I Proposed to My Childhood Friend After Regressing - Chapter 8

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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
Chapter 8
Some time had passed since the honeymoon.
As Clyde stepped out of Knight Order Headquarters, waiting for Beatrice, he stopped at the sound of a familiar voice behind him.
“Well, well—if it isn’t Clyde Dalton, so busy tending to his wife that we hardly see his face anymore.”
When he turned, he found a handsome man with silver hair that proclaimed royal bloodline and violet eyes that were the very image of the Empress herself.
A person he had served for a very long time, even accounting for the past—his superior and friend, Crown Prince Crowell Hale Ronya Edveyn.
“Your Highness.”
“Yes, it’s me.”
The Crown Prince, reproaching him for the formality, clapped him on the shoulder and continued.
“How are you, then? Enjoying pleasant times with your lovely wife? There’s been quite the talk in the Knight Order. They say you’ve been utterly smitten with newlywed bliss.”
At the Crown Prince’s question, delivered with a cheerful grin, Clyde let out a deflated laugh and nodded.
“Ah, that rumor.”
“What, so it reached your ears too?”
“Ha ha, well, yes.”
It would have been troubling if it hadn’t reached him.
The two of them had been working desperately hard to appear as a hopelessly devoted couple.
Since their new home was still under construction and they were living separately in the family residences, they had to be all the more careful.
‘Timing their arrivals to coincide and meeting each other. Attending various gatherings and staying glued to each other’s sides. Sharing meals in crowded places with conspicuous affection….’
Exaggerating only slightly, the past few weeks of clinging to Beatrice had nearly equaled a lifetime of closeness.
Even Beatrice, who had been thoroughly sick of the awkward terms of endearment right after the wedding, could now say “dear” in her sleep.
The fortunate thing was that they had begun to discover clever little shortcuts as they gained experience.
‘That trick I pulled at last night’s dinner was really convenient.’
They’d made a show of heading out to the garden, complaining of fullness and wanting a walk, then deliberately mussed their clothes when returning.
There was no need to worry about anyone’s gaze—they simply spent some time in a secluded spot and came back. That was all.
Just as he was recalling their tearful efforts to gradually wear on Baloa Crawford’s nerves, the Crown Prince lifted one eyebrow slightly and replied.
“…You answered so honestly. I never expected such a response from you, Dalton.”
“Because it’s the truth. That my wife is lovely, that I enjoy my time with her, that I’m utterly taken with newlywed bliss—these are all heartfelt sincerity. Why would I deny them?”
“Goodness! Stop there, or I’ll get actual chills.”
“How unfortunate.”
Clyde lowered the corners of his eyes with a tone of regret and offered his greetings with perfect composure.
“Ah, I realize I’m late with my thanks, Your Highness. I’m deeply grateful for your concern regarding my marriage. You’ve been sending gifts almost daily—we barely have room for them all.”
“Don’t thank me! Forget about it. You know as well as I do that I couldn’t attend the ceremony myself, so my guilt was considerable. I thought I’d make some effort from now on.”
“Ha ha, your sentiment is more than enough. I couldn’t possibly burden Your Highness with such trouble when you’re so occupied.”
“Really? Ha ha! Then I should have given you a heads-up beforehand. I’m busy, but I’m certainly not going to interfere between the two of you.”
The Crown Prince, yielding not an inch, parried Clyde’s words and lowered his voice slightly to continue.
“Not just me—Mother has been quite hurt as well. It’s only natural, given that your bride is the Hartwell heiress. The Earl is one thing, but Jederick, the heiress’s father, is from our own kingdom. I never imagined you’d hide something so important from him.”
“Ah, about that….”
Clyde scratched the back of his head awkwardly and opened his mouth with a troubled expression.
“The Hartwell Earl surely never intended to hide it from Her Majesty the Empress. Jederick didn’t know either.”
“Didn’t know? Didn’t know what?”
“About us. To be more direct, Your Highness, the day Her Majesty learned of our marriage and the day my father learned of our marriage announcement were probably only days apart.”
How many days was it…? Four?
As he listened to Clyde’s explanation, the Crown Prince looked him over with an expression of disbelief at such circumstances.
“Come now, Your Highness. Don’t look at me that way. We had our reasons.”
“Reasons? I heard you two were already seeing each other during your academy days. What on earth was so secretive about it…? Ah. If it had come out, things would have been quite messy.”
No matter that both were younger children without real authority in their houses, the union of Hartwell and Dalton Duchy was a significant matter.
The Hartwell house had, generation upon generation, grown so wealthy that they produced nearly ten percent of the empire’s staple crops, while the Dalton house were founding heroes who had drunk Dragon’s Blood alongside the imperial family when the empire itself was established.
This alone would have been cause enough for commotion….
‘If it had been revealed then, given the Hartwell Earl’s origins, the traditionalists would certainly have thrown themselves at us with fury.’
Now, with his sister, Princess Elodie, officially betrothed to the Dalton house’s eldest son, no further objection could be raised.
“Well, I understand the reasoning, but hiding it from your own family seems a bit much even so.”
“Ha ha, that’s the ‘youngest daughter’s’ circumstances for you….”
Clyde smoothly fabricated an excuse and deftly redirected the conversation.
“We shall visit Her Majesty the Empress soon with my wife. If I’m occupied with duties, I’ll ask Beatrice to go first.”
“I’m glad to hear that. Mother will feel better once she sees both of you in person. Ah, and….”
“Is there something else, Your Highness?”
“Well, since you mentioned complications, it made me think of Baloa Crawford. Is everything all right?”
“Well….”
“I heard not only did she crash your wedding, but afterward she ran straight to your father and threw a tantrum demanding he annul the marriage.”
That was true. Baloa had said, ‘If the Emperor approved it and I can’t undo it, then I suppose I must obey if the Emperor commands it,’ and rushed off to the Emperor with exactly that intention.
Then she brazenly demanded before him that she wanted Clyde, asking that he order the marriage annulled so she could have him.
Had Baloa been an ordinary noblewoman, she would have been dragged away and left as dew upon the executioner’s block on the spot.
But fortunately for her, Baloa was a daughter greatly cherished by Grand Duke Alec, and though the Emperor had raged furiously at her, he had not punished his cousin.
“Father becomes oddly lenient whenever anything involving Uncle Alec is concerned.”
The Crown Prince clicked his tongue slightly in displeasure and gave his shoulder a light pat.
“If you ever need my help with this, just say the word. I’ll assist you.”
“Ha ha!”
The fact that Baloa had walked away unscathed even from the Emperor was certainly irritating, but Clyde let out a genuine laugh.
Both the sight of the Crown Prince standing firm in his position, unlike in the past, and his goodwill filled him with simple joy.
“What is that despicable smirk?”
“Despicable? This is merely the smile of someone moved by Your Highness’s words….”
“Nonsense. When did you ever serve so loyally?”
‘…Well, you have a point.’
Just as he was silently reciting words he couldn’t speak aloud, recalling the past, Beatrice’s platinum hair came into view from a distance.
“Beatrice! Dear! I’m here with His Highness!”
Alert to the possibility that Beatrice might greet or treat him as usual, he called out to the Crown Prince while cutting off her approach.
“Actually, Your Highness, there is one matter for which I’d like to ask your assistance.”
“Hmm?”
“As you’re well aware, rumors of how deeply we love each other have spread quite widely. Given Miss Baloa’s temperament, I’m concerned she might attempt to harm my wife.”
The moment Beatrice heard his announcement, she froze, then swiftly transformed her expression to one of adoration.
As she beamed with joy and even hurried toward them, Clyde, keeping his eyes on her, calmly stated the heart of the matter.
“So, Your Highness. Do you have time tomorrow evening, by any chance?”
If you do, would attending a Masquerade Ball be possible?

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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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