Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 53: Board and Lodging

Chapter 53: Board and Lodging

Arabella thought all the Head Households of the territories in Valeria were given a piece of land in Riva where they could build their residence in the capital.

’I have to get this checked. Would Alwin be fine with checking it for me? Ferdinand did give me permission to use his mage as I please.’

She felt bad for Alwin but she needed his help. Alwin still had a lot of hostile thoughts about her so if necessary, she would have to use Ferdinand’s promise which allows her to bully the former.

Like Ivan, Nadia and Odette preferred to begin working right away. It was because the sooner they work, the sooner they can get a salary to send to their homeland.

The two were also on a tight budget and cannot afford to stay in the capital without working as soon as possible. Going home to their territories meant another expense so they would rather begin working as soon as possible.

Thankfully, Arabella knew from her past life that she had to prepare a place to stay for her assistants so she already had ten chambers in the palace prepared for them.

"All of you will be provided with your own chambers in the palace to make working here every day easier and more efficient. Eunice will show you to your rooms later. You can begin bringing your necessities as soon as you please," Arabella explained and Ivan, Nadia, and Odette silently sighed in relief.

[I don’t have to worry about rent anymore. But I wouldn’t be bullied here too, right?]

Ivan was still worried since he was the only commoner who was hired.

But Arabella won’t let him be bullied again. She would have to interfere if someone from her assistants was into bullying.

[Thank the gods! I thought I would have to spend money on lodging. This is the best!]

Odette was praying again.

[Is this really happening?! I wonder if I can begin staying right away. This means I only have to worry about food, right? I am used to eating just a bit of food now. I will be thrifty so I can use most of my salary to buy food and supplies for Safiro.]

Nadia was still worried about food expenses.

Arabella was horrified to hear Nadia would even eat less just to be able to send more money to Safiro.

The meals would also be provided for them though.

Arabella had assigned some of the palace chefs to alternately prepare her assistant’s meals.

After all, Head Chef Alfredo was more than enough to prepare hers and Ferdinand’s meals. The others just ended up becoming assistants to Alfredo and they were beginning to worry if they had any use.

She learned from the chefs’ thoughts that they just began serving in the palace when Arabella and Ferdinand got married.

Alfredo used to be the only cook in the palace and he took care of everyone’s meals. He was that capable. He only had some of the low-ranked butlers to assist him with menial tasks.

New chefs were only hired for show because the ministers didn’t want their Emperor to seem to be living too humbly with only one chef preparing his meals.

But the skills of the newly-hired chefs were going to waste since they were not getting the chance to do the cooking themselves. And they were poached from the most famous restaurants in Riva.

She understood one of the reasons why the food made for her lacked diversity and beauty in plating was because the other chefs remained mum in fear of overstepping Alfredo’s territory.

Even if they had the skills, they remained silent since Alfredo was the law in the kitchen.

The new chefs only gained a bit of confidence to suggest some things when Aletha was welcomed into the kitchen.

Arabella honestly felt bad for them after learning about their situation. They would have been better off remaining as chefs in the restaurants they used to work in.

Making them cook for her assistants would at least give them a sense of achievement since they would be able to showcase their skills.

If her assistants appreciate their cooking skills, they wouldn’t feel like their skills were not getting maximized.

She would be holding tea parties and banquets later too so she needed to see how good the new chefs were.

"Your daily meals will be provided. It will be prepared by the palace chefs. If you have any allergies, please inform Eunice early on so the chefs assigned to prepare your meals would be notified."

[!!!]

Nadia and Odette were overwhelmed as their food and lodging problems were both solved.

"If you wish to stay in your residence here in the capital, you may do as you please as long as it doesn’t affect your efficiency and you manage to be at work every day without getting late."

The most powerful households had wide estates in Riva. They also have residential mansions in the city center close to the palace so they had no problems with commuting.

But for those who live far from the palace, it would be difficult.

It was more practical to accept the offered lodgings since the palace itself was so huge and wide. It takes so much time to walk from one location to another. There were plenty of empty rooms too.

[Her Majesty paid attention to everything.]

Raymond was impressed with the arrangements she made. He was the one who advised her though so she wondered why he was so impressed.

Arabella just did as she was told. And of course, she knew from experience that Raymond’s words were all true so she obediently did as she was told as best she could.

Her assistants could already occupy the rooms prepared for them. Her maids and some of Ferdinand’s butlers worked hard the past two weeks to prepare everything.

[I just gave a bit of advice and she did everything so well. Her Majesty is truly quite a fast learner. She doesn’t take offense from getting advised too. I’m truly happy to have her around. I can share the tons of workload soon.]

’Ah so, that was it,’ Arabella stopped herself from laughing due to Raymond’s thoughts. He was too overwhelmed with work that every time he sees the opportunity, he was eager to share them with someone else so his workload would be lessened. He keeps diligently working though.

’Raymond is such a hard worker. Ferdinand should take better care of his Prime Minister. Did Raymond even get to have a vacation even once?’

But from the looks of the workload in Raymond’s office, he clearly hadn’t.

Arabella truly had to start working soon to be of some help. Her assistants would be there too. She knew they are capable so she doesn’t doubt their ability.

What she needed to know though was how seriously they would take her words. Would they listen to the new and young Empress?

Arabella had one last test for them. And so, she gave another announcement.

"Oh, by the way, I would love to visit the territories you are from someday. I hope you could be my guide when the time comes," Arabella said and everyone gawked.

[!!!!]

They were all so surprised.

All those from the most prestigious houses instantly thought of informing their family about it so they could make grand preparations.

Ivan, however, was confused about what he should do and wondered if he should inform the count of the territory he was from since Ivan was from a farmer’s family. He instantly thought he couldn’t possibly welcome the Empress of the Empire in their humble abode.

Nadia and Odette meanwhile, were very much emotional.

[If the Empress herself visits Safiro, doesn’t it mean we are saved?!! Her Majesty wouldn’t possibly ignore what’s happening in Safiro after she sees it, right?]

Nadia stopped her tears from flowing as she thought that her homeland truly had hope now. She wished the visit would be soon so what was happening in Safiro would be revealed as soon as possible and the suffering of her people would end.

Arabella learned from Nadia’s thoughts that her family was no longer the one in power. Someone else was assigned after Safiro was conquered and he prohibited the people from revealing what was happening in the territory with their lives as collateral.

Nadia was only able to take the Imperial Civil Service Exam because she escaped from Safiro once. But after she passed and her name was published, she was caught and returned back to Safiro.

This time, Nadia was only allowed to leave Safiro due to the Imperial Summons issued by Arabella. But the current ruler in Safiro prohibited Nadia from revealing anything with the lives of people important to her at stake.

’Just who is this person?! How could Ferdinand allow his people to be this out of control? He should at least keep his people in control and ensure they are doing their job properly. Raymond too, and the Head Minister of Labor and Employment. Weren’t their jobs to monitor these?’

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A/N:

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