Reborn As Noble

”Yes, Princess Athine. We will inform Prince Javier of the design you’ve chosen,” Liana said with a soft, composed smile, bowing slightly with her palm resting over her left chest.

”If you’ll excuse us, Princess Athine. Prince Aelius,” Gloria followed, mirroring the bow with practiced grace.

Athine smiled gently, crossing her legs as she lifted a hand to tuck a strand of hair neatly behind her ear.

”You two don’t need to be that formal, you know. Since you’re both confirmed to be my little brother’s future wives, that already makes us sisters-in-law, doesn’t it?”

Liana and Gloria exchanged a brief glance before bowing once more.

”Thank you, Princess Athine,” Liana replied calmly, ”but until the marriage is properly sealed, we must still follow the household rules. We remain Prince Javier’s personal maids, and it is our duty to uphold Armand’s etiquette.”

Gloria nodded in agreement. ”We ask for your understanding.”

Athine’s smile softened. ”Of course.”

Liana and Gloria stepped back three measured steps, turned in unison, and left the room.

After leaving the room.

They walked side by side down the corridor.

”Second wife?” Liana asked quietly, glancing toward Gloria.

”Yes, first wife,” Gloria replied with a gentle smile, meeting her gaze.

Liana smiled back.

”Let’s find Young Master and inform him which design his sister chose.”

”I wonder where he could be?” Gloria asked softly as they walked, her gaze sweeping the corridor ahead.

”Usually his room, the pekko pen, or the workshop near it,” Liana replied. ”Those are the places he usually goes. Knowing our future husband, im sure he will be around.”

They turned down the familiar corridor toward Javier’s room.

Before they reached the door, they noticed Felicia, Mimi, and Delya standing outside.

”Hmm? Felicia?” Liana tilted her head slightly. ”Why aren’t you going in?”

Felicia crossed her arms lightly. ”Husband isn’t inside.”

”Mmm. Danna-sama isn’t in his room,” Delya added with a small nod.

”Nya... where’d he wander off to this time?” Mimi muttered, tail swaying lazily as she glanced left and right.

Liana thought for a moment. ”We passed His Majesty King Garius’s private chamber earlier. If their meeting has already ended, then he wouldn’t be there anymore.”

Felicia nodded. ”That narrows it down.”

”How about his workshop?” Gloria suggested. ”Or the courtyard. We all know Buddy never leaves his side when he outside.”

”Yes,” Liana agreed. ”And His Majesty already ordered all princes to remain within the Armand estate during the celebration month.”

”Which means,” Gloria concluded gently, ”Young Master must still be somewhere inside Armand.”

Liana nodded. ”Let’s check the workshop first.”

They walked together and stepped out of the manor.

”By the way, Felicia? Mimi?” Liana asked as they walked, glancing toward them. ”Did you both meet your families at the guesthouse?”

Felicia nodded lightly. ”We did. Father already has a hangover from yesterday.”

Mimi snickered. ”He drank too much again, nya~.”

Felicia sighed. ”Mother is with Queen Francesca. I don’t know what they’re discussing.”

Gloria then turned her gaze to Delya. ”And you, Delya?”

”My brother?” Delya tilted her head slightly. ”He also has a hangover, from drinking with King Garius. But he did meet me. Well... he was just being himself.” She smiled faintly.

”My sister-in-law is with Queen Francesca too.”

”Oh...” Gloria smiled knowingly, adjusting her glasses.

They reached the pekko pen, but Javier wasn’t there.

”Strange,” Liana murmured. ”He’s not here either.”

They moved on to the personal workshop. Liana opened the door.

”...Weird,” she said, glancing around. ”Where did Young Master go?”

Her eyes shifted to the pekko resting area.

Buddy was missing. Pikko, Peanut, and the other pekko were there, watching curiously.

”Pikko?” Liana called gently.

Pikko turned her head.

”Cuquawk?”

”Where’s Buddy?”

”Cuquawk!”

(He was here a moment ago.)

”...Where did he go?”

”Cuquawk.”

(Don’t know.)

Liana smiled softly and caressed Pikko’s neck, then closed her eyes.

A faint ripple spread outward as she activated her mana-tracing skill.

”...Hmm?” Liana murmured. ”What is Buddy doing all the way over there?”

Gloria noticed the shift. ”Liana?”

”I can feel Buddy’s mana,” Liana said, opening her eyes. ”He’s at the far end of the estate. Near the back hill... close to the stream.”

”...Did young master go there?” Gloria asked softly.

”Most likely,” Liana said. ”I can’t detect his mana directly, but Buddy never leaves his side when he’s outside.”

She looked toward the distant hill.

”So... young master should be nearby.”

Meanwhile.

In the small clearing by the stream.

Javier was lost in his own little world.

A beat pulsed from the portable mana computer in the small table nearby, low bass thumping, rhythm smooth and playful. Javier bobbed his head instinctively, shoulders loosening as his body moved with the music. One hand sliced the air in time, fingers flicking and rolling in a casual rap-style flow, wrist snapping

Buddy, his favorite orange pekko, stood proudly behind him, already start bobbing his head with the beat.

Javier reached into his dimensional storage and flicked out a cap, catching it midair and tilting it sideways onto his head, dark sunglasses slid smoothly into place.

”Yo, yo~”

He leaned into the rhythm, knees bending slightly as the beat dropped.

Yo, yo~ turn it up, let the hunger speak

Javier and Buddy ’bout to cook this meat!

”Cuquawk!”

The moment first verse hit, Javier spun toward the grill, slid a thick slab of marinated meat onto the sizzling surface with exaggerated flair.

Roast on the flame, fat drippin’, aroma insane~

Juices cascade, got my caveman brain in a crave~

Grill marks crisp, late-night flip, golden crisp on the plate~

Smoke in the air, But We don’t share~

”Cuquawk! Cuquawk!”

Buddy spun in a clumsy twirl, feathers puffing up with exaggerated flair as he bounced along.

Then the chorus hit.

Meat! (Meat!) Glorious meat! (Meat!)

Fire to the fork, can’t nobody compete~

Buddy on the wing, we feast like a king~

All day, every day, we eat only meat~

”Cuquaaaaawk!!”

Buddy hopped forward, beak snapping in perfect sync while drooling on the meat grill.

Javier bob his head to the music while flipping the meat with a smooth wrist flick, smoke curling upward as the scent filled the clearing.

( End Of Chapter )