It was almost amusing that Sir Gareth, who had been inwardly praising Sophia’s composure, heard her speak in a suddenly urgent voice.

“Saturn’s strike forces are moving toward the Umbriel region.”

“How could you possibly know that from here? What do you see?”

“There are signals. It looks like sporadic fires, but there’s a signal system using fire and smoke.”

Jack ran over to Sophia and spoke quickly.

“They’re heading to Umbriel, not Ariel. Their target seems to be Prince Robert, not the salt mines.”

Sir Gareth asked, “Saturn and Cressida, then?”

Administrator John followed Jack up the stairs with a grave expression.

“It’s a plausible assumption, but it’s still just an assumption.”

Sophia clasped her hands tightly, as if her fingers were cold or as though she were praying. She spoke softly.

“I’m already afraid that most families will be suspected during Saturn’s invasion. This isn’t just about fighting off invaders; we’ll be at war while doubting someone from within. This must be part of Saturn’s strategy. What about the Border Marquis?”

John replied, “He’s stationed at Watchtower One, preparing to send signals. Master Alex is on standby with the reserves.”

“It will begin soon,” Sophia remarked.

“It will indeed,” John replied.

Sir Gareth couldn’t make sense of their conversation. Even as he tried to spot the signals Sophia mentioned, all he could see were figures with torches wandering the mountain range.

Despite this, Sir Gareth, like the others, found himself staring at the mountains without speaking.

He was struck by how the people of Ariel, despite welcoming him and his men, didn’t seem desperate to ask for his help in battle.

It was as though the name “Gareth” was only necessary to reassure the territory’s people, but if they could handle things themselves, they had no intention of relying on him for combat.

Watching their calm and methodical preparations, Sir Gareth already held them in high regard. And now, he has begun to understand the meaning of the word “soon.”

With a thunderous rumble, a tremor originating from the mountains reached Sir Gareth’s feet atop the castle wall.

“It has begun,” Administrator John announced.

“How long can this hold them off?” someone asked.

“That depends on how many of them came. What’s certain is they won’t think about crossing the mountains during the winter.”

Unable to suppress his curiosity any longer, Sir Gareth asked, “What is happening right now? What is that sound?”

Sophia replied in a playful tone, “That’s the sound of the goddess Titania’s wrath.”

John elaborated, “It’s an avalanche. Toward Saturn’s forces. If both their vanguard and subsequent units were on the mountain, Saturn would suffer significant losses. The path would have been buried, too, and with snow and frozen ground, they won’t dare attempt the mountains again during the winter. The loss of life is almost incidental.”

“An avalanche… How is it triggered? Judging by the circumstances, Ariel must have caused it,” Gareth pressed.

“You prepare the mechanism before the snow accumulates,” John explained. “Not for war, but for the safety of the people, to prevent catastrophic avalanches by triggering smaller, controlled ones. However, this is the first time it’s been used deliberately to bury people and paths. It’s a strategy unique to Titania’s geography and climate.”

“I see,” Gareth murmured.

Not long after, lights began dancing in the mountains again.

“It seems it worked,” Sophia said calmly.

“It will take until dawn to properly assess the scene. Let everyone know to head inside,” she instructed.

“Understood,” John replied.

Messengers went through the streets, shouting that the event was over. The castle and surrounding lands quickly returned to order, and those lingering outside moved back indoors.

Even though it was a border region with fewer resources, Ariel was remarkably efficient—more so than other territories. The people moved calmly and without panic.

Sir Gareth found it curious that Ariel hadn’t deployed their army. Despite the Border Marquis leading the reserves, no action had been taken.

As Sophia moved inside, Gareth stopped her with a question.

“The army?”

“It doesn’t seem we’ll need them today. The patrols in the mountains will have resumed by now.”

“Patrols?”

“The Border Patrol is equivalent to special forces in other territories. Every member is born and raised in Ariel. They know Titania better than anyone, treating it as their own backyard. At night, they’re unmatched. No one from Saturn could catch them in the Titania mountains. The only issue is their small numbers. The army will only move when day breaks, but it seems we won’t even need that tomorrow.”

Sophia, looking in a direction other than Titania, spoke.

“What worries me is that if Umbriel is the target, it’s not about how many of Saturn’s strike forces crossed Titania. What’s important is stopping those who might have acted from within. I hope Prince Robert managed well… Shall I pass along any news from Umbriel, even if it comes at dawn?”

Sir Gareth nodded in agreement.

Sophia felt relieved to have a legitimate reason to confidently inquire about news of Umbriel and Prince Robert from Gunther and John.

Sir Gareth, observing Sophia’s composure even immediately after the ambush, remarked with admiration, “The people of Ariel know and protect Ariel best. I’ve learned a lot.”

“Not at all. It’s us who still have much to learn. We simply know Titania well,” Sophia replied.

Sir Gareth turned his gaze back toward Titania. Once again, the mountains were silent.

“It’s as if nothing ever happened.”

***

The next morning, Sophia headed straight to the office after waking up. The Marquis of Ariel, John, and Gunther were already seated.

As soon as Sophia entered, the Marquis addressed her.

“The plan was successful. Now, the next step is the issue. The key will be how well we prepare over the winter. We may need to request reinforcements while conducting training during this period.”

John added, “Let’s hope Saturn is sufficiently intimidated and avoids making any moves during the winter. If they genuinely start fearing avalanches, we might gain even more time. Snowfall in Titania lasts until spring—sometimes even into late spring.”

Sophia asked with a worried expression, “Has there been any news from Umbriel?”

The Marquis replied in a somber tone, “Not yet. What’s troubling is that the strike force didn’t even pretend to head toward the salt mines.”

Sophia speculated, “Perhaps the ambush on Umbriel and Philip Wiscombe’s arrival in Oberon share the same purpose—sowing suspicion and division.”

“Hmm.”

“I doubt Wiscombe has truly allied with Saturn. Would someone as cunning as Wiscombe risk his family’s standing for Prince Frederick? They’re not even officially betrothed yet. If Prince Frederick’s position weakens, Wiscombe would likely withdraw immediately. I think Saturn aims to make Wiscombe appear as though he betrayed us.”

The Marquis’s expression darkened. “Could that be the case?”

“If Saturn wants to throw Uranus into chaos, there’s nothing more effective than the suspicion that a major family is colluding with Saturn. Bringing Philip Wiscombe to Oberon and making it seem as though Wiscombe is on their side… If Saturn’s target is not Ariel but the Uranus Empire itself, this would be a highly effective tactic.”

Sophia’s words brought a heavy silence to the office. She continued, “Both Cressida and Wiscombe are no ordinary families. Cressida is part of the imperial lineage, and Wiscombe is a ducal family. But if both families come under suspicion of treason… How can Uranus focus on its borders? If some mad strategist from Saturn has spent years planning this, there might be even more to it.”

Gunther’s expression grew grave. “Are you suggesting that yesterday’s ambush on Umbriel was part of Saturn’s scheme to corner Cressida and Wiscombe?”

Sophia nodded. “We’ve been certain about collusion between Oberon and Saturn. But with Cressida and Wiscombe, we’ve only had suspicions, no evidence. Then Philip Wiscombe appears. On top of that, they deliberately directed some forces toward Umbriel during the ambush. This time, the focus will shift to questioning the connection between Saturn and Cressida. And there may even be some truth to it.”

It was a conclusion Sophia had pondered until morning.

“Whether the ambush on Umbriel succeeded or failed, it’s a win for Saturn’s scheme, isn’t it?”

The Marquis commented, “Cressida and Wiscombe might indeed have ties to Saturn.” His expression remained heavy.

Gunther added, “If Lady Sophia’s suspicion that Saturn intentionally failed in its ambush holds, it means Saturn also targeted Cressida. This could imply that Saturn has another collaborator within Uranus beyond Cressida.”

The Marquis nodded solemnly. “That’s likely their aim. Cressida might find themselves in a position where they have no choice but to rebel, propping up Prince Frederick. And the suspicion of yet another traitor within Uranus…”

Sophia interjected, “Perhaps the moment we feel relieved about overcoming one crisis, another attack will begin. Saturn will stir up internal discord in Uranus, strike from the outside, then reignite internal suspicion, over and over.”

Gunther said cautiously, “If Cressida really moved last night to eliminate Prince Robert…”

John, his voice weary, chimed in, “It’s possible that Cressida was aware of Saturn’s ambush—or even coordinated it in advance. Saturn’s invasions don’t happen every day, after all. And with someone like Philip Wiscombe in Oberon to take the blame, this timing is optimal. Another attempt would carry much higher risks. The fact that Wiscombe isn’t entirely an innocent victim only adds to the confusion. Still, I’m convinced that Cressida is a traitor.”

The Marquis grimly asked, “Is Prince Frederick truly beyond redemption?”

Sophia replied cautiously, her tone measured.

“It doesn’t seem to be quite like that. Instead, it appears significant that Duke Gareth and the orthodox faction have turned their backs. Also, more people seem to be reassessing Prince Robert’s abilities in a favorable light. They probably didn’t see him as a competitor before, but now that he’s closing the gap so rapidly, they’re feeling a heightened sense of urgency, don’t you think?”

The Marquis of Ariel replied angrily, “If Prince Frederick is so unreliable, they shouldn’t have considered him as the crown prince in the first place.”

Sophia silently agreed. However, she knew that Cressida would not abandon Prince Frederick—no, it wasn’t even an option for them.

Sophia sighed and said, “Perhaps it’s not such a complicated strategy after all. Maybe I’ve been overthinking things, twisting everything unnecessarily in my mind.”

John, the Marquis, and Gunther, who had been listening to Sophia in the office, knew that wasn’t the case.

They thought Sophia wasn’t lacking in skill—she simply lacked confidence in her opinions because she was still inexperienced and encountering much of politics for the first time.

Just then, news arrived from Umbriel. Prince Robert was safe, and part of the strike force that had descended on Umbriel had been captured.

Additionally, all individuals who had acted from within were apprehended, and plans were in place to send them to the capital under suspicion of being Saturnian spies.

Sophia felt a great sense of relief upon hearing that Prince Robert was unharmed.

Gunther attached Sophia’s speculations to a report and sent it urgently to the Emperor. Interrogating the alleged Saturnian spies captured in Umbriel would help verify Sophia’s theories.