I Proposed to My Childhood Friend After Regressing - Chapter 73

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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 Proposed to My Childhood Friend
Episode 73
“Well then, Beatrice. Make up with him properly, and I’ll be waiting for your answer.”
When Elodie heard that Kailan was at the Training Grounds, she bid Beatrice farewell.
Beatrice nodded naturally and waved toward her.
“I’m not sure if I can use the method you taught me, but I’ll try.”
“Go on, give it a shot. He’ll probably like it.”
“Well… ah, that’s right. I think I’ll be staying here for a while today. If we can see each other later, I hope we do.”
“No, no.”
Elodie waved her hand playfully.
“Kailan and I are having dinner outside. Let the two of us have some intimate time together.”
With that, the princess set off briskly. Watching her departing figure with the air of someone whose business was finished, Beatrice gave a light shrug.
‘Well, it’s only natural. She probably pressured them both in the carriage, asking them to become the Blue Thing, and she must have heard that Clyde wasn’t pleased with what Valois brought up….’
It seemed reasonable enough to think she could focus on other matters until she gave Clyde her answer.
‘I brought it up on purpose, after all.’
She wasn’t as skilled as Clyde at reading the flow of conversation and laying groundwork, but she’d seen and heard enough to manage this much.
That is to say, making sure Princess Elodie recognized more clearly that Clyde reacted emotionally to matters involving Valois.
‘In a situation where her target is Clyde, the reason she made both me and Valois the Blue Thing must be to use me to provoke some incident at the wedding that would stir Clyde up!’
If that was true, it was better to fix that interpretation firmly in place.
‘Elodie’s probably wondering right now how to manipulate Valois further.’
Of course, even without going to such lengths, Valois would ultimately accept anyway.
Of course, one lingering question remained.
‘How exactly is she planning to get past people’s suspicions and dodge responsibility?’
There was no one in Imperial High Society who didn’t know Beatrice and Valois.
Because Valois had made such a loud spectacle of himself, everyone knew the two of them were on very bad terms.
In other words, the very sight of the princess asking both of them to become the Blue Thing would strike people as strange.
‘It’s basic common sense that a good host keeps people with a bad relationship from crossing paths in the same space.’
There was no way the princess didn’t know something so fundamental….’
‘She must have already thought up a way to resolve this, surely?’
Elodie was someone who got what she wanted without bloodying her own hands. She’d certainly try to act like a “completely innocent victim” at this wedding, as if she knew nothing about it.
‘I still can’t quite figure out what move she’s planning to make.’
As Beatrice stood with her eyes narrowed, staring at the space where Princess Elodie had vanished, the Duke’s Household maid who’d been waiting for her called out to her softly.
“Um… Miss Beatrice, is something troubling you?”
“Oh, no! It’s nothing. Just… I was gathering my thoughts.”
“I see.”
The maid, seeming to understand, glanced toward where Clyde’s Room was and cleared her throat lightly, stifling a smile.
“Well… ahem! Not to overstep, but I thought perhaps some refreshments might lighten the mood a bit.”
“…What, is Clyde hungry?”
“Ahem!”
Instead of answering Beatrice’s question, the maid straightened her posture and closed her eyes. It was a gesture of affirmation.
Beatrice nodded solemnly as if to say she’d keep that in mind, then made her way toward Clyde’s Room.
The maid who accompanied Beatrice knocked lightly on the door on her behalf and announced Beatrice’s arrival.
“Master Clyde, it’s Anna. Miss Beatrice is here.”
“Tell her to leave.”
The reply came at once.
At Clyde’s answer from inside the room, the maid nodded lightly and opened the door without fuss.
Having worked long in the Duke’s Household, she already knew well that Clyde only gave that kind of response when it came to Beatrice.
She also knew that he wasn’t serious about it.
“Come in, he says.”
“Thanks.”
“Of course. Then I’ll take my leave. Oh, and I’ll place the refreshments you requested on the tray outside the door.”
“Got it!”
Encouraged by the maid’s support, Beatrice stepped into Clyde’s Room and gave him a cheerful whistle as she looked at him.
“Oh, you look better than I thought? The way you stormed out so fiercely, I was sure you’d be looking absolutely dreadful.”
“I’m pretty sure I told you to leave.”
“Then maybe say it while holding your book right-side up.”
As Beatrice pointed out the upside-down book he was holding, Clyde raised his eyebrows slightly and retorted.
“I have the book turned that way because I need to look at it from the other side.”
“Then at least clean up that Report with ink smudges bleeding through in spots.”
“That was the pen’s… never mind. I don’t have any reason to explain this to you anyway. If you don’t have business here, why don’t you just leave?”
“Hmm….”
Beatrice folded her arms and observed Clyde intently.
His sharpened jawline, his tightly closed mouth, and his furrowed brow still showed his dampened mood.
‘But this much….’
It was actually much better than she’d expected, so she felt genuinely relieved.
If he’d been as seriously angry with her as he’d been that day, Beatrice wouldn’t have known how to begin.
‘But at least he’s listening to what I have to say? He’s not throwing me out immediately?’
So Beatrice decided to try the most unremarkable approach from among the advice she’d asked for from everyone she met, just in case.
“Clyde.”
“…What?”
“Aren’t you hungry?”
Clyde fell silent as if the question wasn’t worth answering. Of course, that didn’t mean Beatrice would back down.
“What do you want to eat first? Wow, it looks like Anna prepared only your favorites. An Egg Sandwich?”
“……”
“A Strawberry Tart?”
“……”
“Or if you think your stomach might feel a bit uneasy, there’s Potato Cream Stew too.”
“Beatrice.”
Finally unable to hold back, Clyde called out to her, his expression slightly stern as he stared at her.
“What are you trying to do with me right now?”
“Make up with you.”
At her calm and direct answer, Clyde hesitated for a moment. Beatrice didn’t miss that opening.
She quickly perched herself on the desk, grabbed a piece of Chocolate, and pushed it into his mouth.
“You……”
“Eat and listen.”
“……”
Meeting the displeased gaze of Clyde, Beatrice continued speaking with composure.
“I know you had every right to be angry.”
“……”
“I know how insane what I said must have sounded. If the situation were reversed, I’d have acted exactly the same way.”
After sending Clyde away, Beatrice spoke what she’d been thinking without reservation, her expression growing more serious as she looked at him.
“But I swear to you — you have never been left out of the reasons behind any choice I make. There will never be a time when I’m not on your side.”
“……”
Beatrice watched as his eyebrows furrowed slightly.
He still wore an expression that said he couldn’t quite grasp everything. It was a perfectly normal reaction.
No matter how sharp Clyde’s mind was, he couldn’t naturally arrive at such an absurd conclusion.
Looking at the question in his eyes — as if to say what on earth she was trying to tell him — she found herself remembering Clyde as he’d been at the Cafe, saying he was going to the Downer Marquis Territory.
This moment and that scene seemed oddly similar, though their roles had been completely reversed.
Recalling that memory, she pushed another piece of Chocolate into his mouth and smiled wryly, turning his own words back on him word for word.
“So, what? Don’t you trust me?”
“……”
“It’ll be hard for you to respond anyway with the Chocolate in your mouth, so just listen for now.”
“……”
“The reason I said I need to take Valois’s hand is because Valois isn’t the Valois we know.”
Watching Clyde’s eyes sharpen once more, Beatrice spoke quickly.
“Someone has taken Possession of Valois Crford.”

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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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