I Proposed to My Childhood Friend After Regressing - Chapter 18

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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 Proposed to My Childhood Friend
Chapter 18
The two of them parted ways at a fork in the road leading to the Knight Order Barracks upon arriving at the Imperial Palace.
No matter how married they were, the Barracks remained off-limits to outsiders for security reasons.
Clyde glanced at the large bag beside Beatrice and raised one eyebrow.
“You’re really thinking of leaving me here and heading to Neria Palace alone?”
“Yeah, that’s the plan.”
“Why not just come with me? You’ve got luggage anyway.”
“It’s fine. We got in touch with Kaya when we passed through the checkpoint at the palace entrance. She knows I have bags and said she’d meet me at the plaza before the bridge.”
“Then we’ll part there. Come on.”
Beatrice studied him with an expression that questioned whether he was serious.
From the fork where they stood to the bridge was a distance so short you could almost touch your nose to the ground.
Before Beatrice could say another word, he snatched up her luggage and started walking.
“What are you doing? Aren’t you coming?”
“I’m coming, I’m coming.”
Besides, there was no reason the plan would be exposed just because they separated there.
To be honest, Beatrice felt a small measure of gratitude toward her Second Elder Brother for completely upending the situation.
Thanks to him, she no longer had to match wits with the perceptive Clyde, and tomorrow’s plans remained intact.
‘I was worrying about how to time everything if the family insisted on seeing him off together with their friends.’
And that was just the beginning.
She could already envision her family’s overbearing insistence on personally escorting them to the meeting point.
‘We’d bicker back and forth about it, lose track of time, and the whole thing would be over before we even started…….’
“Beatrice.”
“……Oh, what?”
“You look awfully serious. What are you thinking about?”
“Oh, it’s nothing…… I was just imagining what would’ve happened if we hadn’t escaped to the palace today.”
“Ah. That. Well…… it would’ve gone exactly as you’re imagining.”
After that brief answer, Clyde’s pace subtly slowed to match Beatrice’s stride.
He adjusted the distance so they could hear each other’s voices clearly while keeping their faces hidden, then spoke softly.
“The situation’s not right for me to say this here…… but I’ll tell you everything once I’m back.”
“……Tell me what?”
At Beatrice’s confused tone, Clyde tilted his head slightly to look at her.
His eyes held the question of whether she’d already forgotten, and he quickly clarified.
“What do you think? That thing you demanded I confess when you grabbed my collar.”
“Ah.”
“Damn, I’m too honest for my own good. If I’d just pretended not to know, I would’ve forgotten all about it by now.”
“What are you talking about?”
Beatrice reached instinctively to punch his side, but instead lifted her chin in a show of magnanimity.
“Fine, go ahead. I can wait that long.”
“……Why are you being so cooperative all of a sudden? I thought you’d complain about not knowing when I’d leave or when I’d return.”
That’s because she had no intention of waiting.
“And you were upset with me before for telling you not to come to the Douner Marquessate.”
That was no longer an issue. She’d already arranged an alternative method.
But she certainly couldn’t reveal any of that!
Beatrice raised her eyebrow and shot him a slightly sharp look.
“Seriously! You’re making me sound like a child! I was being considerate, and this is what I get…!”
“Alright, alright.”
“Besides, I’m busy too. I told you—I made plans to do research with the Empress. We’re starting early, so I won’t be able to see you off tomorrow.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah. I’m telling you now so some whiny husband who tracked me down won’t feel abandoned.”
“That’s very considerate of you.”
As they continued their lighthearted banter, the bridge leading to the Central Imperial Palace came into view.
Waiting for Beatrice at the end of it was Kaya, the head maidservant of the Empress Palace, who lifted her skirts slightly in greeting.
Clyde returned her polite nod with a glance and turned back to Beatrice.
“So this is farewell for a while, then.”
“……Well, I suppose.”
……
A brief silence fell.
Though everything—the time, the relationship, the circumstances—was entirely different, something about this scene evoked the past.
Specifically, that moment when Beatrice had seen him off after the Earl’s house burned and she took refuge with the Duke’s household.
In that instant, Clyde stepped closer and drew her into an embrace without giving her time to blink.
Caught off guard by his sudden action, Beatrice’s body went rigid.
“……You bastard, are you seriously trying to get back at me for what you did earlier?”
“Yep.”
“God, that’s so childish…!”
“You’re only noticing now? I plan to win that wager as fast as I can so I can work you to the bone.”
“Hey.”
As Beatrice struggled to break free from his arms, something close to a private vow escaped as a whisper near her ear.
“So this time, it won’t take long.”
……
That was all.
Beatrice hesitated for a moment, then lightly grasped his sleeve between her fingertips.
She felt self-conscious about hugging him back, but awkward about pulling away.
A few seconds passed.
Clyde naturally released her and stepped back, his expression composed.
“That’s enough. Go on now.”
“W-wait, what…? What’s going on?”
“A newlywed’s proper farewell? You can’t see her from where you’re standing, but Kaya’s expression is priceless.”
……Kaya?
‘Oh.’
Reality snapped back into focus, and Beatrice blinked rapidly.
She gave a small, embarrassed cough and tapped his shoulder with her fist.
A way to hide the sudden awkwardness and embarrassment she felt.
“……Seriously! You could’ve warned me first!”
“You should get used to it by now, darling.”
“There you go again. I’m leaving.”
“Take care.”
“Don’t embarrass a Reincarnator, alright? Make sure you handle things smoothly. I’ll be watching.”
“What are you going to watch with, anyway? The power of love?”
“That’s just a figure of speech! Stop nitpicking everything!”
With a sharp retort, Beatrice spun around.
She didn’t bother with the usual farewells like “travel safely.” It didn’t matter—this was how the two of them had always been.
The real problem now was…….
‘Whew, that was close! Can I really pull this off without being discovered? I think it’s safer to keep moving around! Maybe I should ask His Majesty for a map of the Marquessate?’
She was already thinking about how to navigate the Marquessate while avoiding Clyde Dalton’s gaze.
Truth be told, when she heard Clyde’s offer to explain everything, she’d genuinely hesitated for about three seconds.
If he was willing to step back and be honest, shouldn’t she do the same?
‘…But then again, it’s Clyde Dalton we’re talking about.’
There was a reason Beatrice and Clyde were unusually perceptive of each other.
Since childhood, they’d made a habit of deceiving and being deceived.
They’d even thrown each other under the bus for extra pocket money from their parents, and they’d sacrificed each other to escape dangerous situations.
‘I may have said we needed to trust each other, but who says he won’t hold back the full truth this time too?’
Like at the masquerade ball.
So once wouldn’t be unfair—she deserved her chance to probe recklessly in return.
‘If he has a problem with that, he should’ve behaved better from the start!’
Having rationalized it all as Clyde’s fault, she headed toward the Empress Palace with the maidservant.
She needed to rest well today.
For tomorrow’s sake!
* * *
“Alright, since we have a large party, please gather according to your departments!”
“Kitchen staff to the left, attendants and maidservants to the center……!”
……Had she worried for nothing?
‘With this many people…… I don’t even need to deliberately hide.’
Having joined early thanks to her stay at the Empress Palace, Beatrice observed the bustling activity through the carriage window and scratched her cheek.
Even if someone she knew was among this crowd, she was confident she wouldn’t recognize them.
“Ah, Beatrice—no wait, Ria. Is there anything troubling you?”
At the question from Nao, the head maidservant of the Crown Prince Palace, Beatrice quickly shook her head.
“No. I was just thinking there are more people than I expected.”
“Ah……. I see.”
The quick-witted maidservant grasped Beatrice’s concern immediately and leaned in to whisper.
“The Crown Prince and Clyde will be traveling in the main party. You won’t run into them, so please make yourself comfortable until we arrive at the Marquessate.”
“Oh…….”
That was reassuring. Beatrice relaxed her stiffened shoulders and settled into her seat more comfortably.
Of course, as the saying went, plans existed to be revised…….
—Knock knock
“Nao.”
“Yes, what is it?”
“His Majesty has called an emergency meeting. It appears a problem has arisen at the gate leading into the Marquessate.”
A complication had emerged after all.

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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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