other young ladies.

Laura watched Christine’s group as they walked away.

Soon, chattering sounds could be heard as if meant for her to overhear.

“Since her mother is a maid, I thought Miss Laura would know where the Rose Garden is.”

“Right. Honestly, shouldn’t she know?”

“Otherwise, why would she be standing there?”

“I wouldn’t know. Perhaps she was waiting for that young lady who calls herself her sister?”

“Ah, you mean the adopted Mica Rierie? Really, House of Rieri is…”

Laura clenched her fists tightly beneath her dress.

“But why does the Dowager Empress keep Lady Rieri as a maid? She’s just a countess from a humble family background.”

“That’s why she only does menial work. I heard she handles furniture arrangement and garden management at the Dowager Empress’s Palace.”

“My goodness, really?”

“That’s what they say. Usually, the work of an imperial maid involves being a companion to the person they serve, or giving advice about clothes and accessories.”

“Right, right. Menial work like furniture arrangement is what low-ranking maids do.”

“Then Lady Rieri is no different from a common maid rather than a proper attendant?”

Laura desperately tried not to look toward Christine’s group.

“That’s about right, isn’t it? Come to think of it, this tea party really isn’t a place for someone like Miss Laura. It’s called a friendship gathering among young ladies of the same age, but…”

“It’s a place to select the Crown Princess, right?”

The young ladies’ voices became even lower.

Christine spoke proudly.

“It must be. The Dowager Empress cherishes the Crown Prince so much. She’s definitely trying to pick out a Crown Princess in advance.”

“But would such an occasion be meaningful? To become Crown Princess, one needs high family status and beautiful looks. Honestly, it seems like it’s already decided.”

“Right. Who else could it be besides Miss Christine?”

Christine burst into a shy laugh.

With that laugh as the last sound, everyone disappeared around the corner.

Only then did Laura exhale the breath she had been holding.

She had clenched her fists so tightly that small nail marks appeared on her palms.

“…I shouldn’t have come.”

Laura hadn’t wanted to come to a place where so many young ladies would gather in the first place.

Especially not to a place where Christine Richmond, the second daughter of the currently successful Richmond family, would be.

“…Furniture arrangement and garden work is what maids do?”

As Christine had said, her mother was indeed the Dowager Empress’s maid.

But whatever work her mother did, she knew it wasn’t something for young ladies to look down upon.

She bit her lips tightly.

Christine Richmond.

She had fallen out with that young lady over a small incident at a birthday party a year ago.

Since then, Christine had started treating Laura badly.

At first, it seemed like Christine was subtly excluding Laura, but recently the intensity had increased.

Now she didn’t hesitate to insult even Laura’s mother, Lady Rieri, and her sister Mica.

It was when Laura was sighing deeply.

“Sister!”

A bright voice came from the opposite corridor.

Mica was running over hurriedly from a distance.

“Mica, you’re late.”

“Sorry. Actually, on my way here…”

“Oh my, just come quickly. We need to find where the Rose Garden is before we’re late.”

Mica’s eyes widened.

“Sister, you don’t know where the Rose Garden is? I do.”

“You know?”

Mica nodded and then looked back.

Following her gaze, Laura could see someone else just walking around the corner.

“Oh!”

Laura’s expression brightened.

“I met her on the way here. She said she came right after having some meeting with the Apothecary Dean.”

A white, flowing blouse and a comfortable navy skirt that showed her ankles slightly.

Even neat black leather shoes.

A girl dressed quite differently from the other young ladies was walking gracefully toward them.

Even while walking, she was carefully reading several documents covered with complex writing.

Soon the girl lowered the papers, revealing large, clear eyes.

Those eyes looked at Laura and immediately curved prettily into crescent moon shapes.

“Wow, Sister Laura! Hello!”

“My goodness! Annellia!”

Laura ran over quickly, delighted.

And she grasped the hands of the girl—no, Annellia—warmly.

“You came too! Of course, Her Majesty wouldn’t have failed to invite you!”

Annellia laughed and scratched her head.

“Yeah. But I didn’t have time to stop by the manor, so I came in these clothes.”

“No! You look absolutely beautiful! You’re much prettier than the young ladies dressed in expensive gowns!”

Annellia waved her hands as if embarrassed.

But Laura was sincere.

Clear, transparent skin that captivated the eye, a small round nose and beautifully curved lips.

Even her mysteriously colored eyes, like a drop of morning glory dye dropped into white milk.

Even without much adornment, Annellia’s appearance was breathtakingly beautiful.

Just like an Asta flower with morning dew on it.

“Laura is pretty too.”

When Annellia smiled, her fine silver hair tied up high swayed.

Laura spoke in an excited voice.

“Let’s hurry. You believed Mica when she said she knew where the rose garden was, right?”

“Yes! I know.”

Annellia had a special relationship with the Dowager Empress.

In private settings, she always called the Dowager Empress grandmother, and whenever she had no particular schedule, she would always stop by the Imperial Palace.

So Annellia would surely know where the rose garden, the tea party venue, was located.

“It’s right here. It’s in the garden.”

At the following words, Laura unconsciously hesitated.

If it was the garden, Christine’s group had also gone that way.

That’s when it happened.

“Sister, what’s wrong?”

A cool touch came to her eyes.

When she looked up, Annellia had come close and was examining under her eyes.

“Sister, your eyes are red! Did you cry by any chance?”

“What?! Sister, did you cry?!”

Even Mica beside her jumped up from her seat.

Laura shook her head in panic.

“N-no!”

However, Annellia’s eyes had already narrowed.

“Don’t say no. I can tell just by looking.”

“Wh-what?”

“What did the Duchess of Richmond say?”

Mica’s eyes widened beside them.

“The Duchess of Richmond? Why would that duchess?”

Annellia crossed her arms and shook her head.

“Mica. You don’t even know about your sister’s affairs? The Duchess of Richmond has had a one-sided crush on Pierson Count Yeongshik for 4 years. But that young master confessed to your sister. With a lilac bouquet, last summer.”

Mica’s mouth fell open.

“Wow, I, I had no idea! Where did you hear that?”

“Awin told me. You know I don’t usually forget things once I hear them.”

While Laura was gaping, Annellia put her hand on her hip.

“But what did you hear that made you cry?”

Laura kept her mouth tightly shut and rolled her eyes around.

Then she reluctantly opened her mouth.

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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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