Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 61: To Prudencia

Chapter 61: To Prudencia

"Yes. For now, I just want to take a look. Someday, let’s go together and take our time," Arabella invited and Ferdinand’s ears turned red. He seemed to like the idea.

[I see. We would visit together someday. She’s already thinking about the future? Does she want to travel with me? If only we were in Estrella, I could let her ride on my back and let her see everything from the skies.]

’Ride on his back?’ Arabella recalled the mighty and huge silver dragon she saw in her dreams. It sounded nice to be able to see everything from above but recalling how high he flew scared her she might fall to her death.

"Alright then. You may do as you wish. But don’t ever leave Rendell and Alwin’s side. I haven’t visited those territories for a while so I don’t know how they are doing. Prudencia and Safiro were just conquered recently so there may still be hostility against Valeria. Especially since you are my wife. I fear there might be people who would try to take out their anger on you. You have to be very careful."

"Thank you!" Arabella kissed him on the cheek before she knew it. She was just so delighted to finally make her plans work.

[She kissed me for the first time?!!]

She froze when she realized what she had just done.

’Why did I kiss him?’

Ah, right. She used to kiss Icarus or her other paramour on the cheek or even on the lips when they did something for her. It was out of habit. Yes, that must be it.

’Would he think it was weird?’

But then again, Ferdinand is her husband so nothing’s wrong with it. It was just a thank you for agreeing to her requests.

[I’m so happy! I will never forget this day for the rest of my life.]

Ferdinand was so happy with a single kiss from her.

’I see. He likes it too. But isn’t he overreacting?’

But then again, she hasn’t had the chance to kiss him after she told him she had accepted being his wife, so this was the first time. He was so aggressive the times he kissed her, so she didn’t really get the chance to respond.

’Maybe I should give him a few tips about kissing? But not now. Not in my room and certainly not during nighttime.’

For now, she’s happy she finally have permission to travel. Next, she had to speak with Alwin. They should go as soon as possible before Ferdinand changes his mind.

[Her eyes lit up! So I can see her smile reach her eyes like this if I do something she likes? What else can I do to make her happy? I want to see her smile like this more.]

. . .

Ferdinand returned to the borders before daybreak so the knights or maids wouldn’t notice he returned to the palace for one night.

Meanwhile, Arabella prepared for her travel. She summoned Alwin to her office early in the morning after breakfast.

"Good morning," she beamed upon his arrival and he flinched.

"Good morning, Your Majesty."

[This witch. What kind of sorcery did she use on His Majesty for him to agree to let her travel to territories so far from Riva?]

’Now I’m not just a wench? I’m a witch too? Alwin is getting better and better with his insults, isn’t he?’

"His Majesty has allowed me to travel to my assistants’ homelands. And he had given me permission to borrow you while I do so," she beamed yet again despite his thoughts about her. She’s still happy since she could fulfill her goals.

"Yes, I heard from His Majesty. When do you plan to begin your visits?"

[I knew there was something in the letter she sent to His Majesty which was why he spent hours trying to write a reply but couldn’t make one. What did she tell him for him to agree?]

’Oh, he’s not putting much of a fight. Did Ferdinand warn him to just agree to what I say?’

She thought she would have to do some explanation to convince Alwin to teleport her but it didn’t look like he needed one. He was already resigned to do it.

"Today," Arabella said and Alwin froze and stared at her for a few seconds. She just maintained her smile.

[What is she up to?!]

"Why so soon, Your Majesty?"

"I want to see the territories before I begin working. Once I begin working I might end up too busy to even remember I said I would visit their territories."

Judging from the workload in Raymond’s office, she knew he would send a lot of work to her especially since she hired capable assistants.

"I see. I heard you wanted to visit the farthest territories first. The Prime Minister had also taken interest in your travel plans, Your Majesty. His Majesty has agreed to let him travel with us since he could also function as your guard if something comes up," Alwin explained.

"Why? I thought the Prime Minister was busy with work. I want to go today though, would he be able to adjust his schedule?"

[I would have to investigate Prudencia and Safiro a bit so having Raymond around would assure His Majesty that nothing would happen to Her Majesty even if I leave her side for a bit.]

’Oh, I see. Alwin intends to conduct his investigation while we are there. Isn’t this even better? More witnesses would are welcome as well. If Raymond saw the situation with his own eyes, he would probably take action. I might not even need to say anything to Ferdinand.’

"He shall adjust to your schedule, Your Majesty. Please don’t worry about it. Do you want to head to Prudencia right now?"

Alwin glanced at her get-up. She had already changed into more comfortable clothing not her usual pretty dresses and she was already wearing a cloak. Something she asked Renee and Carla to buy the other day.

She just got it to be ready since she might need to travel in secret someday. Who would have thought she would be able to use it so soon?

"Yes."

[She looks so excited. Is she a child? She’s acting like a child bored with staying at home and asks to be brought out to play.]

’So mean. I just want to get things done so Nadia and Odette wouldn’t hate Ferdinand and the Empire.’

If only she could just tell him this was also for Ferdinand. Alwin might just do everything she said without snarky thoughts.

"Does Your Majesty have anything you want to bring you? And one of your maids perhaps?"

"No. I already have everything I need," she glanced at the small sling bag Aletha had prepared for her. It had her paper and magic pen, and bottled water.

If they got hungry, they could just go back to the palace to eat so there was no need for food.

All she actually wanted to bring was a piece of paper and the magic pen she procured from Medeus last year. It didn’t need ink to be able to write since it works through magic stones. It cost a lot of gold but she wanted it anyway because of its efficiency. It allowed her to write without getting ink on her hands or clothes when she was in a hurry. It was easily portable as well and didn’t risk spilling or leaking as ink does.

Moreover, she learned from Dimo in her previous life, the more people a mage teleports, the more mana he uses. Alwin may be very much capable and probably had a lot of mana but she didn’t want to tire him out so she didn’t plan on bringing a maid with her. He might not want to teleport her again if she exhausted him.

She’s already bringing along Rendell, and now Raymond would come too.

"Then I shall inform the Prime Minister we have to depart now. Please excuse me for a bit," Alwin said and vanished before she could reply.

She sat on the couch for a few minutes holding her small bag. When Alwin reappeared, Raymond was with him.

"Good morning, Your Majesty. My apologies for intruding on your travels but I thought this was a good opportunity to check on the territories."

[I was busy preparing for His Majesty’s marriage proposal and wedding for a while so I didn’t get the chance to do a lot of things. I should check on the territories while the opportunity came.]

’So it’s because of our wedding that Safiro and Prudencia were ignored?’

Arabella was horrified. It meant she truly had to do her best to help Safiro and Prudencia out of whatever situation they were in.

Wedding preparations, especially for someone at the peak of power, had to be so grand so the preparations were no joke.

Even the marriage proposal gifts and betrothal gifts sent to Lobelius were so grand that news about it even reached other kingdoms and princesses and queens wrote her letters expressing their congratulatory messages.

They were envious that she was chosen to be the bride of someone so powerful and rich but they also feared Ferdinand and the empire anyway.

"The more the merrier," she smiled at Raymond and he was relieved she wasn’t offended he didn’t ask her for permission first.

’He’s also here to be my additional guard anyway. And his presence is beneficial for my goals.’

Raymond looked gentle but he was also tall and had a good build. It was clear he didn’t just work in the office all the time but also does his part in training his body.

If he was someone Alwin and Ferdinand could rely on to protect her just like Rendell, he must also be quite strong.

"Where would you like to be teleported to, Your Majesty? Do you have something specific in mind?" Alwin inquired.

"Hmm, I want to go to the capital of Prudencia first. And somewhere high and with a good view of the city."

"I see. Then, shall we go, Your Majesty?" Alwin asked and Arabella took a deep breath before nodding her head.

This would be the first time she would experience teleportation in her second life.

What would she see in Prudencia?

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A/N:

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