Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 199: That’s Exactly Why

Chapter 199: That’s Exactly Why

"I’m sorry. I was too busy. I didn’t have the time to write a reply. But I did read all your letters. I wanted to come see you each time but I had a lot of work to do."

Ferdinand was getting better and better at reasoning with Arabella too.

Just a few weeks ago he would just say the first thing that came to mind out of panic or nervousness; or, think for too long about what he should say and end up not saying it anyway.

Ferdinand was able to come up with an excuse instantly this time. It was half lie half truth the way Raymond does when explains things to her and could not divulge other parts.

He was indeed learning from Raymond. He even emphasized he missed her so she would not be angry and feel bad for him instead.

’But why is he here when he was supposed to come tomorrow?’ Not that she was complaining.

Arabella learned the answer from Alwin’s thoughts. Ferdinand was apparently eagerly awaiting for her letter three days ago, but he received none.

He waited for two more days but none of Arabella’s maids or guards were made to deliver a letter to the Magic Tower for him so he finally decided to return to the Imperial Palace earlier than he formerly scheduled.

Ferdinand got worried when Arabella no longer sent him a letter.

’That’s because you didn’t send back anything,’ she wanted to say.

Arabella learned from Alwin’s thoughts that Ferdinand wanted to reply to her letters. He even wrote his replies but didn’t have them sent to her.

’If he wrote replies, he should have just sent it to me,’ Arabella wanted to sigh out loud in frustration.

Still, it felt nice in Ferdinand’s warm embrace so she wanted to be in it just a bit more.

His body heat was always way warmer than hers. And somehow, it feels especially warmer today after not feeling this warmth for a while.

Arabella buried her face in his chest. It felt so warm and sturdy. And she could feel and hear his heartbeat. It was beating so loudly.

[She truly missed me?!] Ferdinand’s heart drummed his chest even louder. [I... I want to pat her head and stroke her hair.]

He was delighted that Arabella was maintaining their physical contact. But he was also nervous since she haven’t said a word yet after he said his reason.

Arabella pouted and glared at her husband to give him an idea about her frustration waiting for replies that didn’t come.

Ferdinand flinched and said, "I’m so sorry. I will do my best to send my replies next time."

"Please do. I sent you letters to inform you how I was because I wanted to hear what was happening on your side too. Just a few sentences would have been fine. I only needed to know how you were doing," Arabella said directly so he wouldn’t overthink what he had to write in his replies next time.

[She was also thinking about me while we were apart! Why was I idiotically worrying about all sorts of things?! I should have just sent my replies.]

Ferdinand realized that he had been too focused on his worries that he didn’t pay attention to the most important part.

That Arabella just wanted to hear from him too. Perhaps not as eagerly as he awaited her next letter, but she was awaiting his reply too.

Despite the intimacy they shared last time, Ferdinand was still worried that Arabella may just be trying to do her role as his wife even if it was against what she truly felt inside. It was why he kept hesitating and worrying about even the most trivial matters.

Arabella was thinking about what to say so he would stop overthinking, but then, she heard Raymond and Alwin.

{Hey, undo your spell and let me leave. I have a lot of work to do.} Raymond spoke to Alwin telepathically.

{No can do. Do you think His Majesty would just let you leave after he catches you flirting with his wife?} Alwin smirked at Raymond.

{I wasn’t doing anything of that sort. Look at them just staring into each other’s eyes. We should just leave them alone and give them some privacy.}

{No. His Majesty said he would speak with the both of you.} Alwin replied.

Arabella flinched when she realized she forgot she was just supposed to be soothing her moody husband.

Yet, they had been hugging each other in the front garden in broad daylight right in front of Raymond, Alwin, and Rendell. Her maids and other guards were watching from a good distance away too. There may be others watching inside the palace too.

And there was still the misunderstanding that she was flirting with Raymond earlier.

"Let’s talk about this more later when we are alone," Arabella said and gently pushed at Ferdinand’s chest as a sign they should stop with the hugging and public displays of affection.

But it seems it was a wrong move.

[She looked so happy laughing with Raymond earlier.] Ferdinand glanced in Raymond’s direction and gave him a glare.

Due to what he saw, her husband didn’t want to be pushed away in front of Raymond even if it was a gentle push that he barely even felt.

Ferdinand’s eyes narrowed and he wrapped Arabella tighter in his arms instead. And, he suddenly kissed her.

Arabella was wide-eyed. It’s been a while since she got a kiss from him so this was tempting. But this was not how she wanted it to be. Not in front of other people

"Dear, everyone is watching," Arabella pulled away.

"And that’s exactly why," Ferdinand kissed her again instead.

[I already told His Majesty that he can’t be forceful and self-centered. I understand he must be jealous after seeing his wife laughing when she was with me. But this isn’t the way to do it. It’s true that if I was another man interested in Her Majesty, I would get he wanted to tell me to back off. But he should be thinking about Her Majesty’s feelings more. She clearly wasn’t into being intimate in front of other people.] Raymond thought and Arabella wished her husband thought about this.