The Baby Who Regressed Refuses Childcare - Chapter 286

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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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Extra Story. Hiana and Annellia ⑶

The integration of Abner Territory and Longton Territory had happened 18 years ago.

To think they still kept and managed ledgers from such distant past.

Cold sweat seeped from her palms hidden beneath the cloak.

‘What if the name Hiana Calbey is missing from the records?’

Separate from running an unlicensed clinic, in that case she might have to go to the Imperial Court to prove her identity.

As she gripped the reins again, a knight apprentice approached carrying thick documents.

“Here is the list of territorial residents who were integrated from Longton Territory to Abner Territory.”

The Imperial Guard received the documents as if accustomed to this.

Each time his fingers turned the pages, cold sweat beaded on Hiana’s forehead.

Should she run away? On horseback?

But her opponents were knights from the Imperial Palace.

They were all armed, and there were many of them…

‘I’ll obviously get caught.’

She lowered her head slightly and bit her lower lip.

What if she abandoned the wagon and hid among the crowd lined up behind?

But unlike her brothers, she had no athletic ability.

Her conspicuous pink hair would be a problem wherever she went.

“My lady.”

Hiana flinched at the voice that suddenly reached her.

Still holding the documents, the Imperial Guard was staring straight at her.

“Did you say Hiana Calbey?”

Hiana gulped.

She forced the corners of her mouth up and answered.

“That’s right.”

The knight checked the documents again.

The following second felt like an eternity.

“Here it is, Hiana Calbey. It shows you lived in Building 26 on Pames Street in Longton Territory. Is that correct?”

Hiana’s mouth closed.

Building 26 on Pames Street.

It was the building where she had lived with her mother before being sold to slave traders.

Feeling her throat tighten, Hiana awkwardly opened her mouth.

“…No, I moved out quite a while ago.”

The knight burst into laughter.

“Of course you would have. That entire street was demolished a few years ago. What I just said was a joke.”

Hiana stared blankly at the knight who was laughing good-naturedly.

“It was a street with terrible security, wasn’t it? Even after being integrated with Abner Territory.”

She had never once been to Pames Street.

So there was no way she could know what had become of that place now.

In fact, she had consciously tried not to go near that area all this time.

It was a place she had already left behind, and she knew better than anyone that visiting would only bring back bad memories.

Her expression darkened slightly as she reflected on the past.

But the Imperial Guard seemed to think it was because of his joke.

“Oh my, I seem to be taking up too much of your time, my lady. I’ll just check if you have a medical license and send you on your way quickly.”

Hiana silently watched the knight pick up other documents.

No matter how much he searched, there wouldn’t be a medical license.

She had never applied for one in the first place.

Especially not under the long-abandoned name ‘Hiana Calbey.’

Sure enough, the knight who had been flipping through papers hesitated.

He looked at her and parted his lips.

“My lady. I’ve checked, but…”

Hiana took a short breath and nodded.

“It’s not there? It must have expired. I was busy and forgot to renew…”

“No, no. It came up in the search. It hasn’t expired yet, and since it’s valid for 10 years, you should renew it around next year.”

Hiana’s face went blank.

Soon she asked back as if she couldn’t believe it.

“…What?”

The knight held out the documents for her to see.

Below the name Hiana Calbey.

In the details section, words like ‘licensed physician’ and ‘medical practice permit’ were clearly visible.

The knight smiled warmly and pointed toward the dimly lit street beyond.

“Unfortunately, this entire area is under inspection. It’s to prevent any wanted criminals from escaping. I’ll write you an official document so you can pass through the next checkpoints comfortably.”

The knight began scribbling with a quill pen on blank parchment.

Then he brought out a strange magical device and stamped it with a pop sound.

Hiana couldn’t take her eyes off the knight.

A moment later, a stiff piece of parchment was in her hands.

[Licensed physician. Mobile clinic operation permit.]

“Next!”

Hiana hurriedly flicked the reins.

The horses moved forward and the large cargo wagon began to move.

Hiana swayed back and forth on horseback while clutching the parchment tightly.

After traveling for some time, when the village lights had grown dim, someone approached her.

“Hiana. Are you okay?”

Jas and Lewis stopped their horses and grabbed her shoulders.

“What happened? The checkpoint? Did you pass through without incident? Did you pay a fine?”

Hiana lifted her head with difficulty.

Then she got off her horse unsteadily and muttered.

“…I didn’t pay a fine.”

“What? How?”

“They said my clinic is registered.”

Silence fell among the four people.

Hiana spoke again slowly.

“It was already registered… 10 years ago.”

Only then did the three princes take the official document from her hands.

Kilios, who was examining the paper, muttered.

“This is…”

“Annellia.”

A slightly hoarse voice flowed out.

There was no way a medical license she never applied for could be registered.

Unless someone with the authority to issue and distribute licenses had intervened.

Most importantly.

‘The only person who knows I learned medicine is… aside from my brothers, only her.’

In her previous life.

In the small room that had been Annellia’s space, Hiana had only told Annellia.

“Sister. Did you know I got a medical license?”

“…Did you?”

“I’m only telling you this, but I find compounding medicine interesting.”

Maybe this suits me better than developing magic formulas.

She couldn’t bring herself to say that last part.

Not when she was constantly receiving new magic formulas and designs from Annellia almost daily.

If she said that too, it would only hurt that girl even more.

“Ugh…”

Hiana’s legs gave out and she collapsed onto the floor with a thud.

A single tear she’d been holding back dropped onto the parchment.

[Hiana Calbey]

Ten years ago.

The day she first escaped from the forest where she’d been hiding with her brothers.

She had actually gone to Annellia’s wedding.

“To the two of you, and to the new future you will lead together!”

That day, she saw Annellia among the crowd of people.

At last, that girl had found her own place where she belonged.

Hiana watched Annellia sparkling brilliantly as she mingled among the people.

‘I’m sorry. I was so sorry.’

These were words she couldn’t speak aloud, and never would be able to.

There was a time when she wondered if saying these words might ease her heart.

But Hiana knew.

Some apologies are selfish by their very existence and have no value as apologies.

Because of ignorance, because of foolishness, because of stupidity.

Any reason would ultimately just be an excuse and a justification.

So she hadn’t expected it.

Something like forgiveness—she hadn’t dared hope for it even in her dreams.

“That fool, that fool…”

That day, as she was leaving the town square, her eyes met Annellia’s.

When she swayed in the crowd and looked up again, that girl was already looking elsewhere.

So she thought it was her imagination.

Both the gaze that met hers and the shape of that girl’s lips she’d read for just a moment.

Hiana curled up while clutching the parchment.

Her breathing became rough and more and more tears flowed down her cheeks.

[Hiana Calbey.

Medical Clinic.]

She knew what those words engraved on the permit meant.

‘Now you should live as yourself too.’

Because she still remembered the shape of those lips that had brushed past.

“I’ll be a good sister to you.”

Hiana had scoffed at those words Annellia said the first day they met.

Because someone as selfish and foolish as herself couldn’t possibly have a good sister.

But,

‘I had forgotten.’

Annellia was different from her.

That girl was someone who always lived according to her own plans, according to what she said, unlike herself.

Hiana’s back rose and fell endlessly.

As she sobbed and looked down, she saw something slipping away from beneath her feet through her blurred vision.

It was the guilt that had bound her for life, that seemed like it would never leave even in death.

Hiana took a breath and lifted her wet face.

The half-risen moon was embroidering the sky with its light.

Her breath caught.

Why hadn’t she realized it until now?

Even though much time had passed, even though everything had changed, that alone remained the same.

Hiana wiped away her tears and stood up.

Pure white moonlight scattered above her head.

It was that same light from that moon she had seen with Annellia through the window of the small room.

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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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