The Baby Who Regressed Refuses Childcare - Chapter 88

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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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I unconsciously looked at Soya.

Actually, today Soya’s outfit was a little different from usual.

She was wearing an Abner administrator’s uniform, complete with a cravat that I had personally tied for her.

The uniform fit Soya, who was naturally tall with long limbs, like it was tailored for her.

She looked exactly like a noble heir governing a territory.

‘Is that why he’s acting like that toward Soya?’

Just as I was thinking that, Burmard continued speaking.

“If you choose me, I’ll really work hard and do well. The greenhouse is for the ingredients of that medicine you developed, right?”

Soya didn’t answer and looked at me instead.

When I nodded slightly, only then did she open her mouth.

“To…day I only came to receive the list, so please step back.”

Though a bit slow, it was a clean and organized sentence without a single stammered word.

A bright smile spread across my face.

‘Wow, that’s our Soya!’

I had once heard about Soya’s past from Miel.

That’s when I learned why Soya was reluctant around new people and stammered when speaking.

Her parents died early when she was young, and she had been severely beaten by strange men.

Soya had spent a very difficult childhood before barely managing to join Abner as an employee.

Even that wouldn’t have been possible without Miel’s help.

Still, Soya quickly recovered her wounded body and heart among good people.

As a result, she no longer turned pale when meeting new people, nor did she break out in cold sweats.

However, she still had the habit of stammering when she spoke.

‘Sister Soya.’

When I called her that after so long, the way Soya’s eyes widened was still vivid in my memory.

‘S-sister, you say, young miss?’

‘No. From now on, I’m not speaking as I would to a maid, but as I would to the sister who took care of Lia.’

I spoke clearly to the bewildered Soya.

‘Sister, you’re coming to the Imperial Capital with me.’

‘What? Wh-what do you mean…?’

‘Grandmother said she’d give me an ad-vi… advi… AD-VI-SOR! And I’m going to choose Sister Soya too!’

‘An a-advisor?’

‘Yes! Advisor Soya’s role will be to manage and supervise the new greenhouse to be built in Evehill.’

Though I somewhat expected it, Soya couldn’t close her gaping mouth.

‘Y-young miss. Th-that’s absolutely impossible. H-how could I do such work?’

‘No. There’s no one better than Sister Soya.’

Soya was gentle and quiet, but she was someone who accomplished her tasks better than anyone else.

Usually employees only work as much as they’re told, but Soya was different.

‘She has good instincts basically. Her work sense is excellent too.’

On the day I was attacked by Brooke, Soya and Miel stayed in the 2nd floor lounge near my room.

It was thanks to Soya being the first to suggest staying there just in case.

‘Sister Soya can do it well!’

‘N-no. I’ve never done such work before, and I st-stammer terribly when speaking…’

‘That’s something we can work on together from now on.’

‘Y-young miss.’

As far as I knew, Soya was severely stressed about her stammering habit.

I had heard her lamenting to Miel several times, saying ‘Why am I al-always like this?’

‘But she was often fine in front of me.’

In a comfortable environment where she felt she could trust, the frequency of her stammering clearly decreased.

‘Rather, if you worry too much about it, you get anxious and keep making mistakes.’

‘R-really…?’

‘Yes! Lia read it in a book. Lia is never wrong about things she read in books, so it’s certain!’

Most importantly, Soya had the will.

That alone was sufficiently hopeful.

‘And since Soya seems to be under too much stress, I want to help.’

When Soya became an orphan, she temporarily suffered from selective mutism, which led to her stammering habit.

After that, wherever she worked, she received looks of contempt and disdain from others because of this habit.

Even being severely beaten by a group of passing strangers was simply because they found her way of speaking irritating.

‘Sister Soya is strong and smart! Lia really wants sister to take charge of the greenhouse.’

Originally, managing and commanding people is never an easy task.

However, the Evehill greenhouse had to be perfectly controlled, and various confidential matters had to be thoroughly protected.

It was natural since it would handle things like the manufacturing methods of medicines to be developed by the academy and seeds of improved Lubarin grass.

‘B-but young miss. The family has many c-capable vassals, so why specifically…’

‘Sister Soya works much better and is smarter than those people!’

Soya closed her mouth.

But I was sincere.

‘Soya has a surprisingly sharp side to her.’

So there would be no problem with strictly managing and controlling the greenhouse.

And…

‘Most importantly, Soya is also from immigrant origins.’

Soya would likely be able to build deep and strong trust relationships with the employees who would work in the greenhouse.

Since being a commoner and an immigrant who moved to Abner from elsewhere were common points.

‘Working in the greenhouse involves many important secrets. Do you know how to keep secrets?’

Soya’s expression became serious.

She thought for a moment, then answered as if she understood.

‘I th-think I understand what you mean. There are s-secrets that can’t be pr-protected by force alone.’

As expected, Soya had already roughly grasped what I was thinking.

‘Soya is someone I can trust, and she’s also a good person. She’ll definitely get along well with the greenhouse employees.’

But if I imagine sending a nobleman full of pretense as the manager…

There would definitely be conflicts arising from class differences, and such trivial conflicts destroy organizations.

I didn’t want to tolerate even such minor variables in my greenhouse.

‘I, I need to build good relationships with the people there.’

‘Soya is such a smart and gentle person!’

‘And, and I also need to manage properly…’

‘Yes! You’re really strong too, so you can do it!’

Soya pondered for a long time.

Then she nodded her head and muttered.

‘I, I… really need to fix my stuttering habit.’

I remained silent so Soya could continue her thoughts.

‘You, you trusted me… but a stuttering manager doesn’t look right…’

Finally, firm determination appeared in Soya’s eyes.

‘I, I should fix it. I think making an effort is the right thing to do.’

Watching Soya like that, I quickly pulled her into a tight hug around her waist.

‘Yes!’

That’s how the training began.

With Miel’s enthusiastic support, Soya gradually showed improvement.

Speaking slowly, and not overthinking about stuttering.

‘It seems like it’s changing. But still… it seems a bit difficult.’

‘Wow! Soya! So cool! Annellia read in a book that it gets better and worse for a while!’

But it wasn’t an exaggeration – Soya was really correcting her symptoms at a remarkably fast pace.

So exactly three weeks after we had that conversation, today.

Soya had reached a state where she could communicate slowly but without stuttering.

“I told you to step back.”

At Soya’s voice, the man named Burmard hesitantly stepped back.

For a moment, I saw confidence settle on Soya’s face.

‘As expected, our Soya is so amazing!’

I felt my heart lift as I continued looking around inside the tent.

Once Burmard stepped back, I could finally see the scene inside the tent more broadly.

As I was scanning for people who might work in the greenhouse, I suddenly stopped my gaze at one spot.

“Hm?”

In the far right corner, I saw a pale-faced woman lying on a makeshift bed, groaning.

Next to her was a sturdy man…

‘Wow, he’s perfect for working in the greenhouse!’

Looking at his sturdy build, it seemed like he could carry four sacks of medicinal herbs at once.

His large, calloused hands also looked perfect for handling cultivation work.

“Soya. Over there.”

As soon as I spoke, Soya nodded solemnly.

We walked inside together and stood before the lying woman and the man.

“I greet the Princess. I’m called Jen, from Longton Territory.”

The big man seemed flustered but soon completed his respectful greeting.

Then he introduced the woman he was protecting.

“This is Shelby, my wife…”

Of course, I had already been examining Shelby for a while.

Specifically, the large wound on her thigh.

“What happened to this?”

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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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