CHAPTER 1039: CHAPTER 1039: HE HAS SPIES

"Then, Your Holiness interrogated the prisoners here using it?!" Arabella hoped he got a clue about the culprits.

If he had not revealed it in the meeting earlier, maybe she could at least hear his thoughts.

Now that she was sure he could not read her mind right now, Arabella had more leeway in her thoughts.

Ever since he mentioned getting a peek of what was in her mind when she was a child, she did not dare think of important things that could be revealed to him due to her thoughts.

Now, she at least understood how his skill works and it’s different from hers, which was always active and worked on the long-lived races.

"I did. But it did not yield fruitful results.

No one knew about the person who spoke with the Former Queen aside from her magician, who had already killed himself.

As for the Queen, she had gone insane, and she usually delegated the task to her magician.

All I had was a glimpse of her speaking to hooded figures, and she could not even recall their voice or what they talked about.

They had also used spells to hide their faces," Pope Elsevier sighed deeply, clearly disappointed with the result of the interrogation.

"I see. But at least we know from this that there’s more than one of those hooded figures who know about necromancy and the anti-magic weapons," Arabella tried to cheer him up.

"Yes, indeed. And they may only be assistants of the main culprit. The schemer must have never shown himself or herself to the Queen, so she does not even have a clue of their identity," Pope Elsevier surmised.

They both sighed deeply as they thought of the possibility of more enemies to deal with. They took a sip of their tea and remained in silent contemplation for a few seconds before the Pope finally spoke again.

"Ah, right. We almost got sidetracked. Let’s talk about why I asked for this meeting," Pope Elsevier redirected them to their original topic. "I’m sure you do understand by now that I only wanted to ensure you are not being forced or brainwashed to accept the long-lived races and be a mate who will retire in Estrella, right?’

’’Yes, I am not. This is my choice.

Ferdinand and everyone else are treating me well, and I don’t think they would use such methods on me.

I was not forced or anything to make these decisions.

Ferdinand wants me to be with him, but he also ensures I am not saying yes just because he wants me to.

He thinks about how I truly feel and what I want to do.

We did have a lot of misunderstandings and assumptions about each other in the past, but we are communicating more openly now and correcting our mistakes.

So far, our relationship has improved by leaps and bounds, and I trust him and his people enough to go with him to Estrella.

No one forced me to do so,’’ Arabella promised.

’’I see. If that’s the case, then I don’t need to do anything.

But in case you need help or you change your mind, you can always contact me.

Use the ring I gave you last time. You still have it, right?’’ Pope Elsevier glanced at her fingers that did not have the ring he had gifted her.

’’Yes, I still have it. It is safely kept in my room. Once again, I am deeply grateful for Your Holiness checking in on how I was doing,’’ Arabella thanked the Pope wholeheartedly.

It was nice to have someone who cared, whether she was forced into any of this or not.

"Now then, I’d like to talk about the Prime Minister’s wife next,’’ Pope Elsevier said, and Arabella was surprised.

"Clarisse?"

’Why would he want to speak with Clarisse? Is it also because she’s a mate of a dragon?’

"Yes. Lady Clarisse Ryvaleh, now Reginald as per the way Valeria does things,’’ Pope Elsevier replied. He knew it was a fake family name since Raymond was not truly a Reginald.

"What is that your Holiness wishes to know about her?’’ Arabella inquired.

"I heard she’s pregnant with their third child,’’ Pope said, and Arabella gulped.

’Did he hear about this because of the announcement Raymond and Clarisse had to make because of the cheating rumors?’

It was at the time Ferdinand was away, and people thought there was something going on with Raymond and Arabella because they were seen together several times. It was a misunderstanding, though.

Because of it, Raymond decided to reveal the truth about Clarisse’s pregnancy so people would stop making wild rumors that could cause problems for all of them and unnecessary stress for Clarisse.

Thankfully, the rumors died down, but people concluded Arabella was having her harem through her assistants instead because Ferdinand ’neglected her’ by going to another location shortly after their wedding. People simply go to their own conclusions at times.

"And I heard it was a difficult pregnancy this time," Pope Elsevier added.

’Eh? I don’t think it was ever revealed publicly that her pregnancy is difficult this time around. They only announced that Clarisse is taking a break from social events to focus on her pregnancy. So how does the Pope know about this? And Clarisse stayed home without showing herself to the public once her belly grew. Does this mean he has a spy in their residence?!’ Arabella was astounded as she thought about this.

Raymond said they carefully chose their maids and butlers and everyone who worked for them.

Arabella had been there as well and had met some of their maids and butlers.

All the ones she had met so far were loyal to Clarisse or Raymond. If the Pope had a spy there, it may be someone from the maids and butlers she had not met.

"I can tell what you are suspecting. I do not have a spy on the couple. But rumors spread no matter how much you guard a secret, especially with someone like Lady Clarisse, who was the center of nobility’s social events in Valeria before Your Majesty’s marriage,’’ Pope Elsevier said.

"Haha. I thought Your Holiness was not peeking at my mind?’’ Arabella jested.