I Proposed to My Childhood Friend After Regressing - Chapter 80

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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 80
The Grand Duke’s words about wanting to arrange a dinner invitation soon proved no mere courtesy—he sent invitations the very next day.
The schedule came far sooner than she had anticipated.
For Beatrice, it was as though she’d slept through the morning and woken to find the dinner with Grand Duke Alec already arranged.
Had this been any other time, she would have panicked; but today felt different. Beatrice found herself welcoming the rapid invitation instead.
‘Is Valois Crofoard not actually Valois? My heart feels so at ease!’
With her mood and energy at this level, she felt certain she could savor the meal with genuine pleasure.
‘Besides, there are things I wanted to ask.’
The full story of what the noblewoman had accidentally mentioned yesterday, for one. Valois surely knew far more than she did.
With both parties accepting the invitation without resistance, all remaining preparations proceeded smoothly and without incident.
By the time the two of them arrived at the Grand Duke’s Residence, evening had fallen, the sun not yet completely gone from the sky.
“Lord Dalton, Miss Beatrice. We have been expecting you.”
The moment they stepped down from the carriage, Beatrice’s eyes widened at the sight of the butler and maids bowing with such formality.
“Allow me to show you inside.”
…….
As Beatrice followed the butler’s guidance into the mansion, she leaned slightly toward Clyde and whispered in a voice barely audible to others.
“What’s all this? Did he tell them to treat us with extra care?”
“……If you think about what Valois did to you objectively, this is the least they should do, Bia.”
“Hmm.”
That was fair. If something went wrong here again, the Grand Duke’s household would be in quite a predicament.
As Beatrice moved forward with this thought, her footsteps slowed.
“Ah, here come tonight’s guests of honor!”
A warm voice called from deeper within the residence.
It was Alec, the master of this house and the one who had hastened this gathering. At his side, unsurprisingly, stood Valois Crofoard.
Valois wore an air of reluctant dishevelment, as though he’d been dragged here against his will, but Beatrice paid it no mind.
She knew he was making a desperate effort to maintain that very performance.
Treating Valois’s sharp gaze as a silent greeting, Beatrice turned her attention to the Grand Duke.
It had been some time since their last meeting in the Marquis Territory, and she’d been about to offer a warm greeting when—
—she hesitated, remembering that the Grand Duke still didn’t know her.
Clyde, catching her hesitation, offered the greeting on her behalf.
“Your Highness, it’s been a while. I hope you’ve been well. I regret that I couldn’t pay my respects in person at the Marquis Territory.”
“Ah, Lord Dalton! Well, I’ve been managing. I’m relieved to see you’ve recovered your health. You can’t imagine how startled I was when I heard of your collapse there.”
“Haha, my apologies.”
“Your ability to foresee the future and prepare accordingly is truly remarkable, but do take care of yourself. You have a long road ahead.”
At the Grand Duke’s encouraging words toward the young, capable knight, Valois beside him let out a light, irritated scoff and spoke up.
In that fleeting moment as her lips parted, Beatrice caught Valois glancing toward her—as though to say, don’t misunderstand.
“Isn’t that laying it on a bit thick? The man who failed and nearly died?”
“Valois.”
“Hmph.”
As Beatrice silently marveled at how obviously displeased she sounded—
—the Grand Duke, having chided Valois once, turned his gaze toward her.
“By the way, we haven’t had a proper chance to introduce ourselves, have we?”
“Ah.”
“I’m Alec Edbain Crofoard. You’re Beatrice Hartwell, the young lady?”
“Yes, Your Highness. It’s an honor to meet you.”
At Beatrice’s formal greeting, he waved a light hand and continued with a smile.
“An honor? Quite the opposite—I owe you an apology. My daughter went to you and caused quite a scene, I hear. I’m truly ashamed. I hope she didn’t hurt you?”
“Oh, no! It’s quite all right. It was simply a heated conversation, nothing more. There were no real problems.”
“Is that so? Hearing you say it relieves my mind considerably.”
The Grand Duke nodded as though reassured, let out a small exclamation, and continued.
“My goodness, where are my manners? Standing people about in the middle of a corridor like this! Come, let’s go inside. I’ve had all manner of dishes prepared, though I’m not sure what you prefer.”
……Wait?
His words were courteous, proper, and entirely without fault, yet for some reason, Beatrice sensed a thin wall in them.
‘Is it my imagination?’
Perhaps it was because meeting him as “Beatrice Hartwell” was entirely new to her.
‘When I was Lia Kruger, the distance had already narrowed. Now it’s suddenly reappeared.’
That made sense.
Having answered her own question, Beatrice resumed walking naturally.
The Grand Duke’s Residence was quieter and more solemn than she’d expected. The mansion, which observed the Empire’s traditional architecture well, seemed to attest to the fact that he had once nearly become the Empire’s ruler.
As Valois walked alongside the Grand Duke, she slowed her pace ever so slightly and spoke softly to Beatrice.
To any onlooker, it would appear merely as a moody young lady muttering to herself.
“……Have you made up your mind?”
“Yes.”
“Can I hope for a positive response?”
“……Yes. Though there is a mountain to cross first.”
“Which means…….”
Instead of answering, Beatrice glanced slightly toward Clyde.
Valois, seeing where her gaze fell, seemed to understand and pressed her lips together, nodding.
“……I understand.”
She replied softly in a tone that suggested quiet resolve, then resumed walking as though nothing had happened.
The dinner, as expected, was impeccable.
It was almost hard to believe the schedule had been moved up so suddenly—both the painstakingly prepared cuisine and the deliberately chosen conversation topics, which carefully excluded any mention of Valois, were flawless.
When the meal had progressed quite far and proven more satisfying than anticipated, the Grand Duke naturally set down his napkin and spoke.
“Valois.”
“Yes.”
“It seems to me you have something you ought to say to both of them.”
Though his tone was kindly, as if making casual conversation, no one at the table missed the weight of his words.
Valois set down her utensils and raised one eyebrow.
“……Now? Here?”
“Would you prefer a separate room?”
“Hah, you sound like you won’t let me leave unless I apologize. Fine, then. Better to get it over with than spoil the meal with it here.”
Without prolonging it further, she tossed the napkin from her lap onto the table and jerked her chin toward the servants.
A gesture for them to prepare the drawing room.
The servants, responding promptly to the wishes of the residence’s two masters, soon signaled that a room had been prepared.
At that word, a golden spark flashed across Valois’s eyes.
“Well then, shall we go?”
Time to make amends like she should have long ago.

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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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