Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 481: What Did I Do?

Chapter 481: What Did I Do?

[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.’

{Look at him. He might cry any second.}

{Why?!} Ferdinand was wide-eyed when he realized Arabella was right.

[What did I do? I merely told him to sit properly. What’s wrong with that? If he fell, he could have gotten hurt, or even worse.]

{I know what you mean. You were worried about him. But Dimo doesn’t know. He thought you were merely scolding him. And he’s especially sensitive right now since he’s emotional and nervous to be back in this place, his supposed home that almost ended his life. Imagine how that would feel for a ten-year-old child.}

Arabella explained and Ferdinand paled as he realized she was right.

[Right. Raymond did say something along the lines of speaking more gently.]

Dimo’s eyes were beginning to water too.

[Damn. Crying children are especially hard to deal with. What should I do?!] Ferdinand was in a panic. He eyed Arabella for help.

"It’s alright. You will be able to speak with your father later," Arabella held Dimo’s hands.

{Why won’t you sit beside him and watch over him, so he won’t fall off? Then tell him he can keep looking at his father.} Arabella suggested and Ferdinand did it the next second.

He smoothly transferred beside Dimo and said, "You can keep looking at your father. We will watch over you, so you won’t fall off."

"Really?!" Dimo instantly perked up. He glanced at Ferdinand and Arabella and when both said yes, he quickly turned around again and kept looking at his father.

"Father looks so cool on his horse," Dimo idolized his father.

"Indeed," Arabella agreed, and Ferdinand frowned.

[I am much cooler.] He thought and Arabella almost laughed. No one said this was a competition.

Of course, for her, Ferdinand was so much cooler. But for Dimo, he likely believes that no one else is cooler than his father.

"I want to be able to ride a huge horse someday too," Dimo was once again speaking animatedly.

"Have you begun your training?"

"Yes. I used to ride with either Father or Mother when I was little. Then they gifted me a pony. Mother and Father helped me ride him. But when my fire magic began, I couldn’t go out as much anymore. Mother is gone now. My pony went missing too. And father is busy," Dimo’s pout returned and the energy in his voice slowly died down as he spoke.

’Oh my. Did Sonia get rid of the pony? Or did it simply go missing?’ Arabella’s villainess mind was quick to think that way.

’I’m sure there are a lot of young horses in Riva. We can let Dimo practice on one of them. But who would teach him? He’s from Olivier so Valerian’s would be wary.’

Arabella glanced at Ferdinand and their eyes met.

{He can train with Raymond’s son later. I’m sure that child would be happy to have a playmate. Raymond said his son was bored with playing with his little sister who had different tastes, so they fought a lot lately.}

He understood what she was thinking about without her having to say anything.

{Oh my! That’s true. Raymart would be delighted indeed.}

Dimo was twice Raymart’s age, but it was better than not having a playmate at all.

Since Raymart was the Prime Minister’s son and was known as the Emperor’s only nephew, he couldn’t play with just anyone since he may even have a chance to be seated on the throne or be the future Prime Minister.

If Raymart was sent to play with other random kids, the nobles may use him to get close to the Reginalds or the Ryvalehs.

They may even get close to him while he was still a child so they could benefit from him once he had grown up.

That would be fine if they didn’t do anything wrong.

But they may try to manipulate and brainwash the child, so Raymond was wary. He had witnessed humanity almost wipe out his race, so he was protective of his child.

Dimo was from Olivier, an outsider, so his family had no power in Valeria. Thus, it would be alright if Raymart played with him. There would be no fight within the households.

"Would you like to practice riding horses?" Arabella asked Dimo perked up again.

"I can?!"

"Of course. There are a lot of horses in Riva. We can let you practice riding horses while you stay there."

"Yaay! Then, I’d love to. Thank you very much, Your Majesty!" Dimo’s beam was priceless.

[His mood changes so quickly. Would it be like this too when I have a child with Arabella?]

Ferdinand once again thought that having children would indeed be better for later. He wasn’t ready to deal with something like this on a daily basis.

"It was His Majesty’s idea," Arabella gestured to her husband.

"Thank you very much, Your Majesty," Dimo beamed at him too and Ferdinand was wide-eyed.

[Maybe we should have a child soon...] He changed his mind because Dimo was so adorable. He didn’t realize he was affected by Dimo’s cuteness at that time.

The genuine and innocent smile of the child reached his heart too and unconsciously, he copied Duke Olivier and patted Dimo’s head before he knew it.

Arabella smiled. If Ferdinand could be swayed like that by Dimo’s genuine smile, she was sure that in the future, he could be like this to their children too.

She did not get to witness him take care of Fermin in her previous life, but hopefully, she would be able to witness it closely in this life.

’Ferdinand would be a kind and loving father. And surely, overprotective.’

His protective instincts were already getting triggered just by seeing Dimo with his knees on the couch after all.