The Baby Who Regressed Refuses Childcare - Chapter 133

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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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“Ahh…”

Having barely escaped the Great Hall, I placed my hand on my chest and let out a long sigh.

“I finally got out.”

Breaking through the mountain of countless people wasn’t an easy task.

‘If Empress Karin, the main character, had appeared, the attention would have been somewhat diverted.’

Empress Karin had briefly shown her face when the party started, but then disappeared at some point.

Eventually, people began chatting amongst themselves while holding champagne in the hall.

‘There were quite a few familiar faces today, weren’t there?’

I even saw Camilla Coel from afar, who had been entangled with us over the magic stone mine after a long time.

The researchers from the pharmacy, and even numerous high-ranking nobles from the imperial capital.

‘I didn’t see Mica and Laura.’

Since the Countess of Rieri was the Dowager Empress’s lady-in-waiting, it seemed the Empress hadn’t invited the Rieri Count family.

I was about to click my tongue when I tilted my head.

‘Come to think of it, it’s still amazing that we received an invitation.’

Of course, the current Abner wasn’t the Abner from my previous life.

It wasn’t a hollow ducal family anymore, and Grandmother also maintained a solid position within the family.

So while I thought they surely wouldn’t not invite us…

I remembered how they had hastily sent weapon contract termination documents when I became somewhat close to Tian as a child.

‘You never know. Empress Karin is such a petty person after all.’

I nodded my head.

It seemed that the Justia newspaper had played a major role in Empress Karin sending us an invitation.

We had properly featured Empress Karin’s pregnancy news on the front page of the newspaper.

And as if that wasn’t enough, we even included congratulatory messages.

So from Empress Karin’s perspective, she had no choice even if she found us annoying.

‘If she didn’t invite us, she would appear narrow-minded.’

I straightened up from the wall I had been leaning against.

The Great Hall was a place that had rarely been opened within the Imperial Palace.

Because it was so large and magnificent, it was only used for very important events.

‘I think I’ve only been here a few times for the Emperor’s birthday celebrations?’

I looked down at the luxurious carpet on the floor and began walking down the small corridor leading to the back door of the hall.

The Great Hall was a newly constructed building built about 15 years ago by renovating the old Imperial Palace Conference Hall.

So if you walked along the corridor and turned the corner, you would find stairs leading to the second floor of the old annex.

“Hmm, the smell of an old building.”

I sniffed around for no reason.

Unlike the Great Hall, the connected annex here was a wooden building.

Perhaps because of that, it had a familiar smell.

‘The smell from Evehill Orphanage.’

A faint smile unconsciously spread across my lips.

The spider webs hanging from the ceiling, the window frames stained with children’s handprints.

The orphanage nameplate that hung dangling in one corner of the living room.

After looking around, I carefully climbed the stairs.

‘I should just take a quick look and then go back.’

Although I had never been there, the Annex of the Imperial Palace Conference Hall was built using architectural methods that were popular long ago.

According to what Tian told me, the Emperor didn’t particularly like this annex.

The reason was that it looked old, gloomily attached next to the newly built Great Hall.

Nevertheless, there was only one reason why he didn’t demolish the annex.

‘Empress Karin.’

Because Empress Karin liked this old annex.

I shrugged my shoulders and looked up.

‘She didn’t seem like someone who would like old architectural structures.’

Now in front of me appeared a corridor so narrow that only two people could barely pass through.

It was a corridor that went around the annex, once used by the servants of the Imperial Palace.

I walked carefully while looking around with curious eyes.

On the right side of the corridor were various picture frames, and on the left were small windows.

Just as I was examining the garden spread out beyond the windows and turning the corner.

“…difficult, Your Majesty the Empress.”

About ten steps away from here, at the not-so-distant end of the corridor.

Someone’s voice came through the side door located on the wall.

“Perhaps because you’re carrying a life… you seem even more beautiful than usual.”

I instinctively stopped in place.

And slowly covered my mouth with both hands.

“This is why I came.”

A drowsy, languid, and low sweet voice.

“I simply couldn’t miss this opportunity.”

Even that peculiar way of speaking.

My heart pounded thump, thump.

“You were obviously going to be this pretty today.”

The owner of the voice was undoubtedly Jayden.

I held my breath.

I couldn’t even think of going back around the corner.

The old wooden floor made a creaking sound even if I shifted my weight slightly.

While I was trembling like a rabbit caught in a trap, another voice came from beyond the side door.

“Honestly, I was surprised. I didn’t expect you to come.”

“Why would you think that? For the past few years, I’ve been coming and going through this window so much it’s worn out because of someone.”

The woman, who seemed to be definitely Empress Karin, laughed softly.

Silence followed, and soon strangely shallow breathing sounds began to be heard.

When I realized what those sounds were, I put more strength into both hands covering my mouth.

“Did you eat cake? Your lips are sweet.”

“I don’t know. My hands kept reaching for it.”

“Don’t you usually not like sweet things?”

“It’s not me, but the child seems to want it.”

I squeezed my eyes shut as they had become dry from not blinking.

My heart was beating so violently that even my head felt stuffy.

‘What kind of situation is this?’

Could I be hearing things?

If not, then an empress pregnant with a prince is having a secret meeting with Jayden!

‘Usually it’s twice a week. He always leaves the duke’s castle, and sometimes he doesn’t return until late at night the next day.’

I recalled Jayden’s movements that I had been consistently receiving reports about from Awin.

‘I’m a bit curious… why doesn’t our young master get married? Doesn’t he have anyone in mind?’

‘Hey, noble marriages aren’t decided by feelings!’

‘Otherwise it doesn’t make sense. He’s rejected all the marriage proposals that have come in. At thirty, he should have children by now…’

I had also overheard the servants cleaning the West Wing whispering several times.

I swallowed my saliva.

“Are you hurt or uncomfortable anywhere?”

“No. Everyone treats me like an emperor.”

“…Interesting.”

Empress Karin laughed.

Once again, the sound of lips meeting could be heard.

After a long while like that.

“Eden.”

Empress Karin called out to Jayden.

“Do you remember that time?”

The Empress’s voice was serious.

It was an atmosphere unbelievable for someone who had been laughing and joking until now.

“You were nine years old then. When we first met behind Abner Castle.”

Whoosh—

A light breeze swirled through the air, opening the side door slightly more.

“After that, we met every time the seasons changed. At the Imperial Palace, in the Abner Duchy, sometimes at my father’s house.”

“…”

“Then when I entered the Palace, I said this.”

Perhaps because the sun was beginning to set, sunset light streamed through the open doorway.

Through it, the long shadows of two people briefly brushed past each other.

“Someday I… this I.”

“…”

“I would give you Abner, and give your child this Empire.”

Jayden let out a low laugh.

With the sound of rustling clothes, the two shadows faced each other.

“You did, didn’t you.”

“…”

“You were always the only one who said such things to me.”

Jayden reached out his arm toward Empress Karin.

His shadow was slowly caressing Empress Karin’s shadow.

“That’s why I said I’d kill the Emperor for you too.”

I completely stopped breathing.

“If you want it, I can kill anything.”

Thud, roll roll—

At that moment, something rolled and fell from my right sleeve.

“…!”

It was the small candy that Lady Valeria had pressed into my hand at the banquet hall earlier.

I froze for only a moment, staring at the candy that had rolled away.

The shadow that had been swaying beyond the side door suddenly stopped.

The conversation had ceased at some point, and the corridor was filled with silence.

Creak, creak—

Soon, footsteps heading this way could be heard.

My heart pounded frantically at the sound.

Finally, I squeezed my eyes shut and bit my lips tightly, when—

“Sister, are you crazy! What are you doing just standing there!”

Someone’s face thrust itself right in front of me.

Two eyes clearly showing tension.

Within them, familiar green pupils.

‘Hiana…?’

Before I could be surprised for long, Hiana grabbed my arm and pulled me away.

She quickly picked up the candy I had dropped and then…

“…!”

Threw herself out the left window where the window frame had fallen away.

A few seconds later.

The side door of the annex opened completely with a creak.

What appeared was Jayden in disheveled clothes.

“…Eden. What is it?”

Empress Karin asked from inside.

Jayden looked around the corridor, then slowly relaxed his furrowed brow.

Then he turned back inside and said.

“It must have been the wind.”

The spot where Annellia had been standing was completely empty, as if no one had ever been there.

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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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