Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 789: It Hurts When You Refuse

Chapter 789: Chapter 789: It Hurts When You Refuse

"Oh, yes. Of course, I’d love that," Arabella beamed and held his hand.

[Is she this happy that I’m dining with her?] Ferdinand thought as he gazed at her with bright eyes.

"Of course, I am," Arabella smiled and her husband blushed.

[She’s so adorable!] he thought and hugged her tight.

Arabella chuckled and simply hugged him back instead of pushing him away.

Alwin and Rendell were at the door guarding them but so be it.

She knew they knew better than to look when the two of them are together anyway.

"Wait, does it mean, you are not eating on time every time I am away because I’m not with you? Do you feel lonely eating by yourself?" Ferdinand asked out of the blue unclasped her hand around him.

"Don’t be so full of yourself. It’s just because I have work to do and I prefer doing all my work at once before eating and relaxing," Arabella quickly corrected. "I can eat just fine on my own."

Yet, somehow, she could feel the heat rising to her face.

"Is that so?" Ferdinand inquired, peeking at her face since she turned away from him. "Why can’t you meet my gaze when you say it then?"

"Because you’re teasing me!" Arabella reasoned.

’Right, why can’t I?! I was sure it’s just because I preferred working first though.’

"I’m not teasing you. I’m just honestly curious," Ferdinand replied innocently. He stepped sideways to try to be in front of her but Arabella looked elsewhere again.

’How is he not teasing me when he’s acting like this? It’s not like we always look each other in the eye when we speak. There are times we look at other things too. I suddenly feel even more embarrassed to meet his gaze now,’ Arabella could imagine him smirking with a playful glint in his eyes right now.

"Then let’s go to the dining hall now," Arabella began walking to the door. She decided to leave the room and hoped they would change the topic.

Ferdinand quickly followed her and held her hand, interlinking their fingers. Then said, "I heard you haven’t been eating on time again when I left."

’Is he teasing me or chiding me? Why link our hands if he’s going to scold me?’

He must have heard about her eating time from Alwin or the kitchen staff. She could not stop them from reporting to him since they were his staff and he had given them their tasks.

"I usually eat light snacks and refreshments while working so I still feel full when meal time arrives. So I delay eating for a bit until I’m hungry," Arabella reasoned.

[Says the one who invited me to eat with her last time because she did not want to eat alone. Why won’t you just admit it?] Alwin thought as Rendell opened the door and Arabella met his gaze.

{Humph. That was just because you have not eaten yet as well.} Arabella rolled her eyes at him.

"But that’s not a bit but several hours late," Ferdinand pointed out.

"Alright, alright. I’ll try to eat on time more," Arabella pulled her hand from his grasp and folded it in front of her chest.

[Why did she pull her hand away?]

’Is he really not scolding me?’ Arabella wondered, suddenly feeling guilty. But earlier, it was like she was getting scolded and it was weird to be holding hands at such a time.

"That’s good then. But, I wasn’t scolding you, Arabella," Ferdinand said and extended his hand toward her, wanting to hold hand again.

Arabella ignored it as she pondered whether or not he was indeed just asking or chiding her.

"Give me your hand," Ferdinand demanded.

"I can walk just like this," Arabella said and walked ahead of him for several steps. She stopped when she did not hear Ferdinand following behind her.

"Arabella, do you know it hurts every time you refuse my touch?" Ferdinand asked with a serious look on his face. He was suddenly brooding.

’Ooops! Is he angry?’

"R-right! I’m sorry. Let’s hold hands," Arabella extended her hand towards him.

She was relieved when he began walking to her.

But instead of just holding her hand, he picked her up instead in a princess carry.

"Ferdinand?" Arabella gazed into his face and was relieved that he was not angry.

"You’re finally meeting my gaze. It also hurts when you won’t even look at me. I’ve been longing to see you, so at least allow me to look into your eyes," Ferdinand said such embarrassing words with a straight face and a stern gaze instead of being shy about it.

"Y-yes. I’m sorry," Arabella wrapped her hands around his neck. She buried her face in his chest when she felt the heat rise to her face.

She knew she was blushing madly.

[Why is she suddenly being shy?] Ferdinand did not even understand what he said was cheesy for most people.

[Were they just talking about holding hands or something else?] Alwin and Rendell wondered.

’It’s just holding hands!’ Arabella wanted to explain but did not dare since Ferdinand might get annoyed even more if she was listening to them instead of focusing on him.

"Are you tempting me right now?" Ferdinand suddenly inquired and Arabella stiffened.

"N-no! I was just holding onto you so I won’t fall," Arabella blinked repeatedly and pouted when she saw the mischievous glint in his eyes.

Ferdinand chuckled and kissed her forehead, "I was kidding."

He was teasing her indeed.

’Geez. He turns from one thing to another in a matter of seconds.’

Arabella looked around and was glad they were still in the hallway. They might think something happened to her if they saw her carried like this. "Put me down. I can walk on my own."

"No. We are still far from the dining hall. I’ll carry until we are close to it. There aren’t many people around anyway. I’ll settle you down when I hear people approaching," Ferdinand assured her and just kept walking as is.

"Alright then," Arabella relented. It’s not like she hated being carried like this either.

Her husband had such strong arms anyway so shouldn’t she just enjoy getting pampered at times?

Alwin and Rendell were not even looking at them anyway.