Timid and Shy - Chapter 36

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

36.

When people heard that Prince Frederick’s engagement had been broken off, they were more astonished by how quietly the engagement had ended than by the break-off itself. More still were surprised that Parma had caused no scene, no incident whatsoever.
Parma received the news at her territory and sent back only a brief reply saying she understood to Duke Gareis.
Those whose hearts burned with the news of Prince Frederick’s broken engagement were naturally the Empress and Cressida. Cressida and her father went to seek out Duke Gareis. The Duke spoke in a frigid tone.
“I have merely done as Prince Frederick desired. There is nothing I can do about it, even if you ask.”
Cressida and her father tried to persuade Duke Gareis, but he remained unyielding. The Duke spoke to them both with a satisfied expression on his face.
“Perhaps you have kept Prince Frederick well-controlled until now, but things will be different from here on. It seems he has only just begun to defy you. And at such a critical moment, no less. So I’m afraid I cannot see you out. I trust you’ll forgive me.”
Once Duke Gareis left, only the guests remained in the Reception Room. Cressida spoke in a trembling voice full of rage.
“Bring Frederick here. At once.”
Cressida hurried from the Gareis Estate, and soon after her father left as well.
‘That wretched Frederick… I indulged that green boy’s moods and look how he’s ruined everything. How infuriating…’

***

Several days later, Prince Robert arrived at Ariel Territory, having come down from the Capital.
The people of Ariel welcomed Prince Robert as never before. Many believed the newfound prosperity of Ariel was thanks to Prince Robert, and besides, thanks to Jack, many had read “The Thorn of White Rose.”
There was not a soul in Ariel Territory who had not read “The Thorn of White Rose,” nor was there one who did not know its contents.
Everyone believed the Prince Robert in the novel to be the same as the Prince Robert standing before them now. Of course, only Baron Ariel and his family knew that Sophia was the author—apart from John and Jack.
Moreover, Ariel’s household believed that Sophia harbored an unrequited love for Prince Robert.
It was Jack and Helen who had strongly insisted upon this and persuaded the Ariel family. Helen had told Ellie about the rumors concerning Prince Robert and Sophia that had spread throughout the Capital.
She said that Sophia had merely dragged the Prince around for the sake of rehabilitating his image, but Helen and Ellie were certain there was something more.
The romantic qualities of Prince Robert depicted in the novel “The Thorn of White Rose” and his cautious, thoughtful actions—both agreed that such details would be difficult to describe without genuine affection.
Alex heard the news from Ellie and, surprised, relayed it to Baron Ariel.
“Sophia harbors an unrequited love for Prince Robert, it seems. That’s why she began writing the novel. She couldn’t bear to let the Prince be ridiculed without doing something about it.”
Baron Ariel’s expression darkened. He had not forgotten that Prince Robert had abandoned Sophia at her debut and left.
Yet the misunderstanding soon shifted to sympathy. Given that the novel’s ending had matched Prince Robert with another woman, it seemed that Sophia herself understood well enough that she and the Prince could not be together.
And yet she had written the novel for him nonetheless.
Everyone came to understand Sophia’s pain, but none spoke of this truth to her face. Helen, who had convinced them all of this misunderstanding, returned to the Capital to prepare for her journey.
After all these events had unfolded, Prince Robert appeared at Ariel. Everyone secretly hoped that the Prince would seek out Sophia first.
Even Baron Ariel, while still saying he did not much approve of Prince Robert, broke into a pleased expression the moment the Prince’s name came from the Prince’s lips.
Baron Ariel cleared his throat and spoke.
“She is likely in the Garden.”
Alex went out himself to guide Prince Robert there.
John, pretending not to notice Baron Ariel’s acceptance of Prince Robert meeting with Sophia, remarked:
“It seems you don’t dislike Prince Robert after all, my lord.”
“It’s not because of Prince Robert. It’s because of Sophia. Would Ariel become Uranos? However freely love matches may flourish, the Imperial Court is not among them. Prince Robert especially will need a strong family backing. So… no. I shouldn’t be thinking such thoughts. Blast Wiscom! If it weren’t for them, Sophia wouldn’t have had to suffer such trials.”
There was a salt mine in Ariel Territory, but for now it was a problem rather than a solution. The Inspector too spoke with a sorrowful expression.
“I understand, my lord. It is merely a meeting. Since they haven’t seen each other in some time, I’m sure Miss Sophia will be delighted.”
“Yes. That will do.”
Yet after Prince Robert departed, Sophia came to find Baron Ariel and spoke words that caused him to regret his actions for the rest of his life.

***

The weather was clear, and contentment showed on the faces of all those she passed. Economic comfort had created emotional ease as well. Sophia felt it too.
Sophia had received payment for the novel’s advance and additional sums based on sales figures. Now much of her anxiety about the future had faded. She worked in the Greenhouse with leisure, no longer placing excessive hopes or calculations on the plants.
Today too, Sophia sat in the Garden reading beneath the brilliant sky. She kept abreast of news from the Capital through Helen’s letters and periodicals. The news came a step behind, but she could discern the general course of events.
‘Capital news is only about the Princes anyway, and there’s nothing Ariel must know urgently.’
As she turned pages leisurely, Sophia considered the Capital’s affairs as one would juicy gossip.
After Prince Frederick’s broken engagement, there had been no word yet of a new betrothal between Frederick and Isabel. Sophia had expected the Prince to announce a new engagement immediately after breaking the old one, but her guess had proven wrong.
Since House Gareis had said nothing about the break-off, she was all the more curious. By temperament, Parma seemed the type to clash with Isabel or quarrel fiercely with Prince Frederick, yet no such rumors had surfaced.
Because Sophia knew people’s characters only through rumor and gossip, her predictions about Prince Frederick and Parma were rarely correct.
Sophia wondered whether the rumors about Parma were exaggerated, much like those about Prince Robert. Perhaps bold actions had been misrepresented in their retelling.
‘I know better than anyone that not all rumors and reports are true, yet I keep believing them anyway. Is it because it’s not my own affair?’
In any case, with Parma withdrawing quietly from the scene, there was no obstacle between Prince Frederick and Isabel. Yet there was no word of the two being together, nor of the Prince visiting Isabel.
With so many watching eyes, matters might proceed beneath the surface. In any case, it was not something Sophia in Ariel would know about. Truth be told, even those in the Capital wouldn’t know of such things.
Sophia thought it might be better to write her next novel not about real people, but in a fully imaginary story. She wanted to write without political intention or any other motive.
It was only a plan; she had not yet begun. With leisure now on her side, it was harder to drive herself as she once had.
Her only real worry was the salt mine.
‘If I’m promoted to Frontier Baron, at least I can avoid interference from the Empire and other territories. At the very least.’
To prepare for promotion to Frontier Baron, she needed time, soldiers, and money. Pina’s Residence had said they would invest a certain amount in mine development, but the timing wasn’t right yet. Building up strength to ward off interference had to come first.
Even now, with Baron Ariel and Administrator John pushing hard, the Border Guard had grown from two hundred to three hundred soldiers. Since Umbriel’s Border Guard was training alongside them, Ariel now had four hundred soldiers in total.
But it was still far too few. Beyond that, she needed to establish at least a basic system and chain of command for apprentice knights to advance to full knights. That work was underway.
Gunter spent much of his time at the school even after Helen departed for the Capital. He was thoroughly absorbed in the pleasure of teaching the children.
And yet he visited the Office without fail, reviewed budget authorization documents, wrote reports and sent them to the Capital, and made rounds to inspect the newly established Training Grounds and Stable.
Sophia was confident that Gunter was precisely the sort of person deserving of the Emperor’s trust.
‘He’s conscientious and doesn’t abandon his duties. Is it because he’s an elite? Is it because the Emperor chose him so carefully?’
It was possible that Gunter might suspect her investment of most resources into expanding the Territory’s military strength. After all, he’d even suspected that there was a hidden agenda behind her visits to and reliance upon the Temple.
‘He’s capable. That’s a blessing for Ariel.’
Hearing from Baron Ariel and Administrator John about the harassment and incidents caused by other Inspectors, Gunter—though he harbored suspicion—observed carefully without obstructing her work. He did his best to report accurately.
She’d heard that Prince Robert was planning to visit Ariel, but Sophia regarded it as none of her concern and paid it no particular mind.
Since Umbriel and Ariel were cooperating militarily, she assumed Prince Robert had come to Umbriel and would simply be passing through Ariel before returning. That was all she thought.
‘Is it really all right for Prince Robert to leave the Capital right now?’
Whether or not Prince Frederick became engaged to Isabel, House Gareis would be displeased, which meant it could be a good opportunity for Prince Robert.
‘Wouldn’t it be a waste if he squanders this chance by going back and forth between Umbriel and Ariel?’
If Prince Frederick became Emperor, there would be nothing good for Ariel. And if he married Isabel Wiscom on top of that, it would be even worse.
‘I just hope Prince Robert somehow manages to secure House Gareis.’
While she was thinking such thoughts, Prince Robert entered the Garden following Alex, and Sophia looked at the two of them with a surprised expression. After greeting Prince Robert, she spoke.
“Aren’t you terribly busy with Capital affairs these days?”
Prince Robert replied.
“In the Capital, most of what I do is meet people, so it’s manageable. Besides, I’m on leave now, so I don’t necessarily have to stay in the Capital.”
Alex rose, saying he had matters to attend to. It was obvious to anyone that he was deliberately excusing himself to leave them alone.
Sophia had noticed lately that her household’s behavior was sometimes strange. But whenever she asked, no one gave her a straight answer.
The moment Alex left, Prince Robert sat down and spoke.
“Have you heard the news that Prince Frederick has broken off his engagement?”
“Yes, I have. Did he become engaged in the meantime?”
“No, not yet. The tug-of-war between House Wiscom and the Empress is still ongoing.”
“Is that so? I would have thought the engagement break-off would have been easier, so it’s rather surprising that the Empress is holding her ground.”
“She has to hold it. Whatever Prince Frederick said, Duke Gareis agreed to break off the engagement without hesitation. Duke Gareis said to hear everything from Prince Frederick himself. The Empress questioned Frederick, but Frederick won’t answer her. Before he even becomes engaged to Isabel, Frederick isn’t listening to the Empress, so she’s reluctant to give Wiscom an easy answer either. She must think she might lose her influence over Frederick forever.”
“Do you think Prince Frederick told Duke Gareis directly that he dislikes Parma?”
“Something like that.”
“How did you come to know of that conversation, Your Highness?”
“Duke Gareis told me directly.”
“Ah! Did Duke Gareis choose you over Prince Frederick? Congratulations.”
Despite Sophia’s words, Prince Robert’s expression remained dark. He absently poked at his cake with his fork as he spoke.
“That comes with its own set of problems. In fact, I came today because I had a proposal to discuss.”
‘This could turn into a profitable opportunity again.’
Sophia’s eyes gleamed.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————