Reborn As Noble

Javier strolled happily along the road, sitting on Buddy’s strong back. There was no need to hurry. He hummed a cheerful tune, swaying to the rhythm of his own song. Buddy matched his energy, squawking melodically and walking with a proud bounce.

Buddy’s strut was quite a sight—his sturdy legs marched as if to say, ”I own this road!” His chest was puffed out, and his head bobbed with each step. Occasionally, he tilted his beak up, showing off his new scarf, which made the guards behind them chuckle.

Behind them, Liana followed on Pikko, her expression a mix of fondness and exasperation. She sat up straight on her mount, but sometimes she sighed at the young master’s antics.

Further back, Gloria and the other maids rode properly, keeping a good formation while the guards rode protectively next to them.

”Liana?” Javier called out, breaking the peaceful silence of their ride.

”Yes, Young Master?” she replied, her voice calm but with a hint of suspicion.

”How far is the town from the estate?”

”About two or three hours by carriage,” she said matter-of-factly.

”Eeehhhh?! That far?” Javier groaned, slumping over Buddy’s neck dramatically.

”Yes, Young Master,” Liana said with a small smirk, clearly enjoying his overreaction.

”Hmmm…” Javier sat back up, scratching his chin as if trying to think of a way to make the journey shorter. Just then, he spotted a small group of guards on horseback riding toward them.

The lead guard tipped his helmet respectfully as they got closer. ”Ah! Good day, Miss Liana, Miss Gloria!”

Liana nodded politely. ”Good day. How is the patrol?”

”Quiet so far, Miss Liana. And who might this young gentleman be?” the guard asked, glancing at Javier and Buddy.

Javier puffed out his chest proudly. ”I’m Javier De Armand, Count Garius’s youngest son!”

Buddy, sensing that he should show off too, squawked loudly and puffed out his chest, strutting in place.

The guards exchanged amused glances, clearly entertained. One of them whispered, ”That bird’s got a weird attitude.”

As the guards saluted and rode on, Javier continued his stroll, humming a triumphant tune while Buddy marched forward with his usual swagger.

As they continued down the road, Javier’s eyes wandered and spotted a familiar path that led to a small village he used to sneak out to visit. A flood of memories rushed back, but this time, he didn’t need to take a detour—his goal was the town.

Still, impatience bubbled inside him. The sooner they reached the town, the better. His excitement was almost overwhelming.

Javier leaned forward on Buddy’s neck, his grin turning mischievous. With a conspiratorial whisper, he said, ”Buddy... let’s dash down the road.”

Buddy squawked in agreement, his smug face lighting up with excitement. His beady eyes seemed to sparkle like a mastermind planning some fun.

Javier turned his head slightly and cast a sly grin back at the group behind him. His eyes glinted with mischief, and a soft chuckle escaped his lips.

Liana, always watchful, narrowed her eyes. Her instincts told her that trouble was coming. ”Don’t you dare, Young Master,” she warned sharply.

But as she watched, her suspicion turned to exasperation. Javier whispered to Buddy again, his grin getting bigger. Most ridiculously, Buddy’s expression changed too. The pekko’s beak curved as if forming a sneaky smile, and his head bobbed slightly.

”Is it just me,” Liana muttered to herself, ”or is that bird scheming with him?”

Liana sighed deeply, gripping Pikko’s reins tighter and preparing for the chaos she knew was coming.

Liana’s sharp gaze locked onto Javier as he whispered yet another secret command to Buddy. His sly grin was impossible to miss, and Buddy’s smug squawk made it clear trouble was coming. She could sense the chaos brewing even before it began.

With a sigh, Liana turned to Miss Gloria. ”Miss Gloria, be prepared.”

Gloria, always calm and composed, gave a small smile. ”Yes, Miss Liana. But you do realize that horses aren’t as fast as pekkos.”

”I know,” Liana replied firmly, her eyes still on the young master and his mischievous mount. ”I’ll chase him. Just make sure everyone else arrives safely at the town.”

Gloria nodded. ”Understood, Miss Liana.”

As Liana tightened her grip on Pikko’s reins, her determination was clear. She knew Javier well enough to anticipate what would happen next. Turning her gaze back, she saw him leaning forward, whispering into Buddy’s ear like a partner in crime.

That sly grin of his… and Buddy’s equally smug expression—it was as if they were sharing a secret.

Liana narrowed her eyes. ”Not on my watch,” she muttered, already gearing up to spring into action.

Buddy’s pace quickened, and the oversized bird let out an excited squawk, drooling slightly in anticipation.

Then, with a sudden burst of energy, Buddy dashed forward, kicking up a cloud of dust behind him.

”I’m going first, Lianaaaa!! Hahahahaha!” Javier’s laughter echoed as he disappeared down the road.

”Guhhhhh! Young Masterrrrrr!!!” Liana shouted, her voice a mix of frustration and panic.

Miss Gloria, ever composed, simply smiled as she watched the spectacle unfold. ”Now, now, Miss Liana, go chase the young master.”

”I’m going first, Miss Gloria!” Liana snapped, her composure slipping just a bit as she gripped Pikko’s reins tightly. ”Pikko! Chase them!”

Pikko squawked in response, flapping its wings once before launching forward with impressive speed. The ground blurred beneath them as Liana leaned forward, urging her mount to go faster.

”Young Masterrrrr!!!!” she called out, her voice nearly drowned out by the rush of wind and Buddy’s excited squawks.

Javier, completely absorbed in the thrill of his little adventure, was blissfully unaware of the chaos he was causing behind him. Buddy, matching his excitement, maintained the pace, leaving Liana and Pikko struggling to close the gap.

”Keeeeeehaaaaa!!! This is funnn!!!” Javier shouted, his voice filled with exhilaration as Buddy dashed forward, the wind whipping past them.

Buddy squawked loudly, clearly sharing in Javier’s enthusiasm. But as they picked up even more speed, drool began to trail from the pekko’s large beak, splattering in the wind behind them.

”Ewwww!! Buddy!! The drool!!” Javier exclaimed, leaning slightly to the side to avoid getting hit by the spray.

Unfazed by his rider’s protest, Buddy let out a gleeful squawk and surged ahead even faster, his legs a blur beneath him.

”Seriously, Buddy, control yourself!” Javier grumbled, trying to wipe his sleeve clean while still hanging on. Despite the mess, laughter bubbled up inside him; this was all part of the adventure.

Behind them, Liana was rapidly closing in on Pikko. ”Young Master! Slow down! This is dangerous!” she shouted, her voice cutting through the rush of wind.

”Not a chance!” Javier yelled back, a cheeky grin on his face as he clutched Buddy tighter. ”see you at the town, Lianaaa!”

Buddy squawked again, as if challenging Pikko to try and catch up, leaving a chaotic trail of dust and drool behind them. The thrill of the chase hung in the air, mixing excitement with Liana’s growing concern.

”Pikko! Don’t lose them!” Liana urged, gripping the reins tightly as Pikko flapped its wings determinedly.

Pikko squawked in response, putting its strength into the chase as it surged forward, agile and fast. The wind ruffled Liana’s hair as they picked up speed, and she leaned low over her mount, urging it to go even faster.

”Come on, Pikko! We can’t let Buddy and that troublemaker get too far ahead!” she encouraged, her voice a mix of urgency and excitement.

Pikko flapped its wings vigorously, its determination palpable. It dodged around loose stones and bumps in the road, trying to close the gap between them and Javier, who was still laughing and reveling in the thrill of the ride.

”Faster, Pikko! We’ve got to catch them before they get into real trouble!” Liana shouted, feeling a rush of adrenaline as they raced down the road. The chase was on, and she was determined not to let Javier pull any stunts that would get him into trouble.

( End of Chapter )