I Proposed to My Childhood Friend After Regressing - Chapter 96

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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 Proposing to My Childhood Friend Upon My Return in Time
Chapter 96
The moment came after Beatrice returned home, having finally organized her thoughts.
Her family, catching a glimpse of her as she opened the door, spoke to her in an unhurried manner.
“Ah, Beatrice. Welcome back. How was the Walking Path? Did you enjoy it?”
“Huh? Oh, yes! Would you like to go too, Ian? Just like you said, the flowers really were beautiful! You could tell someone had cared for it so lovingly?”
“Is that so? You enjoyed it? Then we can keep the gardener on.”
Ian, who had pulled out a document from the File he’d brought and was marking something on it, glanced sideways to study Beatrice’s face.
Once he confirmed there were no particular concerns, he exchanged a look with Hartwell and nodded lightly.
From between the two men whose expressions had noticeably softened, Jededric cleared his throat and continued the conversation.
“We’ve thoroughly inspected the remaining areas as well.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. It doesn’t seem there’s anything that needs major work, so I’ve already placed Protective Magic throughout the house.”
“Really? Already?”
“Already is. If there are no other issues, I thought we’d set the moving day. We can’t very well have a married couple living separately indefinitely.”
“Mm…….”
As if the moment to speak had arrived, Hartwell continued, looking toward the Duchess.
“Your Grace, when would be a good time for the move? We’re flexible on our end, so we’ll accommodate the Duke’s household schedule. If you’re busy with wedding preparations and receiving the Crown Princess…….”
“Oh, about that——”
Kaelyun, rarely joining in the adults’ conversation, offered his answer before the Duchess could open her mouth. Of course, with an apology attached.
“……Ahem, I beg your pardon for interjecting. I simply wished to say that you needn’t worry too much about my wedding with Elody.”
“My, is that so?”
“Yes. Since there are things I’ve prepared beforehand, it’s not a schedule that would cause undue strain. It’s not such a special… event that we need to arrange everything around it.”
At his reliable and forthright answer, Hartwell smiled softly and spoke.
“Such modesty. There’s hardly another event as special as your wedding.”
Kaelyun, smiling somewhat awkwardly, rose from his seat and swiftly changed the subject.
“That said, if Jededric has finished setting up the Protective Magic, shouldn’t you all be heading back soon?”
“Ah, that’s right. Thank you for waiting. The magic is all in place… We should be going!”
“Finally! Beatrice will stay here… Right, Ian and Father, let’s grab something to eat on the way back.”
“Shall we?”
They moved with such natural ease, as though they’d discussed it all beforehand.
Beatrice, rising awkwardly to follow them, opened her eyes wide and spoke quickly.
“Wait, wait, wait! I understand the ‘heading back soon’ part, but what do you mean I’ll stay here? Why aren’t I coming with you?”
“Ah. Right.”
Her family exchanged glances lightly and answered her as though it were nothing.
“Seeing your face made us reflect a little. It’s true we came to inspect the Newlywed House more thoroughly, but having the entire family here together was perhaps a bit much.”
“So we debated whether we should give you two some time alone, and then Clyde said that instead, the two of you should stay here tonight.”
“……What?!”
At this unexpected answer, Beatrice’s head snapped around toward Clyde.
He, who had remained silent until now, winked at her playfully at her gaze.
“Urk.”
Perhaps because she’d just realized her feelings toward him, Beatrice felt a sharp, responsive flutter in her chest and frowned slightly.
“In any case, now that I think about it, it seems fine. After all, we’ve prepared everything so you two can move in whenever without any inconvenience. We’ve put in all the necessary furniture and fittings, and the Bedding is all new.”
“The kitchen also has some basic Preserved Food.”
“Yes. As for security personnel and household staff to provide protection, I’ve called them here and they’re on their way. Clyde is a knight, so surely he won’t fail to protect his wife in that short time.”
At the Duchess’s last remark, delivered as a joke, the family laughed heartily, quickly finished preparing, and truly boarded the carriage, leaving only the two of them behind.
And before Beatrice could protest, they waved noisily through the window…….
“Gone.”
“No, they really are gone…….”
Beatrice, who had been staring blankly at the trace of her family vanished like a whirlwind, flinched belatedly.
Until the servants arrived, the only people left in this vast house were her and Clyde——she realized this only now.
‘Of all times, why now, just as I’ve come to understand my feelings!’
In a considerably difficult situation, she gently bit the inside of her cheek and cleared her throat lightly.
Then, toward him who stood vacantly beside her, she opened her mouth as if nothing were amiss.
“So, why did you suddenly decide to stay here tonight? What are you scheming?”
Correction: she asked him with obvious tension in her voice.
“…….”
Clyde, who had been looking at Beatrice with quiet, narrowed eyes, shrugged his shoulders calmly.
“I thought it might be nice to have some time alone with you, without any interference.”
“What, what, what did you say?”
“I’m curious what you and Valois talked about, and I’m curious why you’ve been subtly avoiding me since a moment ago. But we keep getting interrupted, whether at our place or yours.”
“…….”
“But this is our Newlywed House. We can spend time here peacefully without anyone disturbing us. That’s why I did it.”
Clyde seemed as composed as someone stating that the sun rises in the east. In a way, it was only natural.
“Besides, Ian seemed to need time alone with our parents.”
“……Ah, yes…….”
He’d done it without any ulterior motive, simply because it would be easier for them to talk if they were alone.
And that was precisely why she felt she might go mad.
While he seemed to be thinking of this place as a mere operational base, she was reading meaning into his every small word and gesture!
The current Beatrice was confident she’d startle and flee if he so much as casually reached over to tousle her hair as usual.
‘What can I even call my heart right now…… It’s like pudding. The slightest poke and it’ll lose its shape and spread everywhere——such a precarious state!’
And yet, she couldn’t simply remain as she was.
As if commanding herself to come to her senses, she lightly struck both cheeks with her palms and looked at Clyde with a serious expression.
“……You’re right. This place is perfect as our operational base. Especially since there won’t be any servants around for a while, so we don’t need to be careful.”
“Beatrice?”
Now that things had come to this, she too had to regain her composure and address the more pressing matter.
Beatrice met his blue eyes, which held a note of puzzlement, and replied briefly.
“Shall we play Truth Game?”
“Truth Game?”
“I mean, though I’ve heard fragmented accounts of what you experienced in the past, we’ve never really sat down and honestly shared what happened to each of us before the Regression.”
“…….”
“Today, when I was discussing with Turner——not Valois——ways to dismantle the Crown Princess’s plan, we ended up touching on this as well. Turner said it seemed we needed to be honest and open with each other at least once.”
He said that before engaging in something crucial, it’s truly important to know what the other person has experienced and what their vulnerabilities are.
“But I don’t have the eloquence to just rattle off my past. So I thought it would be better if we asked each other questions instead.”
“…….”
“So if you agree to this Truth Game, answer my questions.”
“……Go ahead.”
“I only found out late, but…… did you know? That your parents were trying to have you and me get married?”
…… Is that why you never came back?

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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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