Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 39: Punishment

Chapter 39: Punishment

Both Arabella and Ferdinand blushed. No, everyone in the room did except for the doctor.

The doctor clearly told Ferdinand to hold back his urges so Arabella could rest since it would also be hard for her to get pregnant if she was always exhausted.

She felt bad for Ferdinand since they haven’t even done anything.

But he did visit her room every night and slept in her bed so everyone misunderstood.

Now someone even spread rumors that she was pregnant.

"I know. That’s exactly why I was heading to the borders," Ferdinand said with irritation and Raymond chuckled silently.

[Must be hard to hold back, huh? Now you know how I feel when you keep sending more work and I can’t spend time with my wife.]

Raymond smirked and Ferdinand glared at him.

Meanwhile, Alwin had outrageous thoughts.

[I’m so relieved she’s not pregnant. If this wench is pregnant but I cannot detect the child, it meant it wasn’t milord’s child.]

’What?! This bastard. I already thought I would forgive all his rudeness because I know now he’s not a bad person. But how can he think I would marry Ferdinand with someone else’s child already inside me?!’

Even an idiot would know doing that was akin to having a death wish. Just how idiotic does he think she was?

"Alwin, examine her too," Ferdinand instructed when the physician left.

"Yes, milord."

"Alwin will just examine you. I’m here so you have nothing to worry about," Ferdinand held her hand and she blushed when she recalled what she told Alwin last time. They clearly told Ferdinand about everything.

[At least she recognizes me as her husband. She didn’t like other men touching her and she thought of me. It made me happy when she said, she would only let Alwin examine her in my presence. I wish she would rely on me more.]

’He liked it?’

"Alright," she said meekly and tried to hide her embarrassment.

[I only did that by accident! I would never dare touch milord’s woman.]

’You still tried grabbing my wrist though, now it’s causing such a fuss.’

Alwin examined her under Ferdinand’s watchful gaze.

"The Empress is fine now, Your Majesty," Alwin finally said after checking her several times with magic.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. The Empress’ soul is not in danger anymore."

"My soul?" Arabella tilted her head.

"Yes, Your Majesty. Your soul was trying to leave your body as if it was going somewhere. If I didn’t stop it in time, Your Majesty could have died if your soul was dragged elsewhere."

’WHAT?! Something like that was happening while I was watching what happened in my previous life?’

"Why? I was just having a dream about the past?"

"May I be presumptuous to ask what you have been dreaming about while you were asleep, Your Majesty?" Alwin asked and Ferdinand glared.

[Right. What if she was having dreams about her former lover? It would only hurt milord.]

"Please forget I asked. Please forgive my rudeness, Your Majesty," Alwin bowed his head.

"Please do not be too immersed in your dreams again. If you get too immersed and get tangled in the past, you might not wake up ever again. Your soul was almost dragged somewhere beyond my reach. Thankfully, Alwin was able to stop it just in time," Ferdinand explained.

Arabella was horrified. She didn’t know she almost died while learning about what happened in her previous life.

She wondered if it was the price she had to pay for being able to see what happened after she died.

Arabella noted she had to be more careful if she ever has another dream about the past next time.

"I see. Thank you for saving me," Arabella smiled at Alwin and bowed her head slightly. Since she’s an Empress, she cannot bow her head low.

"You don’t have to bow your head. It was his fault in the first place why you fainted. If he hadn’t shaken you up from his disrespectful attitude, you would have been fine."

’Ah, no. That was from my guilt and regret after learning you were Sir Elmir, my savior. Now, I also owe Alwin my life.’

Both the master and servant are her benefactors now. She still had so much to atone for and yet here she was gaining more favors to repay.

"I heard Alwin had been so disrespectful to you. How would you like to punish him?" Ferdinand eyed her.

"Punish?" Arabella tilted her head.

It was just a while ago when she was speaking with the past Alwin and he was kindly explaining everything to her, though with glares and declarations of hate.

Right, that was Alwin of the past. This Alwin is different.

He had been disrespectful to her when they were conversing over tea. But she knew now that Alwin was not her enemy.

As long as she doesn’t do anything to hurt Ferdinand, Alwin wouldn’t hate her. He could not even hurt her corpse, after all.

’Alwin is a kind person.’

"I heard he even attempted to grab your hand. Which hand did he use? Right or left? Should I cut it for you?"

’Huh?! You are going to cut the hand of someone who had been so loyal to you?!’

Arabella glanced at Alwin who had turned pale. Still, he kneeled and offered his right hand for Ferdinand to cut.

[It will hurt but I have to bear it. At least I would know what it’s like to be cut by milord.]

Alwin was slightly trembling though.

’Is he crazy?!!’

[Alwin can heal it back together later or just regrow his arm. He has to take responsibility for his actions.]

Raymond remained silent and did not dissuade Ferdinand.

[He dared to try touching my wife. Who would have thought it was true that even a dog you raised on your own would bite you? I thought I could trust Alwin but it seems he has other thoughts.]

’A dog?! How could he refer to Alwin like that? Alwin adores you so much.’

[Just cutting his hand wouldn’t be enough. Should I forbid him from healing it so he would learn his lesson? He’s getting so full of himself because he could heal it instantly anyway. Have I been too lax with everyone lately?] Ferdinand glared at his loyal mage.

[I have nothing to do with this.] Rendell thought and pretended like he could not see or hear anything.

’What the hell is wrong with these people?!!’

No one even tried to stop their lord. Not even Raymond who looked much gentler than everyone else. Arabella had to wonder if it was normal for Ferdinand to punish his people like this.

"Please pardon my rudeness. Your Majesty, please do not shed blood in my mistress’ chambers. Her Majesty wouldn’t be able to sleep well at night at the memory. She might have terrible nightmares too," Aletha kneeled.

’Aletha! You understand me best!’ Arabella sighed in relief. She was so glad there was one sane person in the room.

"Alright, I’ll do it outside," Ferdinand said.

’Huh?!’

"No, no, no. You don’t have to cut his hand," Arabella grabbed Ferdinand’s hand when he rose from his seat.

"Do you have something else in mind? I’ll hear you out," Ferdinand sat down again.

"Alwin was just about to grab my hand like I just did to you. It was when I was about to stand since he wanted to examine me. He was just worried I might be pregnant so he wanted to check since he cares so much about your future child," Arabella clarified.

She doesn’t know what they told Ferdinand but Alwin didn’t really do anything that would make it necessary to cut his hand. He would be so much more useful to Ferdinand with able hands.

[Why is she covering up for Alwin? I heard she got angry about it.]

"You don’t have to be afraid. I heard he was rude to you too. I won’t let anyone insult you. Even if they are my close associates, I am going to punish them."

"It’s alright now. He didn’t really insult me much. He was just worried about you so he asked some questions. Moreover, I was at fault too since I provoked him. I got irritated when he disturbed my conversation with the Prime Minister so I ended up talking nonsense."

[What is she up to? Why is she stopping His Majesty? Is she trying to make me owe her a favor? I am prepared to accept my punishment. And what did she mean by talking nonsense? She said a lot, including divorcing milord.]

Arabella glanced at Alwin’s hands.

"He has such beautiful hands. How can you cut those?"

[Beautiful?! She has never even praised me once.]

"Oh, shall I cut both hands?" Ferdinand glared at Alwin’s hands and the latter turned green.

[Is this what she was after?! She was trying to make my punishment worse?!]

Everyone else in the room had turned pale and stiff.