I Proposed to My Childhood Friend After Regressing - Chapter 26

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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 26
Beatrice rushed toward the window, leaning her upper body out in a panic.
Not that this action would tell her the exact number of dolls scattered throughout the Marquis Territory, but Beatrice had no mind for such concerns at the moment.
The current state of the Marquis Territory was like being locked inside a room with dozens of ovens set to explode at any moment.
“Lia!”
“What—what are you doing?!”
Ignoring the panicked cries entirely, Beatrice turned to the Marquis with a grave expression.
“We have to recover the dolls immediately!”
“What?”
Breathing heavily, Beatrice spoke the conclusion she’d just reached.
“Those dolls are explosives that could detonate at any moment! If time runs out and they explode, the entire Marquis Territory will be ruined!”
A chill fell over the Conference Hall.
Beatrice tapped her feet anxiously, taking in the faces of everyone present.
From Downer, the Marquis who held final authority, to Sharon, his chief advisor, and finally to Clyde.
Clyde’s blue eyes met Beatrice’s pale green gaze across the empty air above her spectacles.
“…Lia Kruger, perhaps you could calm yourself first and provide a more detailed explanation?”
Though his words asked for explanation, his tone was not cold.
Beatrice nodded rapidly and hastily explained the nature of Orharkon, the current situation in the Marquis Territory, and the catastrophe it could bring.
As her account continued, the faces around her grew progressively pale.
Especially the Crown Prince’s advisors, who understood magic far better than most others in the Empire, grew increasingly grave.
They quickly realized her words were not mere idle worry.
Just as the Conference Hall began to grow chaotic, Alec raised his hand lightly, drawing everyone’s attention.
“I’d like to clarify one thing. From what I understand, the ‘recovery’ you propose isn’t simply gathering the dolls—it means destroying the Orharkon inside them, correct?”
“…Well, there are certainly precautions to consider, but yes. Essentially, that’s right.”
“I see. First, I hope you won’t take what I’m about to say the wrong way.”
Alec began gently, his gaze fixed on her as he continued.
“Can you prove that what you’re saying is true? We did suspend the interrogation based on Dalton’s guarantee, but you, Miss Kruger, are the very person arrested on suspicion of damaging dolls.”
“That is…”
“What Dalton says is logical and sound. But it’s not without its gaps. Miss Kruger, you could easily commit a crime and still escape suspicion—if the culprit isn’t you alone.”
Alec drove his point home with a regretful expression, clearly reluctant to speak such words.
“Miss Kruger, you need to prove that your words aren’t part of some sinister scheme. For Dalton’s sake, and for the Crown Prince’s.”
His golden eyes pierced through her like a blade.
“Lia.”
At Sharon’s cautious voice, Beatrice’s hands tightened into fists.
Everything the Grand Duke said was correct. His manner of pointing out suspicious aspects was flawless, befitting someone who had once been the Empire’s most beloved—perfectly gentlemanly.
And yet…
‘…Why does this irritate me so much?’
The faintly apologetic tone, the restraining gestures keeping others from pressing her, his focused gaze upon her—all of it irritated her.
‘Is it because he reminds me of Valoa Crawford?’
Though technically, Valoa Crawford resembled Alec, but regardless.
Telling herself this was deflected anger, Beatrice glanced at Clyde before acting.
He appeared to be listening intently to Alec, comparing the information he’d just heard with the Grand Duke’s words, piecing together the situation.
While also remaining cautious of the Grand Duke, whom he hadn’t entirely figured out yet.
‘Well, that should be fine.’
Satisfied with Clyde’s expression, Beatrice decided to sweep away all the complicated matters—her true identity, her position, her purpose in the Marquis Territory—from her mind.
She had a feeling he’d handle it well regardless…
‘Even if he doesn’t and ends up in a disadvantageous position, what can I do? Lives are at stake.’
Besides, honestly speaking, pretending not to know seemed a bit too late now.
‘Honestly, if I heard a maid suddenly spouting that the Marquis Territory would be ruined and Orharkon was explosive, I’d wonder what she was on about too.’
Since things had come this far, Beatrice decided to finish it boldly and called out to Downer.
“My lord Marquis.”
“What is it?”
“I apologize in advance, but if necessary, please send the bill to His Highness the Crown Prince. For safety, please all stand back some distance.”
“Safety? What are you planning to do?!”
“Proof. A demonstration of what happens when Orharkon detonates.”
Of course, she couldn’t actually embed Magical Energy in real Orharkon and set it off—for now, she planned to trigger an ordinary magical collision.
Beatrice pulled out a tiny fragment of Orharkon from her pocket and tossed it to Sharon.
“Advisor, you don’t see anything suspicious about it, do you?”
“Pardon?”
“I wanted to avoid any suggestion that I’d used some trick. Please pass it around to everyone else here.”
“Ah, yes!”
The fragment in Sharon’s hands passed through the hands of another advisor, a knight, a noble, and the Marquis before returning to Beatrice.
Having received confirmation from all, she held the Orharkon fragment in one hand and approached the Torch hanging on the wall.
“All natural things possess an inherent Essence, and that Essence manifests as phenomena through Magic Power, which serves as a Neutral Medium.”
“And?”
“So I intend to use myself as a medium to continually pour the fire Essence of this torch into the Orharkon fragment. Until it can’t hold anymore and shatters.”
Right, that was it.
“I should mention beforehand that this isn’t something only I can do—anyone with even basic Magic Power can produce the same result.”
“…”
“If you distrust me because I’m the one conducting the test, you could also ask His Highness at the gate to do the same. The Crown Prince knows how to use Magic Power, so he can replicate exactly what I do.”
Preemptively cutting off any objections, Beatrice began channeling the fire Essence from the torch into the fragment.
At first, the fragment showed little change, but gradually it glowed red like the torch’s flame and began to tremble violently.
‘Since the fragment’s small, it should happen soon enough.’
If things continued, it would detonate smoothly.
Having pushed Orharkon to its absolute limit, she took a sharp breath and hurled the fragment forcefully toward the window.
Watching the fragment tear through the air, Beatrice quickly sprinted in the opposite direction.
She needed every bit of distance to avoid being caught in the explosion.
‘…It shouldn’t have detonated yet, right?’
Just as Beatrice turned to check the fragment’s status, someone roughly grabbed her arm.
“Huh?”
She lost her balance instantly and tumbled into someone’s embrace.
A cool, woody bergamot scent brushed her nose—one she knew well.
‘This is…’
Before she could fully grasp the situation, a muffled boom erupted and the window shattered into countless pieces.
Shards flew in all directions and thick dust blanketed the entire Conference Hall, yet Beatrice remained completely unharmed.
The one holding her tightly had shielded her from all danger.
“…Are you hurt?”
At the low voice that fell from above her head, Beatrice’s eyes widened slightly.

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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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