Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 917: Please Be Incredibly Honest With Him

Chapter 917: Chapter 917: Please Be Incredibly Honest With Him

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

{Because he had been watching over you this whole time. He did not leave your side even for a bit.}

Arabella decided it was better to tell Alwin.

{Oh, he did?!}

Alwin looked happy about it and his eyes softened for a moment. But quickly hid it again.

’Ugh. Why must they keep hiding their feelings from each other?’ Arabella internally complained.

"I see.

He indeed just healed you.

That’s good, then.

Are you hungry?

Or thirsty?"

Alvis asked, and right on time, Alwin’s stomach growled.

"I’m not!"

Alwin still dared to lie even when everyone heard it.

{Alfredo, bring some food for Alwin.}

All of Alwin’s elders contacted Alfredo in unison without planning it.

"Pfft... Hahaha."

Arabella couldn’t help her laughter.

Everyone’s eyes were on her now.

"Oh, my apologies.

It’s just that, all of you contacted Alfredo at the same time," Arabella revealed, and the three glanced at each other.

Alvis raised a brow at Raymond, who simply shrugged his shoulders, wordlessly saying, ’Why are you so surprised?’

Alvis looked at Ferdinand looked away. He pretended like he did not notice the former’s scrutinizing gaze.

Meanwhile...

[They did?!] Alwin glanced back and forth at his elders.

’Geez. Why is he so surprised, too?’

Alwin’s reaction alone was giving his elders another headache.

[Why is it that no matter what we do, he acts so surprised like this, as if we have never cared about him?]

Raymond looked tired just thinking about it.

Arabella figured it was because their goodwill always ended up interpreted by Alwin as having to meet their expectations and whatnot.

’Should I meddle in this?’ Arabella wondered.

"Why won’t we wait for Alwin in the outer chamber while he cleans up and collects himself?

He’s still confused since he just woke up," Arabella suggested.

[I guess we should.]

"Alright," his elders said.

Before walking to the door, they glanced at Alwin, who looked relieved to be left alone.

[He doesn’t even want to talk to us now!]

His elders felt depressed and turned their backs, walking to the exit with their shoulders slumped.

"Get dressed first. We’ll explain what happened while you eat some food," Arabella explained to the confused Alwin.

{Can’t you explain it now?

How long has it been since I passed out?

Why was everyone gathered?

Are they angry because of what I did?

Are they planning to punish me?

Did they say what my punishment would be?}

Alwin wanted her to explain, so he would know how to navigate the conversation later.

However, Arabella did not give him hints this time.

{You better reflect on your actions.

You will know everything later.

For now, clean up and dress properly first, since we will speak with the Pope again later.}

{Wait, tell me what’s going...}

Alwin kept asking her, but Arabella did not reply and simply got out of his inner chambers.

At Alwin’s outer chambers, while they waited...

"Please be incredibly honest with Alwin. Tell him exactly how you are feeling in detail," Arabella said to Alwin’s elders.

[Did she hear something from Alwin’s thoughts?]

They recalled they had her to ask and perked up.

Arabella almost flinched at how their eyes shone with hope when they looked at her.

"In detail? What do you mean, Your Majesty?" Raymond inquired.

"So Alwin won’t misunderstand your words.

I understand how frustrating it is for you that he keeps misunderstanding your concerns.

I know all of you care about him.

Alwin recently understood this fact as well," Arabella began.

"Oh, he does know we care!" Alvis looked like a cat wagging his tail in delight.

"Yes, Alwin knows.

He knew it deep inside.

And he became more accepting of it recently.

However, he is still new to it and keeps forgetting.

Or rather, it’s hard to get rid of old habits, so he keeps doing it again.

He has a tendency to deny your concern and rationalize it as something you just do because it is your duty as his elder, not because you care about him," Arabella continued.

"Exactly," Raymond said with a hurt expression.

Ferdinand and Alvis nodded in agreement as well.

"It’s not because he doesn’t notice you care.

He does.

But Alwin keeps analyzing everything and adds logical reasons to your words and actions.

He definitely likes it if you care about him.

However, he believes it’s out of duty, not affection for a loved one, for a family.

I believe if you are directly honest with him about your affection for him as a person, as your family, he will eventually understand.

He will be overwhelmed and will try to rationalize it again, but please do be patient with him.

Alwin cares deeply about all of you as well."

"He does?!!"

Alwin’s elders were delighted at her words.

After all, Alwin was their baby. He was the child they raised, even if they did not know how. They did their best the way they knew, thinking what’s best for him.

"Yes. Alwin loves all of you, too. Everything he does is because he wants to be recognized and give back for all he had because you were there for him."

Arabella did not want to meddle since Alwin would surely dislike it.

But if they would never tell of their care for each other, she would.

It’s better to know one is loved by someone they cherish, after all.

She could not simply watch them misunderstand each other when she could hear all of their thoughts and could clarify things for them when necessary.

Arabella concluded that this was one of those times she must meddle regardless of someone getting angry.

Alwin’s elders were all delighted to know Alwin cherished them too.

"But he doesn’t need to give back anything. We did what we did because we wanted to. We are not asking him to give back anything either. We don’t even want him here, risking his life. We wanted him safe in Estrella. But he insisted on being here," Raymond said.

"Indeed," Ferdinand agreed, since he also felt the same.

After all, taking in Alwin was his own choice. Thus, Alwin did not need to give back anything.