Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 751: An Insidious Plan

Chapter 751: Chapter 751: An Insidious Plan

The possibility of this information aiding their efforts to bring home the Prudencians weighed heavily on Arabella’s mind.

Since many hateful things happen in war, getting back the Prudencians as soon as possible was for the best.

’No wonder she said it’s something I would love to know before the war begins,’ Arabella pondered quietly for a moment, processing the weight of Seraphina’s revelations.

Their conversation drifted back and forth between personal matters and of their people’s plight but Arabella found herself increasingly drawn to Seraphina’s steadfast courage to go against the norm despite what everyone else thought about her.

Seraphina had laid out her case thoroughly to inform them of the reason behind her desperate plea to speak with Arabella and why she was here ready to negotiate with everything they had gathered for months while the conflict with Crux and Valeria continued.

’This meeting proved to be so much more useful than I formerly thought. No wonder I had an inkling I should accept Princess Seraphina’s request to meet.’

If what Seraphina had was the location of Prudencians, Arabella would indeed be more than willing to help the former in exchange for such crucial information. She knew Ferdinand and Alwin would feel the same way.

After gathering her thoughts, Arabella finally spoke, her tone measured yet respectful. "I see that you came well-prepared. I admire your commitment to your people and your dedication to such a noble cause. I share your desire for slavery to end in Crux and across Eliora as soon as possible, given the suffering it brings and its detrimental impact on people’s well-being and its hindrance to progress. Therefore, any information you can provide us about the Prudencians affected by this would be greatly appreciated."

Arabella’s acknowledgment conveyed both respect for Seraphina’s intentions and an understanding of the gravity of the situation. She recognized the significance of the information Seraphina had brought, hinting at the potential impact it could have on their future actions regarding Crux.

Seraphina nodded, relieved that Arabella seemed receptive to their plight. "Thank you, Your Majesty. We hope that this information will help you make an informed decision that benefits both Valeria and our people."

With this, Seraphina glanced at Jacob who used magic to bring out a document they had carefully hidden for this meeting.

Arabella took a deep breath as she internally prepared herself for what was to come. She listened intently as Princess Seraphina spoke again.

"Your Majesty, a lot of households do not wish for their heirs to die in this war either. I am ashamed to say this but the solution they see is sending their slaves in the frontlines to keep their heirs safe.

I fear they will use many slaves as weapons in this war. Their slaves are already suffering as it is but all the more once the war begins.

More common people will die than nobles but they have no power to oppose when they are sent to war.

Further, the Prudencians were treated as among the rarest kind of slaves since they were of Valeria. However, if nothing is done before the war, I fear that Your Majesty will also lose the lives of your people as they would be sent to war dressed as people of Crux."

"What?!" Arabella gasped as Princess Seraphina revealed the shocking information. "How despicable! We gave them months to return all the Prudencians, and this is what they do?!"

Arabella gritted her teeth, trying to calm herself. The nobles in Crux had devised a cruel scheme that would pit Valerians against each other in the battlefield, forcing Prudencians to fight dressed as Crux soldiers.

It was such a cruel way to make their people die. They would make Valerians kill Valerians when they came to war for the sake of their people.

It was underhanded, dishonorable, and utterly cruel to force the Prudencians into such a position and make Valerian knights and soldiers wallow in regret later.

If Odette’s brother sent their knights and soldiers with them, it meant they might end up spilling the blood of their own family members.

"I cannot apologize enough for their madness, Your Majesty." Princess Seraphina bowed her head. Her companions quickly followed suit, bowing lower.

"Enough. Why must you apologize for them? I want to hear an apology from them in person," Arabella declared firmly.

They would go to war with Crux anyway. An apology from Crux nobles is a must after everything they had done especially after they schemed this vile plan.

"Indeed. If this is how they plan to play, we can lay Crux to waste in a single day. We did not wait for months just to lose more of our people. His Majesty and the leading households will not forgive such grievous offense," Alwin could not help but comment, also angered at what he heard.

Rendell, who had been composed until now, exuded a dark aura as he grimaced, gripping the hilt of his sword to steady himself.

Princess Seraphina, Harold, Jacob, and Emily all paled at their reaction.

"Please spare our people. The nobles are to blame but the commoners had no part in it," Princess Seraphina pleaded.

"Are you saying you don’t mind what we do with the nobles as long as the commoners are spared?" Alwin inquired.

"Not all the noble households are to blame either. Some of them are our allies. I have a list of our allies and of the noble households who still had Prudencian slaves with them," Princess Seraphina revealed, hoping to appease them.

Arabella and Alwin glanced at each other.

Princess Seraphina just offered another valuable piece of information.

{Let’s calm down first. Princess Seraphina is also determined to save her people just as much as we do.} Arabella told Alwin.

{Fine.} Alwin relented easily since he also saw the princess’ sincerity.

"I see. Then, we’d love to have a copy of that list. We can make good use of it," Arabella did not want to unleash their wrath aimlessly either.

Those who were responsible for it should be the ones to bear the brunt.