The Baby Who Regressed Refuses Childcare - Chapter 162

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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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We exchange letters just like before.

His tone is still affectionate and friendly.

But whenever we actually met, Tian would strangely keep his distance from me.

That said, I couldn’t rashly ask him about it from my side either.

To begin with, I wasn’t even certain if Tian was really keeping his distance from me,

‘What if I ask and things become awkward between us.’

It was foolish and unlike me, but I couldn’t help it.

This aspect of me hadn’t been fixed since my previous life.

‘I grew up in a good orphanage and eventually found a good family too.’

But anyway, I was a child abandoned by my parents right after birth.

Perhaps because of that, I had a long-standing habit of constantly worrying and fretting inside.

What if the person I love comes to hate me.

What if the person I relied on abandons me, things like that.

And this small darkness in my heart completely consumed me during my time at the Longton Duchy.

To the extent that I couldn’t completely shake it off even in my current life living differently.

‘But, thinking about it, it’s only natural.’

I heard that trauma is difficult to overcome under normal circumstances.

It wasn’t just me, but everyone around me was the same.

Soya’s stuttering, the Dowager Empress’s inability to approach her son the Emperor first.

Young Tian’s extreme fear of Karin, Grandmother’s inability to coldly suppress her vassals.

In the end, it was all because of the respective wounds carved into their hearts.

Fortunately, at least I knew exactly what my wound was.

So the me who was troubled at that time came to my own conclusion.

‘Whether Tian keeps his distance from me or not, that has nothing to do with my feelings.’

When I fell from the window with Hiana, I thought of Tian first.

‘Even when I was worried about our relationship growing distant, Tian was still someone I could rely on without change.’

Also, even now, the necklace Tian gave me was hanging around my neck.

Of course, I still didn’t believe in the luck of this necklace.

But I believed in Tian’s comfort that was contained in the necklace.

“You’re the most lovable person in the world. Who would dare abandon you?”

“That won’t happen, but if there’s ever such a person, I’ll take care of them for you.”

“Don’t cry.”

That’s why I couldn’t give up.

My friendship with Tian wasn’t something I could postpone because I was afraid of being hated or abandoned.

Because Tian in this life was too precious to me.

Because Tian was the one who gave me strength in my most fearful moment.

“Your Highness is the very first friend I ever made.”

Tian looked at me with a bewildered expression.

I met those eyes with ones filled with firm determination.

“So, I already resolved long ago that even if Your Highness keeps his distance from me, I’ll like and support Your Highness until the end.”

This time even Awin’s eyes widened.

I smiled awkwardly.

“Actually, that’s why I came today too. I wanted to tell Your Highness that you did amazingly well earlier. Hitting the target, hitting the cherry, and even hitting the bird.”

This wasn’t an exaggeration but my sincere feelings.

“Coming in behind the tent was because Your Highness seemed uncomfortable with people watching, so I was trying to be considerate in my own way but…”

“…”

“Anyway, I hope Your Highness will definitely catch the offering for the Blessing Festival! If you continue like this, you’ll surely meet a good Crown Princess and become an excellent Emperor…”

“Wait, Annellia.”

At that moment, Tian interrupted me.

Tian frowned slightly and asked as if he didn’t understand.

“What are you talking about since earlier?”

“…Huh?”

“About me keeping my distance from you. What do you mean by that?”

I barely managed to make an “Ah” sound.

Then I glanced at Awin and opened my mouth.

“Your Highness suddenly quit training…?”

“…”

“Also, you seemed to avoid me at parties and such, and around that time there were rumors…”

A short sigh escaped from Tian’s lips.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about…”

He furrowed his brow as if he didn’t know how to begin speaking.

“First of all, I didn’t quit training because I lacked talent in swordsmanship. It’s actually the opposite.”

“…”

“At that time, there was nothing more I could learn at Abner. At least not from Logrio.”

My eyes grew wide.

“I manifested aura for the first time about three months after classes started. Soon after that, I became able to handle it freely.”

“…”

“After that, I felt that sparring with Logrio was meaningless, so I quit earlier than planned.”

I moved my lips and asked.

“But, why didn’t you tell me this?”

What Tian just told me was something that could have been proclaimed throughout the entire Empire, let alone bragged about.

But for some reason, Tian remained silent.

Then after a long while, he answered as if troubled.

“…I didn’t want to seem like I was showing off too much to you.”

“What?”

“You’re a much more amazing person than me anyway, so why would I… brag.”

I slumped back against the backrest.

It was because my tension had been released.

“…And at parties.”

Tian looked at me and rubbed his forehead.

I saw his red eyes glance toward Awin and then gaze at me again.

“I always wanted to talk only with you. I wanted to stay near you from start to finish. But conscientiously, I shouldn’t do that.”

Looking at me frozen in a daze, Tian continued speaking.

“Annellia, you were everyone’s hero at that time. The Abner Academy was in full growth, and your activities at the Academy of Pharmacy were beyond words.”

“…”

“But how could I keep you all to myself? When all the people in the Empire were lining up wanting to talk with you.”

Tian’s expression became strangely sulky.

“…I’m someone who wants you to do well. I want you to freely pursue and achieve your dreams in your field.”

“…”

“So even if it was fine when we were young, you shouldn’t be tied down as the Crown Prince’s only friend even after growing up.”

I finally closed my mouth.

Thinking about it, that was really true.

When I was with Tian, people rarely approached me.

Who could strike up a conversation with someone already talking to the Crown Prince?

“And.”

Tian’s voice became even lower.

“What you said in the past was also right. You once said that the more allies I have in the Imperial Palace, the more enemies I’ll have as well.”

I straightened my posture.

“There are many nobles engaged in a war of nerves over the Crown Princess position that hasn’t even been filled yet.”

He glanced at Awin and slightly furrowed his brow.

“But is Prince Dennis going to keep staying here?”

Awin let out a short sigh and looked sharply at Tian.

“Since I’m getting updates on the situation from Lia anyway, just go ahead and speak.”

A strange tension flowed between the two men.

Soon, Tian opened his mouth as if he had no choice.

“Empress Karin as well. And the nobles of the Empire too.”

“….”

“They’re all desperate to push their favorable Crown Princess candidates into the Imperial Palace.”

I nodded slowly.

Considering the imperial family’s custom of engagement around mid-teens, Tian was already of marriageable age.

After all, the rumors I had heard were stories about candidates for Tian’s wife, weren’t they.

“It’s not widely known, but there was a poisoning incident involving the duke’s daughter at Duke Victor’s residence.”

My eyes widened.

Duke Victor’s house was the most powerful authority in the eastern part of the Empire.

Going back generations, it was also a family that had produced an empress.

“She saved her life, but Victor’s daughter still can’t speak to this day. Her vocal cords were severely damaged.”

Tian’s expression darkened.

“I can guess who the culprit is. Victor’s daughter had been receiving Father’s favor until recently….”

“She’s also the right age for Your Highness. She has excellent character and a beautiful face, so she was often mentioned as a Crown Princess candidate.”

Tian looked at me with a slightly surprised expression.

I sighed and added.

“Obviously, it must have been the work of opposing forces trying to keep Victor’s daughter in check.”

“….”

“The reason would roughly be that they want to make their own supported candidate the Crown Princess.”

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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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