I Proposed to My Childhood Friend After Regressing - Chapter 31

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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 31
The sudden focus of attention made Beatrice take a small step backward.
‘Ah, no—why are you all looking at me like that?’
I was planning to work pleasantly with Nao, the head maid, and poke around here and there to see if there was anything connected to the Mysterious Illness in the Territory! That was the whole idea!
These past few days of following the head maid around had already shown Beatrice why the Empress had quietly slipped her in as a maid rather than an aide.
‘There’s actually quite a lot of talk that servants share with each other.’
Most of it was nonsense or too trivial to record, but clues were often found in small details like these.
‘For instance, there’s the rumor that a drunk Begins kicked a four-hundred-year-old ancient tree and caught the illness from that…’
Especially in invisible domains like Magic, small anomalies tended to surface first.
‘Anyway, this wasn’t part of the plan!’
And since I’m keeping it hidden, I can’t even tell anyone about this!
Cassian took a step back, addressing her as she stood there with sealed lips and rolling eyes.
“There’s no need to feel burdened. It’s simply that my knowledge in this field is limited, so I need assistance. If you could point out anything that catches your eye or seems concerning as I attend to Territory matters, that would be sufficient.”
“Um…”
“I hear you’re also handling external affairs. If it’s uncomfortable, you could just think of it as taking on my assignment instead. I’m quite fond of tea.”
At Cassian’s added words, Beatrice’s previously frozen mind began turning again.
Since Cassian had inherited full authority from the Duke, there was a high probability he’d be inspecting the entire Territory thoroughly.
‘Then wouldn’t that give me a clearer excuse to go poking around here and there?’
If the illness ventured beyond Alchemy’s scope into specialized Magic territory, she could report to the Empress and hand it off to someone more capable then.
Finding the proposal rather reasonable as she weighed it piece by piece, Beatrice rolled her eyes and asked carefully.
“Um… Do you go out to the field directly yourself?”
“Of course. Ah, if you’re worried about danger—”
“No, no! I actually prefer that!”
“…You prefer dangerous situations?”
“What? No! That’s not what I meant…”
Cassian smiled faintly at her flustered response and opened his mouth.
“I was joking. I’m pleased because you seem to be thinking positively about this.”
Cough, cough!
Beatrice reflexively burst into coughing upon hearing Cassian’s words.
She never expected such a seemingly cold person could make jokes like that.
‘…Does Cassian actually say things like that?’
Wiping away involuntary tears, Beatrice studied Cassian again.
His sharply defined features that fell cleanly, his posture without the slightest disorder, and those cool-looking eyes still gave off a keen impression.
‘I did think he was more considerate than expected, especially after what happened the other day…’
But she’d assumed he was the type to draw lines and put up walls when dealing with people.
Considerate, yes, but fastidious about not crossing boundaries, and rarely one for empty words.
‘Who knew he’d catch me off guard like that.’
“Are you all right?”
“Y-yes, I’m… fine…”
As Cassian asked and Beatrice cleared her throat while nodding,
Clyde, who had quietly approached, poured water into a cup and handed it to her.
He passed the water naturally and gave Beatrice a brief glance before turning back to Cassian, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly upward.
“I agree that one’s own will is most important. However, it doesn’t seem we can make a decision right now. There are matters we need to settle before changing assignments.”
“I see.”
“Yes. If you don’t mind, I’d also like time for us to consult separately. Since this concerns Knight Order business, it’s not something we can discuss in front of outsiders.”
His tone was gentle, but he showed no sign of backing down. Though it was clearly a work-related conversation, the air in the Conference Room grew subtly tense.
In the midst of this unpredictable atmosphere, the soft clink of a teacup being set down sounded. It was a deliberate sound made by Nao, the head maid.
“Why don’t you take a break for now? While the two of you were discussing matters concerning Beatrice, I made sure to check that all the food is safe.”
“Oh, I’m sorry!”
She shook her head lightly as if it were nothing, then looked toward Cassian and continued gently.
“There was also a message for you during that time. The family members of one of the security guards are waiting in the Reception Room. They said they were the family of someone named Kala…”
“Ah.”
He let out a soft exclamation as if something had clicked into place, then nodded promptly.
“Thank you for telling me. This is… an important matter. It’s the family of a fallen security guard, after all.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, he rose from his seat and looked between Beatrice, Clyde, and the head maid in turn as he spoke.
“Now that I think of it, I’ve rushed through procedures out of personal interest. The Knight Order as well as this matter should have been something for the head maid to consider too.”
He bowed briefly to convey his apology, then continued matter-of-factly.
“My offer still stands. However, the decision rests entirely with the three of you. Then, I’ll excuse myself for a moment.”
It was a parting without excess.
He finished his farewell cleanly and left the room.
As the door closed, a brief silence fell over the Conference Room. Nao, the head maid, did not miss that gap.
“Then I shall also step away for a moment.”
Without further explanation, she smiled briefly at the two of them, then turned and headed toward the door.
“Ah, Beatrice.”
“Yes?”
“The urgent matters are roughly settled, so you can rest for today. Before you go, would you mind tidying up the Conference Room?”
With that, the door closed once more.
Beatrice pressed her hand to her forehead slightly, catching that Nao had noticed their situation despite pretending not to.
‘That’s it. We’re completely exposed.’
At this point, Crown Prince Crowell, who only knew her as ‘Beatrice Kruger’ in ignorance, deserved pity.
She let out a light sigh and removed her glasses. Then she raised both hands slightly and let the words tumble out.
“Look, I’m sorry for deceiving you. The thing is, I actually deliberated a lot about whether to tell you when we separated. But then I thought, if you pulled one of your underhanded tricks again, how would I manage? I couldn’t think of a way to win by talking, and besides, I really do have business in the Duchy. This was the best I could come up with!”
“…Didn’t you say we should trust each other?”
“Come on, don’t be so extreme and say I didn’t trust you! What? I did that before making that promise, okay? Laws don’t have retroactive effect anyway, right? This is similar. Did I do it with bad intentions? You got away with your little sleight of hand at the masquerade, so let’s call it even on this. What do you say? We start fresh from here, clean slate.”
Beatrice thrust out her chest confidently as she spilled out nonsensical excuses.
Clyde, who had listened to her words in silence, slowly tilted his head.
“Fine. I’ll let this slide. Let’s start fresh from here, clean and simple. From now on, we’ll be honest with each other.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, really. So now that we’ve agreed to become new people, I’ll be direct. I’d prefer it if you’d turn down Cassian’s proposal.”
“…What?”
“Asking Cassian if he goes out to the field directly, and saying you prefer that—you want to go wandering around the Territory on your own two feet, don’t you? Just like when you slipped out of the Inn in the dead of night to wander the crime scenes.”
“…”
“But right now, I’m extremely sensitive about your safety. You even think it’s suspicious, and honestly, I seem crazy enough about it myself.”
“…Hey.”
“So don’t do it.”
Everything from when you encountered the mysterious assailant to the Orhkarkon affair is precarious enough as it is.

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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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