Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 480: Sit Properly

Chapter 480: Sit Properly

Watching the scenery as they passed by, it was evident that Olivier was a prosperous duchy. Duke Olivier and those before him had managed it well.

Yet, in the future, if Sonia and the Head Butler were not removed from power, this duchy would fall to ruin.

It was why in her past life, with Arabella’s support, Dimo took back the duchy from Sonia. He didn’t want the hard work of his parents to simply be laid to waste.

However, Dimo was not interested in ruling Olivier because of all the experiences he went through. And most especially, the people he cherished the most were already long gone. Thus, he let his other relatives rule it instead.

. . .

Duke Olivier had assigned knights to guard the road they would pass on.

There were knights standing guard every meter on either side of the road to prevent anything or anyone from hindering their passage.

This showed that Olivier was a powerhouse. They had a lot of knights. Enough to go to war with another kingdom all on their own.

After all, Olivier was once not a part of Loranne but a kingdom of their own. They lost in a war with Loranne and became a vassal duchy of the kingdom.

Arabella heard from the people’s thoughts that they were curious and alarmed as to who was visiting the duchy for the Duke himself to welcome them and lead them to the castle. Especially with the knights having to guard either side of the road.

The people thought it was royalty from Loranne for them to be welcomed on such a grand scale.

When they saw it was a Valerian carriage and flag, they all froze and spoke in low whispers as they eyed the carriage warily.

It made them fear that Valeria may have plans to conquer them, or someone obstructed the road when they were passing through and Valerian delegates were sent to discuss it.

With the news that the Duke’s first son was missing, they were even more alarmed at the sight of a Valerian delegate visiting the duchy.

Even if they thought that Dimo was dangerous and weird, he was still the first child and the heir to the duchy so with him missing, they were not in a good situation to be in a war.

The people of Olivier were in a panic as they speculated all sorts of things.

Meanwhile, Arabella thought Dimo would be happy to see their duchy again, however, the child’s face turned sour instead as he gazed outside the window. Especially with the expression on the people’s faces.

Listening to Dimo’s thoughts, she learned that it was because Dimo’s memories of Olivier ever since his mother died, were mostly painful for him.

People did not know his ability to make fire was magic.

He was regarded as a monster by most of them and even though they didn’t say it directly, he heard it from whispers behind his back and felt it from the way they stared at him.

Though the adults knew to choose their words when speaking with him, the children didn’t, and they ostracized Dimo. They also avoided him, so he ended up all alone.

Especially when Sonia also did the same instead of comforting the child who was longing for a mother’s love and comfort in such difficult times.

Thus, Dimo didn’t feel welcome in his own home.

Especially after the events with Sonia and the butler trying to get rid of him and his father.

"They cannot see us inside," Arabella held Dimo’s trembling hands. He had turned pale and nervous.

"They can’t?" Dimo blinked twice.

"Yes, they can’t. They do not know you are here with us either," she explained, so Dimo would not think the people were eyeing the carriage that way because of him.

"Are the men who tried to kill me still in prison?"

Dimo was reminded about how they caught him, beat him up, and chased him over and over again and only stopped when he reached the forbidden road.

’Oh my. He’s also recalling those bastards.’

"Yes, of course. They are still imprisoned. We won’t set them free. Your father will punish them soon," Arabella assured him.

Surely, the punishment for those would either be the death penalty or exile. But since they were mostly not from the duchy, it would likely be a death penalty. They harmed the heir to Olivier after all.

With their family’s royal heritage, Dimo was akin to a prince. Even if the people in the duchy didn’t want him to be the next duke, he should have been never harmed due to the value of his bloodline to Olivier.

"Will Father be alright?"

"Of course. Your father is strong and decisive. He has the knights with him too. See?"

Arabella touched the magic circle below the front window. The spell was activated, and it became see-through as well.

In front of the carriage, leading the way to the Olivier Castle was the Duke.

"Father!"

Dimo brightened up at the sight of his father. He turned around on the couch, his knees on the seat, and kept looking at the front.

Arabella turned sideways since the carriage might rattle any second and Dimo might lose balance. She wasn’t sure she would be able to support him though.

She meant for Dimo to only get a glance at his father, not face the front fully like this.

"He can’t hear you. A magic spell was cast on the carriage," Ferdinand broke the child’s enthusiasm.

"Oh," poor Dimo pouted and got depressed again.

"Sit properly or you’ll fall off," Ferdinand scolded.

Dimo pouted even more but obediently did. "Yes, Your Majesty."

[Human children are especially fragile. I’ve seen countless of them die so early for the most random reasons. A fall from this might break a bone or two. If his head or neck hit something, he might die.]

’He’s worried,’ Arabella smiled at her husband. ’But he could have said that a bit more gently instead of scolding Dimo who’s already depressed.’