Timid and Shy - Chapter 35

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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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35.

Philip thought Frederick’s conduct was prudent. Since Frederick remained betrothed to Parma, any direct approach or word to Isabel would place the blame for the broken engagement squarely on her shoulders.
But if Frederick lingered in Isabel’s orbit for much longer, the calculus would shift entirely.
Like the protagonists in novels, there would be no shortage of people willing to defend two lovers who could not restrain their hearts and ultimately followed where desire led them.
Philip watched Frederick’s reaction with quiet satisfaction.
‘The broken engagement isn’t Isabel’s doing—it’s the Prince’s own yearning that caused it.’
The market had begun flooding with novels similar to “The Language of White Roses,” and even stories condemning Isabel had emerged, gaining considerable popularity.
Yet everyone observing the two of them now could see Frederick’s desperate longing for Isabel. They would all become witnesses.
Sensing Frederick’s gaze upon her, Isabel spoke quietly to Philip.
“We should leave. Now.”
Philip nodded in agreement. He was beginning to worry that Frederick might lose his composure and approach Isabel at any moment.
When Isabel returned to the ducal mansion during the party, she addressed the Viscountess without preamble.
“I don’t know how much longer I can endure this.”
“Soon. Very soon. You must have patience. Think of this time as evidence that everyone sees how desperately Frederick desires you. What matters most is ensuring that everyone understands the coming events will be of Frederick’s making—that you were drawn into this through no fault of your own. Do you understand? You must be exhausted. Go upstairs and rest. We’ll skip the next party.”
Isabel laughed bitterly.
“Won’t that only make Frederick more frantic?”
The Viscountess replied.
“Precisely.”
Isabel spoke again.
“So the plan is unfolding as we intended?”
“Frederick follows the plan. It’s Parma who won’t cooperate as expected. But what of you? Does Frederick still seem like a fool to you? Can you truly imagine spending a lifetime with him?”
“Does that matter at this point?”
“Of course it matters. If your heart still holds the same contempt for Frederick as before, what becomes of your life after the marriage, however it is arranged? You cannot deceive someone forever. Frederick may not see it now, blinded by his affection, but eventually he will understand. He will realize you approached this with a different heart entirely.”
The Viscountess moved closer to Isabel, lowering her voice.
“But sincerity would change everything. I hope for that. What if you and Frederick grow distant after marriage? Could you truly bear to live like the Emperor and Empress do now, for all your days?”
“You told me to seduce Frederick precisely because none of it mattered to you. You knew I despised him, yet you commanded me to tempt him. And now you dare lecture me about sincerity? How admirable. You played the role of Viscountess Wiscom your entire life, and now you slip into motherly counsel? I find it utterly unbearable.”
Isabel strode toward her chamber with sharp, angry steps. The Viscountess understood that Isabel had grasped every word she’d spoken.
‘She understands—that’s why she’s furious.’

***

Isabel lay in darkness, staring at the ceiling.
‘Sincerity?’
She had moved according to her grandmother’s and mother’s wishes, following their script to place Frederick within her grasp. And now, with success seemingly within reach, doubt had crept in.
Isabel had always resented the Cinderella label that clung to her mother like a shadow. Yet she knew that even after her mother became the Viscountess, her parents lived contentedly together.
If her mother’s heart had been nothing but pretense from beginning to end, as she claimed, could she and Isabel’s father have lived in such harmony all this time?
Isabel had never felt genuine affection for Robert or Frederick—not for either of them, nor for anyone. How could a few conversations at a party kindle true feeling?
Those who approached Isabel were especially suspect. Who among them truly understood her, knew the real Isabel beneath the Wiscom name and her beauty?
‘I can’t even do it myself.’
Now, to deceive Frederick, she would have to deceive him—and herself as well. The moment had come when performance must transform into something deeper. And if she failed, what then? The thought began to gnaw at her.
‘Can I survive failure?’
Isabel resented her mother for waiting until this point of no return, for only now voicing such doubts when retreat had become impossible.

***

Isabel lay awake, her mind churning with feelings toward Frederick—mingled with resentment and fear of failure—but Parma, too, found no peace.
Frederick showed her no attention whatsoever. For days there had been no letters, no gifts. When Parma had made excuses several times, claiming illness prevented her from attending parties, Frederick had sent her concerned correspondence and an abundance of presents.
But now even his letters had ceased. It had been some time since Parma sent word to Frederick, and he had not once visited the Gareth Estate.
Looking back on each of Frederick’s actions, they had been too perfectly choreographed to be authentic. Parma found herself suspecting that someone had guided and coached him.
‘Though it hardly matters now.’
Parma had never held high expectations of Frederick from the start. As long as he recognized Gareth’s worth and treated it accordingly, she was content.
But when she heard that Frederick, heedless of her existence, had attended parties and stared only at Isabel, Parma’s suspicion hardened into certainty.
‘Frederick likes Isabel. So completely I’m invisible to him.’
Nothing could be clearer than this.
Parma wanted to seize both of them and demand they stop packaging their shameless behavior as romance. She wanted to ask Frederick if this was truly his path to becoming Emperor.
But she did not. Those she had considered close had already deceived her, and now they were goading her further. They simply wanted spectacle—wanted to watch her suffer for their entertainment.
Parma would not satisfy their vulgar curiosity. More than that, she had begun to wonder: was Frederick worth such a price?
No matter how favorable the conditions, she couldn’t imagine going through with such a marriage. What Parma found most unbearable was being dismissed.
‘If he can’t see me now, he certainly won’t see me later.’
Parma believed that even if she managed to marry Frederick successfully, she would be unhappy for the rest of her life.
Having made her decision, Parma sought out the Duke of Gareth. She spoke calmly.
“I’ll stay with my brother. However Frederick behaves, decide as you see fit, Father. I’m giving up on Frederick. I don’t want to take such a man as my husband anymore. Even if you still insist I marry, I will. But right now, I don’t want to watch Frederick ignore me and chase after another woman. I’m sorry. I simply can’t stay in the Capital any longer.”
The Duke of Gareth embraced Parma and spoke gently.
“If that is your wish, then I won’t insist on Frederick either. I’ve had my doubts about whether such an incompetent fool can become a proper emperor anyway. I’ll send word to your brother. Leave the Capital matters to me—I’ll tie everything up cleanly. Don’t worry about a thing. Go enjoy the hunting and horseback riding you love, and come back whenever you wish.”
The Duke of Gareth had also received reports that Frederick gazed at Isabel with pathetic longing at every ball. Though he was relieved that Parma’s dignified nature allowed her to simply turn away without conflict, his heart ached for her.
His ache for Parma was matched only by his fury at Isabel Wiscom and Frederick.
‘Childish scheming from Wiscom, and a fool of a prince who falls for it.’
Days later, Parma departed for the Gareth Territory. Frederick, her betrothed, didn’t learn that Parma had left the Capital until a week after her departure.

***

When the Empress pressed Frederick about Parma, he replied with an awkward expression.
“She left without telling me anything. How would I know?”
“If you’d bothered to contact Parma, you would have known—before I had to tell you. You were so distracted by Isabel that you’ve neglected my daughter entirely. I hope you’re prepared to break the engagement?”
Frederick spoke with a glimmer of hope.
“Has Parma asked for the engagement to be broken?”
The Empress replied.
“No. She said nothing. I only heard that she went to the Territory to see her brother. What do you intend to do?”
“What should I do?”
At Frederick’s question, the Empress grew angry but restrained herself. She collected herself and spoke to him.
“Do you regret this betrothal? If you wish to break it, then say so.”
Frederick clamped his mouth shut. He thought that if he said he wanted to break the engagement, the Empress would never allow it—not with Parma Gareth.
The Empress found Frederick’s stubborn silence frustrating. But scolding him wouldn’t change anything.
The Empress pressed her fingers to her temple. She studied the silent Frederick for a moment, then spoke in a gentler tone.
“Isabel Wiscom is a fine girl. But you’re already betrothed to Parma, aren’t you? If you linger around Isabel, how can she possibly meet a good man? Would you prefer she never meets anyone at all?”
“That’s not it. Of course not. I’m not feeling well—may I take my leave?”
The Empress hadn’t even broached the main point, but she sensed that pressing Frederick further would only backfire. She dismissed him.
The moment Frederick left the Empress’s quarters, he hurried to the Gareth Estate. The instant the Empress mentioned Isabel, Frederick became seized with the fear that someone else might claim her. He couldn’t let that happen.
‘There’s no time. I have to break this ridiculous engagement. Isabel can’t be alone forever.’

***

Despite his anger, the Duke of Gareth greeted Frederick with a smile. He inquired politely after his health before asking the purpose of his visit.
Frederick spoke as though troubled.
“The woman I love is not Parma.”
The Duke of Gareth fixed Frederick with a steady gaze and asked.
“I see. Have you come to a decision?”
“Pardon?”
“To be honest, this marriage benefits Gareth, so I was pleased with your betrothal to Parma. But it’s distasteful to watch her betrothed insult my daughter and then play the victim before me. Prince or not. Since you’ve made this confession to my face, it seems you’ve come to break the engagement?”
“That’s not quite—if you understood my feelings, surely you would—”
“How cowardly. Are you asking Gareth to break the engagement first? Are you afraid of Cressida? Does the Empress not listen to you?”
Frederick flinched at the flash in the Duke’s eyes. The Duke didn’t miss that moment and spoke with a bitter smile.
“Yes. I shall grant your request.”
Frederick’s face brightened at the Duke’s agreement. But the next words made him clench his fists.
“A prince who fears his mother and her family. It gives me much to think about. Well then, I’ll have the Engagement Dissolution Document sent to you. Now please take your leave.”
The Duke of Gareth stood first. Frederick’s attendant’s brow furrowed. Frederick had never been treated so disrespectfully by anyone.
Though Frederick should have been angry at such rudeness, he merely nodded in acknowledgment. His attendant swallowed a sigh. With Frederick unconcerned, he couldn’t possibly speak up to the formidable Duke.
Two days later, the Broken Engagement between Frederick and Parma was announced. Yet no one was surprised.

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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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