The Baby Who Regressed Refuses Childcare - Chapter 31

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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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Two days later.

“I’m fine, I’m fine!”

I kept muttering to myself as I stared at the dozens of tables spread across the lawn.

The garden was bustling with preparations for my birthday party.

“I’m really totally fine!”

The tables were decorated with pretty flowers, and balloon arches were everywhere.

Just then, servants brought out a huge cake under the most magnificent arch.

“It’s not like I asked for a birthday party or anything. Hmph.”

But then I was left speechless when I saw what began to be placed on the tables.

Golden candlestick decorations were arranged on luxurious tablecloths embroidered with gold thread patterns.

All the tableware was silver, and every single dish looked delicious.

My legs gave out and I crouched behind a flower partition.

“Is, is this… right?”

Why, for what reason was my birthday party so grand?

This seemed even more splendid than Hiana’s birthday party I’d seen in my previous life.

Colorful paper streamers tickled my confused face.

Suddenly I remembered what Miel had said.

‘This is your birthday party, but it’s not just your birthday party.’

‘Everyone is so happy that such a pretty, kind, and smart young lady came to the manor.’

But still, this was really too overwhelming.

I had planned to live quietly in the manor, just breathing and occasionally dropping hints about the future.

Such a grand birthday party was completely against that plan!

“There’s no need for it to be this extravagant…”

I was sniffling and muttering to myself when it happened.

“Well, I did make a promise to the Dowager Empress.”

“Waaaaah!”

I jumped up from my spot with a start.

When I turned around, Sharon Abner was looking down at me, dressed in her uniform.

“Actually, this seems like a rather modest party compared to what I expected.”

“Huh?”

She pointed to the giant cake placed on the table.

“The cake is just a bit big, but there’s no orchestra or fireworks.”

I tilted my head.

Wait, if there were an orchestra and fireworks too, wouldn’t that just be an imperial banquet?

“Birthday parties are quite simple.”

Sharon Abner added matter-of-factly.

“Really nothing special.”

Then she walked right past me.

When I returned to my room, I was somewhat resigned to my fate.

Behind me, Marenese was making a fuss.

“Oh my, oh my. What’s this! There’s an angel in the manor!”

She was sitting on the long sofa in one corner of the room.

Along with Phil and Owen.

“Right, ma’am? This sky blue dress is better, isn’t it?”

“That’s what I’m saying?! Who doesn’t know Miel’s good taste? But I think it’s too much!”

But Head Chef Phil shook his head.

“No. Something’s missing.”

Then he seriously stroked his chin.

“Sky blue dress? It’s pretty. Yes, it reminds me of my daughter when she was little, far away in a foreign country.”

“Dear, why are you bringing up Bea here?”

“But the red balloon dress from earlier was much cuter.”

Phil crossed his arms.

“The sky blue dress didn’t transcend human limits. The young lady still looks like a person.”

“What are you talking about, old man?”

“But when she wore that red dress earlier, the young lady seemed like… she wasn’t of this world! She transcended limits!”

Marenese looked at Phil like he was a bug.

Miel giggled and held a small jeweled ornament to my hair, saying,

“What do you think, Owen? Is sky blue better, or red better?”

“Well. Neither is bad.”

“Not bad? She looks almost like a princess from a fairy tale!”

“Yes, well. The sky blue goes well with today’s weather. The red makes the child’s features pop because her skin is so fair.”

“Then, then what should we decide on? We don’t have much time left.”

Soya stamped her feet as if dying from indecision.

Miel made a determined expression.

“Then let’s do this.”

“How, how?”

“First we’ll put her in the sky blue dress, and after the cake cutting, we’ll change her into the red dress for the evening!”

“Oh my! That’s it, that’s it!”

Marenese clapped her hands, and Phil nodded too.

Only Owen pondered with a thoughtful expression before adding,

“If we’re going to do that, wouldn’t it be better to have her wear that yellow one too? That one looked good as well.”

“You said something good for once! Very thoughtful. My daughter Bea is just your age, shall I introduce you later?”

“Right, right. Our Bea even received a knighthood! She didn’t take after this guy but after me, so she’s so pretty!”

“Ah, yes…”

Despite having the status of a viscount, Owen got along comfortably with the manor staff.

This was because he had never once lived aristocratically since childhood.

I sighed deeply watching the three people each saying their piece.

Looking out the window, the garden was already bustling with people.

“I don’t know how long it’s been since the manor was this lively!”

I could hear Miel’s excited voice.

The Abner Manor, which had been stiff, quiet, and even somewhat bleak in atmosphere, was different from usual.

Ribbons hung on every tree in the garden, and balloon decorations were everywhere.

Moreover, the area around the head of house Sharon Abner was already full of people.

I was staring out at that scene in a daze when it became noisy outside the door again.

“Miel. We need to hurry. It seems the imperial carriage has arrived?”

“That’s right!”

Miel’s hands styling my hair moved faster.

I looked in the mirror with half nervousness, half excitement.

My long, flowing hair was now neatly tied on both sides.

The pins Miel had put in sparkled prettily among my hair.

‘…It is kind of cute.’

I couldn’t even remember when I’d last dressed up like this.

Knock knock-

Then someone knocked on the door.

When Marenese opened the door, Awin appeared.

“Wow, goodness… Annellia.”

Awin’s eyes widened as he approached.

Then he took my hand with a moved expression.

“So pretty. You must be the prettiest in the world right now.”

Awin gently pulled me along.

“Let’s hurry. People are waiting. I’ll escort you.”

I glanced back awkwardly, then stepped out of the room with hesitant steps.

“You’ve arrived.”

At Sharon Abner’s brief greeting, the Dowager Empress laughed heartily.

“Sharon! What’s gotten into you to put in such effort? The manor looks completely different!”

“I told you, didn’t I? That I planned to hold it grandly.”

The Dowager Empress smiled as she took her seat at the prepared table.

“Tian will be a bit late. It seems he has some business to attend to.”

Meanwhile, other nobles also took their places around the Dowager Empress.

They were all people who were supposedly doing well in the empire.

“It’s been a long time, Your Majesty the Dowager Empress!”

Among them, third to the side from across the Dowager Empress.

Duke Dawin greeted her with a shameless smile.

He soon gestured to his son standing behind him.

“This is my son! I’ve wanted to visit you sometime, but you seemed busy and wouldn’t grant us an audience…”

Starting with him, other nobles of the empire also began to stir restlessly.

“I also visited once, but I wonder if you remember, Your Majesty.”

“How is your health? Is there anywhere you might be feeling unwell…”

The questions continued endlessly.

The Dowager Empress’s hand, which had been lifting her teacup, suddenly stopped in mid-air.

She spoke calmly.

“You all. Where do you think you are right now.”

Duke Dawin and the other nobles looked at each other with bewildered eyes.

“Your, Your Majesty said you would attend, so we came to pay our respects…”

Thud.

The Dowager Empress set down her teacup.

Then she stared at Sharon Abner.

“This is why I said we should hold it at the Dowager Empress’s Palace, Sharon.”

People fell silent in an instant.

The Dowager Empress looked around at them and spoke sternly.

“I came here to celebrate the birthday of a child I cherish.”

“…”

“So if there are those who came with other intentions, leave now.”

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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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