The Baby Who Regressed Refuses Childcare - Chapter 240
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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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“Mmm~ The weather is so warm!”
As I said this while looking up at the cloudless sky, Mica, who had been lying next to me, sat up.
“What’s with that sentimental way of talking?”
I put down the book I was holding and narrowed my eyes.
“What do you mean? I was just saying what I saw and felt.”
“What are you talking about? Usually you’d say ‘The weather isn’t bad’ or ‘The weather is decent,’ and that too completely monotone!”
I tilted my head while touching the lawn.
“Did I really do that?”
“Yes! You did! And what’s that thing you’re holding in your hand right now?”
I held up the book that had been resting on my lap with a puzzled expression.
“Can’t you tell by looking? It’s a book.”
“Exactly! The cover is pink!”
Mica snatched the book from my hands and read the cover with disbelief.
“Last Love…?”
Mica frowned deeply and stared at me.
“Annellia. Are you sick somewhere?”
“Huh?”
“From when we were at the orphanage until now, I’ve never once seen you read a romance novel.”
Only then did I hastily snatch the book back from Mica.
“I, I didn’t know it would be this interesting. It has literary merit too, and it helps develop insight into life and people.”
Mica still muttered with suspicious eyes.
“You must be getting along really well with Crown Prince lately.”
I looked at Mica in shock.
“Wh, what are you talking about?”
“You’re going to announce your marriage later today. The fact that you, who said you’d break off the engagement even if it killed you, decided to do this means there must have been some progress between you two.”
Mica narrowed her eyes and subtly poked my side.
“Is it nice?”
“Ni, nice? What’s nice about it? Nothing much will change anyway.”
“How can nothing change? You’ll have to redo everything properly starting with kissing.”
I shut my mouth with a gasp.
Remembering what happened at the Dowager Empress’s Palace two days ago, my neck instantly felt hot.
Mica raised her eyebrows.
“Oh my, looks like you already did.”
“It’s not like that!”
I shouted and got up from my seat.
Then I hurriedly brushed the dust off my skirt and started walking toward the manor.
“Wait for me!”
Mica followed and chattered.
“Anyway, it’s going to be really fun later. You invited Tom, Lulu, and all the other kids, right?”
“It’s a coming-of-age ceremony, so of course I had to invite my siblings from the orphanage.”
“Are Prince Marque and Euriko coming too?”
“Yes. Kanaelle is coming too.”
“Crazy! People from Duke Victor’s family are coming too?”
Mica unnecessarily touched her neatly tied hair and gulped.
“I’m a fan of Duke Victor. You know he bought an entire famous theater troupe in the Imperial Capital around the time of Karin Empress’s execution? He even made a surprise appearance in a performance the other day!”
When Kanaelle faked her death and escaped from Karin.
I already knew from Lulu that Duke Victor’s acting was amazing.
But I never imagined he would actually perform in a play himself.
“Duke Victor really acted?”
“Yes! And he was better than expected! He said after the performance that it had been his dream to stand on stage, and ahhhh…”
I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
Behind me, Mica continued making swooning sounds.
“In my opinion, he’s got it. He’s definitely got what it takes! Just wait and see, within a few years he’ll be famous as a great actor sweeping the Imperial Capital’s theater scene.”
“It must not have been easy because of his position, but that’s amazing.”
“Is that just ‘somewhat amazing’?”
As we giggled together, soon the wide-open garden gate came into view.
Quite a few carriages had already arrived outside the fence.
In the distance, Miel and Soya came running frantically.
“Young Master! Where did you go off to again!”
“You can’t just be so carefree by yourself like this!”
The two stood in front of me and worriedly fussed with my hair and clothes.
“Hurry, let’s go change into your first outfit. The Young Duchess said white would be better for the second part since there will be a marriage announcement.”
“Mother did?”
“Yes! The guests have already arrived, let’s hurry!”
I nodded and quickened my pace with Miel and Soya.
As I entered the dressing room, Mother and Ann looked up from their seats with bright faces.
“Annellia. Take a look at this. I picked out a few outfits I’d like you to wear for the first part.”
“And you absolutely must wear this hair accessory. It’s red, so I think it’ll go well with your hair.”
The dress the two had chosen fit my body perfectly.
When I turned my gaze to the window, I could see dozens of tables and gorgeous decorations set up in the garden.
As I was scanning the decorations, I soon paused.
“…Balloon arches.”
That wasn’t all.
The daisy vases placed high on the tables, and even the large cake that servants were bringing over.
‘It’s exactly the same as back then.’
The party decorations were arranged similarly to my fifth birthday at Abner Castle.
Maybe because it was the first birthday party I’d ever had.
The excited memories from that time still remained vivid in my mind.
“Annellia! What are you doing? Come down here already.”
Just then, a familiar voice came from far outside the window.
Grandmother was waving at me with a bright smile.
At the same time, on the eastern coastline of the Western Continent.
“Yaaawn, I’m dying of sleepiness.”
A marine who had been sprawled on the deck of a moored ship sat up.
Under the warmly shining sunlight, he looked out at the open sea.
“These days there aren’t many demon beasts either, so life is really good. Don’t you think?”
Next to him, another marine leaning against the railing closed his eyes tightly.
“Hey, didn’t you hear what they said above? They’re going to keep appearing long-term. At times like this, bottom-feeders like us can’t let our guard down.”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
The marine who replied sparkled his eyes.
“A few days ago, Crown Prince came personally and swept away all the Cobalts that had hidden in the forest. How reassuring that was!”
“Were you there? I was guarding the ship so I couldn’t see. They say he was incredible?”
“It wasn’t just incredible. He wielded sword energy like I’d never seen in my entire life!”
“Hey, isn’t that too exaggerated?”
“I’m telling the truth! How should I put it, he swung his sword once but there were dozens of sword energies. It was like some kind of wave, you know, like when wind blows across a field and the reeds sway.”
“Wait, is that even possible?”
“That’s what I’m saying! According to his aide, he received some transcendent power at an altar chosen by the gods. Since that egg on Debokio Island is going to resurrect soon, it was also to prepare for that.”
“Hey. Is it true that the egg is going to hatch?”
At the conversation between the two marines, soldiers who had been resting nearby began gathering one by one.
“Of course! We’ve been anchored here for 5 years and you’re still saying that? Of course it’s real!”
“I was just hoping. Evil gods and all that—it’s such an absurd story.”
“Then how do you explain the Cobaluths that appear every month? They’re demon beasts. Demon beasts that had been hiding for so long!”
“That’s true, but…”
The atmosphere grew solemn.
As silence continued, one marine stretched and said.
“Anyway, it’s true that these past few days have been livable, so let’s enjoy the present. The weather’s nice too—how about a drink after duty?”
“Sounds good. Let’s see, today’s night watch is…”
But the speaking soldier’s voice gradually grew quieter.
His expression hardened, and soon his complexion turned pale.
“What is that?”
The other marines turned their gaze.
“What?”
“Over there. Our position that we set up on the coastline…”
Everyone fell silent one by one.
Before their eyes, the land was getting farther and farther away.
And it was moving to a dizzying depth below.
“R-run!”
Soon, along with urgent shouts, a heavy impact struck the hull.
Below the completely shattered stern, dozens of bright red glowing eyes revealed themselves.
“It’s a demon beast! Run—!”
“Ahhh! Save me—!!”
The marines’ screams were soon completely buried by the sound of the ship breaking in half.
As the demon beast that devoured the entire ship roared fiercely, birds flew up from the forest.
Beyond the horizon that reflected the clear sky perfectly.
Dozens of identical demon beasts were swimming toward land.
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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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