I Proposed to My Childhood Friend After Regressing - Chapter 29

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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, When I Proposed to My Childhood Friend
Chapter 29
Once Clyde had vanished from sight, Cassian stopped walking.
He turned slowly, lowering the hand that had been resting on Beatrice’s back, and asked carefully.
“Are you all right?”
Beatrice nodded urgently at the question, which seemed to carry multiple meanings.
“Yes, of course! I mean, I was so flustered I couldn’t say anything right there, but it wasn’t… it wasn’t like that!”
“……In any case, there are many ways to ensure the Young Lady comes to no harm, so you needn’t be frightened. Ah, but perhaps it’s uncomfortable speaking with me about such matters. Would you like me to call someone else?”
“No, no! It really wasn’t like that!”
“I see…….”
There was still a faint thread of disbelief in Cassian’s voice.
When she thought about it rationally, his reaction was only natural. If Beatrice had been walking and saw some man backing a woman into a corner, she would have rushed over immediately. Especially if the woman had frozen.
Beatrice internally sighed as she briefly imagined, from an objective distance, how the two of them must have appeared.
‘……This is bad. At this rate, Clyde will look like utter trash.’
She couldn’t decide which was worse—marrying a man who’d threatened his own subordinate, or being the type to make advances to another woman so soon after marriage.
‘Ugh……. What should I do? I can’t possibly explain the whole chain of events.’
Beatrice clicked her tongue inwardly again as her mind raced.
That’s why habits are so terrifying.
When you spend so much time flipping back and forth, threatening each other, you fail to consider what the rest of the world might think!
After a moment of consideration, she opened her mouth quickly as if struck by inspiration.
“Actually, Clyde was trying to help me! I mean, you weren’t in the Conference Hall so you wouldn’t know, but… I broke one of the windows there?”
“Pardon?”
“Ah, well, that’s a long story, and I ended up being suspected of a crime……. Anyway, something got in my eye during that explosion. We were discussing some urgent matter, and he was just trying to remove my Glasses to look at my eye, and… that’s how it happened.”
“I see…….”
For now, this was the best she could manage.
Beatrice resolved to proceed with the same shamelessness she’d shown when announcing her marriage to the Crown Princess and her family.
“Well, I’m actually very close with Beatrice—you know, the Hartwell Young Lady. We know everything about each other!”
That much, at least, was true in a sense.
In this world, the person who knew her best was herself.
“If you’re still troubled by what you saw today, you’re welcome to tell the Hartwell Young Lady all about it. I’m sure she knows better than anyone that I couldn’t possibly have an inappropriate relationship with Clyde.”
That, too, was true.
Lia Kruger and Beatrice Hartwell had just reached a perfect understanding as of this very moment.
Perhaps it was because of the confident way she spoke, adjusting her Glasses?
Cassian’s serious demeanor seemed to ease somewhat.
“Since you say so, I understand. I shall offer my own apology to Clyde separately.”
“You haven’t done anything wrong—if anything, you were thoughtful in your actions. Thank you so much for your concern!”
She bowed with genuine sincerity, and a large hand gently touched her elbow.
“Not at all. As a member of the Marquis House, it was only right that I act as I did. I’m embarrassed to receive such gratitude.”
Beatrice raised her head at his request, and her eyes widened slightly.
Now that she was seeing Cassian Downer properly, she had to admit he was quite handsome.
‘Oh…….’
It wasn’t often that Beatrice judged someone as handsome.
By circumstances, she’d grown up seeing the Empire’s most celebrated beautiful men—starting with Clyde Dalton, to whom the word “perfect” clung like a second name—the way one regards a neighbor’s dog.
His well-trained, muscular frame was certainly attractive, as were the silver-gray eyes revealed beneath his long navy hair tied back, and his clean, neat impression.
‘It’s the kind of strong impression that could seem cold, but there’s nothing threatening about it. The Marquis had a bit of that quality, though…….’
Perhaps it was because of how he’d acted.
At Beatrice’s unblinking stare, Cassian’s brow furrowed slightly with bewilderment.
“……I beg your pardon, but is there something amiss with my face?”
“What? No, no. I was just thinking how handsome you are.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Just, I was thinking the Marquis has good reason to be proud of his son.”
“……You’re too kind.”
Ah, he’s embarrassed.
Beatrice blinked rapidly as she noted the faint flush creeping up Cassian’s ears.
Looking somewhat self-conscious, he rubbed the back of his neck and smoothly changed the subject.
“Speaking of which, Young Lady Kruger, might I ask about that Conference Hall window you mentioned earlier? And about being suspected of a crime? I only just returned after hearing through the gate that His Highness had sent an escort…….”
“Ah.”
Beatrice let out a soft exclamation and, with a sheepish expression, explained everything that had happened so far.
Once Cassian had heard the entire account, his expression turned grave once more.
“……Indeed. I share Clyde’s concerns. In fact, Kalbaron Temple has been sending urgent dispatches saying the number of patients continues to grow.”
“Kalbaron Temple? You mean… the Prayer House members who travel throughout the Empire on healing missions…….”
“Yes. They’ve arrived to provide support along with the Grand Duke.”
“Hmm…….”
It was then that Beatrice suddenly remembered Valoa Crawford, whom she’d forgotten about in the chaos.
“In any case, Young Lady Kruger, you seem to possess outstanding abilities in Magic. The Marquis Territory is deeply grateful for your assistance. I shall certainly repay this debt in the future.”
“Oh, there’s no need for that! It was nothing, really. I barely understand Magic at all. It was just… because Beatrice knows a bit of Alchemy, and somehow we ended up…….”
At Beatrice’s words, Cassian hesitated. He seemed uncertain whether to speak.
“……I’m reluctant to pry, but might I ask just one thing?”
“Yes?”
Beatrice tilted her head at his cautious demeanor.
Cassian chose his words carefully before finally speaking.
“Is Beatrice Hartwell, the Young Lady, doing well?”
“Beatrice? Yes, of course. She’s doing well, naturally.”
Beatrice answered awkwardly and added with genuine confusion.
“Though, why do you suddenly ask…. Do you know her?”
It was a question asked assuming the answer was no, but surprisingly, his reply caught her off guard.
“I wouldn’t say we know each other properly, but I do know of her.”
“……Pardon?”
“I received her help once before. We exchanged letters a few times as well.”
‘……Me?’
When on earth?
Beatrice stared at Cassian’s face with a blank expression, blinking slowly.
The cold silver-gray of his eyes had taken on a faint warmth.
So she’d done something worthy of that expression?
‘Me?’
An urge to ask when and what on earth had happened rose in her throat, but fortunately, Cassian was slightly quicker.
Having composed himself with characteristic calm, he shook his head and spoke to her.
“I’m relieved to hear she’s doing well. Let’s just forget this, shall we? Ah, which room have you been assigned? Since you’re likely not yet familiar with the Marquis House, shall I show you the way?”
“……W-well, you must be busy, so there’s no need…….”
Beatrice hesitated before shaking her head. Today simply had not been her day.
‘I must be tired—I keep making small mistakes.’
Cassian gazed at her for a moment, then nodded.
“Very well. I shall take my leave here then. It seems we shall meet often during your stay at the Marquis House, so I look forward to our continued acquaintance, Young Lady Kruger.”
With that brief parting, Cassian turned and walked deeper into the corridor.
Beatrice watched his retreating figure with narrowed eyes, then drew in a slow breath and shook her head.
She still remembered nothing.

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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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