Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 87: Odette’s Siblings

Chapter 87: Odette’s Siblings

"Thank you for agreeing to testify against Marquess Gulliver," Arabella said once Odette completed the list.

"It is my pleasure, Your Majesty. I am the one who’s grateful. I promise to serve Your Majesty to the best of my ability for the rest of my life," Odette bowed in an oath of fealty.

"I am grateful for your devotion. I look forward to working with you in the future."

She couldn’t possibly turn down a talent like Odette. They could discuss the details later. Odette doesn’t necessarily serve Arabella for the rest life, but having her around for a long time would be helpful.

It was give and take. Arabella helped Odette out of her predicaments, and in return, she gained her loyalty.

Odette would no longer be the duchess of Prudencia since her older siblings are alive but she would still be a great help to Arabella.

"Now then, let’s head to the garden. I would like to meet your siblings as well. Could you introduce them to me?"

"Of course, Your Majesty. I’d be honored. My siblings would be delighted as well," Odette replied with a blush on her cheeks, feeling embarrassed and overwhelmed. She still acted elegantly though as a princess should.

Arabella glanced at the garden and Odette’s older brothers who were working as knights were also already there.

"You may head first. I’ll head there after I get changed," Arabella instructed.

Odette repeatedly bowed and apologized for ruining her clothes before heading to the garden.

Arabella took her time changing to let the siblings have a chance to speak with each other first before meeting them, or else they would be confused by what was happening.

She only showed herself after the siblings were done with their tearful reunion.

Odette’s siblings tensed when they saw her even though they were already informed about what was going on.

[It’s truly the Empress!]

[I never thought I would ever meet Her Majesty in person!]

[Who would have thought I would get the chance to meet Her Majesty like this one day?]

[Her Majesty is even more beautiful in person.]

[Elder sister is really working for Her Majesty?!]

[So pretty!]

[An angel!]

The sibling had all sorts of thoughts upon seeing her. They stared for a few seconds before they all bowed and greeted her.

"Greetings to Her Imperial Majesty, the Empress."

"Be at ease," she smiled and they tensed even more instead.

[I told them to be respectful! Look at all of them gawking like idiots. It’s rude. Though I understand why all of them are in a daze. Her Majesty is simply too beautiful, she could be mistaken for a goddess instead. I don’t know if I will ever get used to looking at her either. But I clearly warned them not to stare too much.]

"My apologies for their rudeness, Your Majesty," Odette bowed repeatedly for her siblings.

"It’s alright. It’s not an official meeting so they don’t have to be on edge."

Rather, Arabella was used to this kind of reaction already.

Odette still stepped at the foot of her older siblings though as she stood in front of them to make introductions.

"Your Majesty, this is Jonathan. He is my second older brother. He is working as a knight here in Riva. He’s twenty-one."

Jonathan bowed his head with a hand on his chest.

From the siblings’ thoughts, Arabella learned that Jonathan wasn’t really the second oldest brother originally.

They had two more eldest brothers before Jonathan and the current oldest who was still in Prudencia.

But the two eldest brothers, the first children of the first wife and the second wife, perished with their father during the war with Valeria three years ago.

Odette and her siblings along with most nobles in Prudencia avoid mentioning those who perished during the war in front of Valerians since it may be misunderstood as them blaming Valeria for the deaths when it was Prudencia who provoked the war thinking they could win.

They were afraid of provoking Valeria again.

Arabella offered her hand for Jonathan to kiss and they tensed.

So far only Ferdinand, Rendell, and her other guard knights had been able to kiss Arabella’s hand.

In Valeria, it was one of the highest honors for a knight to be able to kiss the Empress’ hand. Especially since they might not even get the chance to meet her at all.

But it could also mean a lot of things. Especially for Jonathan and his siblings who were princes of the former Prudencia Kingdom.

[Is this a test from Her Majesty?] Jonathan thought.

They wondered if she was asking them if they pledge their loyalty to Valeria now and fully submit to the Imperial Crown.

[After Her Majesty hired Odette, helped us in revealing the situation in Prudencia, and even let us meet our younger siblings, of course, I would swear my allegiance.]

Jonathan kneeled and kissed the back of Arabella’s hand.

[I hope Her Majesty understands that Prudencia no longer seeks any sort of war or conflict with the Empire. Brother Theodore thinks so too. May this also reach His Majesty.]

Theodore, twenty-two, was the oldest among the siblings. He was the second son of the first wife. He was still in Prudencia since he was bestowed the title of Duke since Prudencia became a duchy of Valeria. He was needed there to assist Ferdinand.

Jonathan, meanwhile, was the second son of the second wife of the late king.

"May the Dragon God of Valeria bless you," Arabella responded

It was how she was supposed to respond when a knight kisses her hand. It was one of the greatest blessings a knight could receive since the Dragon God is the highest deity in Valeria and he was believed to give strength and good health to knights who were given this prayer.

After that, Odette then introduced her third oldest sibling next.

His name was Nathaniel. He was also twenty-one. He was just six months younger than Jonathan. He was the first son of the third wife of Odette’s father. He was also a knight in Riva.

[Who would have thought it was the Empress herself who was even younger than us, who would pull us out of the situation we were in? Just one visit from her and everything would finally change. We are lucky Her Majesty has a kind heart.] Nathaniel thought.

’You don’t know how heartless I once was to this Empire. I simply want to make amends and prevent future troubles.’

Arabella also offered him her hand and Nathaniel copied his older brother and kissed the back of her hand.

Next was Odette’s fourth oldest brother named Benedict. He was the third son of the late King’s first wife. He was also a knight in Riva and was twenty years old.

[If Odette wasn’t able to become an assistant of the Empress, we would still be worrying about our younger siblings. With this, we are free to move against the Marquess. But since His Majesty and his knights are already there, everything would be resolved soon, right? I wanted to help too but my skills were probably nothing compared to His Majesty’s elite knights.]

Arabella learned from Benedict’s thoughts that Theodore, Jonathan, and Nathaniel were also at the battlefield three years ago. They witnessed Ferdinand and his knights’ strength themselves and they described it as bone-chilling and terrifying even for them who were trained since they were young and even for the older knights who were far stronger than they were.

They dubbed Ferdinand as the God of Death himself and his knights were his minions ready to reap soul after soul.

The three only survived because they were protected by the older knights once the king and the two oldest son perished until the white flag of surrender was waved.

Since then, the three lectured their younger siblings to not trigger any form of conflict with the Empire anymore or their people could face annihilation this time.

[Who would have thought it would also be the Emperor who would help us? Would such a terrifying person truly help us?]

Arabella understood Benedict’s worries. Ferdinand has a bad reputation. And since Benedict was told about what his three older brother’s witnessed at the battlefield, it couldn’t be helped that he would doubt Ferdinand.

She also offered her hand and Benedict also kneeled and kissed the back of her hand and she gave him her blessing.

"You seem to have gone through so much as well," Arabella patted Benedict’s head before she could stop herself.

’Poor child. It must have been hard seeing his confident elder brothers fully submit to a far stronger power.’

Arabella forgot she was just eighteen, not forty.

[Why is Her Majesty patting my head?!]

’Oops! I have to be more mindful of my actions.’

Arabella internally scolded herself but pretended like she fully intended to do this and continued patting Benedict’s head.

And for some reason, Benedict suddenly began crying.

[Why did she remind me of my late mother just now?!] Benedict quickly dried his tears but they still kept flowing.

"My apologies, Your Majesty. My brother got some dust in his eyes," Jonathan excused while Odette introduced Gwyneth next to divert Arabella’s attention.

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*Note: The living Prudencia siblings

1. Theodore - 2nd son of the 1st wife, current Duke of Prudencia, 22 yrs old

2. Jonathan - 2nd son of the 2nd wife, knight in Riva, 21 yrs old

3. Nathaniel - 1st son of the 3rd wife, knight in Riva, 21 yrs old

4. Benedict - 3rd son of the 1st wife, knight in Riva, 20 yrs old

5. Odette - only daughter of the 1st wife, Arabella’s assistant, 15 yrs old

6. Gwyneth - 1st daughter of the 2nd wife, 13 yrs old, studying to take the Imperial Civil Service Exam

7. Frances - 1st daughter of the 3rd wife, 10 yrs old, usually watches over their youngest siblings

8. Claire - 2nd daughter of the 2nd wife, 8 yrs old

9. Matthew - 2nd son of the 3rd wife, 6 yrs old, youngest of the Prudencia siblings

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A/N:

I’m feeling a bit better after some meds. I can’t sleep so I ended up writing anyway.

Thanks much for your concern everyone!