The Baby Who Regressed Refuses Childcare - Chapter 202

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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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“Eat more.”

I widened my eyes as I watched the Dowager Empress place nicely sliced veal on my plate.

“I’m fine though….”

“Fine, my foot. Eat this too.”

However, the Dowager Empress instead placed another piece of meat on my plate.

Grandmother, who had been watching, spoke up.

“You’ll get sick if you only eat meat. Here, eat some carrots too. ‘My’ granddaughter.”

And then she placed a piece of boiled carrot on the other side of my plate.

Looking at the food that had instantly piled up on my plate, I closed my mouth.

From across the table, Lady Isabel burst into laughter.

“You two, people will tease you for being doting fools.”

Grandmother narrowed her eyes.

“What can they do when I am indeed a doting fool? Anyone who has a granddaughter like our Annellia would become like me.”

The Dowager Empress nodded as well.

“That’s right. Annellia is a child that even I, who has a grandson like Tian, find enviable.”

But the Dowager Empress soon put down her utensils with a complicated expression.

“You.”

And she looked at Grandmother seriously.

“Tian and Annellia. Make sure to keep your promise to break off their engagement in 8 years.”

Then Grandmother also put down her utensils and answered in a stiff voice.

“You don’t need to ask so earnestly, I will keep it. I’m not entirely pleased with this engagement either.”

The Dowager Empress nodded.

“Good. Then that’s a relief. No matter how I think about it, Annellia is far too good for Tian….”

“Your Majesty, I apologize, but His Majesty the Emperor just had a coughing fit.”

At that moment, a butler who had hurriedly approached whispered in a small voice.

The Dowager Empress immediately rose from her seat and left, following the butler.

Lady Isabel cleared the awkward atmosphere.

“How unexpected. I didn’t know she would be so uncomfortable about it.”

Grandmother answered while roughly cutting her meat.

“I heard there’s another young lady she has in mind as Crown Princess. She used to call my grandson ‘puppy, puppy’ since he was little.”

Finally, Grandmother put down her utensils with a loud clank!

“But when it comes to actually taking her as her grandson’s bride, she doesn’t find her suitable? What’s wrong with our Annellia! If that’s how she felt, she shouldn’t have doted on the child in the first place.”

“Mother.”

Lady Isabel whispered as if to stop Grandmother.

Grandmother let out a deep sigh and picked up her utensils again.

Then, after hesitating for a moment, she gently stroked my head with her other hand.

“You don’t need to worry about anything. No matter how close we are, the Imperial Family is still the Imperial Family. We’re high nobility too, but there’s still a wall between us and the Imperial Family.”

I quickly nodded.

“Yes! Grandmother, I wasn’t hurt.”

Grandmother gave a faint smile.

“You don’t need to pretend you’re fine. Both you and the Crown Prince must have been greatly shocked when the Dowager Empress threw a fit saying the engagement was absolutely unacceptable.”

Naturally, the situation from a few days ago came to mind.

It was the day when Grandmother, Tian, and I went to see the Dowager Empress to reveal the engagement plan.

“Tian, are you in your right mind?”

That day, the Dowager Empress’s first words were something no one had expected.

The look in her eyes as she stared at Tian was so cold that even thinking about it now gave me chills.

“Didn’t I always tell you to be serious about marriage! I told you over and over, but Annellia as your engagement partner! Absolutely, absolutely not!”

It was the first time I had seen the Dowager Empress so angry.

That day, Grandmother and I returned to the townhouse without even being able to have a proper conversation with the Dowager Empress.

Tian said he had persuaded the Dowager Empress, but that didn’t make what happened that day disappear.

“I’m really fine. She must have her reasons.”

“Reasons indeed. She just doesn’t think you’re good enough in her noble eyes.”

I awkwardly started eating again.

Grandmother continued speaking.

“I was greatly disappointed by this incident too. How much have we contributed to them over the years? Just you alone, with that gift from Ulgen or whatever….”

Grandmother soon closed her mouth.

The story about Ulgen’s gift wasn’t something to discuss in a public place.

Finally, Grandmother let out a deep sigh and looked at Lady Isabel.

“By the way, where is Theo.”

“In the bedroom.”

“Has he already started preparing?”

Lady Isabel nodded.

“They apparently said it would be good to do it around the time of the banquet after the engagement ceremony.”

I stopped fiddling with my plate and my eyes lit up.

As Lady Isabel said, Theo was indeed in the bedroom right now.

With Crookiatus’s scale, waiting for the right moment.

The moment Empress Karin would summon him.

[Ah, ah. Can you hear me?]

“I can hear you!”

After the meal.

In my bedroom, I listened intently to the small communication magic device.

Beside me, Lady Isabel and Grandmother quietly cheered.

“Honey, fighting!”

“Always remember that safety comes first.”

An awkward response came from the other side of the communication stone.

[Yes… thank you.]

As Theo installed the magic device inside his outer garment, rustling sounds continued for a while.

After the noise stopped, Theo spoke.

[By the way, Karin’s confidant mentioned a different location, not the annex.]

My eyes narrowed.

‘I thought it would be the same this time since they had secret meetings at the annex before.’

It was unexpected that Empress Karin had chosen somewhere other than the annex.

[They’re talking about the eastern forest of the Empress Palace, so I’ll head there for now.]

“Yes!”

I answered cheerfully for now.

Wherever it was, Karin and Theo had to meet so he could deliver the scale.

While Theo was moving, Lady Isabel muttered worriedly.

“Will Theo be able to act well? He’s not good at managing his expressions.”

Grandmother nodded as well.

“That’s what I’m saying. When I saw him last time, he didn’t talk much either, so I’m worried.”

I waved my hands at both of them as if to say not to worry.

“That’s why I told him not to talk much at all!”

“Not to talk?”

“He’ll say he caught a cold and his voice is hoarse.”

Lady Isabel tilted her head.

“That’s a pretty one-dimensional method. Though, surprisingly, something like that might actually work.”

We looked at each other and laughed awkwardly.

It was to suppress the anxious premonition that kept rising within us.

After some time passed like that.

Theo, who had reached the eastern forest, spoke.

[I’ve arrived. That woman should appear soon too.]

Wrinkles deepened on Grandmother’s brow.

“Are you sure you can really do this well?”

Theo answered with an uncertain voice.

[I’m not sure. I’m planning to try my best though.]

“Though?”

[…Wait a moment. She’s here.]

The three of us immediately shut our mouths.

I quickly pressed the button that blocked sound from my side.

Then a familiar voice flowed from the communication stone.

[I didn’t know it would be this hard to see your face, Eden.]

The owner of the voice was unmistakably Empress Karin.

[Why haven’t you contacted me all this time? You haven’t even come to the Imperial Palace. What on earth have you been doing in Abner Territory that even when I sent people, there was no news…!]

[I’m sorry.]

Theo answered briefly.

Empress Karin let out a “Ha!” sigh.

After a moment of quiet from the other side of the communication stone, a cold question was heard.

[The scale?]

Rustling sounds were transmitted again as Theo seemed to take out and hand over the scale.

Then Karin spoke in a much softer voice.

[I can’t be away from the Empress Palace for long. I need to go now.]

[Yes.]

[That’s all?]

I made a startled, tense expression.

[I’m saying I’m leaving and all you have is ‘yes’? Won’t you stop me? Eden, you’re strange today.]

Swallowing saliva, Lady Isabel looked at Grandmother.

“…It seems like she’s noticed something is odd.”

Grandmother clenched and unclenched her fist without answering.

I was just as nervous.

A thin-ice-like silence continued for a long while.

Just when we were staring at the communication stone as if our eyes would fall out.

[…You know there were many matters in Abner.]

A leisurely and relaxed, natural voice that was hard to believe came from Theo flowed out.

[Given the circumstances, it was difficult to leave the Duke’s castle. There were many watching eyes too.]

[Then you should have at least sent a letter.]

[I didn’t want you to get hurt because of my mistake.]

The voice that followed was very affectionate, as if soothing Karin.

Lady Isabel’s, Grandmother’s, and my eyes widened.

Theo asked again.

[But what do you mean I’m strange somewhere?]

[…You’re talking less than usual. Even after seeing me for the first time in so long.]

Theo laughed lowly.

The next moment, a sweet voice flowed from the communication stone.

[That’s because you’re staring at me like that, Karin.]

[What?]

[As you said, it’s been a long time. Don’t look at me with those eyes.]

[…]

[You’re devastatingly beautiful. It’s not like you’re planning to drive me to death.]

At the same time, a cracking sound was heard from beside us.

The wooden pen Lady Isabel had been holding was broken cleanly in two.

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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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