Regression After Proposing to My Childhood Friend
Chapter 13
The rumors spread quickly. It was only natural.
‘That infamous socialite, Valois Edvain Crawford, has openly caused a scene. All over her well-known obsession, Clyde Dalton.’
Of course, if that were all, it would have been just another run-of-the-mill incident where Valois did what Valois does.
The problem was that this time, it involved none other than the Crown Prince.
And in a situation as dangerously reckless as a fire, no less.
‘Is that why? Everywhere I go lately, it’s all anyone is talking about….’
Look at this, even now. I fled to a secluded cafe to escape, yet the conversation is drifting from the tables behind me.
“Did you hear, you two? About that incident at the masquerade?”
“How could I not? It’s the hottest topic lately.”
“I heard Lady Crawford claims it was all a frame-up and that she’s innocent.”
“Some of it might be true, some not. It’s just my personal opinion, but I truly believe she didn’t intend to hurt the Prince.”
“I agree. Grand Duke Alec is so close with the Emperor. Ah, though it does seem true that she tried to kill Sir Dalton and Lady Hartwell.”
“But she said that was because the shock of her beloved’s marriage was so great that she has no memory of what happened then.”
“Yes, she even submitted a healer’s opinion and prescription as evidence. Was it a mistake caused by delusions and, what was it? Derangement?”
“Well, I don’t believe it for a second!”
I had already heard this story more than four times today alone.
But even though the speakers changed, one thing remained constant.
Valois Edvain Crawford would not be able to get away with it this time.
‘Come to think of it, this is only natural.’
Setting aside whether it was true that she tried to kill Clyde and me, Crown Prince Crowell was involved in this incident.
Whether it was intentional or a mistake, as long as Imperial Law defined such a situation as "treason," no one could easily get her out of it.
In fact, according to what Crown Prince Crowell told me, Grand Duke Alec had knelt before the Emperor and the Crown Prince himself.
‘Your Majesty, I have failed as a father and did not educate my daughter properly. I knew she acted recklessly, but because she grew up without a mother and only under my care, I kept turning a blind eye….’
‘That cannot be a reason to overlook this incident. I have already given her one chance.’
‘Yes. I know Your Majesty has already shown mercy. However, I implore you to believe that neither she nor I have any intent of treason.’
‘I know the Grand Duke has no intent of treason. Personally, I do not think Valois intended to harm the Crown Prince.’
‘……Your Majesty.’
‘However, the law is the law, and the circumstances showing she tried to harm two nobles—the Dalton Duke family and the Hartwell Count family—are too clear. I have no intention of letting this slide. Even if you present evidence.’
‘Your words are absolute. I will accept it even if you banish her from high society.’
‘Then….’
‘However, since this is also my responsibility for failing to properly manage Valois, I ask that you allow me to bear a portion of the punishment as well.’
I thought he would appeal for leniency since he doted on his daughter so much, but it was unexpected that Grand Duke Alec asked to share in Valois’s punishment.
Well, I don’t know if that came from the heart, or if it was to prevent his daughter from being made an example of and receiving a harsher sentence now that there are so many eyes watching the Empire.
‘Anyway, the important thing is that I can silence Valois’s threats for a while.’
It was said that while her next punishment was being deliberated, Valois would be confined to a convent under the church to serve penance.
Grand Duke Alec was also to be dispatched to the western border, which had recently been hit by monster attacks and famine.
It hadn’t been announced to the nobles yet, but it was something everyone would know soon enough.
‘I don’t really… think Valois will actually reflect on her actions with just this. But since she’s been cleared away as planned, I suppose that’s enough?’
“Hmm, the aroma is nice.”
Beatrice stopped her thoughts for a moment and stared intently at Clyde across from her.
To avoid people’s attention, he had changed his hair color with a special magical dye made by Beatrice’s father, Jedaric, and was even wearing glasses.
He was enjoying his teatime, drinking coffee as if he were unbothered by the various rumors surrounding them.
‘Terrifying guy…….’
As someone who had clashed with him for a long time, Beatrice could be certain.
Clyde Dalton must have foreseen this situation from the moment he first told her, "You just need to go around showing everyone how happy you are."
Unlike her, who believed that humans are bound to act when a situation arises and that if you can’t solve it with your head, you solve it with your body, Clyde was a guy who had a meticulous side.
‘Despite his slick appearance.’
I hadn’t asked him directly, but since he was a guy who overthought the smallest things, it was obvious he had agonized quite a bit over whether or not to share the truth of this plan with me.
‘He was extremely wary of me being with Valois, both at the wedding and the masquerade……. Hmm, could it be that he suffered something incredibly cruel in the past?’
Considering the personality of Valois Crawford that I experienced at the masquerade, I was confident I wouldn’t be surprised no matter what she had done in the past.
And if, conversely, he was the only one who knew about it…?
‘Hmm. I wouldn’t go out of my way to explain it in detail to Clyde Dalton either.’
There are times when it is better to let certain truths pass by unknown.
Just as Beatrice was blinking without a sound, lost in a chain of thoughts, Clyde’s voice pierced her ears along with a light flick to her forehead.
“Why again? Don’t stare at people so creepily, just spit it out like you usually do.”
“What are you talking about? Do you think I’m some animal that acts on instinct? And what’s so creepy about this? You didn’t even blink an eye when you saw Valois setting fire to everything.”
“To me, you, who won’t even lift a finger with all these desserts in front of you, are scarier than Valois Crawford. It’s like you’re possessed by a ghost.”
At his usual slick provocation, Beatrice snorted and retorted.
“Oh, whatever. If you’re going to talk nonsense, just drink your coffee quietly.”
“Why? We’re in the middle of a regression, so being possessed by a ghost isn’t impossible. Anyway, aren’t you curious why I pretended not to know? Or about what happened with Valois Crawford in the past?”
“Goodness. Since you’re the one bringing it up first, I guess your conscience is pricking you, huh?”
“I’m not one to fall behind others when it comes to being a good person, you know.”
He really never loses an argument.
Beatrice looked at him with a pathetic gaze as he placed a hand over his heart and smiled with angelic benevolence, then opened her mouth.
“Forget it. There must be a reason you’re not saying anything, and you’ll tell me if it’s necessary.”
“……What is this? Are you really possessed by a ghost?”
“I am not. Regardless, thanks to the stage you set based on your experience and the Crown Prince card, we got rid of Valois Crawford without any major issues.”
“We haven’t completely gotten rid of her. Be careful. I told you. Since she’s a person whose own emotions are the most important thing to her, she’s not the type to be quietly cleared away just because someone else wants her to be.”
“Hmm…….”
Beatrice recalled Valois Crawford that day, shouting that she was innocent among the people gathered in the garden, screaming that there was something suspicious between her and Crowell.
Even when distrust, embarrassment, and shock appeared in everyone’s eyes, she instead blamed those around her for not believing her.
‘What did she say? Something about how if they couldn’t understand even when she told them exactly what was right in front of their eyes, why did they even bother carrying their heads around…?’
Anyway, the disturbance became too excessive, and in the end, Valois was carried away unconscious under the tacit approval of Crown Prince Crowell.
Thinking of that moment, Clyde’s advice seemed quite plausible.
“Well. I did ask His Highness for this punishment with the intention of keeping her nearby and watching her.”
“Huh?”
“I’m planning to head to the western border where Grand Duke Alec is going before long.”
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