Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 408: The Trial

Chapter 408: The Trial

Alwin said he thought he would be able to prevent Ferdinand’s death in his human body. But before he could even teleport, he felt Ferdinand’s soul return to Estrella. He went to Ferdinand’s dragon form and his lord asked him to save her. He went quickly since it was his lord’s will. And he knew Ferdinand wallow in grief if she died. It was why Alwin went to Valeria in his elf form.

"And since ’that entity’ is meddling and he even visited you last time, who knows what will happen? You are safest in Estrella since he would not be able to meddle as he pleased there. Especially after hearing what your parents said earlier. You do have more mana compared to other humans. It could be one of the reasons monsters kept attacking you. But it’s too suspicious. He must have been involved in it. Monsters were his creation after all."

Alwin said using names or titles to address such a dangerous entity was akin to calling his attention. This was why they had been referring to the God of Mischief as ’that entity.’

"I see. I’ll ask Ferdinand to tour me around his island then if we must stay there for a month or more. But if ’that entity’ is truly involved in the monster attacks on me, why would he do that to a mere human?"

"You are not a mere human. You are His Majesty’s fated mate. We returned twenty years back. But the gods have not. He must know about it too. It’s just my theory for now, but I believe he tried to kill you repeatedly before you meet with His Majesty. After all, he looked very much pissed when His Majesty returned after the trials. He thought my lord would not be able to take it, give you up, and surrender to the trials. But he didn’t. His Majesty returned and still asked to bring you back."

How can a god do that? Was it because her life was mere sand to him? Discarding a single piece of sand would have been fine to him indeed. And the trials again. Just what did he make Ferdinand go through?

"Alwin, can you tell me about the trials now? Ferdinand seems to be in his meeting for a while."

"Fine. But brace yourself," Alwin warned, and Arabella gulped.

"Yes. I’m ready," she wanted to know what it was once and for all.

"His Majesty was sent several lifetimes back to protect your soul as that entity tried to break it apart by putting you in all sorts of danger. His Majesty had to protect you so your soul would survive several reincarnations until now. He had to watch over you and save you from harm for several lifetimes while watching you get married to the ones you were meant to be within those lives," Alwin revealed.

"That was the price he had to pay so I could be revived?!" Arabella turned pale.

"No. His Majesty compensated with half of his lifespan. The God of Death and the Goddess of Life had already agreed for you to be revived after His Majesty was willing to give even his whole life. They decided to take half. But just when they were to grant his wish, the other gods meddled."

"Even his whole life?!" Arabella gawked at Alwin.

’Ferdinand!’ she wanted to give him a scolding for not giving value to his own life. But she was so touched and angry at the same time for him to be able to go that far just for her sake.

"Yes," Alwin replied sadly. "The magic circle did not work no matter what we tried when His Majesty only offered half of his lifespan. But it did when he offered all of it. His Majesty didn’t mind exchanging his life for yours. He wanted you to at least be with His Highness that you loved so much. His Highness had also been missing you a lot. His Majesty thought Prince Fermin would be happier if he grew up with you instead of him."

Ferdinand apparently felt bad that only he, was able to witness as Fermin further grew while Arabella only witnessed twelve years of his growth and did not see him grow even stronger and wiser.

Moreover, Alwin said that if nothing succeeded, Ferdinand would have only lived for a few more years just to watch over Fermin until he was able to fend for himself. Then, he would have hibernated to death again.

This was why Alwin was keen on protecting her. Because Arabella was Ferdinand’s only motivation for living. When she was gone, Alwin witnessed that Ferdinand was back to choosing death over life.

"The other gods thought it was unfair to give you your life back when many others were denied. And they questioned if His Majesty even deserved to be given the chance to be with you again. They got into a debate until someone suggested His Majesty had to go through a trial to prove he deserved that chance. And once he successfully completes the trial and still wished to be with you, only then would they grant his wish. His Majesty successfully completed it even though it was supposed to make him give up. It was clear how difficult it had been for him when he returned. He looked so tired and weary as if he had died several times."

[It was way worse than when he knew she was cheating on him. Because on those reincarnations, she was never even meant to be for him. All he could do was watch from the sidelines, longing for the time to come when she could finally be his again.]

"And yet, even after witnessing me marry someone else for several lifetimes, he still wished to be with me?" Arabella’s tears began to fall.

Ferdinand had indeed gone through so much. No wonder Alwin was keen on ensuring Ferdinand was happy this time.

Watching her get married to someone else for several lifetimes was torture.