Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 492: I’m Not Ready

Chapter 492: I’m Not Ready

Sonia did not read the whole contract since it was long. But it was stated there that Arabella and Ferdinand were given full custody of Dimo until he decided to return to their duchy completely and not return to Valeria.

Dimo would still be under their custody even if he returned home to Olivier for vacation.

Thus, they could still take legal action against anything committed against him even if he is in Olivier if he had not decided to fully leave Valeria yet.

It was for Dimo’s safety, so Duke Olivier had agreed to it even though he was a bit wary about it at first.

[I’ll be able to see father again, right?] Dimo sniffed and waved to his father one last time before Rendell scooped him up and settled him into the carriage.

Rendell had to do that since Dimo might trip. His eyes were all red and puffy from so much crying. He might trip and fall so it was safer to carry him into the carriage.

It was rather a miracle how they reached it without Dimo tripping even once. But then again, Arabella and Ferdinand did walk slowly and carefully, adapting to Dimo’s small unsteady steps.

It was like they were in a procession and Ferdinand glanced at Dimo several times wanting to carry him or have him carried so they would finally reach the carriage.

But Arabella stopped him since the other maids and knights in the castle should see them so they could not make too many qualms to Duke Olivier later.

Especially since just being with them raises Dimo’s value in the duchy.

The knights and maids who saw them today would likely tell their households about this and it may affect who they support for the ducal seat in the future.

But Brent would likely be disqualified soon once Duke Olivier reveals that Brent was not his child. Brent would still be his nephew but the Duke’s children were the ones who were qualified for the ducal seat.

Unless Duke Olivier adopts Brent and Monica to legalize them as his children. But that was highly unlikely. Unless it was alright for Sonia to leave her children in Olivier.

Arabella glanced at Sonia and the Head Butler. They looked so relieved when Dimo had vanished from their sight.

’You can celebrate now and regret it later,’ she faked a smile and boarded the carriage as well.

Duke Olivier climbed on his horse too to escort them once again, this time out of the duchy. His closest knights followed him.

Once they began moving. . .

"It’s alright now," Arabella dried Dimo’s tears with her handkerchief and cleaned his face. "We were never planning to leave you behind. It was just a play remember?"

"A play? Was that still part of the play?" Dimo blinked twice.

"It was just a play so that your Aunt Sonia and the Head Butler would be caught soon. We won’t leave you behind. You can keep learning magic in the Magic Tower," Arabella explained.

"I can?"

"Yes, of course," Arabella smiled.

[I can really go with them! They’re not leaving me behind!]

"Waaah!" Dimo burst into tears again. But this time it was out of relief.

[This is exactly why crying children are so hard to deal with. How can he keep crying for so long? His small body is already trembling, but he keeps crying whether he’s happy or sad. How can so many emotions fit in that body? What if he passes out? If Alwin hadn’t cast a spell on him, everything around him would be on fire by now. His mana levels had kept rising and rising since earlier.]

Ferdinand was perturbed and worried at the same time.

Arabella embraced Dimo and rubbed his back. He sobbed in her arms, and she let him pour out his emotions. He was truly too scared to stay in Olivier that he was relieved this much.

It took a while, but Dimo gradually calmed down and stopped until he fell asleep from exhaustion.

The level of anxiety and stress Dimo went through in the castle was so much that he easily fell asleep when he finally felt safe.

’It must have been mentally and physically draining,’ Arabella gently stroked his hair.

Being in that castle and acting out a play was tiring for her too.

’What’s with this prickly feeling?’ Arabella glanced across her.

Ferdinand was staring at her intently.

[I guess, having children should indeed be for later. I’m not ready to deal with this whirlwind of emotions. I’m not even sure I can calm and comfort a crying child. I’m not sure I will be able to take care of them either. I’m not even sure what works and what doesn’t despite all the lessons and discussions with Raymond.]

Ferdinand was once again changing his mind. Just earlier today, he thought that maybe, they should have children soon. But he changed his mind again.

[And it seems what I heard from the knights is true. Just now, Arabella was so focused on Dimo. I understand that he needed the attention. But she did not even glance even once in my direction. It was as if it was just the two of them in this carriage and I don’t exist.]

’I didn’t?’ Arabella thought about it, and it was true. She was too focused on Dimo since she was worried and felt bad for him.

[If we have children soon, they will require a lot of her attention and time. Add her workload if she still insists on working even then. Nothing would be left for me. We won’t be able to have time for us.]

With such kind of thoughts in his mind, Ferdinand came to a conclusion. Children would be for later once he had spent enough time with her.

’Well, we did already agree last time that we would have children later.’

"Ferdinand," Arabella called out in a low voice, so Dimo wouldn’t wake up.

Her husband perked up. He brightened up in a second just after hearing his name.

[She finally recalled me!]

"Come and sit here," she glanced at the space beside her.

Ferdinand obediently did.

"Lean in. There’s something I need to tell you," Arabella instructed. She smiled when he did exactly as he was told.

’He’s so adorable when he’s the one listening to orders.’

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A/N:

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