Timid and Shy - Chapter 72

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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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72.

Prince Robert had taken the office of the Oberon Baron-delegate as his temporary headquarters. Philip Wiscom had come to that office seeking out Prince Robert and Gareis.
Philip sat down and spoke in a leisurely tone.
“It seems you hardly need my assistance, despite being so busy. Then might I return to the Capital? I’m simply itching to share this remarkable affair of Oberon with my friends.”
Gareis spoke.
“So you mean to flee, then?”
Philip replied.
“What are you saying? What crime have I committed? What accusation do you have? Gareis! Don’t pin me to Oberon’s troubles simply because you dislike House Wiscom, without so much as evidence. I, too, would like to keep watch and see whether you and Prince Robert exaggerate matters for the sake of merit.”
Gareis looked at Philip with disgust. Philip smiled broadly and continued.
“You found only traces that Oberon had dealings with Saturn—nothing whatsoever proving an attack on Ariel or Saturn’s invasion of Ariel. Yet you speak of treason…. Why don’t we simply watch over each other while we’re here?”
Gunter spoke calmly from behind the two men.
“It won’t be easy to inflate matters before the Emperor’s Inspector. You needn’t worry, Lord Wiscom.”
“How should I trust that? I’ve heard that Inspector Gunter traveled from Ariel together with Sophia and Helen Pina. Moreover, you seemed to share a special bond with the young lady Helen Pina. In my eyes, it appears Ariel and Pinega deliberately seduced the Inspector to blind his eyes.”
Gunter spoke in a voice nearly flat in tone.
“If that is what you believe, then submit a formal protest and a petition for my removal to the Emperor. I shall provide my own account. Lord Philip Wiscom.”
Gunter fixed Philip Wiscom with an unwavering stare. Philip Wiscom, having heard well enough of an imperial inspector’s authority, chose not to provoke Gunter further and instead turned to matters of his own safety.
Philip Wiscom spoke toward Prince Robert.
“Surely the Oberon Baron-delegate and his subordinate have already boarded a vessel and left Oberon? The fact that they haven’t turned up despite such a thorough search suggests they had prepared an escape route beforehand.”
Gareis spoke to Philip Wiscom.
“Ah! Did you happen to hear anything from those two men, Lord Wiscom?”
Philip Wiscom replied.
“Show me your evidence, Gareis. Your sarcasm is skillful enough, but you’re solving nothing. I wish you would use your head as well as your strength.”
Prince Robert spoke to Philip Wiscom.
“If you trust Inspector Gunter, Lord Wiscom, then returning to the Capital doesn’t seem untoward. Moreover, I shall act upon your suggestion and request another of the Emperor’s inspectors. What are your thoughts on this, Gareis?”
“I must defer to Prince Robert’s judgment.”
Philip Wiscom nodded.
“I am grateful for your wise decision, Prince Robert. Watching you and Gareis work in such perfect harmony makes me jealous. Gareis! Why not come to the Capital with me instead? If we spend the journey in good company, won’t it ease much of your ill feeling toward House Wiscom?”
Gareis spoke.
“Surely not? Lord Philip Wiscom, it’s true you have your proclivities, but that doesn’t mean you can seduce every man. I can’t fathom where all this confidence comes from. I’ve certainly heard of the beauty of the young lady Isabel Wiscom, but….”
Gareis looked Philip over dismissively and let out a snort.
Philip Wiscom matched the snort and replied.
“Ah! I shall be sure to convey your remarks to Prince Frederick. A rival has appeared.”
“My regards to Prince Frederick. When, exactly, is the betrothal to the young lady Wiscom to take place? Might it not be prudent to delay it somewhat? For House Wiscom’s sake, and for the Imperial Court’s?”
Philip Wiscom spoke.
“Who’s to say? We must wait and see how matters unfold, mustn’t we?”
Philip Wiscom smiled, looking between Prince Robert and Gareis. Prince Robert ignored Philip’s gaze and spoke.
“You may leave Oberon whenever you wish.”
Once permission was granted by Gareis and Prince Robert, Philip Wiscom made ready to depart for the Capital. There was nothing to do in Oberon but endure suspicion as a traitor.
‘Those stupid Oberon fools! But their cleanup is flawless. Not a shred of evidence left behind. Ah—this is what Saturn did. Those Saturn bastards…. Was that man not my informant but Saturn’s spy all along?’
Philip Wiscom spoke as if suddenly enlightened.
“I was the greatest fool of all. No wonder I’m suffering like this. What do I do about this man?”
After Philip Wiscom left, Gareis spoke in anger.
“That cunning wretch. Wiscom knows something.”
Prince Robert nodded in agreement.
“Lord Oberon reportedly brought Philip Wiscom to meet the Oberon Baron-delegate and the Baron himself. After meeting Philip Wiscom, those two men—or rather, three—vanished without a trace. The fact that we haven’t caught them means they slipped away before the banquet began, right after meeting Philip.”
Gareis looked meaningfully at the chair where Philip had been sitting and spoke.
“Three men disappeared and one appeared as a corpse, so Philip Wiscom is certainly connected to those two who vanished. Lord Oberon suspects him as well. He says it was revenge for the exposure of his shame.”
Gareis let out a bitter laugh.
“I underestimated Philip Wiscom, it seems. I thought he merely schemed in petty intrigues, but he’s capable of far worse. Surely he didn’t personally dispose of all three men?”
Prince Robert spoke.
“The traces of Saturn in Oberon have been erased far too cleanly. It’s not Philip Wiscom’s work. Someone else must have been active in Oberon. Likely another of Saturn’s spies, just like the woman. My suspicion falls on that fellow who called himself the Baron’s subordinate—he seems suspicious. We should increase surveillance around Saturn’s woman. As for us, I believe there’s nothing more to accomplish in Oberon. We, too, must move.”
Not only Philip Wiscom, but Prince Robert, Gareis, and Sophia made ready to depart from Oberon Castle.

***

Before leaving Oberon Castle, Sophia visited Prince Robert. The Prince was occupied with finishing his affairs.
Oberon Castle had to be sealed, now that its lord had vanished. Moreover, since Saturn’s true designs remained incompletely revealed, they had to fortify the harbor against further incursion.
The decisive evidence was too sparse, so while punishment for the Oberon family might be deferred, confiscation of their domain would undoubtedly take time. Until then, someone had to be appointed to govern the territory.
Prince Robert smiled as he greeted Sophia. Asher, standing behind the desk, frowned. The chaos surrounding Oberon had left little opportunity for Gareis and the Prince to spend time together.
Yet here was Sophia Ariel, of all people, arriving at this hectic moment—not the young noblewoman of Gareis.
Sophia spoke to Prince Robert.
“Could we speak privately for a moment?”
Asher prepared to remind the Prince how busy and pressed for time they were, but one look at Robert’s eyes silenced him, and he withdrew.
“Asher. Ask Gunter to request two additional inspectors from the Emperor.”
As Asher left the office, he did not forget to cast a sharp glance at Sophia Ariel. For an instant, their eyes met.
Sophia watched until Asher disappeared. He started, caught off guard by something in her gaze, and hesitated briefly.
Sophia spoke.
“There’s a spy in our midst.”
Prince Robert stared at the door, as if still watching the man who had just left.
“Is Asher acting strangely?”
“We can’t call someone a spy simply because they dislike me. I believe the answer lies in why Philip Wiscom was sent to Oberon. Whoever knew that we suspected a connection between Wiscom and Oberon—they’re the ones who sent Philip there.”
“So you mean the Emperor, myself, and those around Sophia are suspect?”
“Gunter as well.”
“Hmm. All who work in the Imperial Palace undergo background investigation. Since they’re selected through examination regardless of status, many question their loyalty, so the vetting is quite thorough. If it were discovered that someone serving in the Palace or the Administrative Bureau is a spy for Saturn, the matter could spiral. Someone would inevitably demand the Bureau be shut down.”
Sophia spoke with grave certainty.
“Would Saturn really plant spies in the Administrative Bureau or the Imperial Court while calculating the political situation of Uranos? When new systems emerge, there are always those who resist them. To exploit that gap—has Saturn always been so meticulous a nation?”
“Saturn has certainly been too quiet. Rumors abounded that Ariel and Umbriel were in poor condition, yet there was no response whatsoever. I should have suspected then. In any case, this matter must be handled with utmost discretion. Some already have their suspicions, so please don’t worry overmuch. One thing I can say with certainty: those around Gunter and Sophia are beyond suspicion.”
Sophia nodded. Placing an agent near the Emperor and Prince would surely yield far greater value than compromising the unremarkable domain of Ariel.
‘If someone in the Imperial Court hadn’t vouched for the spy, they would never have gained entry. Is Saturn’s scheme truly more formidable than we thought?’
Sophia spoke.
“Have you heard the report? That some of the Titan Knights who departed for winter training have disappeared without trace. Could they be headed for Ariel? I’m concerned that Saturn’s attack may come soon.”
Prince Robert replied.
“For now, we lack sufficient evidence of Saturn’s invasion of Uranos, so support from the Capital seems difficult. Saturn may have even destroyed evidence for precisely that reason. I plan to leave two inspectors in Oberon. Inspectors normally possess not only investigative authority but also command over military deployment, so we should be able to respond if an attack comes. Let’s summon Gareis first. He’ll have a faster grasp of the Titan Knights situation.”

***

Gareis came immediately to Prince Robert’s summons. Given the gravity of the hour, he knew this was no time to think of his daughter’s betrothal or Gareis’s patronage.
After reviewing the report, Gareis spoke.
“It’s only a portion of the Titan Knights. Moreover, there’s no guarantee they’re headed for Ariel. The commander of the Titan Knights is reportedly Lord Anselladus, son of Marquis Anselladus—a cunning sort. He’ll act with caution. More importantly, didn’t Oberon’s plan fail? What reason do you have to believe Saturn will definitely attack?”
Sophia voiced her concern openly.
“Oberon may have failed, but Saturn hasn’t. Don’t you see it that way?”
Prince Robert watched Gareis and Sophia in silence. It seemed clear that Sophia herself would need to convince Gareis here.
Sophia spoke.
“Philip Wiscom came knowing that Oberon planned to attack Ariel. He incited Oberon to move against the Gareis siblings and Prince Robert first. But the plan failed. Yet what of Saturn?”
Gareis replied.
“Philip Wiscom’s plan would have been difficult to succeed at from the start. Attacking the Prince and Gareis is no simple matter.”
“Philip believed Oberon capable of such extremes precisely because he knew Oberon had joined hands with Saturn. The plan failed. Philip Wiscom is now suspected of treason. So who gave Philip Wiscom the information and had him sent to Oberon?”
Gareis spoke.
“If the young noblewoman of Ariel is correct, someone gave Philip Wiscom information and had him go to Oberon, and then… tried to eliminate him as well?”
“No. The point isn’t to eliminate Philip Wiscom, but to create suspicion that Oberon, Wiscom, and Saturn are all connected. To entangle Wiscom with Saturn. Treason is no trivial matter, so without solid proof, suspicion and doubt are all that remain. In normal circumstances, Wiscom could weather such suspicions. But we’re not in normal circumstances…”
Gareis spoke.
“You think abnormal circumstances are coming.”
Prince Robert replied.
“War.”

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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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