Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 509: The “Test” Begins

Chapter 509: The “Test” Begins

[Then, I must list the most difficult questions to ask him.] Narcissa noted.

Some paper and pen were brought to Narcissa, and she was sent to another room so she could focus. She didn’t have time for tea as she focused on listing things, she believed Ivan would not know.

Arabella heard Narcissa’s thoughts as she thought of what to ask Ivan.

Narcissa listed a lot and focused on information she thought was not known by many. On more difficult parts, she chose information that she thought could only be found in Ryvaleh. She wanted Ivan to be unable to answer in front of Arabella.

The Imperial Exam included information about random territories in Valeria, so test-takers also had to learn about other territories aside from their homelands. Thus, Narcissa’s questions were acceptable. However, she intentionally chose a lot of information that was difficult to access.

But Narcissa was forgetting some of it may be available in the library here in Riva as well and Arabella knew that Ivan was an avid reader. He was the kind to devour everything he could to gain more and more knowledge.

After an hour, Narcissa was done with her list of questions and answers. Riley made a duplicate copy of it for Arabella so Narcissa would not change the answers later.

The answers were also verified to be correct so there was no problem with the list. Narcissa was indeed quite knowledgeable as well. She was able to list a lot of questions within an hour while intentionally choosing information Ivan may have had not access to.

Arabella then asked Riley to fetch Ivan. He returned with Ivan after two minutes.

[Why is she here?!] Ivan was wide-eyed and visibly tensed upon seeing Narcissa.

"It’s alright, Ivan. There’s nothing to fear. Please be seated," Arabella gestured to a seat opposite Narcissa’s.

"Y-yes, Your Majesty," Ivan nervously seated himself. He was relieved he was not alone with Narcissa.

[Is this what Her Majesty is working on which was why she couldn’t be with us today? She acted immediately?] Ivan was touched.

"Since Narcissa claims that you may have cheated during the selection or even at the Imperial Civil Service Exam, I have given her a chance to test you. She had made a list of questions and answers. Please answer as best you can. I also have a copy of her list with me, so she won’t be able to change the answers she had wanted to hear," Arabella explained.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

[Narcissa is still going on about that? I repeatedly told her to test me, but she refused. The times she did try asking me a question or two she got irritated when I answered right. She wouldn’t say or do anything since Her Majesty is here, right?] Ivan was worried.

’I won’t let her hurt you anymore,’ Arabella thought.

"Alright then. Narcissa, you may begin asking questions," Arabella gave the go signal.

[I must answer everything right.] Ivan was determined.

Narcissa began asking about the agricultural situation in Riva and Ryvaleh which she knew was available in the library and to those who were interested in it.

There were twenty questions about it and Ivan answered all of it right. Narcissa expected that thought since he had written a lot of books on agriculture.

Narcissa then proceeded to the next level which were questions she thought were hard when she took the Imperial Exam. Ivan answered all of it yet again. So, she then proceeded to ask questions focused on Ryvaleh.

"While Ryvaleh was in transition, who was seated as the first Duke of Ryvaleh."

"Duke Clement Ryvaleh," Ivan answered correctly.

"Why did he become the duke even though he was the lastborn among five sons?"

"His father, the former King of Ryvaleh perished from sickness after the war. The firstborn was diagnosed with the same disease, so his health became an issue. The second and the other two younger siblings were both married and already had children with ladies from nations that Valeria was enemies with. Thus, the youngest son who was still single, then, Prince Clement, was deemed to be the best choice, so he became the first Duke of Ryvaleh," Ivan answered correctly again.

[That was what they write in their official history books. But other scholars have written the truth. Ryvaleh was defeated overwhelmingly in the war with Valeria so after that, their royal family decided that the best course of action was to be on good terms even if they had to be a vassal nation. Thus, they decided to make Prince Clement as the duke despite opposition from his elder siblings. The nobles didn’t want another war that they would surely lose, so they wanted to be on the safe side and supported Clement. He then married someone from Riva to prove their family’s allegiance to Valeria.] Ivan thought.

He had to choose his words so he only said the facts that someone from Ryvaleh would be able to accept without debate.

"Long before the war, who was the King of Ryvaleh who made it prosper the most?" Narcissa then shifted her questions to the older history of Ryvaleh that wasn’t studied in Riva.

But Ivan was still able to answer it all.

[Humph. Let’s see if he can answer this too.]

"Who are the rulers of Ryvaleh starting from its founding? Can you enumerate them all?" Narcissa asked, expecting Ivan to say he couldn’t.

"Yes. The first king was...The second, third..." Ivan successfully enumerated them all to Narcissa’s frustration.

Narcissa then proceeded to more difficult questions, but Ivan also answered it all until all the questions on her list ran out.

Ivan answered everything correctly without a single mistake.

"Your Majesty, can I ask more questions?" Narcissa pled.

"Alright."

Narcissa then kept asking questions. She shifted from one territory of Valeria to another, but Ivan answered everything correctly.

With Narcissa’s new questions, it became clear that she also knew a lot about Valeria. But Ivan also did.