Reborn As Noble

Javier looked into Liana’s beautiful emerald eyes.

Liana glanced up, smiling softly.

Javier leaned down, and their lips met in a long, tender kiss...

”Ahem~”

They pulled apart, startled, and glanced toward the voice.

Gloria stood there, arms crossed, nudging her glasses up with a sly smirk.

”Ara~ Someone is enjoying her moment, reliving her memories~,” she began, pitching her voice into a teasing mimic of theirs. ”Oh, Liana~ You look so beautiful tonight~”

She shifted to an airy impression of Liana. ”Mmhmm~ No, young master, elves will always look like this~”

And made a theatrical kissing sound: ”Chuuuuu~”

Then she lowered herself gracefully to the floor in a delicate swoon. ”Ah... how cruel~” she whimpered, a handkerchief appearing in her hand as she lifted it toward her lips, pretending to sob without a tear.

”Forgetting about this poor maid... because she is only a half-elf~ Sob, sob~”

She peeked up briefly before dropping her gaze back to the floor, voice trembling dramatically. ”I still remember... sob, sob... a boy who ran away from a certain elf chasing him with a thick plank. Hiding behind me... or under my long skirt~ Taking advantage of it~ Sniffing... ahn~ How cruel.”

Gloria lifted her gaze briefly before bowing her head again, staring at the floor in mock despair. ”He always asked for... ’Gloria~ chuuu~’ and stole my kisses. Every day~ A young maiden who never even had a boyfriend... sob, sob...”

”That boy no longer cares for me... It’s always Liana~ sob sob...”

”Gloria...” Liana shook her head and let out a long sigh. ”Stop doing that already.”

”That certain boy always ran around, flipping my skirt just to peek at my panties, and slapped my butt after that.”

She glanced up, still pretending to sob. ”And after he got my flower... it’s always Liana... Liana... Liana... never Gloria~”

Javier sighed. ”Gloria... you weren’t here first, but I care for all my girls, including you.”

”Hmmph! Liar. It’s always Liana.” Gloria bit her lower lip and glanced away.

Javier moved and took her hand, gently helping her rise, then pulled her into a hug.

”Don’t worry... I’ll never forget any of our memories, Liana’s or yours. You’re both special to me.”

”Really?” Gloria murmured, still sulking.

Javier kissed her cheek and whispered, ”Yes.”

Gloria smiled, turned, and leaned up to kiss him deeply. ”I love you, young master~”

Liana placed a hand on her hip, the other wiping her face gracefully. ”You still fall for her theatrical drama, young master. You know she’s always like this.”

”Mou! Don’t ruin my moment~ No wonder you slipped off the bed in silence. Sneaky Elf Witch~”

”What did you just call me?” Liana’s eyes widened.

”Ahn~ Young master~ Help me! The elf witch is mad!” Gloria buried her face in his chest and hugged him tightly.

”Alright, that’s enough drama, Gloria.” Liana reached for Gloria’s collar and pulled her off Javier.

”No!! I still haven’t gotten enough love!!”

Javier chuckled softly, watching Liana pull Gloria back by the collar of her nightdress.

Before he could take a step, a set of footsteps echoed from the hallway.

Javier turned toward the sound. Liana and Gloria paused, glancing in the same direction.

”Prince Javier.” The officer from the command center approached, placed his fist over his left chest, and bowed.

”Hmm? Yes?” Javier said, tucking his hands into his pockets.

”You need to see this. It’s urgent.”

”Alright. Go ahead first. I’ll be there shortly.”

The officer nodded and retreated quickly. Javier turned back to Liana and Gloria.

”You two go ahead and sleep.”

”But, young master...” Liana began, and Gloria added, ”We could come with you if you want.”

”No... I don’t want you staying up all night. Besides, this is official business.”

”But, young master...” Liana pressed softly.

Javier smiled. ”Hey... I’m not going outside. I’ll just be in the command center. No need to worry.” He leaned in and kissed each of them softly on the lips. ”Now go rest. And sleep.”

”Alright, young master...” Liana said reluctantly, while Gloria’s lips remained puckered in a slight pout.

”Now go. Don’t either of you dare stay up all night. Off to bed.”

After watching Liana and Gloria leave, Javier turned and hurried toward the command center.

What is it now? What’s so urgent?

He arrived and strode inside. ”What’s happened?” Javier took his seat and glanced at the central screen.

”Prince Javier... we’ve been unable to locate the ship Lady Kayla is using.”

”What? Are you certain?” Javier’s eyes sharpened as he studied the display.

”Yes. They were using a simple fishing vessel, not equipped with navigation markers or long-range lighting. We’ve scanned for any lantern or mana light signal, but found nothing so far.”

”Can you trace their projected route? Or backtrack from their last known position?”

”We can’t confirm, Prince Javier. It’s nighttime and the area is too dark for visual tracking. We’ve lost their trail.”

Javier’s jaw tightened. ”Switch the Sky Eye feed to thermal detection and scan the entire sector. Their ship was already in poor condition, with this swell, it may have taken on water or capsized. Search for it immediately.”

”As you command, Prince Javier.” The officer turned and began issuing orders to the staff.

Javier continued, voice sharpening. ”Contact the lead mana helicopter and tell them to move ahead with maximum searchlights active. Deploy two more from Arjam Air Base and alert the naval units to stand by. Now.”

He snapped his fingers and pulled his portable mana computer from dimensional storage. Powering it on, he linked directly to the satellite network.

Let’s hope this new system improves the thermal resolution enough to spot them.

”Prince Javier. We’re detecting a heat signature on the screen,” one of the staff reported.

”Good. Contact the ironclad and the mana helicopter team, tell them to head to the site immediately.”

”As you command, Prince Javier.” The officer nodded and began relaying orders.

Meanwhile, in the dark waters...

”M...Mother... it’s cold...”

Kayra clung to the splintered wreckage of the fishing vessel, her daughter shivering against her in the dark water. The girl’s lips trembled with cold.

”I’m sorry,” Kayra pulled her tighter against the broken plank, her own grip numb.

Nearby, Cliff struggled to keep his head above the swell, clinging to a piece of driftwood. ”I–I’m sorry, my lady. I should have... I should never have let you board that vessel.”

”Don’t say that, Cliff...” Kayla’s words came between shivering breaths. ”It was my decision... my insistence. This is not your burden to carry.”

Her daughter’s small voice came again, softer now. ”Are... are we going to die, mother?”

Kayra’s throat tightened. Her voice breaking softly.

”I... I’m sorry... this is all... my fault.”

( End Of Chapter )