Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 540: Please Keep Your Word

Chapter 540: Please Keep Your Word

"Our apologies, Your Majesty. Please enlighten us on what we should do," they chose their words well and asked for her to voice out what she wanted so they would not make any more mistakes.

"They do not need this compensation. I would not accept any either," she returned the list to them.

"Eh? Then, what should we do?"

"I believe I already told Narcissa last time."

Arabella glanced at her suspended assistant.

"What have you decided to do? Have you reflected? Have you thought about it deeply this past month?"

"Yes, your Majesty."

"Then, do you want to continue as my assistant? Or do you wish to quit?"

"I want to keep working as your assistant, Your Majesty. I have reflected on my actions and would never do it again. Please give me a chance," Narcissa bowed.

"Lift your head."

Arabella gazed into Narcissa’s eyes. She checked her thoughts, and Narcissa did seem to be determined.

"Then, is there something you want to say?" Arabella continued.

"I deeply apologize for my actions, Your Majesty. I caused a lot of trouble and hurt other people. I realized I had overstepped my bounds and had no right to bully them. I will also continue to reflect. I will learn and understand Valeria’s laws more deeply so I can do it in practice," Narcissa bowed deeply.

Her parents bowed as well to pressure Arabella.

"What else?" Arabella probed.

Narcissa gulped and glanced at her parents.

[It would have been better if they were not here.]

"I will apologize to them in person for all the offenses I have committed against them, Your Majesty," Narcissa accepted what Arabella said last time.

Arabella learned from Narcissa’s thoughts that people had been murmuring about her ever since she returned home to their estate.

The people knew that being sent home meant Narcissa had committed a grave mistake or was not as capable as her family had bragged about her.

In her month-long suspension, Narcissa learned what it was like for people to doubt her abilities.

People had been whispering behind her back. It wasn’t just outsiders but even the families they had connections with.

She finally understood it felt terrible. Now she had a clue how Ivan, Nadia, and Odette would have felt. And she had done more than whisper behind their back.

Narcissa realized that if she failed even just once, they could easily abandon her.

She and her family had been trying to search for a teacher for her for the Old Valerian Language, but none had accepted because they heard she was suspended from working for the Empress.

The scholars the Ryvaleh’s had approached feared they might anger the new Empress and get their budget decreased if they accepted Narcissa.

This made Narcissa realize that her family’s power and influence had its limits. She could not rely solely on them.

"I-in person?"

"What’s that supposed to mean?!"

Narcissa’s parents frowned.

"Just as Narcissa had bowed and apologized to me, she would do so to the ones whom she had persecuted," Arabella said, and they were wide-eyed.

"S-she would bow to them? Our daughter?!"

"Your Majesty, I will be the next Duke of our Household. My daughter cannot bow to just anyone," Narcissa’s father contradicted.

They had the pride of Ryvaleh.

"Yes, that’s true. But she would not bow to them as the daughter of the next Duke of Ryvaleh. She would bow to them just as Narcissa, my assistant, and their coworker who bullied them. And she would do it in front of me, their superior," Arabella eyed them sternly.

"I understand that a noble cannot bow to simply anyone. But please remember that Narcissa is not only a daughter of the Ryvaleh Household but also a civil servant.

"If you are determined to let her remain as a civil servant, then you must accept the fact that Narcissa would have to bow to her superiors regardless of social status but by the ranking system of the Civil Service as a work ethic.

"This also means that when she commits a mistake or an offense to someone in the civil service, she must take responsibility and apologize for her actions appropriately regardless of whether she would be forgiven or not.

"This is what it’s like to be in the Civil Service. If you cannot accept it, then please leave with Narcissa. We have nothing more to talk about. We shall meet in the court where the judges shall preside. Of course, I will defend those who remain as my assistants and we have all the proof we need," Arabella stated directly.

[Is she threatening us?!!]

"This is not a threat. I am simply stating a fact. There were people who had witnessed what happened. I merely asked everyone to remain silent for now because I did not want to embarrass Narcissa and the Ryvaleh Household since she was still my assistant.

"But once she’s no longer one, I have no obligation to defend or protect her since she’s no longer one of my own. Right?" Arabella smiled at Narcissa’s parents since they were clearly thinking of getting back at her if she fired Narcissa. They were planning on making a faction against her.

’I won’t allow that to happen.’

She would attack first while the iron was hot.

Of course, she was saying all these to manipulate them to let Narcissa apologize so things wouldn’t have to be complicated. She would rather solve this peacefully as well.

"I am indeed grateful for Ryvaleh’s help in quelling the bad rumors about me, but this is not something that can simply be overlooked because of that.

"Even a Duke apologizes when necessary. Even His Majesty and His Excellency give respect where it is due. I also apologize when I make mistakes," Arabella reminded them.

"I believe we do not need to create a bigger issue if we could resolve this right now. Am I right?"

Arabella emphasized that she was the one who had the upper hand here, not them. They were the ones who had to compromise since their side was the one who committed an offense.

[What are they doing?! I already told them even His Majesty values Ivan greatly. This is exactly why I told them not to come!] Narcissa bit her lip.

"Father, Mother, it’s alright, I was the one who committed an offense so I will apologize. I am a civil servant," Narcissa intervened.

Narcissa’s parents turned silent and weighed on their options.

But since Arabella was loved by the emperor, and she had the support of the six older houses, they decided to back down and not provoke her further.

They realized they would not be able to pressure her to simply take back Narcissa with the compensation they originally prepared.

"I see. Since our daughter seems to be determined, we will allow her to do this. But please keep your word, Your Majesty. Our daughter is very capable and she’s determined to keep working as your assistant."

"I will keep my word. But only if Narcissa keeps hers," Arabella smiled.