Timid and Shy - Chapter 45

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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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45.

The Duchess of Wiscom masked her boiling rage beneath a thin laugh.
“You think the House of Wiscom is an easy opponent, as you imagine? Even if you were truly the Crown Prince’s betrothed, it wouldn’t be simple. You might think no one could dare disrespect you, but you’re mistaken. You’ll always feel small. Those around you will see to it that you never forget how utterly insignificant you truly are.”
Sophia smiled despite the Duchess’s venom as she spoke.
“Perhaps you’re right. I came prepared for that. And you’re already proving my point—disrespecting me as my aunt. I have no intention of taking on the House of Wiscom itself. How could I? It’s beneath me. My opponent is you, Duchess. You’re the one who drew me into this game, and you’re the one who insulted me today.”
Sophia glanced toward the open window overlooking the garden as if she already knew everything, then continued.
“Prince Robert and Isabel should be meeting right about now. Do you truly believe a single tear from Isabel will make Prince Robert turn his steps back to House Wiscom? To let go of all the resentment that’s built between you?”
“That’s absurd. It’s simply a conversation to clear up a misunderstanding. What’s wrong—are you afraid he’ll abandon you and cling to Isabel instead?”
“Yes, I’m worried. Prince Robert probably won’t do something foolish like Prince Frederick, but if Prince Frederick learns that Robert met with Isabel? Frederick won’t be able to see Isabel often. I’m certain of it.”
The Duchess let out a derisive laugh.
“What nonsense. You think you’re clever, but you’re anything but. The way you bare your teeth before me like this—it’s hardly the mark of intelligence.”
Sophia maintained her smile as she spoke.
“Consider this: what if Isabel never becomes betrothed to Prince Frederick? Or what if, even if she does, Frederick never becomes Crown Prince? How will you bear such failure?”
Sophia’s voice dropped to something almost gentle.
“The House of Wiscom humiliated Prince Robert. You said yourself that even a Duke must sometimes do distasteful things when necessary, didn’t you? But someone used threats to force that task upon House Wiscom. What was their true intention? Did they simply have the power and choose to use it? Or did they have some other plan in mind? Think carefully. I offer this advice as your niece, after all.”
Sophia finished speaking and rose to her feet. Her steps toward the door were light as air. Rather than seeking out Prince Robert, she simply returned to Pina’s Residence in the carriage that had brought her.
Left alone in the reception room, the Duchess of Wiscom was utterly confused.
‘A provincial girl who’s been in the Capital barely a few months dares to offer me advice? The difference between contempt and avoidance? Is she being arrogant because the betrothal is real? Over something so trivial? Perhaps it makes sense—coming from the provinces. As if being the Crown Prince’s betrothed makes her something grand. Is the betrothal even real? Did she not just boast about it? But Sophia couldn’t possibly have the audacity to do such a thing.’

***

Following the Duchess of Wiscom’s plan, Prince Robert happened to encounter Isabel in the garden. Isabel was leaving the garden when she spotted the Prince, feigned surprise, and offered a greeting.
Prince Robert returned her greeting and spoke.
“It’s been far too long since we last exchanged words. But where is Sophia? Has she not arrived yet?”
Isabel replied.
“I’ve just returned to Wiscom, so my conversation with Mother has grown lengthy. We have much misunderstanding to clear between us. I’ll send someone to fetch her.”
Isabel dispatched the attendant who had been following her back to the manor. Once they were alone in the garden, Prince Robert spoke in a cold tone.
“According to Sophia, you and the Duchess don’t appear to be as close as all that.”
Isabel laughed awkwardly.
“I’ve done her wrong, so it’s only natural that she’d resent House Wiscom.”
Prince Robert smiled as he continued.
“I simply meant that House Wiscom’s first visit was when you made your debut.”
Isabel laughed shyly.
“Then I’m relieved. Sophia seems to have a generous heart. I could never measure up to her.”
Prince Robert let slip a subtle jab at Sophia’s expense, then watched as Isabel’s expression faltered—and couldn’t help but blame himself for not having noticed such signs before. He changed the subject.
“I hear Prince Frederick is devoting himself to his studies. It’s rather sudden, but impressive nonetheless. Even His Majesty seems pleased. Do you correspond with Frederick often?”
Isabel shook her head. Robert knew she was lying, yet he nodded anyway. Without meaning to, he found himself staring after the direction the attendant had gone.
Isabel, observing Robert’s profile, finally spoke.
“Congratulations on your betrothal. I’ve heard the Imperial Court is hosting a ball. House Wiscom will likely be unable to attend. We’ve caused offense to both of you. I apologize once more. My parents made a foolish decision, I truly believe. Still, I’m grateful that something good has come of it.”
Prince Robert smiled as he replied.
“That matter can be discussed another time. Your decision not to attend the betrothal ball was wise. It is, after all, my betrothal ball with Sophia—and it would be awkward to see House Wiscom there. Please convey to the Duchess my thanks for such prudent conduct. I suppose I’ll have to find Sophia myself. House Wiscom manages to complicate even the simplest tasks. To think they’d drag out something as straightforward as fetching one person.”
As Robert left the garden, his aide rushed over with news.
“Miss Sophia has already returned to Pina’s Residence, sir.”
Robert’s brow darkened as he spoke.
“Pina’s Residence.”
“Yes, sir.”
Isabel watched Robert’s departing figure with a crooked smile playing at her lips.
“Not even a farewell. No courtesy shown. So House Wiscom is no longer needed.”

***

The moment Prince Robert left House Wiscom, the Duchess of Wiscom and Isabel and Philip gathered together. Isabel spoke with a bitter laugh at her own expense.
“He was so cold. I never realized Prince Robert had such a temperament. When I thanked Mother for the wisdom of not attending the ball, he seemed grateful.”
The Duchess of Wiscom concealed her confusion beneath a calm demeanor.
“He may still harbor feelings for you. Prince Robert grows more arrogant by the day. When was the last time he came to your door so often?”
Isabel gave a bitter laugh.
“It seems your conversation with Sophia didn’t go well? Did she come in strong? As though the betrothal were truly real? My suspicions were wrong then, weren’t they?”
“Nothing certain yet. Though they certainly showed their arrogance.”
Philip spoke, noting the displeasure on the Duchess’s face.
“Was there really any need to go so far with Sophia? Yes, we should retaliate against Ariel, but we need to maintain relations too. Whether the betrothal is real or false shouldn’t concern us. And Parma isn’t even in the Capital.”
Isabel said curtly.
“So the betrothal is real? Or isn’t it?”
The Duchess asked.
“There’s clearly something between them. But there won’t be a marriage. Trust me on that.”
Isabel said, rising to her feet.
“We’re back where we started. You said you wanted to confirm whether the betrothal was real, but all you’ve actually confirmed is that Prince Robert is hostile to House Wiscom. There was no need to confirm that in the first place.”
As Isabel left the Reception Room, the Duchess’s frown deepened. Philip also rose, speaking.
“We can’t afford to lose Frederick. I told Isabel it didn’t matter if we failed, but I don’t think that’s right. We need to focus on winning over Prince Frederick instead.”
Left alone in the Reception Room, the Duchess let out a hollow laugh.
“Just because you’re betrothed to a prince, you think you can do anything? Daring to give me advice? Telling me I’ll never change?”
Contrary to her muttering, Sophia’s words repeated endlessly in the Duchess’s mind. Everything she’d heard from Sophia echoed in her head more vividly and loudly than words she’d heard from anyone else.

***

Pina and Helen were concerned when they saw Sophia return earlier than expected. Sophia brushed off their worry with a smile and entered her room.
She was furious at the Duchess’s conduct, but not so much as to abandon Prince Robert like this.
‘What does it matter? Prince Robert left me behind once too.’
Sophia settled onto the sofa. Her body felt completely drained. The Duchess would surely think Sophia had deliberately provoked her, growing arrogant after becoming engaged to Prince Robert.
House Wiscom’s aim would be the Empress and Crown Prince’s family. They wanted exactly what Cressida now enjoyed.
‘How do I ruin things between Frederick and Isabel? No, wait—Prince Robert becoming Crown Prince comes first. Their marriage doesn’t matter.’
Sophia found herself curious about who had decided on Prince Frederick’s seclusion.
‘Is Frederick choosing seclusion himself? Or did the Empress confine him because she fears Gareis’s influence?’
Sophia decided she needed to ask Prince Robert directly.
Hearing a knock and learning that Prince Robert had come looking for her, Sophia rose and straightened her disheveled appearance.
Prince Robert was pacing in the Reception Room. Sophia looked at him anew. What caught her eye was Prince Robert’s faded brown hair. Compared to Prince Frederick’s lustrous golden locks, his coloring was decidedly unremarkable.
‘He’s tall, at least. His expression is rather vague, but with an emperor’s position, appearance hardly matters… Well, not that I should care about such things.’
Sophia discarded the pointless thought and spoke with deliberately cheerful brightness.
“Did your conversation with Isabel go well?”
“So hearing that I met with Isabel is why you left me and came away?”
Sophia rolled her eyes and spoke.
“Is that something to make a fuss over? Though if it suits you, we could use it as grounds for an engagement dissolution later. Should we spread rumors early? That might affect things between Isabel and Prince Frederick, wouldn’t it?”
Sophia asked, noticing Prince Robert studying her intently.
“Why?”
“If it’s not because of Isabel, why did you suddenly come back alone, contrary to plan? Was it revenge from the debutante ball?”
Sophia said, settling onto the sofa in the Reception Room.
“I got angry at the Duchess and stormed out. I apologize.”
“What did the Duchess do?”
“Aside from making me wait, she offered me a cheap Tea Cup Set while she used a fine one herself. As if she couldn’t bear to use the set I’d touched.”
“How utterly refined. What a thing to do. You’re my betrothed now, and she dares…”
“That’s exactly why I’m asking you to show your anger. Quietly, though. Meet with the Duke of Wiscom in front of the Emperor. Protest this incident. Even if you don’t seize the Duke by his collar, you can still humiliate him. It would be even better if the Emperor thought that you and the Duchess have personal animosity and wouldn’t take sides. Please convey to him that I’m deeply wounded.”
Prince Robert studied Sophia’s expression carefully as he spoke.
“Suddenly helping me while helping Ariel a bit more—the Young Noblewoman’s earlier words come to mind.”
Sophia spoke frankly.
“It’s beneficial for you first. If Ariel’s position improves as your ally, you’ll benefit too. I want a firm answer on the Frontier Baron’s promotion before the betrothal ball. I want my wounded heart soothed by a promotion.”
Prince Robert laughed as if in disbelief, speaking.
“So you went deliberately to pick a fight with the Duchess of Wiscom.”
Sophia said.
“No. I went to strike hard. The Duchess of Wiscom didn’t believe our betrothal was real, but now she’ll have doubts. I’ve thoroughly rattled her. Now that I’ve suddenly become your betrothed, I hope she’s blind to everything else. If Baron Ariel is promoted to Frontier Baron, the Duchess of Wiscom will move beyond doubt to belief. And I’ll have repaid the humiliation I suffered.”
“What if she doesn’t believe?”
“The promotion stays regardless. It’s not a losing bargain.”
Prince Robert chuckled before breaking into genuine laughter.

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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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