Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 187: Oracle

Chapter 187: Oracle

"As Walter has said, please do have some patience and understanding for His Majesty. He was used to fighting for the Empire most of the time. It might have been our fault for allowing him to join the battlefield since he was young," Regis also apologized as Walter did.

[I’m rather amazed that His Majesty was able to stay in Valeria for more than a decade despite his boredom with life and impatience in everything. I’m rather relieved he did not kill himself just so he could return to Estrella for good. But that didn’t stop him from finding other people to do it in his stead.] Regis thought.

"Please don’t worry about it. It was an important matter. I understand His Majesty had to go."

Arabella learned that Regis, Walter, and Raymond allowed Ferdinand to be in the battlefield as much as he wanted since it was his only way of easing his boredom aside from hunting.

Letting Ferdinand be distracted by being busy in human wars and conflicts also gave them some time to look for ladies to recommend to him.

But they still did not find one that Ferdinand liked so it was a wonder how he easily liked Arabella.

Regis apparently thought finding a wife for Ferdinand had failed but all of a sudden, one day, Ferdinand himself said he wanted to get married.

[Who would have thought he was just too picky and wanted the most beautiful lady. If we had known, we would have invited Her Majesty to Valeria when she was still a princess.]

Regis thought that maybe, Ferdinand just set his standards too high.

Arabella doubted that though.

’How could I have been beautiful the first time we met? I was screaming my lungs out in fear and I was pale with terror at that time.’

She was sure she did not look that beautiful when Ferdinand first laid his eyes on her.

[I’m glad they seem to like Her Majesty too.] Raymond was relieved when the Reginalds were accepting of Arabella. [They once doubted too if His Majesty would ever marry so they were also curious about Her Majesty.]

[My lord was the only one among the eldest dragons in Estrella who hadn’t married yet at that time. We all thought he would not ever marry and would die as he was. We were so surprised when there was suddenly an oracle that his fated one was born and he had to head to the human realm so he could meet her someday.]

’An oracle?’

Arabella learned from Raymond’s thoughts that once there was an oracle for the dragons, it would come true.

Thus, they would also receive an order from the God of Dragons and from the King of Estrella.

Ferdinand had no plans to get married and didn’t want to marry so he originally did not want to head to Valeria.

However, he had to obey the God of Dragons and the King of Estrella. They were people Ferdinand respected so he obeyed.

But even when various portraits of women from Valeria were shown to him, Ferdinand did not choose a single one.

Raymond was beginning to wonder if Ferdinand would ever take a liking to one since he was never interested in women. He thought the oracle may not be right.

But soon, an oracle for Raymond also came and one day, he met Clarisse and fell in love with her. They soon got married and had children.

It was then Raymond knew there was hope that Ferdinand would also meet someone he would fall in love with.

And it did happen on that fateful day when they saved Arabella and her knights from monsters.

. . .

Arabella was speaking with Ronald if he was ready to begin working soon when she heard Theresa’s thoughts.

[The necklace I chose for Her Majesty suits her. Raymond must have tipped her to wear it today. Is he simply helping the Empress get on my good side or is he implying that I should take care of the Empress?] Theresa thought.

’Duchess Theresa chose this necklace?!’

Arabella learned from Theresa’s thoughts that since most of the ministers were men, she was worried they might choose gifts not fit for a lady.

The men were doing well though since they were well-versed with giving gifts to women.

Ferdinand was the only one who didn’t know what should be gifted so he was just watching over what the ministers’ chose.

[The only jewelry that caught His Majesty’s were a set that had the same color as Her Majesty’s eyes. He picked it since it must have reminded him of Her Majesty.]

’Oh, then was the necklace Irene was showing me earlier part of that set?’ Arabella decided to wear the necklace once Ferdinand returns to see if he comments.

Theresa apparently still helped with choosing gifts though and what Arabella was wearing today, was among the pieces of jewelry she recommended.

’Raymond could have told me in advance. I would have been able to thank Duchess Theresa for choosing this necklace for me.’

[She noticed.] Raymond took a sip of his tea, playing innocent when Theresa glanced at him.

[I just hoped that she could help Her Majesty in the social circle since Clarisse would not be attending many events once her belly gets bigger.]

Arabella learned that both of Theresa’s thoughts were true. Raymond wanted Arabella to catch the Duchess’ attention and be on her good side and likewise wanted to ask Theresa to take care of Arabella.

[He didn’t really need to meddle. I was already grateful to Her Majesty for hiring my son so I’m going to support her.] Theresa thought.

Arabella was elated and relieved to have the support of the Duchess of one of the most powerful households in Valeria. It would be a great help since the duchess was also very influential.

Theresa was the sister of the Duke of Fidelis. Thus, having her support meant that Fidelis might support her as well.

Duke and Duchess Reginald then thanked Arabella for hiring Ronald before leaving to mingle with other guests.

"My mother is well-known and trusted by other households so it would be best if Your Majesty get along well with her," Raymond advised in a low voice once the Reginalds have left.

"You could have told me sooner. I should have brought a gift for her too," Arabella whispered back.

"My apologies. I can arrange a meeting between you two later or Your Majesty can invite her for tea when you have free time. You can give her a gift then. She’s kind and wise too so she would be a great help to Your Majesty."

"I see. Thank you. I’m glad to have met the Duke and Duchess Reginald today," Arabella beamed.

The parents of Arabella’s assistants coming from the most powerful households went to speak with her next. They thanked her as well for hiring their children.

They were also welcoming of her and willing to support her since hiring an assistant from their household clearly meant she wanted a good relationship with them.

Moreover, Arabella didn’t know how, but they must also have their own sources or rumors had spread since the most powerful households were already aware now of what happened in Prudencia and Safiro.

They had even heard that Arabella was personally involved which was why the situation of the two territories were revealed and resolved. They apologized that Arabella had to witness it herself.

All of a sudden, people were praising and thanking her for helping Prudencia and Safiro.

Arabella didn’t know how to respond but Raymond smiled at her and implied she should just accept their thanks and praises.

At some point, Arabella even began to doubt that one of her assistants may have revealed to their families that she planned to visit the territories of her assistants. However, she learned from their thoughts that was not the case.

Her assistants, who attended this event with their parents after learning she would attend with Ferdinand, did not reveal her planned visit to their territories. They just did their best to do some preparation in advance without revealing what she told them to keep secret.

She was glad her assistants could be trusted with keeping secrets. There were a lot of documents they would work on in the future that should not be revealed to just anyone. It also meant she could trust them (to some extent).

However, there was another problem that Arabella did not expect.

[Wait! Aren’t all her assistants men.]

[Is she biased with looks?!]

[Has she taken a liking to them?]

[Is she getting back at His Majesty for leaving her so soon when they had just gotten married?]

[There was a rumor she had eloped with someone because she didn’t want to marry His Majesty. Could it be that she still doesn’t like him so she’s insulting him by associating with other men of her taste?]

[All her assistants so far are young and good-looking men. Is Her Majesty showing scorn to His Majesty by creating her own harem in the form of assistants?!]

’Huh?! What are they thinking about?’

Arabella was horrified people were already thinking she was trying to cheat on Ferdinand this early on. She knew she had been such an idiot in her past life but even then, she wasn’t suicidal to cheat on Ferdinand this early.

She had to wonder if this was also the case in her past life. All her assistants then were men.

In this life, she had hired Odette, Nadia, and Narcissa. But they were ignoring the fact that Narcissa and her parents also came to greet and thank her after the Reginalds.