Reborn As Noble

Looks like I’ll be staying here longer.

And after that, I’m pretty sure I’ll be too busy.

Especially if Friedrich still insists on reclaiming his parents’ entire estate, refusing to accept that the land has been divided, claimed, and contested for years. If he keeps pushing, he’ll force a diplomatic crisis that will drag in the Beastkin Nation and the Demon Nation.

If that happens, King Lioness and King Veldrac will be dragged into this mess.

The Human Nation’s idiot king, Kimar, doesn’t care about noble disputes, border conflicts, or the suffering of his own people. He’s too busy indulging in his pleasures, ignoring the civil war tearing his kingdom apart. He won’t intervene, won’t mediate, won’t even acknowledge the problem until it’s too late. He’ll just sit in his palace, pretending everything is fine while his nobles tear each other apart.

Another troublesome workload.

Not only do we need to prepare for the invasion from the other continent, but now we also have to manage a regional conflict, mediate between nobles, and settle territorial disputes that should have been resolved long ago.

We’re helping refugees pouring in from the crumbling Human Nation, rebuilding towns destroyed in the fighting, stabilizing the economy, and ensuring people have food, shelter, and safety... all while dealing with Friedrich’s stubbornness, Zurakan’s legal maneuvering, and the political fallout of everything.

Javier let out a long, weary sigh, rubbing the back of his neck.

Why does everything have to happen at once?

”Cuquawked?”

Buddy pecked Javier’s shoulder gently with his beak. Javier glanced over his shoulder, then turned to face him, looking up at the massive bird.

”Cuquawked?” (What’s wrong?)

”Nothing, Buddy~. You know the usual. Work, politics, nobles arguing over land they can’t even properly govern... the usual headache.”

”Cuquawked~” (Yes, yes~ Now, Master~)

”Hmm?” Javier smirked, his eyes fixed on Buddy, who wore a sly look. ”What is it, Buddy?”

”Cuquawked cuquawked~” (You promised me the rainbow fruit after the attack ended yesterday, so I’m still waiting~)

Javier chuckled softly before shaking his head. ”You sure you want to eat it here? You know this is a special fruit. The rarest fruit. From all the fruits we’ve eaten before, we only got one seed from it. And not to mention...”

He gestured subtly toward the townsfolk working nearby, some of them watching the prince and his magnificent pekko with weary but curious eyes.

”...the people here are still struggling. They’ve lost homes, loved ones, and security. If you pull out a fruit that shines like a rainbow and smells like heaven, they’ll think we’re here to flaunt our wealth and privilege. It’ll look like we’re rubbing our abundance in their faces while they’re still picking up the pieces. We’re supposed to be helping them rebuild, not showing off.”

Buddy tilted his head, then turned to glance at Javier with narrowed eyes, letting out a slow, deliberate squawk.

”Cuquawked~?” (How is it my problem? I’m a pekko, not a human~)

Javier pinched the bridge of his nose, glaring up at him before hissing quietly and pointing a finger at Buddy. ”You won’t get those problems, but I will! And everyone will give me a nickname for it! ’The Prince Who Flaunts Rare Fruits While People Starve’ or ’The Spoiled Royal Who Feeds His Bird Better Than His People’ or something even worse!”

”Cuquawked~” (That’s your problem, Master~ Besides, it’s normal for you to earn a ’unique’ nickname~ Even among us pekko, we have a special nickname for you~)

Javier blinked, his glare softening into curiosity. ”Wait... you have a nickname for me?”

Buddy puffed his chest out, a smug smirk spreading across his beak.

”Cuquawked~” (Of course~ All the pekko call you ’The strong human who’s scared of the elf witch~’)

”O... oi!”

Javier hissed, placing one hand on his hip while pointing the other up at Buddy, narrowing his eyes.

”It’s not like I’m scared of her, you idiot. She’s my first love, and you know that. Besides, she’s super hot, incredibly intelligent, and the most capable woman I know. She’s someone special to me. And just for your information, Buddy, she never interferes with my work or my responsibilities. She respects what I do, supports me when I need it, and trusts me to handle things my way. She’s not some ’witch’ who bosses me around.”

Buddy let out a slow, smug squawk, tilting his head.

”Cuquawked~” (That’s exactly what a scared human would say, Master~)

Javier sighed, shaking his head before patting Buddy’s wing. ”Yeah, yeah. Let’s just... keep moving. We have a lot to do today, and I don’t need you giving me a headache before noon.”

They continued walking, Javier’s eyes scanning the town as the morning bustle slowly picked up. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his mana smartphone, tapping the screen with practiced ease.

”Cuquawked?” (What are you doing now?)

”Hmm? Nothing. Just want to contact Liana. Since we’ll be staying here for... I don’t know. A week or more... I think it’s best to inform her about it.”

Buddy let out a low, knowing squawk, his beak curling into a smirk.

”Cuquawked~” (Ah~ So you’re reporting to the ’witch’ after all~)

Javier shot him a flat glare. ”It’s called communication, Buddy. Something you clearly don’t understand.”

Javier tapped Liana’s contact and pressed the video call button, waiting as the screen flickered. After a moment, the call connected, and Liana’s face appeared on the screen.

She was in the middle of tying her hair into a high ponytail, her lips gently holding a hair tie as both hands worked through her silver locks. Her maid dress hugged her figure perfectly, the white apron accentuating her curves. As she moved, her full, firm breasts bounced slightly with the motion, drawing Javier’s attention immediately.

”Wow~ What a nice view in the morning~ Maybe it’s my lucky day today~” Javier grinned, wiggling his eyebrows at the screen.

Liana smiled, still holding the hair tie between her lips before she finished tying her ponytail. She reached up, tucking a loose strand behind her ear, her gaze fixed on the camera with a knowing, gentle look.

”Yes, yes~ My Young Master is always lucky~” She tilted her head slightly, her smile turning soft and teasing. ”I suppose he also had a... very fortunate night, didn’t he? The kind of luck that leaves one feeling thoroughly... claimed and content~?”

( End Of Chapter )