The Baby Who Regressed Refuses Childcare - Chapter 278

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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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[I’ll be an adult with a hundred dollhouses – Mica]

Below the neat sentence that seemed to be written by Teacher Ann.

Mica’s name was written in barely recognizable handwriting.

“I didn’t know I couldn’t write properly back then.”

Mica added, but I continued reading the other writings.

[Jo wants a rich mom – Lorenia]

There was also a wish from a child who was two years older than me in my memory,

[Bear – Lulu]

And Lulu’s brief word, seemingly wanting a teddy bear.

That wasn’t all.

Tom, Bruno, Audrey too.

Each wish pressed onto the paper pierced my heart.

Just then, the last sentences occupying the very end of the drawing paper caught my eye.

[First. I want to become a wonderful adult.

Second. I want to meet Annellia’s family soon.

Third. I want to live happily for a very long time, sharing lots of love with my family.

– Annellia.]

A teardrop finally fell onto the frame.

Mica smiled and pointed to the right corner of the drawing paper.

“This is from the year you left the orphanage, right? Teacher Ann must have kept it. She wanted to give it to you personally, but she had a baby yesterday.”

There, the small letters “Imperial Year 1287” were written.

Only then did my memory become clear.

In early 1287, when I met my family, there was a day when meteor showers poured down.

Teacher Ann hastily made wish papers for the orphanage children, and that day everyone wrote their wishes on paper.

“Everyone wrote one wish, but only you wrote three. You were really something.”

Tom laughed and Lulu giggled.

“I’m more amazed by the handwriting. To think this is a four-year-old’s writing…”

I silently held the frame tightly in my arms.

And muttered in a choked voice.

“Still, we all achieved them.”

The dollhouses, the teddy bear, meeting family.

“That’s right. We really did achieve them all.”

Mica answered in a relieved voice and looked at me with playful eyes.

“But Annellia, even for you, one thing was wrong.”

Mica pointed to the second wish I had written on the drawing paper.

“Here you wrote that you wanted to meet your family soon. But you already had family back then.”

Mica hugged me again.

“You’re family to us too. Back then, now, and forever.”

I buried my face in Mica’s shoulder.

And whispered in a barely audible voice.

“Yes. I actually knew…”

When my first life ended and I returned to being four years old again.

When I opened my eyes under that cobweb-covered ceiling.

The reason I burst into tears wasn’t simply from relief alone.

“I’m sorry, I couldn’t say it back then.”

I felt Mica stiffen momentarily.

Though her face seemed to ask what I was talking about, wet words continued flowing from my mouth.

“Because I got to meet you all again, because I got to see the family I thought I’d never see again…”

“Annellia, what are you talking about?”

“Just, thank you.”

Mica didn’t know that I had regressed around that time.

So she wouldn’t understand what I meant, but I really wanted to say it.

“…I was really grateful. Back then, now, always.”

The reason I could regain my will to live 14 years ago.

The reason I could take that one step forward to change my future with courage.

It was entirely thanks to these children from the beginning.

“Sister Mica! Don’t make Sister Annellia cry. How can you make the bride cry?”

“I, I didn’t make her cry! She suddenly started doing this, what am I supposed to do?”

“Let’s just enjoy ourselves! I think this is the first time I’ve seen Annellia crying?”

Even now that time has passed, we were still the same as when we were young.

I felt like the scent of Evehill Orphanage was drifting from somewhere.

The smell of old wood, the smell of Teacher Ann cooking soup.

Even the grassy smell of Ivehill Plains that used to tickle my nose when I opened the door.

‘I did well.’

Overcoming the loneliness of times when I felt alone.

Though I got lost and wandered, I finally made it safely to where I needed to be.

‘Annellia, be happy. You can do it.’

Teacher Ann’s blessing from my childhood days had finally become reality.

When I turned around, I saw Tian standing in the distance, looking at me.

When our eyes met, he began walking toward me.

“Annellia, go quickly.”

Mica pushed my back and spoke in an affectionate voice.

As I hesitantly took a step, Tian approached and took my hand.

“You didn’t forget your promise to stand by my side during the coronation declaration, did you?”

“Annellia, there you are!”

The Dowager Empress, who had approached at some point, also called my name in a hearty voice.

Beside her was Grandmother, looking very excited.

Grandmother handed me a glass filled with pretty-colored champagne and said.

“We were about to raise a light toast before the coronation declaration. Everyone’s waiting, so we should hurry.”

Indeed, I could see family members gathered where Grandmother was pointing.

“Daughter! Over here!”

Mother waving her hand with a bright smile.

“Annellia, you must be cold. Come over here quickly.”

Father, thinking the weather was chilly, running over with a shawl he had draped over a chair.

“Come to think of it, what is that dress? Isn’t it showing too much shoulder?”

“What nonsense! Our Young Master has exceptionally beautiful neck and shoulder lines that should be shown!”

“That’s right, that’s right!”

Owen, Miel, and Soya bickering.

“Annellia, I think you’ll need to help me a bit. I have no idea how to give the congratulatory speech later…”

Even the Emperor, frowning deeply while holding the congratulatory speech paper for Tian’s coronation declaration.

But for some reason, my heart was pounding so hard that my feet wouldn’t move.

‘…It feels like a dream.’

Everything resembled so deeply the future I had desperately envisioned.

When I turned my head, I saw Grandmother already passing around glasses to the orphanage friends as well.

“Come, come. You all come here too. But you’re all past the age of majority, right?”

“Of course! Everyone except Lulu and Tom passed it long ago. Don’t worry!”

“Then that’s settled.”

Grandmother, who had reached an agreement with Mica, grabbed my other hand.

And she dragged me toward where the people were gathered.

Standing in the center with Tian, the other guests had already formed a circle around us.

Grandmother was the first to speak.

“Today is an incomparably joyful and grateful day! Two people, and furthermore two families, have formed a precious bond that comes once in a lifetime.”

People nodded their heads.

“So today, we cannot help but raise our glasses for these two people’s love, happiness, and future.”

At Grandmother’s words, the Dowager Empress stepped forward.

And then she shouted as if she had been waiting for this moment.

“For these two people and the new future they will lead!”

“For the future!”

“For both of your futures!”

Hands holding glasses rose high into the air all at once.

Cheers erupted from all around.

Some waving their hands, others drinking from their glasses.

I stood there in a daze, listening to the blessings pouring down on us.

The night sky I looked up at was so beautiful.

More than anything I had ever seen before.

‘I want to live happily for a very long time, sharing lots of love with my family.’

When I wrote it on the wish paper, I didn’t know.

That I would be together with so many people like this.

I thought of Teacher Ann, who would be watching the reception through the building’s window by now.

I took in the faces of Mica and the other orphanage friends one by one.

‘Family who grew up and lived together.’

Next, I thought of Grandmother, Mother, Father, and my two new younger siblings.

‘Family who share blood.’

Finally, I turned my head.

I could see Tian’s profile standing beside me.

‘…Even the family I chose.’

Now everyone was together.

All of them loved me, and I loved them all so very much too.

So there was only one thing left.

‘Like this, happily, and for a very long time.’

A smile slowly spread across my lips.

I squeezed Tian’s hand tightly and said.

“For the future.”

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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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