The Baby Who Regressed Refuses Childcare - Chapter 86
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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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“Come to think of it, I think I saw you talking with that old man at the banquet.”
Sharon Abner asked curiously.
“But what kind of conversation did you have?”
I made a humming sound.
“It was a waste of time conversation, he was trying to get me to reveal the manufacturing methods of Lubarinna and Lubaven.”
“Really?”
I nodded to Sharon Abner who frowned as if finding it outrageous.
“So, about that, Grandmother.”
Sharon Abner’s pupils widened slightly at being called grandmother.
I smiled brightly and said.
“How many new territory residents have moved to Abner Territory now?”
The cold and dry Northern Region.
A place where sunny days could only be seen in summer, and even then for barely two months.
Abner Territory was a region far from the word fertile.
Farming was naturally difficult, and winters were harsh.
Naturally, there were few territory residents as well.
“According to the report from a week ago, it increased by roughly 30 percent.”
I nodded as if I had expected this from Sharon Abner’s words.
‘Free distribution of medicine.’
This was a new welfare service that Abner Territory had been providing to its residents for several months.
Lubarinna and Lubaven were more effective and easier to use than the existing Forentia grass.
Since they announced free distribution of such medicine, an enormous number of immigrants flocked to the territory.
Especially from the neighboring Longton Region, over 50 people per day were moving their residence to Abner Territory.
“There must be many patients, right? Since they’re all people who came because they need medicine.”
“That’s right. There were reports that many cases involve themselves or family members who are injured and dying, so they’re not actually helping the territory much.”
I nodded while sipping the orange juice glass I was holding.
We had just entered and sat down in a cozy cafe.
This was because I had subtly suggested to Sharon Abner that we should have some juice.
“Why, do you have another idea?”
Sharon Abner asked casually.
I quickly brightened up.
“Yes!”
I put down my juice glass and started explaining enthusiastically, almost rising from my chair.
“The plains of the Ibrhill Region, where Ibrhill Orphanage was located!”
Ibrhill Orphanage went through closure procedures when Teacher Ann became my wet nurse.
Thanks to that, the building in the open plains was currently empty with only dust accumulating.
Naturally, the vast reed fields that spread widely around the orphanage were the same.
“How about building herb cultivation facilities there?!”
“Herb cultivation facilities? The idea is good, but…”
Sharon Abner narrowed her brow and added seriously.
“Winter is coming soon, isn’t it? When even regular crops are difficult to cultivate, you’re talking about herbs.”
From her expression, she seemed puzzled why a smart child like me would bring up such an unreasonable idea.
But I had thought everything through.
“No. I think cultivation would be possible if we just have the land!”
It didn’t have to be specifically the Ibrhill Region.
‘Actually, any unused land throughout Abner would work.’
Currently, I desperately needed a large herb cultivation site.
As the Apothecary Dean said, the greenhouse and garden of Abner Duke’s Castle alone were far insufficient for cultivating Lubarin grass.
Moreover, recently we’ve been distributing medicine to commoners for free, so the consumption rate was fast.
‘It’s only thanks to improving the seeds that we’re managing, otherwise we would have run out long ago.’
I quickly thought and added.
“Now the Magtop Lord is my subordinate.”
Sharon Abner’s eyes widened.
I recalled what happened with Theo a few days ago.
Specifically, about the transparent barrier that appeared when he snapped his fingers in the Imperial Palace Corridor.
“The Magtop Lord seems to know a way to cultivate herbs even in cold weather.”
A hint of interest flashed in Sharon Abner’s eyes.
“In cold weather, herbs?”
“Annellia saw in a book that if you build a greenhouse and layer multiple barrier-type magic spells, you can cultivate plants like it’s midsummer!”
Of course, it was easier said than done.
Anyone could think of the basic theory.
The important thing was technical skill.
Theo was someone who already possessed this technical skill.
“I thought it would be good to tell the Magtop Lord to make barrier magic tools and then install them in the greenhouse…”
Sharon Abner slowly nodded.
“That makes sense. But maintaining a greenhouse would require a lot of mana.”
“Couldn’t we just bring lots of mana stones manufactured from Ridess Mine?”
In Northern Abner Territory, there was the Ridess mana stone mine.
That mine that caused conflict with Coel.
Thanks to Owen and me developing a new refining method, the mine’s extraction volume was steadily increasing these days.
The refining process had also become much simpler, so the pure production of magic stones was already at the Empire’s highest level.
This meant there was enough surplus to operate the barriers installed in the greenhouse.
Sharon Abner was impressed.
“Indeed, you’re better than the vassals.”
However, a faint wrinkle remained on her brow as if one last thing was bothering her.
“But. Even if we quickly begin greenhouse construction, there’s no workforce to mobilize immediately.”
This time too, I quickly stepped forward.
“Annellia thought of that too! Since the greenhouse area will be large, we’ll need many people.”
Herb cultivation work was directly connected to medicine manufacturing.
And drug development was currently the field that Abner Academy was putting the most effort into.
“They would need to be verified individuals with high loyalty to Abner.”
Sharon Abner tapped the desk with her index finger.
“A way to select those with guaranteed backgrounds…”
Watching Sharon Abner fall into serious contemplation, I casually said.
“Grandmother, Annellia wants to try doing that.”
Sharon Abner lifted her gaze that had been fixed on the desk.
“That?”
“Selecting people!”
Sharon Abner’s eyes widened.
I opened my eyes as innocently as possible and said.
“Since the Magtop Lord became my subordinate, I want to make other subordinates too!”
“…Subordinates?”
“Annellia is good at everything, so I can select many subordinates who are loyal and work well.”
Then I looked at Sharon Abner with sparkling eyes.
“Grandmother… can’t Annellia do it…?”
“…”
Sharon Abner held her breath for a moment.
Then she drained the drink in the ice glass she was holding in one gulp.
“Do it.”
“Wow!”
“In any case, since it’s the family’s official new business, you’ll need someone to assist you.”
I waited for Sharon Abner’s next words with a face full of anticipation.
“When you return, choose from among the vassals.”
“…”
“This will be your first business venture as Abner’s princess, so you must choose carefully.”
Sharon Abner muttered sternly and added.
“By the way, you may choose someone of higher rank than you.”
I tilted my head.
In the family, the only ones with higher rank than me are Jayden and Sharon Abner, right?
The phrase ‘than you’ must have been a mistake.
With that thought, I followed Sharon Abner’s lead and drained my orange juice in one gulp.
The sour taste made one eye scrunch up slightly, but a smile naturally spread across my lips.
“Ah.”
I had a perfect plan for what to do in the duchy until moving my residence to the Imperial Capital.
“You’ve arrived!”
As soon as we arrived at the territory, numerous vassals welcomed us.
“Princess. What on earth happened? Is it true that Bella Howell, who deserves to be ground up and devoured, did something crazy? Huh?!”
Having heard about the commotion with Bella, Lady Larienne was already breathing fire from her eyes.
“Now, now, Countess Larienne. The Princess hasn’t even recovered from her travel fatigue yet…!”
“Let go of me, I need to hear this right now! The letter only mentioned what she suffered, not how she got revenge!”
Unable to watch any longer, I scurried over and tugged at Lady Larienne’s sleeve.
“I tattled to Crown Prince!”
At those words, everyone fell silent.
“You tattled?”
“Just like I said, I tattled! When Crown Prince asked who it was, I told him, and Crown Prince went and tattled to His Majesty the Emperor too!”
“…Oh my.”
“And Grandmother scolded Bella, calling her trash and everything.”
Everyone’s gaze now turned to Sharon Abner.
“Her Grace used the word trash…?”
Everyone seemed surprised that Grandmother, who always maintained her composure, had used such harsh words.
“Yes! She called her trash in front of everyone, so Bella cried her eyes out!”
Only then did the anger completely disappear from Lady Larienne’s expression.
She placed her hand on her chest as if breathing in something refreshing and made an “ah” sound.
“This is it, this should have been written!”
Countess Larienne’s younger brother currently worked at the Imperial Palace.
He belonged to some kind of council, and apparently he had seen me at the banquet and relayed the news to the lady.
I left behind the lady who kept muttering ‘Of course, there’s no way my student would just take it!’ and entered the palace.
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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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