Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 382: Steps for the Future

Chapter 382: Steps for the Future

It wasn’t until after two days that Arabella was able to see Alwin again.

She thought they would be able to talk again.

However, they did not get the chance to speak in private since Arabella and Ferdinand attended meetings and events as the Assembly was ending.

There were banquets and balls they had to attend for socialization purposes, especially since Ferdinand planned to join the Council.

Such events were important steps for the future so they took part in them.

They even joined tea parties here and there.

The King of Crux also invited them to one and they agreed since Ferdinand wanted to further hasten the return of the Prudencians that were still in Crux.

Ferdinand pressured the said king since Adolfo was no longer there to keep preventing it from happening.

Most Prudencians who were once in Crux were now back in Valeria.

But there were still some in the farther parts of Crux that kept using the distance as a reason why they haven’t returned them yet.

Ferdinand and Arabella asked for a special entry permit from the King of Crux that would allow Riley, Zion, or Alwin, and some knights entry to such locations for them to fetch the Prudencians themselves.

Attendees of the Council and the people they knew who secretly once had Prudencian slaves had all returned them as well through the slave traders they bought them from.

It was rather such a relief.

Arabella planned to visit Prudencia later to check on how everyone was doing.

She had also been receiving letters of thanks from Odette and other nobles from Prudencia.

They were also thanking Ferdinand but never sent one to him out of fear.

And they were not even sure their letters would be read.

Arabella read the letters herself when Alwin informed her they had been receiving them in the Imperial Palace.

. . .

Meanwhile, Icarus repeatedly thought of trying to speak with Arabella since that was apparently his purpose in attending the Assembly in person.

But Ferdinand never left her side.

Ferdinand always stood where he could get to Arabella as soon as possible in case there was danger.

Thus, Icarus didn’t have the chance.

It could cause a ruckus if he approached her while Ferdinand was around so he didn’t do so.

Benjamin could not help him again either since it might irk Ferdinand this time.

Icarus didn’t want to involve Benjamin in his conflict with Ferdinand.

Icarus merely had no choice last time since he got too worried about her condition when she got poisoned.

Arabella felt bad.

She knew Icarus wasn’t a bad person and he truly cared about her.

She couldn’t help but get curious as well about what he wanted to talk about.

But she didn’t dare speak with him either since Ferdinand might get triggered again.

She could figure Icarus wanted to at least tell her his feelings just for her to know.

And it might be better for him to confess and for her to reject him directly.

Maybe, once she does, Icarus would begin getting over her and move on.

Since she could no longer go to Icarus as she once thought, she at least wanted him to be with a better person than she ever was to him.

For him to find someone that would treat him better and love him wholeheartedly unlike how she used him in her past life.

But perhaps, showing that she’s happy with Ferdinand would be enough for Icarus to realize it was time to move on.

If she entertained him even once, he might mistake it for a chance.

She didn’t want to get his hopes up when there was none for them.

Ferdinand already knew that she knew about Icarus’ feelings for her too.

Likewise, it wouldn’t be appropriate for her to accept speaking alone with someone who harbored such feelings for her when she already had a husband.

It would look as if she was giving Icarus a chance and accepting his advances.

Arabella didn’t know she would come to regret this decision later.

. . .

Since the Assembly was ending, Arabella also reminded Duke Olivier to be careful once again on his way back to Loranne and to his own dukedom.

Dimo would keep staying in the Magic Tower and Arabella would "drop him off" through a visit to Olivier on their way back to Valeria.

It was to ensure Dimo was safe even if something happened to the duke.

They would pretend like they never had the chance to speak with each other.

Dimo was a smart kid and he had already agreed to it.

And he was rather very much hesitant to return home.

He had begun to get used to what it was like in the Magic Tower where he could freely use magic and get taught by capable teachers.

And most especially, his abilities did not make him look like an outcast.

He was never called a monster for being able to use fire magic.

Instead, he felt like he belonged.

Especially since his teachers had a lot of praise for him too.

On the other hand, just the thought of seeing Sonia and the Head Butler, made Dimo shudder.

It was clear he was still traumatized from what he had experienced.

Due to this, Arabella and Duke Oliver had come to an agreement.

The purpose of Arabella and Ferdinand’s visit was to make it official that Dimo would remain Riva for the meantime.

They would make it look like Arabella refused to return Dimo to the Duke because of how they found him all wounded and beaten up in their very own dukedom.

And since Dimo seemed scared to go back home.

Duke Olivier would pretend to be against it and beg for her to let Dimo return, but Arabella would insist.

And Dimo would choose to stay by her side.

Of course, visiting Olivier was also a way of ensuring that nothing happened to the duke.

It was another play to see how Sonia reacts.

Arabella heard from the duke’s thoughts that ever since they agreed that Arabella and Ferdinand would personally drop by, he sent letters home asking everyone to prepare for a grand reception since he would meet with esteemed guests once he was back.

Preparing for visitors would keep Sonia and the Head Butler busy.

It could also help them delay their plans.

Alwin understood what Arabella was up to, so he seconded whatever she said.

Ferdinand thought it was because Alwin got attached to Dimo whom he had been teaching when he had the time.

Meanwhile, Alwin was thinking that this was their chance into making Olivier their ally.

Alwin wanted to gather allies as well in case the Secret Union tries to attack Valeria in the future.

Alwin understood from past experience that he could not underestimate humans either.

Since even though humans may be weak compared to the long-lived races, they had their own way of doing things.

Ferdinand also wondered why Arabella was going this far for Dimo.

But he simply concluded that she didn’t want to let the child go back while the dangers were still lurking in his own abode.

Recalling how fond she was of the child, Ferdinand hoped that once they were back in Riva, Dimo would not be another one of his rivals for Arabella’s time.

. . .

Arabella had tea parties and meals with her family as well since it might be a while before they get the chance to meet again.

She was relieved that her mother was fine again once Chester and Fatima had returned to Zygos.

Her mother was back to herself and attended all the meetings and social events again too.

She learned from her mother’s thoughts that she was reminded of the past once Zygos was brought up.

Her mother was not sure she could face Chester without being hostile which was why she avoided him and Fatima entirely.

It was to prevent any friction since the talks were about forming an alliance.

Arabella tried to cheer up her mother more.

She had tea with her quite often.

She had to sacrifice her supposed tea times with Ferdinand though.

But they would go to Estrella after this anyway so she could make him wait that much.

They eat breakfast together anyway and Ferdinand made their intimate time at night longer than usual when he didn’t get as much time with her as he wanted in the morning.

. . .

Meanwhile, Benjamin was still wary of Ferdinand.

But he was satisfied with how Ferdinand had been treating Arabella so far.

He was not sure yet if Ferdinand was truly in love with her, but he was already convinced that Ferdinand was kind and gentle to her.

That was enough for Benjamin since he understood that it wasn’t that common for royals to marry for love.

But of course, Benjamin thought that he would be more than grateful if Ferdinand truly loved Arabella and cherished her.

Arabella always had good words about Ferdinand every time she spoke with her older brother to help him understand that she and Ferdinand were truly doing well.

Hopefully, it would help Benjamin accept her husband fully.