Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 214: I Love You [Bonus - ]

Chapter 214: I Love You [Bonus Chapter]

Arabella was beginning to feel embarrassed and overwhelmed by her husband’s thoughts again. Who would have expected Ferdinand to have these kinds of thoughts even when they had just met?

She, on the other hand, was just so terrified at that time and so relieved someone came to save them.

But she wondered what he meant by hearing her voice. He thought about it the last time they talked about this too.

’Did my voice sound familiar to him because of our previous life?’

"You were so pretty back then too," Ferdinand caressed her lips.

[When she thanked me, I thought her smile was so beautiful. And for the first time in my life, I wanted to kiss someone. It made my heart race and my body heat up. It was so new to me that I didn’t understand. But I was sure I wanted to be with her more. Raymond had to explain before I understood what I was feeling.]

Arabella learned from his thoughts that Ferdinand was so confused about what he was feeling, especially since he didn’t want to leave her side at all. He wanted to keep looking at her even when she caught him staring several times. As they escorted her to Lobelius, Ferdinand sorted out how he was feeling (with much help from the experienced Raymond). And Ferdinand concluded he wanted to marry Arabella.

"You even gave me your bracelet and hairpin," Ferdinand glanced at the hairpin she was wearing and touched it as he recalled the one she gave him before. (Rather, he asked for it when she was about to have it discarded.)

"Oh, right. I heard you still have them?"

He was so close to her that it was so distracting. Since when did he smell so good?

"Yes. They’re in my room."

[They’re my treasure. The first and only gifts I have ever received from her.]

’I should give him other gifts later,’ Arabella realized she has to give him new ones. Especially since he values her gifts so much.

"Can you show me when we return? I’m curious how they look now," Arabella asked and the tips of his ears reddened.

[Her in my room? I’d love to!]

"Yes, of course. They’re still as good as new," he answered with a poker face but his mind was already filled with thoughts of what else he could do to her in his room after showing her the hairpin and bracelet.

"I look forward to seeing them. Then, it’s your turn to ask. Let’s take turns asking questions," she had to distract him before his mind goes awry.

"Can I kiss you?" Ferdinand asked and Arabella blinked twice. She gazed at him and he did look like he wanted to kiss her since earlier.

"Yes."

Ferdinand gave her a long kiss. And went for a second and a third.

"Dear, that’s several kisses in a row. You just asked for a kiss," Arabella gently pushed against his chest.

Ferdinand pouted and he was kind of adorable so she gave him a peck.

"Later. We will stop at an inn for the night, right? You can sleep in my room tonight and kiss me all you want," Arabella said and her husband was wide-eyed.

"Is that a promise?" He unconsciously licked his lips and gulped.

"Yes."

She earned a tight hug from her husband.

"So for now, let’s focus on getting to know each other by asking and answering questions, alright?"

"Yes."

Her husband nodded and behaved himself, wishing for the night to arrive soon.

"Then, my next question is, why did you decide to marry me?"

"I wanted you to be by my side for the rest of my life," Ferdinand answered so quickly that it was her turn to be flustered. He did not even hesitate to say it though he used to not want to say these things out loud.

She learned from his thoughts that it was because Raymond told him that ladies liked to hear their honest feelings like this.

"Was it not because the ministers were pressuring you to get married and have children?"

"Oh, you heard about that. It’s true everyone had been pressuring me to get married and have children for a long time now.

[Even in Estrella.]

"But I didn’t really care about what they thought and I wasn’t interested in getting married or having children. I was thinking I would rule Valeria alone.

[Until they realize it was pointless making me go to the human realm and allow me to go back to Estrella and hibernate.]

"But when I met you, I changed my mind before I knew it. I thought of proposing to you then and there but Raymond gave me a long scolding."

[He’s like a nanny sometimes. He reminds me of the nanny assigned to take care of me when I was brought here in the form of a child.]

"I see. Thank you for telling me."

She already knew this from their thoughts but it was nice verifying it from his own lips.

[Is this why she did not want to consummate with me yet? She thought I stole her from her beloved simply because I needed a wife and an heir?]

"Arabella, I know I’ve said this before. But please believe me when I say I like you. I like you the most in the world. I didn’t understand it before.

"But I know now that I love you.

"I love you, Arabella...

"I didn’t marry you because someone told me to. It was my own choice," Ferdinand held both of her hands desperate to make her understand their marriage was all his, not someone else’s decision.

’This was the first time he directly said the words’ I love you, didn’t he?’ Arabella gulped.

Her chest felt warm. But likewise, it ached.

In their past life, she had also been longing, yearning for so long to hear these words from him. But she never did.

Who would have thought she would be this overwhelmed to hear this cliché word from his lips?

’Had I always been unknowingly waiting to hear this?’

She was so sure she had hated him in her past life. Did she actually have remnants of feelings for him lurking inside her?

Or were these emotions all new?

"W-why are you crying?!"

[Does she hate it that much?!] Ferdinand was in a panic and didn’t know what to do.

"Huh?" Arabella was surprised to find her tears were already streaming down her cheeks and Ferdinand was drying them with his trembling fingers.

"I think, I was just happy to know your honest feelings. Thank you for telling me. Really. Thank you, Ferdinand. I am happy to hear and know you cherish me this much. I will do my best to respond to your feelings."

Ferdinand embraced her tightly and they kissed for a while before resuming their question-and-answer session. And somehow, it felt so much better than all the times they kissed before.