Timid and Shy - ✿ dusk blossoms ✿

Lord Cressida had assumed that Saturn’s reduced communication was simply because they were preoccupied with the war against Uranus.

“If it’s true that they’ve actually been eliminated by Uranus rather than just lying low due to the war…”

“Why would the Emperor handle this so quietly?” Lord Cressida asked, puzzled.

The Countess of Cressida replied in a weak, almost lifeless voice.

“To protect the administrative wing. Some of the people we know about were palace employees and staff.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to inform the orthodox faction about this?”

Before Lord Cressida could finish his thought, the Countess sharply interjected.

“Do not take the lead on this matter, under any circumstances. Whether sooner or later, word will spread on its own. For now, we have enough on our plate. Tomorrow morning, I will visit the Empress. I expect you’ll soon decide how to proceed with this matter.”

“Frederick will no longer act according to our plans. Especially now, when our position is visibly weak. Wiscombe has postponed the engagement while simultaneously increasing their influence over Prince Frederick. They won’t allow him to return to Cressida.”

“For now, focus on observing the situation. You’ve likely gained more watchful eyes than before. Some might already be talking.”

“Yes, Mother.”

A flicker of cold resolve appeared in Lord Cressida’s eyes.

***

Though the two managed to get some restless sleep, the Empress spent the entire night wide awake. The Countess of Cressida never showed up, leaving the Empress to stew in frustration. When the Countess finally arrived early in the morning, the Empress glared at her.

“How could you leave me all alone? Do you truly wish to see Frederick and I break away from Cressida?”

Though irritation flared momentarily, the Countess skillfully maintained her composure. After steadying her breath, she calmly responded.

“The Emperor has reinforced security at the palace. Last night, I was forced to turn my carriage around at the gates. Haven’t you heard anything? This is a matter concerning the palace, yet you seem completely unaware. Have you seen the Emperor lately?”

The Empress froze, her expression hardening.

“What did you just say? Why?”

She rose from her seat.

“I must speak to the Emperor and find out—”

The Countess gently pressed her hand on the Empress’s shoulder, stopping her.

“It’s already been implemented, and no amount of protest will change it. The Emperor will simply let you shout and rage before leaving things as they are. Your complexion doesn’t look good. You haven’t been sleeping properly, have you? Rest for a bit now, and think things through calmly. There’s no urgency in seeing the Emperor, is there?”

Moved by the Countess’s tender tone and gentle pats, the Empress quietly nodded and allowed herself to be led to her bedroom. As she tucked the Empress in, the Countess spoke softly.

“The Empress must remain strong if we are to proceed. We won’t neglect you, but if anything unusual occurs, keep a close eye on your surroundings. There may be those trying to obstruct us. Do you understand?”

The Empress nodded obediently again, letting the Countess guide her under the covers.

***

Meanwhile, in Ariel, Sophia was deeply engrossed in studying maps. A pile of charts covered her desk once again, prompting Administrator John to comment with a chuckle.

“It feels like you’re on another treasure hunt, my lady.”

Sophia looked up from the maps and replied,

“This time, it’s not treasure I’m looking for but hidden paths. I’m checking if there’s anything we or the rangers might have missed. Landslides have altered the terrain frequently, so new routes might have formed.”

John responded thoughtfully,

“If landslides created any paths, they’d likely be little more than rough trails, barely usable. They wouldn’t be connected properly, and moving a large force through them would be impossible.”

“Still, it’s worth verifying,” Sophia insisted.

“I’ll have the defense forces compile information on recent terrain changes,” John offered.

“Hopefully, this doesn’t just add unnecessary work,” he muttered as Sir Gareth entered the room.

“Terrain is crucial in warfare. Regular checks are essential,” Sophia replied firmly.

After exchanging greetings, Sir Gareth settled in, gradually adjusting to the informality of Ariel’s procedures compared to his home estate. At Gareth Manor, strict rules and procedures reigned supreme, but Ariel’s more relaxed structure and simplicity intrigued even Sir Gareth.

As he entered, Jack, the versatile steward, immediately stepped out to fetch tea and snacks. Sir Gareth noted Jack’s remarkable efficiency in balancing duties that seemed to span butler, aide, and administrator.

When Jack left the room again, Sir Gareth remarked,

“What exactly are Jack’s duties? He seems to be involved in almost everything, errands and tasks alike,”

Sophia replied, “Officially, he’s just a junior administrator, but his role involves assisting with a variety of tasks to keep everything running smoothly. Typical duties for someone in his position.”

“He’s quite sharp. Even Alex has praised him. At the moment, I’d say he understands the inner workings of Ariel Castle better than anyone else. He’s also diligently learning from the other clerks,” Sophia added with a smile.

John beamed with pride at her compliment.

Sir Gareth spoke up, “He seems young. Have you considered sending him to the academy? He might thrive there.”

John hesitated. “The idea of a clerk’s son attending the academy is a bit…”

Sophia laughed. “When I brought it up, Jack said he’s done so much here that he’d feel it was unfair to leave Ariel. But it’s something we’re keeping in mind.”

John, still looking uneasy, replied, “I know my son well, but getting a scholarship or becoming a recognized talent in the Empire is… unlikely.”

Sophia countered, “What are you saying? He’d return to Ariel after graduating from the academy. By the time Jack is back, Ariel will have grown even more. Don’t you think? Without academy experience, it might be harder for him to lead future subordinates who are academy graduates. Leadership requires skill, yes, but respect doesn’t come easily without credentials.”

John’s expression wavered between astonishment and gratitude as he pondered her words.

Sophia continued, “It’s just one possibility for now. Jack’s wishes are the most important factor. Besides, Ariel would face disruptions if Jack left immediately. We must decide carefully—for Jack’s sake as well.”

John nodded, understanding the significance of the decision. Ariel was already changing, and the future held even greater transformation. Even under him, there were academy-trained clerks and personnel dispatched from Umbriel.

While John was lost in thought, Sir Gareth observed the expressions of both Sophia and John.

‘Ariel is still evolving,’ he thought. He had to admit, he had grown fond of these people since arriving in Ariel. Even his own knights felt at ease among the locals, who treated them casually yet respectfully.

Young villagers followed Gareth’s knights around, eager to learn and absorb anything they could, which seemed to bring a quiet satisfaction to the knights.

As Gareth nibbled on his snack, he commented, “Saturn seems to be engaging in psychological warfare. He hasn’t shown himself at all.”

After a deep breath, John replied, as though setting aside his concerns about Jack for later, “Sir Gunther has gone to Umbriel to assess the situation there and gather intelligence on Saturn’s activities.”

“To Umbriel?”

“Yes. The capital has been sending people to Umbriel frequently to keep us updated on Saturn’s status. While Saturn is waging war, there’s significant internal strife. War both affects and is influenced by power struggles.”

Sophia remarked, “It must be nice to be a prince. You’re always the first to receive such information.”

“And we benefit from those advantages as well, so it’s even better,” Sophia added with a grin.

The Marquis of Ariel entered the office and said, “Gunther has just returned. I’ve called him up to the office right away. Oh, and Sir Gareth, it’s good you’re here—you can hear the report too. Alex should be arriving shortly.”

Soon after, Alex entered, carrying two heavy trays.

“These are from Ellie and Mother-in-law. There’s also a letter for Gunther from Helen.”

The trays were laden with tea and various snacks.

Gareth, comparing his own snack to what Gunther was about to receive, commented, “For Gunther? Unbelievable… I’m actually envious.”

Gunther entered the office, his shy smile showing as he immediately took Helen’s letter. Then he began his report.

“The auditors in Umbriel all agree that Saturn’s internal situation is far from stable.”

The Marquis asked, “What do you mean by unstable?”

Sophia’s eyes lit up. “Is there a chance that Sir Enceladus might secede?”

Gunther nodded. Gareth smiled and added, “It’s no surprise. Both Saturn and Sir Enceladus are in trouble with Uranus, and Sir Enceladus’ Titan Knights are renowned across the continent. The King of Saturn must be trying to bring Sir Enceladus under control.”

Gunther elaborated, “The King of Saturn has long wanted the Titan Knights under royal command. When that failed, he tried to bring individual knights into the royal fold, but those based in Enceladus’ estate resisted. It’s said that appointing young Sir Enceladus as commander of this war was another attempt to bind the Titan Knights to the royal house.”

Curious, Gareth asked, “How?”

Gunther explained, “Most of the Titan Knights are now stationed in the capital. Officially, they’re communication liaisons between the capital and Enceladus’ estate, but in reality, they’re essentially hostages. Moreover, the battlefield is in the Titania Mountains, where the knights’ mobility is limited. The capital’s troops have been sent in group to reinforce Enceladus instead.”

When Alex looked at him with a curious expression, Gunther added an explanation.

“Considering the sheer number of soldiers, Enceladus can’t possibly feed and clothe them all. The count is so high that if the war drags on, the domain would face financial ruin. For Enceladus, the best way to minimize losses is to end the war quickly and send the soldiers back to the capital.”

Alex, munching on a snack, remarked, “Whoever is orchestrating this in Saturn is quite cunning. Could it be the king’s inner circle? Or is this another scheme by that Methone fellow?”

Gunther responded, “It seems that Methone, the priest, has finally moved to Titania. He’s always been a strategist working from the capital, so this is his first time heading to the battlefield. However, he’s said to have the king’s complete trust. While his visit might appear supportive, it’s generally believed to be disciplinary. His role is likely to reprimand and monitor Sir Enceladus, who has achieved no meaningful results thus far.”

“Isn’t Priest Methone an ally of Sir Enceladus? How can he devise such elaborate schemes against Uranus and yet fail to support the commander?” Alex looked genuinely puzzled.

Sophia interjected, “Methone seems to be aiming for two goals at once: weakening Uranus’ national power through war while simultaneously finding ways to strengthen Saturn’s king. The sacrifices for this plan are Enceladus and the Titan Knights.”

Sir Gareth, with a look of disgust, said, “Discussing how to get rid of the hunting dog before the hunt even begins… That Methone fellow truly leaves a bad taste in my mouth.”

Sophia continued, “The most unscrupulous person is probably Saturn’s king. He’s waging a war against Uranus without spending a penny of the royal treasury, coveting another domain’s knights, and now he even wants their salt mines. His greed knows no bounds, and he hoards his own resources. How can Sir Enceladus possibly remain loyal in such conditions?”

Sir Gareth, now deep in thought, fell silent.

‘Could Gareth remain loyal under such circumstances?’

He found himself unable to answer easily.