The Baby Who Regressed Refuses Childcare - Chapter 201

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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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Imperial Capital, Great Hall of the Imperial Palace.

“These two people have sworn before me, Alexandra Minerva, and many witnesses that they will become a couple to spend their lives together in the future….”

Dowager Empress Alexandra’s voice resonated calmly.

“In the name of the sun and the empire, I declare the engagement of these two people.”

Then thunderous applause erupted from the tables that filled the Great Hall.

One nobleman watching this scene with displeasure, Duke Dugal, muttered quietly.

“…It’s not even a proper wedding, just making such a fuss over a mere ten-year-old’s engagement.”

A sympathetic sigh was heard from beside him.

“Exactly. The engagement ceremony itself is an imperial tradition, so that’s understandable. But what’s with all these guests?”

“How would I know?”

Duke Dugal looked around the Great Hall as if he had a headache.

About sixty tables spread across the spacious hall.

And nobles filling every seat at those tables.

“Obviously it’s just for show.”

Duke Dugal continued irritably.

“During the previous emperor’s time, and even the generation before that, the number of guests was standardized at around 50. After all, the formal wedding is still to come.”

“But?”

“There’s a reason for the saying ’empty carts make the most noise.’ Because their engagement is fake, because it’s a hastily arranged scheme with the sole intention of dismantling us pro-Empress nobles, they’re making such a big fuss.”

Another pro-Empress noble who was sitting leaned toward them.

“I’ve also heard the rumor that this engagement is a contract marriage.”

Duke Dugal’s gaze turned toward him.

“Where from?”

“It’s already a widespread rumor among the wealthy district people in the capital. There was the hunting event incident, and the Longton family also… that’s how things turned out, isn’t it.”

The nobles’ expressions darkened.

Today, no one was unaware of the incident where Philomena Longton brutally murdered her own brother and head of the Longton family, Lambert Longton.

Moreover, Philomena Longton was a dark mage and had confessed to targeting even the Crown Prince.

Due to this incident, the Longton family was completely destroyed.

The prestigious Longton name disappeared, and their vast territory was incorporated into Abner’s domain.

No one knew where Longton’s three princes and princess were now.

Rumors that they were secretly killed as seeds of traitors.

Rumors that the Dowager Empress showed mercy and spared those four.

And even rumors that they secretly left the capital and were living somewhere deep in the forest.

“Wh-why are you suddenly talking about Longton? Just hearing about it gives me chills.”

The pro-Empress noble who brought up the topic cleared his throat.

He then continued speaking.

“Anyway. There’s never been a better time for the pro-Dowager Empress nobles, that is, for Abner to expand their power.”

“That’s true.”

“So Abner will definitely be used briefly and then discarded. After making the engagement with Abner successful and giving strong support to the Dowager Empress faction….”

“The real marriage will be with a daughter from another prestigious noble family?”

“Exactly!”

Duke Dugal nodded.

“When you think about it, isn’t that right? Annellia Abner shares not a drop of blood with the duke, and she’s from an orphanage….”

“And I have one more thing to announce to all nations using this occasion.”

At that moment, the Dowager Empress’s voice cut off his words.

Everyone at the table, including Duke Dugal, looked toward the Dowager Empress.

“Princess Isabel. Come here.”

Duke Dugal’s face stiffened with surprise.

Isabel?

Isabel was the daughter of Sharon Abner, who had died more than ten years ago.

There was no reason for such a person’s name to be mentioned at this engagement ceremony….

“My longtime friend Sharon, who leads Abner, recently got her daughter back.”

Soon a beautiful woman walked out and stood beside the Dowager Empress.

White and clean skin, lips with a neat smile.

Clear eyes that seemed captivating just to look at.

Exclamations burst out from various parts of the hall as they recognized that face.

The Dowager Empress continued calmly.

“She suffered from a serious illness but recently recovered completely and returned, so I’m sorry I knew nothing about it all this time.”

The murmuring grew louder.

The pro-Empress nobles were equally flustered with surprised faces.

“What, what is this? Are you saying that Isabel Abner’s death ten years ago wasn’t true?”

“It, it seems so. But what on earth is this….”

Duke Dugal stared heavily at the dais where Isabel was standing.

‘Just when Abner is already on a winning streak, now Isabel Abner returns too.’

Even if the situation was unfavorable, it was despairing that things could flow this unfavorably.

“But didn’t they just say she suffered from a fatal disease? Given Sharon Abner’s personality, she must have announced her daughter’s death and had her recuperate somewhere secluded!”

“Ha, really! How ruthless, how ruthless! Both Sharon Abner who announced to the entire empire that her perfectly alive daughter was dead, and that daughter who stubbornly overcame a fatal disease and returned alive!”

“Lower your voice…! There are many people here.”

While Duke Dugal held his forehead, the Dowager Empress’s statement continued.

“Anyway, with Princess Isabel’s return, I’ve learned some new facts, but I’ll discuss those gradually.”

People stirred once again.

Isabel’s return alone was confusing enough, and now there’s more to reveal?

Then Isabel stepped forward.

“It’s been a long time, everyone. I think I see some familiar faces too.”

Isabel surveyed the crowd with her characteristic clear smile.

Then, as if remembering something, she smiled and clapped her hands.

“Oh my, I should have started by expressing my gratitude first.”

Then a clear statement that everyone could hear resonated through the hall.

“Thank you all so much for coming to my daughter Annellia’s engagement ceremony today. As the mother who gave birth to her, this is such a joyful day.”

“Ah, she means she’ll raise her adopted daughter like her own biological daughter!”

“That’s not what she said! She clearly said ‘the mother who gave birth to her’!”

Duke Dugal silently frowned at the fierce debate.

“She just said mother. ‘As a mother, this is such a joyful day,’ that’s what she said!”

“Even if she said that, she said ‘who gave birth to her’ before that, I heard it clearly! I don’t know how it happened, but surely Annellia Abner is…!”

At that moment, Duke Dugal raised one hand.

Everyone immediately fell silent.

Before the duke stood his aide, whose face had turned deathly pale.

“Did you find out what I asked?”

Duke Dugal asked coldly.

The aide restlessly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

“Well….”

At the aide’s whispered words, Duke Dugal shot up from his seat.

The other nobles also stood up with frightened expressions.

The sound of chairs scraping was noisy, but it didn’t draw attention.

Everyone in the hall was absorbed in the party that had started after the engagement vows.

“Duke Dugal! Where are you going!”

Duke Dugal quickly left the hall with a stern face.

As soon as he opened the door and went out, other pro-Empress nobles immediately followed him.

“No, you should at least tell us what happened!”

“…You’re right.”

“What?”

“Annellia Abner is indeed the biological daughter of Isabel Abner.”

Silence fell among the Empress faction nobles.

One person hesitantly opened their mouth.

“H-how is that possible? That girl, wasn’t she the one the Duke brought from the orphanage when she was four years old?”

“She only stayed at the orphanage temporarily. The family situation wasn’t good at the time, so they deliberately had her stay quietly in a safe and trustworthy place.”

“That can’t be!”

“There’s a commoner named Ann Clark who took care of the young lady at the orphanage. Seeing how close that commoner is with all the Abner household members…”

The nobles’ faces darkened.

‘Annellia Abner.’

She was the child they had despised as having lowly blood until the very end.

They had deliberately insulted her loudly, saying that while her shell was that of a young lady, what was inside was just a worthless commoner.

‘Commoner origin’, ‘rootless nobility’, ‘an orphan with nothing to boast about except her brilliant mind.’

There were countless words they had said against that child…

“I need to go.”

At that moment, Duke Dugal turned around.

The Empress faction nobles stared at him with pale faces.

“Wh-where are you going?”

Duke Dugal looked at them quietly and uttered a single sentence.

“You should all think carefully too.”

“What? About what…”

“I’m going to beg forgiveness from Duke Abner and Her Majesty the Dowager Empress.”

With those final words, the Duke opened the door and disappeared into the hall.

The remaining Empress faction nobles stared at each other blankly.

Then they hurriedly followed after Duke Dugal.

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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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