Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress

For now, what Ferdinand had to do was to ensure that she was safe wherever she went so she would not experience any more traumatizing events.

And yet, people simply kept targeting his wife. Ferdinand would have gone to another war already if not for the fact that those bastards trying to harm Arabella might have taken that chance to attack her.

Ferdinand wanted to send more people to track those who tried to hurt Arabella, but Elrond did not allow him to bring more people from Estrella again.

Elrond reminded that bringing too many might raise the mana levels in Valeria where they would temporarily stay. If the mana was too high, it might harm the citizens who were not used to concentrated and high amounts of mana.

Thus, Ferdinand had no choice but to maintain the usual numbers and only alternate them depending on what tasks needed to be done.

There were a lot of rules they had to abide to as well. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

’They brought us back from our slumber, and yet, they give us too many limitations and rules to follow. Is this their idea of living?’

Ferdinand sighed deeply. He hated being unable to protect Arabella with everything he had and used to be able to do.

Before he married Arabella, her parents had revealed to him that monsters kept attacking her when she was a child. And their condition for allowing Ferdinand to marry her was for him to keep her safe, especially from monster attacks.

Ferdinand easily agreed and asked for details about why Arabella kept getting attacked by monsters. But they did not know either.

They said that even the Pope who had visited Lobelius back then was not able to determine why.

Thus, Ferdinand sent Alwin and the others to find out why Arabella kept encountering monsters but they did not find why either.

Ferdinand kept thinking that perhaps, what Arabella could not tell him was related to those attacks.

He balled his hands into fists as he recalled the shrill screams of panic from Arabella when she and her knights were attacked by monsters two years ago. Her eyes were filled with so much fear back then. He did not want to see her in such a state again.

’Hmm, now that I thought about it. It had just been a few years since then. But Arabella had changed so much.’

Ferdinand recalled how Arabella spoke with him while he was disguised as Elmir. She had such a different air about her now compared to what she was like back then.

He could not put his finger on what it was, but Ferdinand was sure that something about her changed.

What could it be?

’Oh, are they done talking?’ Ferdinand perked up when he saw Arabella’s assistants bow to her.

Arabella turned around and smiled at him.

Ferdinand’s chest tightened and his heartbeat hastened its pace. Just a smile from Arabella and he no longer felt depressed that she avoided him earlier.

It was so unfair. Ferdinand wanted to let her know just how much all her actions had such a huge impact on him. He could not help but wonder at times if she also felt this way when she was on the receiving end.

But he knew he looked scary when he smiled so he brushed off the thought. He walked to meet her and held hands with her.

"Everything’s ready. Shall we go?" Ferdinand inquired and Arabella nodded.

***

Arabella

"Yes, let’s go," Arabella was relieved that Ferdinand did not ask her anymore about why she was also somewhat nervous about visiting Lobelius.

After all, for her, it had been more than two decades since she last saw Lobelius.

Thus, Arabella was excited and nervous at the same time to meet all her siblings and the people she grew up with.

It would be the first time in a while that she sees Lobelius and the palace she grew up in once again.

Arabella took a deep breath and closed her eyes as Alwin teleported them. She was already used to getting teleported but she was simply preparing herself internally for what she would see in what used to be her home.

[She’s even more nervous than me.] Ferdinand thought and held both of her hands in his.

"We’re here," Ferdinand said in what felt like forever.

Arabella took another deep breath before opening her eyes. Ferdinand’s worried face was what greeted her first.

"Are you alright? Did you feel dizzy from the teleportation?"

"I’m fine, thank you."

Her husband got worried since she usually no longer needed to close her eyes when they teleported.

Arabella looked around and sighed in relief when she saw Aletha and she was fine too since she had already experienced teleportation several times due to being one of Arabella’s maids.

Linus and Reuben were the ones who were so astounded they were speechless. They already experienced teleportation when they were sent to Safiro last time but they were not yet used to seeing it happen for real.

When the knights surrounding them finally walked to the sides and formed a straight line, Arabella’s view was finally unblocked.

And there stood in front of them were all her siblings, from Benjamin who was the oldest to the youngest.

"Welcome to Lobelius," Benjamin spoke first.

They teleported to the back of the palace since this was not an official visit. This way, they could avoid causing too much commotion or having to do all the formal pleasantries and rites when welcoming guests from afar.

[Whoah, it’s really elder sister!]

[Elder sister is back!]

[I thought I would not be able to see my elder sister again.]

Their younger siblings beamed when they saw her and were about to walk to her when they paused and gazed at Ferdinand.

[So that’s her husband? He looks so terrifying.]

[Is elder sister alright? I heard he likes sister but what if he was as cruel as the rumors say?]

[I heard he eats children.]

Arabella could not help but smile as she listened to her siblings’ thoughts. They were still as young as they were when she departed for Valeria more than two decades ago in her past life.

Their youngest sibling hid behind Benjamin’s back and peeked at Ferdinand before glancing at Arabella.

"It’s been a while. How are you all doing?" Arabella beamed as she tried to fight her tears. It was nice to finally be able to see all her siblings.