Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 906: Please Maintain Your Dignity

Chapter 906: Chapter 906: Please Maintain Your Dignity

Cassandra’s awe was transformed into fear when she realized what could happen to them the instant the talks went sour.

[No, there are more of us. Only three of them can fight while all of us can. And it’s not like we came here to create conflict.]

The talks hadn’t even begun, yet Cassandra was already thinking about all the possibilities.

Hearing the former’s thoughts, Arabella was relieved to know she was not the only one who’s nervous.

Even the Pope’s side had their worries too, and this is a big deal for both sides.

[Father said he only wanted to clarify things and ask what exactly happened during the war.]

Listening to Cassandra’s thoughts, Arabella figured that the Pope must not have been involved with the poison and anti-magic weapons.

After all, what would the Pope get from ushering in another Great War when he had worked to prevent it for several millennia?

But how come the poison, which only the Pope supposedly has, was used on the weapons?

’Did someone steal it from the Pope?’

It was a possibility indeed.

After all, from what Arabella had heard from the Pope’s thoughts so far, he was genuinely concerned with humanity’s future.

He did not seem the type to spark a conflict, which he had already witnessed once to have almost wiped out both races.

"Oh, this must be tea from Estrella. It’s been a while since I had this," the Pope commented after taking a sip.

"Yes, Your Holiness. Our Chef prepared it himself," Arabella replied.

She was the one who must carry on the small talk since Ferdinand was not up for it.

Likewise, once Raymond stood behind them, he was more like a guard knight than the Prime Minister. His focus was more on security, so he doesn’t do much talking and only observes and listens.

Further, Raymond’s task now was to ensure that no one would launch a sneak attack by using divine power.

Alwin had no experience with divine power, so he didn’t have anything against it set up.

"I see. It’s nice to be able to drink this again after so long. All plants like this here had died long ago. It only thrives where there’s a concentrated amount of mana, so there must still be a lot in Estrella," the Pope said with a reminiscent look in his eyes.

He emptied his cup.

Riley filled it again and said, "Yes, Your Holiness. There are a lot of these in Estrella."

’Maybe, I should gift some of this tea as thanks for the ring he gave me? Now that I thought about it, it was quite rude of me not to give back anything in return.’

Arabella mentally noted to send several boxes of this tea to the Pope since he looked quite fond of it.

The Pope’s eyes softened for a moment as if recalling a warm moment in the past.

’If he had nothing to do with the poisoned anti-magic arrows, there’s no harm in being on good terms with him. I might learn some things from him too.’

"Do we still have a lot of stock of this?" Arabella asked Riley.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Oh, then please have some packed up for His Holiness," Arabella instructed.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Oh my, thank you!"

The Pope beamed brightly like a child who was given a gift after so long of nothing.

{Ugh! Father, please don’t act like a beggar! Please maintain your dignity.}

Cassandra communicated telepathically just to scold her adoptive father.

{What do you mean? I’m just receiving a welcome gift. Nothing’s wrong with it. And this tea is something you cannot find anywhere else but here. Didn’t I tell you to be grateful when you receive something? I’m doing just that.}

The Pope’s smile did not waver at all despite Cassandra’s scolding.

{Then at least act a bit more composed. Aren’t you the one who told me this?}

{Alright. Alright. I was just overwhelmed since I never thought I’d be able to drink this again. The last time was before the Great War.}

{Oh, I see...}

Cassandra backed down after the Pope’s response.

Judging from Cassandra’s expression, it was clear that memories of the Great War were painful for the Pope even now.

Since he lived for a long time, just like Alwin, Alvis, and the others, he also still has emotional scars from it.

"Of course, I love tea from Lobelius too. I get most of my tea supply from Lobelius," the Pope added when he noticed Arabella was lost in thought for a moment.

He thought Arabella may have felt insulted that he was acting so delighted over a tea from somewhere else when Arabella, who was from the kingdom that made the best tea in Eliora, was here.

Lobelius supplied most of Medeus, so it was not a surprise that the Pope also gets his supply of tea from them.

Arabella did not mind another tea praised in front of her, though, since it’s not like they owned every possible tea there is.

"I’m grateful for your patronage. Please do not worry. I also like tea from Estrella," Arabella added.

They talked about tea for a bit to make talking easier before they delved into the heavier discussion.

"Of course, it is also quite a treat to be in this room. It has such a superb arrangement of spells layered one after another! I’m glad I brought Sandra and these four with me. They could experience it firsthand."

The Pope praised this room instead of fearing it.

[If it were back in the day, I’d love to be among the ones experimenting on creating something like this and all sorts of things. But what kind of person was this for? It’s like a very secure prison intended for someone. It remains safe and comfortable but inescapable. It’s almost like a prison made for royalty.]

’Huh? A prison for royalty? No way. I think there’s no precedent of Valerian royalty getting imprisoned.’

Arabella had never heard of one getting imprisoned in the past.