Timid and Shy - Chapter 54

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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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54.

Sophia began organizing her belongings. She had all the gifts she’d received from the Imperial Greenhouse curator moved to the greenhouse. A servant who heard her order spoke up.
“Should we move them to the new greenhouse? It still needs some finishing touches, but I think it would be better to relocate the items beforehand.”
Sophia looked at the servant blankly.
A new greenhouse was being constructed beside the estate—so large she wondered how she’d missed it until now. As Sophia stared at the greenhouse in astonishment, Jack appeared leisurely and spoke.
“Prince Robert sent an architect and had the greenhouse built as a betrothal gift, he did. You’ll be able to use it within a month. It seems the Prince really does cherish you, Miss Sophia.”
The resolve Sophia had been carefully steeling herself with wavered and trembled.
Sophia gazed at the greenhouse. She couldn’t count how many times she’d held, set down, and caressed the purse of coins the Duchess had given her to repair the small greenhouse. In the end, she’d spent it all.
Yet now, before her eyes stood a greenhouse far grander and more magnificent than the original. As Sophia gazed at it for a long time, Jack spoke with a smile.
“Back when you first met Prince Robert at your debutante ball, you could never have imagined something like this, could you?”
Sophia spoke inwardly.
‘No, I truly couldn’t have imagined it.’
Jack continued.
“Building a greenhouse for his betrothed—the Prince really is different, even in how he shows it. Such a grand structure, and it’s a greenhouse just for you, Miss Sophia!”
“You talk as though it’s something impossibly remarkable.”
“Heh-heh-heh.”
Jack spoke to Sophia with an awed expression.
“It feels like a dream. It was only a few months ago that you and I first came to the Capital. And now you’ve become the Prince’s betrothed, you have this greenhouse before your eyes, the salt mines of Titania, even the Knights Order. All of this happened in less than a year.”
Sophia nodded in agreement.
‘All of this is in Ariel now. Sophia Ariel, you’re doing well. You’ll continue to do well. You just mustn’t be too greedy. Keep on as you have been—modest and petty in your ambitions.’
Since she’d run into Jack, Sophia asked about the situation in Ariel.
“Has anything unusual happened in Ariel?”
“Nothing of the sort. The work has increased, but things are progressing faster. The newly recruited troops have already arrived at the Military Encampment. They drill with such precision that even the villagers come to watch—quite impressive, really.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. With so many soldiers moving in perfect formation, it’s quite a sight. Three new shops and an inn have opened in the village itself. The inn only has five rooms in total, but two are already taken.”
“Only?”
Jack shook his head at Sophia, whose standards had grown too high in the Capital.
“The soldiers have the Military Encampment, the construction workers stay in their own homes or with relatives, and all the specialists who came from the Capital lodge at the castle. It’ll keep growing from here.”
“You’re right. It will grow.”
“Having lived in the Capital, you seem to be finding it difficult to adjust to such a small place as Ariel.”
“Hmm… Is that so? Seeing you continue to banter with me like this, it seems John’s been letting you off too easy. There’s room for idle talk here.”
Jack grew thoughtful.
“I only came to pay my respects to you before escaping, so please don’t say such things. I really feel like I’ll die if he squeezes me any harder. I mean it. Truly.”
Sophia laughed warmly at Jack’s exaggeration.
“I’m thinking of hiring someone to work in the greenhouse. Would you tell John for me?”
“Of course. Age doesn’t matter?”
“No. And I’ll pay them directly, so just send someone.”
“Yes, Miss.”
Jack accepted the gifts from Sophia and walked away slowly, prolonging his departure as much as possible—a clear sign that John was indeed putting him through rigorous training.
Sophia surveyed the greenhouse, the construction site, and the grounds around the castle. As Jack had mentioned, the increased shops and people were plainly visible. Still few and small, perhaps, but what mattered was that Ariel was developing, growing.
‘This is Ariel, after all.’

***

She dined with the family for the first time in a long while. The conversation at the House of Ariel table was entirely about the Territory and its affairs.
Before winter arrived, the mountain fortress needed to be reinforced and provisions gathered. With the population growing, security would be a concern too, and the constabulary would need to be expanded.
Ellie added her own remarks now and then, as if she’d been following along all along. Sophia also listened intently to the Territory’s business. Alex spoke to her.
“How long are you planning to stay in Ariel? Ariel’s winters are dull and bitter cold. Wouldn’t it be better to return to the Capital?”
“Fall hasn’t even ended yet, and you’re already worried about me being here? Is that really your concern right now?”
Sophia’s eyes turned to Ellie, whose belly had swollen considerably. Alex spoke with a grave expression.
“I’m worried whether Ellie can survive an Ariel winter. I told her to go back to the Capital with you, but she won’t listen. You…”
Ellie stroked her belly and spoke.
“I am worried, but I can’t bear to ride in a carriage after giving birth. It wouldn’t be just a day or two. And now I don’t think I can manage it at all. I’m anxious that the child might come while we’re traveling.”
Sophia considered this carefully, then spoke.
“Then let’s start renovations on your room. I heard the people working on the greenhouse are also doing insulation work, so I’ll look into it. Since you’re already here in Ariel, taking on one more task shouldn’t be a bad thing for them either.”
Ellie nodded in agreement.
“I think that would be better.”
Baron Ariel and Alex’s expressions had grown dark. Sophia spoke.
“It’s because of Mother, isn’t it?”
Both men averted their eyes from Sophia’s gaze. Her mother had never left her bed since giving birth to her. Sophia understood now why they were all so worried.
The concern spread to Sophia as well—she found herself worrying about Ellie.
Sophia looked around at the three of them and spoke.
“The renovations will help. And Ellie will be uneasy without Alex anyway. If anyone should go to the Capital, it’s better for both Alex and Ellie to go together. Not me.”
Alex spoke.
“There’s still so much to do. If I wait for my work to finish, we’ll miss the window entirely. That’s why I was asking you to go.”
Sophia replied.
“Pina said she’d be coming to Ariel soon anyway. Don’t worry! She’ll arrive well-prepared for everything.”
Alex took Ellie’s hand once and spoke.
“I’m sorry. I should have made you my first priority.”
Ellie laughed and shook her head. Sophia doused the warm, tender moment between them with cold water.
“You should have. What good is saying sweet things? Let’s renovate the rooms in the Estate properly. The room for the child, the guest rooms, and Ellie’s room too. Let’s prioritize these three first.”
Baron Ariel spoke.
“Sophia, you’ll have your hands full. Are you sure you’re up for it?”
“Yes. I’ll take care of it. You just move to your new room. There’s nothing else you need to do. I’ll handle everything myself.”
Ellie and Sophia decided to discuss the room renovations in more detail later. Baron Ariel felt both reassured and troubled.
With Sophia in Ariel, Ellie would be well cared for. But it worried him that Sophia seemed to have no intention of going to the Capital at all.
‘I hope she’s already come to terms with it. I hope she’s not just pretending to be fine.’

***

There was an endless mountain of work in Ariel. Sophia helped the heavy-bodied Ellie with the castle’s household duties and began room renovations. The moment the Greenhouse construction finished, work on the Estate itself began.
The specialists who had come from the Capital were pleased enough at the prospect of squeezing in another project to increase their earnings. The old Greenhouse was to be converted into a family retreat space. It was small, but to Sophia it was a cozy and reassuring place.
Sophia no longer made an effort to keep abreast of Capital news the way she once had. Previously, she had sought out magazines and newspapers through the steward John or Jack, but she did so no longer.
Now her priorities were the surroundings of Ariel and Ariel itself. Gunter’s plan was to apply pressure the moment Helen arrived.
Sophia studied Uranos’s map. Ariel and Umbriel stood shoulder to shoulder, guarding Titania, while Oberon below Ariel basked in comfort.
‘Oberon…. A domain with a port as its jewel. With a port, salt distribution would be far easier. Yes, Gunter will have to….’
For a time, Sophia threw herself into the Estate renovations and filling and organizing the Greenhouse. Ellie’s room renovation, by contrast, was completed simply enough.
Sophia cornered Alex and scolded him.
“They say the work will be done in just a week. If you’d prepared in advance, you wouldn’t be fretting like this, going back and forth. What’s the point of telling Ellie you’ll treat her well if you haven’t actually done anything for her?”
Alex bowed his head as Sophia reproached him.
“I think so too. I’m sorry to Ellie. But with the military, the Knights Order, the salt mines, and recruitment on top of it all, I’m stretched thin. I can’t trust anyone else to handle it. John and Father are both swamped, so as the youngest, I have to step up.”
Sophia couldn’t scold him further at that. As the Territory’s scale grew as planned, there simply weren’t enough people to manage it all.
Sophia thought of Umbriel. The center had sent many administrative personnel to Umbriel—perhaps she could borrow a person or two?
‘Besides, much of the military coordination has to be shared anyway, and we’re already collaborating on administrative matters.’
When Sophia mentioned this to John, he nodded, and Sophia personally sent a letter of cooperation to Umbriel.
She made sure to slip in the phrase “at the request of Sophia Ariel, betrothed of Prince Robert” into every sentence.
Her status wouldn’t be useful much longer, so she might as well use it while she could.

***

On the third day of being in Ariel, Sophia invited Gunter to have tea with her in the Garden. There was something she wanted to know before Helen arrived.
Sophia immediately showed Gunter the Document the Emperor had given her. Gunter smiled awkwardly and spoke.
“It seems Miss Sophia made quite a good impression on His Majesty. To issue such an order even though you’re Prince Robert’s betrothed…”
“I believe the Emperor gave me a person he thought I needed. That’s why I’m asking—why Ariel and not Umbriel? Is it connected to your hidden mission?”
Sophia had no time to spare. She pressed Gunter immediately. Gunter swallowed and spoke.
“The work as budget overseer is genuine, and assessing the Territory’s situation is also genuine. It’s simply that assessing the Territory includes both Umbriel as well as Ariel.”
“So why do you stay in Ariel instead of Umbriel?”
“If I were in Umbriel, there would be far too many people watching and hindering me.”
“Cressida? House Wiscom?”
“I’m not specifying particular factions. I’m assessing the local conditions of both Umbriel and Ariel and monitoring for any suspicious activity. Not just the rulers, but movements within the Territory itself.”
“That’s too vague. Can I receive reports of what Gunter receives? And there’s something I want to ask of you too.”
Gunter showed discomfort and cleared his throat before speaking.
“Since I’m handling both Ariel and Umbriel, I don’t have much time.”
“A new tutor arrives when winter ends. During winter, Helen will be in Ariel too, so I’ll help with school matters. Gunter, don’t worry about time.”
Gunter, who had been listening, spoke with evident anxiety.
“If something happens in Umbriel, it certainly won’t be a small matter. So….”
“I understand. They’ll seize on the increased military force to orchestrate treason or rebellion. It’s what everyone expects—just a matter of timing. Suspicious movements are already being reported in both Umbriel and Ariel. If there are real signs of rebellion or if you catch someone orchestrating one, what exactly is your role? Beyond assessing the situation, can you actually command troops?”
Gunter hesitated before answering. As he looked at the document in his hand, he found himself wondering whether the Emperor or Caliburn truly knew what Sophia would ask for or do with this order.
‘What should I do?’

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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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