Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 89: To Prudencia Again

Chapter 89: To Prudencia Again

Cordelia was quite a distance away from Prudencia but to solve the current problem and prevent the people from going hungry, they could make Alwin transport a good amount of goods to Prudencia even if just once, as a temporary solution while they order goods from the territories closer to Prudencia.

The transport of goods takes time, effort, and lots of money. She understood that much since Lobelius often exported a lot of their produce.

But with Alwin, all it takes was a few seconds. It would probably use a lot of his mana but she did say she would bully Alwin. Maybe, it was time she got a bit more serious about it.

Moreover, Alwin’s the best magician there is. He surely had a lot of mana. He even teleported knights and investigators in one go. And there were a lot of them. She saw it from Raymond’s thoughts since he saw Ferdinand off.

’But Safiro is in a much worse shape than Prudencia. I guess I should reserve Cordelia for Safiro. In the meantime, can’t the nobles in Prudencia who have stocked food help out the common people?’

There were also other territories close to Prudencia which could be the source of imported food to lessen the costs of transport.

Prudencia was also in a financial slump so they wouldn’t be able to afford it if it was too expensive even if Odette’s family gained control over the treasury again. There were a lot of matters they would have to allocate their budget for.

Ferdinand and Raymond did note what Prudencia needed so Arabella surmised they would probably allot some budget to help Prudencia recover.

After all, Raymond was buried in paperwork yet again when she went to his office.

He was taking care of the necessary paperwork for the matters related to Prudencia.

Once she informed Raymond that Odette and her three older brothers agreed to testify against the Marquess, he said he would send investigators to interview them and get their statements in advance.

Arabella didn’t need to be present so she just sent a notice to Odette so as not to disturb the bonding time of the siblings.

Ferdinand did not return from Prudencia that day so Arabella surmised he had a lot to do there.

The following day, Rendell informed her early in the morning that Alwin would come to pick her up along with Odette and her siblings once they were ready to depart for Prudencia.

Arabella had breakfast quickly and prepared to depart as soon as she was done. When she headed for the meeting place, Odette and her siblings were already waiting for her.

From their thoughts, she learned they were afraid of getting left behind so they prepared as quickly as they could.

All the siblings were to head to Prudencia with her since aside from witnesses, they were also victims of the Marquess.

Claire and Matthew’s eyes brightened upon seeing her. They ran to meet her and curtsied and bowed before their elder siblings.

"Greetings to Her Majesty, the Empress," the two both said in their cute little voice. They were better at it than yesterday so she figured their elder siblings made them practice how to greet her and they eagerly came to show it off to her.

To their elder siblings’ worry, they slowly looked up and peeked at her before she said anything. They were supposed to wait until she said they could be at ease.

She didn’t mind though. They were children anyway and they did try to greet her as properly as they could.

"Oh my, these two lovely angels are up so early," she patted their heads and they both smiled happily.

[Her Majesty is spoiling them.] Eunice thought but Arabella just ignored it. The kids have been through so much at such a young age. She didn’t mind spoiling them a bit.

Alwin and Ferdinand appeared out of nowhere so Claire and Matthew both gasped and hid behind her. They held her dress and slowly peeked from behind her though.

Odette and her siblings panicked at such actions especially when Ferdinand frowned upon seeing it. The siblings had no time to get the two though since they had to bow and greet the Emperor.

"Greetings to His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor," all the elder siblings said. Claire and Matthew didn’t recognize Ferdinand.

Jonathan and Nathaniel visibly paled as they recalled how Ferdinand looked during the war with Prudencia.

Arabella couldn’t get a glimpse though since their eyes were cast down as they waited for Ferdinand to tell them to be at ease.

"Claire, Matthew, curtsy and bow to His Majesty. It’s His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor," Odette whispered.

Claire and Matthew were wide-eyed and they slowly got out from hiding behind her and said their greetings in a shaky voice. They were afraid of Ferdinand. Especially with him staring at the two of them.

Gwyneth and Frances also got scared their youngest siblings could be punished. They were aware of his notorious reputation thanks to their older brothers.

[What were they doing grabbing my wife’s dress? How could Rendell and her maid just allow it?]

’Why does he have to glare at the children?’ Arabella almost sighed.

"Good morning, Your Majesty," she greeted and Ferdinand walked to her and kissed her hand.

[I already miss you.] He wanted to kiss her on the lips but there were people watching so he settled for her hand. He didn’t mind when it was his knights but he seems not keen to look too affectionate in front of other royalty.

"Good morning. Are you ready to go?" he asked as if he couldn’t see everyone was still bowing to him.

’He does have personality problems, doesn’t he?’

"Yes, Your Majesty," she eyed him and glanced at the Prudencia siblings before he finally told them they could be at ease.

Matthew looked like he might cry any second now and Claire was barely holding it either so Arabella patted their head again.

"It’s alright. You don’t have to be so scared. This is His Majesty, the Emperor but he is also my husband," she smiled as brightly as she could to make the two understand he meant no harm.

The two glanced at Alwin next though. He looked suspicious with his face hidden in his hooded cloak.

"He is a kind and beautiful person. You don’t have to be so terrified of him either."

She learned from Gwyneth and Frances’ thoughts that it wasn’t Alwin who teleported them to the palace so it was their first time meeting him.

[I understand beautiful. Humans are so keen on appearance, after all. I wouldn’t have to hide my face if they don’t get overzealous over it. But kind?]

She could tell Alwin was making a face.

"Alwin, can you remove your hood?" she decided to play with him a bit. He didn’t obey but when Ferdinand glanced at him, he finally removed his hood.

"S-so pretty!!" Claire and Matthew both gasped. Now they were looking at Alwin with so much adoration just like the way they did to her. Everyone else there who hadn’t seen Alwin’s face before gasped and stared, mesmerized at his beauty.

Matthew looked up at her and enthusiastically said, "You both look so pretty! Like angels! I love angels."

"Oh my, thank you," she smiled at Matthew.

"Is he your sibling, Your Majesty?" Claire asked.

Arabella giggled at this. Who would have thought they could be mistaken as siblings?

[I would never want to be siblings with this vixen.]

’I want to be your younger sister though so you could teleport me everywhere,’ she wanted to say.

But who knows how Alwin would treat a sibling if he had one?

With how attached he was to Ferdinand who raised him, she surmised Alwin would be obsessive about a younger sister if he had one.

She’d rather not get that kind of attention though. But it would be fun seeing Alwin acting all kind and sweet to her instead of being so snarky every time they meet.

"Hmm... Something like that. We both treasure His Majesty so we are more like allies or friends, maybe?" she said, and she almost laughed out loud at the face Alwin made.

Alwin clearly wanted to protest but didn’t want to get reprimanded by Ferdinand in front of other people so he remained silent.

[S-she treasures me?!]

Meanwhile, someone was too delighted to hear what she said.

[Does she truly treasure me now? I am already important to her?]

’Of course. I do now. You will be Fermin’s father. And you are my husband.’

Though he might be misunderstanding her words as something else.

Claire and Matthew finally dared to look at Ferdinand as they followed her gaze.

"Looks so strong," Matthew tilted his head in wonder.

"Yes. And handsome too," Claire already knew to judge looks.

"Of course, he is. His Majesty is the strongest in Valeria. Probably the most handsome too," Arabella smiled at the children.

"Wow!" Claire and Matthew gasped in awe due to her words and they now looked at Ferdinand not with fear but with adoration instead.

Meanwhile, Jonathan and Nathaniel were horrified that their youngest siblings were getting brainwashed right in front of them. The Ferdinand they knew was simply too different from the one in front of them right now.

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A/N:

My fever’s finally gone! Thanks much for your concern everyone!

I used to get sick only once in a year or two. But ever since the pandemic, I get sick much often because I had to stay indoors for long. The coldness of January probably contributed too.