Timid and Shy - Chapter 16

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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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16.

Posher addressed the Emperor, not Prince Robert.
“Do you believe Umbreel’s most chronic problem is the deterioration of border fortifications? No. Umbreel’s greatest problem is the chaos itself—the constant turnover of lords. The Territory folk drift beyond their Fief’s borders, lack any proper industry, and on top of that, there’s the instability stirred up by princes such as yourself.”
As he spoke these last words, Posher offered a smile to Prince Robert as if seeking his forgiveness. Yet to the Emperor’s eye, it looked as though Posher found the prince rather amusing. Posher continued.
“Once economic stability is secured, the people will naturally settle again. From there, we can gradually begin to restore the border defenses through them. What good comes of pouring central treasury into border facilities if the Territory’s condition remains unchanged?”
“It improves.”
Robert spoke with conviction.
“First, where would you source the labor for construction? From within the Territory, naturally. By providing them work and easing the instability that I—as you say, Inspector—needlessly kindled, the construction itself becomes stabilizing. Money circulates, stability takes root, and people naturally remain in the Territory. Other Territories might even send workers for the project. Wouldn’t that be the case?”
At Robert’s answer, the Inspector smiled as if he’d known all along, then shook his head.
“The scenario you describe is indeed the most ideal. But did I not mention this? When administrative capacity itself is absent, how can budgets be properly executed and construction proceed? Most of the money will leak elsewhere, and the work will drag on indefinitely.”
Prince Robert believed Posher was right. Yet Posher’s own business proposal had the same flaw.
‘If there’s no administrative capacity, money will bleed away whether we build or invest.’
Watching Robert nod, Posher pressed on.
“Most likely, everyone hopes construction never ends. Many would profit from maintaining such a state. If that happens, not only would the benefits you mentioned fail to materialize—funds would vanish and unease would only deepen. Managing a Territory in reality proves far more difficult than reading reports and speaking idle words.”
Robert gestured, and Vian placed documents before the Inspector and the Emperor.
“These materials demonstrate precisely the crisis you feared, Inspector.”
“What is this?”
“These are those currently known to control Umbreel. Not knights, not administrators—mere clerical staff from within Umbreel Castle have seized control of the Territory. And their argument? Precisely what you mentioned: budgets should fund industrial development, not castle repairs. It matches your report exactly. So, Inspector, you would have us pour money into these clerks’ private ventures.”
“I had no knowledge of it. I received recommendations—I selected only those businesses with the greatest chance of success and the most positive impact on the Territory’s people.”
“You selected nothing at all. There must be alternatives to select from. The clerks’ reports went straight up to the capital unchanged. If we’d budgeted based solely on your report, we wouldn’t be helping the Territory—we’d be feeding money into the pockets of parasites that prey on the Territory folk. Umbreel’s finances would remain unchanged. I intend to determine whether this happened by design or through negligent oversight.”
The Emperor, who had been silent until now, spoke.
“How?”
“I sought to discover where the Inspector had traveled in Umbreel and whom he’d met. But—”
“Those vermin? Those wretched clerks?”
“No. The Inspector never set foot in Umbreel at all. He went only to the outskirts and sent subordinates to gather information. Thanks to the Inspector’s resourcefulness, his men profited handsomely. The clerks treated them well and handed over prepared reports. There is no corruption between Inspector Posher and those clerks. However—”
Posher’s voice took on a creeping tone.
“My subordinates have become so skilled at such work over the years that I needn’t go to Umbreel myself…”
“Skilled? Skilled at what?”
At the Emperor’s sharp tone, the Inspector raised his hands in protest, then lowered them. The Emperor gazed down at the documents with something like amusement.
“Skilled work? I’ll need to review every report Posher has submitted. Have the auditors from the Administrative Bureau brought here. Bring Posher along.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Posher was immediately dragged away by the Emperor’s guards. The relationship between inspectors and auditors was never good, especially when a full audit was launched against a single inspector’s work. There were only two possible outcomes: the inspector’s suicide or imprisonment.
Deploying multiple auditors was a standard investigative method used only when guilt was already certain—to uncover the full extent of wrongdoing.
Posher’s fate was sealed. For an inspector with such cleverness, there were only two paths: elevation or ruin. Posher had chosen ruin.
After Posher was dragged out, Prince Robert waited for the Emperor to speak. The Emperor’s anger subsided before he continued.
“You must have anticipated this outcome. What comes next?”
“I must go to Umbreel myself. The budget hold can be loosened gradually. First, I need to go down and see the situation with my own eyes. And I should suffer a bit there as well.”
“Those Cressida types won’t be fooled so easily. If they merely pretend to govern Umbreel’s Territory…”
“I understand. Since they underestimated me enough to attempt bribery through a single inspector, I take no offense. In fact, it’s more convenient if they continue to underestimate me. I must go to overcome the lack of administrative capacity, just as the Inspector said.”
“If they continue to mock you, incidents like those surrounding Wiscom Debutante will repeat. Such petty matters may not strike a mortal blow, but your true self will disappear, and you’ll be known as they wish. What use is the truth if that’s what people believe? When people’s perception matters more than fact itself.”
Prince Robert asked the Emperor.
“Do you regret permitting freedom of publication?”
“I don’t regret it. Despite the abundance of trash, there are also more worthy books now than before, so I’m satisfied. But that they would re-control what I freed… seeing that rankles.”
“What of establishing newspapers or journals in the manner of Gareth and Cressida?”
“The Crown cannot do that. I’ll address this misunderstanding through other means. I’ll set something in motion soon enough, but not by their methods.”
“Your Majesty?”
The Emperor fixed Robert with a stern gaze and spoke.
“You don’t intend to retreat now, do you? Take one troublesome Territory like Umbreel and settle there permanently? I granted you the border because it matters, but if you plan to bury yourself there, you need to reconsider.”
“I’d like nothing more than to flee, if I’m honest. But I need time.”
“Time… Are you choosing between flight and advance, or is it a matter of method?”
“I must think and observe. If what Cressida truly wants is my disappearance, I cannot simply accept it sitting idle.”
The Emperor spoke slowly.
“Frederick is your brother. Never forget that.”
Prince Robert hesitated briefly before answering.
“Yes. I understand.”
‘He harbors too great an expectation of me. Frederick doesn’t see me as his brother.’
The Emperor resolved to provide Robert with knights and soldiers to support his journey to Umbreel.
They were both the Emperor’s support and his eyes. Prince Robert knew that the Emperor’s aid to him did not necessarily mean the Emperor favored him.
The Emperor wanted Frederick and Robert to compete fiercely.
So as Robert withdrew from the succession race, the Emperor provided support proportional to that withdrawal, ensuring Frederick and Cressida could never rest easy. The Umbreel matter was no different. The Emperor simply supported Robert in measure with his disadvantage.
Robert prepared for the journey to Umbreel with a troubled heart.
Vian, preparing the journey to Umbreel at Prince Robert’s side, felt conflicted watching the Emperor’s support.
‘Is it fair or is it cruel…….’

***

News that a new Territory Lord was finally coming to Umbreel reached Ariel as well. Baron Ariel let out a sigh of relief. Alex also spoke with a brightened face.
“The inhabitants of Umbreel’s territory kept arriving with endless complaints—this is fortunate.”
The Baron too spoke with a pleased expression.
“He’ll need to stay for quite a while this time.”
John, the administrative official who brought the news, continued.
“This time, it’s someone substantial enough to govern Umbreel persistently. Prince Robert, they say.”
In that instant, John’s and Alex’s eyes met, and both their faces darkened. Baron Ariel looked between the two and spoke.
“This is good news—why do both your expressions look like that?”
Alex nodded toward John, and after John swallowed once, he spoke.
“There was an incident when Miss Sophia held her debutante. It seems that Wiscom House weighed both Prince Frederick and Prince Robert. They paired Prince Frederick with the Wiscom young lady and Prince Robert with Miss Sophia.”
“And then?”
Seeing the Baron’s hardened face, Alex continued.
“According to Ellie, there were rumors that Prince Robert had long harbored affection for Isabel. Wiscom used Sophia deliberately to separate Prince Robert from Isabel.”
Baron Ariel frowned and pressed forward sharply.
“So what did Prince Robert do?”
Alex continued speaking.
“The disheartened Prince Robert abandoned Sophia and left. She couldn’t dance even once and had to end her debutante.”
“What a cursed wretch! And then? Damn Wiscom! What’s so great about holding a single debutante? They pulled tricks there too? They dared to use Sophia like this……!”
John spoke quickly, as if to appease the Baron.
“Afterward, Prince Robert apologized to Miss Sophia with proper courtesy and gave her gifts as well. He even assisted with budget matters. The ones deserving of death are the Wiscom Ducal House. Both Prince Robert and Miss Sophia are victims.”
Alex did not think so himself, but he agreed with John’s intent. If the Baron were to harbor resentment toward Prince Robert here, cooperation between the two territories could become difficult.
When they didn’t yet know precisely what kind of person Prince Robert was or what plans he had.
Baron Ariel glared at Alex and John and spoke.
“Why did you keep quiet? It’s obvious why Sophia didn’t mention it.”
“It already happened. There’s nothing we could do about it…….”
“So you say nothing? No matter how well she pretends, she clearly isn’t fine. Bring Sophia here. I need to know exactly what happened. Since Prince Robert is coming as Territory Lord of Umbreel, I need to tell Sophia as well.”
“Yes.”
Alex rose to fetch Sophia. Once Alex had left, Baron Ariel spoke.
“Damn Wiscom. I knew they were up to something. But in your view—was it something so significant? Significant enough for the children to hide it from me?”
John spoke with a grave expression.
“Knights moved with clear political intent. Several factions stirred to check Prince Robert and the Wiscom Ducal House. The matter grew quite large. Naturally, Sophia’s affair became a major topic of conversation in the Capital.”
“Was Sophia wounded by it?”
“Even if she was wounded, she’ll overcome it quickly. According to Jack, it was Sophia herself who gave Prince Robert the opportunity to apologize.”
“Is that so?”
“Prince Robert apparently suspected whether Sophia and Wiscom had colluded together. Sophia clarified matters and proposed something that would restore her image. Those Romance Novels circulating in the castle now—they were the gift Prince Robert gave to Sophia at that time.”
“I heard she brought armfuls of Romance Novels, not even her taste…….”
John ventured carefully, gauging Baron Ariel’s mood.
“They say Prince Robert deliberately chose books he would dislike?”
A faint smile appeared on Baron Ariel’s face. But soon the smile faded, leaving only a worried expression. Administrator John left the study as quietly as he could manage.

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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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