Reborn As Noble

Javier sat up in confusion, still holding his drink in one hand, and glanced at the girl. His brow furrowed.

”Err... I’m sorry... but... have we ever met?”

The girl’s aura flared hard, the pressure crashing outward in a violent wave that cracked the sand beneath her feet. Her eyes glistened, her voice dropping into something low and dangerous.

”Did you forget about me already? After making me wait for so long? After promising yourself to me? After promising to make me your wife? After making me wait all these years, wondering when you would finally come for me?”

”E... eh? Did I?”

Liana glanced over her shoulder, her own dangerous aura rising sharply. Her voice dropped into something cold.

”Young Master... How dare you make a promise to another girl without me knowing? Hmm?”

”Eh? Liana? I don’t know what she’s talking about!!”

Before Liana could respond, the girl’s lips trembled. Her voice broke slightly as she continued.

”You promised me. You said I would be your wife. I waited. Every day. I kept myself for you. I turned away every suitor. I stayed in that palace, ruling in my brother’s place, waiting for the day you would finally send for me. And what did I find? You chose the silver-haired one over me first.”

Her eyes glistened with tears, her aura spiking.

”And now... now you have another elf girl too?” She turned her gaze toward Liana, her voice hardening. ”One elf wasn’t enough for you? You had to take another?”

”Ehhh?”

Liana’s aura flared dangerously. She glanced at Javier, her eyes glinting with cold amusement.

”Ara~ Young Master? I didn’t know you had another elf besides me? My, my~”

She reached to her other thigh and drew a second white-ore blade. Both blades gleamed in her hands, her eyes sharp and dangerous.

”Would you care to explain?”

Javier scrambled to his feet, dropping his drink into the sand. He raised both hands.

”Liana! I swear! I don’t know her! I’ve never met her before in my life! And I don’t have any other elf besides you! Just you and Lyzia!”

He froze. His hand flew to cover his mouth.

”Ara?” Liana’s voice was silky, cold. She raised both white-ore blades, turning them slowly in her grip, their edges catching the light. ”So now my Young Master wants my little sister too~?”

”Eeekk!!! Calm down! I didn’t mean anything by that!”

He ducked as her leg swung over his head, the kick slicing the air where his skull had been. He scrambled backward, hands still raised.

”I was just kidding! Kidding!”

Liana narrowed her eyes, lowering her foot.

”I know every word that comes out of my Young Master’s lips is the truth. Even when you pretend to joke. Even when you hide it behind a smile. You meant it. Every word.”

”L... Liana... I... I...”

Before Javier could finish, a full, heavy aura crashed down over the area. The girl’s hair lifted around her, suspended on the sheer pressure radiating from her body. Her eyes burned with fury and pain.

”How dare you flirt with another girl right in front of me?! After abandoning me for all these years? After forgetting our promise? After choosing her over me?!”

Liana turned away, crossing her arms under her chest, and stepped back. Her voice was flat and clipped.

”Settle this problem yourself, Young Master.”

”Ehhhh!?”

The girl charged.

Buddy stepped in front of Javier and cast his barrier skill. A shimmering wall of light flared to life between them. The girl’s fist slammed into it, and the barrier shattered in a burst of sparks. Buddy leaped back, dodging her follow-up kick, and countered with a blast of wind magic.

The girl smirked dangerously.

”Looks like your faithful pekko is still defending his master. Just like long ago. How loyal~”

She raised one hand, and a barrage of magic erupted toward Buddy.

Buddy planted his feet. Countless magic circles bloomed around him, dozens at once, each firing a counter-measure in perfect sequence. Water spears met fireballs mid-air, wind blades cut through mana bolts, and earthen shields caught the heavier bursts.

Sparks and light scattered across the beach like fireworks. He twisted through a gap and evaded her follow-up punch, landing to the side and flapping his wings once.

He smirked at Javier.

”Cuquawked~” (Sorry, Master~ I didn’t want to get involved in your ’personal matter~’)

Javier glanced at Liana, then at Buddy, then back toward the girl. He crossed his arms and rubbed his chin, thinking hard.

Did I ever promise anything to a girl I don’t know?

His eyes fixed on her from head to toe. Dark red hair. Two small dark horns. Crimson eyes.

Her face felt... familiar, somehow.

She has the same traits as someone I know... but... who?

From the look, she was a demon girl.

But red hair?

No... I don’t think I’ve ever met any girl with red hair.

Did I?

Hmm...

Before he could finish his thought, the girl vanished.

She reappeared directly in front of him, her leg already swinging. Her kick connected with the side of his head, sending him flying across the sand. He crashed into a tree trunk with a heavy thud, bark splintering on impact.

He raised his arm just in time to block her follow-up kick.

Ugh! Her kick actually felt like something.

He gritted his teeth, his arm trembling slightly under the force.

Damn! Even if it’s just a slight pain... this girl is really going all out.

She threw a punch. He caught it with his palm. She swung her leg. He raised his arm just in time. She drove her knee upward. He blocked it with his other hand. Every attack, every strike, every motion, he met with precision, deflecting each blow without ever striking back.

Hmm... Should I fight back?

He glanced at her eyes. They were glistening. She bit her lower lip with every strike, frustration and pain flickering across her face.

She’s just frustrated. She’s not venting on an enemy. She’s venting on someone she wanted to see, who didn’t remember her.

He caught another kick with his palm, deflecting it cleanly while keeping his eyes fixed on her face.

She kept attacking, her strikes coming faster and faster, her voice cracking with every swing.

”I don’t care if you’re the First Hero of the World!”

She threw another punch, and he caught it in his palm.

”A promise should be honored! If you make a promise, you keep it! You don’t just forget about the person you made it to! You don’t leave them waiting for years while you marry other women behind their back!”

First hero?

Ah... Now I get it...

She mistook me for Father.

Damn!

Should I tell her?

( End Of Chapter )