After I Regressed, I Proposed to My Childhood Friend
Chapter 8
A short while after the honeymoon.
Clyde, who had been slowly leaving the Imperial Knights headquarters while waiting for Beatrice, stopped in his tracks at the sound of a familiar voice from behind.
"Well, look who it is. If it isn't Sir Clyde Dalton, the man so busy tending to his wife that he’s become a rare sight to behold?"
Turning his head, he saw a handsome man with silver hair that clearly revealed his imperial lineage and violet eyes that were the spitting image of the Empress.
If one were to include the past, this was the Crown Prince, Crowell Halo Ronya Edvain—his superior, his friend, and the man he had served for a very long time.
"Your Highness, Crowell."
"Yes, it is I."
The Crown Prince, who chided him for using such formal titles all of a sudden, gave Clyde’s back a firm pat and continued.
"So, how is it? Are you having a pleasant time with your lovely wife? The rumors in the Knights are quite rampant, you know? That you’ve been completely swept up in the joys of newlywed life lately."
To the question posed by Crown Prince Crowell with a playful smirk, Clyde let out a deflated laugh and nodded.
"Ah, those rumors."
"What’s with that reaction? Judging by the way you say that, it seems they’ve reached your ears too?"
"Haha, well, yes."
It would be a problem if they hadn't reached his ears.
After all, the two of them were trying desperately hard to look like a sickeningly sweet couple who couldn't live without each other.
Since their new home was still under construction and they were living separately at their respective family estates, they had to be even more meticulous.
*‘Whether it’s deliberately timing our schedules to pick each other up, sticking together like glue at every social gathering, or feeding each other bites of food in crowded places just to show off...’*
To exaggerate slightly, the time he had spent physically close to Beatrice over the past few weeks was roughly equal to the time they had spent together in their entire lives.
Even Beatrice, who had been nauseated by the cringeworthy pet names right after the wedding, could now say "Honey" in her sleep.
The fortunate thing was that, as they say, experience is the best teacher, and they were slowly becoming quite adept at cutting corners.
*‘The trick we pulled at the banquet yesterday was truly convenient.’*
It was a ruse where she complained of being full and wanting a walk, only to go out to the garden in a loud, conspicuous manner and then intentionally dishevel their clothes upon returning.
Since there was no need to care about the gazes of others, they could simply spend time in a secluded spot and then head back inside.
Just as he was recalling their tearful efforts to slowly grind away at Valois Crawford’s nerves, the Crown Prince raised one eyebrow slightly and replied.
"……To answer so readily. I didn't expect such a response from Sir Dalton."
"Because it is the truth. That my wife is lovely, that I enjoy my time with her, and that I am deeply immersed in the joys of being a newlywed. It all comes from the heart, so why would I have any reason to deny it?"
"Ha! Can you stop there? I think I’ll get actual goosebumps if I hear any more."
"Oh dear."
Clyde, who lowered the corners of his eyes as if to show regret, smiled nonchalantly and offered a greeting.
"Ah, come to think of it, my greetings are late, Your Highness. Thank you very much for your concern regarding my marriage. I didn't expect you to send gifts day after day. One room is barely enough to hold them all, you know?"
"Forget the thanks! Keep it to yourself. As you know, Clyde, I felt terrible for not being able to attend the wedding. I intend to pay more attention from now on."
"Haha, your heart alone is more than enough. I couldn't possibly burden a busy man like you with such trouble."
"Is that so? Haha! Then you should have given me a heads-up beforehand. It’s not like a busy man like me would have stood in the way of the two of you."
The Crown Prince, who countered Clyde’s words without yielding an inch, lowered his voice slightly and continued.
"It wasn't just me; my mother was quite hurt as well. It was only natural, given that your partner was Lady Hartwell. Even if the Count is one thing, she said she didn't expect that the lady’s father, Jedaric, who is from the same kingdom, would hide such an important matter."
"Ah, that is……."
Clyde, who scratched the back of his head awkwardly, opened his mouth with a troubled expression.
"Count Hartwell would not have had the slightest intention of hiding it from Her Majesty the Empress. Even Jedaric-nim didn't know."
"He didn't know? About what?"
"About us. To put it more bluntly, honestly, there was only a difference of a few days between the day Her Majesty the Empress heard the news of our marriage and the day my father heard our marriage announcement."
How long was it……. Three days?
The Crown Prince, listening to Clyde, scanned him with an expression that asked how such a thing could possibly happen.
"Oh, Your Highness. Please don't look at me like that. We had our own circumstances."
"Circumstances? I heard you two had been dating since your Academy days, so what kind of circumstances could possibly require such secrecy……. Ah. I suppose it would have been noisy in many ways if it had been known."
Even though the two of them were the youngest daughter and second son with no real power in their respective families, the union of the Hartwell and Dalton families was a significant event.
The Hartwell Count family was a wealthy household that produced staple grains amounting to 10% of the Empire's food supply for generations, and the Dalton Duke family was a founding contributor that had drunk the blood of a dragon alongside the Imperial family when the Empire was first established long ago.
This alone would have been noisy enough, but…….
*‘Given the background of the Hartwell Count’s husband, if we had revealed it back then, the traditionalists would have certainly fought tooth and nail to stop us.’*
It was only because his sister, Princess Elody, and the eldest son of the Dalton Duke family were now officially engaged that they weren't adding any more fuel to the fire.
"Well, thinking of it that way, I can understand, but hiding it even from your own family is still a bit excessive."
"Haha, that is a matter of the ‘youngest’ child’s circumstances……."
Making up an excuse with a straight face, Clyde quickly steered the topic away.
"I will go to pay my respects to Her Majesty the Empress with my wife soon. If I am busy with missions or the like, I will ask Bia to go first."
"I’m glad to hear that. My mother will surely soften her heart once she sees the two of you in person. Oh, and……."
"Is there something else?"
"No, since we were talking about things being noisy, I was reminded of Valois Crawford. Is everything alright?"
"Well……."
"I heard about the incident where Valois crashed your wedding, and how she ran to my father afterward to throw a tantrum and demand the marriage be annulled."
It was true. After saying, "If the Emperor approved it and it cannot be undone, then if the Emperor commands it, they must break up," Valois had run straight to the Emperor.
Then, she had boldly demanded in front of him that he annul their marriage and give Clyde to her, claiming she wanted him.
If Valois had been an ordinary noble, she would have been dragged away and met her end at the execution grounds immediately.
However, fortunately for her, Valois was a daughter whom Grand Duke Alec cherished dearly, and while the Emperor had been furious and scolded her, he had not punished his niece.
"My father is always so soft when it comes to matters involving his uncle."
The Crown Prince clicked his tongue lightly as if dissatisfied and patted his shoulder.
"If you ever need my help, let me know. I’ll assist you."
"Hahat!"
It was certainly annoying that Valois had walked out of the Emperor’s presence unscathed, but Clyde let out a genuinely sincere laugh for a moment.
Because the sight of Crown Prince Crowell standing firmly in his place, unlike in the past, and his goodwill were both simply gratifying.
"What is it? What’s with that annoying smile?"
"Annoying? I was just deeply moved by what Your Highness said……."
"Nonsense. Since when have you ever acted so loyally?"
*‘……That is a good question.’*
Just as he was muttering words he couldn't say aloud while thinking of the past, Beatrice’s platinum blonde hair entered his field of vision from afar, right on cue.
"Bia! Honey! I’m over here with His Highness!"
Clyde, who had called out to her in advance to prevent Beatrice from calling him or acting as she usually did, spoke to the Crown Prince in a low voice.
"Actually, there is one thing I would like to ask for your help with regarding that matter."
"Hmm?"
"As Your Highness knows, rumors about how much we love each other have spread quite a bit. Given Lady Valois’s temperament, I am worried she might try to harm my wife."
Beatrice hesitated the moment she heard his greeting, then instantly changed her expression from a sullen one.
Without taking his eyes off her as she smiled brightly and even came running toward them, Clyde calmly stated his main point.
"So, Your Highness. Do you happen to have any time tomorrow?"
If you are free, how about attending the masquerade ball in the evening?
0 Comments