Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 938: No Longer Civilians

Chapter 938: Chapter 938: No Longer Civilians

Ferdinand had assigned his knights to guard the castle since the people here staged a revolt just a few days ago.

Arabella’s visit had been announced, and so there were a lot of people surrounding the palace.

They were hoping to see her and report the failure of the former Marquess Sibruh, or at least, scream about their plight and complaints.

Arabella sighed deeply as she took in the sight around her.

Marquess Sibruh had failed in managing and improving his marquessate with all the pride he had.

If he had only asked properly, Sibruh would not have ended up this way.

Some parts of Sibruh, especially the ones closest to the vacant lands, were rocky and dry, so they could not be used for agriculture, or even used as a place for living.

Thus, this situation here was even more dire since only a portion of the Marquessate could be used for agriculture.

The rocky drylands were used for mining, but who could mine without food?

This was exactly why the people were so fearful.

Even if they had gems, if they could not even purchase food from outside territories to bring it here, then mining would be useless.

They knew they would die of hunger if not for the support from the Imperial Palace.

Instead of thinking that the others were acting like beggars, if the former Marquess Sibruh had asked for help earlier and revealed the situation here before things got worse, his people would not have needed to suffer like this.

Other territories would not have been affected as well.

This made Arabella realize something.

’Whoever decided to use Sibruh as the starting point for spreading the pests and disease must have known about how prideful he was. Then, it must be someone who had been with him for long enough to know that he won’t report the situation here even if his people ended up taking the brunt,’ Arabella concluded.

Thinking back on the former Marquess’ report last time, Arabella recalled that they were still able to harvest some of their produce since they drove the pests away, not knowing they carried the plant disease.

’Could it also be why whoever spread the pests and disease only did it when the harvest was already close, so the produce would get sold here and there, thus, hastening the spread of the disease?’

Arabella thought about it as she stared at the vacant farmlands.

She concluded she must roam around not just in Sibruh but in the castle as well to listen to a lot of people’s thoughts.

In case the culprit/s was still here, she might be able to hear their thoughts.

[Is that the Empress?!]

[Her expensive-looking clothes have never been seen here before. She must be the Empress!]

Arabella heard the thoughts of the people gathered outside the gates of the castle.

They were looking at her, wondering if she was the Empress who was announced to visit today.

Arabella removed her hat and cloak and waved at them.

Gasped and murmurs arose.

"It’s Her Majesty!!!"

"Her Majesty is truly visiting us!!!"

The people cheered in delight.

Even in a remote place like this, they had already heard rumors about Prudencia and Safiro, whom Arabella helped simply by visiting them.

Thus, the people were delighted by her visit, hoping she would do the same for them.

[We must let Her Majesty know about our situation.]

[We should ask for help!]

[Her Majesty must be kinder than His Majesty and his knights. Maybe, she will understand.]

[Would someone born of riches really hear us out? What if she doesn’t care at all?]

[His Majesty and his knights arrived, but they came to burn down all the crops and even the forest. Just a few days ago, a lot were also hurt when they went against the knights...]

’Of course! If you use force, then the knights have no choice but to use it too. They won’t just stand by and get killed,’ Arabella sighed deeply.

The knights did not work hard all their lives to simply receive a beating from people or allow themselves to be killed.

Armed people are no longer considered civilians. They lost their protection as civilians the instant they took up arms. They are already considered fighters. Thus, it’s alright to subdue them. And if they were determined to kill, then it was also alright to kill them.

The Empire’s knights and soldiers did not use all their lives to train simply to accept death from some random hooligan who had never even been to the real battlefield.

Of course, knights and soldiers were not allowed to use excessive force either when the situation did not call for it.

Arabella heard the Imperial Knights did not fight using their swords and simply immobilized those who tried to enter the castle.

They were knights used to the battlefield, so fighting against the citizens of Valeria did not sit well with them and hurt their pride.

Thus, a lot of them got minor injuries too, since they only used hand-to-hand combat even when the people were armed.

Thankfully, the magicians healed them back to health.

Arabella would have been allowed to stand on the platform above the castle gates if not for the people arming themselves and attacking the castle a few days ago.

Ferdinand said he had already made explanations about the situation. Yet still, the people remain fearful.

Thus, he warned them that whoever armed themselves again and attacked the castle or the knights would not be set free this time. That they would be imprisoned or cut down.

Fear seemed to work better in making them behave than explanations, since the people were not armed today.

{Alwin, can you please amplify my voice and let them see me and my assistants?}

{Alright.}

Arabella had already planned to give a speech, and Alwin had agreed to help her.

Ferdinand feared that the people might try to attack her or throw things at her, so he made her promise to do her speech from here.

"Oh, what is this?!!"

"We can see Her Majesty like she’s much closer!!"

"Is this magic?!!!"