I Proposed to My Childhood Friend After Regressing - Chapter 102

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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After Regression, I Proposed to My Childhood Friend
Episode 102
“Huh? Beatrice? What are you doing here……?”
“What? Beatrice came?”
At Beatrice’s sudden appearance, the faces of everyone in the Earl’s Household clouded with confusion and worry.
It was only natural. They’d sent their daughter away to enjoy time without family interference, and she’d returned in barely any time at all.
Had she and Clyde fought? And if they had, was it serious enough to make her rush back like this? The concern was inevitable.
Yet Beatrice, even as she read every expression dawning on her family’s faces, chose to hastily put the situation to rest and retreat to her room.
“Yeah, well, that’s how it is. We didn’t fight, and nothing’s wrong! Just, don’t worry about it and get some rest! I’ll explain later, okay?”
“What? Beatrice!”
“Goodnight!”
Beatrice shut the door, ignoring the cries of her eldest brother behind her.
A flutter of guilt toward Ian rose in her chest, but it was a choice she couldn’t avoid in her current state.
After all, she could hardly remember what frame of mind she’d been in when she came back.
With the door closed, Beatrice slid down to the floor and sank there, her expression blank as she blinked slowly at nothing.
“What on earth is happening……?”
She murmured the words barely aloud, her lips trembling slightly, before her eyes fell shut.
Only when she felt no pale light filtering through her closed eyelids did Beatrice suddenly realize she hadn’t even properly lit the candles in her room.
Caught up in the events that had unfolded at the Newlywed House, she had momentarily forgotten the very situation that usually haunted her.
Beatrice lit a candle and pinched her own cheek with her other hand.
It was something she couldn’t have done in front of Clyde.
“Ow!”
As a sharp sting bloomed across her cheek and she furrowed her brow, Beatrice could finally acknowledge it all.
That she had confessed her past to Clyde, and that the two of them might share the same heart.
Beatrice gently rubbed the center of her chest with her hand.
Her heart was still racing faster than usual, and there was still that weightless, floating sensation, but it didn’t feel entirely unpleasant.
‘Actually, to be honest, it might be wonderful.’
It had been a very long time since she’d felt such pure elation this vividly, spanning both before and after the Regression.
She hadn’t even felt this kind of simple excitement when she first realized she’d regressed.
The fact that she’d been given a chance to undo everything had been joyful, but it had also been terrifying.
‘I already have a track record of trying alone and failing.’
Knowing information didn’t mean everything would work out. Could knowing the future be any different?
Everyone possessed the same information, yet not everyone made the same choices.
‘And what if the choice I made, knowing the future, turned out to be wrong again? What if things became worse than before the Regression?’
That thought terrified her so much she couldn’t sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, her nightmares showed her a version of herself who’d made another wrong choice and destroyed everything again.
Yet in the end, Beatrice had chosen to move forward.
Staying crushed beneath the weight of past failures and the fear of “what if” would only lead to repeating the same suffering.
So, back then.
‘Beatrice, marry me.’
‘……I think I might actually be going through a Regression too.’
When Clyde had proposed to her and she’d realized he was in the same situation, Beatrice had felt considerable relief.
‘Ugh……. Huh, what’s this? Shouldn’t I normally feel reassured knowing I’m not alone?’
‘…….’
‘Why doesn’t it feel reassuring coming from him? Is it because he’s just a pretty face with nothing behind it?’
‘What, seriously?’
The moment his warmth had touched her shoulder, she’d exaggerated a blatant lie to hide the emotions welling up inside her.
‘Well, not that everything I said was completely false, mind you.’
If it had been Kaerun who’d regressed, or her eldest brother Ian, or even her mother, she would have felt more reassured.
‘But I might never have had a moment like now, when I felt I’d grown beyond my past.’
She might never have had the chance to believe in herself—that her own carefully considered choices could also change things for the better.
Beatrice recalled Clyde, who had trusted her decisions at every point of disagreement, believing in what she wanted to do.
‘Don’t second-guess yourself. I didn’t lay bare my secrets for that.’
‘Do as you see fit. Go the way you want to.’
‘If you’re saying it that firmly, there must be a good reason.’
And when she’d mentioned her past failures, Clyde had immediately defended her…….
‘It wasn’t your fault.’
‘…….’
‘By that point, the scheme that Princess Elodie had woven was already nearly complete.’
‘……Like how she tried to deceive Kaerun in the kidnapping incident?’
‘Yes. The way she gathered resources naturally by using your wedding with your brother as the occasion.’
And when she’d heard the full story…….
‘……Why are you so calm about this? I feel like I’m going mad just listening.’
She remembered how he’d wept for her.
Now she could say with certainty: none of this would have been possible without Clyde by her side.
As Beatrice recalled the time she’d spent with him, one by one, she finally remembered the last thing he’d said before they parted.
‘Tomorrow. I’ll come pick you up tomorrow evening at six.’
‘…….’
‘Say yes.’
Now that she thought about it, this was the first request she’d ever received from him.
A proper……date invitation.
The two of them had attended plenty of parties together as partners, but usually their relationship was…….
‘Hey, you free Saturday evening three weeks from now? I’m requesting you as my partner.’
Yes, they’d been more the type to wave invitations at each other and notify one another that way.
‘Though, really, if two people actually care for each other or if there’s no need to maintain formalities between families, there’s no reason to bow over a hand and ask for permission.’
Without thinking, Beatrice’s gaze drifted downward, and she stared intently at the back of her hand—the one he’d kissed.
Since it had been a light kiss, of course no mark remained on her skin.
The brief warmth where his lips had touched was long gone now…….
“I’m losing my mind.”
Beatrice quickly grabbed the back of her hand with her other palm and bounced on the balls of her feet where she sat.
Though no trace remained, the sensation of Clyde’s lips brushing against her hand kept coming back to her, and the expression on his face as he’d looked up at her while kissing it remained vivid and clear.
‘I never thought Clyde Dalton would ever look like a man to me!’
He was handsome, yes, but above all, she’d never imagined he could gaze at her with such serious, yearning eyes.
Then something she’d forgotten came back to her.
‘Tomorrow… what am I going to talk about when I see Clyde?’
And what kind of expression should she wear when she looked at him?
After turning it over in her mind for a while, Beatrice tried to imagine the moment she’d face Clyde tomorrow, then quickly gave up.
The version of herself in her imagination looked far too foolish.
Stiff and rigid, limbs moving in unison awkwardly, or fumbling and spilling her tea…….
‘It’s the worst.’
Once she thought that, there suddenly seemed to be far too much to prepare.
What dress to wear, how to style her hair, what to talk about, what to eat and what expression to have when facing him—the list went on and on!
Suddenly Beatrice’s heart began to race with urgency.
She paced her room in circles anxiously, then decided this wouldn’t do and yanked the door open again.
And at that very moment…….
“Oh, Beatrice. Um, sorry. Scared you, didn’t I? I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop or anything……. It’s just that…….”
“Hey, you went bolting out of here like a wild boar, so I got worried and came to check! But don’t worry. We only just arrived, I promise!”
“Beatrice, keep it secret from us if you want, but won’t you tell your mother? Did something happen with Clyde?”
“Beliana, wouldn’t it be better to ask her when it’s just the two of us……? Beatrice, you probably don’t want to say in front of everyone either…….”
She found her family gathered clustered outside her door.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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