Timid and Shy - Chapter 41

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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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41.

After paying respects to the Emperor and Empress, Prince Robert made his way to his office with Sophia. Inside, only the three of them remained—Robert, Vian, and Sophia. The Prince asked directly.
“Why did you speak to the Empress that way?”
Sophia picked up her teacup before answering.
“You knew the situation perfectly well, yet you were trying to put me in an awkward position. You even knew precisely that Pina’s Residence is bourgeoisie and located in the 3rd District.”
Sophia hastily set the cup down again and continued.
“May I ask you one thing?”
Both Robert and Vian turned their attention to her.
“If I had prostrated myself before the Empress or been far more deferential, would she have treated me differently?”
Robert sighed before speaking.
“She wouldn’t have changed her mind much. But because you answered back, she’s grown to dislike you even more.”
“If I had won the Empress’s favor, wouldn’t you have doubted me? Wouldn’t you have worried I’d switched sides to hers? She might have tried to use me, just like the Duchess of Wiscom. The Empress could have stepped in saying she’d arrange your marriage to me.”
Sophia still remembered the Duchess of Wiscom’s Velvet Purse.
“So by deliberately provoking the Empress, you cut off her attempts at persuasion and prevented my suspicion as well?”
“If my betrothal is broken and I leave the Capital in disgrace, the Empress’s anger will soon fade. Or perhaps she’ll try to treat me better to prevent the broken engagement. I’m rather curious which it will be.”
As she said this, Sophia almost seemed to be enjoying herself. In truth, she would have preferred if the Empress’s persuasion had been more substantial than the Duchess of Wiscom’s.
‘Though it might have been blackmail.’
Robert agreed with her point about the Empress possibly trying to persuade or manipulate her. Both he and Vian regarded Sophia with fresh eyes.
Sophia retrieved the list she had prepared with Helen.
“I’ve written down a list of things an engaged couple should do. If you think it’s suitable, we do it; if you think it’s pointless, we skip it.”
Sophia handed the paper to Vian. But Robert immediately gestured for Vian to pass it to him, and he began reading aloud, line by line.
“An outing. The two of us, or we may go with others. Who are you thinking of bringing along? Pina’s Residence?”
“That’s your job to arrange, Your Highness. It’s whoever you want to prove I’m your real betrothed to, or whoever you want to win over.”
Vian nodded from behind. Robert resumed reading.
“A lovers’ quarrel. I’ll sulk over some trivial jealousy. I’ll only forgive you after receiving parades of flower baskets and bouquets. This one… I don’t understand why we’d do such a thing.”
“It appeared in a popular romance novel. The 3rd District where I’m staying has a lot of foot traffic. It would be effective. The rumors will spread, and we could dominate the magazine articles. I strongly recommend it.”
“Let’s move on for now… The two of us shopping in the downtown district. Dressed plainly so my identity is revealed by accident. Hmph! Matching outfits so everyone sees us as a couple. Ha! Wearing a large, conspicuous engagement ring. For show. This one reeks of dark intentions on the young noblewoman’s part. It fails.”
Sophia arranged her expression with practiced composure. Robert studied the list for a long moment before speaking.
“Juvenile and dark-hearted as it is, some of it seems effective. This one you’ve already done—a parade of gifts sent to my betrothed. The effect would be better if done while you’re with friends.”
“That actually got a wonderful response. Not a soul among Helen’s friends is unaware of yesterday’s events. An article will run soon. Helen mentioned that one of the guests comes from a publishing family.”
“All these trivial matters end up in print regardless. I’m not sure whether this freedom of the press is truly a blessing.”
“Perhaps that’s the nobility’s purpose. Freedom might not be as good as advertised.”
“Leave the list with me. I’ll have Vian execute the items one by one.”
Sophia bowed respectfully to Vian. Vian looked down at the list with an awkward expression.
As Sophia turned to leave, she spoke.
“Will it truly be all right if I visit the Greenhouse tomorrow? And meet with the Greenhouse Director? Might you say I’m being tactless, clinging to something the Emperor merely said in passing?”
“The Emperor has already issued his orders. The Greenhouse Director will be prepared.”
“That’s a relief. I was worried it might have just been casual talk.”
Sophia spoke with a bright expression. Robert added one more warning.
“Don’t quarrel needlessly with the Empress. She is Cressida too—people who don’t shy away from any means or method. Keep your distance as much as possible.”
“Once the betrothal is broken, will she even care about me? There’d be no reason for our paths to cross. But I understand what you’re saying. I’ll be careful. Still, the Empress dislikes you, so shouldn’t she welcome a young noblewoman like me as your betrothed with open arms? Show me good things here and there, give me a taste of good fortune? Doesn’t it seem she went too far on first meeting?”
Vian ventured to speak carefully.
“Perhaps the kindness the Empress is capable of showing extends only that far.”
“Oh! So the Empress dislikes Your Highness even more than I thought. In the end, anyone connected to you, she simply hates them all.”
At Sophia’s response, Vian nodded. Robert frowned and looked between Vian and Sophia in turn. Vian subtly took a step back. Robert spoke.
“That’s precisely why you mustn’t provoke the Empress. What good could possibly come of it?”
“That’s true. Then I’ll come again tomorrow. Will you be visiting the Greenhouse tomorrow as well, Your Highness?”
“I won’t be able to spare time in the morning because of Umbriel’s affairs. I should have some leisure in the evening.”
“Then I won’t see you tomorrow. I won’t be at the Greenhouse all day anyway.”

***

Contrary to her plan, Sophia did not keep her word. She spent the entire day in the Greenhouse. It was vast, and the plants she encountered seemed endless.
The Greenhouse was divided by sections, each with its own environment—roughly divided between arid zones and humid ones, with correspondingly different plants cultivated in each.
As Sophia toured the Greenhouse, she spoke aloud.
“I had no idea it would be this beautiful. I thought the potted plants would simply be arranged on shelves or the plants lined up on the floor. To see it arranged so beautifully—it’s almost a shame. I wish as many people as possible could see this. It’s truly lovely.”
Siko, the Greenhouse Director, spoke with a face full of pride.
“I’m quite satisfied with my staff’s capabilities as well. Many of the specimens that can survive in Uranos’s environment have been transplanted to the garden. If you haven’t seen it yet, you really must visit.”
“I’m genuinely looking forward to it. I never imagined I’d see something like this.”
Sophia moved through the greenhouse with continuous exclamations and praise, and the director accompanying her wore a smile throughout.
Following the director’s suggestion, the two took a brief rest and discussed the greenhouse specimens that had found their way to the market. The director said he wished to sell them, but doubted it would be possible under the Imperial name.
The director spoke.
“There are many things I’d like to take home myself. Whenever I see beautiful flowers and trees, I wonder how delighted my wife and acquaintances would be if I gave them as gifts.”
“Hmm… If sales are still far off, wouldn’t it be possible to invite people here instead? If they’re the families of Imperial staff, their identities would be assured. It would be wonderful if you could open at least part of it.”
The director smiled and spoke.
“That’s also Imperial property, so we can’t simply do as we wish.”
“Would it be possible if His Majesty gave his permission? It seems such a waste. It’s so beautiful! You’ve decorated it so wonderfully. If so many people could see a place like this, how marvelous that would be.”
The director shared Sophia’s view. As they exchanged various thoughts, Sophia received recommendations for several books from him, and learned much about plant care. Eventually, it was evening before Sophia took her leave.
“I apologize for keeping you occupied all day. You’ve created a truly beautiful place. It’s been an invaluable lesson for me. Thank you so much for today.”
The director smiled as he spoke.
“Thank you as well. To receive such praise — my staff will be delighted.”
“Having tried to maintain a small greenhouse and grow plants myself, I’ve come to understand how much trial and error and effort goes into creating something as magnificent as this. I’m no expert, but I know that such beautiful spaces don’t simply happen. The praise is well-deserved.”
“You’re too kind.”
Because Sophia spent more time in the greenhouse than expected, she hurried back. Before leaving the Imperial Palace, the Emperor had sent word for her to stop by briefly to see him.

***

The Empress and Emperor sat side by side in the Reception Room. Caliburn attended them from behind. As Sophia greeted them, the Emperor spoke.
“That took longer than I thought. Did you enjoy seeing the greenhouse?”
“Yes. It was so beautiful — words hardly do it justice. The director told me so much; I learned a great deal. It seemed almost wasteful for only me to see it.”
“Indeed. It’s spacious, grand, and cost a fortune, yet few people actually enter it to see it. A pity, really. So you suggested opening it to the public.”
Sophia was startled that the Emperor already knew what she’d discussed with the director less than an hour ago, but she kept her expression neutral.
“Full public opening may be difficult, but it might work well to open it at least to the Imperial staff and their families. They’ve created something truly beautiful, after all.”
“I see. A trial opening, then gradually expanding it — that could work well. Such an attempt isn’t a bad idea.”
Caliburn nodded from behind. With the Emperor’s words, the greenhouse had just been opened to the world.
“The reason I asked you here today is that we have a matter to discuss. Your betrothal came so suddenly that many people are curious about you. That’s why the Empress suggested holding a ball.”
Sophia smiled as she spoke.
“I’m grateful to Her Majesty. I hope she’s not going to all this trouble just for me.”
“What are you saying? But regarding the guest list — if we invite only those we know, it seems you won’t have many acquaintances there. What should we do about your guests?”
The Empress spoke in a tone of concern and consideration, clearly intending to repay Sophia for the House Wiscom incident immediately.
‘The Empress is quite industrious. Moving so quickly the very next day.’
“The only people I could invite are the Pina’s Residence family. I wish the Ariel family could come, but they’re far away, and my sister-in-law is approaching her confinement — it will be difficult for her. I should consult with Prince Robert about this. Will that be acceptable?”
The Empress smiled warmly as she spoke.
“Of course. Consult well and let us know.”
Sophia thought she understood the Empress’s intent. She asked the Empress a question.
“Will the ball be a betrothal celebration ball, then?”
“It will be. However, the Imperial Court has never invited the bourgeoisie to a ball before. Unfortunately, Miss Pina’s family…”
Before the Empress could finish, the Emperor spoke.
“The Imperial Court must change. How can we exclude the relatives of Young Noblewoman Ariel, whose family we owe a debt to? A betrothal celebration cannot be conducted that way. We shall invite them.”
The Empress hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
“Very well then. We shall do so.”
The Empress yielded surprisingly readily, and the ball was set for a month hence. Sophia distinctly saw the corners of the Empress’s mouth lift slightly.
The Empress’s intent was transparent. She was deliberately gathering Prince Robert and Sophia’s unimpressive guests.
‘The Empress is holding a ball for Prince Robert and me. She’s setting the stage to humiliate us.’
With time before the ball being tight, the guest list had to be completed within a week. Before leaving the Imperial Palace, Sophia went to Prince Robert’s office.

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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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