Timid and Shy - Chapter 17

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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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17.

Sophia and Baron Ariel strolled through the garden in the late spring sunlight. Sophia spoke as they walked slowly.
“The duchess gave me money. She said to add it to my dowry.”
Baron Ariel stopped in surprise for a moment, then resumed walking and spoke.
“You refused it, didn’t you?”
“No. I accepted it. It’s still in my drawer right now. In an expensive-looking crimson pouch, completely untouched.”
“Why? You’re just going to keep it hidden away? You shouldn’t have taken it in the first place.”
“So I won’t forget.”
“Forget what?”
“That I saw only what I wanted to see. I was so fixated on the idea of getting through the Debutante without cost that I ignored what was right in front of my eyes.”
Baron Ariel admired how his daughter reflected on herself even after being hurt. But as a father, he felt shame. He spoke.
“I was far too negligent myself. I forgot what kind of people they were. I should have tried harder to stop you.”
Sophia spoke with a bitter expression.
“Because I was so desperate, I thought a sudden kindness from relatives who’d never been in touch was a gift from the goddess Titania herself—whatever suited my fancy. I thought it was just the sort of thing a supporting player might receive. I didn’t know the Wiscom Duchy was after the Imperial succession. It’s my fault for being stubborn and not listening to you. From now on, I won’t do anything you tell me not to do. I’ve learned my lesson.”
Baron Ariel let out a hollow laugh.
“Don’t blame yourself so much. Anyone would have done the same. In fact, most people would have accepted it that way. Wiscom already knew what we wanted. That’s why they used it. Serpents, the lot of them. You might think the connection was cut off after your mother died, but it was already severed before that. From the moment your mother insisted on marrying a poor baron like me, her own family abandoned her.”
“Did Father really seem so worthless?”
“Hmph! It seems they’d already intended to give your mother to someone they could bring into their fold. Without her knowing it. After the maternal family became in-laws with the duchy, they were willing to give anything for Wiscom’s benefit. Your mother didn’t want that.”
“But why didn’t you warn me? You could have been harsher in your words at least. Tell me to be especially careful—that it’s a viper’s nest.”
“I suppose I too saw only what I wanted to see. I wanted you to have your Debutante, to enjoy it somewhere other than Ariel. It only happens once in a lifetime. Your mother would have wanted you to enjoy it without worry. I should never have trusted them. I’m just an old man who’s grown rusty, it seems.”
“But it was still good. I did have my Debutante after all. And I came home with plenty of gifts.”
Baron Ariel shook his head and spoke.
“Those novels!”
“They’re rather entertaining. There’s quite a craze for them in Ariel these days, isn’t there?”
“I’ve heard they’re being passed from house to house. More people want to learn to read, and there are gatherings where people read the books aloud to listen together. It’s more lively than before, which is good, but—”
“Well, if it brings joy, that’s what matters.”
Baron Ariel spoke.
“I hear a new lord is coming to Umbriel soon.”
“I heard. That’s good news. I hope this one lasts longer.”
“Do you know what sort of person Prince Robert is?”
Sophia frowned. Observing her expression, Baron Ariel continued.
“What? You don’t think well of him? He hasn’t even set foot within Ariel’s lands—”
Sophia cut off the baron’s words and spoke.
“When you think about it, the Debutante affair is ultimately about the Imperial succession. But if Prince Robert comes to Umbriel, would the Empress and the Cressida Family really stand by? I don’t know if they’ll see it as good that Prince Robert is far from the Capital, or if they’ll continue to obstruct him right to the end.”
“Coming to Umbriel itself is a retreat from the succession struggle, isn’t it?”
“I wish I could accept it that simply. I just pray it won’t affect Ariel. I might be worrying for nothing.”
Since being harshly disciplined in the Capital, Sophia had come to understand that nothing was simple. Especially not when the Imperial family was involved.
Baron Ariel understood Sophia’s concerns well.
“If things go well for Umbriel ahead, it would be good for us too. But then, Cressida might not sit idle. We can only hope the sparks don’t reach us.”
Both of them truly hoped that things would go well for Umbriel. Ariel had been most severely affected by Umbriel’s collapse.
Some of the territories in the Titania Mountain Range that had belonged to Umbriel were now ceded to Ariel, and as the territory expanded, expenditures exceeded profits. On top of that, those who fled Umbriel had flocked to the nearest Ariel.
As refugees from Umbriel kept arriving in Ariel, conflict with Ariel’s own subjects was growing.
Even as Baron Ariel mediated disputes and offered support, the displaced persons were exceeding what Ariel could bear. If Prince Robert properly governed Umbriel as its new lord, it would be good for Ariel.
Sophia spoke.
“Prince Robert seems more intelligent than one might expect. Otherwise, the Empress and the Cressida Family wouldn’t keep finding fault with him, would they? That’s what Vian’s opinion is too.”
Baron Ariel agreed. But no matter how intelligent he was, governing a territory for the first time was another matter.
‘And Cressida’s interference will begin soon enough.’
Baron Ariel spoke, basking in the late spring sun.
“I wish Wiscom would collapse.”
Sophia burst out laughing at the unexpected curse. Baron Ariel smiled too. He spoke louder.
“Down with Wiscom!”

***

Prince Robert toured the castle walls and interior of Umbriel. Since his arrival in Umbriel, Mave’s face had remained ashen.
The situation was far worse than what the reports showed. Mave paid respect to Vian’s choice to remain in the Capital.
‘Clearly not for nothing that he’s the chief secretary.’
Most people who hurried to avoid Prince Robert and his retinue as they toured the territory were poorly clothed. Prince Robert shook his head. Though it was late spring, the poverty was far worse than anyone should have to endure. The castle walls, the roads within the city, the houses themselves—it was rare to find anything in proper condition. In Umbriel, every decent building belonged to former administrators or served as their business.
The administrative officials who had paid bribes to Inspector Posher’s subordinates had all been dragged to the Capital for investigation by imperial order, yet Umbriel’s situation seemed barely different.
To drive out those who had fed off the territory and its people in place of a proper lord, it would take no small amount of time. Prince Robert pondered this as he surveyed the land.
‘The Capital does nothing, and the inspector never came to Umbriel directly…. If I hadn’t chosen Umbriel, things could have gone badly indeed.’
Prince Robert’s arrival in Umbriel alone would not solve all the problems. No one would be mad enough to openly defy a prince, but they would cling to their interests by any means necessary. There was every likelihood of countless schemes and sabotage.
With the Cressida Family’s instigation added to the mix, Umbriel would never be free of large and small incidents. Moreover, the industries the inspector had mentioned as promising turned out to be little more than buying goods cheaply from displaced persons and reselling them at inflated prices.
Since all the profit came from exploiting the territory’s people, calling them industries was a stretch.
‘Parasites.’
It was only because the neighboring Ariel held firm, and Umbriel did not bar its people from entering Ariel, that the territory scraped by at all.
After surveying Umbriel’s condition, Prince Robert decided to visit Ariel as soon as possible. The more he examined the territory’s circumstances, the more he realized how much it depended on Ariel.
Robert looked forward to meeting Baron Ariel and his family. Yet Mave shook his head slowly.
‘There’s the matter with the young lady of Ariel. This won’t go smoothly.’

***

Prince Robert’s first impression of Ariel was favorable. True, Ariel too lacked development—the city proper boasted only a handful of shops. Yet the streets were clean, and the castle walls and roads required little repair.
The common people’s homes were modest but tidy. Their expressions were far brighter than those in Umbriel. When the territory’s inhabitants saw Prince Robert’s procession, they maintained a respectful distance, yet showed little sign of distress.
‘No fear in their eyes.’
In territories he had visited with an inspector in the past, anyone who looked like a noble would cause the common folk to blanch and scatter in panic. Did that not speak volumes about the tyranny they endured?
The expressions and behavior of Umbriel’s people when they saw Prince Robert were no different. Robert realized his first territory had far too much to address. All the more reason he desperately needed Baron Ariel’s aid.
As they approached Castle Ariel, Baron Ariel and his son Alex Ariel came out to greet Prince Robert. Despite his great height and build, Baron Ariel was a man who gave off a gentle, composed air.
In his features, Robert caught a faint glimmer of a familiar face.
‘The young man beside him must be Alex Ariel, the handsome one famous even at the Academy.’
In Alex’s face too, Robert found something familiar. Alex resembled Isabelle more than he did Sophia, in fact. Even setting aside closeness, blood spoke for itself.
There was no sign of Sophia. Since this was official business, there was no need for her to come to greet him. Yet Prince Robert felt a pang of disappointment.
Robert exchanged proper courtesies with Baron Ariel and Alex, then entered the castle. The moment he sat down in the Baron’s study, he spoke bluntly.
“If you wish to return the portion of the Titania Mountain Range territory that was left to Ariel, Umbriel will take it back.”
Baron Ariel asked in a mild tone.
“If we wish?”
“Yes. An increase in territory would normally be cause for joy anywhere else, but here it is a burden—I understand that well. Though it is not yet fully developed, if you wish to return it to Umbriel, then do so. Or if you prefer to maintain it as is, I accept that too.”
“Your Highness! I don’t think now is the time for such talk. There are problems with defensive structures and soldier training, certainly—but the real question is whether you have soldiers at all. Even if Ariel returned the land, without proper forces to defend it, you’d simply be opening another gap in the defenses. We strained ourselves to accept this territory precisely to prevent such a situation.”
Prince Robert spoke.
“So I should wait until I have made some preparations before proposing or asking for cooperation. I understand. We shall do it that way. I look forward to your counsel going forward.”
The Baron nodded. Robert glanced around the study, where several desks were arranged, with evident curiosity.
“How is the young lady of Ariel faring?”
The moment Prince Robert broached the subject of Sophia, the Baron’s warm expression hardened instantly. Mave felt the air in the room grow suddenly frigid.
‘The knights are outside the door….’
Baron Ariel, Alex, and even Jorn simply stared at Prince Robert’s face intently, offering no answer to his question.
It was an obvious, pointed probe. Prince Robert smiled awkwardly and continued.
“I brought many books with me from the Capital. But surveying the territory, I see there will be no leisure to read them at all. It seems wasteful to carry them back unopened, so I thought perhaps to lend them to Sophia. Might you relay this message to her?”
At Robert’s explanation, Alex cleared his throat and answered.
“My sister is doing well. We are grateful for your offer, Your Highness. I shall convey your words to Sophia.”
With that, another long silence fell. Prince Robert could sense that everyone in the room harbored no goodwill toward him because of the Debutante incident.
‘It’s good that Sophia Ariel is confirmed as a victim of Wiscom, but with the atmosphere like this….’

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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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