[Why do I have to wait anyway? I am her husband. That lady is just a maid. It's obvious whose more important. Should I barge in and pretend not to know the maid was inside?]
Arabella grimaced at the door upon hearing such selfish thoughts. Her husband was as entitled as he used to. Just because he is her husband doesn't mean she had to speak with him first in situations like this.
Aletha had come from afar and this was the first time they meet since Arabella left Lobelius to marry him. Couldn't he even consider those?
But then again, he hated waiting even in her previous life.
"What's wrong, Milady?" Aletha followed her gaze.
"Nothing. I just recalled something," Arabella tried to hide her displeasure.
[But Arabella seems to like this maid for them to be talking this long. Would she be angry if I disturb them?]
'You are already disturbing us!' She wanted to scream at him.
"Aletha, the long journey must have been exhausting. Go and rest first. Let's continue to talk later," she dismissed Aletha since she could not concentrate on their conversation anyway if she keeps hearing Ferdinand grumble about why a maid was taking so much of her time.
Ferdinand might lose his patience soon and just kick Aletha out. Worst yet, he might just kill Aletha if his mood gets darker.
Arabella could perfectly recall he had killed some of their servants just because he was in a bad mood.
She couldn't risk it. She only just met Aletha after twenty-two long years. She could not possibly lose her just because her husband was irritable.
[I have to hide!] Ferdinand thought as Aletha opened the door to leave. [Huh? Why am I hiding? I am the Emperor. This is my empire. This is my palace. Why shouldn't I be here?]
Arabella sighed and walked to the door just as Ferdinand showed himself and pretended to have just arrived.
[His Majesty is acting weird. If he wanted to enter he could have gone in right from the start. Now he hid but revealed himself again anyway. Did he eat something wrong today? He had been stalking Her Majesty since earlier.]
The knight guarding her door pretended not to know anything and maintained a poker face despite how he thought his lord was acting weird.
Arabella wanted to reward him since she almost laughed because of his reaction. She smiled at the guard, and yet, he flinched instead.
[Please don't smile at me right in front of His Majesty! What should I do? His Majesty might kill me today!] The knight was alarmed.
'What?! Is Ferdinand like that? Isn't this knight one of his most trusted people? Would he kill him just because I smiled at him?'
Arabella was shocked. This knight guarded her for a long time in her previous life. His name was Rendell. He was a knight who didn't talk much and just followed her around silently and soundlessly.
In her previous life, he was her guard for thirteen years until she had him transferred to another post because she didn't want him to get implicated by her crimes.
It was because in the case she got caught, Rendell would be punished with her for not being able to see through her secret activities. She didn't want that to happen since he had been so good to her.
Now that she met him again, Arabella honestly wanted to thank him for his years of service to her. She learned after having him as her guard for thirteen years that he was a famed knight known for his strength in the battlefield.
Rendell was called the 'Savage Hunter' due to how he never let go of his prey or 'Black Wolf' because of his black hair and eyes.
None of Rendell's enemies live because he always goes for the carnage unless the Emperor says otherwise. He was one of her husband's most trusted people which was why he was assigned to guard her to ensure she doesn't run away.
And now that she could hear thoughts, Arabella rather liked Rendell as her guard even more because his thoughts were usually empty. He doesn't fret about every little thing or wonder about anything. He doesn't disturb her the way others do with their thoughts.
Moreover, Rendell could sleep while standing so he was usually asleep while guarding her door. But he wakes up the in slightest sound so he never gets caught. A truly amazing fit that Arabella could not understand. She only learned he does it from his thoughts.
It was quite hard for Arabella to believe her husband would recklessly kill Rendell. Because as far as she knew, if there was something Ferdinand treasured, it was his knights. They were the ones who keep his power and reign undefeated, after all.
And yet, Rendell had turned so pale as if his lord would truly kill him.
[This is the first time I see her smile with such mirth in her eyes. Since when was she close to Rendell? Is this bastard making a move on my wife? He seems eager to die. I have to spar with him later.]
"Dear, are you here for me?" Arabella grabbed Ferdinand's hand and held it in both of hers, trying to distract him.
". . ."
[D-dear?!] Ferdinand stared at her. [Her hands feel so soft and tender. This is the first time she reached out to me.]
Arabella internally chuckled evilly. If her wiles keep working on Ferdinand like this, she might just survive for a long time.
"Thank you for allowing me to get one of my maids here," she beamed at him. She gave a bright smile for Ferdinand to forget the smile she gave to Rendell. She was indeed happy to have Aletha with her after all.
[She's smiling brighter than before. Does she always smile like this when she's happy? Does this mean she prefers me over Rendell?]
Arabella wanted to make a face at how her husband went to such conclusions. She still managed to maintain a smiling face though to ensure Ferdinand keeps misunderstanding.