After all the days fully packed with etings and socialization, the last day of the yearly Assembly finally arrived.
A party was scheduled for today as a celebration of the success of the Assembly and all the ties they ford in this gathering.
And of course, Arabella and Ferdinand had to attend.
"You are stunning," Ferdinand kissed the back of Arabella’s hand when he ca to escort her.
She couldn’t help but smile and blush at the look on his face.
When the maids finally allowed him into her room, Ferdinand was wide-eyed and speechless for several seconds before he collected himself and complinted her.
It seems all her maids’ hard work paid off.
They did more than a good job in dressing her up and doing her makeup and hair.
Arabella’s maids had dolled her up more than usual, so Ferdinand waited for her for a while.
Thankfully, her husband had learned to be patient.
And he didn’t really mind waiting for her since he always gets surprised every ti.
Her maids said it was so everyone would rember her beauty and glamour and talk about it even in their ho kingdoms.
However, what they actually wanted to do was show off Valeria’s wealth for the last ti since they were proud Valerians after all.
Likewise, they had instructions from their families and the ministers.
Even Ferdinand was dressed better than usual by his butlers.
It was rather worriso for Arabella since more ladies would realize his charm and attractiveness.
They were already beginning to buzz around him like bees.
"Thank you. You look so striking too," Arabella praised her husband.
His outfit was elegant and made him look even more regal.
Once he had his emperor mode on, he looked like soone untouchable and unreachable.
And yet, he was her husband.
She did not put an effort to be able to marry him, but she was doing her best to be his wife now.
She could at least be proud of that, right?
And he was actually so kind and sweet to her.
It made Arabella feel conflicted.
She was among the few who knew of Ferdinand’s warm side.
She was happy that Ferdinand was only ever sweet and loving to her.
But she also wanted everyone to know he could be a kind and warm person too.
That most of the negative things they heard about him were lies and re fabrications.
Ferdinand was not just a warmonger who was cruel and evil.
He was a hard worker and actually does his best as the Emperor of Valeria even if he never wanted to be one.
This was among the reasons why she had been bragging about him whenever she can.
She had been saying nothing but good things about him ever since the Assembly began.
And thankfully, people had begun to believe her words might be true after seeing Ferdinand be affectionate to her.
Even if Ferdinand didn’t mind being talked about as a bad and evil person, she does.
She didn’t want him to always be talked bad about sothing he was not.
He simply didn’t deserve such treatnt.
It’s not like he was a mass murderer.
He rely went to wars that were heavily discussed by his ministers before it was approved.
It’s true that Ferdinand may love being in duels but that doesn’t an he loved killing.
He loved fighting but not wars.
There was a huge difference between the two.
And everyone was misunderstanding it.
. . .
"Then, what’s with that look on your face?
Do you not like this outfit?
I can change it."
Arabella was lost in her thoughts that Ferdinand misunderstood.
"No, that’s not it.
You don’t have to change.
This outfit really suits you," Arabella quickly said before he decides to go back to his room and change.
He truly did look so much better than usual in this outfit.
"It does?" Ferdinand tilted his head and checked his clothes.
"Yes. You look so cool," she said and her husband looked elated to be praised a second ti today.
"Really? T-thank you," Ferdinand was embarrassed.
He checked his outfit and looked away with reddened ears when he t her gaze.
[She likes it.
Should I wear sothing like this more often then?]
Arabella giggled when she heard his thoughts.
It was nice to know even Ferdinand worried about the clothes that she liked on him.
She had been observing what he seed to prefer among her clothes and wore the sa style when she wanted to please him.
The sa was true in her previous life.
And maybe, Ferdinand did as well.
They rely did not know they were both thinking about each other.
Perhaps this was among the reasons why the gods gave her this ability to read minds.
She and Ferdinand, both loved each other back then but lack in communication, and even if they did talk, they misunderstood each other.
But with her ability this ti around, at least one of them could directly listen and know the other’s honest thoughts.
Both of them would not be misunderstanding things and could explain what was being misunderstood.
It helped so much in improving their relationship and steering their future.
Arabella couldn’t help but be grateful to whoever gave this ability to her.
. . .
King Neville announced his retirent a few days ago and Arabella’s father, now the new Representative of the Council, had begun to do his duties and responsibilities.
Due to this, as the Crown Prince, her older brother Benjamin was in charge of Lobelius from then on.
Their mother would remain in deus with their father.
Arabella realized that her brother might be crowned king earlier in this life.
No wonder she had been seeing him with the ladies.
He was preparing for marriage since it was part of the requirents once he becos king.
Arabella had been seeing Benjamin most often with a princess from Hazania. She might be getting a sister-in-law soon.
Strengthening their ties with Hazania through marriage was indeed a good option since they shared borders.
Among the reasons Arabella once thought her relationship with Andrew was feasible was because marrying him could further strengthen their ties with Lahar.
But now, she surmised one of her younger siblings would soday marry one of Andrew’s siblings instead and fulfill that role.
After all, Lobelius and Lahar’s relationship got nded during this Assembly so they would likely strengthen it with a marriage in the future.
. . .
Since it was the last day of the Assembly, announcents were made during the party.
And among these were marriage arrangents that were ford through socialization events held previously.
Julia was engaged to a duke from Reverio who was among the delegates that ca with King Icarus.
Arabella was happy for her since she knew that Duke was a good person from her past life. He was also the sa man Julia married and he treated her well.
On the other hand, Carlla was engaged to a prince from Loranne.
Arabella rather didn’t like the thought that Carlla would be her neighbor.
Valeria and Loranne shared borders so they would likely et in the future.
Arabella learned from Carlla’s thoughts that she had been delaying her own marriage so she could have fun.
But after the incident with Ferdinand, Carlla was pressured by her family to get married.
It was to prevent any friction between her and Arabella which could cause Valeria to distance themselves from their kingdom because of her actions.
anwhile, Lucille, Marisa, and Roxanne’s families had no announcents about their marriage yet.
And the most important announcent that everyone had been waiting for, was Ferdinand’s decision about the invitation to join the Council.
He had promised to announce it today, so the rulers were rather tense once it was ti for Ferdinand to say his decision.
Arabella’s father invited Ferdinand to the podium, and everyone turned silent.
Because Ferdinand was expressionless, they thought he would reject the invitation.
But instead, Ferdinand announced that he accepted the invitation to join the Council.
Everyone cheered at such a good piece of news.
With Valeria joining the Council, they could be confident that they had a chance to win against Griffith and Fynnia.
Ferdinand could take care of the West while Icarus could defend them in the North.
That was what most people there thought.
Arabella was probably the only one who was irritated after the announcent.
Everyone just wanted to use Ferdinand against Fynnia and Icarus against Griffith.
She knew the two were strong and powerful.
But fighting wars was not what their lives were all about nor was it their purpose.
They were not weapons for war but living beings.
Everyone was celebrating right now, but in case Ferdinand or Icarus was not as strong as they were or did not have their power and titles, most people here would likely abandon them.
These people would not even care about them.
Everyone was joyous right now because they had so use.
But once that use, that value was gone, would they still be treated the sa?
No, they wouldn’t.
It was a cruel truth.
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