CHAPTER 57: PERMISSION

[Should I also investigate all of her assistants? If she were exposed to danger, I would have to answer to His Majesty.]

’Thank you, Alwin. If you do that, my problems would be solved if you are the one who discovers what’s happening in Safiro and Prudencia and reports them to Ferdinand.’

[I guess I have to warn her first.]

’Or not. I guess I truly have to go. It would also be better if I see for myself what’s happening so I would understand where Nadia and Odette were coming from.’

"Your Majesty, I am not telling you to distrust everyone. But people do not always say what’s on their minds. You may be put at risk if you believe what everyone says. Please be careful and think wisely about whom you trust."

Yes, that was true. She learned it the hard way in her past life. But this time, she could hear and see people’s thoughts. She was able to understand them better and knew whom she could and could not trust.

"Uhm, what do you mean? Are my assistants suspicious?" she pretended not to understand.

"It is quite suspicious for the daughters of the Head Households in Safiro and Prudencia to be unwelcome in their own homes because of guests. No matter how important the said guests were, the two should still have their own chambers in their residences. After all, they are princesses of their territories."

"Oh, you’re right. Then, can I ask you to investigate the matter for me? I have no one else to ask," Arabella tilted her head and held her hands together, playing innocent and helpless.

[Tsk. She’s still too naive. Does this mean I have to keep watch over her all the time to ensure she doesn’t get fooled again? I already warned her about her maid as well but if she’s still too trusting, the tragedy of the past might just happen again.] Alwin gritted his teeth at the memory.

’Don’t worry Alwin. I would be careful this time. I also don’t want that tragedy to happen again.’

"Alright, I shall investigate for Your Majesty. In the meantime, please stay put while I am away. I will report to you as soon as I can whatever it is I will find. Perhaps in an hour or two."

"Thank you! I shall stay in my office writing my letter for Ferdinand," Arabella beamed. She internally made a victory pose. Checking the residences of Nadia and Odette were solved.

’He would be done in just an hour or two?! That’s so quick. Alwin sure works fast. No wonder Ferdinand always keeps him nearby. I wish I could teleport wherever I want to go too. It’s such a useful skill. It’s still quite long until I meet Dimo.’

In her past life, Dimo was a magician she met from an underground guild when she was looking for people to hire. He became her magician and he was the one who teleported her where she wanted to go so she was able to leave unnoticed by her guards. She met him two years after her son died.

Dimo’s abilities were limited and he spends a lot of time recovering after long-distance teleportation. He could use long-distance teleportation only twice in a single day. Unlike Alwin who can use teleportation whenever and as much as he wanted.

Once Alwin left to begin investigating, Arabella went to her desk to write the letter for Ferdinand.

She had actually already written one the other day, but she had to change the contents after learning about Safiro and Prudencia’s situation from Nadia and Odette’s thoughts.

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Dear Ferdinand,

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How are you doing out there at the borders?

I hope you are faring well.

Are you able to eat on time? Are you having enough sleep? Are you injured anywhere?

I hope you didn’t get any injuries. If you did, please have it tended immediately.

Please take good care of yourself and come back safe and sound.

As for me, I am doing well in the palace.

I am trying to learn how to be a useful Empress so I can be of help to you.

Prime Minister Raymond had been guiding me well.

I will begin working in my office soon so recently, I have hired assistants.

I have only ever been here in Riva so I had been thinking I wanted to get to know your people and your Empire more. I was wondering if I could visit some territories in Valeria so I thought I should visit my assistants’ homelands first.

Three of my assistants were from Safiro, Prudencia, and Cordelia. Their homelands were farthest from Riva and I thought I should visit them first before the closer ones.

May I? I’d also like to ask your mage, Alwin to teleport me. Would it be fine with you?

I would be with Rendell and Alwin so it couldn’t possibly be dangerous with them guarding me. I won’t stay long either.

It will only be for a day. I won’t even visit the home of the rulers either nor stay for the night. I’ll just look around for a bit and return to the palace before it gets dark.

I just want to see these territories for myself before I start working with my assistants so I can understand them better.

I also want to see how the people in the empire are living their daily lives.

You see, back in Lobelius, I have visited every part of our kingdom. It made me really happy to get to know our people more and see for myself how they were doing.

Since I am your wife and now the Empress of your Empire, I would love to get closer to your people too.

So I hope you can grant my selfish request.

I would only get a look at the territories this time. Someday, I would love to visit them with you.

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Your Wife,

Arabella

* * * *

Arabella heaved a deep sigh after she finished writing. She read it, again and again, to ensure it wasn’t too sweet or make her seem lonely that Ferdinand would go back to the palace just to see her.

What she needed this time was just his permission and approval for her to head to Safiro, Prudencia, and Cordelia.

The Countdom of Cordelia was where Ivan was from. It was close to Safiro and they actually share a bit of a border.

She stared at the map spread on her table. Prudencia was the farthest so it should be where she should visit first to make her claim of wanting to visit the farthest first, seem legit.

Safiro would be next, and then Cordelia.

She sealed her letter and hoped Alwin would return soon.

After an hour, Alwin returned to her office looking displeased.

"That was quick. What did you discover?"

"Marquess Gulliver’s family, the person tasked with guiding the Prudencia Kingdom, and his men, were occupying the supposed residence of the Prudencia Family here in the capital, Your Majesty. The same is true with the Safiro Residence. It was occupied by a certain Count Dempsey’s family from Arno Dukedom."

"Oh my! Is that even allowed?" Arabella pretended to be shocked.

"No. The Gulliver Family have their own residence here in Riva. I don’t know who’s Count Dempsey but I believe he was the person Duke Arno assigned to guide Safiro with the ways of the Empire. But they shouldn’t be occupying the estate and residence of the Head Households of Safiro and Prudencia," Alwin explained.

"Isn’t this an abuse of authority? Shouldn’t they be punished?"

"Don’t worry about it, Your Majesty. I shall inform Raymond, I mean, the Prime Minister, to do the cleanup. He would have to bring knights and official investigators to arrest the perpetrators."

[I would have to investigate the Safiro and Prudencia territories too but I have to ask permission from His Majesty to be away from my guard duty of the Empress for a bit.]

Arabella internally smirked at this. It would help with her goals. But it would be better if she just went with Alwin to Safiro and Prudencia so hopefully, Ferdinand would grant his approval. She planned to keep sending him letters if he disapproved anyway.

"I see. That’s a relief. No wonder my assistants cannot even stay in their own residences. This will surely help them a lot. Thank you for your hard work."

"It’s my duty. Please don’t worry about it."

Alwin was acting docile since Nadia and Odette were not the ones in the wrong. They didn’t ask to stay in their palace chambers because of ulterior motives but because they simply cannot stay at their own residences.

"Before you speak with the Prime Minister, I am done with my letter. Could you send it to His Majesty first?" She knew it was about time for Alwin’s daily reports to Ferdinand anyway.

"Yes, of course, Your Majesty."

"Thank you."

She knew Alwin would also report his findings about the residences today too. Hopefully, it wouldn’t make Ferdinand disagree with her request.

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A/N:

Thank you for the gifts MCdarksaint8220, elorinczy, chris_tine_7938!

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Merry Christmas everyone!

I hope you enjoy your holidays!