The Baby Who Regressed Refuses Childcare - Chapter 122

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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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“My goodness.”

Christine Richmond raised her hand to cover her mouth and whispered to the young lady sitting beside her.

“Look at that outfit. This is a tea party hosted by the Dowager Empress, and what is that…?”

Her gaze sharply swept over Annellia, the Duchess of Abner.

Annellia was looking over documents densely packed with text at a table some distance away.

In comfortable attire that looked more suited for a casual stroll than a high society party.

“The Abner family is already famous for that, you know.”

“Famous for what?”

“Duke Abner always comes to banquets wearing nothing but black animal hides…”

“How disgusting! Is that really true?”

“They just can’t distinguish time and place, you know.”

Christine nodded her head.

Yes, the Duchess of Abner clearly didn’t know how to read the room.

Does she think this is her own room or something?

While everyone is waiting together for the Dowager Empress, she’s comfortably looking over documents.

‘What’s so special about being top graduate of some academy? Acting so damn superior.’

There were quite a few epithets used to describe Annellia Abner.

Genius, pioneer of pharmaceuticals, top academy graduate, president of Abner Academy, prodigy in magical formulas and sorcery studies, etc…

And generally, the word ‘youngest’ was always attached in front of those titles.

Christine unconsciously twisted her lips into a smile.

And she muttered quietly, just barely audible.

“So what if she is. She’s still a mongrel among mongrels anyway.”

She could feel the young ladies around her flinch.

But they soon wore awkward smiles and agreed.

“Th-that’s true.”

“Right. Facts are facts after all… haha.”

Christine elegantly lifted her tea.

“Just 30 years ago, it was common practice to dispose of children born to noble families with commoner blood mixed in, without anyone knowing.”

“R-really?”

“Of course. Usually they’d abandon them in slums or lock them away to raise them. Honestly, there’s no greater shame, is there? A child with commoner blood mixed in.”

Christine gestured toward Annellia with her eyes.

“But that one over there isn’t just ‘a little mixed’…”

The young ladies fell silent.

“In that sense, it makes sense that young lady associates with Laura Rierie and Mica Rierie. You could say they’re on the same level?”

Christine’s father, Count Richmond, always said.

He couldn’t tell when the social atmosphere that strictly separated nobles and commoners began to blur and the order started to crumble.

‘The Dowager Empress is also part of the problem. She’s unnecessarily generous in strange areas.’

Despite being from the highest noble family, the Dowager Empress was particularly lenient about class distinctions.

Saying talent should be appointed regardless of origin.

Inviting commoners of unknown roots to occasions like this.

“Countess Rieri originally shouldn’t have even dreamed of a position as imperial attendant.”

Christine’s gaze now turned toward Laura and Mica.

“Honestly, the Rieri family is poor for nobles. The lady’s family home is also from some unknown humble province.”

The young ladies hesitantly nodded their heads.

“And yet she’s an attendant to the Dowager Empress. Of course, that’s probably why she’s stuck doing things like furniture arrangement.”

“I-is that so…?”

“Of course! On top of that, they even adopted Mica Rierie, who’s from commoner origins, so it’s a complete mess.”

Christine gazed at Laura and Mica with a triumphant smile.

Annellia Abner was still diligently reading her documents throughout all this.

That sight drew an exasperated sigh.

‘That thing is supposedly close with the Crown Prince?’

A few years ago, there had been rumors that Annellia Abner was particularly close to the Crown Prince.

Some people claimed to have seen the two together at parties, and stories circulated that they attended each other’s birthday parties.

But Christine didn’t believe those rumors.

‘From when Annellia Abner entered the Pharmaceutical Prodigy Institute until now, I’ve never seen it once.’

The two of them displaying intimacy in public settings, that is.

If they were really close, wouldn’t they meet and talk, laugh together and such?

But even when the two attended the same parties, they always moved in completely different circles.

Even if they happened to encounter each other, they’d only exchange simple eye greetings.

So Christine was convinced.

The Crown Prince was definitely keeping his distance from Annellia Abner.

‘When you’re young, you might be close without knowing better. But as you grow up, you quickly learn that not all friends are the same kind of friends.’

The noble blood that would inherit the throne in the future.

And a mongrel wearing the mask of nobility while acting superior.

How could they possibly be on the same level?

She herself would be different, of course.

‘It’s fortunate that the Crown Prince is drawing the line now.’

When she brought this up, everyone agreed that it really seemed to be the case.

It was proof that her suspicions were quite reasonable.

Christine idly tapped her teacup with her fingertips.

‘A Crown Princess selection disguised as a small tea party…’

Unlike the other young ladies, she had known from the start.

That the Dowager Empress was looking for a noble young woman who would become the future Crown Princess.

And lately, she was the most promising candidate perfectly suited for that position.

‘I’m glad I didn’t get involved with Count Pierson’s son.’

It was really fortunate that the Count’s son liked that stupid Laura Rierie.

If she had gotten engaged, wouldn’t she have missed the opportunity to become Crown Princess?

She was covering her mouth with a handkerchief and giggling when it happened.

“The Dowager Empress!”

The young ladies around her busily rose from their seats.

Christine also jumped up in surprise.

The Dowager Empress was slowly entering through the white arch of the rose garden.

“Your Majesty, have you been well!”

The relatively mature young ladies close to adulthood went to her side first and bowed in greeting.

Christine also hurried toward the Dowager Empress with quick steps.

As she went, she noticed the Lieri sisters and Annellia Abner were standing quietly in their places.

Annellia Abner was even still holding her documents.

“It’s good to see all your faces.”

The Dowager Empress greeted each young lady with a kind expression, making eye contact.

Soon it was Christine’s turn.

“The second daughter of Richmond? Is the Count well? I heard he’s been busy lately with the newspaper acquisition.”

Sure enough, the newspaper acquisition that was going well lately came from the Dowager Empress’s mouth.

Christine hid her proud expression and bowed.

“Father is doing well, Your Majesty! It’s truly an honor to be invited like this.”

“An honor indeed. I naturally had to invite the Duchess of Richmond.”

The other young ladies around looked at her with envious eyes.

As expected, afterward the Dowager Empress didn’t have as long a conversation with any other young lady as she did with Christine.

They all got something like “Oh, you came too, young lady. Please take a seat.”

Soon the Dowager Empress, having finished her greetings, entered the garden completely.

And she spotted Annellia and the Lieri sisters still standing blankly in their places.

Christine quietly covered her mouth.

It was because the Dowager Empress had hardened her expression the moment she saw Annellia.

Then a low voice was heard.

“Princess Abner.”

The smile had completely disappeared from the Dowager Empress’s face.

“My goodness… I knew she would do something like that.”

A young lady beside her whispered.

“Her Majesty the Dowager Empress has every right to be angry! How could Princess Abner think to come to this place dressed like that?”

Christine lowered her gaze without answering.

“…Indeed. There’s bound to be trouble today.”

As expected, the Dowager Empress who had approached Princess Annellia Abner coldly snatched the documents from the princess’s hands.

“Is this really the time to be looking at such documents!”

Everyone held their breath at the sharp voice.

But the words that followed were…

“You had a severe fever just three days ago! Even when Sharon told you to rest, you’re being so stubborn!”

It was completely unexpected.

The smile slowly faded from Christine’s face.

The Dowager Empress placed the documents she had taken on the table, then suddenly placed both hands on Princess Abner’s cheeks.

“Are you really trying to put me on a sickbed? That’s what you’re doing! Didn’t I tell you that when you’re ill, I get sick too!”

Annellia smiled back awkwardly.

“Grand… I mean, Your Majesty, I’m fine! I’m really completely recovered now.”

But the Dowager Empress drooped her eyebrows and endlessly stroked Annellia’s head.

“I absolutely cannot let this slide. This time I’m definitely telling Tian everything! That you keep overexerting yourself when you’re not even well!”

Christine, and everyone who had been agreeing with her, turned completely pale.

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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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