The Baby Who Regressed Refuses Childcare - Chapter 131
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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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“Wow, the crowd at the entrance is incredible. It seems even more grand than the Dowager Empress’s birthday celebration a few months ago.”
The day of Karin’s pregnancy celebration.
Hiana stepped down from the carriage, escorted by Longton’s second son, Jas.
Duke Longton, who had been surveying the Imperial Palace scenery, lit up with interest.
“Of course. This is finally the moment when the Empress has conceived the Empire’s Second Prince.”
Karin’s pregnancy celebration was held in the Great Hall of the Imperial Palace.
Most high-ranking nobles from the Imperial Capital and even provincial territories had received invitations.
The only ones whose names were omitted were a few nobles from the Dowager Empress faction who had bad relations with Karin.
“But it’s a bit surprising, Father.”
“What is?”
“That the Empress invited Abner.”
It was Kilios, who had recently turned twenty-one, the eldest son and young duke of Longton.
At his eldest son’s words, Duke Longton nodded.
“I also thought that dark assassin would be excluded from this banquet.”
“Well, Abner’s momentum has been incredible lately. The academic society and the recent newspaper incident…”
Lambert gave no response.
After maintaining a brief silence, he soon began walking with large strides along the stone path leading to the Empress Palace.
Behind him followed the three princes: Kilios, Lewis, and Jas.
“Let’s go, youngest.”
Eighteen-year-old Jas firmly grasped Hiana’s hand.
“Your dress is very pretty today? Who picked it out for you?”
Hiana looked down at her dress. It was a green dress decorated with cute ribbons.
“Selene and Cori brought it to me.”
“Wow. The maids know well what colors suit our youngest, don’t they?”
Just as Hiana was nodding with a pleased expression.
“How are your preparations for entering the Prodigy Academy coming along?”
Duke Longton, who had been walking ahead, asked casually.
Hiana startled and looked up.
Then hesitantly, she spoke to Lambert Longton’s back.
“Well… I’m working hard on it.”
“Just working hard isn’t enough. You must know that you’re already quite late.”
Hiana closed her mouth.
The entrance age for the Prodigy Academy was eleven to twelve years old.
All three Longton princes had entered the Prodigy Academy at twelve and completed the program.
So originally, Hiana had also planned to enter the Prodigy Academy around that time, but…
“You must not forget Annellia Abner, who accomplished all of that at five years old. That monster never once fell from the top position during her entire time at the Prodigy Academy.”
“…”
“You’re already five years behind even if you enter now, and you have to wait until next spring.”
“…”
“After today’s banquet, focus on your studies for a while. I’ll assign two more teachers with experience working at the Magic Tower.”
Hiana’s head gradually drooped lower.
In the coldly settled atmosphere, Jas smiled awkwardly and said.
“Um… Father. Our youngest is only ten years old now.”
Duke Longton gave no response.
“Princess Abner is just unusual. Our youngest is also working hard. She even read the paper recently published by the Magic Tower…”
“She probably barely understood the introduction.”
Lambert Longton turned around.
His characteristically tall stature, a trait of the Longton family, was revealed.
Perhaps because he had the sun behind him, his cold face looked darker than usual.
“While you’re barely managing to understand papers, Princess Abner…”
He made a “huh” sound and lowered his voice.
“Has written more than ten such papers. Magic studies, magical engineering, pharmacology. Across all fields without discrimination.”
Tears gradually welled up in Hiana’s eyes.
“I, I was wrong.”
Hiana fidgeted with her hands and finally bowed her head deeply.
“I’ll, I’ll work harder. I’m sorry…”
Lambert Longton looked down at the small crown of her head and clicked his tongue.
“You should be grateful that you bear the Longton name. If that weren’t the case…”
The Duke closed his mouth.
Then after looking down at Hiana for a moment, he turned his back as if nothing had happened and began walking.
Kilios, who had been watching, let out a sigh.
He patted Hiana’s shoulder a couple of times before following Lambert Longton.
Jas restlessly embraced Hiana.
“Geez, really. Why is Father acting like that again? Hiana, our youngest. Are you okay?”
“Brother…”
Hiana tightly gripped Jas’s clothes.
“Why is His Grace always so strict only with Hiana?”
Then, someone muttered from behind them.
It was Lewis, Longton’s youngest prince, who had been standing blankly.
A strange light had risen in Lewis’s calm eyes.
“He never showed any interest in me or my brothers.”
Jas momentarily froze stiff.
But soon he patted his younger brother Lewis’s back and said.
“Hey, what’s wrong with you now?”
“It’s really strange, that’s why.”
Lewis looked up at Jas.
“If Father has expectations for his children.”
“…”
“Even if you combined all the expectations for my brothers and me, it wouldn’t match what he expects from Hiana.”
Jas’s expression darkened.
Just as he couldn’t continue his response.
“Dream… it’s because of a dream.”
Hiana spoke in a dejected voice.
Jas and Lewis looked at Hiana.
“Dream?”
Hiana, who had come down from Jas’s embrace, rubbed her reddened eyes vigorously.
“Father said so. That he saw it in a dream.”
“Saw in a dream? What exactly?”
“He dreamed of me winning at an academic competition.”
Lewis’s brow furrowed.
Jas also froze with a surprised face.
“And in the dream, I also made incredibly precious medicine, and that medicine was sold everywhere.”
“…”
“He said the family became rich because of me. That the Longton name spread widely even to the Eastern Continent because of me…”
“…”
“Since it was such a vivid dream for the first time, it must be a prophetic dream, and he really hopes it comes true… That’s what he said.”
Jas, who had been holding his breath the entire time, finally let out a short sigh.
“That’s ridiculous. What, just because of a dream…”
Then he stopped and closed his mouth.
Something had flashed through his mind and disappeared.
‘Vivid dreams.’
Strange and clear dreams that were confusing enough to be mistaken for reality.
Was it around the time Hiana returned, or perhaps a little before that?
Come to think of it, he had experienced such dreams himself.
Quite often, no… even now, from time to time.
“Of course, there are cases where dreams… can be extremely vivid…”
Jas muttered incoherently.
Beside him, Lewis also nodded with a serious expression.
Hiana opened her eyes wide and asked.
“What? You guys have those dreams too?”
Jas closed his mouth.
“What kind of dreams? Tell me too, Hiana.”
Hiana gently tugged at the hem of Jas’s clothes.
Just as Jas was looking down with a troubled expression.
“This way.”
“The Great Hall, was it?”
Someone’s voice could be heard from not far away.
When he turned his gaze, he saw a familiar face.
It was Sharon Abner, the Lord of the Abner family, considered Longton’s nemesis.
And beside her…
“The path is rough. Let me carry you down.”
“Uncle Logrio, do you think I’m a child? You said you hurt your shoulder a few days ago. It’s okay, it’s okay!”
A young girl patting the arm of a knight much larger than herself, smiling brightly.
The girl jumped down from the tall carriage with a clear smile spread across her face.
Her long silver hair lifted up and then fell softly behind her small back.
Jas muttered unconsciously.
“…The Abner Princess.”
In his mind, some scene was overlapping with the face of the princess before his eyes.
‘B-Brother. I was wrong.’
‘Annellia? Forget it, just leave. I’m busy right now.’
‘P-Please. Can’t you just listen to me once? Brother always listened to everything I said. I, I…’
‘…’
‘Right now my stomach, my stomach hurts so much… I asked the maids for medicine, but no one…’
Jess Longton unconsciously clenched his fist tightly.
Slowly and vividly, the memories were coming back.
Those clear and distinct dreams.
‘I think they’ll give it if Brother asks, so please, just once…’
Tears like chicken droppings fell down her pale cheeks.
But he only uttered one cold word.
‘I told you I don’t have time to indulge your whining, Annellia.’
‘Brother…’
‘Get out.’
Jas’s brow furrowed deeply.
Hiana was watching him with a quiet expression.
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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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