### Chapter 18
The two of them arrived at the Imperial Palace and decided to part ways at the fork in the road leading to the Knights' dormitory. Even though they were married, the Knights' dormitory was a restricted area where outsiders were not permitted for security reasons.
Clyde glanced at the large bag beside Beatrice, raised an eyebrow, and opened his mouth.
"Are you really going to split off here and head to Neria Palace alone?"
"Ah, that’s the plan."
"Why don't you just let me go with you? You have luggage."
"Forget it. I was in contact with Kaya when I went through the security check at the palace entrance. She knows I have bags and said she’d come to the square in front of the bridge."
"Then let's part ways there. Let's go."
Hearing Clyde’s words, Beatrice looked at him as if asking if he was serious. From the fork where they were standing, the bridge was close enough to reach in a heartbeat. Before Beatrice could even add a word, he snatched her luggage and started walking first.
"What are you doing? Not coming?"
"I'm coming, I'm coming."
Well, it wasn't as if parting ways there would lead to her plans being discovered. Now that she thought about it, Beatrice felt a small sense of gratitude toward her second brother for completely flipping the table. Thanks to him, she no longer had to face the sharp-witted Clyde, and there would be no disruptions to tomorrow’s plans.
*I was so worried about how to manage the time if I had to go see Clyde off with my family.*
And that wasn't all. She had even imagined a situation where her family would meddle, insisting on taking her to the meeting place with her friends.
*If I kept bickering like that, I would have missed the timing and everything would have ended before it even began….*
"Bea."
"…Ah, huh?"
"Why are you thinking so hard about something?"
"Oh, no…. Just imagining what would have happened tomorrow if I hadn't run off to the Imperial Palace…."
"Ah. That. Well…. It would have been exactly as you imagined."
After a short reply that suggested he understood, Clyde’s pace subtly slowed to match Beatrice’s stride. Keeping a distance of half a step—close enough to hear each other clearly, yet far enough to hide their expressions—he spoke in a low voice.
"The situation isn't quite right to talk about it here, so…. I’ll tell you everything when I get back."
"…Tell me what?"
At Beatrice’s bewildered voice, Clyde tilted his head slightly to stare at her. Looking at her with eyes that seemed to ask if she had already forgotten, he quickly clarified the subject.
"What do you mean, what? That thing you were demanding I confess while grabbing me by the collar."
"Aha."
"Damn it, I’m too honest for my own good. If I had just pretended not to know, you would have forgotten about it on your own."
"What are you saying?"
Beatrice habitually went to punch Clyde in the side, but she pretended to be generous and lifted her chin slightly.
"Well, fine. Do that. I can wait that long."
"…Why are you being so compliant for once? I thought you’d complain about not knowing when I’d leave or when I’d be back."
That was because she had no intention of waiting.
"Besides, you were unhappy with me because I told you not to come to the Marquisate of Downer."
She wasn't anymore. She had already figured out a way on her own. However, she couldn't very well reveal all that truth! Beatrice raised an eyebrow and glared at him sharply.
"Who are you making out to be childish right now, seriously! Am I a kid? I tried to be kind, and this is the thanks I get…!"
"Ah, alright, alright."
"And I’m busy, too. I told you, I’m going to be doing research with Her Majesty the Empress. We’re starting early, so I can’t even go see you off tomorrow."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. I’m telling you in advance so you don't get all petty and come to my house, complaining that your wife is putting you on the back burner."
"I’m truly honored."
As they exchanged affectionate barbs, the bridge leading to the Central Palace of the Imperial Palace appeared before them. Kaya, the head maid of the Empress’s Palace who had been waiting for Beatrice, lifted her skirt slightly to offer a greeting. Clyde, who gave a light nod in return, looked back at Beatrice.
"So, is this goodbye for a while?"
"…Um, I suppose."
"…."
A short silence flowed between them. Time, relationship, situation—even though everything was completely different, perhaps this scene reminded them of the past. The time when Beatrice, having sought refuge with the Duke’s family after the Hartwell Count family estate burned down, was seeing him off.
At that moment, Clyde stepped forward and, before she could even blink, pulled her into an embrace. Beatrice’s body stiffened at Clyde’s sudden action.
"…You jerk, are you doing this to pay me back for what happened a little while ago?"
"Yeah."
"Ugh, you’re so childish, seriously…!"
"Did you only just realize that? I’m going to win this bet as fast as I can and put you to work."
"Hey."
It was then that Beatrice struggled with her arms, trying to escape his embrace. A small whisper, closer to a vow to himself, settled near her ear.
"So, it won't take long this time."
"…."
That was all. Beatrice hesitated for a moment before gripping his clothes with her fingertips. It felt awkward to hug him back, but it felt wrong to pull away. How many seconds passed? Clyde naturally loosened his arms and stepped back with a nonchalant face.
"That’s enough. Go on, hurry."
"W-wait, what’s enough?"
"A farewell greeting befitting a newlywed couple? You wouldn't know because your back is turned, but Kaya’s expression is something else."
…Kaya?
*Ah.*
Only then returning to reality, Beatrice blinked rapidly. She gave a short cough and tapped his shoulder with her fist. It was a way to hide the awkward and embarrassed feelings that had suddenly surged.
"…Geez, seriously. Tell me before you do things like that."
"I’ve been telling you to get used to it for ages, darling."
"You’re acting up again. I’m going."
"Yeah."
"Don't embarrass a fellow Regressor, okay? Handle things well, *whoosh*. I’m watching you, really."
"How exactly are you going to watch me, honey? With the power of love?"
"Ugh, that’s just a figure of speech! You’re always nitpicking!"
Beatrice shouted and spun around. It didn't matter that she hadn't said goodbye properly. This was how their relationship had always been.
The most important problem right now was….
*Phew, that was almost a disaster at the end! Ugh, can I really not get caught? Ah, maybe avoiding him is the best policy! Should I ask Her Majesty for a map of the Marquisate?*
It was thinking about how she could move around the Marquisate while avoiding Clyde Dalton’s eyes. In truth, it was true that she had considered it for a brief moment—about three seconds—after hearing Clyde’s words. Since Clyde had stepped back and said he would tell her the reason, she had wondered if it would be right for her to tell him the truth as well.
*…But, it’s Clyde Dalton, isn't it?*
There was a reason why Beatrice and Clyde were exceptionally quick to notice things about each other. It was because they had frequently deceived and been deceived by one another since they were young. They had a history of selling each other out to get a little more allowance from their parents, and there were times when they had used the other as a sacrifice to escape a crisis.
*I said with my own mouth that we should trust each other, but what if he only tells me a part of the truth again?*
Just like at the Masquerade. So, it was only fair that she, too, should get some time to poke around recklessly.
*That’s right, if you feel wronged, you should have behaved yourself in the first place!*
Finishing her rationalization by blaming it all on Clyde, she headed toward the Empress’s Palace with the head maid. She needed to get some good rest today. For the sake of tomorrow!
* * *
"Now, since there are many people, please gather according to your respective departments!"
"Kitchen staff to the left, attendants and maids to the center…!"
…Was I worrying for nothing?
*With this many people… I don't even need to go out of my way to avoid him.*
Beatrice, who had joined early thanks to staying at the Empress’s Palace, scratched her cheek while watching the busy people through the carriage window. For one thing, she was confident that even if an acquaintance were mixed in here, she wouldn't recognize them.
"Ah, Be… no, Lady Lia. Is there something bothering you?"
At the question from Nao, the head maid of the Crown Prince’s Palace, Beatrice quickly shook her head.
"No. It’s just, there seem to be more people than I thought."
"Ah…. Is that so?"
Quickly grasping Beatrice’s concern, the head maid leaned in slightly and whispered to her.
"The Crown Prince and Sir Clyde are scheduled to move with the main unit. You won't have any reason to run into them, so please, feel at ease until we arrive at the Marquisate."
"Oh…."
That was a relief. Beatrice relaxed her tense neck and sat comfortably in her seat. Of course, just like the saying that plans exist to be revised….
—Knock, knock.
"Lady Nao."
"What is it?"
"His Highness has called an emergency meeting. It seems there is a problem at the gate leading into the Marquisate."
A variable had occurred after all.
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