The Baby Who Regressed Refuses Childcare - Chapter 32

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Duke Dawin looked at the Dowager Empress with displeased eyes.

She was having various conversations with Sharon Abner.

‘Since when have those two been so close?’

The Dowager Empress had originally shown no interest in any nobles.

The only nobles she associated with were a few ladies-in-waiting who had served her for a long time.

‘I thought she had finally awakened to politics when she said she’d attend some young child’s birthday party.’

Who would have thought she really came just to celebrate a five-year-old’s birthday.

“…Father. What do we do now?”

His twelve-year-old son James asked quietly from behind.

He shook his head at his son.

“Today will be difficult. Far from having a conversation, it’s hard to even approach her.”

It was when he was gulping down cold tea in his displeasure.

“Your Majesty the Dowager Empress!”

A young voice could be heard from the main manor entrance in the distance.

When he turned his gaze, he saw a small girl running toward them.

Beside her was a boy about a span taller than her.

“Oh ho, is that the little one? The one the Abner family is sponsoring…”

“Oh my, our little puppy Annellia has come!”

Duke Dawin, who had been muttering, closed his mouth.

Because the Dowager Empress had suddenly risen from her seat and walked toward the child.

They weren’t the only ones surprised.

Most of the nobles stared wide-eyed at the brightly smiling Dowager Empress.

“How did you come to wear such pretty clothes? Have you been sleeping well and eating well?”

“Yes!”

“You haven’t been picky about your side dishes, have you?”

“Yes! Annellia doesn’t complain! I’m five years old now…”

“She ate only bread for quite a while.”

Then Sharon Abner subtly interjected.

Dismay flashed across the child’s expression.

The Dowager Empress made a tsk-tsk sound and asked.

“You ate only bread? Oh my, is what the Duke says true?”

The child frantically waved her maple leaf-like hands as if flustered.

“N-no! That was just briefly when my stomach hurt…”

“Children who lie in front of the Dowager Empress will be scolded.”

“I-I really only ate bread just that time! These days I eat vegetables too, and lots of spinach!”

The Dowager Empress burst into laughter and lovingly stroked the child’s cheek as if she found her adorable.

“Yes, yes. I believe you.”

Then she gestured to a butler to bring something.

It was a child-sized chair, smaller than the adult ones.

“Come, come! Sit here.”

The child looked back and forth between the Dowager Empress and the chair with a bewildered face.

“I won’t take up too much of your time. Tian will come soon, so could you keep me company until then? After that, I’ll send you to play with your friends.”

The Dowager Empress also turned her gaze to the boy standing behind the child.

“Shall I have your friend sit beside you too?”

The boy smiled politely and greeted the Dowager Empress with proper etiquette.

“I greet Your Majesty the Dowager Empress. I am called Awin from House of Dennis.”

Sharon Abner, who had been watching this scene, spoke.

“Denis Viscount works as a researcher under Abner. This young master is his younger brother.”

The Dowager Empress’s eyes widened with curiosity.

“The Abner Manor has gained many children since I last saw it.”

Then she clapped her hands.

“I should send our Tian here often. He lost his mother at a young age and has been quite lonely. How wonderful it would be if he could make friends!”

The gazes of all the nobles who had been listening to the conversation slowly turned toward Annellia.

Duke Dawin was the same.

“…It’s not the Dowager Empress.”

He whispered to his son.

“Pardon?”

“It’s not the Dowager Empress we need to approach.”

The Duke’s eyes widened with excitement.

“James. When those little ones leave this place later, follow them.”

“Follow them?”

“Exactly! Don’t miss them at all costs and insert yourself to build a friendship.”

Then he gestured toward the nobles around them who had similar expressions.

“Look. They’re all eager to connect their own children! You must be the first.”

James tilted his head as if he didn’t understand.

“Denis Viscount’s brother aside, didn’t you say that girl is from an orphanage?”

Duke Dawin rolled his eyes and clicked his tongue.

“Foolish child. Is her background the issue now? Look at this birthday party! And look at the Dowager Empress!”

The Dowager Empress was having a gentle conversation with the child even at this very moment.

“No matter how much of a rootless mongrel that child is, the Dowager Empress dotes on her! Then we absolutely must get close to her.”

“But…”

“Children like that have never received affection, so if you treat them just a little well, they’ll quickly bare their heart and soul to you.”

He patted his son’s shoulder.

“Go and charm her well. If things go well, we might be able to build bridges to the Imperial Court and even make connections with the House of Abner.”

James reluctantly nodded his head.

“So. Annellia, you’re saying you developed the reagents needed for the contamination reinvestigation and even created the magic stone purification formula?”

“Um, that’s…”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Annellia is a genius. Even my older brother, who graduated at the top of the Imperial Palace Pharmaceutical Academy’s gifted program, acknowledged her.”

I looked at Awin restlessly.

“N-no, that’s not it, I just helped a little bit…!”

“The child is very, no, extremely intelligent for her age. Didn’t Your Majesty notice as well?”

But now, following Awin, even Sharon Abner joined in.

I was looking at her with a bewildered face when the Dowager Empress spoke.

“I see, I didn’t know about that. Then, little one, do you want to work at the Imperial Palace Pharmaceutical Academy later?”

But at the mention of the Imperial Palace Pharmaceutical Academy, my body turned automatically.

I nodded slightly.

“Mmm… The Academy of Pharmacy or the International Mage Tower!”

“Oh ho, even the International Mage Tower?”

“Or maybe both…?”

“Both?”

Awin, Sharon Abner, and even the Dowager Empress looked at me.

I rolled my eyes and stretched out my arms wide.

“Dreams should be big, according to the fairy tale books…!”

Awin immediately smiled warmly, his eyes crinkling.

“Annellia, you can do it.”

I nodded my head.

The Dowager Empress and Sharon Abner had strange expressions that seemed both surprised and like they were holding back laughter.

The Dowager Empress said to Sharon Abner.

“I didn’t know your eye for talent was this good.”

“I’m grateful that you acknowledge this even now.”

“Hahahaha-!!”

When the Dowager Empress laughed, the surrounding nobles awkwardly laughed along.

“From what I can see, Denis Viscount’s younger brother is also quite clever. More than that, since when has the Abner Family had researchers?”

I quickly looked at Awin.

I had sensed that the adults’ conversation was about to begin.

“Brother Awin. Shall we go greet the other people?”

“If that’s what you want, shall we?”

At our conversation, the Dowager Empress looked our way.

“Yes, yes. I’ve taken up too much of the child’s time. You may go now.”

“Yes! Your Majesty!”

The butler carefully set me down on the floor.

I was about to bow deeply when the Dowager Empress called me.

“Child.”

“Yes?”

“I don’t quite like that title ‘Your Majesty.'”

“The title?”

“Yes. Try saying ‘Grandmother.'”

I blinked, forgetting to even respond.

“I said try saying ‘Grandmother.'”

The Dowager Empress repeated the same words as if urging me.

I could feel everyone around us staring at me, half-frozen.

I hesitantly replied.

“H-how could I call the Dowager Empress Your Majesty ‘Grandmother’…?”

The Dowager Empress put on a deliberately stern expression.

“Oh my, are you refusing this Dowager Empress’s command right now?”

I was startled and shook my head.

“N-no!”

Finally, I hesitantly parted my lips.

“D-Dowager Empress, Grandmother…”

The Dowager Empress bit her lips tightly.

Then she burst into laughter, “Hahaha.”

“Yes, this is the feeling! Tian always says so stiffly ‘Royal Grandmother, Royal Grandmother.'”

“…”

“It sounds pleasant. At this age, I grow tired of stiff and formal things. Don’t you think so, Sharon?”

Sharon Abner remained silent.

She was only looking back and forth between the Dowager Empress and me with a somewhat uncomfortable expression.

“Anyway. Let’s talk about the Abner researchers.”

At that moment, the Dowager Empress changed the subject.

I bowed my head in greeting, then took Awin’s hand and left the table.

I didn’t know that Sharon Abner was still watching me from behind with an expression full of displeasure.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————