Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 577: You Cannot Go Back to Umbra

Chapter 577: You Cannot Go Back to Umbra

Chapter 577: You Cannot Go Back to Umbra

"It’s my fault he is there. I should go there and -"

"No," Arabella cut him off.

"Can’t you let me finish?" Alwin made a face.

"You can’t go back there. What if that entity does something again and you get fatally injured or worse yet, die this time? I will not be able to forgive myself for not stopping you from going," Arabella replied sternly.

"But His Majesty-"

"Ferdinand is alright. You don’t know how restless and worried he was when your presence vanished. The thought that you could have died terrified him. Ferdinand would blame himself for as long as he lived if something happened to you. It’s akin to how I felt when I thought I had lost Fermin forever. He would be engulfed in grief for eons."

Arabella had to point out this worst-case scenario for Alwin to understand just how important he was to Ferdinand.

[Why are her eyes like that? Was my lord really that worried?]

"You can look at my memories and see for yourself. You can do that too, right?" Arabella challenged.

"Now, you are trying to get me killed for real. His Majesty will kill me," Alwin declined.

"He would say that, but he never would," Arabella brushed off her hair from her shoulders. "What was the heaviest punishment you ever received from him?"

[Hmm, what was it?]

"Getting sent back to Estrella. Oh, and training?"

"See?"

Ferdinand never really punished him heavily despite his words of doing so.

[Eh? I never really got punished for real. Why is that?]

Alwin blushed when he realized Arabella was right. Ferdinand was lenient with him. He was cherished more than he thought.

"Then, that’s even more reason I should go to Umbra. Help me convince Raymond," Alwin was insistent.

"I already said no. Ferdinand would return on his own. I saw in his thoughts how he repeatedly tried to die before and fought with giants and other dragons, but he never died. He would be fine. We just need to wait patiently. Something must have happened but I’m sure he could take care of it."

Arabella did not let up.

"Aren’t you worried about him? I thought lovers hated being apart. Don’t you miss him?" Alwin knew what to say.

’Tsk. He even knew how to trigger me even though he kept saying he hated watching lovers. He was still closely observing.’

"I am worried.

"I already miss him so much. But he told me to wait so I will.

"Don’t be so stubborn. If you died because I let you go back there, I would not be able to stomach staying by Ferdinand’s side knowing I was partly at fault for why something happened to you.

"I would leave him because I allowed you to die," Arabella threatened.

"What kind of logic is that?! Why would you leave him if he’s mourning? Are you crazy?" Alwin frowned at her.

"You are the one who’s crazy. Causing your loved one to suffer hurts so much. I can’t stay knowing that I somewhat contributed to it.

"Moreover, you are my only ally who knows about the tragedy of our previous life. I cannot allow you to die.

"Who would I work with if not you? Do you want me to rely on people who wouldn’t care about Ferdinand’s feelings and well-being?

"What if my memories of the past vanish? You need to stay here so I have someone who will remind me if I stray. What if someone shakes my resolve once I have forgotten about the past?"

Arabella continued with her threats of possible scenarios until Alwin finally gave in.

"Fine, fine. Stop it. I’ll stay."

Alwin sighed in exasperation.

"Good," Arabella smirked victoriously and Alwin glared at her.

But internally, she was sighing in relief, ’Thank god he didn’t get angry.’

Alwin was truly in a better mood. If he wasn’t, he would have scolded her for threatening him and using all sorts of excuses so he would not go to Umbra.

’I really can’t allow him to go back there with that entity meddling in things. He got swallowed up by a monster last time. What if something worse happened?’

Arabella hated the idea. She had finally gotten close with him despite all his doubts and wariness with her. She truly cannot lose him.

Likewise, he’s akin to her stepson. What kind of stepmom sends her husband’s child into danger? Wouldn’t she seem like Sonia?

Ferdinand might just get angry at her for real. She’d rather not experience that.

"You are basically saying I am your slave until you live out your life here and finally retire to Estrella," Alwin brought her back from her thoughts.

"Don’t make it sound so evil. You are the one who said you will be watching me closely. You ought to keep your word," Arabella reminded him.

"Ugh, fine. Enough of this. Let’s think of our next step. Now that Evania’s not here, we need to focus on others who could cause trouble in the future," Alwin diverted their topic.

They indeed needed to discuss their next move.

"Right. Evania would no longer use me for her revenge.

"But we still need to worry about Marcus since he sent letters to her.

"We also need to be wary of Chester and Fatima since after their thoughts during their departure, they might do something."

Arabella identified their next problems for now.

"Yes, we have already sent spies to Zygos to watch and report about their movements.

"It’s strange though. Evania said Marcus was here. But I have searched all over the Empire for his presence but there I could not find him.

"I checked the borders as well but there was no trace of him."

Alwin explained that there should have been a trace of Marcus’ mana at least outside the borders if he used dark magic to conceal his presence and enter Valeria. But there was none.

"Could the letters have been faked? Evania said the letters vanished after she read them. But she was certain that the handwriting was that of Marcus," Arabella pondered over it as well.

They might be getting tricked here again.