Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 158: All-Nighter

Chapter 158: All-Nighter

After a day of visiting the territories her assistants hailed from, Arabella focused on work the following day.

Raymond had sent a lot of work both to her and Ferdinand to accomplish as soon as possible. They were both in Safiro for a week, after all. Thus, a lot of paperwork was lagging behind.

Raymond had been swamped with it in his office the whole time they were in Safiro. So now that they were back, they had to help him so he could take a short break since it should have been their work in the first place.

As the Prime Minister and Ferdinand’s butler, Raymond had no choice but to do all the work in their absence. He was very much competent but he also had a family to take care of. He hasn’t gone home for a week since the issue in Safiro was revealed.

’His children must miss him a lot,’ Arabella recalled the two little angels. It must be lonely not getting to see their father. Clarisse was very much understanding as well to have been allowing this for years.

Arabella also heard Raymond hadn’t slept for several days. Though he had a sturdy body, it still wasn’t good to overwork him all the time.

Raymond had no choice though since he was in charge once Ferdinand was busy elsewhere. But now that Arabella was here, she should be the one in charge in times her husband was away so she should get used to getting busy.

Thankfully, she wasn’t really new to it. She was just trying to act like a newbie the past month so everyone wouldn’t think it was suspicious that she already knew everything she should do without getting taught.

She had breakfast with Ferdinand early in the morning and they both headed to their respective offices shortly after.

’I can do this! This is nothing compared to all the work I did when I was the Empress for two decades,’ Arabella psyched herself up.

The documents were urgent which was why Raymond needed the help. Thus, Arabella focused on it for a whole day.

Ivan and Eunice assisted her in the meantime since her other assistants were yet to start working. Their schedule to work was set to begin in more than two weeks.

Ivan was happy with working early though since of course, he would be paid before the others. He also wanted to know how Arabella works so he would be able to adapt to her ways as soon as possible.

Thanks to the two, so much more work was done compared to when Arabella would have done it alone.

Ivan was truly an efficient worker. Eunice meanwhile, was adept at sorting out which document goes where and organizing the work they had done.

Arabella’s lunch and dinner were both served in her office and she ate with the two. They worked overtime since they wanted to meet Raymond’s expectations. This was the first task the three of them worked on together too so they wanted to do well.

And after long hours of working together...

"Well done you too. I’m so glad to have you both," Arabella praised them when they were finally done with all the documents Raymond had sent.

She thought of having it sent to Raymond’s office but it was already past midnight. No, it was already dawn.

They were all so focused on work that they didn’t feel how much time had passed by. No wonder Carla and Irene had already sent them tea and light refreshments several times.

"Thank you for your help, Ivan. I would have had to do this until the following day if you are not around," Arabella was truly grateful.

"It is an honor to be able to work with you, Your Majesty."

[She praised me?!]

Ivan was happy to be praised that he was even blushing a bit. None of his superiors before ever praised him apparently even though he works so well.

’Geez. Just how petty were his former superiors? Ivan is such a talent. They should have been happy and grateful to have him.’

It was obviously due to envy and insecurity. They couldn’t accept a commoner doing better than they were.

’Perhaps I should find these superiors of his and give them some punishment. If they continue what they were doing, they would keep wasting talents. What if more people like Ivan end up working for them?’

Arabella decided she should indeed try to give justice to the injustices Ivan had suffered. It would truly be a waste of talents if his former superiors and co-workers would keep bullying talented newcomers just because they were not of noble blood.

[Her Majesty is more hardworking than she looks. I have heard rumors that she was just busy taking beauty naps and taking care of her skin but it wasn’t true at all.] Ivan noted.

’Oh, that rumor must have begun because I just stayed in my room most of the time for an entire month right after the wedding.’

"Since we are done, you may retire for the night," Arabella instructed and Ivan then took his leave.

"Thank you for your help too, Eunice. You are not even an official and yet I’m making you help with these," Arabella felt bad for having Eunice have an all-nighter with them. She was a great help though so Arabella asked her to work with them in the interim.

"Please don’t worry about it. I am happy to be able to aid Your Majesty in every way I could. I am honored to have been included in this task."

’Aw, she’s such a good girl. And very competent too. She should have taken the exams too. I would definitely hire her as one of my assistants.’

Arabella thought of rewarding Eunice later once she was able to think of what to give her.

She made Eunice retire for the night as well.

Arabella stretched her arms and yawned once she was alone. Her shoulders were stiff. Her arms ached from writing for several hours. And her back hurt a bit from sitting for so long. She rose and did some stretching to ease her back pain.

It was the first time she worked so hard in a while. She was able to finish all the documents though so she felt good about the accomplishment.

Ivan and Eunice felt the same. They were satisfied with the sense of accomplishment as well.

’I should head to my room too.’

Rendell, Carla, and Irene were outside her office waiting for her. It was Carla and Irene’s turn to wait on her so they stayed up late with her too.

Once Arabella was working, her maids usually stay outside her office and wait for her to ring the bell if they were needed. It was because some documents could be case-sensitive and maids often gossip around.

Even if they were warned not to talk about what they see in the office, they might talk about it among themselves and risk others from listening in. Thus, the maids usually stay and wait by the door just like her guards.

’Finally, time to sleep,’ Arabella yawned again as she walked to the door.

Rendell probably heard her footsteps and opened the door for her.

To her surprise, her husband was there as well. He hadn’t slept for several days due to his workload but it didn’t show on his face at all.

’What is he doing here? Did he finish all the work so much earlier than us and waited here until I was done?’

Ferdinand had his assistants in his office as well so it would be no wonder if they were able to finish earlier than her.

But she was sure Raymond had sent more work to Ferdinand since he was trying to keep him from visiting her room.

"Had you been waiting for a while? You could have knocked."

She was so focused on work that she didn’t hear any thoughts from everyone so Ferdinand could have been waiting for hours.

"I just arrived," Ferdinand replied but Arabella knew it was a lie. It was obvious from the faces Carla and Irene made.

[His Majesty had been waiting for three hours though.] Carla and Irene thought.

’Oh my. I thought so. Ferdinand was done so much earlier than I was.’

"Why did you work for too long? You could have continued in the morning. This is not good for your health. What if you lose weight again?"

[She had just barely gained some weight. I can’t have her lose weight again. What if she passes out from overwork?] Ferdinand was a worrywart.

"I didn’t want to sleep early so I thought of getting the work done instead," Arabella lied as well and Ferdinand was also able to tell. "It is also my duty as your wife to work as the Empress so I have to do my part. We have a whole Empire to take care of after all."

[Right. This is all because of my carelessness. If I had ensured Prudencia and Safiro were doing well, she wouldn’t have been pressured to work this hard.] Ferdinand blamed himself.

’I wasn’t trying to blame him though. I just wanted to say I want to support him in taking care of Valeria.’

[I’m happy she refers to herself as my wife and Empress now. But I don’t want her to strain herself.]

"I’m sorry. I didn’t marry you to make you work this hard," Ferdinand gently caressed her cheek.

[Kyaah! His Majesty is so sweet and caring to Her Majesty! He always looks so cold and scary but he’s so different once he is with the Empress. They look so good together.] Carla and Irene enjoyed listening to their conversations and displays of affection.

"I know. But whether we like it or not, it’s part of a royalty’s life to sleep less and work hard. Even in Lobelius, I had a lot of tasks as the first princess. So you don’t have to worry too much. I’m used to doing some work. I rather enjoyed more than a month of lazing around after we got married. It was the first break I had in a while," Arabella smiled to reassure him.

Ferdinand was still troubled at seeing her work till past midnight though.

[I just wanted her to enjoy herself and do as she pleases. That Raymond, it’s not like I would go back on my word. He didn’t have to give so much work to my wife as well just to ensure she wouldn’t be in her room even if I went there.]

Arabella stopped herself from giggling as Ferdinand internally blamed Raymond as well.

Raymond was apparently doubting that Ferdinand could keep his word so he was going to such lengths to ensure her husband would not sneak into her room at night. Raymond still doesn’t know that the times Ferdinand slept in her room, they didn’t consummate at all.

"Stop worrying. I’m alright. It’s just one night," Arabella looped her hand around his arm to distract his thoughts. It was very effective since his attention was dragged where her body was touching his. The tips of his ears turned red. He was too sensitive.

"Alright then. I’ll make it up to you somehow," Ferdinand finally escorted her so they began to walk towards her room.

[I want to help her relax and get proper rest after all the stress she went through the past few days. It’s fine to invite her, right?]

Ferdinand was lost in thought for a while until they reached her room.

He was thinking about inviting her somewhere. He had apparently been thinking about it while waiting for her to finish her work. But now that he was supposed to ask her, he was hesitating. He was worried that she might not be in the mood for a date due to all the work they have.