The Baby Who Regressed Refuses Childcare - Chapter 161
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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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Three arrows that passed through the bowstring pierced right through the center of the target.
The gathered crowd stirred greatly.
“That’s impossible. Is that really His Highness the Crown Prince’s skill?”
“I’ve never heard that he shoots arrows even as a hobby!”
I was equally frozen by the unbelievable sight.
I remained fixed in place and hesitantly tapped Awin’s shoulder.
“A, Awin… what was that just now?”
“Well. It seems His Highness Tian is winning in the target shooting contest.”
“Exactly!”
That’s what I’m saying.
How on earth is Tian beating Armin?
As I blinked in bewilderment, the nobles around us whispered.
“How has His Highness managed to hide such tremendous skill all this time?”
“That’s right! We had no idea he possessed such talent.”
Their words were true.
Aside from political movements, Tian had never appeared before people.
Especially not in martial arts like swordsmanship or archery.
“One last time. Let’s do it one more time.”
Then Armin spoke with an ominous voice.
“Isn’t it rather ridiculous to determine superiority with just one contest?”
“Let’s do that.”
Tian nodded readily.
“But it seems there are no targets left.”
Everyone’s gaze focused on one spot.
As Tian said, the target box was empty.
Armin quickly scanned the surroundings.
Then he strode purposefully somewhere.
It was near the tent, where another box was located.
“How about this?”
Soon, people who saw what Armin pulled out stirred greatly again.
What Armin held was a dark red cherry.
A moment of silence followed, then Tian chuckled and stared at Armin.
“As you wish.”
And so, at the riverside where even more people had gathered than before.
One imperial palace knight stood in front of the river holding a cherry.
“I will throw the cherry toward the river. Your Highness and the prince just need to hit it.”
People immediately began murmuring.
“No, hitting such a small object is already impossible…”
“You’re saying they’ll throw that and hit it in mid-air?”
Meanwhile, Tian and Armin seemed unfazed.
“That much is easy.”
Armin stepped forward first with a competitive expression.
As he readjusted his grip on the harpoon, a cherry was immediately thrown into the air.
The spectators held their breath watching the fruit draw a parabola in the air.
The cherry against the dark night sky was barely visible,
Swoosh-
Armin’s harpoon precisely cut the cherry in half.
“…They say people from the Marque Kingdom learn to throw harpoons from age two.”
“Why, isn’t it said that only God can defeat them in naval combat?”
Watching Armin retrieve his harpoon, people clicked their tongues in amazement.
“Let’s watch for now. Isn’t it His Highness’s turn this time?”
Meanwhile, Tian stepped forward to the riverside.
Armin watched such Tian with wary eyes.
A moment of silence settled,
“Ohh…!”
Another cherry was thrown over the river.
What happened next was unbelievable even seeing it with one’s own eyes.
Tian drew the bowstring at an almost impossible speed.
The fired arrow hit the cherry in mid-air very easily…
“It hit the tree on the other side!”
And continued racing to embed itself in a tree on the opposite riverside.
But that wasn’t the end.
Flutter-
The next moment, a small flock of birds flew up from the tree.
“…”
Twang- Twang-
Then the sound of the bowstring being drawn twice more was heard rapidly,
“…That’s impossible.”
Two wild birds fell into the river with a time delay.
Their bodies precisely pierced through.
Among the silent spectators.
Awin muttered in disbelief.
“What on earth was that…”
Late at night after the contest ended.
I quietly crossed behind the tents with Awin.
We were heading toward Tian’s tent.
Awin, who was following behind, asked quietly.
“Annellia. But do we really have to go so secretly? It seems like we could just enter from the front.”
“No way. If Dimas and Armin catch us, it’s death.”
“Why?”
“Because they’ll obviously grumble that I went to His Highness Tian instead of checking on them first.”
Awin closed his mouth.
Then soon nodded his head.
“Right, that’s definitely right.”
Meanwhile, we arrived at the back of Tian’s tent.
I shrank my neck as much as possible, tucking it into my clothes, and looked around.
“Just stay here for a moment, okay? When there’s no one around, I’ll quickly go to the front and…”
“Annellia?”
At that moment, the tent fabric right in front of me was suddenly lifted.
I was startled and froze stiffly.
“What are you doing here?”
The one lifting the fabric and looking at me was none other than Tian.
“So you came all the way here? To ask why I’m good at archery?”
I hesitantly nodded my head.
Tian burst into quiet laughter.
“…That’s so like you. You’ve always been unable to stand having something you’re curious about, even from before.”
I felt slightly wronged and opened my eyes wide.
“It’s not necessarily like that, you know?”
Then I stopped mid-sentence and awkwardly lowered my gaze.
‘How much I worried about you all this time.’
It turned out my worries were the most useless thing in the world.
Unlike my expectation that he would have terrible martial arts skills, Tian was incredible.
He could even shoot down birds flying in the sky.
I raised my head.
“Your Highness. You suddenly stopped coming to the townhouse two years ago, didn’t you?”
“I did.”
“And you stopped training with Uncle Logrio too.”
“Yeah.”
Two years ago, Tian really suddenly cut off his visits to Abner.
After that, our opportunities to see each other face to face clearly decreased.
‘Of course I understand.’
Until entering the Prodigy Academy, well, we were both just children.
Tian had his free time, and I had mine.
But after Tian regained his power.
And I entered the Prodigy Academy, the situation changed.
‘I became busy with the academic society and the Prodigy Academy, and Tian became busy with government affairs.’
Still, if there was one time we could meet and have conversations.
It was during Tian’s sword training sessions that happened weekly at Abner.
But Tian,
“I was a bit concerned when Your Highness suddenly stopped training.”
Tian’s eyes widened slightly.
“Since you quit without saying anything, I thought there might be some unspeakable circumstances.”
“….”
“I thought maybe you really had no talent for martial arts, maybe you quit because there was no progress. Maybe that’s why you couldn’t say anything.”
I awkwardly avoided Tian’s gaze.
“I was a bit disappointed but… well, it’s not like we couldn’t see each other at all, so I just stayed quiet….”
Around that time, various stories were circulating in the Imperial Capital.
Typical examples were things like this.
“I’m truly curious about which family His Highness the Crown Prince will be connected to.”
“Indeed! Everyone’s been talking about that lately.”
“Isn’t there a rumor that he’s close with the Abner Duke’s daughter?”
“Oh my, the Abner family would be too much of a stretch to be connected to the Imperial family.”
“What’s wrong with the Abner family? It’s a traditional guardian family, and currently one of the most successful noble houses. That should be enough….”
“It’s not enough. She doesn’t meet the basic requirements.”
“Basic requirements?”
“Has there ever been a single case of a commoner becoming Empress? Not once in the Empire’s entire history.”
Before meeting me, Tian had no connections with nobility at all.
Perhaps because of that, people were very interested in my relationship with Tian.
“The Crown Princess must be a flawless young lady from a distinguished family. For that, His Highness the Crown Prince should also familiarize himself with various candidates in advance.”
“You speak truly. I also have a few rising young ladies in mind, but His Highness the Crown Prince….”
“Only stays close to the Abner Duke’s daughter, they say? Really… time is precious.”
Since these were rumors that even reached my ears as the person involved, Tian couldn’t have been unaware of them.
The problem was that around that time, Tian really did start keeping his distance from me.
Very subtly, especially in public places like parties or banquets.
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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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