The Baby Who Regressed Refuses Childcare - Chapter 14
The next day.
‘You are now the ward of the Abner family. I will soon arrange a place for you in the main house. Stay in this room for the time being. When you go outside the mansion, always accompany Wendel, and some maids will be assigned to you.’
I woke up, recalling the conversation with Sharon Abner from last night.
As I tossed my lethargic body, a half-open curtain and a spotlessly clean window came into view.
“…Abner Mansion.”
I couldn’t believe I was really in the Abner Mansion.
As the tension released, a languid sigh escaped me.
Since the regression, every day had been extremely busy, with almost no time to rest.
Honestly, I couldn’t sleep properly due to the pressure.
In the past few days, although hunger was almost imperceptible, the extreme tension made it even more pronounced. But today…
Growl-
A faint growl echoed from my rumbling stomach.
I placed a hand on my undulating belly.
Growl, grumble-
Perhaps because of the thought that I had eased a bit, my stomach was making considerable noises.
I rose from the large bed, grasped the bedside rail, and carefully descended to the floor.
While getting up, I considered going to the kitchen to find something to eat.
However, I hesitated when I saw the spread-out blanket on one side of the bed.
The fluffy quilt made of soft cotton was filled with plush feathers.
‘No wonder. The bed was unusually comfortable yesterday.’
Glancing again, I noticed that firewood was burning steadily in the fireplace, warming the room.
The fact that someone had kept the fire burning all night was evidence that someone had looked all night and ensured that the light never went out.
Coughing lightly, I aimlessly headed towards the door.
‘Sharon Abner seems to like me.’
Thud, thud, my heart beat strangely.
‘She kept her word about everything.’
She even gave me this comfortable room, bed, and blanket.
However, I soon halted in my tracks.
I unconsciously looked down at my hands, which had been fidgeting.
From within, a sudden sense of unease emerged.
“No… The Duke of Longton was like this at first too.”
My gaze reached the mirror in the corner of the room.
Silver hair partially obscuring my face.
Beneath, there were light ivory-colored eyes, and lips tightly closed to the point of stubbornness.
Inside stood a small child with an expressionless face.
My slowly calmed.
“…Get a grip, Anelia.”
I didn’t come here to be cute.
So, I shouldn’t be happy just because I got a nice room, a warm bed, or for any reason.
“We’re preparing here.”
For a while, I dreamed of being the head of the Alchemy Academy.
I even thought about entering the Mage’s Tower.
That was during my childhood, from the time I was young until Hiyana came back.
When I started devouring all the magical books and began writing scholarly papers, it felt like my dream was right in front of me.
I wanted to be recognized.
Magic, alchemy—these were the first things I genuinely liked.
They were the first things I fell in love with, and the things I clung to without realizing how time passed.
“I shouldn’t have given up so easily.”
The Duke of Longton has changed, and my brothers hate me.
I lost my position, but I shouldn’t have given up just because of that .
I can do it here.
Here, I can rebuild my life’s foundations patiently.
The little child in the mirror nodded.
I stared at the mirror for a few more seconds, then decisively turned away.
With firm steps, I walked to the door and grabbed the handle, turning it forcefully.
The wooden door opened with a clank, and in that instant, someone leaped through the suddenly opened gap.
“……!!”
I collided head-on with it and tumbled to the floor.
