Reborn As Noble

Javier woke with a start, blinking as sunlight streamed through the curtains. A glance at the clock revealed it was already afternoon. No one had woken him up today?

”Hmmm?” he muttered, stretching lazily. ”Maybe Liana’s busy or letting me sleep in today. Ehehe.”

He yawned and rolled out of bed, rushing to the bathroom for a quick shower. After refreshing himself, he pulled on his casual clothes.

Heading to the dining room, he expected to see Liana, but the room was empty.

”Hmm?” Javier tilted his head, puzzled. He made his way to the kitchen. ”Uh, Chef! My lunch, please! A lot of meat.”

”Of course, young master,” came the swift reply from the kitchen.

Javier plopped down at the table, eagerly waiting for his meal. It wasn’t long before a household maid arrived with the food.

”Hmm? Where’s Liana?” he asked, looking around.

”I haven’t seen her today,young master” the maid replied with a polite smile.

”Oh... well, no matter.” Javier grinned, digging into his meal. The plates piled high with meat were just how he liked it, and he was determined to enjoy every bite. His mind briefly wandered back to Liana, but for now, he was content.

The day felt a little different, but he brushed it off as just another strange, peaceful moment. Still, a nagging feeling lingered in the back of his mind, though he couldn’t quite place it.

After finishing his lunch, Javier dashed out of the manor, heading straight to the Pekko pen. His excitement grew at the thought of spending time with Buddy and Pikko.

When he arrived, he saw Buddy and Pikko outside the pen, pecking at the ground. Their bright feathers shimmered in the sunlight, but their movements seemed sluggish.

Experience more content on freewebnovel

”Hmm?” Javier frowned, walking closer. The trough was empty, and the water bucket hadn’t been refilled.

”Why’s there no food? And the water hasn’t been changed either?” he muttered, scratching his head in confusion. Shrugging it off, he decided, ”Well, whatever. I’ll take care of it!”

Grabbing the food sack, Javier filled the trough with feed and replaced the water.

”Buddy! Pikko! Food’s ready!”

Both Pekkos perked up at the sight of the food and rushed over. They began eating.

”Look at you two! You’re acting like you haven’t eaten in days,” he said with a grin. But then his smile faded slightly. ”Wait... why do you look so starved? Liana always makes sure you’re fed.”

Something felt off, but he couldn’t quite place it. Shaking the thought away, he patted Buddy and Pikko on their beak.

”Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you guys,”

Javier stood near the Pekko pen, hands on his hips and a playful grin on his face. ”Now… where’s Liana? How dare she ignore Buddy and her own Pikko? Today, I’m going to scold her. Ehehe…”

He glanced around the estate grounds. ”Hmm? Where is she?” His grin faltered slightly. ”Liaaanaaa!” he called out, his voice carrying through the yard.

No response.

Javier’s brow furrowed. ”Weird… Lianaaaaa?” He tried again, louder this time, but the silence that followed felt unsettling.

Javier dashed inside the manor. His first stop was the kitchen, where Marita and a few other household maids were busy with their chores.

”Hey, Marita, have you seen Liana?” Javier asked, impatience creeping into his voice.

Marita shook her head. ”I haven’t seen her, young master.”

Javier muttered a soft ”Hmm...” under his breath and moved toward the courtyard. Only the guards were there, patrolling as usual.

Something didn’t feel right. ”Liana never leaves without telling me,” he murmured. Standing still for a moment, he closed his eyes and activated his tracking skill, expanding his senses across the estate.

Nothing.

”Ehh?” Javier’s eyes snapped open in disbelief. ”She’s... not here?”

His heart sank. Liana’s absence was more than just unusual—it felt wrong. For the first time, panic flickered in his chest as the realization dawned.

Javier’s heart raced as he darted around the estate, calling out frantically, ”Where’s Liana?! Liana!!”

He came across a few household maids in the hallway. ”You!” he pointed at one of them, catching his breath. ”Where’s Gloria? I need to ask her something.”

One of the maids hesitated before responding, ”Miss Gloria is accompanying Lady Francesca to town, young master.”

”Fine, then where’s Liana?!” he demanded, urgency lacing his voice.

The maids exchanged uncertain glances. ”Uhh…”

Javier narrowed his eyes. ”What’s wrong? Tell me.”

Finally, one of the maids spoke up, her voice hesitant. ”You… you didn’t know, young master?”

”Know what?” Javier’s gut tightened, sensing the gravity of her words.

”She… she was dismissed…”

Before the maid could say more, Javier’s world spun. ”Dismissed?!”

Without waiting for further explanation, he bolted down the hallway, panic and confuse. ”Liana! Lianaaaa!!!” His voice echoed through the manor as he searched every corner, refusing to believe what he had just heard.

The maid behind him tried to continue, ”as your personal maid and… Young master?!” But Javier was already gone, his desperate cries reverberating through the estate.

”Liana! Lianaaaaa!!” Javier’s voice cracked as he sprinted through the estate, his heart pounding. He searched every hallway, every room, every corner, refusing to stop.

”No… no… this can’t be happening,” he whispered, trembling. His mind swirled with confusion and denial.

”Why? Why would she be dismissed? She’s always been by my side! No… no… noooo!” His fists clenched as he stormed through the corridors, his frantic steps echoing in the empty grand manor.

Every memory of Liana flooded his mind—the warmth of her smile, her gentle scoldings, the way she always made him feel safe. The thought of losing her sent a sharp, unbearable ache through his chest.

He burst into the courtyard, scanning the grounds desperately. The guards looked puzzled at the young master’s distress.

”Where is she?!” Javier shouted, his voice heavy with despair.

But no answer came. Only silence.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a somber glow across the estate, Javier sat perched on a sturdy tree branch beside the Pekko pen. The quiet chirping of crickets and the rustling of leaves were the only sounds breaking the stillness of the night.

Tears streaked his face as he hugged his knees, his usual confidence shattered. He sniffled, his eyes glistening with anguish as he stared at the faint moonlight reflecting off the water trough below.

”She’s leaving me…” Javier’s voice cracked, barely above a whisper.

He wiped his eyes with his sleeve, but the tears kept flowing. The thought of Liana, far away in a distant land, was unbearable. She had been his rock, his comfort, his everything.

”Why didn’t she tell me? Why didn’t anyone tell me?” he muttered, bitterness and sorrow mixing in his voice. The maid’s words echoed in his mind, cutting deeper each time.

The Pekkos, Buddy and Pikko, pecked softly at the ground below, occasionally glancing up at their young master as if sensing his despair. Pikko let out a soft coo, and Buddy nudged the tree trunk with its beak, but neither could bring him comfort.

”I should’ve noticed… I should’ve stopped it… but now…” Javier buried his face in his arms, his shoulders trembling as he let grief wash over him. ”Now it’s too late…”

The night stretched on, and Javier remained there, lost in his thoughts, feeling an emptiness he hadn’t known was possible.

( End of Chapter )