Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 916: Very Much Alike

Chapter 916: Chapter 916: Very Much Alike

From this scenario alone, it was clear Raymond was indeed the one who set the rules in Ferdinand’s island.

Alvis further glared at Raymond, thinking the latter must have given excessive punishments to Alwin in the past for Alwin to react this way.

[His Majesty hadn’t said a word.

He must be very disappointed in me.

I failed in something that should have been so easy, despite everything they had taught me.]

Alwin was misunderstanding his elder’s worries. He wasn’t related to Ferdinand by blood, but they sure do have the same illness.

Alwin would likely not admit it if Arabella told him about this, but the two were indeed very much alike in this one.

They were both overthinkers, though for different reasons.

"Lift your head and look here," Ferdinand said.

[He won’t send me back to Estrella, right?!

No, I must remain here!

There are a ton of things I must do.]

"My deepest apologies, Your Majesty.

It won’t happen again," Alwin apologized and bowed further instead of doing what Ferdinand said.

[Did living in the human realm for more than a decade make him forget that he did not really need to do this? Or does he have a reason he keeps bowing his head like this? Did he do something else aside from what we already know?]

Ferdinand wondered if Alwin was hiding something else, which he knew he would be scolded about, which was why he kept bowing.

Arabella learned from her husband’s thoughts that it was a habit Alwin had had since he was young.

[The times he kept bowing like this and waiting to be scolded were the times he thought we knew he experimented on himself again. Don’t tell me he did something of that sort again, aside from the blood he got?]

"Aside from the blood you got for studying the poison, did you experiment on yourself again?" Ferdinand inquired.

[I did. But they don’t have to know. I’m already strong enough to do more experiments safely. I suddenly grew stronger after we went back in time.]

"No, Your Majesty. I did not," Alwin lied.

"Then look up," Ferdinand said.

[Will they notice I was lying?]

"..." Alwin still hesitated, not wanting his elders to catch his lies.

Arabella realized Alwin feared their anger and disappointment, and the hurt he would feel from both. Especially as he could not tell the truth even if he wanted to.

Alwin was loyal and grateful to them, after all. He would not lie to them if he didn’t have to.

"Alwin, you were told to look up and meet everyone’s eyes, right?" Raymond said in his stern voice, and Alwin fell silent.

[They must be angry. I insisted on coming here after all. And now, I’m the reason they had to lower their pride and thank the Overseer of humans.]

Alwin hesitated again, but he finally looked up and glanced at everyone.

"How do you feel? Are you still in pain?" Ferdinand asked, and Alwin gulped.

[They don’t look angry...]

Alwin’s shoulders gradually relaxed as he realized they were not angry. He was touched that the words they would say were not what he expected.

"No, Your Majesty. The healing worked well. I feel as good as new."

"Then what are you supposed to say first instead of apologizing?" Raymond said as if he were speaking with Raymart.

[W-what should I say?

Shouldn’t I apologize first?

But they didn’t seem to like it.

What should I do first, then?]

Alwin was confused.

Arabella pulled at her hair in frustration, but did her best not to speak.

To Alwin, who had been asleep, he did not know just how much everyone had been worried about him after he passed out.

He did not know either that it had been more than a week since then.

However, if Alwin apologized again, his elders might just blow up.

Thus, Arabella touched her summoning ring to give a word to Alwin without disturbing his talk with his elders.

{Alwin, in times like these, instead of apologizing, you should thank them first.}

She’s not sure if this is what they wanted to hear, but a simple thank you could lighten the mood.

Likewise, since Raymond was treating Alwin like he was Raymart, she figured this must be what he wanted to hear from a child instead of an apology. Especially after everyone worried about him.

[Ah, right!]

Alwin was relieved when he realized what Raymond was waiting for and said, "Thank you for asking the Pope to heal me. I will do my best to improve so this won’t happen again."

"..."

Everyone was at a loss for words.

’This is not what he should be saying thank you about!’

What Arabella meant was a thank you for worrying about him.

But it seems Alwin thought it was something else. Or rather, he does not perceive this as his elders worrying about him purely out of concern for his well-being.

It was good and all to do his best, but the latter part was even more unnecessary. It was also not what they were waiting for, since it made even Alwin’s thanks still sound like an apology.

Sigh...

Raymond heaved a deep sigh and gave up.

He sat on the couch instead and let Alvis and Ferdinand deal with this.

"Are you sure you feel better? That guy did not put a spell on you, did he?" Alvis fawned over his nephew, ignoring the depressed and exasperated Raymond and Ferdinand.

"Yes, I’m fine. I’m fully healed," Alwin replied.

Alvis was not satisfied, though, and still checked Alwin’s temperature, and it was normal.

He checked him for any spell the Pope could have sneaked and found none.

He checked Alwin’s overall condition and sighed in relief.

"You are in better shape indeed. But are you sure he did not do something to you, which was why you woke up and pointed your sword at him?" Alvis continued.

"Yes, I was just surprised since I was not used to his presence," Alwin clarified.

[Why is he still here? Shouldn’t he have gone back immediately?] Alwin wondered.

Alvis would have cried if he knew Alwin already wanted him to leave.