Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 105: Getting Along Well with Children

Chapter 105: Getting Along Well with Children

Clarisse was alarmed when Alice began playing with the designs of Arabella’s dress.

"Alice don’t play with Her Majesty’s clothes," Clarisse scolded her daughter and apologized to Arabella.

"It’s alright. She’s a child," Arabella patted Alice’s head. Her hair felt soft and smooth.

Alice seemed to like getting patted.

Fermin does too. This was probably why Arabella had grown a habit of patting children when she sees one and gets the opportunity.

Alice seemed to like Arabella’s flower necklace made of jewels. She stared at it with much interest.

"Wow. It’s shining!"

The little girl’s curiosity got the best of her and touched Arabella’s necklace for a second. Alice looked up at her checking if she was angry.

When she realized Arabella wasn’t, she got braver and touched the necklace much longer this time. And since Arabella didn’t stop her, Alice scrutinized and began playing with the necklace.

Clarisse was worried she would be offended so Arabella smiled to reassure her.

"Does Alice or Raymart have any allergies? I’d like to have the chefs bring some refreshments and cookies."

[Her Majesty is so thoughtful. She asked about allergies first before ordering her maid. She’s gentle and forgiving to a child too.] Clarisse was touched.

[Does Her Majesty have experience with children? I heard the youngest of the Prudencia siblings liked her too and she treated them both nicely.] Raymond wondered.

’Was I too obvious?’

But then again, she could just reason it was because she had been going to orphanages when she was in Lobelius. She did have some bonding time with the children during those times.

"Thankfully, they do not, Your Majesty. Alice likes everything. Raymart is a bit picky but he likes cookies," Clarisse explained and Raymart pouted.

"I’m not picky."

"Then will you eat more vegetables now?" Raymond asked and Raymart looked to the other side not wanting to answer his father’s question.

"Cookies?! Where are the cookies?" Alice meanwhile looked around for the food.

"It will be here in a bit. You can play with my necklace while waiting," Arabella took off her flower necklace and gave it to Alice. "Since you like this, I’m giving it to you as a gift."

"Yay!!" Alice beamed brightly. "Mommy, Daddy, Alice got a necklace! Brother Ray, I got a necklace!"

"Would it be alright? Isn’t it precious to Your Majesty?" Clarisse worried.

But they couldn’t really decline now that Alice had already accepted and was so delighted with it. Alice was even showing it off to her older brother.

"Alice can have it since she likes it. I have no emotional attachments to it. I just had it made and kept it since it was pretty," Arabella assured them.

The flower necklace was something she had custom-made by Lobelius’ best jewelry artisan.

It was just one of her many necklaces. It was indeed pretty, so she had kept it with her for a while. She had no hard feelings about giving it to pretty little Alice. Seeing the little girl so delighted with it was more than enough.

"Alice, what will you say to Her Majesty?" Raymond said and Alice turned silent thinking about it.

"Thank you, Your Ma-jes-ty," Alice tilted her head oh so cutely.

"You are welcome, Alice. Let me put it on you," Arabella made her wear it and Alice was so delighted.

[What a lucky little girl. She’s the first person here in Valeria to ever receive a gift from my wife.]

Arabella froze when she heard Ferdinand’s thoughts.

"Uncle Emperor!" Raymart beamed.

Arabella turned around and saw Ferdinand walking towards her.

[What are all of them doing here? I saw her drinking tea alone so I just went to fetch some Ofelia flowers before coming here. And now it’s crowded.] Ferdinand internally complained.

Arabella noticed Ferdinand glaring at Raymond. The gazebo was still plenty spacious though.

[I guess we should leave.] Raymond was quick to notice as well.

But all of a sudden, Alice cried when Ferdinand finally reached Arabella.

"Waahhh! Mommy!"

"Oh my! What’s wrong Alice?" Arabella tried to comfort her but cannot so Clarisse got Alice.

It was then that Arabella noticed that Alice would glance at Ferdinand and keep crying. Alice was scared of him.

Alice only stopped crying when Clarisse distanced her from Ferdinand.

"Sorry about that, Alice is scared of His Majesty ever since she was a baby," Raymond explained.

On the other hand, it was too obvious that Raymart likes Ferdinand. The boy stopped hiding behind Clarisse or Raymond and fearlessly walked to Ferdinand. It was a rather surprising sight for Arabella.

"Uncle Emperor, I had sword practice again today, and yesterday," Raymart informed.

"Mm," was Ferdinand’s monotonous response.

"Raymart, I told you not to call His Majesty like that."

"But Uncle said it was fine," Raymart argued. "Uncle, what are you hiding behind your back?"

’Oh, was it the Ofelia flowers?’ Arabella glanced at her husband.

She was right. Since Raymart mentioned it, Ferdinand brought out the flowers and handed them to her.

"The Ofelia flowers I promised yesterday," Ferdinand said with a poker face.

[Does she like it? I didn’t plan on giving it to her while everyone was here but this child already pointed it out.]

"Thank you. They’re so pretty," Arabella gazed at the flowers. They were white with blue edges. She sniffed and they smell really good too. It made her want to have Ofelia tea.

"Flowers!" she heard Alice say.

"Aren’t they pretty? Do you like them too? Come here and I’ll give you one," Arabella baited.

Alice looked tempted but she glanced at Ferdinand and she embraced her mother.

Raymond and Clarisse chuckled.

Ferdinand meanwhile, was not pleased with it.

[But I gave her those flowers. Why would she give them to someone else? Does she not like it?]

’I said just one. Can’t he see the little girl obviously likes them?’

Alice kept giving glances at the Ofelia flowers.

"Are you scared of His Majesty? But he’s the one who gave these flowers," Arabella tried to tempt Alice again.

Ferdinand seated himself beside her though so Alice didn’t dare.

"Uncle Emperor, can you also carry me? Her Majesty carried Alice," Raymart was jealous that only Alice was getting attention.

[She wouldn’t want to have children with me if she keeps seeing them scared of me, right? Raymond said I have to get along well with children so I have been meeting with Raymart every now and then. This boy used to be scared of me too, but look at him now. I should carry him, right?]

Ferdinand glanced at Arabella and she nodded. He then carried Raymart and settled the boy on his lap.

"Yay! Alice, I’m on Uncle’s lap," Raymart boasted but Alice couldn’t care less.