"I missed, Your Majesty. I wanted to see you the other day. But I heard you were busy, so I waited for you to visit instead," Dimo acted all cute.

Seeing him like this made Arabella smile.

Yes, this was the kind of Dimo she wanted to see.

The cuteness, childishness, and playfulness at his age suited him.

Seeing him with expressions like these was such a treat. Especially when she recalls how barely alive his eyes were in the past.

No, that wasn’t right. In their past life, by the time Arabella knew Dimo, his eyes were dead. Dimo only lived for his revenge.

Arabella only saw Dimo’s eyes change a bit after he had exacted his revenge. There was relief in his eyes. But now that she thought about it, he still didn’t look happy or anything. His eyes were still dead.

Rather, he looked like he was ready to die anytime after he had his revenge and had the Olivier duchy entrusted to someone he could trust.

Arabella noticed it. After all, back then, she was secretly planning on dying too after she had her revenge.

Noticing Dimo was the same, she reminded Dimo that his job was not done yet so he would have some sort of reason to keep living. She reminded him that she still had a lot for him to do.

And thus, even when she had truly decided to die, she gave him one last mission. To leave for another continent and start a new life. He was still young and she at least wanted for him to be able to start anew. Unlike her who had nothing left.

Only then did Dimo’s eyes change and he cried for her.

Arabella felt emotional as she recalled how Dimo cried as he thanked her for everything - that she even worried about his future when he had long stopped thinking about it.

It was then that he told her that if she was making him escape, then she should escape too and find what the other continents could offer for people like them.

But Arabella who believed her son was long dead and had committed too many crimes, no longer had any reason to live. Thus, she declined and made him leave after making him promise to live his life to the fullest - if not for himself, then for the sake of his father who must have surely wanted to see him soar high.

Dimo was still crying as he left her that day, knowing that she was set on dying.

"Your Majesty, I did good waiting, right?" Dimo’s voice brought her back to the present. He was looking at her with eyes asking to be praised.

She smiled.

In this life, Arabella did not want to burden him like that. She would not ask him to live while she was set on dying.

She would live a happy life so he would not be sad for her when he leaves.

And she would ensure he grows strong and healthy here while he is young so he would not be stepped on, manipulated, and used by too greedy and evil people once she leaves for Estrella with Ferdinand.

"Oh my, yes. You did very well. I was busy indeed. You did well waiting this whole time," Arabella ruffled Dimo’s hair and the child visibly reveled in it.

Her heart ached since she knew Dimo had been deprived of this, which was why he was seeking these things from her now since he no longer had a mother. Sonia never once accepted him as her own and never treated him like one.

Arabella felt bad to just leave immediately when Dimo had been waiting for her. He might also felt depressed and lonely if he had no one to speak with here.

Even though the main reason why Dimo was here, was for him to learn magic, Arabella did not want him to feel out of place and lonely. He wanted him to feel welcome and warm here. Thus, she rubbed her ring to communicate with Alwin.

{Alwin, can you please inform the maids to bring some tea and more sweets here? I want to stay with Dimo for a bit. You should also sit with us since you are one of his teachers anyway.}

Arabella knew that Dimo needed affection not just from one person. And she would do her best so he would feel loved not just by his father but many more people. So that in this life, he would no longer think of himself as a monster no matter what other people would say to him.

She wanted him to know that he deserved to be loved too and understand that his powers were not the powers of a monster.

{Alright.} Alwin vanished as he went to do what she asked.

"Wow! Instant teleportation!" Dimo gawked in awe at the spot where Alwin once stood.

Dimo’s eyes had been covered the times they teleported with him in tow. And he did not even notice Alwin teleport when they were at Olivier Castle since he was too tense.

[He already knows about teleportation?! Did they discuss it with him already?] Rendell was surprised.

’Eh? They already teach Dimo about teleportation but they wouldn’t even allow me to touch a single book about it?!’ Arabella internally pouted but maintained her smile.

Alwin had been heavily against it when she said she wanted to learn magic or at least use items.

She wanted to have teleportation scrolls with her at least, but Alwin utterly refused and did not even want to hear her say it again.

Maybe, she should snitch on him to Ferdinand later for scolding her too much.

But then again, Alwin was her ally now. They can be even called best friends now. Especially with him helping her a lot even if it puts him at great risk.

Or was he simply as much of a daredevil as the person who raised him?

Arabella had to wonder about all sorts of things.