The Baby Who Regressed Refuses Childcare - Chapter 32
“Are you crazy?! What the hell are you saying?”
Enraged, Ruby pushed Anellia roughly.
The much smaller child stumbled back, teetering on her feet.
But she did not avert her eyes.
“How dare you, a filthy-smelling commoner, say such things!”
Sparks flew from Ruby’s eyes.
Impatient by nature, she swung her hand just when it happened.
“Ahh!”
Before her hand could touch, the child crumpled to the ground weakly.
“Lady!”
Two maids rushed over with faces as white as sheets.
Ruby froze with her hand still in the air.
Then she slowly blinked as she looked down at Anellia lying sprawled on the floor.
‘What? Did I hit her?’
After pondering for a moment, Ruby slowly realized the situation.
“Ha! This is…!”
“Lady Ruby! Regardless of your status, such behavior is unacceptable!”
One of the maids scolded her, stepping between her and the commoner.
“I didn’t hit her!”
“What are you talking about? We saw everything from over there! Are you alright, Lady Anellia?!”
Another maid cradled the fallen commoner, checking her face.
“I really didn’t hit her…!”
That’s when it happened.
Drip, drip.
Drops of water began to fall one by one onto the fabric of the commoner child’s clothes.
Ruby, utterly bewildered, lowered her hand that had been frozen in the air.
The commoner child, Anellia, was curled up and trembling in the maid’s arms, sobbing.
“A-Anellia, are you oka…?”
The child’s voice was so pitiful, just hearing it felt heart-wrenching.
“It’s Anellia’s fault. Anellia is just a commoner…”
The child miserably wiped her cheek.
Watching this, Ruby’s eyes sharpened into triangles.
“You are an abomination.”
Mimicking her mother’s tone, Ruby stepped forward.
“Let’s say I did hit you. But what are you going to do about it by crying?”
She pointed at the two helplessly fumbling maids.
“If you were a noble, they would have called for guards in a heartbeat, wouldn’t they? But look. Like you said, you’re just a commoner!”
Then she truly shoved Anellia with force.
The child, barely standing, stumbled and fell again to the floor.
“What are you going to do when even your maids can’t speak up against me?”
Ruby stood with hands on her hips, triumphant.
“When the Abner family was in trouble, it was because of me, the Coel, that it survived!”
“…..”
“And you dare to speak against me? It was thanks to my mother’s assistance that the Abners could discover those magic stone mines!”
Ruby grabbed Anellia’s face, who lay on the ground.
“Do you think just because you got a little patronage, Ms. Sharon will prefer you over me? Is that why you’re acting so bold?”
“…..”
“But look at what you’re wearing. What the hell is that? Did you pick up some rags to wear?”
She pulled at the plain white fabric of Anellia’s dress, and a tearing sound came from the seam at the neck.
In her head, Ruby sneered.
‘I was a bit worried when I heard another child had come to the Abner house.’
Seeing the state the child was in, Ruby was certain that the patronage was merely a formality.
‘Otherwise, why would she be in such a state?’
A lady’s position in a manor is only as good as the clothes she wears.
The ladies who taught her manners had all told her so.
What little guilt remained in Ruby’s heart was quickly banished.
“You’re not a noble, so you probably don’t understand, so let me educate you,” Ruby lifted a hand authoritatively.
“My mother says commoners aren’t quite human. They only understand when disciplined with a whip.”
This time, Ruby’s hand truly flew towards Anellia’s cheek.
However, it wasn’t Anellia who ended up getting hit.
“…What?”
Ruby looked bewildered at the maid who had suddenly stepped in front of her.
“What are you doing? Move!”
“I-I’ll take the hit instead.”
Ruby’s eyes widened then quickly turned fierce.
A sneer flashed across her face, all the more malicious for her age.
“Fine. Have it your way.”
Behind them, Anellia watched with shocked eyes.
