Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 277: Come With Me [Bonus - ]

Chapter 277: Come With Me [Bonus Chapter]

Arabella attended the meetings of the Council as usual and joined the banquets and balls as well.

Everything was going well. Lucille was acting all nice to her as well as if she was not the one who tried to set her up.

Arabella focused on listening to Lucille’s thoughts once they were together to ensure she wouldn’t miss hearing if the latter had more plans in store for her. But Lucille didn’t seem to have any concrete plans yet.

Three days before Ferdinand would announce his decision about the invitation to join the Council, they attended a banquet.

It was the same as usual where they dine and socialize, saying flattery to each other, discussing politics, possible marriage arrangements, and all sorts of topics.

Arabella was sure she was trying to listen to everyone’s thoughts despite the headache it was giving her. Yet, she did not hear about a danger incoming.

She had just taken a sip of wine when her body suddenly went numb and she felt dizzy. The glass fell from her hands and some wine spilled on her dress, tainting it red.

The glass fell to the floor and shattered. The remaining wine looked like blood as it soaked the shards of the broken glass and stained the edges of Arabella’s dress.

’This is bad! My vision is blurring. Where is Ferdinand?’

Arabella tried to look for her husband so they could leave the banquet first. But her world seemed to spin and her vision was slowly turning dark.

’The floor is getting close...’ Arabella realized she was losing consciousness and her body was falling. She would hit the ground face-first.

’No, there are shards. I... have to... brace myself...’ Arabella stretched her hands out so she wouldn’t hit the floor completely.

"Arabella!"

’Ah, he’s already here,’ she felt the familiar strong arms wrapped around her waist and she finally stopped falling.

Before she could say anything, everything turned black, and the sounds she was hearing both through her ears and mind stopped completely.

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Arabella had a long dream.

In her dream, she was running away from someone. She cannot see them. Nor does she know who they were.

But she was filled with fear as she kept running endlessly. It was as if her life was on the line.

She heard someone laughing but even the laughter itself was indiscernible whether it was from a man or a woman. Whoever it was, seemed to enjoy watching her struggle as she run for her life.

Her body screamed in pain as she needed air. Running for too long exhausted her. Her feet felt so heavy as if she was wearing shoes made of iron. It was getting harder and harder to take another step.

When her body felt like it could no longer take any more, Arabella decided to stop. She caught her breath and decided to look back to see who was chasing her.

But no one was there. Nothing but darkness.

"Caught you," she heard an inscrutable voice say and the darkness moved.

She felt something cold hold her as the dark shadows wrapped around her hands and wrists. She struggled and broke free to run again.

But the instant she turned her back, she felt something cold wrap around her entire body and she could not move.

She screamed but no voice came out.

The shadows covered her mouth to stop her from screaming.

She tried to wriggle free.

’Help! Is anyone out there? Please help me!’

She looked around but she was in an empty space. No one else was there.

And the rest of her body was turning cold.

’No, what am I doing here? I was just in the banquet earlier.’

She recalled she passed so so realized this was just a nightmare. But somehow, she also had an inkling that any longer than this and she might die. She had to break free and wake up.

She struggled again and was able to free one hand. But the coldness had already seeped into her entire body. And she was freezing to death. She beginning to lose touch with herself.

’Is this how I die?’

She felt her death looming.

"Yes. Come, let’s go. We will guide you to the world of rest. You were tired, right? You had been longing for repose. You ended your life because you didn’t want to live anymore, right? I feel bad that they are trapping you in such a weak body again. Let’s go together."

’No, that was in my previous life. I have to wake up. Ferdinand. He must be worried sick right now. Yes, that’s right. I can’t leave him alone yet. We haven’t even had the chance to speak about everything yet. I can’t be stuck in a nightmare like this. How pathetic would it be to die in a nightmare after I was given a second life.’

"He is the cause of all your sufferings. Why do you have to be with him? Leave him alone."

’No. I have to go back. There’s still so much more I need to do. And who are you? Why are you doing this?’

"It doesn’t matter who I am. Come with me and you can finally rest," the voice tempted her. "You might even meet your son."

Arabella froze when she heard this.

’Fermin? No, he must be tricking me. Why would Fermin be with them?’

’It’s not yet time to meet him. I will see him someday. So please let go of me. I have to go back.’

’I have to wake up now,’ Arabella could feel her heart barely beat in her chest. Any longer and she might truly die.

But all of a sudden she felt some warmth spread from her outstretched hand. From there, it slowly spread to her whole body.

Her whole body ached and it felt like it was burning from her insides. And once again her vision turned black.

’No, I have to wake up. I can’t lose con-’

. . .

"Arabella!"

Someone was screaming her name.

"Arabella!"

Arabella opened her eyes. Everything was still a blur so she closed them again.

When she opened her eyes again, a pale and anxious Ferdinand greeted her sight. He looked so worried indeed.

"Ferdinand," she did her best to smile to calm him down but he seemed to get even more anxious. He held her hand even tighter.

"How are you feeling? Does it hurt anywhere?"

"Hmm. I’m fine. What happened to me?" Arabella inquired and she got a tight hug from her husband.

Once her husband calmed down, he told her she was poisoned.

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A/N:

I ended up writing because I couldn’t sleep.

Laying in bed without doing anything makes me anxious.