I Proposed to My Childhood Friend After Regressing - Chapter 88

—————
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 88
Clyde paid no mind to what must surely be Beatrice’s true feelings on the matter.
He glanced briefly at her wide, pale green eyes, then looked away and cleared his throat.
“……I think it’s the best decision I’ve ever made in my life.”
“…….”
At his added words, Beatrice’s eyes widened, and she whipped her head sharply to the opposite side.
Since it was Clyde and not someone else, there must be good reason for not telling Kaeliun the truth——but still.
‘Why is he saying that with such an expression and posture!’
Like some lovesick novice!
Just as Beatrice bit her lip out of sheer embarrassment, Kaeliun let out a soft laugh.
“That’s true. Seeing you both, I feel like I said something unnecessary.”
“N-no, this is…….”
“Beatrice, you don’t need to be so flustered. When I’m with Elodi……. Ah.”
Kaeliun, who habitually brought up matters relating to Elodi, suddenly fell silent.
An emotion he couldn’t quite hide flickered across his face in an instant.
At the sight of his expression——so fragile it seemed one touch would shatter it——Beatrice sprang to her feet.
Then, glancing at the wristwatch on her wrist, she made a great show of alarm.
“Oh! Is it already this late? Dear me, what a disaster. Tomorrow Her Majesty said she’d introduce me to the people we’ll be working with, and if I don’t get to bed soon, I’ll make a terrible first impression looking exhausted.”
Complaining that her skin was already looking dull, she tugged at Clyde’s arm and bade Kaeliun farewell.
“Clyde, come with me and put some cucumber slices on my face, will you? Well then, we’re heading off first! As for you…….”
“I think I’ll have a bit more tea before I turn in.”
“Is that so? Though the tea did turn out nicely tonight!”
Beatrice had been drinking different tea from the two of them, but the facts hardly mattered now.
Her face perfectly composed, she rattled off whatever came to mind as she waved cheerfully at Kaeliun.
“Then we’ll be going. Enjoy your tea, and, ah, about today’s conversation…….”
“We’ll pick it up again next time. I’ll need to see Elodi tomorrow anyway.”
“……Yes, that’s true.”
At Kaeliun’s measured tone, Beatrice nodded like a broken doll.
‘He’ll have to meet the lover who used him as though nothing happened.’
Suddenly, Elodi’s murmured words and sorrowful expression came back to her.
‘Thank goodness Kaeliun didn’t have to see me like this…….’
‘The princess will treat him with the same expression and manner she showed to me, won’t she?’
That thought filled her with dread.
‘I already hated being around Princess Elodi just from who she was before my regression——if she were someone he loved intensely…….’
Without realizing it, Beatrice glanced at Clyde, then quickly shook her head. She’d nearly imagined the wrong scenario.
‘In any case, tomorrow’s problems can wait for tomorrow. Right now, the best thing is to make myself scarce.’
Kaeliun surely needed time alone to sort through his emotions.
Pressing down the ache that rose in her chest at seeing one so dear to her in such pain, Beatrice smiled gently toward Kaeliun.
“Understood. If you need anything, call me anytime, alright? You know——I’m your sister now too.”
“Ian would hate to hear you say that.”
“Of course, that’s our little secret from our eldest brother.”
Kaeliun chuckled softly and nodded, then gave a light tilt of his chin as if to tell them to go.
“Sleep well, Beatrice. Clyde.”
“You too!”
With that, Beatrice left the Glass Greenhouse with Clyde.
As the door clicked shut, cool night air brushed against her nose.
Though she’d stepped out boldly, Beatrice couldn’t bring herself to take the first step forward. This time, it was Clyde who took her hand and led the way.
“Let’s go.”
“……Will it be alright?”
“There’s nothing we can do by staying here anyway.”
“…….”
“Better to prepare thoroughly so that what he’s enduring won’t be in vain.”
Contrary to the evenness of his voice, his grip on Beatrice’s hand had grown tight.
So tight that her fingertips began to turn slightly red.
Beatrice gazed at her reddened fingertips and, without a word, followed him down the path.
After all, his desire to become like his brother was probably just as much a mess as everything else.
* * *
However much the night had swallowed their sorrows, the sun rose faithfully the next morning.
Having arrived at the Imperial Palace early with Kaeliun, Beatrice saw him off at the entrance before making her way to the location where she’d arranged to meet the Empress.
Today, her destination was the top floor of the Second Administrative Palace.
The Second Administrative Palace was a building where officials moved about with particular frequency even within the Imperial Palace, so the corridors she walked through were crowded with people carrying documents and attending to their duties.
After passing through such crowds and receiving directions several times, Beatrice finally arrived at her destination.
‘This is it.’
Standing before an antique-looking door, Beatrice drew a deep breath.
Today, before her formal appointment, she would meet for the first time the people with whom she would build and promote the Integrated Healing System throughout the empire.
‘I’m so nervous.’
Opening and closing her fists slightly, Beatrice grasped the door handle and took another breath——uncharacteristically deliberate for her.
‘Since Her Majesty gathered these people carefully, they must all be quite exceptional.’
But what if——what if they were disappointed when they saw her?
Or worse, what if she fumbled her words at this very first meeting?
Even knowing her worries were needless, her throat felt dry.
She decided she’d count to three and then open the door——or so she was about to do——
“Um…….”
Someone called to Beatrice from behind. She spun around in surprise to find a young girl with pink hair, looking rather youthful, standing there.
The girl, whose round eyes had flicked back and forth between Beatrice and the door for a moment, carefully opened her mouth again.
“If you’re not planning to go in…… would it be alright if I went first?”
“Oh. I’m sorry! I was blocking the way…….”
“No, there’s really nothing to apologize for…….”
The girl blinked as if it were no great matter, tilted her head slightly, and asked Beatrice a question.
“Just checking——are you perhaps the coordinator who was supposed to come today?”
“Huh? Yes? Well… yes, but…….”
“Ah! I knew it! I’d never seen your face before, so I wasn’t sure. Then let’s go in together. Everyone’s already here.”
“Oh, yes, okay!”
Without giving Beatrice time to compose herself——and without even knocking——the girl simply pushed the door open.
“Hey, everyone, pay attention!”
Her clear voice rang loudly through the room. Every eye of those who had been absorbed in their work turned toward the doorway at once.
Looking perfectly unbothered by such attention, the girl wore a satisfied smile as she pointed to Beatrice and continued.
“The coordinator’s here! What was her name again? Beatri…… Bea…….”
“Beatrice Hartwell.”
“Right, that’s it.”
A man pulling documents from a bookshelf answered without much interest, and the girl gave a brief exclamation.
Then, with the same casual expression, she introduced Beatrice once more.
“Anyway, Beatrice Hartwell, who will be taking on the role of coordinator, has arrived. Everyone, let’s give her a hand!”
Unsurprisingly, no applause came.
Before the blank stares of all these people, Beatrice found her eyes squeezing shut without her meaning to.
All the various greetings she’d rehearsed countless times in her mind had already evaporated.
In the awkward, bewildering silence, the pink-haired girl who had introduced her on her behalf turned her head slightly and grinned.
“Come to think of it, I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m Cecilia Ninya Desdain. It’s nice to meet you!”

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