The Baby Who Regressed Refuses Childcare - Chapter 20
I saw the reaction and nodded slowly to myself.
‘It’s what I deserve for years of being a nobody in my previous life.
Even with the limited information I had, I had a rough picture.
‘It was worth enduring years of hardship in the past life. At least, it’s better now.”It’s all for the best, and I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to join the side of Empress Karin, who just produced a new prince.’
The new crown prince was the son of the second prince, Empress Karyn.
“Labeling Tian Crown Prince as violent was just a slander. In the end, it was all planned.”
There was only one person who clearly benefited from the game.
Empress Karin, who made her son the crown prince.
I shrugged, my voice nonchalant.
“Strange. She’s a grandmother, but why is it so difficult to see her?”
The Crown Prince’s expression became complicated.
Of course, I already knew the answer.
‘No doubt Empress Karin would have intervened.’
To prevent contact between the Crown Prince and the Empress Dowager.
They determined that isolating the Crown Prince completely within the palace would make it easier to control him.
Was it because of the jerky I ate earlier? My head felt like it was spinning.
I grabbed the Crown Prince’s hand without hesitation.
“Stay here, Your Highness. If that grandpa bothers you again, let me know.”
Approaching him, I whispered something softly into his ear.
“…Promise. Okay!”
When I pulled away, the Crown Prince blushed again and retreated backward.
I belatedly pondered.
‘Did I act too casually towards the Crown Prince?’
Then, I shook my head inwardly.
‘……No. He’s a child who’ll take another decade to grow up…’
* * *
“What are you talking about? You can’t find Tian.”
At the sound of Karin’s cold voice, Jacques shook his head in confusion.
He is nowhere in the mansion…”
Of course, it was a blatant lie.
He’d just confronted the Crown Prince at the East Pavilion, and the hallway was on the way here.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
The kid who had been so casual with me.
As one of the Empress’s closest aides, he knew the faces of every noblewoman in the empire.
But I had never seen this young girl before.
“Now, I can’t simply call him a child anymore. When will the Crown Prince be subject to ascending the throne?”
Empress Karin sighed to herself.
Sharon Abner, sitting across from her, asked.
“The Crown Prince must be quite upset with Her Highness.”
“I don’t know. How I regard Tian… is something that comes from the heart. But he keeps acting out…”
“You must be worried.”
In front of them lay the military weapons supply contract between the royal family and the Abner family.
“Anyway, I’ll leave the next five years in your capable hands. As long as you continue as you have for the next five years, I have nothing more to wish for.”
“You’re too kind.”
At that moment, the door opened.
Unexpectedly, Tian walked in.
“I apologize. I got lost in the East Pavilion gardens.”
Empress Karin’s brow furrowed.
‘What a foolish boy.’
She scolded him a little, and he ran off in a huff, losing his way in the Duke’s manor.
It irritated her, but as always, Karin didn’t show the slightest hint of annoyance.
The problem was that there were many eyes watching them.
She raised her gaze and stared at Sharon Abner, who was sitting across from her.
Sharon Abner, the current head of the Abner family, was currently entangled in a contractual relationship with the palace for weapon supplies.
‘When will this old woman’s momentum break?’
For several years now, Karin had been engaged in a fierce tug-of-war with Sharon.
Never one to back down from a challenge to the imperial court.
And a knack for manipulating the terms of contracts to her advantage.
But Karin let Sharon gain as much profit as she desired.
‘Abner still needs to grow a bit more.’
Karin rose from her seat.
Then, she coldly addressed Tian.
“We’ll hear more about this when we get back to the palace, so get ready to leave.”
“…Yes.”
Immediately, maids rushed over to put Karin’s coat on and smooth out the hem of her dress.
Karin nodded slightly at Sharon Abner.
“I’d better get back. I’ll see you at the palace next time.”
“Her Majesty’s birthday banquet is in the fall, so that would be likely.”
“Yes. Farewell, then.”
Jacques, who had held the door open, was waiting for her.
Karin crossed the threshold of the luxurious reception room and spoke quietly.
“I don’t want to be in the same air as the Crown Prince. Prepare another carriage.”
Then, she walked down the corridor with a dark blue carpet.
She didn’t notice that Tian’s gaze, as he watched her leave, held a slightly different expression than usual.
