Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 146: Still the Best [Bonus - ]

Chapter 146: Still the Best [Bonus Chapter]

Arabella fully agreed with Esmeralda’s thoughts. She also knew Alwin was powerful but this was over the top.

Can someone even defeat him?

Is there anyone out there more powerful than he was?

As far as Arabella knew, Ferdinand’s asset was physical strength. She learned that he could also use magic but she doesn’t know to what extent.

But since her husband enjoys duels, she surmised Ferdinand was more specialized in combat.

If Alwin ever betrayed Ferdinand, it would be far too dangerous. Thankfully, he was loyal to Ferdinand.

[She’s looking at him with those shining eyes again. Has she ever even looked at me that way before?] Ferdinand sulkily thought and Arabella almost sighed in exasperation.

’Can’t Ferdinand just stop giving such meaning to everything?’

She wanted to frown or glare at him but when she peeked at his face, he looked so envious and forlorn so she felt bad.

"My Dear, this is phenomenal! How did you find such a talent? I didn’t know it was possible to grow a forest in less than a day if you can use magic," Arabella hinted that she doesn’t know much about magic so she would, of course, be amazed by these things. Even Esmeralda and Blanca were astounded after all.

But Ferdinand didn’t understand her hint at all.

[What’s so amazing about this?]

’Is this because of a difference in perception of what’s normal and exceptional? To Ferdinand, this is nothing?’

[She always had such high praises for Alwin. She hasn’t even praised me to this extent yet.]

’Eh? He’s just jealous? I didn’t directly praise Alwin though. I was referring to what he did, not him as a person. There’s a huge difference between the two,’ she reminded herself not to praise Alwin or his feats in front of Ferdinand again.

[If I wasn’t forbidden to use my powers here, I could have done this faster. I was the one who taught and trained this little brat after all. How dare he show off in front of my wife. I didn’t tell him to regrow the entire forest.]

’He was the one who taught Alwin?!!’ Arabella blinked twice.

’Then, doesn’t that mean Ferdinand was more powerful than Alwin even in magic?’

But then again, students often surpass their teachers.

More importantly, Ferdinand should stop giving other meanings to her words and actions. She was just honestly being awed by Alwin’s magical abilities. It wasn’t about Alwin as a man.

Arabella wondered if she should scold Ferdinand later once they have a chance to be alone or give him lots of love so he wouldn’t too wary of everything.

But then again, Ferdinand had been doing his best here in Safiro.

Despite thinking so often that he wanted to be with her, he hadn’t even visited her chamber once. He just focused on working to fast-track everything so the Safirans would get the help they needed as soon as possible.

[Look at her eyes darkening when it’s me she’s looking at. Is she still angry at me? Or does she simply dislike me? I want to keep gazing at her every single day, every second. And yet, the times I spend with her are always way too brief. And today I have even made her angry. I’ve been wanting to talk with her about a lot of things but I haven’t had the chance to speak with her yet. And her attention is always elsewhere. How can I make her look at me more? She’s always looking at Alwin more than me. What if she had truly fallen for Alwin instead?]

Arabella froze when she realized something from Ferdinand’s thoughts.

’Right. He must be frustrated and fearful because I don’t have feelings for him yet.’

Ferdinand was fearful that once her attention landed on someone he believed she perceives as better than he was, he might lose her.

Even if she had assured him she wouldn’t ask for a divorce, that doesn’t mean she couldn’t and wouldn’t fall for someone else. The heart is so much more complicated than that after all. Once cannot instruct it how to feel about something or someone.

’Ferdinand couldn’t help it so I shouldn’t get irritated by it.’

Arabella recalled that in her past life when it was her in this situation, she was desperate for Ferdinand’s attention too, and gave meaning to every little thing he did.

Since she didn’t have feelings for him yet, she’s forgetting that every little thing counts.

She even used to envy his knights who spent more time with him and had more of his attention. She used to long for his eyes to linger on her longer than usual too. For him to smile at her even just once. For his eyes to keep shining as he gazed at her even if just in bed.

It wasn’t ’nothing’. Because everything they do matters to the other.

It was exactly because Ferdinand has feelings for her that his eyes were naturally drawn to everything she does most of the time. It was why he couldn’t help but notice every little detail and give it all sorts of thoughts and end up thinking negatively due to worries and doubts.

Arabella was like this once too. She knew the feeling perfectly well. She shouldn’t get annoyed with Ferdinand when he’s just longing for her love and attention.

’I’m sorry I keep forgetting,’ Arabella hugged him.

"..."

Ferdinand was wide-eyed and speechless as he searched her eyes for an answer to his unspoken question.

"My husband is still the best, of course," she beamed and Ferdinand’s ears turned red.

[I’m the best?!!]

Ferdinand knew it was flattery but he loved hearing it from her anyway. He had a funny and somehow adorable expression on his face too. He embraced her and buried his face in her hair to hide it.

[What’s wrong with me? My heart’s beating so wild just from a few words. I was probably too obvious with my thoughts that she noticed and had to say it for my sake. She doesn’t even mean it. And yet... Why am I still so happy to hear it? Is it because she’s being considerate of me?]

Arabella could feel his wild heartbeat. It was beating too loudly.

[WHAT ARE THEY DOING WHILE I AM WORKING HERE?!] Arabella flinched at Alwin’s furious-sounding thoughts.

’Oops. I got carried away. Why did I hug him while everyone is around?!’ she realized she did it too soon. She should have done it when they were alone.

The ground suddenly shook again and so their hug time was over.

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A/N:

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