Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 203: Question and Answer [Bonus - ]

Chapter 203: Question and Answer [Bonus Chapter]

"And, can you please stop hiding secrets from me? Can you at least let me in on important matters?" Arabella asked and Ferdinand froze.

It was clear he was not ready yet to tell her about his true identity.

"I..." Ferdinand looked away.

[How can I not? What if you flee from me in fear and disgust? What if you hate me? So many people already perceive me as a monster even in this human body. How much more when they see my true form? I don’t care about everyone else but I don’t want to be called and perceived as a monster even by you. I’m not sure I would be able to take it if you run away from me.]

"Ferdinand," Arabella cupped his face and made him meet her eyes. She could see the fear in his eyes. "I may not like you yet as much as you like me. But I think, I’m already starting to like you."

Ferdinand was wide-eyed and stared at her for a few seconds gauging if she was serious.

"Is that true?" he asked in a calm and composed manner bracing himself so he won’t get hurt if she replied something else.

"Yes," Arabella smiled and got a tight hug and a kiss from her husband.

"So please be honest with me about things that matters. I know there may be some things you cannot tell me. But I at least want to know matters that involve me and our relationship. I want to get to know more about you too. Don’t you want the same with me?" Arabella tilted her head and Ferdinand gulped.

He was treading carefully about this.

"I... I do. I want to get to know more about you too. But, I don’t think there is anything good about me that I can tell you," Ferdinand’s eyes cast down.

"It’s alright. I don’t really care whether it’s good or bad. What I want, is to get to know you more. I don’t have many good things I can tell you about me either. But if you would ask me, I will tell you. Oh, I just thought of something," Arabella smiled when she had an idea.

"When we have some free time, why don’t we spend some time asking questions to each other and answering them? Let’s both answer honestly. If you can’t answer a question, just say pass and I won’t ask about it anymore. If its a question you can answer at a later time, then you can tell me so I will ask again in the future. You can give an estimated time when you think you would be ready too. Like maybe, a week, a month, or a year. The same applies to me. You can ask me anything and I will do my best to answer your questions. What do you think?"

[I want to. I want to get to know more about her.] Ferdinand gulped. [I want to just tell her everything she wanted to know about me. But...]

Ferdinand had his fears once again. Like, what if Arabella distances herself because he could not answer a lot of questions?

But in the end, his curiosity and eagerness to know more about her won.

"Alright. Let’s do that. I think it’s a good idea," Ferdinand agreed and Arabella beamed victoriously.

"Then, can I ask a question right now?" she said and Ferdinand instantly tensed but he nodded his head.

"Why are you so reckless as to go to Crux with just Alwin with you?" Arabella asked something she had been wanting to scold him about since he arrived earlier.

[Right. Raymond also told her about that.] Ferdinand relaxed when the question was something he could easily answer.

"Oh, that. I didn’t need the knights with me since it would be more complicated if I went with them and we got ambushed. Alwin and I can easily escape if we have to," he explained.

His knights would be saddened by this statement. It implied they were additional baggage instead of being a help.

"Then what about not having any weapon with you at all? It’s too dangerous. What if Alwin suddenly cannot use magic? How will you escape?" Arabella went into her scolding mode before she knew it.

"Are you worried about me?" Ferdinand asked with a hint of a smile at the corner of his lips.

"Yes," it was Arabella’s turn to look away, feeling embarrassed that she was worrying about someone who was supposed to be so strong.

’I know he is strong and all but what if he got hurt? He’s still going to be Fermin’s father.’

Ferdinand smiled and kissed her.

"Even if that happens, I still have this," Ferdinand showed her his Emperor ring and Arabella gasped when she recalled it can turn into his sword.

"Oh... right. I forgot about that. But what if you are outnumbered?" Arabella asked and she earned another kiss.

"No one has ever defeated me in a fight. They can come at me no matter how many they are and I will still emerge victorious," Ferdinand replied matter-of-factly. He had so much confidence and trust in himself when it comes to fighting.

’I wish he was this confident in himself in other things too.’

"It’s still so risky. You are the Emperor of Valeria. You have to keep appearances. You could have at least brought a few knights with you for show since they allowed you to have a limited number of guards."

"Right. I will, next time," Ferdinand agreed. But he still fully believed he would be able to win a fight regardless of the number of people to attack him.

He was so full of himself. But somehow, Arabella didn’t dislike it.

[Among the humans now, the only one who was ever able to spar with me and give me some trouble was Icarus. He’s truly quite strong for a human. Now that I thought about it, it’s been a while since I sparred with him. He probably won’t ever spar with me anymore after the last time. I asked Alwin to heal him after our duel but he even refused and left with his people.]

’They are on a first name basis? I also want to know more about this. Are they truly friends?’

Arabella wanted to ask Ferdinand if he had any friends for chances he would tell her about his relationship with Icarus, but the maids bringing tea arrived.