The Baby Who Regressed Refuses Childcare - Chapter 10
Before I knew it, we were standing in the middle of the garden.
After a massive vibration, the body seemed to levitate, and a bright blue light spread around us.
A short distance away, Sharon Abner was riding a white horse, looking across the plain on the other side of the Eve Hill Orphanage amidst the hustle and bustle.
Several more flashes of light followed, and an unsettling sensation struck my body.
“Close your eyes. A small body may have trouble handling the magic…”
Wendell’s words became distant.
It was the moment I left the Eve Hill Orphanage for the second time.
***
In the dimly lit central courtyard of the mansion’s eastern wing, Jaden, who had been sitting at the entrance, looked up at the sound of someone approaching.
Before him stood Wendell Lucian, accompanied by a group of knights.
“What’s going on?” Jaden asked, his tone quite aggressive.
In response, Wendell tilted his head slightly and replied, “A guest has arrived.”
Jaden’s brow furrowed.
Wendell Lucian, the young knight who had long been an irritant to him, was standing there.
“So what?”
“Duke Abner has assigned a room for the guest on the second floor of the eastern wing,” Wendell said.
“Is that why you’re telling me to move?”
“You’re blocking the way right now.”
Jaden shot a displeased look at Wendell.
Only then did he notice the bundle held in Wendell’s arms, wrapped tightly in a thick blanket.
It looked just like a baby.
His brow creased slightly.
“Is that the guest you mentioned?”
Jaden’s lips curled into a faint, wry smile.
He tilted his head slightly, displaying the same silvery hair as his mother.
“Looks like a fresh infant. Mother brought that to the mansion, did she?”
Jaden’s lips parted slightly, and a short, mirthless laugh escaped.
He shook his head.
“Still a babe with milk on her lips. Mother brought that to the mansion?”
“…….”
Wendell remained silent.
Jaden got up from his seat in annoyance.
His body swayed due to the effects of alcohol, but he steadied himself.
“Just go to a different building. The eastern wing is mine.”
“Duke Abner has assigned Anellia’s accommodations to the second floor of the eastern wing.”
“That’s what I’m saying–!”
Jaden’s voice grew louder, and his expression shifted.
With his silvery hair, colored eyes that remained vibrant despite his inebriation, and a demeanor reminiscent of Sharon Abner, his mother, he bore the features of his lineage well.
A prominent nose, a tall stature, and a well-toned physique accentuated his appearance.
“Go speak to Mother, then. The eastern wing is mine, so whether she’s a guest or a child, find another place for her.”
“That’s enough, Jaden.”
Just then, someone appeared behind Wendell, leaving Jaden flustered.
Sharon Abner, donned in a thin fur coat, gazed icily at him.
“You dare to be rude to my escort? Are you out of your mind?”
“Mother…”
“The eastern wing is not the place for you to drink and revel in your delusions, Jaden. Your bedroom is arranged separately in the western wing.”
Unlike with Wendell, Jaden couldn’t find the words to respond. Sharon Abner’s presence was that strong.
“If you understand, go back to your quarters. Stop making a fuss.”
Jaden flinched and clenched his fists.
Wendell, carrying Anellia in his arms, passed by Jaden.
It was at that moment that something slipped from the bundle in Wendell’s arms.
Illuminated by the moonlight, a small face was revealed.
“…?”
Jaden took a step back in confusion.
The child had silvery hair that was reminiscent of the Abner family members, but there were subtle differences.
Though the child’s eyes remained closed, his facial features seemed to overlap with someone, from his forehead to the tip of his nose and lips.
Jaden unconsciously swallowed, then hesitated before asking,
“Where… did you bring this child from?”
Sharon Abner’s gaze fixed upon him.
She remained silent for a moment, then answered bluntly,
“She’s a child I’ve chosen to support.”
Jaden’s brow furrowed.
He wondered, ‘Does that mean she’s an orphan?’
He looked at Wendell, who was moving away, then grasped his head slightly.
‘…Yeah. That can’t be right.’
This was his way of dispelling the unwarranted unease that had taken root in his heart.
