I Proposed to My Childhood Friend After Regressing - Chapter 51

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

After My Regression, I Proposed to My Childhood Friend
Episode 51
“Clyde, did you hear that?”
“Hm?”
“Did you hear what His Highness said?”
Watching Beatrice’s sly smile, Clyde pressed her cheek with one hand.
“Ow, stop!”
“But what does it mean that Cassian mistook you for Dallia?”
“You’re worried about that now?”
Beatrice swatted his hand away like a cat clawing at a mouse, nibbled her lower lip, and smirked.
“What ‘good news’ would His Highness be talking about? Obviously, he’s acknowledging our accomplishments in the Marquis Territory!”
“Maybe he just means he’ll buy us a nice meal.”
“Would he make empty promises like that? Are we actually going to receive a Nobility Rank? Saving the entire Marquis Territory is certainly an achievement worthy of one, but…”
Beatrice gazed at the surprisingly quiet Clyde, lost in thought about the reward that might soon be hers.
‘Receiving a Nobility Rank was the first goal we set after our Regression, so I thought he’d be happier about it.’
Or perhaps his mind hadn’t fully cleared yet?
Worried he might still be in pain, Beatrice reached up and pressed her hand to his forehead.
Noticing his eyes widen slightly, Beatrice felt embarrassed and scratched her cheek.
“Sorry, it’s just that you’ve been so quiet. I was wondering if something was still bothering you.”
At her not-quite-apology, a soft laugh escaped Clyde’s lips.
He gently pulled her wrist down and tilted his head as he spoke.
“I was just thinking about something.”
“Thinking? About what?”
“About what I should make you do once we receive the Nobility Rank.”
“…What?”
Completely caught off guard by his answer, Beatrice’s eyes widened.
At her expression, Clyde smiled leisurely.
“Beatrice, you didn’t forget, did you? We have a bet going on.”
“…”
Well, that’s true, but…
As she hesitated for a moment, Clyde continued unhurriedly.
“If we get the Nobility Rank, I definitely win, right?”
Beatrice, who had been momentarily dazed, snapped back to attention.
“No, wait! The Nobility Rank might be because of me, not you! I found the Orharkon, and I figured out what caused the illness!”
“But I’m the one who actually dealt with that Orharkon, organized things, took care of the Marquis Territory’s security, and prepared for the Monster attacks?”
“Then shouldn’t we split the credit fairly?”
“But the condition was that you’d bring our faction together.”
At Clyde’s rebuttal—that she shouldn’t be changing the conditions now—Beatrice clamped her mouth shut.
For the first time in ages, childish feelings stirred in her chest.
Beatrice, who had been thinking hard, suddenly brightened.
“Hey, but… if we’re being that strict, haven’t I already won?”
“What do you mean?”
“Just now I remembered—I’ve already earned the Marquis Household’s trust!”
Beatrice lifted her chin and spoke, seeing Clyde’s expression asking for more details.
“Fresh off the press—the Marquis asked me how I’d feel about living in the Marquis Territory and becoming one of his people. He said he takes excellent care of his own!”
“Wait, Downer actually said that to you? Not Cassian?”
“Yes, see? That means I’ve won, right?”
“…So the Downer Household is more proactive than expected.”
At Clyde’s quiet murmur, Beatrice leaned her upper body toward where he sat.
“What did you just say?”
“Oh, nothing.”
Easily hiding his muttering, Clyde opened his mouth again.
“But the real question is whether that offer was directed at Lia Kruger, or Dallia Dalton, or Beatrice Hartwell.”
“…Ugh.”
He was absolutely right. She wasn’t either of them—she was someone pretending to be Dallia Dalton, who was impersonating Lia Kruger.
Watching Beatrice’s expression, Clyde gently posed the very first question again.
“So, Beatrice. Cassian… or rather, how exactly did the Marquis Household end up mistaking you for Dallia Dalton?”
“Oh, right. I need to explain that too.”
Beatrice nodded and told Clyde what had happened with Cassian.
As Clyde listened quietly to her story, he pulled his leg up, rested his chin on his hand, and gazed at her intently.
“Beatrice, I’m genuinely curious about this—have you never considered that Cassian might have feelings for you?”
“Cassian, for me?”
Meeting Clyde’s blue eyes, Beatrice blinked slowly.
‘Could something like that even happen?’
It wasn’t that she couldn’t imagine someone having feelings for her.
Of course, she could be someone’s first love, their unrequited love, their most treasured person in the world.
Even Cassian—she had briefly wondered if that might be the case. But…
“No way. How much have we even seen each other?”
“…”
“I’ve considered that possibility once or twice myself, honestly. But if he really liked me, I’d feel it consistently. He’s just a very kind person! Since you collapsed, I think he feels sorry toward the Dalton family as well.”
“Feel it consistently—what’s that supposed to mean?”
“You know what I mean. You know, that flutter thing, that throb-throb feeling that happens whenever you meet. Right?”
Before her Regression, Beatrice had been treated harshly, so she was naturally dull to others’ affections.
She had been the pampered youngest child who monopolized everyone’s attention, and as the daughter of a wealthy family, most people had shown her goodwill.
Of course, Beatrice’s straightforward personality also meant she had many friends.
Having said that much, Beatrice suddenly thought of something and asked Clyde.
“Actually, I wanted to ask you something too.”
“Mm?”
“Do you happen to know what kind of relationship Cassian Downer and I had?”
Seeing his look of “what are you talking about?”, Beatrice gestured to correct herself.
“No, I mean, do you know if there was anything between ‘Beatrice Hartwell’ and ‘Cassian Downer’?”
“You and Cassian? I can’t think of anything off the top of my head… Why the sudden question?”
“Cassian said he received help from me before, and we apparently exchanged letters several times. He mentioned hearing about Dallia then, but I have no memory of it at all. Since you and I spent so much time together, I thought you might know something.”
Clyde, still resting his chin on his hand, narrowed his brow slightly and blinked, as if searching his memory.
“I don’t have any particularly clear memories about it either.”
“Really? Hmm… Oh, or maybe I could ask Cassian about it now while he’s mistaking me for Dallia?”
He shook his head at Beatrice, whose eyes sparkled at the idea.
“No. You won’t get a proper answer that way.”
“Why not?”
“Because…”
‘Because he’s clearly interested right now.’
There was nothing more foolish than talking about something special with another person in front of someone with feelings for you.
Instead of answering, Clyde flicked her bridge of nose with his finger.
“If you can’t remember, just leave it forgotten. It probably wasn’t important to you anyway.”
“…Is that so?”
“Besides, you already have two sets of memories taking up space—why burden yourself with more?”
Beatrice yelped and dodged as he playfully tried to ruffle her hair.
Normally, this would have turned into another round of their childish antics, but fortunately, it didn’t.
Before Beatrice could stick out her tongue in retaliation, Sharon, the aide who had left the room moments before, knocked lightly and poked her head in.
“I… apologize for intruding on your intimate moment. However, I have a request for the young lady.”
“For me?”
Toward her, pointing to herself, Astrid Sharon nodded calmly.
“When I mentioned that you could treat my brother, Father asked if he could meet with you. Would you have time to spare?”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————