Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 409: It’s That Important

Chapter 409: It’s That Important

Watching her get married to someone else for several lifetimes was torture. How was he able to bear with it?

Is that why Ferdinand was so fearful and insecure now? Because he watched her be someone else’s woman for so long? So now that finally, she was meant for him, he was possessive and easily gets jealous?

"Yes. Despite everything, His Majesty chose you. Over, and over again," Alwin’s voice was barely a whisper. And it was riddled with pain.

He closed his eyes at the memory of what Ferdinand looked like when he returned.

But Arabella already had a glimpse of it. Ferdinand had lost weight though he was supposed to be healthy all the time due to his powers as a primordial dragon.

His cheeks were sunken. His lips were dry. His shoulders were slumped. He looked like he hadn’t had any sleep for thousands of years. And his eyes barely had any life in them.

His bright eyes which Arabella often sees these days had turned into a dull murky color. It showed that he had been through so much. That life had been so rough and cruel on him where he was sent.

And Alwin saw the strong and powerful Ferdinand he always looked up to, look so weak and seem like he was about to break.

It was no wonder he couldn’t help but be frustrated about Arabella and internally complained a lot.

Alwin wanted to understand why Ferdinand had to go through so much just to be with her. But it was also Ferdinand’s choice so he could not really complain aloud so he only did it in his mind.

After all, Arabella thought he would be hostile to her now, after learning she had memories of the past as well. But he wasn’t. He was the same as usual and he was informing her about all these instead.

"Ah, and there was this statement that His Majesty said that time," Alwin let Arabella get a peek of his mind.

* * *

"Alwin, she would hate me even more now, wouldn’t she? I’m selfishly forcing her to come back even though she chose to end her life right then," Ferdinand asked Alwin with such a pained expression in his eyes. He looked like he was crying with no tears.

"Why would she?! Your Majesty worked hard for this and now she has a chance to be with the Young Master," Alwin responded.

"No. She would hate me. She was so happy with that man in her previous reincarnation. She loved him so much that she gave her life for him and everyone else’s. She must have loved him so much in this reincarnation too. But she chose to die because of me. And yet, I’m forcing her to live again," Ferdinand covered his face with both palms and kneeled beside Arabella’s corpse. She was in a coffin that magically preserved her body.

Alwin asked who Ferdinand was talking about, but he simply shook his head and embraced her coffin. Ferdinand’s shoulders shook as he expressed, he missed her so much, even though he was watching her for several lifetimes.

* * *

"His Majesty did not tell me who it was. But I surmise it was someone from your former lovers or one from the other men you slept with, was your lover before you were reincarnated as your current self."

Arabella flinched when Alwin said the words, ’other men she slept with.’ But he did not say it with any bite nor tried to be offensive.

"Could it be Andrew?" Arabella wondered.

Was it why for a while, Ferdinand thought she hated him because she still loved Andrew?

But with Ferdinand looking so conflicted like that, it must mean it was someone who held importance to him.

"No! It must have been King Icarus," Arabella gasped at the realization. "Ferdinand would have easily said it if it was Andrew."

She realized that it must have been one of the reasons why Ferdinand was so wary of Icarus.

"I thought so too. Everything got so complicated with the gods involved," Alwin sighed deeply. Being the only one who knew all this was hard on him too.

"He is returning!"

They were both wide-eyed as they felt Ferdinand’s presence heading back to the mansion.

Alwin healed her eyes since she ended up in tears after learning about what Ferdinand went through. They got out of her study since Arabella was so eager to see her husband and give him a hug.

. . .

"Ferdinand!" Arabella ran to him the instant the doors opened. She gave her husband a tight hug.

"Did I do something good? I feel like I’m being rewarded," Ferdinand wrapped her in his arms too.

[Amazing. His Majesties eyes instantly lit up. His ears are red too. I still can’t get used to this.] Riley thought.

"Yes, you did."

"Oh, what is it?"

[I need to know so I can do it more often. I’d love to be welcomed home like this again.]

"I won’t tell," Arabella gave him a peck instead.

She wanted to say she didn’t hate him. And that she was grateful for this chance he worked hard for. If he had given up on her, they wouldn’t have had the chance to get to know each other and be this close.

"Please tell me," Ferdinand tried again.

"No, it’s a secret. Or maybe I’ll tell you in the future."

"Oh, is this one of those times we talked about?" Ferdinand recalled their agreement to answer each other’s questions honestly. That if they could not answer something now, they could delay giving the answer by giving a timeframe. "Then, how long do I have to wait?"

"Hmm, maybe, several years," Arabella replied. She wasn’t sure when the time she could tell him everything would come so could only give an estimate.

"Why that long?" His curiosity was killing him.

"Because it’s that important," Arabella assured him there was nothing to worry about.

"I see. Then, I will wait patiently," Ferdinand agreed.