CHAPTER 1043: CHAPTER 1043: WITH CONDITION

’What choice would he make if it were him?’ Arabella wondered as well. It was indeed a terrifying choice.

[What’s wrong with them? Why are they just staring at each other like they are thinking deeply about something? Raymond did not look well either. What did they talk about with the Pope?]

"I have arrived," Alwin said to see if they would respond.

Arabella and Ferdinand glanced at him at the same time.

"Should I teleport you back to the palace?" Alwin inquired.

[They have already completed what is in their schedule here today.] Alwin rechecked the schedule in his mind.

Ferdinand glanced at Arabella, "Shall we head back, too?"

Thanks to Alwin’s arrival, their gears shifted. They stopped thinking about the depressing stuff and thought about their other plans for today.

"Not yet. There is one more person I would like to speak with," Arabella recalled an agenda she intentionally did not add to the list.

"Who?" Ferdinand was surprised since it was not part of their plan today.

[There was no one else in her schedule.]

"The Former Queen of Crux," Arabella replied, and both Alwin and Ferdinand gawked at her.

"Why? She’s already gone mad,’’ Ferdinand frowned.

The Former Queen of Crux was the only prisoner who had spoken with whoever they plotted the use of necromancers and anti-magic weapons with and their supplier.

The magicians and other prisoners they captured either killed themselves or truly did not know anything about the plot because they only obeyed orders in exchange for the rewards promised to them.

Only the Former Queen and her magician knew who gave her such suggestions and from whom they had purchased anti-magic weapons and poison.

And yet, after she realized all her plans had failed, and she was imprisoned, the Former Queen broke and lost her mind. She’s basically insane right now, and no questioning has yielded any fruits, as Pope Elsevier had said earlier.

Even if Arabella could read minds, what’s there to read or listen to from an insane person living their fantasies?

"I still want to try. Maybe talking to her would at least show someone she had spoken with about her plots. There may be some hints," Arabella pointed out.

The Former Queen would be executed in a few days, along with all the noble heads who plotted with her to use necromancy and anti-magic weapons.

Arabella wanted to at least try before the execution. Even a tiny bit of a clue might help. And she hopes her experiences from her past life and her ability could help.

[Those determined eyes again... She won’t back down on this.] Ferdinand could tell she would not leave Crux until she accomplishes this.

"Alright then, but I’ll go with you," Ferdinand relented.

"Umm, no. Didn’t you say the other day that you wanted to speak with the Grand Commander? You should speak with him while I speak with the Former Queen. This way, we can still return together and be on time for the scheduled events in Sibruh," Arabella reminded him of their next appointment.

She did not want to speak with the Former Queen with Ferdinand around because of the plan she had in mind.

"I can speak with him later or just ask for a written report," Ferdinand pointed out.

"Isn’t it important to visit the knights stationed here, too? I’m sure they’d love a visit from you. Alwin will be with me, so there’s no need to worry," Arabella tried to convince her husband.

"But what if someone had snuck in with anti-magic weapons because they heard we’d visit today?" Ferdinand had his reasons, too.

"Rendell and the other knights will be with us. I’m sure they’re more than enough to protect us," Arabella assured him.

[Why does it feel like she’s driving me away?] Ferdinand wondered.

’Oops! Was I too obvious?!’ Arabella sweatdropped.

She stopped trying to convince him so he won’t suspect her further.

[Why would she not want me with her in this talk? Does this have to do with something she talked about with the Pope earlier? Did he tell her something else? This was not in her plans, after all.]

Ferdinand had already caught on that she did not want him to be with her in her talk with the Former Queen.

"The Pope has nothing to do with this. Talking with the Former Queen before she was executed has been in my mind," Arabella clarified.

Ferdinand eyed her and remained silent for a few seconds before he finally said, "Alright. You may go. But if something happened, I am allowed to completely prohibit you from doing something at least thrice, and you’re not allowed to say no or go behind my back and still do it. You’ll have to promise."

’What exactly would he ask me not to do for him to ask this?’ Arabella wondered.

Nothing came to mind, and she was confident nothing would go wrong since Alwin and Rendell would accompany her. She then agreed, "Yes, I promise."

"Alwin, Rendell, you heard her promise. If something happened while you’re there, inform me immediately. And it means she must abide by her promise. This also means you two must not hold back from following my order if I prohibit her from doing something," Ferdinand warned the two who had become Arabella’s alibi the times she had gone behind Ferdinand’s back to do something.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Rendell promised.

[I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but this time, I must follow My Lord’s orders.] Rendell thought.

Arabella smiled at him, assuring him she did not mind. It was his job to guard her after all.

Ferdinand glanced at Alwin. Alwin then said as well, "Yes, Your Majesty."

{You’d better make sure to be quick so we can leave immediately before anything goes wrong. I’ll have to obey His Majesty since you promised.} Alwin warned her.

Arabella nodded. She already knew Ferdinand’s words were always the priority for Alwin. He only ever acted in secret with Ferdinand’s best interest and future happiness in mind.

"Alright. You may go now," Ferdinand sighed deeply and finally allowed her to go.