Reborn As Noble

Javier kicked another small pebble down the path, watching it bounce twice across the cobblestones before disappearing near the rose bushes. His hands stayed in his pockets, thumbs hooked lazily as he walked with a light, almost impatient gait. The courtyard was quiet aside from the rhythmic splash of the fountain behind him.

The Pekko’s feathers were puffed to full, his orange chest gleaming in the morning sun. His curved beak tilted up in pride every time he passed in front of Javier, his posture high, like a decorated knight parading after a glorious conquest.

Javier squinted at him and chuckled. ”So you excited, huh, Buddy?”

”Cuquawked!!”

”Oh? You really enjoy going somewhere, huh?”

”Cuquawked!!” Buddy puffed again, completing a full loop around Javier before pausing dramatically and nodding once.

Javier snorted. ”Heh... let’s just hope no sudden drama ruins the day again.”

His eyes drifted toward the grand double doors of the estate.

Still closed.

He sighed.

”Where the hell are they...” he muttered, frowning slightly.

Erinnette had called both Liana and Gloria for something. That usually meant either training or a disciplinary check-in dressed up as a formal meeting.

”Damn, this is taking too long...” Javier mumbled as he made his way toward the edge of the fountain. He sat on the rounded rim, leaning back with his arms resting on the ledge behind him. One leg bent, the other dangling.

He tilted his head upward, letting the sun hit his face.

A breeze rolled past. Warm. Clear.

”Alright!” he declared with a grin, eyes gleaming. ”Today’s gonna be the best ever.”

He cracked his knuckles.

”Couldn’t wait to check on the cocoa farm... the only one in the world, baby. My sweet empire of chocolate.”

Buddy made a pleased squawked.

”And this time... no royal council trips, no monster alerts, no other duty. Just me, cocoa trees, and my chocolate processor machine sitting nice and safe inside my storage.”

He leaned forward, rubbing his hands together with mischievous delight.

”Hehehe... I’m gonna test it all today. Process that harvest stock, mix it with fresh Armand milk, sprinkle that white gold sugar from our own damn factories...”

He paused dramatically.

”And then... unleash it.”

”Cuquawked!”

Buddy squawked proudly in agreement, hopping once before shaking his wings with theatrical flair.

Javier chuckled, leaning back slightly with his elbows resting on the fountain’s edge. His eyes drifted toward the clear blue sky, but his thoughts had already flown far beyond, straight to the cocoa farm.

Acres of rich, fertile land stretched out in his mind, filled with the cacao trees nurtured over the years. Trees that now bore fruit—fat, ripe pods ready to be processed.

And sitting safely inside his magic storage?

The prototype cocoa-processing machine.

His own invention.

The first of its kind in the world.

No one else had it. No other kingdom even knew what chocolate truly was.

Javier closed his eyes for a moment.

The first proper cocoa harvest.

The first true taste of chocolate in this entire world.

He could already picture it. Liana’s calm, composed smile cracking as she blinked in surprise, her lips, parting at the taste. Gloria will be surprise as she tried to remain elegant while clearly savoring every bite.

Javier’s grin widened.

”Ehehe... they won’t even know what hit them,” he murmured, tapping his chin.

”Chocolate drinks... chocolate bars... chocolate cake...” He let out a satisfied hum. ”Might even start a noble dessert trend at this rate...”

Buddy let out a loud squawk, snapping him out of the daydream.

Javier smirked and turned to the Pekko. ”Alright, alright. You’ll get your share too. Don’t worry. You’re the first investor, after all.”

Buddy puffed his chest with pride.

Javier stretched his legs and glanced once again toward the estate’s grand entrance. Still closed. Still quiet.

He sighed. ”Seriously... what’s taking them so long? Don’t tell me Erinnette’s giving them another thirty-minute lecture about discipline and back posture again...”

Javier slumped back against the fountain, letting the morning sun warm his face and chest. His eyelids lowered slightly.

Then he felt it, He turned around slowly.

”WOAH!!” Javier nearly slipped off the fountain ledge. ”Damn! Don’t just suddenly appear behind me like that!”

Standing there, arms crossed, expression unreadable, was none other than... Kliatana.

Her elegant posture, her cold eyes, and that always perfectly straight back, she looked like she’d just stepped out of a royal portrait, minus the crown.

Javier blinked. ”You again? What do you want?”

Kliatana said nothing.

Instead, she raised her hand.

Palm open. Fingers spread.

Javier stared at it blankly, then slowly scratched the back of his head. ”...What? You want... gold?”

She narrowed her eyes. Slowly shook her head.

”...Jewelry? Mana crystal? Land?”

Another slow shake of the head.

Javier squinted at her, frowning.

”Do you think I can read minds or something?”

Kliatana tilted her head just slightly, letting out a small breath.

Then her gaze locked onto his. Cold. Sharp. Steady.

And her voice finally cut through the air.

”I’m asking you,” she said with quiet steel, ”for the payback.”

Javier raised an eyebrow. ”Payback? For what?”

She stepped forward once, lowering her hand, her tone unshaken.

”Don’t pretend you forget. You owe me your life.”

Javier let out a long, slow exhale. He rubbed his temple with one hand, annoyed. ”Of course I remember. Do you think I’m the type to forget a life debt?”

Kliatana didn’t respond.

She just stared.

Serious. Composed. Dead calm.

Javier met her gaze, unfazed.

”Alright then, Princess,” he said, lifting his chin with a hint of sarcasm. ”Do tell me, how exactly am I supposed to pay this debt?”

Kliatana looked to the side, her fingers fidgeting slightly.

The once confident, composed princess was now avoiding his eyes.

Javier raised an eyebrow, then sighed when he noticed how unusually cute she looked like that.

...Ah, here we go.

Then, in a soft, hesitant voice, Kliatana finally spoke.

”You know... I like....”

Javier immediately raised his hand, palm out.

”Stop. Right there.”

Kliatana froze mid-sentence, blinking.

”I don’t mind adding more girls to my harem,” Javier began casually, his tone flat but teasing, ”especially beauties and cuties. I mean, who wouldn’t? But...”

He tilted his head slightly, crossing his arms. ”I already promised Liana and Gloria I’d stop at six. If I add one more, I’ll never have peace again.”

He gave a small shrug. ”And I value my freedom too much to end up trapped between jealous girls.”

”So seriously, Kliatana. Don’t get me wrong. You’re stunning. And you’re kinda adorable when you act all shy like this. But...” He held up a single finger. ”You’re not really my type.”

A long silence followed.

Kliatana’s eyes slowly dulled, her expression blank.

( End Of Chapter )