The Baby Who Regressed Refuses Childcare - Chapter 66

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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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It was doubtful whether this was the same Tian who had casually engaged in serious conversation with Sharon Abner in the meeting hall.

But Tian went even further.

“Of course, there are some concerns. If I become your guard, I’ll inevitably have to enter Abner Manor, and as you know, I am the Crown Prince.”

“…Your Highness.”

“Still, I’ll try my best to make it work. But if something truly unavoidable happens, you might have to come to the Imperial Palace…”

Tian, who had been speaking with a serious expression while trailing off, suddenly blushed slightly.

Then he cleared his throat softly.

“Ahem! Well… now that I think about it, neither option would be too bad. Whether I go there or you come here.”

“Your Highness!”

“Anyway, I have to go urgently now. The Allied Forces are moving quickly, so time is of the essence.”

I looked up at Tian, who was quickly rising from his seat, with a bewildered expression.

But Tian only waved his hand slightly before turning around without hesitation.

“It was good to see your face today, Annellia. See you next week.”

Tian was tall for his age.

Perhaps because of that, he quickly left the garden with his long strides.

As I stared blankly at his retreating figure, my eyes met with Logrio, who was still remaining by my side.

I slowly realized.

That he had really left Logrio here.

After hesitating for a while, I asked Logrio.

“But, is His Highness coming here next week too…?”

Logrio nodded.

“Once a week from now on. He has decided to conduct sword lessons with me at Abner Manor’s training grounds.”

I see.

So that’s why he said he’d see me next week.

Then he’s coming here every week from now on?

Suddenly getting a feeling, I narrowed my eyes.

‘Could it be.’

I didn’t realize it at first, but as time passed, I came to understand something.

That Tian was quite intelligent.

If so, he must have noticed that the Abner family and his own agenda were aligned.

‘Constantly going in and out of Abner Manor for no reason could provoke Karin Empress’s hostility.’

So he’s planting Logrio here under the pretense of assigning me a guard knight, and planning to visit weekly using sword lessons as an excuse.

To naturally increase opportunities to connect with the Abner family!

‘Come to think of it, Logrio too…’

Wasn’t Logrio a retainer who served the former Empress?

From the Empress’s perspective, she wouldn’t like having a knight who was loyal to the former Empress wandering around the palace.

So staying here would be safer for Logrio too.

‘How could this be, clever Tian! It was all a scheme!’

Tian needed to lower Karin Empress’s guard.

Especially now that he had practically taken away the weapons business she had been managing.

It would be troublesome if he unnecessarily provoked hostility and Karin Empress did something strange against Tian.

‘Of course, that’s it! Otherwise, there’s no way Tian would do such an absurd thing.’

I looked at Logrio with a proud expression.

“His Highness had such a grand plan!”

Sure enough, Logrio was flustered.

He had an expression as if his true intentions had been accurately seen through.

I stood up from my seat with a knowing laugh.

Meanwhile, Logrio remained frozen behind with a bewildered expression.

‘To think she already noticed that the sword lessons are just an excuse.’

Has she already figured out that the reason for going to such lengths to see her weekly is herself?

Cute, pretty, quick-witted, and even clever…

Logrio secretly admired Annellia’s perceptiveness.

Indeed, it was understandable that the Crown Prince had fallen head over heels.

When I returned to my room, Sharon Abner was not there.

I sat alone and pondered deeply.

‘Adoption into the Abner family.’

It was sudden, but I now knew it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

It was thanks to the emotions that had welled up during my conversation with Tian finally settling down.

‘Right. I might have been too scared prematurely.’

I realized while crying earlier.

That the memories of my previous life were having a greater impact on me than I thought.

‘Annellia, as you said, that was just a dream, wasn’t it?’

‘Such things won’t actually happen. Someone abandoning you?’

Tian’s words were right.

My adoption into House of Longton was now something that never happened.

Being abandoned and dying there was the same.

Everything disappeared when I regressed.

“Yes. I should focus on my current life.”

Thinking that way, there was nothing wrong with what Sharon Abner said.

That no matter what I do in the future, there’s no safer method than becoming an Abner duchess.

‘Research too.’

I wanted to greatly expand the academic society I created with Owen.

There were various restrictions with my current status.

But if I became a duchess, the ducal family’s budget would be allocated in my name.

Then I could freely use that money…

‘I could use it for personal investigations too, right?’

For example, things like the light that enveloped my body when I was attacked by Brooke.

‘That was definitely magic.’

I vaguely thought that light was related to my regression.

Because only magic could explain such an absurd occurrence in this world.

I was curious about what exactly that magic was, how it activated, and why it used me as a medium.

I came to a conclusion.

‘Right. Let’s do as Sharon Abner said.’

Once my mind was settled, I could vaguely guess why Sharon Abner made such a proposal.

‘Abner currently has no suitable heir.’

Jayden wasn’t duke material, and Sharon Abner didn’t seem to have any intention of passing the position to him yet.

Usually in such cases, the ducal title is passed down skipping a generation.

But the problem was that Jayden wasn’t even married yet.

‘The reason the branch families acted up was actually because of this situation.’

The Council of Elders, especially a few like Kainton, truly supported Jayden because of the single legitimacy of ‘bloodline.’

But not everyone was like that.

Someone like Lady Larienne supported Jayden only because she had no choice but to do so to bring down Sharon Abner.

The reason for going to such lengths to bring down Sharon Abner was obvious.

‘The heir position of a great noble family like Abner is vacant. How many branch family members wouldn’t covet this position?’

So they’re either trying to bring down Sharon Abner and manipulate Jayden to secure a position…

‘Or they might be trying to push their own bloodline into the Abner family.’

Just like Camilla Coel had done before.

‘Maybe that’s why Sharon Abner wants to adopt me.’

If I become an Abner princess, at least the movements to push other heirs into the family would decrease.

Since I would already be occupying that position.

‘The excuse of recommending a clever child for the family’s future wouldn’t work either.’

Because I’m the clever child that everyone acknowledges.

Then if Jayden has a real heir later…

‘I can just be discarded then. An adopted child can be easily cast out anytime.’

Either way, if I’m adopted into the Abner family, Sharon Abner’s life becomes easier.

If you ask whether this would harm me, that wasn’t particularly the case either.

I could live a safe life under the name of Abner princess until Jayden has an heir.

‘Thinking about it coldly, there’s no contract better than this.’

I was just vaguely scared a moment ago.

The things that happened in my previous life kept coming to mind regardless of my will…

I shook my head back and forth.

‘Right. Being abandoned and sad once is enough.’

Now I was confident I could remain composed even if abandoned again.

Besides, when you think about it, is that really abandonment?

It’s just achieving what we both want and then parting ways cleanly.

The current me was different from my previous life’s me.

Anyway, I’ve bought time, so I just need to grow into an adult who can protect myself within that time.

‘I just need to prepare well in advance so I can leave anytime.’

I stood up from my seat.

‘The plan hasn’t changed.’

I need to build my foundation in the Abner family.

Only my status will change a little.

From a commoner child receiving Abner’s support, to a princess.

‘Right. That’s what I’ll do.’

My heart felt a little lighter.

I immediately headed to Sharon Abner’s office.

“Your Grace, the Abner Princess.”

Sharon looked at Annellia with a dazed expression.

In the child’s ivory-colored eyes, there was something that seemed like determination, or perhaps tension.

“I’m sorry for running away earlier. I was so surprised that I needed to think alone for a bit…”

The child hesitated but didn’t avoid her gaze.

As if she had come prepared.

“Of course, just because I become a princess doesn’t mean I’ll act rudely, spend money lavishly, or suddenly eat a lot of food.”

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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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