Tell me Your Troubles

When night came, Ferdinand arrived to her room before Arabella could pretend to be asleep. She only managed to sit on the bed.

So he would not have any funny thoughts though, she yawned, lay down, and covered herself with the sheets to pretend she was too sleepy to notice him.

[She seems to be fine. But she was sobbing so much this morning. I thought she would tell me if I stayed with her for a bit but she didn't. We just ate fruits instead. Why didn't she tell me about her brother's condition? Is she hiding her troubles and emotions from me? Ah, that's right. She must still be scared of me. She even fed me a fruit earlier but she must not feel safe with me yet.]

Arabella raised a brow. She didn't understand what Ferdinand meant. All the letters she received said her brother was fine.

Just like her previous life, Benjamin also had a congratulatory letter addressed to her. It was her brother's handwriting so it couldn't have been faked.

"I sent my mage, Alwin, to go and heal your brother so I'm sure he would be fine. You do not have to worry anymore," Ferdinand said, and Arabella stared at him, wide-eyed.

'My brother is not well yet?!'

Alwin was Ferdinand's mage residing in the magic tower beside the palace. He was Ferdinand's ace, the best mage in the continent, or probably, the entire world.

In her previous life, Ferdinand sent Alwin alone on a very dangerous mission and the latter never came back. It was concluded Alwin died and failed the mission. The magic tower became empty since then and Arabella used it as her hideout.

[Why does she look so surprised? Did she think I would not help her family when they are in need? Our marriage is also an alliance. Of course, I would take care of her family too. And she was a sobbing about it so much earlier. I don't want her to keep sobbing in secret.]

"Uhm, what do you mean?" Arabella tilted her head.

"I receive reports from everywhere. You don't have to keep it from me," Ferdinand said and she was even more confused. She had to read his thoughts to understand.

[Is she still trying hide it? I sent Alwin to investigate what's going on in Lobelius for my wife to be sobbing so much. When Alwin teleported back before dinner, he reported there was an assassination attempt to her brother right before our wedding. It was probably to stop our marriage since the ceremony would not push through if any of her family members die. The culprits did not succeed, but Benjamin was seriously injured. He still haven't woken up since the assassination attempt. But surely, he would be well once Alwin heals him.]

Arabella paled. Everyone lied to her about her brother's condition. No wonder the letters of her maids seemed weird when they talked about her brother's wellbeing. Now that she thought about it, Aletha never mentioned a thing about her brother. She would have to ask her tomorrow.

'Is this also what happened in my previous life?!'

All this time, she thought her parents just left right after her wedding because Benjamin was so much more important to them. She had no clue it was an assassination attempt and her brother's life was in danger.

'Did Ferdinand also send Alwin then?!'

"Arabella, you are my wife now. You can tell me your troubles. I will do what I can to help you," Ferdinand held her hand and she flinched.

[She's still so scared of my touch. She needs to get used to me soon or else, everyone would notice we are not really consummating. I just barely shut up the nagging ministers by sleeping here in her chambers every night.]

"Thank you. I hope my brother gets well soon," Arabella managed a small smile.

She turned her back towards him so he wouldn't see the confusion in her eyes. She flinched when she felt him move closer. He wrapped an arm around her and held her hands tighter.

"Alwin is the best mage there is. Your brother will be fine. Sleep well and you will wake up to good news in the morning," Ferdinand assured her.

'Is he trying to comfort me? Don't tell me we are going to sleep just like this?'

She could feel Ferdinand's warm body against her back and her hands were in his. She almost forgot just how much larger his body was compared to hers. His hands were so huge and he pulled her to him like she didn't have any weight.

How is she going to sleep like this? She was already confused thinking about her brother and why everyone lied about his condition. And yet, Ferdinand just had to add to her troubles.

"It's too warm like this," Arabella lightly hit him with her elbow to let him know she was uncomfortable in his arms.

"You have to get used to my touch. If you keep flinching every time I touch you, everyone would notice we haven't slept together. You have to get used to this bit of touching and closeness," Ferdinand replied and pulled her even closer to him instead.

Arabella barely had any sleep that night as she thought about what was going on in this lifetime.

Ferdinand also kept thinking about perverted thoughts and inhaling her hair. He kept her in his arms all night.

His warmth weirdly didn't feel unwelcome though which only made her feel even more confused. Was it because she wasn't really new to his touch?

Arabella was only able to sleep after Ferdinand left her chambers at dawn to go hunting.

When she woke up in the morning, he was back to her bedside and he informed her Alwin has returned and her brother was fully healed and could go back to his daily activities.

"Thank you," Arabella sincerely bowed her head. Who would have thought she would sincerely thank Ferdinand for the second time?

"I am your husband. I will take care of you and your worries. Prepare for breakfast. I will be waiting for you in the dining hall," Ferdinand smiled at her and Arabella was so shocked she almost thought her third life flashed before her eyes to greet her.

It was the first time he smiled at her in this lifetime and the second smile she had ever seen on his face.

The first was the smile he gave her before he died in her arms. It still haunted her even now.

But Ferdinand just gave her a smile today. It was far too shocking. She thought either he, or her, was close to death.