Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 183: Ulterior Motives

Chapter 183: Ulterior Motives

The instant Arabella left the table Great Elder Maximus was at, she was surrounded by the nobles.

[So the rumors are true that she hired assistants.]

[The Ryvaleh and Reginald Household just held celebrations too due to someone from their households passing as her assistants.]

[Farrell and Orville celebrated the other day too. What were the criteria for the selection?]

[Fidelis held a celebration as well.]

[Vertus, as usual, had one of their sons get hired too.]

[Is she still hiring assistants? My son and my daughter had passed the Imperial Civil Service Exam.]

[Why weren’t we aware there was a selection?]

[His Majesty is too terrifying to try to get close to. He doesn’t attend events like this as well. Her Majesty is young and looks welcoming. We can try getting close to her instead.]

[I want to have my children work for her too.]

Once they were able to confirm that Arabella had indeed hired assistants, the nobles were eager to introduce their children to her for chances she might hire them as well in case she needed more people.

Because she hired assistants, Arabella was welcomed at the party with open arms and she was not isolated as she formerly thought.

Instead, the nobles were all eager to get close to her.

Of course, it was all with motives.

But that was how society works. It was give and take in a sense.

They get close to her and work for her, and in exchange, their families gain fame, honor, and recognition among other nobles and thus, power and influence.

Likewise, Arabella gets to maximize their services and also make use of their power and influence.

It was a vicious cycle.

But that was how the world works.

If she does not do what she can to survive in this devouring society, she was the one who would get devoured.

One of the things further emphasized by adulting when she became one was that people would not approach her for no reason at all.

Arabella almost forgot her appearance in this event meant she would be hearing all sorts of motives towards her as the Empress and as a person. She thought she had prepared enough. But perhaps she still lacked in preparing herself internally.

Their thoughts flooded her and everyone had their motives be they good or bad.

A lot were for connections and chances to get close to Raymond or Ferdinand. She wasn’t the end game. She was a means to an end.

As someone in her status, she was fine with that. She also needed connections and they were also a means to an end. It was fair play.

She didn’t mind being used as long as they knew their boundaries and doesn’t do anything they shouldn’t.

Some thought of it as friendship. But it wasn’t for the sake of being friends but for other purposes.

One thing Arabella learned from her past life was because she was famous, many people approached her to be "friends" but that was never what they intended.

Friendship was a term that was among what hurt the most and was most difficult to truly achieve. She didn’t really like using this term since it raises expectations.

It was rare to find one who truly treasure being a friend.

Thus, Arabella preferred those who thought of approaching her as a form of relationship based on mutual need.

Utility. The kind of relationship that would be beneficial in some way based on a need.

Arabella liked the people who thought this way more. They were honest. And they were the ones who thought of helping her in Valeria and the social circle as long as she also helped them.

It was supporting each other for their own causes. Friends but not really friends. They support each other while they share common goals but may part ways once that common goal or benefit for each other was over.

In her past life, Arabella was more fond of this. It was also the most useful she had tried.

These are the people that could help her in the court and as she functioned as Empress. They didn’t think of merely using her but of letting themselves be used as well. It was give and take.

She memorized their faces and noted to ensure she was able to speak with them today. Building connections with them would bear some fruit.

It was a matter or utility indeed.

Meanwhile, others wanted to approach her for advantage over others and personal gain. That was fine as well as long they are also advantageous to her and the Empire.

As someone who once plotted the Empire’s downfall, she knew this: people with ambition and goals they aim for were high achievers. They would be good to have connections with as well.

There were also those who were business-minded and wanted to approach her for chances of doing business with Lobelius. Arabella would welcome them as well. If they sell Lobelian products here in Valeria, it would boost her influence.

On the other hand, there were also those who were greedy and thought of her as a source of riches. But she didn’t really own anything in Valeria. Ferdinand had indeed gifted her all sorts of treasures but she wasn’t going to give them away.

She wouldn’t waste money from the treasury as well just as she did in her previous life.

Even if Valeria was rich and Ferdinand had his own resources, she was no longer her former self to just waste money.

There were also some who thought she was young and gullible so she was the easiest target when compared to Ferdinand, Alwin, Raymond, and Clarisse who were older than she was. They thought they could deceive and manipulate her to have Ferdinand bend to their will if he truly valued her as the rumors say.

But the fact that he had left for the borders just a month after their wedding made them think Ferdinand was already done after getting a taste of the fruit. They thought she was a trophy he already won so he was no longer interested and was busy with war preparations again.