I Proposed to My Childhood Friend After Regressing - Chapter 16

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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 My Regression, I Confessed to My Childhood Friend
Chapter 16
To put it plainly, Beatrice had managed to join Claude and Crown Prince Crowell’s party.
The difference was that she’d expected to join as a regular member with the Empress’s tactful persuasion, but instead…….
“Beatrice! You’ve arrived! Come this way.”
“Oh, yes. Hello, Kaya.”
“It’s been a pleasure seeing you so frequently of late. Thank you for participating in today’s instruction as well. Shall we begin? What I’ll be teaching you today is how to manage teacups and tableware, and methods for detecting poisons, medicines, and the like.”
“Yes, of course.”
She’d been assigned to join as one of the attendants supporting the Crown Prince—secretly, no less.
‘It seems something I said must have tickled the Empress’s sense of mischief.’
Of course, when the Empress had first proposed this arrangement, Beatrice had tried to dissuade her.
Her reason was that if the truth came to light, she could become entangled in an unnecessary scandal.
‘It’s ridiculous, but Claude and I already have a history of being caught up in pointless rumors because of Baloa Crawford!’
The Empress, who understood the workings of society better than anyone, smiled with ease and quickly found a solution.
First, she would grant Beatrice the status of Special Envoy by her imperial authority, and request cooperation from the Crown Prince’s support staff.
Then, by limiting her duties to administrative assistance and external affairs, and there you have it—
‘The birth of Beatrice Hartwell, a clandestine investigator disguised as an attendant.’
Frankly, Beatrice still couldn’t believe that the Crown Prince’s attendants had agreed to cooperate in concealing her.
They’d drawn a line, saying it could give the impression that the Crown Prince hadn’t yet achieved independence from the Empress, but still.
‘From where I’m standing, they all looked far too delighted, as if wondering when they could sneak something past their superior again.’
How to put it. It felt like legitimate workplace pranks.
In any case, Beatrice had formally received from the Empress what was technically not a mission.
To investigate the Marquis Territory as thoroughly as possible and, should there be any clues related to the Mysterious Illness, to record them and report back.
Even as Beatrice recalled what the Empress had told her, the instruction continued.
“……Next, we’ll cover the types of seasonal tea leaves suited to the current time of year, how to brew them, and food pairings to avoid. I’d like you to memorize these here.”
“Yes, I— Wait. All of this? Now?”
“Yes. Of course, you won’t need to manage His Highness’s daily life, and Head Attendant Nao will always accompany you, but we can’t predict how things might go during your disguise.”
Beatrice didn’t argue and set about memorizing everything the head attendant had organized.
‘To be honest, I’m used to this now!’
While the punishments for Alec and Baloa Crawford were being made public and the Knight Order prepared for dispatch, Beatrice had been receiving instruction from the head attendant all along.
Not just the training an attendant should undergo, but practical Magic instruction as well.
She couldn’t use the excuse that she, like Jeddrick, specialized in Alchemy and knew nothing of Magic.
“Well, I believe I’ve done everything I can to help. Thank you for your hard work all this time, Beatrice!”
“Oh my!”
“Tomorrow’s your departure, yes? Have you packed everything?”
“More or less! I’ve got the Spectacles, clothes, cosmetics, and Hair Dye that Her Majesty sent me. But do you really think this will work?”
Seeing Beatrice’s uncertain expression, the head attendant smiled slightly and spoke.
“Heh, do you think your husband might see through it?”
“Well, a little? Claude’s quite perceptive, and we did so much playacting when we were young…….”
“Mm……. First of all, those Disguise Materials are all items Her Majesty uses herself. She goes out often, and not once has her disguise ever been detected.”
“……Oh, really?”
These things she’d acquired were actually that precious?
Seeing Beatrice’s wavering eyes, the head attendant smiled reassuringly and continued.
“I mention it to assure you of their quality. It’s unlikely you’ll be discovered under normal circumstances.”
“I see.”
“But should Claude still recognize you despite all that…….”
It would surely be because of love, wouldn’t it.
* * *
‘Love, she said…….’
Beatrice stuffed an overcoat into her bag, turning over the head attendant’s words in her mind.
It had been romantic and poetic—the sort of thing to appeal to newlyweds—but unfortunately, this time it was a wrong prediction.
‘Claude and I didn’t marry for love.’
Even if Claude recognized her, it wouldn’t be because of love, but surely because…….
—Knock, knock, knock!
The knock at the door cut short Beatrice’s thoughts.
Beatrice quickly shoved her half-packed belongings under the bed, then grabbed a nearby notebook and sprawled out on the sofa.
Then she steadied her breathing and raised her voice.
“Come in!”
The door creaked open, and the visitor appeared.
Beatrice, lying down, had only lifted her head slightly, but her eyes widened a touch.
She’d expected her older brother or father, but Claude was standing in the doorway.
Wondering if she’d misread, Beatrice rubbed her eyes and sat up with a confused sound.
“Claude? What brings you here at this hour?”
“What brings me? Someone’s been so busy that her husband got left in the dust, so I came to find her.”
“Huh? What’s gotten into you?”
Husband all of a sudden? Wasn’t it enough to put on that act outside?
Watching Claude move naturally into the room, Beatrice blinked as if she’d heard something absurd.
Claude, accustomed to such reactions, approached without hesitation and lightly tapped her forehead with the back of his hand.
“Besides, we only held the ceremony—we haven’t even been living together. If people hear that a husband is going away for a while and the couple didn’t even spend the night before together, what do you think that would look like?”
“Ah, I suppose so.”
She’d been so focused on her plan to follow him secretly that she hadn’t thought it through.
“I told your family that I was hesitant and told them late, so you’d gotten upset. Keep that in mind.”
“What! My image!”
“Which is why nobody saw hide nor hair of you, right? Every time I came looking, you were gone.”
“Well, that’s because……!”
Beatrice barely swallowed her mounting frustration and gave up with a shake of her head.
What was done was done; there was no point in belaboring it.
Meanwhile, Claude cleared the items on the sofa with practiced ease and sat beside her.
Seeing him settle in as if he were in his own home, Beatrice nudged his calf with her foot and spoke.
“So, you’re sleeping here?”
“Yeah.”
“Can’t you just go as a husband who couldn’t soothe his sulking wife?”
“No.”
“Ugh…….”
Claude’s sudden visit had thrown Beatrice’s mind into chaos.
There were still a few things left to pack, and tomorrow morning’s schedule would clearly be disrupted.
‘All right, tomorrow morning I’ll see him off at the front of the Imperial Palace as a loving wife. Then I’ll quickly slip away to a nearby pavilion to change clothes.’
Just as Beatrice was mentally rehearsing tomorrow morning’s events, Claude called to her calmly.
“By the way, Bea.”
“What.”
“Where are you going?”
Damn.
Beatrice barely suppressed her heart from bursting and quickly cast her eyes about.
“Why the sudden question?”
“There’s a travel bag sticking out from under the bed.”
“…….”
“Plus, when I mentioned you seemed upset, your family’s reaction seemed almost accepting, somehow.”
Ugh. No help from anyone.
Beatrice recalled the expression on her parents’ faces when she’d first told her friends she’d be taking a trip.
She let out a sigh with a light grunt and told Claude matter-of-factly,
“I made up a story for the family that I’m traveling with friends.”
“Made up a story? So the truth is?”
“The truth is research with Her Majesty. That’s why I’ve been so busy lately. Someone felt the need to provoke me about how easy it is to gain a title.”
“Research with Her Majesty…….”
Why was he suddenly repeating her words back to her like that?
Watching Claude’s earnest profile, Beatrice eventually rose from her seat and moved in front of him.
If she waited for this to pass, her heart felt like it might burst and kill her.
From her years of bickering with her brother, she’d learned that the best move in these situations was to do something that would catch the other person off guard.
After turning over the few options her scattered mind could muster, what Beatrice chose was to grab his face with both hands and meet his eyes.

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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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