Timid and Shy - Chapter 64

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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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64.

Baron Oberon’s Proxy paused before a large tapestry hanging in the corridor, glanced around briefly, then lifted it aside and slipped through.
A door behind the tapestry swung open onto a small chamber. He crossed it and opened the opposite door, which led back into the hallway.
He crossed the corridor and knocked on a door. It opened from within.
It was the true office of the Baron himself—papers stacked on a desk. The elderly Baron Oberon was bent over them, pen in hand.
Though the eldest son had entered, Baron Oberon remained absorbed in his work. The Proxy waited quietly, as if accustomed to this.
Only after some time did the Baron hand his papers to an attendant standing nearby. Then he finally turned to face Baron Oberon’s Proxy and spoke.
“How are our guests occupying themselves?”
“They’ve spent the last day or two sightseeing—the harbor and estate at Oberon. Nothing suspicious in their conduct. It doesn’t appear that Sophia or Ariel are showing particular interest in your second son. That excuse of theirs about the betrothal seems hollow.”
“Then we must make them interested. Perhaps that will catch them off guard.”
“There is the matter Cressida mentioned…….”
The Baron rose from his seat and approached his son slowly.
He leaned against his son’s shoulder and spoke.
“First, we have Saturn and Ariel destroy each other. Then, when they’re exhausted, we strike. That way we take both Ariel and the Salt Mine. For this to work, Ariel must be caught unprepared. If we appear to rescue them after the battle with Saturn, Ariel will be ours.”
“And Prince Robert?”
The Baron watched his trembling hands—the tremor of age—and spoke with a nervous laugh.
“Prince Robert is in the Capital. He’ll arrive long after everything is finished. Besides, word of his betrothal to the Gareis young noblewoman is already public. Why should he concern himself with Ariel?”
“Could he not use his relationship with Ariel as a pretext to seize both the Salt Mine and Ariel himself?”
The Baron’s eyes gleamed. He nodded.
“You’re thinking like a true lord now. You’re right—he might well do that. We’ll need to collect what we’ve paid out to Cressida and Wiscom at that moment. Won’t we?”
“Yes, Father.”
The Proxy, elated by his father’s praise, left the office with a grateful expression.
The attendant finished organizing the papers and spoke to the Baron.
“The Proxy is growing more adept at handling matters, sir.”
“Hmph! I worried for so long whether he’d ever amount to anything, and now that death is approaching, he barely shows something worth praising.”
The attendant was about to object when Baron Oberon silenced him with a gesture. He spoke.
“What of Saturn?”
“An envoy should arrive soon. They’re already preparing for their deployment.”
“If this succeeds, good. If it fails…… How is my third son?”
“He fares well, sir. Your lady wife sent word that you needn’t worry.”
“If this fails, he’s the last blood relative I’ll have. Keep a close eye on him afterward, will you?”
“Of course, Baron. We’ve already prepared a ship, so if need be, you can depart for Saturn.”
“I wanted to hear myself called Frontier Baron before I died, not just Baron. Luck has abandoned me so thoroughly.”
The attendant spoke.
“This time will be different, sir. Saturn has never been so openly aggressive as they are now, have they?”
“Those villains. The moment they heard ‘Salt Mine,’ their eyes went wide as saucers. And now they look down on us for dabbling in commerce, for daring to act like merchants—yet they’re the hypocrites. Still, their greed has finally driven them to strike at Ariel. The Salt Mine turns out to be a gift to us after all.”
But events would not unfold as the Baron had foreseen.
One week after Sophia’s arrival at Oberon, word reached them that Prince Robert and Parma were coming to Umbriel.

***

When news arrived that Prince Robert and the young noblewoman of Gareis were coming to Umbriel, Baron Oberon’s Proxy and Gareis exchanged uneasy glances. Gareis spoke first.
“What happens now?”
The Proxy grew restless and eventually rushed from the office. Gareis started to follow, then realized where he’d go and sat back down instead.
Things were beginning to unravel. Sophia was at Oberon, and now Prince Robert and the Gareis young noblewoman were both at Umbriel.
‘If Prince Robert is at Umbriel…….’
The odds of Saturn’s surprise attack succeeding had grown slim. Even if it did succeed, Prince Robert would come to Ariel’s aid, and he would likely take both the Duke and Ariel with him when he left.
Oberon would have orchestrated everything only to leave empty-handed. In the worst case, everything could come to light and he could face destruction of his entire house. Gareis grew anxious as events diverged from the plan.
‘Why is Prince Robert suddenly coming to Umbriel? Because of Sophia? Surely not? If that were true, Parma wouldn’t be coming along. Did he come in person to notify Sophia of a broken betrothal?’
A more shocking piece of news arrived shortly after.
Parma Gareis had asked to visit Oberon with Prince Robert. The tone was a veiled demand couched as an invitation, but how could Oberon refuse Prince Robert and the young noblewoman of Gareis?
The messenger who came to announce Prince Robert’s visit to Oberon was enough to unsettle everyone there. It was Maeub, Prince Robert’s secretary and current acting Lord of Umbriel.
Maeub conveyed Prince Robert’s words to the Proxy.
“His Highness learned that Miss Sophia of House Ariel is here at Oberon and wishes to visit. Naturally, Miss Parma of Gareis will accompany him. I needn’t explain what this is about, I trust?”
Baron Oberon’s Proxy said nothing, only nodding. Maeub’s expression darkened as he continued.
“I should speak with Miss Sophia of House Ariel first. If I convey even an indirect hint of His Highness’s intentions, it will give her time to prepare herself.”
Gareis wordlessly escorted Maeub to where Sophia was staying.

***

Oberon Knight arrived at Sophia’s reception room with Maeub. Even after Maeub exchanged greetings with Sophia and Helen, Oberon Knight lingered, reluctant to leave.
Maeub glanced at Oberon Knight and opened his mouth carefully.
“We’ve received word that Prince Robert is coming to Umbriel with a guest.”
Before Maeub could continue, Oberon Knight spoke first.
“Prince Robert intends to visit Oberon accompanied by Miss Parma Gareis.”
Helen’s eyes widened in alarm.
“Prince Robert and Miss Gareis? Surely you’re not serious, Sophia! Your betrothed is right here, and he’s bringing another woman?”
Sophia replied with visible distress.
“I didn’t know this.”
Oberon Knight addressed Sophia.
“It appears that within this week, Prince Robert and Miss Gareis intend to visit specifically to meet with Miss Ariel.”
Sophia sat stunned. Helen moved closer and settled beside her. Sophia whispered into Helen’s ear.
“Can you take Oberon Knight and leave?”
Helen embraced Sophia briefly, then rose and spoke to Oberon Knight.
“Let’s step out, shall we? It seems there are things they cannot discuss in front of us.”
Maeub nodded his agreement to Helen. Though Oberon Knight was reluctant to go, Helen ushered him out.
Once the two had left, Sophia sprang to her feet.
“Why is he coming? To attack Oberon? Or has Saturn already made its move?”
Maeub hesitated briefly, wondering if he should comfort Sophia. But when she suddenly shifted tone, his unease lifted. He lowered his voice, mindful of those outside.
“There has been movement among the Anselladus Titan Knights, Saturn’s border forces. However, it doesn’t appear we’ve reached the stage of invasion preparations yet. Nothing has been decided regarding Oberon either.”
Sophia also lowered her voice.
“What is Prince Robert thinking, coming to Oberon? It’s dangerous. Doesn’t he have much to attend to in the Capital?”
“Prince Robert sent word that we should not rashly provoke Oberon House or encourage an attack, nor should we form a betrothal with them—both paths would endanger Miss Sophia Ariel’s life.”
Sophia was caught off guard by news of Prince Robert’s visit to Oberon, then troubled by the thought that he truly did care for her, and finally circled back to her broken betrothal.
‘What does that have to do with Miss Parma Gareis?’
A sense of betrayal washed over her. If Prince Robert had only waited a little longer, she could have cleanly ended the betrothal. If he had shown even minimal consideration.
‘I was the one who first mentioned the betrothal to Oberon, but… he didn’t have to bring Miss Gareis here.’
Sophia found herself uncertain how to face Miss Gareis. The prince’s betrothed was supposed to be her, yet the role had never truly been hers to begin with.
‘It depends on how Parma Gareis conducts herself.’
If Prince Robert and Miss Gareis came to Oberon, Ariel’s path to claiming Oberon had become murky.
‘If I can’t find evidence of Oberon’s treason now, I’ll need to deploy greater military force, and then Ariel alone won’t be able to take Oberon. I have to decide—wait longer, or probe Oberon’s defenses and see what happens.’
Sophia was confused, but Oberon surely could not be pleased by the sudden arrival of Prince Robert and Miss Gareis. She was curious how Oberon would respond.
Maeub spoke to Sophia.
“By Prince Robert’s instruction, and my own counsel as well: Oberon is not a suitable match for Ariel. Moreover, this is a perilous time. Use Miss Gareis as an excuse and return to Ariel.”
Sophia replied.
“No. I won’t return. Whatever happens at Oberon, I need to be here.”
“I thought as much. Prince Robert said: do not imagine that simply holding Oberon will let you claim it.”
Sophia fell silent for a long while before speaking.
“Still, I can keep the possibility open.”
When Maeub heard Prince Robert speak that way, he had believed the prince was misunderstanding Miss Sophia.
He had thought it absurd that she would harbor ambitions to swallow Oberon itself, despite her love of advantage.
Maeub had assumed instead that she sought a stable, affordable way to use the harbor through her betrothal to Oberon. Now he masked his shock and spoke calmly.
“Be careful. Tell the others to be careful as well. Something about this withdrawal seems off.”
Sophia spoke as if exacting revenge for her true intentions being exposed.
“Tell Prince Robert to be careful too. Even if bait is cast, Cressida might simply steal the bait—or set her sights on the fisherman himself.”
Maeub was startled once more but kept his composure as he replied.
“I’m not sure what you mean, but I’ll relay the message.”
Sophia believed he understood.
Prince Robert had gone so far as to betroth himself to Sophia to deceive Cressida’s eyes. Yet now he was brazenly arriving in Umbriel alongside Miss Gareis.
‘Word of their betrothal surely spread openly in the Capital by now. Cressida would never sit still for that—especially if she knows about Oberon. Chaos would be her golden opportunity.’
Maeub warned Sophia and her companions once more to be cautious before departing for Umbriel.
From that afternoon onward, Sophia remained in her room until evening. Prince Robert knew that Sophia coveted Oberon.
Now more than ever, she needed his cooperation. Sophia believed that a broken betrothal alone would not secure his aid.
‘I need to find another way.’
Helen did not think Sophia’s worry stemmed solely from the emergence of Miss Gareis. Helen sought out Gunter and asked him to look in on Sophia.

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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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