Timid and Shy - Chapter 10

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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10.

The carriage door swung open, and Prince Robert’s face appeared. Once he confirmed that Sophia sat alone, he stepped inside.
The Prince settled into the seat across from her, his features drawn with exhaustion. He’d seen her at the Debutante, but he retained no clear memory of what she looked like then.
Now, at last, he was seeing Sophia Ariel’s face properly. As he looked into her slate-grey eyes, a thought formed.
‘Is she a pawn? A victim? Sophia Ariel.’
Sophia spoke, meeting his gaze.
“You look better than I expected.”
Prince Robert appraised her from head to foot before answering.
“Likewise. Everyone spoke of you as though you were fading away. Did you know from the start?”
“No. I didn’t know. They said the Debutante would cost nothing, so I came. I’m entirely a victim of circumstance.”
“And I’m supposed to believe that?”
Sophia’s voice sharpened.
“Then would I have agreed to participate in deceiving a prince from a place as insignificant as Ariel? If you investigate, you’ll learn that Ariel has never owed a debt to House of Wiscom. I only realized I was being used after coming to the Capital myself.”
Robert let out a low, derisive laugh.
“Yet you’re said to be a distant relation of the Duchess of Wiscom. They wouldn’t use a relative if they meant simply to discard you.”
“A distant relation counts as lesser-than. Even if exploited by House of Wiscom, Ariel cannot so much as protest. As you see now.”
Watching the skepticism in the Prince’s expression, Sophia spoke with bitter resignation.
“There were surely other young ladies whose circumstances aligned for a joint Debutante, but few as old, as desperate as I am. I fit every condition the society pages tout—an older, impoverished woman worthy of pity.”
Prince Robert did not find her desperate. Even so, he sensed no craven complicity in a conspiracy. There was fear in her, certainly, but something else too.
‘Or is it anger?’
“I see. I’ll grant that the young lady of Ariel is House of Wiscom’s sacrifice. Yet your conduct afterward—it seemed as though you knew something. I came myself to verify, because at the Debutante, even when Frederick and I appeared, you showed no real surprise.”
“Is that so? I was trembling so badly I thought I appeared stiff.”
“After I left, I heard you played the tragic heroine perfectly.”
“A woman past twenty barely secured a Debutante through the back door, found no partner to Escort her, and stood alone without a dance. Tell me, Your Highness—what should I have done to seem entirely pitiable?”
“I wouldn’t know. I’ve never met such a woman. Then House of Wiscom found its victim well.”
“I wasn’t willing to become entangled in House of Wiscom’s affairs with Your Highness. And don’t you think the greater problem began after I spoke with Philip Wiscom? I’m not the only one at fault—your own actions bear responsibility.”
“Now you blame me again.”
Sophia paused to collect herself.
“No—I mean that we’re both victims. Wouldn’t it be better to do something, anything, to prevent further harm? Rather than waste time quarreling with me?”
“It seems impossible to prevent the harm, so I came to vent my anger. And to confirm a suspicion.”
Sophia looked directly at him.
“Philip Wiscom told me he would find ways to lessen your suffering. Are you truly the man he described—one who vents his rage on someone like me?”
Robert turned away, concealing his expression as he spoke.
“So Philip Wiscom really said that.”
“I would offer my cooperation instead.”
“What?”
Sophia’s eyes lit up. For a moment, the Prince felt genuinely captivated.
She continued.
“The articles discuss how Your Highness wounded me through discourteous behavior, but what they truly wish to suggest is that you’re an elder brother, deficient and jealous of his younger brother.”
Robert made a soft, dismissive sound, but Sophia pressed on.
“The articles seem deliberately fabricated and may be difficult to stop. But couldn’t something be done about the claim that you’re a discourteous man who wounded an insignificant young lady of low rank?”
“Is that so?”
As Robert replied, his eyes briefly caught the stack of cheap magazines piled near Sophia’s feet. She continued.
“Take me about the city. The more crowded places, the better. Show me extraordinary kindness and bestow gifts upon me lavishly. Then the resentment of the young ladies will ease, if only slightly.”
“You think I’m the sort of man who lives for popularity, like Frederick.”
To her surprise, Sophia detected something receptive in his tone. She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper.
“A prince who has no need for popularity—wouldn’t his efforts to cultivate it suggest ulterior motives?”
Robert smiled faintly.
“For someone from as remote a place as Ariel, you seem well-versed in the Capital’s intrigues. Do you have further counsel?”
“Isabel Wiscom. All of this must be because of Isabel.”
The moment Isabel’s name left Sophia’s lips, Robert’s demeanor shifted entirely.
Sophia drew back slightly in her seat.
“If Your Highness wishes to win Isabel again, you’ll need to repair your image.”
“You think if the magazines speak well of me, Isabel will see me again?”
“I don’t know that. But there could be ways to keep Isabel from growing close to Frederick easily. They’ve only met once, haven’t they?”
Robert nodded, gesturing for her to continue. Sophia watched his reaction carefully as she spoke.
“The Duchess of Wiscom told me the Empress wished to sever Your Highness’s connection to her family and left her no choice. But surely the Empress and Cressida wouldn’t favor House of Wiscom over House of Garris or other families without weighing the matter carefully. In that process, relations between House of Wiscom and the Empress—or other houses—might worsen.”
Seeing the smile on Prince Robert’s face, Sophia spoke with conviction.
“Then wouldn’t Prince Robert gain good colleagues? Or perhaps people who wish to help the Prince? To obtain good colleagues, improving Prince Robert’s reputation even slightly would certainly be beneficial, wouldn’t it?”
“For someone who reads such cheap gossip rags, your insight isn’t half bad. The Empress will naturally agonize over Frederick’s match. It would be delicious if House of Wiscom took a blow to the back of the head from her.”
As he spoke, Prince Robert gazed at the stacked gossip magazines and laughed. Sophia ignored his gaze and continued.
“You’ll need to decide quickly. I must return to Ariel soon—the Duchess has asked me to return within a short time.”
“And you intend to obey?”
“I’m a guest staying through the Duchess’s goodwill, so I must respect my host’s wishes. Are you telling me to defy House of Wiscom? Something you yourself won’t do.”
“Quite presumptuous. Ariel may be on the frontier, but it lies within Uranos. Bear in mind that returning to Ariel does not end all matters.”
With that final remark, Robert descended from the carriage. As if she’d been waiting, Sophia signaled the coachman to depart, and the carriage turned back toward the Wiscom Estate.
Sophia released a breath she’d been holding.
“I hope this ploy worked. Otherwise, he’ll follow me all the way to Ariel.”
Prince Robert watched the carriage bearing Sophia disappear, then mounted his horse. He gazed in the direction she’d gone for a long while.
“For a victim of House of Wiscom, she’s rather clever.”
Maeve shook his head and spoke.
“Then she’s no victim at all.”
“If she’s clever, then she’s not a victim… Did you just call me a fool straight to my face? Maeve, you’re too honest.”
Maeve fell silent, staring at Prince Robert. The Prince chuckled and turned toward the Imperial Palace. Maeve muttered quietly as he followed.
“If you’re clever enough, you shouldn’t get taken advantage of. Or what? I get outwitted by the Prince every day, and it’s not because I’m stupid. Then… then it’s because I’m weak. Is that true for the Prince or the Lady of Ariel too?”

***

The next day, an attendant dressed in brilliant scarlet Royal Court Robes arrived at the Wiscom Estate.
“I am Asel, attendant to Prince Robert. Today I have come regarding…”
The Wiscom Estate’s butler, upon hearing that this was Prince Robert’s attendant, puffed up with self-importance and spoke.
“I’m afraid… the Duchess of Wiscom and Miss Isabel are not receiving visitors…”
The attendant cut him off politely but firmly.
“I have a letter to deliver to Miss Sophia Ariel. Please inform Miss Sophia Ariel that I wish to see her.”
The butler’s brow furrowed slightly as he regarded the attendant. Asel, Prince Robert’s second secretary and attendant, thought to himself:
‘I thought as much. After that humiliation, returning to the Wiscom Estate, he carries himself so arrogantly.’
Yet his face remained composed. The butler stiffened and bowed, then ordered a maid to inform Sophia.
After taking her leisurely time with preparations, Sophia met with the attendant and received the letter he extended to her with courtesy. Along with the letter, the attendant conveyed Prince Robert’s words of apology.
“Prince Robert deeply regrets that he has unintentionally caused you pain, Miss Sophia. He has asked me to apologize once more on his behalf.”
The moment the attendant departed, Sophia left the estate. By the time the Duchess of Wiscom came looking for her, she had already gone.
The Duchess of Wiscom smiled as she watched the carriage depart.
“Sophia can’t leave without seeing him, it seems. I know what Robert thinks he’s doing, but he won’t change the larger course of events with mere dalliance involving Sophia.”
Isabel, sitting on the sofa, spoke.
“I was worried he might be looking for me instead. This is far better.”
The Duchess let out a low chuckle.
“I’ve told you repeatedly—Prince Robert doesn’t care for you; he merely wants House of Wiscom itself. He will never come calling in anger or whining. He’ll find another way. Which means his attention isn’t clouded by affection for you. Don’t place too much value on what a man says.”
Isabel’s expression began to harden at the Duchess’s words.
“When you meet Prince Frederick, remember this too: even if he’s entranced by you, a single word from the Empress or your uncle can change his mind.”
“Well! Since I’m not sincere either, how can I expect sincerity from him?”
“That’s not the point.”
The Duchess addressed Isabel.
“Even if you calculate everything carefully, never let him see such a side of you. It’s fine that you view matters as mutual benefit. But even without sincerity, you must seek sincerity from him. Do you understand what I mean?”
“No.”
Isabel answered coldly and rose from her seat.
“Just because Mother succeeded doesn’t mean I must follow her path. According to Mother’s logic, anyone who wants House of Wiscom will do whatever it takes to win my heart. I have no need to grovel as Mother does. I’m hardly some ordinary girl from an inferior house, desperately ambitious to climb higher.”
“You’re right. Our circumstances are different. However, there’s no loss in winning someone’s heart. Don’t underestimate the human heart. People will face any danger for the sake of those they love.”
“Yes. Of course.”
Isabel gave a perfunctory answer and left the parlor. The Duchess didn’t rebuke her for the half-hearted response. There were some things that Isabel, raised so tenderly, could only understand through direct experience.

***

Philip came looking for Isabel.
“Do you know Sophia went out? Robert invited her?”
“I know. Robert is trying to use Sophia to restore his tarnished reputation.”
“He said nothing to you?”
“Nothing. What about you?”
“Not a word. Either he’s ignoring me entirely, or he’s so hurt he doesn’t want to acknowledge me. It’s almost insulting.”
Yet Philip’s tone in voicing his disappointment to Prince Robert remained remarkably light.
“To be honest, even though I’m close to Prince Robert, I can’t say I truly know him. He’s never really opened up to me. You’ve met Prince Robert several times yourself, but beyond knowing that he’s taken a liking to you, there’s not much you actually understand about him, is there? He doesn’t talk much about himself.”
Isabel spoke in a languid voice.
“What does it matter? When time passes, he might approach us again. Prince Robert isn’t exactly in a position of strength, after all.”
Philip said.
“Robert has never once stood against Prince Frederick. He’s always given way. This time will be the same. He’ll either wait until Prince Frederick loses interest, or he’ll go looking for another debutante. Someone like Parma Garris, perhaps?”
“Prince Robert and Parma Garris… it doesn’t sound like an altogether bad pairing. Let him give it his best try.”
Isabel entered her bedchamber with a cold expression. Philip shook his head.
“You might think Prince Robert is head over heels for you, but that can’t be right. Prince Robert isn’t simple. Though I wouldn’t call him remarkable either……”
Philip had thrown out those words to put Isabel on her guard, but he didn’t truly believe Prince Robert posed a threat. What required heightened vigilance was House of Garris.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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