Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 268: I Wanted to Discuss Something [Bonus - ]

Chapter 268: I Wanted to Discuss Something [Bonus Chapter]

"Go to your study.

You and I have a lot of work to do," Arabella freed herself from her husband’s embrace.

She wanted to cuddle more but they need to work. There was also something she had to finalize.

"You are still angry?" Ferdinand eyed her.

"I’m not angry anymore.

But I have a lot of work to do so let’s meet at dinner, okay?"

Ferdinand stared at her for several seconds before accepting it.

But he kissed her first to check if she would avoid him.

When she didn’t and kissed him back instead, Ferdinand was relieved and finally allowed her to go to her study.

Assured that Ferdinand would not do that kind of thing again, Arabella was at ease and was able to focus on her work.

When dinner was ready, she found the dining table filled with her favorite foods.

And Ferdinand greeted her with a bouquet of pretty flowers for her.

Her husband worried that she might still be angry at him so he was still trying to appease her.

He got some advice from Raymond too since Alwin was already back. And with more work in tow.

Ferdinand had instructed the chefs to prepare Arabella’s favorite dishes.

He also gathered flowers from his place in Estrella where they first got intimate.

’Did he spend his time doing all this instead of working?

I already told him I forgave him and I wasn’t angry anymore.’

"Ferdinand, I already told you I’m not angry anymore," Arabella repeated.

"You should have worked instead of doing all these."

[She’s still angry indeed!

How come she’s not delighted at the sight of flowers?

She used to smile the instant she sees them or when I have a bouquet for her.] Ferdinand misunderstood.

"Do you not like these?

Are you tired of these flowers?"

[Right.

I should have gotten something new.

Flowers that she hadn’t seen before.]

"Alwin, throw these away," Ferdinand was about to give the bouquet to Alwin but Arabella quickly grabbed it.

"Of course, I love these!" Arabella gently hugged her flowers.

Alwin almost burned them. The poor flowers.

Arabella called for Eunice and had the flowers placed in a vase in her room.

{Is she still angry or not?} Ferdinand asked Alwin.

{I am not sure, my lord. She doesn’t look angry anymore. But Raymond did say women are good at pretending they are fine even if they are not, especially since Her Majesty was raised as a first princess.} Alwin responded.

’Now I’m becoming some kind of lesson for these two to learn from.’

It was like some kind of practical lesson after a discussion with Raymond.

She had to wonder what Ferdinand and Alwin were up to their whole life.

Arabella sighed and settled down at her usual seat.

[She sighed! She must indeed still feel displeased.]

"Dear, why won’t you sit down?

Alwin as well," Arabella said with a smile, and yet the two flinched instead.

They glanced at each other before sitting down without another word.

[Why even me?

I have no part in what my lord had done.

I even helped her out.

I was lucky enough not to get punished by my lord because she was the one who ordered me.]

Alwin wanted to escape and go back to his magic experiments instead than get dragged into their lover’s quarrel.

’Why won’t they believe me?

I already smiled as sweet as I could.’

"Why are you both so stiff?

I already said I’m not angry anymore.

I just wanted to discuss something else while we eat," Arabella clarified.

They just got more work from Riva after all so they wouldn’t have much time later.

Ferdinand and Alwin were still careful though, worried about what that discussion might be about.

But it wasn’t about the incident earlier.

It was about the people from Prudencia that were sold as slaves to other kingdoms.

The past few days, Ferdinand had been pressuring the King of Crux to hasten the return of the Prudencians.

And due to this, Arabella heard from some of the royals and nobles’ thoughts that they had also bought slaves from Prudencia through various means and reasons.

Some were due to curiosity because people from the Empire were being sold as slaves.

Some due to hostility to the Empire and finally finding something they could hurt that belongs to Valeria.

And some, due to an inferiority complex to the Empire and their desire to feel superior by making Valerians their slave.

But after hearing that Ferdinand was willing to declare war to claim back his people, the royals and nobles were in a panic they might get attacked.

Some quickly sent back the slaves to the slave traders they bought the slaves from.

Some were thinking of just hiding the slaves.

But some were determined to kill the slaves and burn their corpses so no evidence could remain.

They even thought of eliminating the slave traders so there would be no record they bought from them.

Arabella had been listing their names and the locations in their thoughts and she finally had a more detailed list today after speaking with the queens and other noble ladies about slavery.

She finalized it earlier in her study.

A few days ago, King Neville had proposed abolishing slavery in Eliora entirely and the Grand Temple had agreed to it so the issue had been discussed several times during the meetings.

King Neville wanted it to be his legacy so he wanted it to be approved during this Assembly.

After all, there were only several kingdoms still practicing slavery in Eliora.

Arabella had discussed the issue with the other ladies today to get more information from their thoughts and supplement what she had gathered from the meetings.

Among the ladies, there were five queens, three princesses, and ten noble ladies who had slaves from Prudencia.

And their husbands were planning to have the slaves killed and all evidence hidden as soon as possible so they were preparing to send letters home.

This was why Arabella decided to tell Ferdinand and Alwin about it today. She was supposed to speak with them about it earlier but things got jumbled due to Carmella.

Meanwhile, among the men, there were eighth kings, seven princes, and fifteen noblemen who have slaves from Prudencia.

How they acquired their slaves differed.

But mostly, they acquired through slave traders that sold slaves all over Eliora.

The others acquired through other means such as buying from other nobles they knew or from neighboring kingdoms.