Reborn As Noble

After a while.

”Cuquawked!!”

Buddy stood proudly near the wide portable grill, his chest puffed up in smug satisfaction as the slabs of meat sizzled and hissed over the grill. The rich, savory aroma wafted through the air, mingling with the cool evening breeze. The other pekko, belonging to Marcellus, Cedric, Aelius, and Heres, sat nearby in a relaxed circle, basking in the soft golden light of the past afternoon sun.

Javier was busy pulling out huge piles of marinated meat from his dimensional storage, stacking them on a tray beside the grill. His brothers were already lounging on deck chairs, each holding a glass of high-quality fruit wine.

Marcellus and Cedric glanced up at the massive treehouse nestled in the branches above Javier’s workshop.

”Oi, little brother.”

Javier, who was swatting Buddy’s beak away from stealing a piece of grilled meat, turned his head with a narrowed gaze. ”What?”

Marcellus pointed toward the treehouse with his lips. ”Why did you build a treehouse when you already have a huge personal workshop right under it?”

Javier glanced up at the treehouse before shrugging. ”Ah, that treehouse? Mimi wanted to build it. So the Armand carpenters helped her build it exactly how she wanted.”

Cedric kept his eyes on the treehouse. ”What’s it for?”

Javier tossed a finished slab of meat toward Buddy, who leaped up, snatched it midair with his beak, and landed with a triumphant flap of his wings. The strong gust of wind blew toward the deck chairs, but the brothers simply relaxed into it, unfazed.

Javier turned his head back. ”No idea. She said she just felt like having one. I think she’s already set up the inside, but I haven’t visited yet because Mimi said it’s not properly finished.”

Marcellus smirked, taking a sip of his wine. ”I thought only elves and dark elves loved treehouses. Lithia and Harny asked me to build one too, but the difference is, they wanted theirs built inside a massive tree, like a house carved into the trunk. Even though we already have a big house.”

Aelius swirled the golden liquid in his glass, glancing sideways at Marcellus. ”So, do you actually live inside it?”

Marcellus smiled, shaking his head. ”No. They just said it reminds them of their old home in the Elven Nation.”

Cedric smiled, taking a sip of his wine. ”You should let them visit the Elven Nation sometime. We have mana helicopters now, and even little brother’s Gaasad units if they want a faster ride.”

”Yeah, I know. I already told them they could visit whenever they wanted, but they said they’d ask if they ever felt homesick or missed their hometown. Since Harny already sold their old house, I guess they just wanted something that felt like home here, and they’re already happy here in Armand.”

Aelius smiled warmly. ”So they sleep inside the treehouse?”

Marcellus’s grin turned sly. ”No... well... we use it for something else~”

Cedric smirked, setting his wine down on the side table before making a hand signal, palm slapping into his knuckle repeatedly.

Marcellus shot him a look, but his smirk didn’t fade. ”Oh, shush, Cedric. They wanted it, so... as a husband, I just ’follow’ along~”

”Oi!”

Marcellus, Cedric, and Aelius glanced at Javier, who was calling them from the grill.

”What?”

Javier narrowed his eyes suspiciously. ”It’s not even night yet, and you’re already talking about sex?”

”Huh? Who the hell’s talking about sex? We’re just chatting here~”

”Yeah, right...” Javier repeated the hand signal, slapping his palm against his knuckle. ”You think I’m an idiot? This means sex. Duh.”

”Yea, yea. Now...” Marcellus smirked, his gaze drifting toward the sizzling meat on the grill. ”Is the meat cooked yet?”

Javier shot him a flat look. ”Huh? If you want to eat, cook it yourselves. I’m not your servant.”

Aelius leaned forward with a thoughtful expression. ”Ah, right... how about we call a few maids to assist us with the cooking? That way we can relax while they handle it.”

Marcellus, Cedric, and Javier all turned their gazes toward Aelius, their eyes narrowing in unison.

”Are you nuts?”

Aelius blinked, confused. ”Err... why?”

”First,” Marcellus said, holding up a finger, ”this is supposed to be a boys’ party. If we ask the Armand maids to do the grilling, where’s the fun in that?”

”Second,” Cedric added, holding up a second finger, ”do you want trouble?”

Aelius’s brow furrowed. ”Trouble? For what?”

The three of them exchanged glances before smirking in unison. ”Think about it. We all have wives. If we ask the maids to serve us before even telling our wives we’re done with the meeting, how do you think they’d feel?”

Aelius paused, his expression shifting to realization. ”Right... but it’s normal for us, from nobles to royalty, to ask our chefs or maids for food.”

”Yeah, we know,” Javier said, crossing his arms. ”But at least you should contact Athine first. If she finds out you finished the meeting and didn’t inform her... well, trouble’s yours, not ours~”

”Ah, right.” Aelius nodded, pulling out his mana smartphone from his pocket. He tapped the messenger icon and sent a quick message before a video call request lit up the screen. He accepted it with a smile, lifting the phone to his face.

”Athine~”

A gentle smile graced her lips as she appeared on the screen. ”You finished your meeting, husband?”

”Yes. I’m with Marcellus, Cedric, Javier, and Heres, outside Javier’s personal workshop. Would you like to join us?”

Athine shook her head gracefully, her smile warm. ”Mm~ I’m with the girls here. See?” She turned her camera, sweeping it across the gathering. The screen showed Lithia, Harny, Meira, Zania, Liana, Gloria, Felicia, and Delya, who was seated comfortably, enjoying her hot chocolate while being served by the maids. Mimi was munching on a piece of meat, Gracelle sat near Liana, quietly enjoying her food, and Celine was surrounded by them, looking happily engaged in conversation.

”Oh.” Aelius’s expression softened, a fond smile spreading across his face as he watched the lively scene through the screen.

Before he could say more, Javier cut in, leaning toward the phone. ”Oi, oi! You two can enjoy your video call later. We need to start grilling and drinking our wines.”

Javier casually took the phone from Aelius’s hand, holding it up with a teasing grin. ”By the way, Athine, your husband suggested we call a few maids to assist us with the grilling.”

Athine blinked, her expression curious. ”Oh? Sure, but... why ask me?”

Javier’s grin widened. ”Nothing. We just didn’t want you to get ’jealous’~”

”Why would I?” Athine tilted her head, a finger resting on her chin as she glanced up thoughtfully. ”Aelius often walks with several maids escorting him, along with a few officers, when he’s on official duty or working in his office in the manor. It’s not like it’s unusual for us. I trust him completely. And it’s not like he’s going to sneak off with one of them~”

( End Of Chapter )