I Proposed to My Childhood Friend After Regressing Chapter 16

As a result, Beatrice was able to join Clyde and Crown Prince Crowell’s party.

 

The difference was that, unlike her expectation of joining as a normal member of the group through the Empress’s moderate persuasion…

 

“Lady Beatrice! You’ve arrived! Over here.”

 

“Ah, yes. Hello, Lady Kaya.”

 

“I’m happy to see you so often these days. Thank you for participating in the training today as well. Now then, shall we begin? The contents to be covered today are how to manage teacups and tableware, as well as methods for identifying poisons and medicine.”

 

“Ah, yes.”

 

The point was that she had joined as one of the serving maids who would assist the Crown Prince. And secretly, at that.

 

‘…It seems some part of my story piqued the Empress’s sense of mischief.’

 

Of course, when the Empress first made this suggestion, Beatrice had tried to dissuade her.

 

The reason was that they might get caught up in a needless scandal if the truth were to be revealed.

 

‘It’s truly ridiculous, but Crowell and I already have a history of being the subject of useless rumors because of Valoa Crawford!’

 

The Empress, who knew the inner workings of social circles better than anyone, smiled leisurely and quickly found a solution.

 

First, using her authority, the Empress granted Beatrice the status of a ‘Special Envoy’ and sought cooperation from the Crown Prince’s aides.

 

Then, if her duties were limited to secretarial assistance and handling external tasks, ta-da!

 

‘Beatrice Hartwell, the Special Secret Investigator disguised as a maid, is born.’

 

Honestly, Beatrice still couldn’t believe that the Crown Prince’s aides had agreed to cooperate in hiding her.

 

Though they had drawn the line, saying it was because it might give the impression that the Crown Prince had not yet become independent from the Empress if they were caught, well?

 

‘To my eyes, it looked like they were all excited at the chance to secretly trick their superior again.’

 

How should she put it? It felt like legally pulling a prank in the workplace.

 

Anyway, Beatrice thus officially received a mission that wasn’t quite a mission from the Empress.

 

Investigate the Marquisate as much as possible, and if there are any clues related to the ‘illness of unknown cause,’ record them and report back.

 

Even while Beatrice recalled the words the Empress had spoken, the training continued.

 

“…Then next are the types of seasonal tea leaves appropriate for the current season, their drinking methods, and incompatible food combinations. Please memorize them on the spot.”

 

“Ah, yes. Uh… Pardon? All of this? Right now?”

 

“Yes. Of course, Lady Beatrice, you won’t need to manage His Highness’s daily life, and Nao, the Head Maid of the Crown Prince’s Palace, will always accompany you, but you never know what the situation might be while undercover.”

 

Beatrice started memorizing the content the Head Maid had organized on the spot without a word of complaint.

 

‘Actually, I’m used to this now!’

 

While the punishment for Archduke Alec and Valoa Crawford was being made public and the knights were preparing for dispatch, Beatrice had been receiving training from the Head Maid the entire time.

 

Not only the training required for a maid but also magic lessons that would be useful to utilize.

 

Her excuse—that she, like Jedaric, specialized in alchemy and didn’t know much about magic—did not work.

 

“There. I believe I have done everything I can to help you. You’ve worked hard all this time, Lady Beatrice!”

 

“Wow!”

 

“You leave tomorrow, don’t you? Have you packed all your luggage?”

 

“Mostly! I didn’t forget to pack the glasses, clothes, makeup, and hair dye Her Majesty sent. But will this really be enough?”

 

At Beatrice’s subtle expression, as if she wasn’t quite sure, the Head Maid spoke with a slight smile.

 

“Hoho, do you think your husband will notice?”

 

“Um, a little? Clyde is quite sharp-witted, and since we’ve been doing disguises so often since we were young…”

 

“Mmh……. First of all, those disguises are all items Her Majesty uses personally. She goes out on outings from time to time, but her disguise has never been exposed even once.” 

 

“…Oh, yes?”

 

The items that had come into her possession were that precious?

 

Seeing Beatrice’s wavering eyes, the Head Maid smiled brightly as if to tell her not to worry and continued.

 

“I’m telling you this to mean the quality is that reliable. It’s unlikely you’ll be caught under normal circumstances.”

 

“Aha.”

 

“But if Clyde still recognizes you despite that…”

 

“It would surely be because of love.”

 

* * *

 

‘Love, huh…’

 

Beatrice recalled the Head Maid’s words as she stuffed a coat into her bag.

 

They were romantic and poetic words that might work for a newlywed couple, but unfortunately, it was a mistaken prediction this time.

 

‘Because Clyde and I didn’t marry out of love.’ 

 

If Clyde were to recognize her, it wouldn’t be because of love, but surely…

 

—Knock, knock, knock!

 

Beatrice’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of knocking on the door.

 

Beatrice hurriedly pushed the luggage she was packing under the bed and lay down on the sofa, clutching a nearby notebook in her hand.

 

Then, after catching her breath, she raised her voice.

 

“Come in!”

 

With the sound of the door creaking open, the visitor revealed themselves.

 

Beatrice’s eyes widened slightly as she lazily lifted her head while still lying down.

 

She had thought it would be her eldest brother or her father, but it was Clyde standing at the door.

 

Beatrice, rubbing her eyes in case she had seen wrong, sat up with a confused noise.

 

“Clyde? What are you doing here at this hour?”

 

“What brings me? A certain someone was so busy that her husband was put on the back burner, so I came to find her.” 

 

“Huh? What’s with you all of a sudden?”

 

Suddenly calling himself her husband? Wasn’t performing for the show outside enough?

 

Looking at Clyde as he naturally walked into the room, Beatrice blinked as if she had heard something ridiculous.

 

As if he were used to such a reaction, Clyde approached nonchalantly and lightly tapped her forehead with the back of his hand.

 

“Even so, we’ve only had the wedding and don’t even live together yet. If the husband is leaving for a long time, how do you think it would look if the couple didn’t even spend the night before together?”

 

“Ah, is that so?”

 

Because she was distracted by her plan to follow along secretly, she hadn’t thought that far. 

 

“I told your family that I hesitated and told you late, so you seemed sulky. Keep that in mind.”

 

“What! What about my image!”

 

“Then who told you not to show even a hair of your head? Every time I went to find you, you weren’t there.”

 

“That’s because……!” 

 

Beatrice, barely swallowing the complaints rising to her throat, shook her head as if giving up.

 

It was already done anyway, and talking about it more would only make her mouth sore. 

 

In the meantime, Clyde naturally cleared the items off the sofa and sat beside Beatrice. 

 

At his posture, which looked even more comfortable than in his own home, Beatrice lightly tapped his calf with her foot and spoke up. 

 

“So, are you going to sleep here?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“Can’t you just be the husband who couldn’t coax his sulky wife and went back?”

 

“No.”

 

“Ah, shoot……” 

 

Beatrice’s mind became complicated at Clyde’s sudden visit.

 

There was still a bit of packing left to do, and it was obvious her schedule for tomorrow morning would get tangled.

 

‘First, let’s see Clyde off in front of the Imperial Palace tomorrow morning as a harmonious couple. Then I’ll quickly change clothes at a nearby palace.’

 

Just as Beatrice was imagining the events of tomorrow morning, Clyde called her name calmly.

 

“By the way, Bea.”

 

“What.”

 

“Are you going somewhere?”

 

Crazy.

 

Barely swallowing her heart that felt like it would pop out, Beatrice’s eyes darted around quickly.

 

“Why so suddenly?”

 

“Because there’s a travel bag poking out from under the bed.”

 

“…”

 

“Besides, when I said you seemed sulky a moment ago, the family’s reaction seemed somewhat understanding.”

 

Ugh… No one is being helpful.

 

Beatrice recalled the expressions her parents had made when she first said she was going on a trip with friends.

 

Letting out a soft groan and a sigh, she spoke to Clyde as if it were no big deal.

 

“That’s because I lied to my family that I was going on a trip with friends.”

 

“Lied? Then what about in reality?”

 

“In reality, it’s research with Her Majesty. That’s why I’ve been busy lately. Because someone provoked me, asking if it’s easy to receive a title.”

 

“Research with Her Majesty, huh…”

 

Why is this brat copying the ends of my words like this today of all days.

 

Beatrice, watching Clyde’s serious profile, eventually stood up and approached him.

 

She felt like her heart would burst and she’d die if she just waited for this to pass.

 

Judging from her experience bickering with her brothers, in times like this, it was best to do something that would fluster the opponent.

 

As a result of mulling over the few choices in her mind that had gone completely blank, what Beatrice chose was to grab his face abruptly with both hands and meet his eyes.