Timid and Shy - Chapter 23

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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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23.

When the Emperor granted Ariel the authority to establish a knight order, Wiscom could not help but feel a bitter taste on his tongue. The scandal of Baron Ariel’s resignation letter had ultimately brought Military Authority to the baron himself—and humiliation to Wiscom.
Of late, Wiscom had gained nothing and lost everything. Baseless rumors about the troops that Ariel and Umbriel would receive flooded high society. They were all the work of the Countess Creole, acting at the Duke of Garris’s behest.
There were even whispers that Prince Robert would receive an enormous, pointless budget. Everyone who spoke of Prince Robert’s rumors in the same breath named the House of Wiscom.
They said Wiscom might have made a terrible mistake.
Cresida waited anxiously for the exact contents of the imperial edict to arrive. Fortunately, the Emperor had not granted Robert Military Authority or an absurd budget. There was only modest financial support, along with the dispatch of numerous administrative officials to Umbriel.
The Ariel domain itself was an unremarkable place, so even if a knight order was established, there was little cause for concern. At best, the order might barely muster ten knights.
To the knowledge of the Count of Cresida, Baron Ariel was a timid man who had even refused the title of Margrave because of budgetary concerns. When Cresida—who had grown tense upon hearing rumors that Prince Robert had obtained military strength from the Emperor under the pretext of border defense—learned the truth, he felt relieved.
The actual purpose was to have outside personnel take over the administration of Umbriel in order to calm the aftermath of the bribery scandal involving Umbriel’s inspector. Along with this came an order for Prince Robert to return to the Capital.
Cresida thought he had avoided the worst.
The Empress turned to the Count of Cresida and spoke.
“We can dismiss these baseless rumors as the creation of society ladies. But you claim to be a count—how can you not have learned the Emperor’s true intentions? Does that make sense to you?”
The Count of Cresida offered a wry smile.
“The order came down through the Administrative Bureau, so the nobility knew nothing at all. Since central funds were used, there was no need to inform other lords. You understand why the Emperor has always conducted business through the Administrative Bureau? And why I opposed its establishment so fiercely?”
“It has been nearly ten years since it was established. And with so many people in the Administrative Bureau, you cannot place a single person of your own?”
“We only just caught one inspector we had cultivated. The Emperor has re-audited all the inspectors. That scandal has made the Administrative Bureau staff cautious, so it is not easy. We must attempt it again, more carefully this time. But tell me—do you know why Prince Robert is coming to the Capital?”
The Empress pressed her temple and spoke.
“The Emperor has taken charge of Prince Robert’s marriage arrangement. He has granted him a domain, so now he needs to find someone to manage the household affairs of the domain, or so they say.”
“It sounds plausible enough. But he is being hasty.”
“I said the same thing, but… His younger brother Frederick has already become betrothed, yet the older brother has not even achieved a betrothal. I was merely reproached for suggesting haste in such circumstances.”
The Count of Cresida spoke.
“Wiscom will be delighted. Once Prince Robert returns to the Capital, he will do everything in his power to mend the rift.”
The Empress spoke coldly.
“We must ensure that Prince Robert and the House of Wiscom never become connected. You are confident about this, are you not?”
The count answered only with a nod.
The moment the count left the Empress’s reception room, his face darkened and he muttered to himself.
“An empress now, and she rebukes her own father? Hmph!”

***

When Prince Robert returned to the Capital, the Emperor immediately announced that he would hold a Welcome Ball in honor of the prince.
Though it was ostensibly a Welcome Ball, rumors spread far and wide that the Emperor was holding it to find a match for Prince Robert.
The rumors had a basis in fact. An unusually large number of young noblewomen had been invited to the ball.
When the Empress heard the rumors, she went to find the Emperor and voiced her complaint.
“I understood your eagerness to arrange Prince Robert’s marriage. However, you refused even to hold a celebration party for Frederick’s betrothal, and yet you hold a Welcome Ball for Prince Robert? Is that not a clear injustice? Did you not tell me that if you accepted Robert, you would never wrong Frederick? How is this not an injustice?”
The Emperor spoke coldly.
“Empress! Do you think I am unaware of what you and Garris have done regarding Wiscom? Who in the Capital does not know that the Debutante incident involving the House of Wiscom was orchestrated to trap Robert? And you expect me to hold a party where both the House of Wiscom and Prince Robert are invited? Do you expect me to drive a nail through my own son’s heart with these hands and heap insult upon the Duke of Wiscom?”
The Empress was about to refute him when the Emperor issued a warning.
“Be satisfied that you have obtained the House of Garris. And restrain yourself. If the Empress leads the House of Cresida in recklessness, who will protect Frederick later? Do not trust the House of Cresida too much either. Though your birth family may be Cresida, you are now a member of the Imperial House.”
The Empress could not contain herself and cried out.
“It was Cresida who protected and raised Frederick until now. The fact that I have accepted Robert should be enough for your satisfaction. I believe I have discharged my duty to the Imperial House with that alone.”
“That was unavoidable because you had crimes to atone for. You dare claim merit for it before me? You tried to kill the mother and the child besides, and yet you think you have done me a favor by allowing your own name? Cresida. Come to your senses. That is not a favor—it is atonement.”
The Empress left the Emperor’s study with a furious stride. The Emperor did not spare her a glance as she departed and moved directly to the window. Caliban entered and closed the door.
“Do you think the Empress will attempt Robert’s assassination again?”
Caliban spoke calmly.
“House Cresida will handle it. As they always do.”
The Emperor nodded at Caliban’s words.
“I had been uneasy. How many unexpected accidents have befallen the Imperial House? If House Cresida forgets its duty, there would be no reason for them to remain in the Empire.”
“And yet there is Prince Frederick. If House Cresida were to disappear, the prince would have nowhere to turn…”
“Will Prince Frederick not soon have a capable in-law family?”
Caliban nodded. If one had to choose between House Cresida and House Garris, there was no question that Garris was far superior.

***

The Empress entered her bedchamber with heavy steps, and soon the sound of something breaking echoed through the room. A chambermaid quickly hurried out of the Empress’s quarters.
As evening fell, the Countess of Cresida came to the Empress’s bedchamber.
There was not a single intact thing in the Empress’s room. The Countess of Cresida had the Empress go into the bath. While the Empress soaked in the tub, the servants set the bedchamber in order.
The Empress sat curled in the warm water and spoke.
“Mother. Couldn’t we even now do something about the Emperor……?”
The Countess of Cresida covered the Empress’s mouth with her wrinkled hand.
“Not a word of this to anyone. Your life depends on it—and so does the fate of House of Cresida entire. The Emperor has let things unfold as you wished, but that’s no sign of weakness. Does the Emperor seem too easy to you? You are the Empress. Think like an Empress. The future of our house rests on your words alone. Do you understand?”
The Empress nodded at her mother’s words. The Countess gently stroked the Empress’s face and continued.
“What matters is Frederick. You need not worry yourself. Even if the Emperor wanted to choose Robert, he cannot. The nobility stands with us. Now that Duke Garris has joined our cause, the Emperor will find it nearly impossible to elevate that bastard any further. No—he can never become Emperor. So compose yourself as an Empress should, and bring Frederick here. It is Robert’s welcome ball, after all; his brother must attend. With Frederick there, who would spare a glance for a mere illegitimate child?”
The Empress looked at her mother and spoke.
“You’re right, Mother. How could anyone dare block Frederick’s path to greatness?”
Frederick was born of nobility. The Empress believed in him.
The Countess of Cresida wound her middle-aged daughter’s hair as though she were a small child, then combed it for her. The Empress clung to her mother like a little girl.
The Countess patted her until sleep came, whispering near her ear.
“My good daughter.”
Once the Empress had fallen asleep, the Countess slipped from the bedchamber. When she returned to Cresida from the palace, the Count of Cresida greeted her with irritation in his voice.
“Don’t indulge the Empress so much. If you keep running to her every time she needs something, she’ll think her family beneath her.”
“Think of it as her knowing we’re the only ones she can trust and rely upon. Even at forty, our daughter is still nothing but kind, isn’t she? She may be willful in her way, but she’s never refused us anything we’ve asked. She’s doing her part as Empress, after all. Do be gentle with her.”
The Count clicked his tongue and withdrew to his own chambers, leaving the Countess to rest. The Countess fell into her chair with a gasping breath.
Even staying awake late into the night was becoming too much for her now. The Countess’s eyelids fluttered as she struggled to close her eyes.

***

Just as Prince Robert had expected, when Robert returned to the Capital, Frederick returned as well. Yet Prince Frederick’s face was heavy with discontent.
“I’d trained him so diligently that I thought he was finally fit to serve as a hunting dog…….”
Frederick entered the Empress’s reception room and spoke with displeasure.
“Mother. Why now, of all times? When I said I wanted to stay in the Capital, you pushed me out the door. Are you trying to torment me? Do you hate seeing me enjoy myself?”
The Empress took Frederick’s hand and spoke.
“That’s not it at all. That odious Robert has returned to the Capital. It seems the Emperor means to find him a match. Something he’s never done for you. Your father and I have worn ourselves out searching for your betrothed, yet the Emperor himself is going to……. I was so upset that I called you here. Just attend Robert’s welcome ball. Your presence alone will make him invisible.”
“Is it really necessary? I have Parma, after all. What’s the point of going to a ball just to smile vapidly and wander about? Besides, what sensible parent would give their daughter to Robert? Once I’m Emperor, I won’t let him off so easily.”
“Hush! I know you will, Frederick. Just attend for my sake. I can’t bear it—watching the Emperor treat you without cause. A mother cannot simply stand by and watch.”
Whether it was the tears in the Empress’s plea or something else, the discontent faded from Frederick’s face.
Frederick spoke in a more subdued tone.
“Why has Robert come to the Capital? I thought he’d settled in the Northern Region for good?”
“It’s all because of Wiscom. Sigh……. How utterly useless he’s turned out to be.”
Prince Frederick’s eyes sparkled the moment Wiscom’s name was mentioned.
“Why?”
“Wiscom tried to lay a hand on Prince Robert, but he touched something he shouldn’t have. So the Emperor had to step in personally. That’s how Robert ended up coming to the Capital in the first place. Completely useless. Thank goodness, Frederick. We nearly became in-laws with such fools and ruined our future together.”
Frederick spoke with a wistful expression.
“Isabel is different from that foolish Duke, isn’t she? Isabel is well, isn’t she?”
“Isabel may seem innocent, but she’s already learned her grandmother’s schemes. If not for Robert’s situation, we’d have had no need to see her face at all.”
“But still…….”
“Frederick. I know Isabel is beautiful. But you will be Emperor. Your wife needs more than beauty. Your betrothed Parma has both beauty and a house of considerable military power behind her.”
Frederick spoke, hiding his regret.
“Since I’ve come to the Capital, should I call on Parma?”
“Why?”
“While I was in Cresida, she kept asking if I wouldn’t come more often. At first I wanted the same, but her letters grew increasingly persistent. I think the rumors are right. My uncle was correct—keeping appropriate distance from Parma is best. Yes, I’m certain of it now.”
The Empress spoke to soothe Frederick.
“Parma loves you. With you absent, she misses you. Now that you’re in the Capital, it would be nice to see each other often, but if you prefer to keep your distance, then do as you wish.”
“Yes, Mother.”
Since the Empress did not urge Frederick to visit Parma, Prince Frederick’s heart felt considerably lighter.

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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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