After I proposed to my childhood friend following my regression
Chapter 4
Of all the family members who had been struck dumb by the shock, the first to regain his composure was Clyde’s older brother, Caelen.
Narrowing his eyes slightly, he spoke with a serious expression.
"It’s a novel prank, I’ll give you that, but this time you’ve gone too far. Marriage is not a subject to be brought up so lightly."
"A prank, Brother?"
"Are you telling us to actually believe that? We know exactly what kind of relationship you two have. Just yesterday, remember what you were complaining about to Dahlia, Clyde."
At Caelen’s words, Beatrice snapped her head toward Clyde.
The corners of her mouth twitched slightly; it seemed she didn't remember a single word of what he had said.
'This idiot….'
What on earth had he been saying to his younger sister while she was studying abroad?
'Well, I don't even need to hear it to know, and Dahlia is on my side, anyway.'
Beatrice gritted her teeth in secret, thinking he was useless as always, then let out a deliberate, heavy sigh.
She was using her head. Beatrice knew better than anyone that she had absolutely no talent for keeping a straight face.
"I don't know what he said, but we decided to do this, Brother. If we didn't, rumors would spread all over town, and that would be incredibly annoying…."
"Rumors?"
Giving his hand a squeeze to signal him, she continued with a look of grim determination.
"The truth is, we’ve been seeing each other for a long time. You know, like… a secret relationship."
"……."
"It’s obvious that everyone at the Academy would make such a fuss if they knew."
At Beatrice’s calm confession, Caelen narrowed his eyes slightly and muttered under his breath.
"Then, the fact that you ended up going to the knighthood ceremony alone without a partner was also…."
"…That’s right. As you know, Brother, Bia was suffering from a summer cold back then, wasn't she?"
It was half-truth and half-lie. It was true that Beatrice had suffered from a summer cold, but the reason Clyde had gone to the ceremony alone was because of the Crown Prince’s orders.
'I don't know the details myself, though.'
Beatrice blinked rapidly, surreptitiously scanning the expressions of her family.
She didn't know if she should call this a relief, but the atmosphere was slowly shifting as they began to buy into the story that the two had been dating.
'…Why?'
She knew she wasn't in a position to say this, but shouldn't they be at least a little suspicious?
'Do they all think it’s perfectly normal for me to fall for this blockhead, or what?'
Just as Beatrice was barely suppressing a surge of irritation, the Count, who had sighed as if his head were throbbing, spoke while struggling to maintain his composure.
"Even so, to declare a marriage so recklessly—it is imprudent. It’s fortunate that there are no outsiders here!"
"Now, now, Belliana. The children must be acting this way because they are in front of us. However, I also think it’s too rushed. Bia, how about we discuss this matter again after the betrothal between the Imperial family and the Duke family is properly concluded?"
"When is that?"
"Hmm, well…. Maybe in about three years?"
It was exactly the reaction she had expected.
Beatrice snorted as if she had no interest in such a compromise and turned her head toward the Princess.
The woman who had been speaking so familiarly just a moment ago was now sitting quietly, her lips sealed shut without a word.
To others, she might have looked like a wise person who knew when to intervene and when to step back, but to Beatrice, it was clear.
'I wondered why she was being so quiet when it was time for her to push us along, but I see—she’s weighing her options.'
Since the Princess wouldn't object to the union of the two at this point, she must be agonizing over the order of events. It was as if she were calculating when it would be best to slaughter well-fattened livestock.
'…It can't be helped. Shall I add a small bonus to help her make a decision? I really hadn't intended to go this far.'
Beatrice took a deep breath and, with the mindset of a shopkeeper announcing a clearance sale, flopped down onto the floor.
Then, she began to throw a tantrum like a five-year-old child.
She did it so that if the Princess supported their marriage now, she could cultivate an image of being understanding and wise, winning the favor of the adults.
"Ah, whyyy? What’s the difference between doing it in three years and doing it now? I’m going to marry Clyde, ah, let me marry him!"
"Th-this child…! Good heavens! I rushed over here because I heard you went to the Duke’s estate to see Clyde without an appointment, wondering what a grown lady was doing, and now this—how embarrassing! Is this how I raised you?"
"I don't know, I don't know! If you don't give me permission, I might just do something drastic!"
"Wh-what are you going to do…?"
"It took two years just to hold the engagement ceremony for Caelen and the Princess, so who knows if the wedding will be in one year or five! Do you even know how many years we’ve waited? I’m not going home until you let me get married! I’m not leaving Clyde’s side!"
Beatrice, who had flopped down while closing her eyes tight in front of her mother—who was clutching the back of her neck—glanced sideways at Clyde.
He was covering his mouth with one hand, looking at her with an expression of being deeply moved.
Others might not know, but Beatrice would bet her entire fortune that he was desperately trying to hold back laughter.
Perhaps it was because of her increasingly cold gaze? Clyde cleared his throat and reached into his coat.
"I am well aware that our words sound unreasonable."
"It’s a relief that at least you know that. Then…."
"However, as Bia said, we have also been waiting for a very long time. But Brother hasn't even set a wedding date since his engagement, and the two older brothers of the Hartwell Count family don't even show signs of dating, so what are we to do? Those who are ready should go first."
"Clyde!"
"If you are going to oppose us, I’m afraid I’ll have to cause a scene…."
Having said that much, Clyde pulled a single sheet of paper from his pocket. The marriage registration form he had scribbled down earlier, just in case, made its appearance, showing off its presence.
"Wouldn't it be better to be congratulated at the wedding than to find out about our marriage through documents and the Imperial newspaper?"
Just as Caelen, the eldest son of the Duke family, was about to step in to prevent a scandal that would have been enough to cure anyone’s low blood pressure, a light clap and the Princess’s clear voice rang through the room.
"It is a sudden declaration, but I would like to take their side."
"Elodie?"
"I felt sorry because the wedding was being delayed anyway. It would be shameless of me to ask them to wait for me indefinitely like this."
"Elodie, don't say that. If they had been sincere, they would have shown a serious attitude. You don't need to feel sorry for the stubbornness of Bia and Clyde."
"Hmm…. But I don't think Bia and Clyde are doing this lightly? They spoke as if it were nothing, but it feels more like something they’ve been holding back for a long time has finally burst."
The Princess, who had crouched down beside the sprawled-out Beatrice, smiled softly and reached out a hand toward her.
To be precise, she reached toward the paper that had fallen beside her—the one that was so crumpled it was practically falling apart.
'Oh, that’s my proposal letter.'
It seemed to have fallen to the floor while she was throwing her tantrum.
While Beatrice managed to smooth out her expression, which was threatening to become complicated, the Princess spoke again in a gentle voice.
"I have a twin sibling, so I know very well that the youngest ones sometimes act spoiled. However, Caelen, how could you call the heart of someone who has carried a proposal letter from so long ago until it became this tattered 'light'?"
"……."
"Besides, Beatrice isn't the type to act unreasonably without cause, is she? Right, Bia?"
'Oh….'
She had only handled it roughly because it was filled with her anguish, but to think that would be interpreted as a token of love.
Feeling the atmosphere around her shift significantly from a moment ago, Beatrice replied to the Princess affectionately.
"Yes. You’re the only one who truly understands my heart, Princess… no, my dear sister."
It was a hollow compliment she had uttered without even wetting her lips, but the Princess’s support was more reliable than she had expected, so this much flattery seemed worth it.
And the result was….
"In the name of the holy Kalvaron and the great sun of the Empire, Elvarius II, I bless the union of these two and proclaim it to all. The groom may now kiss the bride."
"…Do it well."
"You too."
This was the current situation.
A situation that was fulfilling yet wretched, joyful yet miserable.
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