The Baby Who Regressed Refuses Childcare - Chapter 198

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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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“…Ah, that gives me chills.”

Owen set down the coffee he was drinking on the table.

Grandmother looked just as flustered.

“This is really disguise magic?”

Inside the meeting hall where only Theo sat in his chair.

All of us stood surrounding him in a circle.

“Why didn’t you tell us about this before? To think it could become like this, it’s unbelievable!”

Lady Isabel, who had reflexively tried to touch Theo’s cheek, hesitated and stopped.

And for good reason, because from a moment ago, Theo was no longer the Theo we knew.

“…It’s just an illusion, what’s the big deal.”

Currently, Theo had the perfect appearance of Jayden.

His burning red hair had changed to silver, and his golden eyes were now a vivid purple.

His facial features had also changed to look exactly like Jayden’s, and the more I looked, the more chills I got.

“It’s an ability I used often before becoming the Magtop Lord. My original appearance was too conspicuous, so I wanted to hide it.”

Grandmother nodded.

“…I suppose so. You said you worked as that monster’s errand boy, so that makes sense.”

Grandmother, who had been staring at Theo with complicated eyes, finally nodded.

“The engagement… let’s proceed with it. As you said, the benefits outweigh the losses for now, and since it’s temporary.”

My expression brightened.

“Wow, really?”

“Yes. But you must break off the engagement later.”

I nodded as if it were obvious.

“Of course! After about 3 years, His Highness will want to break it off first anyway.”

I smiled playfully at Tian, but for some reason, Tian didn’t respond.

Grandmother muttered with a displeased voice.

“If it weren’t for the circumstances, I would never have agreed. The Imperial Palace is such a lonely place, and to send you there. The thought of you being trapped there makes me hate even a few days, let alone years.”

Theo also let out a sigh.

He had already returned to his original appearance.

I smiled awkwardly and tried to lighten the mood.

“Come on, getting engaged doesn’t mean I have to move into the Imperial Palace permanently, right?”

“…Still.”

Grandmother, who had been looking at me with a sullen expression the whole time, stood up from her seat.

Then Lady Isabel’s eyes widened.

“Mother, are you leaving?”

“I’m craving some strong liquor, so I’m going for a drink. Maybe it’s because we’ve been talking about troublesome things for so long that my bones are aching.”

“What do you mean drinking in broad daylight! You’re getting older now, you should be careful.”

“The nerve.”

Grandmother, who had been glaring at Lady Isabel, suddenly closed her mouth.

Then she suddenly stared at Theo who was sitting in his chair.

“You, come with me too.”

Theo looked up with a surprised face.

“Me, you mean…?”

“Yes. What are you doing? Get up.”

Theo quickly stood up from his seat.

“Do you drink?”

“I don’t particularly enjoy it.”

“But you do drink, it seems.”

I watched Grandmother and Theo opening the door and leaving side by side, then turned my head.

Behind them, Rico and Owen were making a silent fuss.

I shook my head inwardly.

‘Everyone’s acting strange. Everyone’s definitely gotten a bit weird.’

Though it was temporary, now that Crookiatus was in a near-death state, everyone seemed to have relaxed their guard.

At times like this, I needed to keep my wits about me.

‘First, I need to plan how to handle the engagement announcement.’

It was when I turned my gaze toward Tian to talk with him.

“Your Highness doesn’t drink alcohol, right? Well, of course, since you’re not of age yet.”

“I don’t drink at all. I don’t plan to even after I come of age.”

“Oh my, is that so. I’m sorry if that was a rude question. I heard that royalty are all exposed to it from an early age.”

“There were previous generations who did that. But absolutely not me.”

I saw Lady Isabel and Tian having a strange conversation for some reason.

“May I ask what you usually do in your spare time?”

“I read books or train in swordsmanship.”

“My goodness. You like books? Our Annellia loves books tremendously too.”

“Actually, I started reading books because of Annellia. When we share the same knowledge, we have more things to talk about.”

I stared at Tian blankly.

Tian had been showing respectful courtesy to Lady Isabel from a while ago.

‘He was doing the same with Theo earlier….’

I wondered why he was acting like that toward people from a ducal family whose status was much lower than his, despite being the Crown Prince.

But what was certain was that Lady Isabel’s face looked very pleased as she conversed with such a Tian.

“The Dowager Empress must be so pleased. Your Highness possesses all the qualities of a wise ruler.”

Tian shook his head with a serious face.

“I’m still lacking. I still have much to learn from Grandmother.”

“What does the Dowager Empress mainly teach you?”

“She always emphasizes that before becoming a monarch, one must first learn how to be a good partner in the family.”

Lady Isabel’s eyes sparkled.

“I see… The weather has gotten a bit warmer. Would you like to have tea with me in the greenhouse in the garden? We could have a more intimate conversation.”

“I’d be delighted.”

I stared blankly at the two people leaving the meeting room side by side.

When I turned my head, I saw Owen and Rico frozen with sour expressions.

Soon Rico muttered.

“Come to think of it, we do have some interviews backed up.”

Owen frowned.

“Interviews? What interviews?”

“The Magic Tower collapsed, didn’t it? The mages who escaped without knowing what was happening are lining up to join the Abner Academy.”

“Ah, right. Is that a good thing…?”

I shook my head.

Then I said to the two of them.

“Master and Uncle Rico, go ahead first. I have something else to do.”

“Something to do? Tell us what it is before you go!”

I lightly ignored Owen’s nagging.

And I started walking toward my room.

‘I need to get my act together too.’

Because there really was something important I needed to do at this point.

“They say Annellia Abner is getting engaged to the Crown Prince.”

Karin’s hand froze as she was lifting her teacup.

She raised her sharp gaze to look at the person in front of her.

“Engagement? The Crown Prince, with the Abner Family?”

Etian Hunt, the Lord of the Hunt Family and Karin’s uncle, nodded.

“Yes. They just haven’t made the announcement yet, but it seems the general terms have already been exchanged between the Dowager Empress and Sharon Abner.”

Karin’s hand holding the cup trembled slightly.

However, she soon showed a cold, sinister smile.

“Not surprising at all. After devouring the entire Longton Territory that was a thorn in your side for life, now you’re coveting the Imperial Palace too.”

Etian Hunt drank a sip of tea without answering.

Then he whispered quietly in a distinctly lowered voice.

“…Can you no longer use sorcery?”

One of Karin’s eyebrows twitched.

“Haven’t you done well with everything so far? With that sorcery.”

Karin set down her cup with a sharp sound.

Then she stroked her protruding belly and said.

“I told you I need time, Uncle.”

Etian Hunt furrowed his brow and replied.

“The current situation isn’t good. His Majesty keeps staying only in the palace, so our faction seems to be falling apart too…”

“First, there’s something I need to receive from Jayden Abner.”

Etian Hunt closed his mouth.

Karin, with a frown, quickly continued speaking.

“I need to receive that item first before I can contact the gods or whatever. Do you understand?”

Under her sharp gaze, Etian reluctantly nodded.

To such Etian, Karin shook her head disapprovingly.

“When the engagement ceremony is held, Jayden will come to the Imperial Palace. He’s also a member of the household after all. I’ll receive the item then, and return to Hunt Territory temporarily under the pretext of recuperation.”

“…”

“So make sure to maintain the ritual altar properly so it can be used then.”

“…I understand.”

Etian, who had bowed his head, rose from his seat.

Then he paused and added one more thing.

“Still, it would be better if you hurried. Your Majesty the Empress.”

Karin was frozen like ice.

Then as soon as Etian left, she rose from her seat and violently threw the cup in her hand.

Looking at the shattered cup, she muttered to herself.

“Why, why is there no contact?”

Philomena had said she entrusted the scale to Jayden.

However, Jayden had been silent for several weeks now.

He definitely should have made contact first.

“Even though he knows I can’t contact him first while trapped in the Imperial Palace!”

The area around Karin’s eyes turned bright red.

As her heart began beating rapidly from anger, Karin obsessively stroked her belly.

She sat back down in the chair and glared at the table intensely.

“…I lack subordinates.”

The work with Philomena and Jayden was so secretive that she had been living without even maids until now.

Perhaps due to childhood habits, it was more comfortable not having maids following her around like hands and feet.

But apparently, she couldn’t continue living like this anymore.

“Etian.”

She muttered quietly.

Then she shouted again irritably.

“Etian-!!!”

At the sharp voice, Etian, who had left, came rushing back in hurriedly.

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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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