Timid and Shy - Chapter 11

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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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11.

Sophia stood before the Bookstore. Robert, watching from behind her, finally spoke.
“You really want to buy books?”
Sophia nodded.
“Yes. I’m going to buy stacks of useless Romance Novels—the kind that are sensational and forgotten after one reading.”
“With my money, of course?”
“Naturally. It would be such a waste to spend my own funds on a book I’ll only read once.”
“Then go to the library instead.”
“Such trashy novels would never be stocked in a library. Besides, the important thing is that I have no need to be a respectable person. I’ve embarrassed you, you dislike me, yet you endure my presence as penance. So let us begin your atonement.”
Sophia stepped confidently into the bookshop, where several young ladies clustered around stacks of Romance Novels, laughing as they browsed through the pages.
Sophia raised her voice deliberately.
“Robert, are you truly certain? Is it all right to buy such novels?”
Robert played along, nodding before he too began the performance—his tone impeccably refined and formal.
“Whatever the young lady desires. Do not hold back. Purchase freely.”
“Then I shall not hold back.”
Sophia glanced at the bestseller list hanging on the wall and called over a shopkeeper.
“Please find all the novels on that bestseller list. I’ll take every one!”
“Pardon? … Yes, at once!”
At her words, not only the young ladies at the Romance Novel counter but all the other shopkeepers and customers turned to stare at Sophia and Robert.
Two boxes were filled to the brim with books. The shopkeeper looked at Sophia, and Robert gave a nod of approval.
One of Robert’s attendants carried the boxes while another handled the transaction. Sophia’s voice rang out brightly.
“Robert, I thank you for such generosity. Since you’ve gone to such effort on my behalf, might I treat you to tea? There’s a Dessert House I visit often—they have the most divine cakes, sweet enough to wash away any fatigue.”
Robert smiled and nodded. Then he moved closer to Sophia and spoke low.
“That place again? Why?”
“Young ladies gather there in crowds. Such places spread rumors easily.”
“I see. I trust this is not too much trouble for you, Ariel?”
“Not at all. I’m grateful for the novels. Please accept them as a token of my sincerity.”
Sophia led Robert to the Dessert House, the same establishment she’d visited with Helen. The moment they entered, numerous young ladies turned to look at them.
Sophia ordered two cakes that looked unmistakably rich and sweet, then pushed both plates in front of Robert. With a mischievous grin, she spoke loudly.
“Robert, this is my thanks for spending the entire day with me.”
Robert’s eye twitched slightly. Yet he kept his smile fixed and spoke warmly.
“I defer to Lady Ariel. I have debts to repay—a sweet cake seems better suited for you. I’m content merely watching you enjoy it.”
Sophia bit back her laughter and replied.
“Robert, please don’t say such things. Today has been so delightful. Let’s share them instead.”
As Sophia divided the cakes, she murmured softly.
“Now comes the real trial.”
In her hands was one of the Romance Novels she’d purchased. Sophia smiled, opened the book, and began reading passages aloud to Robert, proclaiming each one delightful.
“If I could soften your heart, I would willingly become the villain. Even if my reputation fell beneath the soles of your feet…”
Robert listened with a forced smile painted on his lips as Sophia read from the novel. But his ordeal did not end with a single volume. A procession of sweet desserts and tea came and went several times over.
Those watching Robert and Sophia felt their eyes drawn to the spectacle. As time passed, even people who had heard the rumors gathered outside the shop to witness it themselves.
It was only when the sun began to set that Sophia finally released Robert. The two exchanged parting words.
“Thank you for your time today. I hope, however modest, it has proven useful.”
“You’ve worked hard as well. If we meet again in future, I would prefer—if you don’t mind—brief greetings in passing rather than such prolonged encounters. In that Dessert House, I began to wonder if you were exacting revenge on me for the torment of your Debutante ball.”
“What? You misunderstand me. As if someone so unremarkable as I would dare such a thing to you.”
Sophia hurried to bid Robert farewell and quickly climbed into her carriage. As it receded into the distance, Robert spoke to his attendant.
“How much was spent?”
“Only two gold coins, sir. The places were far more reasonable than expected. A most economical outing.”
Robert looked at his attendant, and Maeve smiled before speaking.
“I jest. I was concerned there might be some hidden agenda or ulterior motive, but I found none. As you instructed, I also inquired into her life at Wiscom Mansion. She seems entirely out of place among the Duke’s family. She has never socialized with relatives and instead frequents the Fineh Residence.”
Robert tilted his head curiously, and Maeve elaborated.
“The Fineh Residence is the wife’s family of my brother Alex—a bourgeois household. It appears clear that both Lady Sophia Ariel and the Baron of Ariel are not close to the Wiscom Duchy.”
“So the Duchess truly cast aside her own relations?”
“It would seem so. She appears to be a decent young lady, yet the Duchess has her own cold side beneath the surface.”
“She didn’t become Duchess with nothing to her name. She’s no ordinary woman.”
“Is that so?”
Robert climbed into his carriage and gave his final order.
“Still, keep watch on Sophia Ariel until she returns to Ariel.”
“Understood.”
Maeve had already shed her suspicion of Sophia. Anyone who would read such embarrassing passages to Robert could hardly harbor romantic designs on him.
“What a lovely girl. And to watch the prince suffer in silence while bearing it—hehehehe.”
Sophia and Robert’s quasi-courtship attracted considerable attention, as expected. Her reputation among the younger ladies improved, or at least showed signs of improvement.
Naturally, there were more articles and voices calling it a futile effort to salvage a reputation already trampled in the dust. Yet it was certainly better than doing nothing at all.

***

Sophia did not stop insinuating herself into the Wiscom Mansion. She made diligent use of the library. She even wore a smile when bidding farewell to the Wiscom relatives departing the estate.
They ignored her greetings and mocked her, but Sophia only pressed harder, as if oblivious.
The moment Sophia appeared before the Wiscom relatives and began speaking, the Duchess’s face would darken appallingly. Watching this became Sophia’s small pleasure.
After her meeting with Robert, invitations began flooding Sophia’s way.
In truth, numerous invitations had arrived at the Wiscom household the moment the Debutante ball concluded. But Isabel had declined most of them, accepting only a handful from particularly close acquaintances.
Sophia too was declining invitations. The nobles extended them to her because of Wiscom’s standing, not out of any genuine interest in her.
Some harbored malicious curiosity, pressing their invitations with relentless persistence. Sophia had accomplished her purpose in undergoing the Debutante debut and saw no reason to continue exerting herself.
‘Besides, I’d rather not stay entangled with Wiscom any longer. I’ve gotten my purse.’
But after her circuit through the city with Robert, the invitations resumed their deluge. The Duchess examined the names inscribed on the envelope flaps and handed them to Sophia, speaking as she did so.
“It seems you’ve received invitations from all the notable gossips of High Society.”
“Have I? I’ll decline them all.”
“You have no intention of entering High Society at all?”
“Good connections seem unlikely to come from it. I’d rather return to Ariel. Besides, you did give me certain counsel before.”
“Did I not give you money? With a dowry of that size, marriage shouldn’t be entirely impossible.”
“Perhaps. But if I accept invitations while staying at the Wiscom household, most people would assume I’m intimate with your family. When they discover I can’t live up to their expectations, it will all come to nothing anyway. It’s better to stop now.”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“It would be wrong for me. It’s not easy to refuse people who expect what I don’t have. They’ll think I should receive more from the Wiscom house… but I won’t, will I?”
Sophia had gently suggested that the money given was insufficient, but the Duchess’s response was,
“Is that so?”
Nothing more. The Duchess said nothing further. Seeing how quickly she abandoned the matter, Sophia reflected.
‘Just testing the waters, as I thought.’
True to Sophia’s instinct, the Duchess had no intention of persuading her. Nor did she press for her to return to Ariel immediately. She simply watched, silent and still.

***

That afternoon, Sophia resolved to visit the Fineh Residence. Helen was desperately curious about what had transpired with Robert.
Seeing the anticipation gleaming in Helen’s eyes, Sophia spoke.
“He was intelligent. He agreed that restoring his image took priority over pointless emotional squabbles or venting. So he went along with my plan.”
Helen rubbed her hands together eagerly.
“My friends are dying of curiosity. They’ve gotten quite a lot of gossip about you secondhand. Does the prince show any interest in Sophia, or favor toward you?”
“Of course not. What were you expecting? I’m simply grateful the prince didn’t take out his frustrations on me. Besides, it was always Isabel he wanted.”
“I thought so at first, but there were so many embellishments in the eyewitness accounts that I couldn’t help but wonder.”
“Really?”
“A man who follows a woman wherever she wishes to go, shame be damned—how romantic is that? Everyone naturally assumed there must be something between Robert and Sophia for him to endure the embarrassment. Especially what happened at the Dessert House.”
“Well, that’s simply because it’s where the most young ladies gather. It’s the only place I knew about. But the point is, haven’t people’s feelings toward Robert improved somewhat?”
“Definitely. More and more people have become curious about him. There really have been quite a lot of articles. Just like with Isabel’s situation.”
“Is that so? Has the truth about Isabel and Robert become widely known?”
“It’s rumor, but it seems to have split into two versions—one about a love triangle involving both princes and the beautiful Duke’s daughter, another about a wounded prince falling in love with an ordinary woman.”
“So truth matters less than having material for speculation? Such is the way of those magazines.”
Helen spoke with embarrassment.
“I’m afraid so, yes.”
Helen asked Sophia once more to confirm.
“You’re absolutely certain there’s nothing between them?”
“Nothing. Not a thing. I’ll be returning to Ariel soon. I hoped to see Fineh before I go.”
“What? Already? You said you’d stay two months. It’s only been a little over a month. You’re leaving just as you’ve entered High Society? But I wanted to hear more about the society from you. Where else could I hear about the battles between noble ladies?”
Sophia smiled as she replied.
“Even if I stayed in High Society, I’d only encounter pity and ridicule. What would be the loss?”
At Sophia’s words, Helen spoke apologetically.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. Let me ask Mother when Father returns. You should stay for supper at least.”
Sophia sat alone for a moment, waiting for Helen. There was nothing more to expect from the Capital. Better to escape this chaos if she could.
‘It’s all right. When I return to Ariel, everything will be as it was before.’

***

Dinner with Fineh was delightful. Throughout the meal, Helen and her young brother Sol argued without pause.
Helen deliberately teased him, and Sol, refusing to lose, stuck stubbornly to his words until the end. Fineh watched their quarrel with an amused smile.
When Fineh took Sol’s side, the argument between Helen and Sol came to a close. Afterward, Fineh continued her conversation with Sophia over tea.
Sol protested vehemently against going to bed, but Fineh would not hear of compromise. After Sol was led away, Fineh spoke.
“I understand you had questions for me.”
Fineh, like her mother, maintained formal speech with Sophia. Sophia replied.
“Yes. I’d like to hear about Robert and Frederick.”

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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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