Reborn As Noble

Meanwhile, further down the line, Javier cast a sly side-eye toward Liana, who rode beside him on her Pekko.

She sighed, leaning closer on Pikko’s saddle, her whisper sharp but quiet.

”Don’t even think about it, Young Master.”

”What?” Javier hissed back with a smirk. ”I didn’t say anything yet.”

”Young Master...” her tone was low, her eyes narrowing.

”...I’ve been with you far too long. I know that look.”

He blinked innocently. ”What look?”

”That look that always comes right before you sneak out.”

Javier opened his mouth to protest, but before he could.

”Javier.”

The calm weight of his father’s voice carried from the front, carried easily over the thunder of Pekko talons against the road.

”Y–Yes, Esteem Father?”

Without glancing back, Garius spoke, his tone smooth and deliberate.

”Go. Sightsee this area. Enjoy your date with Liana.”

”R–Really, Father?”

”Yes,” Garius replied evenly. ”But do not forget to return before the council begins. And... if you can, fetch one of the fruits from the merchant I paid earlier. Only one, the small ones.”

Javier’s smirk curled wider, the mischief leaking through no matter how much he tried to hide it. He straightened his back.

”As you wish, Esteem Father.”

Once Garius rode on ahead with Alf, Erinnette, Hesbeirn, the soldiers, and Javier’s brothers, the sound of talons and armor fading into the distance, Javier’s smirk finally broke free.

”Liana.”

”Yes, Young Master?” she asked, her tone wary, already sensing trouble.

Javier leaned slightly toward her, his voice low but playful.

”It seems like my father,” he tapped his chest with mock pride, ”wants to eat the fruit he paid for earlier. Maybe even look at what else the merchant had. But... it looks like someone already stole it. And you know how Father feels about thieves.”

Her brows drew together. ”How do you know that, Young Master?”

He chuckled softly, as if she’d missed the obvious.

”Ah? You didn’t notice? Father practically handed me the mission when he spoke. ’Fetch the fruit’, that wasn’t just a request. That was his way of telling me he already knew something was wrong.”

Liana’s lips parted slightly, her expression softening as she thought back to Garius’s calm words. Then she sighed, pressing a hand to her forehead.

”So instead of letting other deal with it, he sends you.”

Javier grinned, tapping his nose. ”Exactly. A test, Liana. A lesson. And maybe...” his smirk widened, ”...a date.”

Her cheeks warmed despite herself, though she quickly masked it with a stern look.

”Young Master... you’re impossible.”

”Ehehe, guilty.”

Javier leaned sideways, lowering his voice as his eyes slid toward the big orange-feathered Pekko trotting beside them.

”Buddy~” he whispered, smirk tugging at his lips.

Buddy tilted his head, one wide eye glinting mischievously. His beak curved almost like a grin.

”Cuquawked!?”

Javier chuckled. ”You know... I bet those greedy nobles have plenty stashed in their carriages. No noble ever travels without food and drink for their fat bellies, right?”

Buddy fluffed his feathers, wings twitching with excitement.

”Cuquawked!!!!”

Javier’s grin widened.

”Heh, I knew it. But listen carefully, you birdy thief... the ones Father already paid for? Don’t touch them. If you so much as peck at those crates, Giddie will make sure neither of us escape alive.”

Buddy froze, his feathers deflating instantly. His head drooped, and with a pitiful squawk.

Liana sighed, shaking her head, though a tiny smile curved at her lips.

”Young Master... even your Pekko shares your mischievous streak.”

Javier smirked, patting Buddy’s neck. ”Of course. He’s my partner, you know?”

Buddy puffed his chest proudly at that, his earlier sulk forgotten.

”Cuquuawked!”

”Pikko~,” Javier leaned sideways while still riding Buddy, his lips curling into a sly grin.

The silver-orange Pekko lifted her head with quiet dignity, eyes flicking toward him.

”Today you can enjoy your day with Buddy here, there are a lot of carriage wheels waiting to be kicked today.”

Pikko blinked once, slow and graceful, but the faint twitch of her tail feathers betrayed her interest.

”And,” Javier added, lowering his voice further,

”you know you can scare away those horses of theirs. One sharp kick from you, and they’ll scatter like frightened chickens.”

Buddy puffed up, feathers bristling with excitement.

”Cuquaaawk!”

Pikko turned her head slightly, as if giving the excitable Pekko a patient, noble look, but her wings flexed just enough to show she wasn’t entirely opposed to the idea.

Liana’s sigh was long and sharp, her hand pressing to her temple.

”Young Master... must you really turn every outing into sabotage?”

Javier chuckled, brushing a hand through his hair with mock grandeur. ”Sabotage? No, no. This is called... civic correction. Think of it as fate teaching spoiled nobles that their horses should behave.”

Buddy bobbed his head wildly in agreement, while Pikko gave the tiniest approving cluck that made Liana pinch her brow even harder.

”Alright... let’s stop here, Buddy.” Javier tugged the reins lightly, slowing his Pekko. He leaned closer, lowering his voice like he was telling a grand secret.

”Let me and Liana have a date, walking around like normal people.”

Buddy tilted his head, one eye gleaming with mischief.

”You and Pikko go enjoy yourselves,” Javier continued, his grin widening. ”If they start shouting...” He wagged a finger playfully. ”...well, you both know what to do when we come closer~”

”Cuquaaaawk!!” Buddy flapped his wings with violent enthusiasm, almost as if he’d been waiting all day for this exact permission.

Pikko, ever more graceful, only clicked her beak softly, lowering her head with a calm, noble poise.

Liana, riding beside him, pressed her palm to her forehead.

”Young Master... I feel like I’m about to spend this entire ’date’ apologizing to merchants, guards, and horses alike.”

Javier only smirked, eyes gleaming with mischief.

”Apologizing? No, no. You’ll be thanking me later. After all, what’s a date without a little excitement?”

Liana exhaled softly, her palm still resting on her forehead.

Another trouble... another mischief from Young Master. Even if it was Lord Garius’s order, I’ll have to find the right words to smooth things over. Apologies, even if only pretended, whatever it takes to keep the Armand household’s name untarnished.

( End Of Chapter )