Timid and Shy - Chapter 4

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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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4.

The Capital was indeed the Capital. Shops stretched endlessly in every direction. Even limiting herself to dressmakers, it had taken considerable time. Jack, who had followed Helen and Sophia throughout, finally surrendered midway and returned to the carriages with his parcels.
Helen brought Sophia to the Dessert House, a favorite haunt where she could rest for a moment. There, Helen met her friends and introduced them to Sophia.
“This is Sallin. She’s my childhood friend and schoolmate. She’s getting married soon.”
“There’s still a year left. Don’t introduce me like that already.”
Sallin protested, but her smile betrayed that Helen’s introduction didn’t displease her. In Uranus, having a fiancé at a marriageable age was something to be proud of.
“Sallin, I see Ellie often as well. Please tell her I’ve missed her terribly since I’ve been away.”
“Of course. I’ll let her know.”
Sallin, Emily, and Anne—these three were of the same Bourgeoisie class as Helen. While Sallin and Helen attended school, Anne and Emily received their education from private tutors at home.
There was a prevailing notion that having a private tutor, as the nobility did, constituted a more refined education; Sophia had heard that many Bourgeois daughters studied with tutors for this reason, but witnessing it firsthand was new to her.
‘Wealthy people indeed.’
The four were close with each other’s families and held their own gatherings. The Bourgeoisie had their own social circles.
In Sophia’s eyes, Sallin, who attended school with Helen, appeared to be her closest friend. They were surprised to learn that Sophia was a young lady making her Debutante alongside Isabel Wiscount.
They had many questions to ask Sophia but hesitated, uncertain whether it was appropriate.
Helen spoke first to her friends.
“She only arrived in the Capital the other day and knows little of Debutantes or the Wiscount young lady, so don’t pester her with questions. Sophia isn’t even preparing for her Debutante, so there’s little she’d know anyway. Let’s save this conversation for later. Understood?”
At Helen’s words, everyone suppressed their curiosity and turned the conversation elsewhere. Sophia sent Helen a grateful glance.
Sophia enjoyed listening to their chatter. While Ariel lacked many things, what Sophia felt she lacked most was conversations like these.
Most of her conversations with her father and brother were about territorial affairs. The young ladies who might have been her companions had either married and left Ariel or departed for the Capital seeking matches.
Had Ariel been a more prosperous Territory, they might have formed their own social circle, but in a poor Territory like Ariel, Sophia’s family was practically the only nobility.
After the neighboring Territory of Umbriel’s lord and his family vanished overnight due to bankruptcy, there was truly no one left.
Sophia had longed for and cherished this atmosphere—young women her age gathered together, sharing gossip and fashion with friends.
As the sun began to set, Sophia and her companions rose to leave.
When Sophia bid them farewell, they each reminded her of things to bring the next time they met, bidding her a warm goodbye.

***

Once Sophia had gone, Sallin caught Helen’s arm.
“The rumors were true then. You actually brought in some naive country girl to be your stand-in. Shouldn’t you be warning her about this?”
Helen sighed.
“Everyone has their own circumstances. Sophia already knows about it, so don’t worry. When you see her again, don’t breathe a word of this to her. Understood?”
Sallin avoided Helen’s eyes, and the other friends said nothing. Not to ask or hear anything despite the subject of the rumors being right before them—it was awkward. Helen tried to mollify them.
“I’ll tell you everything later. But you mustn’t say anything to Sophia. For us, this is just entertainment; for her, it’s her life at stake.”
Sallin laughed.
“It’s not like we’re doing anything wrong. Fine, fine. I understand. I’ll do as you say.”
After parting with her friends, Helen walked home with heavy steps. Balancing her affection for Sophia against her friends’ love of gossip proved far more difficult than she’d expected.
‘Mother was right. I suppose I need to stop chasing rumors.’

***

Sophia managed to return to Wiscount Duke’s Residence without being late. By afternoon, there were few carriages heading to District 2. Rather, more horses and carriages were leaving for Districts 3 and 4.
By the time Sophia had finished her preparations for dinner, all her purchases had already been neatly organized. She inspected herself in her new dress and followed a servant. Once more, before the Dining Room door, Sophia adjusted her appearance.
Philip sat alone at the table. Upon Sophia’s arrival, he stood and introduced himself.
“Hello there, cousin. I’m Philip. I’m two years younger than Alex, so three years older than you. We can be informal with each other, can’t we? You might think it tactless of me to say this first, but we’re cousins despite this being our first meeting. A little informality shouldn’t hurt. If you object, tell me now.”
“Not at all. As you say, we are cousins. Please, speak as you wish.”
Sophia answered and looked toward the empty seats. Philip, noticing her gaze, spoke.
“It’s always like this. I’m the least busy one here, so I wait for the others. Mother and my sister are always late, so don’t take it personally. They’re not singling you out for any rudeness. The Duke dines with us today, but most days he doesn’t. Today he’s attending to make your acquaintance.”
Sophia smiled at Philip’s light tone, but her heart felt heavy and uneasy. Rather than look at Philip, she turned her gaze to the table itself, the lighting, and the place settings arranged before her.
The dining space was furnished with the same comfort and brightness as the reception room, and all the dishware appeared to be of the finest quality. When Sophia involuntarily let out a small sound of admiration, the corners of Philip’s mouth lifted.
Philip found himself amused watching Sophia scrutinize every corner of the Dining Room.
‘A true country miss. Not even making the minimal effort to hide her provincial nature—she’s perfect for this.’
Sophia proved to be exactly as Philip had anticipated, and he was satisfied.
As Sophia’s gaze drifted over the furnishings and objects, she recalled Philip’s demeanor and the rumors she had heard from Madam Pine and Helen.
‘There’s no need to think too much about this. Just consider it a curious spectacle. There’s plenty to see—including myself.’
Philip, noticing Sophia deliberately avoiding his gaze, spoke with deliberate playfulness.
“You haven’t met my sister yet, and surely you don’t actually believe the excuse that Isabel is shy?”
“Then she isn’t shy?”
“If you ask me something, why would I answer honestly? While I’m here, it might be amusing to figure out the real reason Isabel delayed her debut.”
Sophia watched Philip in silence.
‘His tone is pleasant and kind, but his words are dripping with mockery. He’s friends with Prince Robert. I wonder if the Prince is the same sort of person.’
As Sophia stared, Philip spoke with a mocking lilt.
“Even for cousins, staring so intently is impolite, Sophia.”
Sophia lowered her head and replied.
“I beg your pardon for my rudeness.”
“Why such a formal apology? Between us. Cousin!”
Sophia glanced at Philip and offered a strained smile. Philip found her agreeable. He was even more satisfied watching her endure the mockery rather than bristle at it.

***

While Philip and Sophia waited at the table, the Wiscount Duke and Duchess were leaving the Study. The Duchess linked her arm through his as she spoke.
“Can we truly trust the Empress?”
“Whether we trust her or not, there’s no avoiding this matter. Prince Robert has no chance of becoming Crown Prince. Cressida House shields Prince Frederick and pushes Prince Robert aside, yet the Emperor pretends not to notice. Prince Robert has neither the power nor the ability to overturn this situation.”
“So the Empress resorts to assigning us such tasks, then.”
The Duke gently patted the Duchess’s hand as he spoke.
“The Empress can only choose between Gareis and Wiscount. Consider Prince Frederick’s temperament. Can he truly endure Parma of Gareis, whom they say is ruthless beyond compare?”
“But Prince Frederick wouldn’t rebel against the Empress or the Count of Cressida. If they tell him to marry the Gareis princess, he will.”
“He may not rebel, but he could cause trouble. When I met him, he still seemed like a child. Typical of Cressida.”
The Duchess paused and looked at the Duke quietly. He smiled broadly and spoke.
“I’m not suggesting he play with fire involving Isabel. I mean that with his childlike temperament, Prince Frederick will provoke the Gareis Duke and his daughter. Do you think the Gareis House—proud as they are, with pride piercing the heavens—could patiently indulge a young prince?”
“Hmm… you’re certainly right about that.”
The Duke and Duchess resumed walking. The Duke spoke.
“What of your niece? Is she suitable?”
“She understands her position well, so there should be no problems. She doesn’t harbor great expectations for the debut either. It seems the most important thing to her is simply going through with it. She’s practically a copy of her father—in appearance and temperament both. That stuffy Baron of Ariel.”
“Then it’s fortunate. It’s not easy to find a young lady without complications. Since she’s your relation, we haven’t overstepped in courtesy, and the pretext is reasonable. You’ve done well.”
“You’re too kind. It’s all for Isabel’s sake.”
“Yes. All of this is for our children.”
A servant in the corridor, seeing the Duke and Duchess heading toward the Dining Room, quickly gave a soft knock on Isabel’s door.
A maid appeared and cracked the door open slightly. The servant nodded at once, and the maid returned the nod before closing the door.
The maid spoke respectfully to Isabel, who sat on the sofa.
“The Duke and Duchess are heading to the Dining Room.”
Isabel rose and spread her arms. The maid smoothed the pleats of her dress skirt once more, then stepped back. Isabel left the room at last. With every step, grace and dignity radiated from her.
The Duke and Duchess entered the Dining Room, followed shortly by Isabel. Philip spoke.
“Always arriving last, aren’t you, Isabel? We have a guest today. Do hurry. Coming after Mother—that’s quite embarrassing in front of others.”
Isabel took her seat as though she hadn’t heard a word. Philip addressed the Duchess.
“Don’t you think that attitude should be corrected? And we’re not alone.”
The Duchess spoke to Isabel in a firm tone.
“Isabel! You must answer Philip. Even within family, manners matter. You can’t just ignore him.”
Isabel glanced at Philip and spoke.
“I was distracted just now. Please forgive me graciously. If I behave so tactlessly, it undermines my reputation among the young ladies as a considerate sister.”
Both the Duchess and Philip frowned at her perfunctory reply. The moment Isabel appeared, Sophia had been startled—so startled that she hadn’t even realized she’d been completely ignored.

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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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