CHAPTER 785: CHAPTER 785: THEY DO NOT DESERVE AN EXTENSION

The ministers and rulers began to wonder if an heir is on the way.

[His eyes at least finally looked alive when he fell for her. It feels too long ago now when his eyes looked dead as if he had not any interest in anything. In the past even when he got irritated, he wasn’t really angry, it was simply because he didn’t want to be bothered by anything. Perhaps it was because he lost his parents too early and was exposed to politics and war immediately so even when he was still young, he had the eyes of an old man that had resigned himself to everything and had nothing more to lose in life. He excelled in everything contrary to everyone’s belief. He learned too fast in everything just like his cousin, the Prime Minister. Maybe it also contributed to why in the past, in His Majesty’s eyes, it seemed as if life had no point at all. It was why he kept urging him to get married since he looked like he didn’t mind even if he died in war. But now, thankfully, he has someone to return to. And he finally has real emotions now.] One of the elderly head ministers thought as he eyed Ferdinand.

’What did he mean by Ferdinand’s eyes looking dead?’

Arabella gulped at what she heard and noted to get close to this minister since he seemed to care about Ferdinand to notice such things about him.

To her, in this life, Ferdinand’s eyes had always been full of emotion.

She eyed him as if to ensure his eyes did not look dead.

[Is she worried?] Ferdinand wondered.

Arabella was relieved to see that his eyes were indeed alive unlike what the elderly head minister thought about.

{Don’t worry. I’ll rein them in. If they ever try something behind my back again even after this, tell me immediately.} Ferdinand squeezed her hand and his eyes smiled at her tenderly.

{Thank you.} Arabella gave his hand a squeeze as well.

[They are absorbed in their own world just staring into each other’s eyes again.] Alwin’s thought brought Arabella back to the present.

’Was it too long? I thought I just looked at Ferdinand for a bit.’

Arabella looked around and the elderly ministers and household leaders were looking at them like they were watching teenagers who fell in love for the first time.

[Ah, young love. I suddenly miss my wife,] the ministers and rulers thought.

Arabella felt the heat rise to her face and quickly opened her fan to cover her face as she composed herself.

[Haha. She’s so adorable. Why did she look away all of a sudden?] Ferdinand chuckled silently and enjoyed the sight of her blushing.

Ferdinand glanced at their subjects, [Ah, is it because of them? I’m glad she had that fan I gifted her. They are not able to see her adorable expression.]

{We should begin before they end up making out here,} Alwin communicated with Raymond.

{Haha. I’m sure they won’t go that far since His Majesty is quite possessive.} Raymond silently chuckled.

[I guess we should start indeed though. The elderly ones enjoy this new side of His Majesty but the others might not.]

"Ahem," Raymond cleared his throat before announcing, "Let’s begin the Court Session."

They discussed all other issues as scheduled before at last, the matter of Crux finally came up.

"Your Majesty, the time limit for Crux has ended but they are yet to return the remaining Prudencians," Adelard Maximus, Head Minister of National Security brought up the topic.

Adelard was one of the Head Ministers who attended the signing of the deal with Princess Seraphina and the anti-slavery faction of Crux.

"Indeed, Your Majesty," agreed the Head Minister of Defense.

He was also one of the ministers during the signing of the deal with the anti-slavery faction of Crux. "The knights dispatched at the borders had reported military activity in Crux instead of waving the white flag and returning the remaining Prudencians."

"It seems they have no plan to return the remaining Prudencians at all," another Head Minister joined in.

[Those bastards! I knew it. I did not receive any update about our people being brought to the Magic Tower as they did in the past. I was hoping I was merely not informed yet until the right time comes, but it seems, Crux insists on their madness. Mothers, wives, husbands, children and other relatives of those who went missing are still in the palace hoping for some news.] Duke Prudencia, Odette’s oldest brother, thought.

Arabella learned from the Duke’s thoughts that a representative per family of those who were hoping to meet their families had gathered in Prundencia’s capital and went to the palace asking for news so he let them stay there while waiting for updates.

"They must have thought the final warning and time limit was just not serious," another minister said.

"How rude and disrespectful they are. They should be punished for their crimes!" another minister urged.

"Indeed, Your Majesty, we must attack them as soon as possible. They have gone too far. This is an insult to the Empire," another minister joined in.

Soon, everyone else was voicing their approval for an attack at the earliest possible.

Raymond gestured for everyone to quiet down. When they did, Ferdinand finally spoke.

"I have received a letter from the King of Crux. He was asking for more time to convince the pro-slavery faction in their kingdom to return the remaining Prudencians," Ferdinand began.

Murmurs of disapproval immediately filled the room.

"What?! How shameless of them? This last week was supposedly their last chance."

"They had already been given months to return all the Prudencians they have."

"This is absurd. How can they keep delaying things when it has been a while already?"

"They do not deserve an extension at all! They must think this is just a game."

Everyone in the throne room did not want to give more time to Crux.