The Baby Who Regressed Refuses Childcare - Chapter 238
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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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Bloz’s tears dripped steadily onto the floor.
“Bloz, the Dowager Empress has chosen you! Don’t you truly understand what that means?”
The Nancia Count’s family was not particularly wealthy or widely renowned.
However, the previous generation had served as the Privy Council Chancellor under the former Emperor, and the current Count had also served the Dowager Empress for 30 years.
Bloz’s family held a special and solid trust from the Imperial Court.
“Don’t you know better than anyone what position His Highness Tian stands in! That Person needs you! Someone trustworthy, a daughter from a family he can rely on emotionally!”
Bloz’s father was someone who took great pride in the fact that the Dowager Empress trusted the Nancia family.
“Her Majesty told me so! That publicly it’s Abner, and behind the scenes it’s Nancia who work hard to make her twilight years peaceful. How could I refuse Her Majesty’s command?”
“But Father, I told you! I already have someone I’ve promised my future to…”
“If you’re talking about Anstis, stop it!”
“Father!”
“That boy is your guard knight! He has no background or origins similar to yours, so how could he be your match?! If I had known this would happen, I wouldn’t have taken in Anstis!”
Anstis Orlando.
The gardener’s son who grew up with Bloz in the Nancia family.
The Count had taken in and raised Anstis when he became an orphan at age 8.
He truly cherished and loved Anstis, trusting him like his own son.
Until his daughter Bloz fell in love with Anstis.
“Bloz, please come to your senses! You are a member of the Nancia Count’s family, you have a duty to maintain loyalty to the Imperial Court!”
“Then what about that person? What about Anstis? Someone who always pushed me away has finally opened his heart to me…”
“Anstis has been engaged to the Millan Viscount’s daughter. They will hold their wedding ceremony in 3 years.”
“…What did you say?”
“Bloz. Rather, Anstis understands this situation better than you do. He promised not to hold you back with childish emotions.”
“That can’t be…”
“If he leaves the territory within a few years, he won’t appear before you again. So you should also settle your feelings at this point.”
“Anstis wouldn’t do that!”
“Why do you only think of yourself! Why don’t you understand that the more you act like this, the more painful it becomes for Anstis!”
Though it felt like the world was collapsing, Bloz could endure it.
The Nancia Count was her father, and all parents naturally have expectations for their children.
So really, it was okay that the Count didn’t understand her heart.
But when Anstis began avoiding her.
When she had turned away from his house dozens of times, it became unbearably difficult.
Once, she sat in front of his house in the pouring rain until sunset.
That day, the note Anstis sent through a servant, unable to bear watching any longer, was brief and cold.
[Lady Bloz. I am already promised in marriage to the Millan Viscount’s daughter. Please stop coming to see me.
I hope you too will forget me and be truly happy in your own place. I sincerely wish for that to be possible.]
Asking her to stop coming to see him.
Writing as if to say don’t approach anymore since he’s marrying another woman.
Yet why were there ink stains smeared with tears in every corner of the note?
Why were there rumors that he had no contact whatsoever with the Millan Viscount’s daughter?
“I will become engaged to His Highness Tian.”
One night, Bloz went to see the Count alone and said, holding back her tears.
“For the family, for Father, I will become engaged to the Crown Prince.”
“Is that really true?”
“But only that far.”
“…”
“I won’t take responsibility for anything that happens after that. Even if it means abandoning the family name.”
“I need to break off the engagement, Princess…”
Bloz raised her eyes, thoroughly soaked with tears.
“I must put an end to this matter…”
Annellia was looking down at her with surprise.
The reception room where the Dowager Empress had briefly stepped away.
“Drink it quickly.”
At my words, Bloz nodded.
Her fingertips trembled as she held the cup.
“Do you like this person called Anstis that much?”
“I like him. So much that I don’t think I could live without him.”
I nodded as if I had expected as much.
“It does seem that way. I’ve never seen a young lady cry and cling to the Dowager Empress so fearlessly before. You know too, don’t you, Bloz? That you’re quite remarkable in many ways.”
Bloz answered quietly.
“…I couldn’t help it. I tried hard to accept this situation too. But when I think of that person being with someone other than me…”
Bloz stared at me.
“Are you okay with it, Princess? Giving up the side of someone you love to someone else. I absolutely cannot bear it.”
I closed my mouth.
Because the question Bloz threw at me was what I had been pondering all the way to the Dowager Empress’s palace.
“…Actually, I don’t think I’d be okay with it either.”
I looked at Bloz for no particular reason.
“If I feel this way, does that mean I love that person?”
Bloz, who had widened her eyes, let out a sigh.
“Since you want to keep being together even at the cost of pain, it must be love.”
She was fidgeting with her teacup with a somewhat gloomy expression.
“Being with Anstis wasn’t always happy. Rather, there were more days that were painful and difficult because of my parents’ opposition. But I still didn’t want to be separated from Anstis. I wanted to keep being with him.”
“…Keep being together?”
“Yes, keep being together. That’s when I realized it. That I love this person.”
I closed my mouth in a daze.
Bloz’s eyes were now directed toward me.
“Princess. They say love isn’t something you can confirm during good times.”
“…”
“When it hurts, when it’s difficult. When you feel that even though it’s painful, you still need to go together. When you feel you shouldn’t give up, that’s when you confirm it.”
I hesitated and lowered my gaze.
Then I looked at the empty teacup and murmured.
“If what you say is true, then I…”
I was afraid of the future with Tian.
But if I imagined someone other than me in that future, I hated that even more.
Bloz was right.
Even if problems arise between us in the future.
Even if troublesome situations arise that cause headaches and worries.
The thought that we might be able to overcome them together kept blooming in my mind.
‘I see.’
A future with Tian was certainly a path I wanted to try, even if it would be somewhat difficult.
“I’m glad Your Highness is here.”
“I’m glad you’re here too. I’m so happy when I’m with you.”
Like those days when we were young, giggling and laughing together.
I finally raised my head.
“Miss Bloz. I’m sorry.”
“Yes?”
“I don’t think I can break off my engagement with Tian after all.”
“Princess…”
“There’s no one I can trust as much as Tian. There’s no one I can rely on as much as him. So if I were to be with someone, it would be Tian.”
But at that moment.
“What are you talking about?”
A stern voice came from behind us.
When I turned around, the Dowager Empress was standing at the door, frowning as she looked at us.
“I asked what you meant by that.”
I gulped as I looked at the Dowager Empress’s angry expression, which I had rarely seen before.
“Didn’t you clearly promise? That you would break off your engagement with Tian around this time.”
I carefully bowed my head.
“I’m sorry. I really intended to break off the engagement back then. I didn’t know I liked His Highness.”
Silence fell over the reception room.
The Dowager Empress, holding her forehead, answered in a tone that left no room for negotiation.
“I’m sorry, but I have no intention of marrying you to Tian.”
“As expected, you don’t approve of me?”
When I asked back, the Dowager Empress raised her head.
“Is it because I act too casually with Tian in private, and sometimes boss him around?”
“…Hah.”
“Your Majesty, no, Grandmother, I know. I’m not perfect crown princess material. Even if we marry, I’ll probably prioritize my own desires over the Imperial Court, and I’ll try to maintain my current position rather than become a good wife.”
“…”
“But I’m confident I can do well in my own field. That might actually be more helpful to His Highness.”
“Annellia.”
“I’ll work harder than I do now and be helpful in ways I can. I’m really confident I can pamper Tian for life without letting him lift a finger…”
“Annellia!”
At that moment, the Dowager Empress shouted in a low voice.
I looked up at the Dowager Empress with a slightly dejected face.
“What on earth have you been talking about?”
“Well, I…”
“Yes! As you said, I don’t approve of you. How could bringing you in as my grandson’s wife even make sense?”
“…What?”
The Dowager Empress suddenly grabbed my hand.
“How can such a smart child try to tie her own feet! Have you already forgotten everything I went through after giving birth to Edward? Hm?”
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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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