Timid and Shy - Chapter 77

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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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77.

The turmoil of the previous night showed plainly in everyone’s drawn faces. Neither Parma nor Helen had slept properly.
Helen spoke as she sipped her tea.
“I’m finally getting my head on straight. All that noise through the night, the mountain looked like it was burning. And even though I heard things are fine now, I don’t understand why they’re fine, so I’m still anxious. I didn’t dare ask Sophia or anyone else about it, afraid I might get in the way of important work.”
Parma stifled a yawn before answering.
“What about Saturn?”
Sophia closed her eyes for a moment as she drank her tea, then opened them again.
“Saturn did launch a surprise attack, but we managed to repel it well. We were fortunate—they came at us head-on, which gave us time to prepare.”
“Prepare?”
Helen stared blankly at Sophia. Parma asked the question that hung in the air.
“Do you think there will be another invasion?”
“Yes. This attack appears to have been coordinated with Oberon. Or they want us to believe it was.”
Understanding dawned on Parma’s face.
“So you think the attack yesterday was a feint—the real one is coming later.”
“They committed roughly five hundred troops to Ariel and about a thousand to Umbriel. The target was Robert. It may not have been coordinated with Oberon at all, but with someone else entirely. We’ll know more once Umbriel sends its full investigation report. Oh, and Umbriel is fine too, by the way. There was some commotion, but they contained it quickly. They also captured a great many of Saturn’s spies.”
Parma spoke thoughtfully.
“The target wasn’t the salt mines but Robert? That only points to one person—Cressida.”
“Everyone will draw the same conclusion. And if it’s not Cressida, then we’re looking at something far more serious.”
Helen interjected.
“What about Wiscom? Wasn’t Philip Wiscom rather suspicious? You didn’t arrest him just because of his ducal status, did you?”
Parma spoke with conviction.
“That Philip Wiscom knows something is beyond doubt.”
“Mm.”
Parma fell silent in thought, then turned to Sophia.
“What about returning to the Capital? The culprits must be there after all. You’d be good at finding them.”
Sophia smiled as she replied.
“I don’t know when Saturn will strike next. I need to stay in Ariel. Helen, you and Sol head back to the Capital. I wish Pina could return as well, but with the child and Ellie, she won’t. Still, you two must go. Pina mentioned stopping by Oberon first before heading to the Capital.”
Helen pouted slightly.
“I heard from Father. There’s nothing for me to do in the Capital anyway. I won’t be able to rest easy there wondering how things unfold here. Sol feels the same way, I’m sure.”
Even as she said it, she glanced sideways at Parma. Everyone in Ariel knew how deeply Sol was infatuated with her. As long as Parma remained in Ariel, Sol would have no desire to leave.
Yet they could not keep the two here indefinitely. Bringing them to Oberon in the first place had already been an imposition on Pina’s household. With Saturn’s invasion looming, both had to be sent to the Capital.
Sophia turned to Parma with a question.
“Do you know how long Baron Gareis intends to stay?”
“Why? Do you need him?”
“Yes. I’d like us to undertake training while we have the time before the next attack. Ariel still lacks proper knights—we only have recruits who’ve barely finished their training and probationary knights. I want to learn the foundational systems and training procedures of a proper knight order from him.”
Parma smiled knowingly.
“Baron Gareis will want to stay in Ariel for the battle too. He’s desperate to win the renown of the Titan Knights. It’s obvious he craves attention from everyone around him.”
Helen turned away to keep from laughing. As she did, her eyes fell on the mountain range. She spoke.
“Did the fire not go out completely yesterday? Or does that smoke mean something else?”
At those words, Sophia rose from her seat and moved to the window. The other two followed.
Smoke was rising from the peak of the mountain.
Sophia spoke, her voice sharp with surprise.
“Saturn has visitors. That’s unexpected. An envoy arriving after a surprise attack… Is Uranos being underestimated? Or is there another purpose?”
Parma watched the smoke rise.
“A delegation from Saturn is curious enough, but how do you discern such information from smoke alone?”
Sophia explained.
“The Titania Mountain Range is high and vast. Ariel’s border garrison numbers just over two hundred. Managing such a large territory with so few soldiers meant we had to develop rapid communication. So a Signal System was established long ago.”
“That’s remarkable. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Each domain has its own situation and terrain, so the systems vary. In any case, we need to prepare to receive guests. I should inform the Emperor of Saturn’s envoy’s arrival. I doubt Saturn gave advance notice.”
“Why?”
“The avalanche yesterday blocked the passes from Saturn into Ariel. Yet the envoy made it through—which means they were already here before the avalanche. Whether that was before the attack, during it, or at the same time, I can’t say.”
Parma said dryly.
“Envoy, is it? Sounds like stragglers to me.”
Sophia kept her gaze on the mountain range as she spoke.
“They’ll never admit that. They’ll claim they came as an official delegation, that the attack was news to them. Even then, they might insist it was all a misunderstanding—that an envoy arrived in good faith. Unless Saturn’s delegation is completely shameless, they wouldn’t have simply walked in to Ariel with such ease. There is a favor I need to ask of you, though. These envoys will eventually make for the Capital. Would you consent to traveling with them?”
“A delegation from Saturn… I’m curious, at least. Let me see who they are first. If they’re loud and vulgar, I’ll refuse.”
Sophia laughed and nodded in agreement.
“If that’s the kind of person he is, send him to Umbriel. I suspect he came here thinking Ariel would be more straightforward than Prince Robert anyway.”
Parma nodded with a smile.
“A wise choice.”
Parma thought she understood why Prince Robert had chosen Sophia. When he needed her help, he asked directly. He didn’t try to manipulate her with roundabout talk.
Sophia was practical, exactly as Prince Robert had described her. And Parma found that quality appealing. She could also see why Lord Gareis was wary of her.

***

When Lord Gareis heard that Saturn’s envoy was descending from the Titania Mountain Range, he bolted upright as if he meant to seize them on the spot. Alex desperately tried to calm him. Fortunately, Lord Gareis chose to defer to Ariel’s wishes.
This was Lord Gareis’s impression upon seeing Saturn’s envoy:
“Insufferable bastards.”
The commander and vice-commander of Titan’s Knights whose whereabouts had been unknown were none other than Saturn’s envoy. Sophia sensed that Saturn wasted no effort in their operations.
‘This is rather chilling.’
They called themselves envoys now, but had their surprise attack succeeded, they would have arrived at Ariel as an occupying force—as enemies.
Even this current visit had been made on impulse, but since the war seemed likely to be delayed longer than expected, they’d shown up to scout Uranos and create confusion there.
Sophia regarded the two people claiming to be Saturn’s delegation with keen interest.
‘They must be Saturn’s finest. Capable enough to operate on improvisation with just two people in hostile territory.’
You could tell just from Lord Gareis’s reaction. As he exchanged greetings with Lord Anselladus, the commander of Titan’s Knights, his face bore the look of someone encountering Philip Wiscom all over again.
In stark contrast to Lord Gareis’s open disdain, Baron Ariel and his family displayed remarkable patience.
Baron Ariel spoke.
“I’ve heard that Lord Anselladus has led the Titan Knights since his youth. Your reputation has even reached Uranos, and I’m honored that such a distinguished person visits Ariel.”
Lord Anselladus replied.
“I understand Ariel is now founding a knights’ order as well. How is it progressing? Is there anything I might assist with?”
“Your kind words are deeply appreciated. However, your help is unnecessary. With Lord Gareis’s assistance, we’re managing to take proper shape.”
“Is that so? But won’t you lose your opportunity that way? What good is a knights’ order if you cannot deploy it when you need it most?”
“I see. So Saturn plans to invade soon. Thank you for the intelligence. I shall remember that you’ve shown Ariel such consideration—softening your attacks yesterday, as I understand it.”
At Baron Ariel’s words, Lord Anselladus smiled and shook his head.
“A surprise attack, you say? There must have been some misunderstanding.”
Baron Ariel laughed as he spoke.
“Had it not been for the sudden avalanche last night, I could not be greeting Saturn’s delegation with smiles like this. I must thank the goddess Titania for her blessing.”
The vice-commander standing behind Lord Anselladus glared at the baron with a hard expression. John, Jack, and Alex standing behind Baron Ariel stared back at the vice-commander just as fiercely.
The vice-commander cleared his throat and looked away. From that moment onward, Lord Gareis decided he would respect Baron Ariel.
‘Sophia and these people of Ariel—they look mild on the surface, but they have backbone. And they’re quite good at that stare.’
Lord Gareis admired the people of Ariel for their determination to defend their border with their own strength. But his goodwill crumbled when Parma announced she would escort Saturn’s delegation to the Capital.

***

Lord Gareis spoke.
“Ariel looks simple on the surface, but they think as cunningly as any politician in the Capital.”
Parma replied.
“You have to understand. No one in House Ariel wants to go to the Capital. Everyone thinks that anyone from House Ariel should be defending Ariel’s Territory right now. So an outsider must escort the delegation to the Capital. You help with military and knights’ training, preparing for battle. And you keep saying this Titan commander is so disagreeable? According to Sophia, you treat Lord Anselladus almost as an equal to Philip Wiscom.”
Lord Gareis found himself nodding.
“Sharp eyes. That’s why you should go alone. What about on the journey?”
Parma spoke with composure.
“Even so, they’re visiting Uranos as an official delegation. Would they do anything reckless? And even if they tried, I wouldn’t stand idle. How can you trust me less than Sophia?”
“You’ve heard from Sophia about Saturn’s schemes and plots—how black-hearted these people are. Do you really think they’ll go quietly to the Capital? They’ll definitely try to manipulate you. They’ll scatter suspicions that even Gareis is in league with Saturn.”
Parma spoke.
“Then they’ll have to work quite hard. I’m curious about Saturn’s men anyway. I’m curious how they’ll try to seduce me.”
Lord Gareis was deeply uneasy about sending the insufferable commander and Parma together. Both of them had polished faces that set them apart from him and the other soldiers.
‘The vice-commander is unmarried, she says.’

***

Sophia came looking for Lord Gareis and Parma. Speaking carefully, watching Lord Gareis’s expression, Sophia said:
“I didn’t expect Commander Anselladus to come as an envoy. It seems he personally commanded yesterday’s battle. To descend into Ariel less than a day after the surprise attack—that’s audacious beyond measure. It appears they truly didn’t mind whether the surprise attack failed or not.”
Lord Gareis spoke.
“I’m troubled about sending Lord Anselladus with Parma. Is there no way around it?”
“I’ve sent a letter to Prince Robert. If Parma travels to the Capital alongside the delegation, she can observe them as well. A surprise attack followed by an envoy the very next day—if the envoy is a Titan Knights commander, he’s no ordinary person. Prince Robert should handle him. He’s been friends with Philip Wiscom for years, after all.”
Lord Gareis thought for a moment, then nodded.
“That should be acceptable.”
Sophia gave Gareis a subtle signal. Parma looked between them both and spoke.
“What’s this? Do you two have something to discuss, Sophia?”
“Yes. I’d like to confer with Gareis about a matter concerning Ariel, if you don’t mind.”
Parma’s curiosity was piqued, but she asked nothing further and ushered them out.

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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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