Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 97: First Date

Chapter 97: First Date

Arabella handed her roses to Aletha to have them placed in a vase in her room so she could keep them with her for a while.

This was such a great development. Ferdinand even knew to give her flowers now. She could hope and expect it would happen again, right?

She loved flowers since she was young so it wouldn’t be bad to receive flowers from her husband every once in a while.

But more importantly, why does Ferdinand look even more dashing under the moonlight? Arabella wondered as she eyed him from head to foot.

Were her eyes playing tricks on her?

Or seeing Ferdinand feeling shy and embarrassed like this was simply that rare so it was too appealing to her?

[Her cheeks are flushed! Does she like the flowers that much? If I had known I would have given her flowers every single day.] Ferdinand thought and Arabella felt her cheeks heat up even more when she realized she was indeed blushing.

She tried to calm herself but Ferdinand kept staring at her so she got even more embarrassed instead.

’What’s wrong with me tonight?! What am I getting so embarrassed for when he always stared too much when he stayed in my room every night?’

"Where will we have dinner? I was surprised to be led here in the garden," she inquired to divert Ferdinand’s attention.

"Oh, my apologies. Allow me to lead you there," Ferdinand offered his hand so he could escort her himself.

"T-thank you."

Arabella sighed in relief when Ferdinand finally faced forward as he led her somewhere guided by the magic lamps.

Only then did she realize the garden was decorated with magic lamps tonight.

’These lamps look beautiful.’

The magic lamps were dimly lit just enough to be seen so they didn’t overwhelm the moonlight.

They walked quite far so Ferdinand even offered to carry her, but Arabella refused.

Walking under the moonlight was part of the date itself. Sure getting carried might seem more romantic but it was too embarrassing.

"Close your eyes," Ferdinand instructed when they reach a certain point.

’Why?’ she wanted to ask but obediently closed her eyes and he blindfolded her with a soft cloth.

’What’s going on? Why does he have to blindfold me?’

They were supposed to be on a dinner date.

"Ferdinand?!" she was surprised when he suddenly wrapped his arms around her waist, embracing her. Her face got buried in his hard chest as he held her tight.

She wasn’t distracted by Ferdinand’s strong arms wrapped around her nor by his hard and warm body at all. Yes, not all. She was too old to be distracted by something like this.

So why does her face feel so hot?

Her heart was racing too.

Arabella hoped Ferdinand couldn’t hear the loud beating of her heart. But it was just because she got surprised anyway. What does it matter if he knew?

It wasn’t at all because he was holding her after giving her flowers which meant love and a wish for a long relationship together. Nor was it because he truly looked so dashing tonight. She wasn’t affected at all. She’s old. She’s not that easy to please anymore, right? Right?

The only responses to her internal debates were the loud beating of their hearts.

Ferdinand’s heart was beating wildly even as his voice sounded calm when he said, "Don’t worry. I just want to surprise you. Hold onto me and don’t open your eyes until I tell you to do so."

"Okay."

And soon Arabella felt the familiar feeling of getting teleported.

’Where are we going that he has to blindfold me? Was there another surprise?’

Since they teleported, they might not even be in the palace anymore. But how come she did not hear Alwin’s thoughts at all? Nor did she hear Ferdinand communicate with him through the summoning ring.

"We’re here," Ferdinand said and removed her blindfold.

Arabella gasped when she opened her eyes.

"So beautiful!"

They were in an exquisite gazebo in the middle of a lake.

’There was a place like this in the palace grounds?’

No, they might not be on the palace grounds anymore. She doesn’t remember a gazebo and a lake like this near the palace.

Maybe somewhere in Riva but definitely not the palace.

And as far as she was concerned, this would be unforgettable. Her first date with Ferdinand was in a beautiful gazebo in the middle of a lake. She never experienced something like this before.

It was a pleasant surprise.

The gazebo was decorated with flowers and more magic lamps so it was bright.

From the magic lamp’s glow, she could see that the lake water was so clear and clean. She could see the moon’s reflection in it too.

At the center of the gazebo was a table and seat for them. Their dinner was already set on the table and one of Ferdinand’s butlers was there ready to serve their meal.

All the foods there were her favorites and the plating was beautiful.

"How did you have the time to prepare all these?" she exclaimed. She thought she would just sleep a little bit and she woke up to be surprised by all this.

"While you were sleeping. You didn’t look well so I wanted you to be able to eat properly. Everyone helped in the preparations," Ferdinand kissed the back of her hand.

Instead of resting, he went to the trouble of having all these prepared for her?

"Thank you for your concern. You should have rested too though."

"The pleasure is mine. I thought about this while I was resting."

[After making her witness such a stressful trial, I at least want her to be able to relax. She looked pale after the trial.]

"Let’s eat before the food gets cold," Ferdinand pulled out a chair for her.

Arabella was hungry after a good sleep so she decided to eat.

The food was superb. She could tell which one was prepared by Aletha, Alfredo, and the other chefs just by looking at the plating and slices of ingredients. The taste was the final giveaway though.

Aletha’s cooking still tasted the best but the dishes Alfredo and the other chefs made were also delicious. They knew her preferences now and had adapted well.