CHAPTER 762: CHAPTER 762: I KNEW HE WOULD SAY THIS

"How were they able to send here?" Ferdinand frowned.

"She was not staying in Crux. She was in her fiance’s kingdom. She was able to send a letter using his connections," Arabella then explained how the letter came to be why it attracted her attention immediately.

"And you decided to meet her without telling me?" Ferdinand asked, still brooding that it was kept a secret from him.

"Yes, hehe," Arabella tried to act cutely so his mood would not be ruined again.

[She’s doing this intentionally so I won’t scold her again. But I’m not planning to after she cried earlier. What if I make her cry again? I don’t want to see her hurting like that again. And I’m not angry anymore, but I’m still somewhat annoyed that she hid it from me.]

"Where is Alwin? How could he not inform me about this first?" Ferdinand heaved another sigh.

Ferdinand was about to summon Alwin but Arabella held his hand before he could touch his summoning ring, "I asked him not to inform you about this yet. It’s my fault, not his."

[I can’t scold her anymore but I can’t scold Alwin either?]

"Don’t scold him or Rendell or Riley. It was my fault. I was the one who insisted on this so they had no choice but to follow," Arabella took all the blame since she understood the feeling of getting scolded clearly now.

"Arabella, why do you always take the blame when it comes to matters like this?" Ferdinand inquired.

"Because it was really my fault. They work hard everyday to guard and protect me so how can I not ask for them to get spared from getting scolded when it was truly me who instructed them to keep this a secret first. Likewise, I know the feeling now. I didn’t think of it too seriously before but now, I understand that it feels bad to get scolded," Arabella pointed out and Ferdinand tensed up.

[Did I scare her earlier? I didn’t intend to be mean to her. I have to be more careful. Why is it so hard to control my emotions when I’m with her? I didn’t want her to see my ugly sides so I’ve been trying to be calm and collected when I’m with her but it’s so hard.]

Ferdinand closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He rubbed the back of his head before relenting, "Alright. Alright. I won’t scold them either."

"Thank you," Arabella smiled and kissed him on the lips.

[I guess it’s fine if she soothes me like this.] Ferdinand thought as he gazed at her affectionately and wrapped his arms around her waist.

[You are being too easy, my lord.] Alwin who was guarding them from afar thought. [But, I guess it’s fine as long as I don’t get scolded anymore. Her wiles can be useful during these times.]

’Geez. His senses are too strong too,’ Arabella realized Alwin may have seen everything that happened earlier. But then again, he was already used to it and here he was willing to let her use her "wiles" so he wouldn’t get scolded.

"But you will inform me of any meetings like this in the future before you attend one," Ferdinand reminded once again.

"Yes, I will," Arabella smiled contentedly.

[I guess it’s good that they listen to her. She would not be helpless while I’m away.] Ferdinand concluded.

Arabella then continued to tell him what happened until they met the princess this morning and the long conversation they had.

"They aim to change Crux’s fate through the war," Arabella reflected, recalling Seraphina’s impassioned plea.

Since she understood the gravity of Seraphina’s proposition, Arabella informed Ferdinand how the princess and her twin envisioned leveraging the conflict between Valeria and Crux as an enlightenment for their people and how they sought to usher in a new era of understanding, minimizing bloodshed and protecting the innocent that may end up involved in the war.

It was a delicate balance of ideals and pragmatism, a vision that resonated with her own aspirations for the future.

Yet, she knew she had to remain cautious, mindful of the complexities and risks inherent in such endeavors as Alwin had reminded her.

"They informed you about all these? Or you learned about it through their thoughts?" Ferdinand inquired since there was a big difference between the two.

"They openly told me everything in exchange for a promise to let them leave the meeting safely and not reveal it to others that could use it to put them at risk. They are sincere since they wish to grab this as the last opportunity to change Crux and save their people from years of suffering. It was why they wished to communicate and appeal to me," Arabella assured her husband.

She understood that Ferdinand was wary as well since they might be trying to use Arabella. However, what Princess Seraphina sought was mutual benefit so it was alright for her.

The lives of a lot of people depended on this so Arabella knew the weight of responsibility rested heavily on her shoulders.

The decisions they make after the meeting could shape not only the future of Valeria but also influence the course of history in Crux and beyond. Thus, in case he would not agree to the proposal, she had to convince Ferdinand to approve.

After Arabella’s long explanation, Ferdinand seriously pondered over it and finally said, "The location of the remaining Prudencians in Crux is indeed worth it. You said Riley has verified it right?"

Arabella perked up at Ferdinand’s response, "Yes, Riley went to the two locations they gave us for verification. He confirmed that Prudencians are indeed there. However, it is heavily guarded and we cannot retrieve them yet or else the nobles would be alerted."

"I see. If that’s the case, then let’s agree to their proposal," Ferdinand concluded and Arabella hugged him tight.

’I knew he would say this,’ Arabella did not need to convince him at all. She simply had to present the facts they learned in the meeting.