Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 42: Reputation

Chapter 42: Reputation

[Her eyes had been different since we got engaged. And most especially when she was brought here and we got married. It didn’t shine as brightly as before anymore. I have never even heard her laugh once even when speaking with her maid from Lobelius.]

Arabella instantly felt guilty but how could she just turn to look at him again after avoiding his eyes?

She could feel that he was still staring at her so intensely too.

[When I met her as Elmir, she was, all smiles to me. It hurt to hear her utter someone else’s name while she spoke to me, but she was so kind and attentive to me back then. And so I didn’t even care anymore that I was in someone else’s appearance and just wanted to be close to her. Did she like Elmir’s appearance much more than mine? Back then she even gave me her hairpin and bracelet.]

’Sir Elmir was a real person?!’ Arabella blinked. ’Ah, right. Of course, he was. How else would Alwin know his appearance, voice, and build that he was able to copy it through magic.’

She figured Sir Elmir must be someone both Alwin and Ferdinand knew. Probably someone in Estrella since she had never met the true Sir Elmir, Zion, or Rowan.

’Still, how could Ferdinand not know he is also very much good-looking and attractive? Did he never have any lovers before? Or at least someone who liked him?’

Arabella thought it was impossible for no one to even like Ferdinand when he had everything.

Looks, money, strength, power, and status.

How would there be no lady to approach him?

A lot of ladies would at least like him for the things he had and consider him a good prospect for marriage.

But then again, Ferdinand had a really bad reputation. He was rumored to be the Dark Emperor.

A scary, hotblooded, and ruthless person who kills for fun. There were even rumors saying he drinks the blood of his enemies and eats their flesh.

The rumors were more than enough for the ladies to run away before even seeing his face to at least appreciate his appearance.

He was not one to talk much either which makes him even scarier. Even if they see his pretty face, he was still too scary to approach so he probably scared the ladies away.

’But did no one in Estrella ever adore him? He had an entire island to himself. His palace there was also bigger than Valeria Palace.’

Dragons are long-lived so she doesn’t even know what exactly was his current age.

But she surmised Ferdinand has probably lived long enough to have had encounters.

’Did he not have even one person to like him?’

She fell in love with him quite easily after their wedding so it was rather hard to believe no one fancied him before. Or was she just that fickle and falls in love so easily?

’Should I work on his reputation first to lessen his haters and enemies?’

If people understood her husband better, or at least get to know the rumors about him were false, maybe his reputation could change a bit in a positive light.

Maybe, even those who fear him in Valeria and would be traitors in the future would hesitate if they know he was actually a good Emperor aside from his military strength.

In the past, a lot of Ferdinand’s subjects easily turned their backs on him since the only thing they liked about him was his strength. They didn’t know he does his work as the Emperor and did not just let Raymond do everything.

It was just that Raymond was the one who attended all social events and if Ferdinand ever appeared, it was only when it was necessary and he would leave right after he did his part.

’Is this why Raymond wanted me to focus on socializing? Was he actually trying to make Ferdinand attend banquets too?’

If Arabella was the organizer and holds social events often and the palace was the venue; since Ferdinand actually likes her, it would be easier for him to appear especially if he comes looking for her.

’Hmm. Raymond is much more sly than I thought. He had such strategies up his sleeve.’

Raymond was a good Prime Minister and as far as she knew, loyal to Ferdinand. So Raymond had probably already noticed that having people think the Emperor just leaves all his job, aside from war, to his Prime Minister was not good.

’Alright! While Ferdinand would be at the borders, I will have tea parties with the noble ladies and organize a celebratory banquet for when he comes back. If he could endure just staying outside my door for a night, he could endure attending a banquet with me, right?’

She had to wonder if she should seduce Ferdinand a bit so he would like her more and listen to her words. But just a glance at how he was still staring at her made her back out.

’This is already overwhelming. I might not be able to take more.’

His feelings for her were probably strong enough for him to listen to what she had to say.

Still, she needs to test it a bit to be sure. She braced herself and rubbed her arms, pretending to be cold.

[She’s feeling cold?!]

Ferdinand instantly noticed, undid his coat, and wrapped it around her.

He’s observant and attentive to her needs.

"Thank you," Arabella smiled and his ears turned red.

[!!! She’s even prettier when she smiles. I wish she would always smile at me like this.]

’How could I have not noticed these before when it was so obvious? His facial expression usually doesn’t change but his ears were always the giveaway.’

And when she looks closely into his eyes, she could actually see the changes in his emotions from there. Even more so now that she could see and hear his thoughts.

She had just been too biased because of the past and thought that everything he did was because he wanted to get an heir out of her and shut up the ministers so he was playing nice.

Plus, Ferdinand was at the peak of his sex drive so she formerly concluded it was normal for him to have horny thoughts and lust for her.

Part of it was probably true but it was also because of his feelings for her.

"I am truly sorry about Alwin’s behavior. I should have disciplined him more strictly. When I asked for you to be my wife and married you, I thought it goes without saying that everyone here would respect you," Ferdinand held her hand.

"It’s okay. I understand that not everyone will like me instantly. Their opinions would change through time as well," Arabella smiled.

"Still, I am partly at fault. My deepest apologies for letting you go through it. I didn’t expect it would be Alwin who dares to display such behavior. Please feel free to punish him. Alwin is prepared to accept his punishment. I have sent him away in the meantime to reflect on his actions but you can summon him anytime with the ring."

[Alwin is usually a calm and level-headed person. His actions were totally unexpected so I had to send him back to Estrella.]

Arabella tilted her head. Ferdinand still punished his mage. He truly did not let it slide even though he already agreed to let her bully Alwin.

[Alwin must have been getting stuffy staying with the humans all the time since he has sharp senses. Even if he is isolated in the magic tower, with all his abilities, he would still be able to see and hear much more than a human could. But he should have just told me and asked for a leave.]

’He actually cares about Alwin.’

Even if he was cold and strict, Ferdinand knew his mage well and clearly cares about him to even think of what was comfortable and uncomfortable for the latter.

[Perhaps he was getting bored here as well since he cannot do all the dangerous experiments he wanted. He could have shifted with the other elves if he wanted to but he insisted on staying.]

’I’d love to see them someday,’ Arabella was wide-eyed when she heard Ferdinand has more elf comrades. She wondered if all of them were as beautiful as Alwin.

[What would I do if my wife thinks my people won’t respect her because of what he did? She would want to leave me all the more if she thinks my people would mistreat her.]

Arabella didn’t know Ferdinand was such an overthinker. He doesn’t talk much but he always had a lot of thoughts in his mind.

"Ah, it’s alright. I have already forgiven him. And you have allowed me to bully him. That’s more than enough. I’m thinking of making him run errands for me in the future."

Arabella assured Ferdinand that he didn’t need to worry about it anymore.

.

.

.

A/N:

SPECIAL MENTION to sinfull_6478 and Sarah_He.

Thank you for the GOLDEN TICKETS!