Reborn As Noble

Gracelle glanced at Javier before quickly averting her eyes, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. The realization that the boy she had been longing to meet, the one she had promised herself to years ago, was the same handsome doctor who had saved her life, and the same prince who had just stood before her, left her completely flustered and unable to look at him directly.

She pursed her lips and gave Liana a side glance, mumbling softly with a sulky tone.

”Mou... you lied to me.”

Liana smirked and leaned down, whispering into Gracelle’s ear.

”Hmm~? Since when did I lie to you~?”

Gracelle gave her another side glance, her cheeks still burning. ”You didn’t tell me Javier was the one who saved me.”

”Ara? Really?” Liana pretended to look confused, putting one finger on her chin and glancing up. ”Hmm... No~ It’s not my fault~” she said, giving Gracelle a teasing glance.

”B... but... if you had told me the doctor was Javier all along, I wouldn’t have... I wouldn’t have...” Gracelle stammered, struggling to find the right words.

”My my~” Liana chuckled softly, raising her palm to her lips. ”You never asked for the doctor’s name, did you? And besides, the healers mentioned Armand facing two major wars, and they also said they never considered Armand as part of the Human Kingdom anyway. The hints were all there, Gracelle. You just didn’t put them together.”

”Mou!” Gracelle hissed softly, about to say something when Liana looked at her with a calm, collected expression.

Liana paused and smirked. ”Now, Gracelle...”

”Hmmph! What?” Gracelle pursed her lips, crossing her arms and glancing sideways.

”You are a noble. Surely you learned about the rules of nobility and land ownership. Tell me, Gracelle, when a region gains full independence and the noble who owns the land holds it by birthright rather than by the king’s decree, what happens to their rank?”

”Ah...” Gracelle mumbled softly, her cheeks flushing as she fidgeted with her fingers nervously.

Liana crossed her arms and glanced at Javier, who was still standing with his charming, calm expression.

She turned her attention back to Gracelle.

”I did mention he is a Prince of Armand. And I believe Myra, Kalea, and Juria here surely mentioned that Armand gained full independence and declared itself a sovereign nation. As a noble, you must know that once a region gains full independence, they have the right to establish their own rule, especially when the person leading them is recognized by the rulers of the Beastkin Nation, the Demon Nation, and the Elven Nation as their most trusted ally and friend.”

Gracelle pouted and glanced away. ”T... that’s true...”

”So I never lied to you about anything. It’s just that you didn’t think carefully or put the pieces together, even when the clear details were already right in front of you.” Liana paused before smirking. ”And you didn’t even recognize him?”

Gracelle bit her lower lip and glanced up at Liana, but quickly averted her eyes again when she saw Liana’s calm but intimidating expression.

”B... but... you were all wearing those clothes that covered your hair, your lips... how was I supposed to know...” she mumbled softly.

Liana shook her head. ”You didn’t notice the way he talked to you was the same way he talked to you years ago? You didn’t notice his eye color is the same as his father’s? And the way he casually called you ’Gracelle,’ just like I do?”

Gracelle bit her lower lip again, mumbling in a low, sulky voice. ”Hmmph! Not fair...”

She was about to glare at Liana to protest but felt the heavy, intimidating aura radiating from her.

”Now,” Liana said in a calm voice before giving Gracelle her serious, stern face. ”Tell me, Gracelle.”

”Y... yes?” Gracelle fidgeted nervously, her hands trembling slightly as she felt the weight of Liana’s gaze.

”I’m going to ask you a serious question, and I expect you to answer it now. I don’t play games, and I don’t have time for hesitation.”

”M... Miss Liana? Umm... you’re being scary...” Gracelle mumbled in a soft, shaky voice.

Liana gave her a sharp glare.

”Now... tell me. After knowing that Young Master already has five fiancées, including me, do you still intend to keep your promise to him? The promise you made years ago, to become his wife?”

”Umm... ummm...”

”Since I was his first love and his first future wife, it is my privilege and responsibility to decide who joins our circle. I don’t want just some random girl to enter our family, only to end up complaining or hurting Young Master’s feelings like certain people have done before, and I won’t allow it to happen again.”

”Ah...” Gracelle’s cheeks flushed a deep red. ”That’s... such a direct question... it’s too sudden...”

”No. That’s not a hard question. I need your answer right now. After this, you will be transferred to the Armand Healing Facility. But if you truly want to be with Young Master, and if you are serious about the promise you made to him years ago, then I will request that you be placed under my care and watch, as part of our circle. But I need to know now, Gracelle. Do you still want to be his wife?”

Gracelle glanced at Javier, who smiled at her from a distance, rubbing the back of his head with a sheepish grin.

She turned her gaze back to Liana.

”Umm... you... you don’t mind? You’re not... you know... jealous?”

Liana exhaled. ”Every woman feels jealousy. It’s natural in any healthy relationship. But even if I mind, I care more about Young Master’s happiness. And I can see that you’ve been holding onto this promise for years, waiting for him, believing in him. That kind of devotion isn’t something I can ignore or dismiss.”

Gracelle glanced again at Javier, who was now chatting with the beautiful maid girl with glasses and huge breasts standing next to him. She then looked at the two beautiful cat-girl princesses and the demon princess, who was hugging a huge jar while eating something dark with a dreamy expression.

Liana exhaled and pinched the bridge of her nose. ”You can stare at him all you want when you become his official fiancée and join our circle. Now, your answer?”

Gracelle glanced down and smiled shyly. ”It has always been my dream to be with him. Ever since I made that promise years ago, I’ve held onto it. I wanted to be his wife, to stand by his side, no matter what. Even knowing he has others... that feeling hasn’t changed.”

Liana exhaled in frustration. ”Just give me your answer now.”

Gracelle looked up at Liana, her eyes clear and resolute. ”Yes.”

Liana exhaled and gave her a faint, approving smile.

”Welcome to the circle, Gracelle.”

( End Of Chapter )