Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 163: Don’t Let Go

Chapter 163: Don’t Let Go

"Were you expecting something?" Arabella asked in a teasing tone and Ferdinand was wide-eyed.

"N-no! I wasn’t thinking of anything of that sort," he denied. His ears were red though as he continued, "I wasn’t planning to see you naked or anything. I just wanted to bring you here to relax."

’Haha. He spilled it himself.’

[She wouldn’t think I brought her here to see her naked body, right?! It totally left my mind that we would have to remove our usual clothing once we take a dip. But after helping her undress, I realized I might get to see her naked today. I wouldn’t say I wasn’t looking forward to it. I’d love to see her wearing fewer clothes or none at all. But why is she wearing an entire robe instead? Is she getting into the water just like this?]

The disappointment was clear even in his thoughts. He was indeed expecting to see some skin.

"Right. Shall we get into the water then?" Arabella smiled.

[She didn’t believe me. Was I too obvious?] Ferdinand wanted to try to reason out more but he realized that the more he tried to explain, the guiltier he would look. He decided to shut his mouth and offered his arm to escort her instead.

[She would really wear it into the water.] Ferdinand internally complained.

They walked to the edge of the water and Arabella got rid of her slippers.

[Oh, she’s already barefoot. Her feet are so small. I’ll carry her instead. What if her foot got injured? I can’t have her getting hurt because I brought her here.]

"Please excuse me," Ferdinand said, scooping her up so easily.

"I can get into the water on my own," Arabella protested but he didn’t settle her back to the ground.

"I’ll carry you just like this. The stones underneath might be too hot for your feet."

"Eh? Then doesn’t that mean you’ll get hurt instead?" Arabella frowned.

"I’m fine. My skin is not sensitive. Yours is too delicate and tender," Ferdinand said matter-of-factly.

’Just what does he think of my body?’

But then again, he’s a dragon. What was she worried about?

Ferdinand explained that the stones and water in the deepest parts, a good distance from where they were, were much hotter.

They wouldn’t go to that part though since Arabella doesn’t know how to swim. It might be too hot for her as well.

Ferdinand finally stepped into the hot spring and warned when her feet would finally touch the water. It was comfortably warm.

He walked deeper and deeper and Arabella was wide-eyed when the water reached his shoulder.

"Dear, can you walk back to the shallower part? This is too deep for me. My feet won’t be able to reach the ground if the water’s already reaching your shoulders."

She can only go into the water up to her neck. With the water up to Ferdinand’s shoulders, it would fully submerge her even if she tiptoed. She was just up to Ferdinand’s chest. Even lower now that she was barefoot.

"It’s alright. I can just carry you like this. You will also float here. See," Ferdinand said and let go of her without warning.

"No! Don’t let go!" Arabella instantly clung around his neck for dear life. She simply knew she would sink.

[She’s never held me this tight. She’s scared to float as well?] Ferdinand carried her again.

"How could you just drop me like that?!! I don’t know how to float," Arabella scolded in a raised voice once she was safe in his arms again.

[She doesn’t?!! I must have scared her.] Ferdinand was alarmed when he realized what he did.

"I’m so sorry. I won’t do it again."

[She was so light that I just assumed she would surely float. But if she’s this tense, she would indeed sink.]

"Then, how about this? Here’s a chair for you. You can sit here and comfortably enjoy the water."

There was suddenly a chair under the water. Ferdinand gently settled her and the water was up to her collarbone.

Arabella was wide-eyed when Ferdinand loosened his hold around her and distanced himself from her about a meter away.

"No! Come back here. Don’t stay that far," Arabella opened her arms as if asking to be embraced or carried.

[So cute!! Is this really happening? She’s asking me to stay at arm’s length!] Ferdinand’s ears were red as he walked back to her.

’Is he doing this on purpose?!’

Arabella looped her arms around his neck when he was close enough. She had to get back to safety first and foremost.

[Her breasts are pressing against me!]

"If I slip here I would still drown. Just bring me to the shallow part," Arabella glared at him and Ferdinand finally obediently did.

’How could he be distracted at such a time!’

[She’s angry this time!] Ferdinand was alarmed and depressed but Arabella was still too nervous to even feel sorry for him.

She sighed in relief when the water was finally just at the level of Ferdinand’s stomach.

"Is this much fine?"

Arabella looked around to ensure they were indeed in the shallower area.

"Yes. It’s fine now," she finally agreed.

Ferdinand made a seat for them and was about to settle her when he realized something.

[I can see her bathing suit!]

Arabella glanced down and he was right.

She had chosen the black bathing suit since the other colors were red and nude. Those colors would stimulate Ferdinand and his wild imagination more, so she chose plain black.

The white robe was thin so when it got wet, it hugged her body and her bathing suit became visible through it.

[She looks so lovely in it. I want to remove her robe to see her in her bathing suit much more clearly.] Ferdinand’s eyes were glued to her body for a while as he pondered what she would look like just in her bathing suit.

"Uhm. Dear, you can settle me down now."

Arabella smiled when his eyes met hers and his face got flushed a bit from embarrassment when he realized he had been staring at her body for too long.