CHAPTER 871: CHAPTER 871: IT WAS THE DRINKS

If she did, Ferdinand may also misunderstand.

She would not let him think she cried just because he did not sleep with her once.

After all, it was not the reason she cried.

It was just because she happened to recall things while Aletha was comforting her.

[Then why are both her eyes red? This is clearly from crying.]

Ferdinand cupped her cheek as he looked closely.

Before Ferdinand could question her maids, Arabella gestured for them to leave.

"Why are you here? Didn’t you leave already?"

Arabella redirected the topic and glanced at Ferdinand’s attire.

He had changed into a new robe and smelled like he had just gotten out of the bath.

His hair was not tied, but it was dry, probably with the hair-drying magic tools.

’Did he just go to the bath?’

Arabella had to wonder if she had mistaken his absence in her room as him already going to work.

’No. I certainly felt his presence far away, so I knew he had left. Did he return while I was having tea with everyone?’

Arabella concluded she must have been too absorbed in their conversation that she did not feel Ferdinand’s presence when he returned.

And it seems the first thing he did was go to the bath before returning to her room.

"There was something I needed to check immediately, so I left for a bit," Ferdinand clarified.

’Is this why he did not say goodbye? Because he fully planned to return?’

Arabella suddenly felt embarrassed by all the overthinking she did.

’I can never tell him about it!’

Arabella maintained her composure to hide her embarrassment.

"Was it something urgent? You should have stayed there if it’s something important," Arabella ensured the topic was away from her.

Likewise, she was curious what could have been so urgent that Ferdinand needed to leave.

If it was indeed something important, he should have stayed there instead of returning.

Still, deep inside, Arabella was glad he came back.

The woes of being royalty but in love with your spouse. There’s a constant battle between one’s feelings and what must be prioritized.

"Are you not happy? I’m back," Ferdinand said instead of answering her question.

"Of course, I am," Arabella pouted.

Ferdinand smiled and wrapped his arms around her in a tender hug.

[She would not be so frustrated about not finding me beside her if she felt otherwise. Hehe.]

"You heard us talking?!!" Arabella looked up right on time and managed to catch a delighted smirk on Ferdinand’s face.

He quickly changed into a neutral expression when she questioned him.

"I-I happened to overhear a bit as I was by the door. You were talking when I arrived, and I couldn’t interrupt," Ferdinand clarified.

"Really?" Arabella narrowed her eyes. "Then what was with your smirk?"

"I didn’t intend to eavesdrop. And I’m just delighted to know you would seek my presence upon waking up. I didn’t leave a letter since I fully thought you would still be asleep once I returned." Ferdinand quickly explained.

"Oh, so you planned to return before I wake up?"

"Yes. I won’t depart without a word," Ferdinand kissed the back of her hand.

[How could I when my lovely wife even cries because of it?]

"Excuse me, I didn’t cry just because I didn’t find you in bed!" Arabella corrected.

"..." Ferdinand remained silent and eyed her.

[She’s telling the truth. Still, she did seem frustrated about it. Then, did she cry because nothing happened last night?]

"No! It’s not at all because of that either!" Arabella quickly corrected once again.

"..."

[Then why is she reacting this strongly?]

"I just don’t want you to misunderstand. My maids already did and even tried to comfort me. I cried because they were so thoughtful and worried about me," Arabella talked more than she intended.

[I knew it! It must be why they were already having tea when it was still dark outside.]

"Arabella, you don’t have to hide how you feel. I am deeply sorry about last night. I promised a steamy night, and yet I-"

"I already told you I didn’t cry because of that! Ugh, why is nobody listening to me? I wouldn’t cry because of something like that. It was just-"

Arabella stopped when she looked at Ferdinand and saw his expression.

He looked like he felt so terrible about last night, so Arabella stopped talking and listened to him.

"I understand why you must be angry and hurt. I swear, I didn’t mean to fall asleep without doing anything," Ferdinand said in a regretful voice.

He cupped her face and continued, "Arabella, you know I love and desire you more than anything in this world. Last night was a fluke. I promise I will make up for it. Last night was because the drinks Alfredo gave me were a mix of potent, relaxing herbs from Estrella."

"Ah, did Alfredo overdo it with the drinks?" Arabella recalled Alfredo thinking about it when she asked him to give Ferdinand a relaxing drink.

"Yes. This is the first time in a while that he made it, so he made a mistake and made it too potent. I could not resist sleeping because of it," Ferdinand clarified.

"I see. I understand. You don’t have to worry about last night then." Arabella assured her husband.

She also knew the drinks must have worked too well because Ferdinand was truly exhausted.

Likewise, Arabella was relieved to know that it was not at all because Ferdinand was no longer as attracted to her as before.

"How can I not when you-"

"I already told you it’s not why I cried," Arabella cut it when he clearly was about to say she cried because of it. "As I have said earlier, it was because my maids were comforting me when they misunderstood. I was simply touched by their actions."

"Really?" Ferdinand gently caressed her cheeks with his thumbs as if wiping away tears that weren’t there.

"Yes."

"I see... Still, I am deeply sorry about last night."

[My elder knights already warned me about something like that happening as one ages. But I was so confident it would never happen to me. And yet, I failed to perform when I promised her a long night.]

Ferdinand was still visibly bothered by it.