Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 88: Another Way to Help

Chapter 88: Another Way to Help

Arabella smiled at the siblings to assure them it was alright.

[Benedict must have also felt the same way as I did.] Odette surmised.

’I remind them of their mother? It must be because I’m actually forty inside.’

From their thoughts, she learned that Benedict and Odette’s mother died when Odette was ten. It was five years ago.

"Your Majesty, this is Gwyneth. She’s thirteen."

Odette introduced her younger siblings next to save Benedict from embarrassment.

Gwyneth was Odette’s first younger sibling. She was the first daughter of the late King’s second wife.

Gwyneth looked up to Odette and was set on following in her older sister’s footsteps. She’s studying to take the Imperial Civil Service Exam so she could also become a government official in Riva.

Frances was introduced next. She was the first daughter of the third wife of Odette’s father. She was ten years old and she usually takes care of her younger siblings while Gwyneth was studying.

Frances and Gwyneth were teaching their younger siblings how to read and write ever since Marquess Gulliver prohibited them from meeting their tutors.

Meanwhile, Claire was the youngest of the sisters and the second youngest among the siblings. She was eight and the second daughter of the second wife.

Aside from studying, Claire usually played with their youngest sibling.

Arabella formerly thought Claire was seven because of her height and body. She surmised even the young Claire had a clue about what was going on.

After all, Claire was elated to be able to see her older siblings again. It was clear she was stressed about getting prohibited to meet them so it probably affected her growth.

Lastly, Matthew was the youngest among the Prudencia siblings. He was six years old.

Matthew was the second son and last child of the third wife of the late King of Prudencia.

Arabella formerly thought he was five since he was small compared to children his age.

She surmised it was also because of the stress of getting separated from their older siblings and getting imprisoned in a secluded part of the Prudencia Palace.

Claire and Matthew kept openly staring at her. From their thoughts, she learned they were so mesmerized by her beauty even though their elder siblings were also pretty.

They were both so cute as they curtsied and bowed to her. They were still young but they have also learned about noble etiquette.

"Come here, you two are so adorable," she opened her arms and the two were hesitant at first but ran to her arms anyway.

She hugged the two little kids and patted their heads. And the two looked so delighted with it that their eyes were shining.

"Your Majesty looks like a goddess," Clair commented.

"Oh my. Thank you. You look like an adorable little angel, Claire," she praised, and Claire blushed in embarrassment but she looks happy.

"Thank you."

"No. Her Majesty is the angel," Matthew contradicted.

"Is that so? But Matthew and Claire look like angels too," she patted Matthew’s head again since he looked jealous that Claire was the only one getting attention.

Looking at Matthew reminded her so much of Fermin.

[Her Majesty seems to like children.] Odette and everyone else thought as they watched her speak with Claire and Matthew.

The older brothers were worried their youngest siblings might spout something insulting but Arabella entertained the two so they didn’t dare to interfere.

"You must be hungry. I heard you haven’t eaten yet. Follow me to the dining hall. I had a meal prepared for everyone," Arabella said and the older siblings wondered why she was being so kind to them.

They were also worried about Theodore.

"Don’t worry about Duke Prudencia. He is with His Majesty to take care of the issues in your territory. No one would be able to hurt him as long as His Majesty and his knights are there," Arabella assured them.

Only then did the three older brothers relax a bit. They felt compelled to help in whatever was happening in Prudencia but their help would be for later.

The younger siblings meanwhile were excited about the food.

[Food?!]

[We will get to taste food in the Imperial Palace?!]

[I’ve been hungry since earlier. The cookies were not enough.] Claire internally complained.

[I’m so hungry. I really want to eat soon, but Elder Sister said I have to be a good boy and wait. Will they give us something tasty?] Matthew’s eyes were shining at the thought of food.

They were just served tea and cookies earlier while the meal for them was getting prepared by the chefs.

’Poor children. It’s clear that the Marquess didn’t let them enjoy their meals in peace. How could he do this to children?’

She surmised it was one of the reasons why Claire and Matthew were smaller compared to children their age.

"Eunice, will you guide the children to the dining hall," she asked so she could speak with the brothers.

"Odette, go with them, they will follow shortly," Arabella instructed since the young ones might not feel at ease in the Imperial Palace without their older siblings.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"I’ll see you again next time. Go and eat some food first, alright?" Arabella said goodbye to Claire and Mathew and their older siblings flinched when the two hugged her before leaving.

"Please pardon their rudeness, Your Majesty. They are young and lacking in discipline," Jonathan apologize for the two once they left for the dining hall.

"It’s alright. They are children. More importantly, I know you must want to go home and be part of what’s happening in Prudencia right now. But there’s a better way for the three of you to help," Arabella said and the three were wide-eyed.

"What would that be, Your Majesty?"

"Testify against the Marquess just like Odette. Just having Odette testify is already enough but the more witnesses against the Marquess, the better so he could not deny anymore."

She eyed the three and they all easily agreed to testify against Gulliver as well. They were eager to help in any way possible.

"I believe it would be busy in Riva soon after the trial of the Marquess so you would have a lot of opportunities to help your older brother then. At the moment, what was most important is to convict the Marquess."

"Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you very much for giving us this opportunity and for helping us with the problems in Prudencia," Jonathan, Nathaniel, and Benedict bowed.

"It is my responsibility as the Empress of Valeria. Now, go and join your younger siblings or they would get worried and not enjoy their meals," she smiled and the three thanked her again before Aletha guided them to the dining hall.

[Her Majesty matured a lot in a matter of days.] Rendell noted.

’Did I overdo it?!’ Arabella was alarmed since Rendell who doesn’t think much about anything was suddenly having such thoughts.

But how else should she behave?

She was indeed childish when she was eighteen but she also had to act mature where it mattered. She was able to do her duties and responsibilities as a princess well because she divided her attention as best she could and still have time for tea parties.

She was just hateful towards Ferdinand before because she used to not want to be with him.

’Was the change too drastic? But I have been behaving well for more than a month ever since the last time I dreamt of the past.’

Arabella decided to act childish sometimes when they were not busy so Rendell and the others wouldn’t be suspicious of her.

’Should I check on how the children are eating?’

She decided to get a peek at the siblings without showing herself so they wouldn’t tense up instead of enjoying their meal.

Rendell followed her as she walked to the second floor of the dining hall and saw the siblings enjoying their meals.

The youngest siblings who were imprisoned were especially lively with the delicious food made for them.

Claire and Matthew were ecstatic.

Gwyneth and Frances meanwhile were crying in relief and happiness to be able to eat good food after so long.

The three older brothers were so grateful that their younger siblings could finally eat a good meal again.

Odette comforted all of them.

’Right, I have to look up what territory in the Empire had good harvests recently so I have an idea where Prudencia and Safiro could import food.’

Prudencia still has a food shortage to face even after Marquess Gulliver gets convicted.

She decided to drop by Raymond’s office to request the ledgers about the most recent harvests.

Cordelia topped in having the bests harvest in the Empire. It was just a county but it was competing with kingdoms and dukedoms in terms of yield.

’It seems I have to speak with Ivan as well. Cordelia is near Safiro. If I remember it right, they even share a bit of a border.’

She decided to summon Ivan and speak with him about the produce in Cordelia.

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