Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 152: Just Following Orders [Bonus - ]

Chapter 152: Just Following Orders [Bonus Chapter]

Investigations revealed that Hayden was a resident of a kingdom near Safiro.

Hayden said he had been to Safiro several years ago. According to his story, he accidentally wandered into a cave when he got lost in Mt. Esme. He stayed there for a few days due to the rain and delved deeper into the cave.

It was how he learned about the presence of magic ores in Safiro.

Magic ores were expensive so he wanted his hands on them to be able to live a carefree life in the future and spend his days experimenting as much as he wished. He also planned to keep some for himself. Magicians were known for their obsession with magic experiments after all.

At least, that was the story he wanted everyone to believe.

But Arabella learned from Hayden’s thoughts that he was intentionally looking for sources of magic ores to be used in the future.

Hayden felt Esmeralda’s presence in Safiro and a bit of Blanca’s which was why he went to Mt. Esme to check.

Esmeralda blocked him when he tried to enter deeper into the caves so he wouldn’t reach Blanca’s location.

Since he could not overpower Esmeralda, Hayden had to weaken her first in order to get the magic ores and retrieve Blanca. His goal for getting Blanca was to use her as a mana supply. Arabella doesn’t know how that works but it sounded cruel.

Hayden did not know the presence he felt was from a pegasus but he knew it was from a hibernating member of the long-lived races. He knew not only of the presence of dryads but also that of the long-lived races as a whole.

And most importantly, Hayden was indeed working for someone. He did not want to implicate whoever it was, so he was taking the fall himself. Hayden was fine with getting executed just so the identity of his master would not be leaked.

Arabella realized that the problem in Safiro could be so something so much bigger than she thought.

Since Hayden was just following instructions from someone, Safiro may not be the only place which has turned into such a poor territory due to some unknown power’s intervention.

Arabella was then faced with a new dilemma.

How would she inform Ferdinand about this?

She cannot just let this information remain buried or else they might face more dangers in the future due to it. Hayden’s allies might also target a new location to get magic ores now that the supply from Safiro was cut off.

Arabella just learned that it was Ferdinand’s job to protect the long-lived races here in the human realm so he would get involved in this case again even if it was no longer in Safiro. He had to know about Hayden’s lies.

But Arabella couldn’t possibly reveal she could read minds which was how she knew about it.

The trial was over and Hayden would be executed with the others soon. If she delayed Hayden’s execution, she would be the one who would seem suspicious. But she had to at least try to find a way to hint about Hayden’s lies.

"Ferdinand, can I speak with the magician?" Arabella whispered to her husband and she got a deep frown. It was a clear ’no’.

"It’s dangerous. Why would you want to speak with him?" Ferdinand was so against it.

[He might still have something up his sleeve. He doesn’t seem to be worried or nervous about dying. He must have a backup plan. What if he tries to kill everyone here with some spell? I don’t want my wife anywhere near him. I’d rather kill him right now before he does anything.] Ferdinand glared at Hayden.

[What was that?!] Hayden flinched and looked around for the source of the malicious intent he felt.

Ferdinand didn’t even try to hide it and glared even more intensely so it was Hayden who looked away in the end.

’What should I tell him?’ Arabella pondered on what reason she could say to approach Hayden but found none.

She looked around and saw Dempsey and his fellows not looking well. She finally found her excuse.

"It’s just that, it’s a bit suspicious that he doesn’t even look like he’s afraid to die even though he’s about to be executed. Dempsey and all the others look so pale," she said in a low voice.

[Oh, she also doesn’t believe the reasons he had made up.]

’Eh?! Ferdinand already knew?’ Arabella blinked repeatedly.

"Come, let’s talk about this in the palace," Ferdinand rose and helped her up.

’Why in the palace?’ As far as Arabella could recall, in her past life, they usually watched the execution until it was over.

She had also witnessed some executions in Lobelius when she was young. It gave her nightmares and made her unable to sleep. She had to go to happy events to get over it. Yet, it would still take some time for her to fine.

But now, she would probably be just fine. She was used to it now after watching it a lot of times in her past life.

"We won’t watch the execution?" Arabella inquired. She still doesn’t like it but it’s part of her duty so she would do her best.

"No need," Ferdinand guided her to the back of the podium where the curtains were drawn.

[Why would I have you be riddled with nightmares from watching them die? I’d rather you think of me instead of suffering from nightmares due to insignificant people.]

Ferdinand did not forget Aletha’s words about Arabella not liking the sight of blood and getting nightmares from it.

"Would it be alright?" they were the rulers of Valeria so this was supposed to be part of their duty. But then again, it wasn’t really written in any law in Valeria that they had to witness the executions.

Alwin then teleported them to the Imperial Palace before returning to Arno to watch over everything.

Arabella prepared herself to listen to what Ferdinand would reveal about Hayden.