I Proposed to My Childhood Friend After Regressing - Chapter 65

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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, I Proposed to My Childhood Friend
Chapter 65
He came to my house knowing full well I’d reject him? I’m going to pass out.
‘Is this really Valois Crawford with just one restraint removed…?’
I’d reined him in with the masquerade ball incident and the Marquis Territory business, even locked him in a cage with it all, and he’s still like this.
‘What would he be like if this restraint didn’t exist at all?’
Goosebumps crawled across my arms. The very thought was terrifying.
‘But before the regression, Clyde experienced the full force of Valois Crawford—reins completely undone, wings and all?’
God, that’s just… awful.
I decided that next time I saw Clyde, I’d give his back a good pat. I could forgive his overprotectiveness in front of Valois after that.
‘Though right now, I’m the problem.’
I stared at Valois’s surprisingly round handwriting and racked my brains for how to escape this disaster.
“Ugh… Mother, what should I do about this?”
“We can’t simply accept such a brazen intrusion.”
“Right?”
“Of course. We have the family’s reputation to consider. In times like these, we must follow proper protocol. First, organize a tea time party…”
“Then I’ll take to my bed with an illness. No, wait—he might use that as an excuse to visit. Ah! Or I could say I’ve caught something highly contagious!”
“What?”
The Count opened his eyes wide as if scandalized by such undignified behavior, but I paid him no mind.
To begin with, meeting Valois Crawford was not an option that existed. Why?
“Mother, I can’t meet him!”
“Beatrice.”
“Cassian said it looked like Valois Crawford’s sister is trying to kill me!”
“What are you talking about?”
Of course, Cassian hadn’t said anything quite that dramatic. He’d merely suggested that Valois Crawford’s motives for trying to escape the Marquis Territory were suspicious.
But when it came to matters of safety, it was always better to make a fuss than to stay quiet.
I waved my hands and feet at the Count, tattling on every suspicious circumstance Cassian had told me about.
Drawing on my old experience of tattling on my older brothers to Mother, I even put on that characteristic youngest-child expression of wounded innocence.
“I’m really, really scared of Valois’s sister, Mother. Didn’t you see? When she looks at me, her eyes go like this, like this! All sparkling?”
“……”
“If I’d actually done something wrong to her, I wouldn’t say anything! But what have I done? If anything, if the problem is that I got married, shouldn’t she hold a grudge against Clyde for rejecting her feelings? Why is she doing this to me?”
Emotionally speaking, I was a hundred, a thousand times right. That said…
“Sigh…”
Count Hartwell rubbed the bridge of his nose as if troubled.
“Word has it the Grand Duke has been treating Valois’s sister quite strictly lately. And she’s been keeping to herself very quietly.”
“But that…!”
“Even if what you’re saying is true, we can’t simply refuse her outright. Especially if the letter she sent is an olive branch, an attempt at reconciliation.”
I was just about to unfold the letter with a grimace.
—Knock, knock, knock!
A maid opened the door just a crack, accompanied by a somewhat hurried knock. Her complexion was pale, and she pointed outside with her finger, speaking in an awkward voice.
“I… Count Hartwell, I think you may need to come…”
“What’s wrong?”
“Well, um… Valois Edvain Crawford’s sister has visited again… and she’s currently in the Entrance Hall…”
The Count and I exchanged glances quickly.
The maid who’d brought us this news had worked for the Hartwell family for many years. She wouldn’t be this flustered over something minor.
“Joanna, has Valois’s sister caused a scene in the Entrance Hall? Is anyone hurt? Is anything broken?”
“No, nothing like that, but… well, she is causing a ‘scene,’ yes.”
“Explain more clearly.”
“It’s rather embarrassing to speak of directly, so I’ll put it delicately. The lady said that if you don’t trust her, she’ll prove her harmlessness personally, and then she started removing her buttons…”
…What in the world was she saying?
Listening to Joanna’s words, I blinked blankly.
It wasn’t that I didn’t understand what she was implying—it was that I didn’t want to understand.
If I was understanding this correctly, this was a real catastrophe!
Apparently thinking the same thing, the Count squeezed his eyes shut and immediately turned his body around.
“I understand what you mean. Go.”
“Yes! Um, just to be safe, the head maid had everyone except a few maids leave the area.”
“Good.”
With that brief acknowledgment, the three of us quickened our pace.
The Count and I rushed to the Entrance Hall and witnessed a truly dizzying sight.
“Let me see—these earrings and necklace look perfect for stabbing.”
“My lady, you cannot do this here. It would damage not only our family’s reputation, but your own standing and the Grand Duke’s…”
“This petticoat would be perfect for hiding weapons, so I’ll remove it. And these rings and this coat can conceal poison, so those come off too.”
“My lady, please… If you must do this, perhaps in our Parlor…”
Watching the maid’s desperate voice, I took in the Entrance Hall piece by piece.
Gloves and earrings scattered across the floor, shoes, and things that looked like a petticoat and dress as if a caterpillar had shed its skin.
“This is insane…”
Valois had stripped off everything except for a thin one-piece dress—the kind I’d only wear in my bedroom.
“……”
The Count, who had taken in the sight together with me, breathed in sharply and then called out her name in a ringing voice.
“Valois Edvain Crawford! What on earth is the meaning of this outrageous behavior?”
The vein at her temple was visibly throbbing—just witnessing that scene was enough to give her a headache.
Valois, who had been calmly ignoring the maid’s words, turned her head and stared at us both. The corner of her mouth lifted slightly.
“Why should it matter if I’m being outrageous? I’ve lived perfectly well without such trivial things as dignity.”
“Young lady!”
“Besides, look—you came running as soon as I proved myself, didn’t you?”
Valois looked directly at me and tilted her head slightly.
“So, what do you say, young lady? Do you feel like talking to me now?”
“……That is…”
“If you still don’t trust me like this, or if you think I’m still going to harm you, just say the word. I’ll show you there’s nothing under this scrap of fabric either.”
Valois grasped the edge of her dress with an expression utterly free of hesitation.
Faced with a situation where she’d undoubtedly strip off even this remaining garment if I didn’t answer within ten seconds, I finally threw up my hands.
“Fine! Let’s talk!”
“Really? I thought you’d keep running, but now you’re willing?”
“Yes. I’m dying of curiosity about what you have to say, so let’s just go inside.”
“Good, then. Oh, and if you have any more doubts anytime, just tell me. I’m ready.”
“……”
Instead of responding to Valois, I signaled the maids to move quickly and began walking.
You never engaged with someone who was truly mad!
* * *
The Parlor of the Hartwell Family Estate.
An unusually tense atmosphere hung over this room, which ordinarily maintained a leisurely ambiance.
The Count had given strict orders to the servants, having heard his daughter’s tattling.
To guard the young lady well, lest she cause more trouble.
Yet no matter how carefully one prepared, there were things one could not guard against.
“Hey. You there—the one with her hair tied high with a red ribbon.”
“Are you speaking to me?”
“Yeah, you. Come here. And…”
“……”
“Tie me up to that window frame with your hair ribbon.”
“… I… I beg your pardon?”
“Don’t you understand? Tie me here so I can’t move a finger toward your young lady, and then leave. I have things to discuss with her alone!”
Which is to say, like now.

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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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