Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 553: Second Scheme

Chapter 553: Second Scheme

’Ah, I see. Right. She’s working for me so even though she loved pretty things including gorgeous men, she never had the chance to mingle since we were always busy,’ Arabella slowly nodded her head.

This was the only chance Renee had in a while to be close to men and they were already holding her hands from the get-go. And there were two of them.

Renee was overwhelmed.

"She’s alright. She simply passed out," Alwin clarified.

Darcus and Orpheus sighed in relief.

They were not familiar with human ailments and medicine, so they let Alwin examine Renee instead of doing it themselves. But if they did, they wouldn’t have allowed Alwin to get near her at all.

"Bring her to her room so she can rest well," Arabella instructed.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Riley responded. He would be the one to do it since the guests he was instructed to keep an eye on clearly looked like they would follow their princess.

Alwin was back so Riley was freed from the tasks he had to do while the former was away.

"May we guard outside her room?" Darcus inquired.

That was free service, so Arabella immediately said, "Yes, of course. But Riley would be with you. And all of you will remain invisible so the other maids and palace personnel will not see you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Darcus and Orpheus bowed.

Riley then teleported with them to Renee’s room.

Arabella and Alwin then schemed their next plan.

***

The following day, Arabella woke up earlier than usual since she wanted to watch how their next plan pushed through.

With Alwin and her guards, Arabella remained hidden with a barrier as they waited for Renee to arrive.

Near the maids’ quarters, was a garden. And Renee usually went there to pick flowers early in the morning.

Alwin and Arabella’s plot number two was for Darcus and Orpheus to have tea there and wait for Renee.

They needed to fast-track things while Renee was not yet contacted by Marcus again.

Alwin and the Elders had already tried searching Riva but found no sign of Marcus.

It meant Marcus may have already begun using dark magic and must have found a way to hide his presence completely.

Thus, the sooner Renee likes Darcus or Orpheus, the sooner they can tell her the truth so they can leave.

"She’s here!" Alwin alerted everyone.

Darcus and Orpheus also felt her presence, so they pretended to be busy with morning tea.

Two minutes later, Renee came with a small basket for the flowers.

[The two beauties from yesterday?!!]

Renee’s eyes widened upon seeing the two.

[Oh, my goodness! They are also gorgeous in daylight!

[What should I do?

[I don’t even remember how I went to my room last night. All I remember was that they walked with me. When I parted with them, everything turned black. It wasn’t their doing, right? Wait! They did not do anything untoward, did they?!

[No, wait. Why would they? I’m not as pretty as I once was and I’m just a maid. Though I was adopted by the Marquess, my status is not high. These two are so well-dressed. They must have high status. They would likely chase women of the same status to not complicate things.

[And why would such gentlemen waste time doing dirty tactics to get women when everyone would line up voluntarily?]

Renee hid behind a shrub and gazed at the two. She had a lot of thoughts in mind as she watched the two.

Darcus and Orpheus pretended not to notice her.

Arabella was beginning to worry Renee may pass out again from over-excitement.

Meanwhile...

[This is exactly why I don’t like her following me around. I could have mistaken her as an enemy and used a spell to imprison or attack her. She’s acting like a spy trying to gather information. And her stares are rather creepy.]

Alwin understood how Arabella had felt when it was her whom Renee was obsessed with.

[Should I approach them? It’s not like I planned to do it. They were the ones who are here where I usually pick flowers.]

Renee pondered over it a lot before deciding to approach the two while she had the opportunity.

"Greetings, my lords," Renee curtsied.

Darcus and Orpheus rose and greeted back.

"Good morning, Lady Renee. Are you feeling alright?"

"Should you be out and about? You suddenly passed out yesterday."

Darcus and Orpheus were still worried even though Alwin already assured them she simply passed out due to excitement. They could not believe it as the truth, especially Orpheus who was not loved by Evania.

"Oh, I passed out?" Renee tilted her head slightly.

"Yes, my lady. We were about to part when you passed out."

"Thankfully, one of Her Majesty’s guards knew where you stayed and had you brought to your room."

Darcus and Orpheus followed the script they were told since they didn’t want to seem like they did something so she would pass out.

[Oh, I see. They must have heard my scream when I tripped so they sent someone to check. I knew these two are not bad guys.] Renee was biased.

"Oh my. I’m so sorry for troubling you, my lords," she bowed slightly since she didn’t know yet what their titles were.

"Not at all, my lady. More importantly, do you feel well?"

"Does your foot not hurt?"

"No. I feel well. I feel energized after I slept so well last night," Renee beamed.

"I see. Thank goodness. Would you like to have tea with us?" Orpheus offered.

[Tea with them?!! Yes, of course! Wait, wait, wait. Renee, remember you were once a Queen. Don’t be so easy. There are rules you have to follow.]

Renee was in an internal battle for a while before she decided what to say.

"I’d love to. But I’m not sure if it’s alright."

She was careful with what she said and did not dare say anything about rules so they would assume she was simply worried about their side, and she was not prohibited from having tea with guests.

’If she went to Zygos all alone when she’s this easy to tempt, how will she survive?’ Arabella was rather relieved that this was Darcus and Orpheus, people that Evania’s family trusted.

If it were someone else, she would have to remind Renee to not be too trusting of every pretty face she sees.

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A/N:

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