“I will go to Umbriel myself. We can gradually release the frozen budget later. For now, the most important thing is to go down and see things with my own eyes. A little hardship is in order.”

“They aren’t the type to be fooled that easily, especially not the Cressida lot. If they’re just pretending to run Umbriel’s estate on the surface…”

“I know. Still, the fact they underestimated me enough to bribe a mere investigator to obstruct me… I don’t mind. It’s easier if they keep seeing me that way. But as Posher said, I must go to resolve this situation with the lack of governance.”

“If they keep looking down on you, incidents like the Wiscombe debutante will keep happening. Those minor issues won’t hurt you much, but your true self will vanish, and they’ll define you as they please. In times like these, it doesn’t matter what the truth is, but how people perceive it.”

Prince Robert asked the Emperor, “Do you regret allowing freedom of the press?”

“I don’t. Even though there are plenty of trashy books now, there are also many more worthwhile ones than before, so I’m satisfied. But seeing them try to control what I’ve freed—it does sting.”

“How about establishing a newspaper or magazine similar to what Gareth or Cressida have done?”

“The royal family cannot do such a thing. Clearing up misunderstandings must be done differently. I will have to make a move soon, but it won’t be in the same way.”

“Pardon?”

The Emperor cast a stern gaze at Prince Robert. “Surely you aren’t thinking of retreating? Are you planning to settle down in such a troublesome estate as Umbriel? The borders are important, so I’ve permitted you to go, but if you’re thinking of staying there, we’ll need to reconsider.”

“If I could, I’d like to run away. But I need time.”

“Time, hmm… Is it about choosing between fleeing or advancing, or about finding the right method?”

“I need to deliberate and observe. If what Cressida wants is my disappearance, I can’t just sit back and let it happen.”

The Emperor spoke slowly. “Frederick is your brother. Never forget that.”

Prince Robert hesitated for a moment before responding, “Yes, I understand.”

‘You expect too much of me. Frederick doesn’t even see me as his brother.’

The Emperor decided to provide knights and soldiers to support Prince Robert’s journey to Umbriel. They were both a sign of his support and his watchful eyes. Robert knew that this assistance didn’t mean the Emperor fully supported him. The Emperor wanted Robert and Frederick to compete fiercely, and as much as Robert distanced himself from the succession race, the Emperor would offer support to unsettle Frederick and Cressida. Umbriel was no different; the support was only because Robert was at a disadvantage.

With a heavy heart, Robert prepared to leave for Umbriel.

Watching over him was Vian, who felt conflicted as he saw the Emperor’s support.

‘Is it fairness, or is it cruelty…’

* * *

The news that a new lord was finally arriving in Umbriel reached Ariel as well. Baron Ariel let out a sigh of relief. Alex also spoke with a bright expression.

“The residents of Umbriel have been constantly coming here to voice their complaints, so this is great news.”

The Baron’s face lit up as well. “This time, they should stay for a while.”

John, who brought the news, continued, “This time, it’s someone who seems tenacious enough to handle Umbriel’s responsibilities. After all, it’s Prince Robert.”

For a moment, John and Alex exchanged glances, and both their expressions darkened. Noticing this, Baron Ariel looked back and forth between them and asked, “This is good news, so why the gloomy faces?”

Alex nodded to John, who swallowed nervously before speaking, “There was a bit of trouble during Lady Sophia’s debutante. The Wiscombe family… they seemed to be weighing between Prince Frederick and Prince Robert. They attached Prince Frederick to Lady Wiscombe and Prince Robert to Lady Sophia.”

“And?”

With a hardened expression, the Baron waited as Alex continued, “Ellie says there were rumors that Prince Robert had long been fond of Lady Isabelle. They used Sophia to deliberately separate Robert from Isabelle.”

The Baron frowned and pressed, “So what did Prince Robert do?”

Alex continued, “A heartbroken Prince Robert left Sophia behind, and she had to finish the debutante without dancing even once.”

“What kind of cursed scum is this? So the Wiscombe lot pulled their tricks at a debutante, of all places? As if that’s something so important! And they dared to mess with Sophia? How could they!”

John quickly tried to calm the Baron.

“Prince Robert was very polite afterward. He apologized to Lady Sophia and even gave her gifts. He also helped with budget issues. The real culprits are the Wiscombe. Both Prince Robert and Lady Sophia were victims.”

Though Alex didn’t entirely agree, he supported John’s intention. If the Baron developed a grudge against Prince Robert, cooperation between the two estates could become difficult. And they still didn’t know much about Prince Robert or what his plans were.

The Baron glared at Alex and John before speaking.

“Why are you staying silent? I can understand why Sophia kept quiet, but you?”

“What can we do? The event already happened. There’s nothing we can change…”

“And that’s a reason to stay silent? No matter how much she pretends to be fine, she mustn’t be. Call Sophia. I want to know exactly what happened. She should also know that Prince Robert is coming to Umbriel.”

“Yes, My Lord.”

Alex stood to go fetch Sophia. Once he had left, the Baron muttered, “Damn Wiscombe. I knew they were up to something. But was it really that serious? Serious enough for the children to hide it from me?”

John replied with a grim expression.

“There were several politically charged articles. Some groups moved to check both Prince Robert and the Wiscombe. The issue grew quite large. Lady Sophia’s situation became a major topic in the capital.”

“Do you think Sophia was hurt by all this?”

“Even if she was, she’ll get over it. From what Jack said, Lady Sophia was the one who gave Prince Robert the opportunity to apologize.”

“Is that so?”

“It seems Prince Robert initially suspected that Lady Sophia was in on a plot with the Wiscombes. Lady Sophia clarified the misunderstanding and even suggested ways to restore his reputation. The romance novels circulating in the estate now? They’re said to be part of the gifts she received from Prince Robert.”

“Hmph, so that’s why she came back with an armful of romance novels she doesn’t even like…”

John, sensing the Baron’s slight shift in mood, cautiously added, “Apparently, she picked books she thought Prince Robert would dislike on purpose.”

A faint smile appeared on the Baron’s face, but it soon faded, leaving only concern. John quietly excused himself from the room.

* * *

Baron Ariel and Sophia strolled through the garden, bathed in the late spring sunlight. Walking slowly, Sophia spoke.

“The Duchess gave me money. She said I should add it to my dowry.”

The Baron stopped for a moment, surprised, then resumed walking.

“You returned it, didn’t you?”

“No, I kept it. It’s still in my drawer, untouched, in that expensive crimson pouch.”

“Why? Why keep it if you don’t plan to use it? You should’ve refused it outright.”

“I need it to remind myself. I can’t forget.”

“Forget what?”

“The price I paid for only seeing what I wanted to see. I was so fixated on the idea of having a debutante without paying a penny that I ignored what was right in front of me.”

The Baron admired his daughter for her introspection, though as a father, it pained him. He spoke softly.

“I was negligent too. I forgot what kind of people they were. I should’ve been more forceful in stopping you.”

Sophia replied with a bitter expression.

“I was desperate, so I saw the sudden generosity from relatives who never contacted me as a gift from the goddess Titania. I thought I was just a token guest. I didn’t realize the Wiscombes had ambitions toward the imperial family. It was my fault for being stubborn and ignoring your advice. From now on, I’ll listen to you. I’ve learned my lesson.”

The Baron let out a weary laugh.

“Don’t be too hard on yourself. Anyone would’ve reacted the same way. Most people would’ve. The Wiscombes knew what we wanted and used it against us. They’re snakes. You probably thought your mother’s side of the family stopped contacting us after her death, but the truth is, they cut her off long before. They disowned her when she chose to marry a poor baron like me.”

“Did they really think so little of you?”

“Hah! They had already planned to marry your mother off to someone in their circle—probably without her even knowing. After they tied themselves to the Wiscombes, they were willing to sacrifice anything for the duchy’s gain. But your mother refused to play along.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me? You could’ve been harsher, warned me that they were a nest of vipers.”

“I suppose I only saw what I wanted to see too. I wanted you to have your debutante, to enjoy it somewhere other than Ariel. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime event. Your mother would’ve wanted you to experience it without a care in the world. We should never have trusted them, though. I guess I’ve grown old and rusty.”

“It was still a good experience for me. I had my debutante, didn’t I? And I got plenty of gifts.”

The Baron shook his head slightly as they continued their walk.

“Those novels!”

“They’re actually quite fun. You know Ariel is swept up in a huge craze over them, right?”

“I’ve heard. They say the novels are being passed from house to house. Many people want to learn how to read, and others gather together to read and listen to the stories. The energy is refreshing, though.”

“Haha, if it’s fun, it’s good.”

Baron Ariel spoke, “I heard that Umbriel is getting a new lord soon.”

“I’ve heard. It’s good news. I hope this time they manage to last longer.”

“Do you know what kind of person Prince Robert is?”

Sophia frowned slightly, and seeing her expression, Baron Ariel asked, “Why? Do you not like him? That man… stepping foot into Ariel’s territory…”

Sophia interrupted the Baron, “The incident at the debutante was ultimately about the imperial succession, wasn’t it? But if Prince Robert is coming to Umbriel, will the Empress or the Cressida family just sit back? I don’t know if they’ll be happy that Prince Robert is far from the capital, or if they’ll keep hindering him.”

“Isn’t moving to Umbriel already a step back in the succession struggle?”

“I’d like to think it’s that simple, but who knows? I just hope Ariel isn’t affected. Maybe I’m worrying for no reason.”

After the harsh lessons she’d learned in the capital, Sophia had come to realize that nothing is ever simple, especially when the imperial family is involved. Baron Ariel was also well aware of her concerns.

“If things go well in Umbriel, that could be good for us. But if that happens, Cressida might not stand still. Let’s just hope the trouble doesn’t spill over to us.”

Both of them sincerely hoped that things would go well in Umbriel. Ariel had been one of the hardest-hit regions by Umbriel’s collapse.

Part of the Titania mountain range that once belonged to Umbriel had been annexed into Ariel, but the expenses of managing it outweighed the benefits. Moreover, refugees from Umbriel had flocked to the nearest place, Ariel.

As more people from Umbriel settled in Ariel, tensions grew between the residents of Ariel and the newcomers. Even though Baron Ariel tried to mediate and offer support, the number of refugees exceeded what Ariel could handle. If Prince Robert could restore order in Umbriel, it would be beneficial for Ariel as well.

Sophia said, “Prince Robert seems to be a smart person. Otherwise, the Empress and Cressida wouldn’t keep causing him trouble. Mrs. Finega shares the same opinion.”

Baron Ariel agreed. But no matter how smart Robert was, it was his first time running a territory.

“Not to mention, Cressida’s interference will surely start soon.”

As they soaked in the late spring sunshine, Baron Ariel muttered, “I hope Wiscombe goes down.”

Sophia burst out laughing at the sudden curse, and the Baron smiled too. Then, louder this time, he said, “Damn Wiscombe!”

* * *

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