I Proposed to My Childhood Friend After Regressing - Chapter 56

—————
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
Chapter 56
The atmosphere in the Marquis Territory had felt decidedly odd these past few days.
More precisely, everyone’s behavior had become unnaturally stilted.
“Oh! Miss Beatrice! I’m terribly sorry—the corridor is being cleaned right now, so it’s a bit hazardous. Would you mind using the Study Room downstairs instead?”
“What? This place too? Just a moment ago, someone said the west bridge was also under renovation…”
“Ah… well, you see, this is the Castle Renovation Period! Besides, our Marquis Territory faces frequent Monster attacks, so…”
“Oh, I see. So I should use the downstairs Study Room, then?”
“Yes! Thank you so much for your understanding!”
Watching the servant bow and hastily turn to leave, Beatrice’s eyes narrowed slightly.
‘That’s strange. Very strange.’
Even Beatrice, who was duller than most when it came to reading a room, could sense this was far from ordinary.
‘I keep running into Cassian way too often.’
Walking down a corridor, she’d collide with Cassian coming from the opposite direction; step outside for a stroll, and there he’d be, consulting with some servant about something.
Even when she’d headed to the Infirmary to confirm something, she’d happened upon him inspecting the Defense Corps.
“…Cassian?”
“Ah, Miss Kruger…”
Yes, exactly like this.
Beatrice, who had been sitting in the Study Room copying down necessary information, shook her head and opened her mouth.
“What, uh… what brings you here this time?”
“I came to find a book on my father’s errand, but you, Miss, are you…?”
“As you can see, I’m looking up some materials.”
Beatrice held up a book as evidence, her expression growing slightly serious.
“Cassian.”
“Yes, Miss?”
“Don’t you think this situation feels a bit strange to you too?”
At Beatrice’s earnest question, Cassian let out a short laugh. He nodded lightly without any real hesitation and opened his mouth.
“Yes. It’s not like it usually is.”
“No matter how I look at it, it seems like people are being deliberately orchestrated to make this happen. Why? What’s so important about the two of us running into each other by chance?”
……
“Do you happen to know the reason, Cassian?”
At Beatrice’s question, Cassian smiled again and began to speak.
“I have an idea.”
“Oh, you do?”
“Yes. Would you like to know the reason?”
“What? Yes, of course.”
“Well, the reason is that I…”
Just as Cassian was about to answer naturally, an urgent knock sounded and the door flew open.
Bang!
“Miss Beatrice! Oh, there you are!”
It was a maid who usually attended to Beatrice alongside the head maid Nao.
The maid curtsied apologetically toward Cassian before hurrying over to Beatrice.
“Head Maid Nao is looking for you urgently!”
“Huh? For me? All of a sudden?”
“Yes! It seems to have something to do with the Apple Mint Tea Leaves you set out the other day!”
“What? Did something happen to the leaves…?”
“I’m not entirely sure about that myself… but please, let’s go! Cassian, we’ll see you next time.”
The maid, having exchanged polite goodbyes on Beatrice’s behalf, promptly led her away toward the Crown Prince’s office.
And upon arriving there, instead of Head Maid Nao, Clyde was waiting.
“So you’re the person who wanted to check something with me? It was you, Bia?”
“What? No—Nao told me she was calling for me, so I came.”
Thud!
In stark contrast to how the Study Room door had been flung open moments before, the Office door now closed with decisive finality.
“…No, seriously, what is going on?”
Beatrice genuinely could not comprehend what was happening around her.
Staring at the closed door with a bewildered expression, she shook her head and spoke.
“I’m telling you, it feels like the household staff and your advisors are fighting or something.”
“Hmm?”
“I’m serious! How do I explain this? Right, yes—one side is clearly trying to throw me and Cassian together no matter what, while the other side is desperately trying to stop that and throw you and me together instead.”
Upon hearing Beatrice’s words, Clyde let out a light “oh” and smirked.
“You’ve figured it out perfectly.”
“…What?”
“That’s exactly right. You have no idea how intense the invisible power struggle between both sides has become.”
“Oh my goodness, ha, no, really—this is ridiculous!”
Having learned the truth from Clyde, Beatrice let out several incredulous laughs.
Clyde watched her for a moment, then took her hand and pulled her toward him—or more accurately, toward the tea table that the maids had thoughtfully prepared for them to spend a cozy time together.
The tray was arranged with desserts, a drink to match them if she wanted, and a few ingredients like Cucumber and lemon.
At her questioning look, Clyde shrugged and opened his mouth.
“Since things have come to this, let’s take a break.”
……
“Honestly, I’ve been so busy lately that the time you enjoy has kept getting put off.”
“…Well, that’s true, but…”
“Besides, there’s just the two of us here. If we don’t enjoy this now, we’ll regret it.”
At Clyde’s slightly teasing tone, Beatrice’s lips pouted without her meaning to.
“Shouldn’t you want to enjoy it too, speaking like that?”
“Me? Of course I want to.”
As he said this, Clyde waved a Strawberry Cake in front of her mouth as if to prove he meant it.
“There’s nowhere else I can lower my guard like I do beside you. Come on, say ah.”
……
As Beatrice reluctantly opened her mouth, he popped the Strawberry Cake right in, then took a large bite himself and his eyes widened.
“What? This Strawberry Cake is actually quite good? It could probably rival Luna Bakery.”
“Oh, I thought the same thing, and I figured out why. According to Sharon, the pastry chef here used to work at Luna Bakery.”
“That explains it.”
“Here’s where it gets interesting. Apparently there’s a rumor that this pastry chef quit because of a romantic split with the Luna Bakery owner. But the thing is, this pastry chef is quite handsome…”
Having dropped the pout just moments before, Beatrice now tumbled forth with juicy gossip and tidbits of news.
From stories about a cat named Zoro that Sharon’s Earldom keeps, to difficult equations that weren’t quite working out during her research, to how she’d felt oddly unsettled after receiving thanks from people.
Like someone finally at home, Beatrice’s shoulders began to gradually relax.
Watching her, Clyde hung his eyes at the corners and whined.
“Bia, I don’t want to work. When will the reports be done? No matter how much I write, it never ends.”
“But you said you’d handle it yourself…”
“What? Darling, are you going to say something so cold? Even if I said I’d handle it, I can get tired! Look—I’m getting shadows under my eyes! See?”
“Ugh, just get out of here!”
Pushing the insistent Clyde away, Beatrice raised her eyebrows out of habit.
“How bad are your eye bags anyway! Mine are worse than yours!”
“Worse than mine? That can’t be! Let me see… Oh…”
“…What, what’s that reaction? Is it really that bad?”
“Yeah. A bit. Um… want to put some Cucumber on? No, let’s do it.”
It had been a joke, but Clyde’s reaction was unexpectedly serious.
Reflexively touching near her eyes, she accepted the Cucumber slice he offered and placed it over her eye with a confused expression.
“…Will this help at all?”
“Better than nothing. Goodness, seeing you up close like this, I thought a ghost was trying to be my friend—you gave me quite a start.”
“Hey!”
“Ah ah, the Cucumber’s slipping—don’t move, just stay still.”
“Tsk…”
Beatrice, who had been grousing, finally fell silent. This kind of remark from Clyde was rare, which made her realize just how serious her condition must actually be.
‘Though it’s not like the schedule was unusual or anything.’
With a Cucumber resting over her eye as she leaned back against the sofa, she could hear the soft rustling sound near her ear.
Clyde seemed to be taking out tea leaves to brew tea.
In the midst of thinking that such everyday sounds were rather pleasant to hear, all the tension finally drained from Beatrice’s body.

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