The Baby Who Regressed Refuses Childcare - Chapter 179

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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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“I’m Theo Lirquian. I hear you have a great interest in magic.”

“Nice to meet you.”

I watched Theo and Isabel walking side by side through the garden.

Theo was facing forward, while Isabel was staring intently at his profile.

Perhaps uncomfortable with such a gaze, Theo spoke in a slightly awkward voice.

“Your Excellency seems to know nothing about magic.”

Isabel nodded while stroking her exposed forearms.

“Ah, yes. Mother has some aversion to magic itself.”

“Aversion?”

“You know my mother is from the Michaeliann Bloodline, right?”

Finally, Theo’s gaze turned toward Isabel.

“…I know well.”

“Since it’s a bloodline that was historically persecuted as black magicians, she dislikes being associated with magic from the start.”

“By that logic, aren’t you also from the Michaeliann Bloodline, Princess?”

Instead of answering, Isabel smiled brightly.

Then she moved in front of Theo and stood facing him.

She swept up her hair and let it flutter in the air.

“Of course. Look at this, the silver hair that’s the symbol of Michaeliann.”

And she blinked her large eyes with thick lashes twice right in front of Theo’s nose.

“Clear purple eyes. Anyone can see I’m Michaeliann, right?”

“Silver hair and purple eyes aren’t uncommon physical features even for non-Michaeliann people.”

“You don’t know anything. Not all silver hair and purple eyes are the same.”

“…Then?”

“Michaeliann silver hair and purple eyes are prettier at first glance. If you look closely, they’re ridiculously beautiful.”

Theo made a bewildered expression before reluctantly nodding.

“Ah… yes.”

Silence followed after that.

While walking quietly through the garden beside Theo, Isabel kept smiling cheerfully.

“But Theo, have you heard any other rumors about me?”

“What rumors do you mean?”

At Isabel’s gentle voice, Theo reluctantly asked back.

Isabel grinned and said naturally.

“I’m actually weak to handsome men. Like you, Theo.”

“…Ah, yes.”

Theo turned his head slightly to the other side.

However, Isabel’s singing-like voice didn’t stop.

“When I first requested a scholar dispatch to the Magic Tower, I really wondered if anyone would come. It might be different for households like Longton that invest heavily in magic, but Abner isn’t really into it, you know?”

“Certainly, Abner is like a barren land for magic.”

“Exactly. Do you know how hard it is to study magic as a princess of such a household? I made the scholar dispatch request with the feeling of grasping at straws.”

“As a result, I came, didn’t I?”

“That’s right! I’m so grateful, Theo.”

Theo paused and stared at Isabel.

“…For what?”

“For coming to our household. Mother aside, I truly welcome Theo with all my heart.”

Theo’s golden eyes blinked slowly.

Meeting that gaze directly, Isabel smiled brightly.

“Actually, I truly love magic.”

After saying that, Isabel spun around and walked ahead of Theo with quick steps.

Isabel seemed not to have noticed, but I could see it.

The tips of Theo’s ears that were slightly flushed.

“Why do you always dress like that?”

The scene changed.

Theo was standing under the gazebo, holding a pile of documents.

Across from him, Isabel, who had been absorbed in reading on a thin cloth spread out, looked up.

This time too, she was wearing a sleeveless negligee that clearly exposed her shoulders.

“You came?”

“Yes. It’s early winter now.”

Isabel’s eyes widened.

Then she looked down at her outfit.

“I forgot my coat. I woke up from sleep and came out in a hurry because I was afraid I’d be late.”

Theo sighed.

Then he put down the documents he was holding and took off his robe to offer it to Isabel.

“What’s there to be in such a hurry about? Especially to forget your coat in early winter.”

Isabel smiled sheepishly.

“I don’t usually get cold. And I didn’t want to keep Theo waiting.”

And she draped Theo’s robe over her shoulders.

“I told you, I like Theo so much. What woman would keep someone she likes waiting?”

Theo seemed at a loss for words and closed his mouth.

Then he soon furrowed his brow.

“I told you not to play such jokes on me.”

“It’s not a joke? I’m serious.”

But Isabel just shrugged as if it was nothing.

She calmly lay down on the ground again and began rummaging through the documents Theo had brought.

“I hate making anyone wait for me in the first place. I know well how hopeless waiting can be.”

Theo let out a small sigh and sat down next to Isabel.

Isabel continued speaking.

“When I was young, Father was very sick. For a while, I waited in front of Father’s room every single day. I couldn’t bring myself to go in, so I waited for Father to come out first.”

Isabel looked at Theo and smiled sheepishly.

“He passed away in the end, though.”

A light silence settled under the gazebo.

After a brief quiet moment, Isabel tapped the documents to lighten the mood.

“Anyway, so. What should I look at today? Are these all the documents?”

Theo didn’t answer.

Then he silently picked up the papers Isabel needed to see and placed them in front of her.

The two soon began examining the complex materials together.

Until the sun floating in the sky disappeared beyond the ridge.

“Theo, did you sleep well? I’ve been thinking a lot, and there’s actually something I haven’t told you.”

“What is it?”

“Actually, besides magic, I’m also greatly interested in Theo. Am I being too burdensome?”

Isabel’s gaze toward Theo changed day by day.

Curiosity, fondness.

Then from some point on, deep affection and trust.

And surprisingly, Theo’s gaze toward such an Isabel was also gradually changing.

“Stop saying things like that…”

“Then why do you wait in front of my room these days?”

“That’s my business. I also hate making you wait for me, Princess.”

Theo no longer walked looking only straight ahead.

Every two steps, he would turn his head to gaze at Isabel.

Even when taking off his robe to hand it over, even when looking at materials together.

His gaze was always directed toward Isabel.

When such days had repeated dozens of times.

One day, at the top of Abner Castle, Theo asked.

“Do you like me?”

Isabel looked up at Theo in surprise.

Behind the two of them spread a beautiful landscape with the sunset clearly visible.

Isabel’s expression was filled with bewilderment.

Rolling her eyes for a moment, she asked back in an unusually small voice.

“…Would that be wrong?”

Theo looked at Isabel as if speechless.

Then, only after a long while, he opened his lips with a stiff voice.

“Why?”

“Pardon?”

“Why do you like me? Do you know who I am?”

Isabel made a puzzled expression.

“What kind of question is that? Theo is… Theo.”

A cold wind swept between the two.

In the silence, Isabel cautiously gazed at Theo.

But Theo’s gaze was directed elsewhere.

Only after a long while did he speak stiffly.

“I’m leaving tomorrow.”

Isabel’s eyes slowly widened.

“I’ll return to the Magic Tower and never come back here again.”

“…What are you saying?”

“There’s no progress in the research. Being here is a waste of time.”

Isabel’s eyelashes trembled.

Though moisture gathered slightly in her purple eyes, Theo only stared straight ahead.

“I’ll go down first.”

“Theo.”

Isabel called out to Theo as he stood up.

But Theo coldly passed by Isabel and went down the stairs.

“Theo!”

Leaving Isabel’s voice behind, Theo returned to his room.

And he began to pack.

As he gathered the enormous amount of documents and experimental magical tools, he bit his lips so hard they might bleed.

“Theo! Let’s talk for a moment. Theo!”

Isabel, who had followed, knocked on his door.

With each desperate call, Theo’s back flinched.

“You can’t leave like this. I’m sorry, I’ll apologize. I made you uncomfortable with my selfish feelings. I’ll stop all of it now, so please just stay, okay?”

Isabel’s voice was trembling unsteadily.

But instead of opening the door, Theo slowly closed and opened his eyes.

And he quietly manipulated the magical device on his wrist.

Soon, a black dimensional rift opened in the air.

Theo stepped into it without hesitation.

The place he arrived at was an underground space completely covered in darkness.

As soon as the entrance to the dimensional rift closed completely behind Theo, a chilling voice echoed.

[Theo, my son.]

Across from Theo, two bright yellow eyes were shining in the darkness.

[You’ve returned early. Is the task I gave you going well?]

Theo answered in a sunken voice.

“I’m sorry. It seems difficult to get Isabel Abner out of the Duke’s house.”

[What?]

Immediately, anger colored the voice.

[What do you mean by that?]

“Isabel Abner has no intention of leaving the Duke’s house.”

[Then what are you supposed to do?]

The eerie voice began to growl.

[Have you forgotten what your goal is? Have you forgotten what you were born for?]

Crookiatus’s eyes flashed menacingly.

[Remember, Theo. What you must do has always been one thing. To completely cut off Michaeliann’s lineage in my place.]

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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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