’He even dares put the blame on me?! When did he learn to be like this?’

"You are bullying yourself. Stand up," Arabella demanded. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Ferdinand finally did and Arabella held his hand.

"Let’s go inside," she walked to her bed and he followed her obediently. "Sit down."

Ferdinand wondered what she was up to but obediently did.

When Ferdinand was seated on her bed, she sat on his lap and he brightened up. His arms instantly wrapped around her waist.

Arabella gently dried the tears in the corner of his eyes.

Ferdinand watched her silently, still trying to process all the emotions he felt in a matter of several seconds.

[It’s such a wonder how someone so small can make me feel so frustrated, angry, scared, sad, and all sorts of emotions I never had before in a matter of seconds. To the point I might just go berserk; and yet, the next thing she does revives me back and makes me happy and touched and let me feel all these overflowing warmth. My heart is still drumming my chest loudly. And these gentle caresses from her soft hands were more than enough to make me forgive her for making me go through all that pain. Is this why humans are so lively despite their short lifetimes?]

’What do you mean forgive me? I was the one who was at fault? How can I be the one at fault when he was the one who misunderstood things?’

Arabella wanted to debate with her husband but his heart might not be able to take it.

She did not want to see him cry for real if she said something that he might misunderstand again. She really wished there was a cure for overthinking.

Ferdinand was so close to crying earlier and all the fear and panic must have been really hard on him so Arabella had to be very careful with her next words. She needed to be gentle so he would not misunderstand things.

She gently caressed his cheeks and Ferdinand leaned into her touch, wanting her to comfort him more. So she cupped his face with both hands and kissed his forehead.

’Geez. This dragon husband of mine is such a handful. But he’s so adorable,’ Arabella smiled as her husband eyed her with a mix of emotions on his face.

[When she does this, it feels like I don’t have to worry about anything. But should I? What if I get too complacent and wake up one day and she’s no longer with me?]

Ferdinand had such thoughts as he eyed her. He did feel her words and actions were fully meant but he feared getting too complacent.

"I see. If you do not want to be too complacent, then that’s alright. But there’s no need to panic about everything and conclude that I’m going to leave just because I’m angry at you. Even if we get into fights sometimes, I won’t leave you," Arabella explained in a gentle voice to soothe him.

"You mean that?" Ferdinand tightened his arms around her as if ensuring that she would not escape from his grasp.

These were the times that Arabella could not help but wonder if Ferdinand had been left behind by a lover in the past but he had simply forgotten.

It was like he had a trauma that compelled him to panic every time she said anything that might mean she was leaving his side.

If he had been having nightmares related to their past life, she would have heard it from his thoughts but none ever crossed his mind so it was likely not about it.

There must be something else. An experience he had forgotten that made him like this and made him fear getting left behind or abandoned.

If he could recall what it was, Arabella would have already heard it from his thoughts. But there was none, so she could only conclude it was among the memories that had been ruined and erased in his more than 10,000 years of supposed slumber to death.

Thus, they had to work slowly on their relationship and his overthinking and overreaction to everything she says or does.

"Yes, of course," Arabella smiled, and Ferdinand gulped.

"Thank you. Thank you for being patient with me. It must be tiring to keep going about this repeatedly," Ferdinand gulped.

"It is," she replied honestly. It was better to tell the truth than to lie especially since Ferdinand already knew that his behavior could be tiring.

[I knew it. But how should I stop all these fears when they come on their own and bother me all the time?]

Ferdinand’s eyes glanced down when he heard her reply. But Arabella tilted his face so he would meet her gaze.

"It can be adorable sometimes. And yet, it can be tiring indeed. But since it’s you, I am willing to wait until you can cast your fears," Arabella assured him.

Ferdinand smiled and tilted his face so he could kiss her palm. He understood what she meant.

"So you better be patient with me when I get this kind of fear too," Arabella warned since she knew she might become moody once she gets pregnant.

"I will never get tired of you no matter what," Ferdinand instantly replied.

Arabella smiled since she knew he fully meant that and he truly did in their past life. He loved her no matter what she became and allowed her to do what he thought would make her happy.

And that was exactly why, they needed to work on their relationship now so that they would not be so distant from each other instead of communicating.

"I’m going to say what I was about to say earlier," Arabella said now that Ferdinand had calmed down. And yet, she still felt his body stiffen. "Relax. And don’t dare try to stop me again because it’s not what you think. Listen to me first."

Ferdinand gulped nervously and nodded his head. He was still worried but behaved this time.