Timid and Shy - Chapter 61

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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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61.

Maeub broke the silence with a soft cough before continuing.
“The Frontier Baron has requested that Umbriel raise its border vigilance by one level. From that, it seems he’s aware of the danger. They say Miss Sophia and her party will depart for Oberon in a week.”
Maeub had come all the way to the Capital to deliver this news, and he pitied himself for it. Yet there was no choice but to speak. He continued, tension heavy in his voice.
“That the Frontier Baron isn’t stopping her suggests he views Lord Oberon favorably and sees a high likelihood of betrothal. The heightened border vigilance is merely preparation for contingencies. If the matter with Saturn doesn’t erupt, wouldn’t it mean they’re willing to forge an alliance with Oberon rather than make an enemy unnecessarily? The broken engagement with you is already decided, so it seems House Ariel has put the Oberon betrothal on the table as an option.”
Crown Prince Robert’s expression grew grave.
‘Is it really the possibility of betrothing herself to Oberon, or is she deliberately trying to become a hostage? Sophia Ariel—what are you thinking? Surely you’re not trying to provoke Oberon’s rebellion? You can’t do this your way. Neither the betrothal nor the rebellion. Neither.’
“Once preparations are complete, go straight to Umbriel.”
As Maeub turned to leave with a disappointed expression, Robert spoke.
“I’m going to Umbriel too. Maeub. Of course you’re coming with me.”
Maeub replied with a weary tone, as expected.
“Yes, sir. I’m so delighted to travel with Your Highness. Yes indeed.”
Robert hurried his preparations for Umbriel. He reported to the Emperor the reasons for his departure and requested support.
Officially, the pretext was that the lord wished to spend his first year-end and New Year in his domain. Robert didn’t care if Frederick dominated the social circles in his absence.
He now believed that the Crown Prince should be judged not by how many people knew him, but by how many he could truly trust. Above all, the Emperor’s trust mattered most.
‘Nothing earns the Emperor’s trust like preventing invasion and rebellion.’

***

Yet the Duke of Gareis saw things differently. He vented his frustration at Parma.
“You’re just supposed to watch while Prince Frederick and the Duke of Wiscom walk about arm in arm? You don’t even have enough time to make a good impression, and now you’re leaving the Capital?”
“All the princes are like that. And Father wouldn’t support Prince Frederick anyway. Prince Robert knows that too.”
“Then all the more—! Parma! Are you really all right? Shall I call your brother?”
Since the powder room incident, the Duke of Gareis had been anxious to protect Parma. Now rumors had even begun to circulate that she had blackmailed Isabel.
Parma, knowing her own words weren’t far from the truth, thought little of it. But the Duke took the matter gravely. He didn’t want to send her alone into the battlefield of the social circles.
Though the Duke was agitated, Parma remained composed. Yet the words that left her lips were different.
“I want to go to Umbriel too.”
The Duke of Gareis sat down and quickly lowered his voice.
“Why insist on it? The north is cold. And Prince Robert isn’t going for pleasure. You might not see him all day.”
“Ha, Father, I know that too. I’m not a child. It doesn’t matter. They say Prince Robert has a betrothed in House Ariel, don’t they? I’d like to meet the Prince’s betrothed.”
“What? Why wasn’t I told? And he said it’s not a real betrothal.”
“But Prince Robert said something different—that he didn’t want the engagement broken.”
“What?”
The Duke of Gareis began to grow agitated again. Parma spoke calmly.
“I’m curious. Prince Robert isn’t the sort to let a woman ruin his work like Prince Frederick. His reasons for choosing House Ariel rather than House Gareis—as he explained them—seemed sound. And yet I’m curious. What kind of woman is she, to change Prince Robert’s thinking? They say even the Emperor approves of her?”
The Duke of Gareis studied Parma with suspicion. She continued.
“It would be better to follow Prince Robert and see what happens in House Ariel and Umbriel. And to know him better too. A few words of conversation isn’t enough to understand him yet.”
The Duke spoke.
“That’s just his nature, they say. Neither particularly good nor particularly bad.”
“Is that so? Still, I’d like to see for myself what kind of person he is. And I’d rather not watch Frederick and Isabel preening in the Capital.”
The Duke of Gareis deferred his answer.

***

The following day, the Duke of Gareis visited Prince Robert. As Robert received him, he spoke.
“I was meaning to call on you in any case—about returning to Umbriel.”
“Parma says she wishes to accompany Your Highness.”
Robert replied.
“I’ll speak frankly. Umbriel isn’t entirely safe right now. There’s intelligence suggesting suspicious relations between Oberon and Saturn. That’s why I’m returning urgently.”
“An invasion from Saturn?”
“It’s possible. For now, I intend to visit Oberon and assess the situation. My betrothed is there as well, after all.”
“Then…”
“To speak plainly, having Miss Parma accompany us would be genuinely helpful. If I arrived with troops and forces, Oberon and Saturn might become suspicious. With Miss Parma going along, increasing the escort wouldn’t seem unusual.”
The Duke of Gareis rose from his seat and paced the office before speaking.
“You said you wished to maintain your betrothal to House Ariel?”
“Yes. Thinking of the future, I don’t believe becoming family by marriage with House Gareis would be the best choice—not for either side, I’d judge. But that’s for you and the young lady to consider carefully.”
The Duke of Gareis’s deliberation deepened. He understood Parma’s desire to learn more about Prince Robert.
If she sent Parma north with Robert, it would look as though their betrothal were already settled. Yet Robert had made clear he would not become betrothed to Parma.
Gareis spoke with the tone of a man whose resolve had solidified.
“If you depart first with Parma, I’ll send my son to Oberon straightaway. He’s been wanting to see Prince Robert in person, so he won’t refuse. With him there, he can protect both Parma and the Prince.”
Robert smiled slightly.
“At last I’ll have the chance to meet Lord Stefano.”
“Don’t set your expectations too high. He’s all size and nothing but a child still. Though he’s quick on his feet, so he won’t be a burden once you’re in Oberon.”
After Gareis gave his consent, preparations began for Parma and Robert to travel together. Gareis drew Parma aside.
“Both Oberon and Umbriel are said to be unsafe. But Gareis has never fled from danger. Your brother will follow soon after, so there’s no need to worry.”
“You were so concerned about me being alone in society, yet you consent to send me to a domain where enemies might attack… Father, really!”
Gareis replied.
“I’m sending you because you can help the Empire in its hour of crisis and peril. You understand what I mean.”
“Yes. I won’t bring shame to the Gareis name.”
Gareis nodded. In his heart, he had already decided that if even a single hair on Parma’s head were harmed, he would not spare Robert, no matter how worthless Frederick might be. As for Oberon and Saturn—they were enemies; there was no need to discuss them further.
Robert was thinking optimistically.
‘If Sophia went to Oberon intentionally to become a hostage… could they dare take Gareis’s most precious daughter hostage as well? Would Oberon actually try?’

***

December had arrived. In the Capital, where everyone was consumed with invitations to year-end balls and New Year’s galas, Robert and Parma set off for the north.
Fortunately the weather was mild, and they reached Umbriel without difficulty. After the two departed, the Capital buzzed with endless talk about Robert and Parma.
And Wiscom and Cressida watched the north anxiously.
Frederick had exulted the moment he learned that Robert was leaving for Umbriel, but when Parma traveled with him and the pair became the talk of the Capital day after day, he grew resentful.
The story of Parma and Robert heading north together—and of Robert’s betrothed—drew far more attention than the love match between Isabel and Frederick.
Isabel soothed Frederick by saying the gossip arose purely from sensation. She spoke sweetly to him.
“Parma will never let this pass quietly. I expect Prince Robert will have his hands full with two women.”
Only then did Frederick laugh. Isabel smiled bitterly.
‘Fool. You shouldn’t be laughing. You should’ve argued back—said you’d find a way to prevent a betrothal between Parma and Robert.’
The moment Isabel parted from Frederick, she sought out the Duke of Wiscom and his wife.
She couldn’t sit idle in the Capital and watch Parma and Robert become bound to each other. She had to find a way to interfere.
Cressida and Sophia sat facing each other in silence. After a moment, when Frederick entered, Sophia managed a faint smile.
“Did you spend time pleasantly with Isabel?”
Frederick spoke.
“It was less pleasant because of Robert. Are you truly planning to do nothing, Cressida? You mean to leave Gareis and Robert as they are? Even though Isabel tried to hide it, her anxiety was plain. Parma was openly threatening, and yet I’m supposed to have nothing to do about it? That makes no sense.”
Cressida looked ready to burst into incredulous laughter.
‘Then stop whining and find a method yourself.’
Sophia sighed before speaking.
“I’ve already sent people to Oberon. If they have any sense, they’ll understand our intention. They won’t dare make any move against Sophia Ariel.”
Frederick spoke with anger.
“Who cares about that woman? Make Gareis abandon Robert entirely, or make him abandon his schemes. Or else eliminate Gareis altogether.”
Both Sophia and Cressida exchanged looks of disbelief. Seeing their expressions, Frederick sneered.
“I see I’ve said something foolish again. Still, find a way. If you want me to become Emperor, find a way.”
By now, Frederick had only one tutor: Lord Federico. A week after Sophia requested that the Emperor spare Frederick’s time, the Emperor had told Frederick that the arrangement would hold valid so long as he kept even one tutor.
Frederick managed to keep his promise to study with the teachers the Emperor had sent for a year, all while maintaining his presence in society. He harbored no resentment.
Federico’s counsel proved invaluable to Frederick. Especially his advice concerning Sophia and Cressida freed Frederick from fear. Federico had told him:
“After all, Sophia and everyone from Cressida’s house have no choice but to aid you. They need you, but you can choose House Wiscom—or you could choose another house entirely. So there’s no need to fear them so greatly.”
Now Frederick feared neither Sophia nor Cressida. He could make demands of them without hesitation.
And this very confidence of Frederick’s became for Cressida and Sophia a far greater headache than Wiscom himself had ever been.

***

Umbriel had improved beyond measure since Robert’s first visit. The fortress walls and roads had been restored to a reasonable state.
Robert’s office and private chambers had been repaired cleanly, and rooms had been prepared for Parma and her retinue.
Robert tapped Maeub on the shoulder with a satisfied expression.
“Maeub. I knew you’d manage well in Umbriel.”
Maeub’s face, which had brightened at the praise, darkened at once.
‘At this rate, am I going to drive a stake into Umbriel and never leave?’
Maeub watched Robert’s satisfied back and released a soundless cry of despair.

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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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