I Proposed to My Childhood Friend After Regressing - Chapter 45

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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 Return, When I Proposed to My Childhood Friend
Chapter 45
Beatrice found herself at a loss for words.
‘How am I supposed to respond to this?’
It was an absurd misunderstanding, to be sure, but denying it outright seemed likely to tangle the situation even further.
“Well, I… um….”
A flood of thoughts cascaded through Beatrice’s mind, each one vanishing as quickly as it appeared.
‘When on earth did we exchange letters?’
‘Couldn’t you tell me where we met?’
‘You’re saying I was close enough to you to discuss Dalia in my letters? Us?’
It was true that Dalia and Beatrice were the closest of friends.
Both were the youngest of their respective households, each with two older brothers, and more than that, Dalia was genuinely fond of Beatrice.
It was natural for younger siblings to take the side of someone who stood with them against their own blood.
‘But that doesn’t mean I would have confided about my relationship with Dalia to someone whose name I can’t even remember.’
Besides, Dalia was still an Academy student who hadn’t yet made her formal debut in society—and studying abroad at that!
Seeing Beatrice floundering in confusion, Cassian gave a short nod, as if this confirmed his suspicions.
“I thought as much.”
No. No, that’s not it.
“I won’t press further, as I imagine it’s difficult for you. Besides, it would be unmannered of me to repeat the same questions to the young lady.”
No, I can’t let this pass like this….
‘Or can I?’
Once the Marquessate’s problems were resolved, there would be no reason for Leia Kruger and Cassian to meet again.
‘I could just give Dalia some vague explanation and apologize later, saying it was all a misunderstanding.’
She could simply continue as Beatrice Hartwell, masquerading as Leia Kruger, mimicking Dalia Dalton.
‘Revealing my real identity right now… well, that would be rather complicated.’
Playing games of misdirection with the Crown Prince’s faction was one thing, but here, other factions were circling, watching for their moment.
In the end, Beatrice decided to let Cassian remain under his misapprehension.
She would be more cautious and careful in her movements, but she sensed that this could prove advantageous should an unexpected situation arise.
While Beatrice suppressed her unease, Cassian spoke again, his expression noticeably lighter.
“In that case, I certainly cannot allow you to go about unaccompanied anymore.”
“I’m sorry? But why?”
“Because we now share a secret between us. Unless, of course, there is another person in that position?”
“No? I mean, that’s not what I… what I meant was….”
As Beatrice shook her head and stumbled over her words, his silver-gray eyes caught her gaze, a faint smile playing across them.
“…You were teasing me again, weren’t you?”
“My apologies.”
Cassian laughed softly and apologized, then continued while casting a sidelong glance at the three people deliberating on contingencies.
“Our house has already caused the Marquis harm through our own shortcomings. If you were to face danger in any unforeseen circumstance, we would have no face to show the Dalton Duchy.”
“…….”
Well, that was true enough.
It was a reason she could not possibly refuse.
Had their positions been reversed, Beatrice would have pressed her two brothers to pursue him at once. If that proved impossible, she would have gone herself.
“……Then, thank you for your help.”
With no choice left, Beatrice yielded. And at that very moment, the Marquis’s booming voice cut through their conversation.
“Cassian! There’s work piling up—what are you doing standing there? Get over here at once!”
“Yes, I’m coming right away.”
Cassian gave the Marquis a light acknowledgment and turned back to Beatrice with a gentle smile.
“Thank you for accepting. I’ll be waiting, so please don’t hesitate to come find me whenever you need.”
“Yes, thank you.”
“I’d be delighted if you felt comfortable enough to visit as casually as when you asked to use the workshop the other day.”
With those sincere words and a smile, Cassian turned and left.
‘…Really, what was all that? Why does he have to say such things?’
Reminding herself that first impressions and appearances couldn’t be trusted, Beatrice shook her head firmly.
Dismissing the absurd thought that had flickered through her mind.
* * *
“Well then, Miss Kruger. I’ll come fetch you again this evening.”
“Oh, yes! Thank you so much!”
Having delivered her to the Treatment Center, Cassian turned to leave.
Beatrice watched him recede into the distance for a moment before turning her gaze to take in the Treatment Center’s surroundings.
“Phew. Good. Another chaotic day.”
Thanks to Claude’s foresight in coordinating with the Crown Prince to prepare contingencies, the attack itself hadn’t spiraled into widespread devastation.
Yet the aftermath of the assault didn’t simply vanish—the Marquessate, Defense Force, and Knight Order all remained in a state of alert.
The Treatment Center was no exception.
It was already dire enough with the influx of wounded from the attack, but simultaneously, the number of patients afflicted with the Mysterious Illness was rising exponentially.
As a result, Beatrice, who had come to the Marquessate to investigate this very disease, had begun to spend nearly every day commuting to and from the Treatment Center.
‘And until recently, the Treatment Center was even serving as a shelter….’
Beatrice’s gaze shifted to the Treatment Center surrounded by temporary housing and the people moving busily between them.
“Please maintain order! One bundle of Lumenroot and one bundle of potatoes per household!”
“Those needing meals, come this way. Be careful—it’s hot.”
From the nun ladling stew from an enormous pot, to the man cradling a child as he received relief rations, to the exhausted figure collapsed and the lightly ill patient barely finding space in the crush—
Beatrice exhaled deeply and murmured quietly.
“…Honestly, I’m so grateful Cassian’s helping.”
The head maid, and likely the Crown Prince too, would never have allowed her to move about alone.
Under normal circumstances, if Maid Nao couldn’t attend her, another maid or aide would have been assigned, but now hands were desperately short.
‘…And Claude still hasn’t opened his eyes.’
Pushing aside her anxious thoughts, Beatrice stepped into the Treatment Center.
If the outside was a battlefield tending to the flood of refugees, this was one of the front lines where life and death hung in the balance.
“This way! Two more patients coming in!”
“Injuries? Or that illness?”
“Both!”
“Right? Injuries go to the first floor, patients showing symptoms go to the second.”
“Is there space on the second floor right now? There shouldn’t be….”
At the nun’s uncertain tone, Beatrice shook her head and spoke.
“There should be one bed open. Two opened up last night.”
“Miss Kruger, you’re here? Ah… I see.”
“Yes….”
It wasn’t exactly an encouraging reason. Yet the nun managed a smile for Beatrice and continued in a brighter tone.
“Thank you for checking. Oh, I organized the new information we received after yesterday’s… passing, and left it on the desk.”
“Yes! Thank you! I’ll review it quickly and head right up!”
“You needn’t go so far out of your way. We’re the ones who should be grateful for your help. Oh, it looks like a patient is coughing up blood. I’d better head up!”
Leaving the nun hurrying off with the patient, Beatrice made her way to the desk he’d indicated.
Spread across it were the materials Cassian had requested from Jeremiah, the information the nun had just mentioned, and files marked with X’s.
They were the remnants of the efforts made by Beatrice and several other healers to discover the cause of the illness.
“Immune reaction to Mana—negative. Tainted Mana soil crops—harmful but inconsistent results. Airborne transmission was yesterday’s conclusion, but… this is different too.”
Since the Demon Beast attack had been the most significant change to afflict the Marquessate, they’d been chasing every variable connected to it, yet found nothing of substance.
With a somewhat heavy heart, Beatrice began reviewing the newly arrived information. Most of it was unremarkable.
Unknown where infection occurred, yet the illness manifested in people going about their ordinary lives—that sort of thing.
As she turned the pages without real focus, her eyes landed on one man’s record.
‘Patient name, Allen Dain. Eldest son of the Dain Earldom, Commander of the Defense Force. Suffered injuries defending the front lines, transferred to the Treatment Center. After approximately three weeks of treatment, symptoms appeared and his condition rapidly deteriorated?’

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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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