Reborn As Noble

Meanwhile.

On one of the warships sailing toward Armand’s Private Island.

An elf man let out a long, weary exhale, watching a human woman seated in a comfortable chair on the deck, positioned where she could watch the sea. She crossed her arms, her cheek puffed out, her long wavy hair drifting gently in the ocean breeze.

”Mother... please stop.”

He rubbed the back of his neck.

”It’s just a small matter. Father didn’t mean anything by it.”

”Hmmph!”

She huffed and turned her face away, her voice carrying the wounded dignity of a woman who had been deeply, unforgivably wronged.

”Your father is a dumb, dumb man. The dumbest man in the entire world. After all these years, and he still doesn’t understand a single thing about me!”

The elf man opened his mouth to respond, but she cut him off, pointing a finger at him.

”Edwyrd Olagella Carqirelle! Don’t you dare try to cover for your father’s mistake! You’re my son! MY ELDEST SON! You should take my sides on this matter!”

Edwyrd raised both hands in surrender.

”I’m not taking his side, Mother. I’m just saying...”

”Hmmph!”

She turned away again, her arms crossing tighter.

From a short distance, Azariah stifled a laugh, one hand pressed to her mouth, her shoulders shaking gently as she watched her husband being scolded by his own mother.

Just then, two elf children came running across the deck.

”Mama! Mama! This ship is huge!”

One of the children tugged at Azariah’s skirt, his eyes wide and bright.

”Mama! When will we get to meet Aunt Liana and Granny?”

Azariah quickly hushed him, bending down and pressing a finger to her lips.

”Shh! Don’t call her Granny. You should call her Elder. She’s not old enough to be a granny yet, and she’ll be very upset if she hears you call her that.”

”Ohhh...”

Both children nodded solemnly, their expressions serious.

From behind, a voice drifted across the deck.

”I wonder if Liana still remembers us.”

Azariah smirked, straightening up and turning toward the voice.

”She’ll remember. We met not long ago, after all. She’s not the type to forget her own family.”

Qamara leaned back on the long couch, relaxing into the cushions. An elf maid stepped forward and served her a drink, the glass cool and dewy. Qamara took a slow sip, her eyes drifting toward the horizon.

”Still... it’s been a while since we’ve all been together like this. I wonder how much she’s changed.”

Enania laughed softly from nearby, adjusting her wide-brimmed sun hat, the pale ribbon trailing down her back. She wore a light summer dress, soft green fabric that swayed gently in the ocean breeze, her silver hair tucked neatly beneath the hat.

”Liana? Change? Please~. She’s still the same as ever. Stern. Serious. Composed. Always wanting everything in order. Always the responsible one.” She smiled, tilting her head. ”No matter how many years pass, she’ll always be exactly the same.”

Azariah laughed softly. ”That’s true. Some things never change.”

One of the children tugged at Azariah’s skirt again. ”Mama, will Aunt Lyzia be there too?”

Azariah’s smile softened. ”She should be. She’s been staying in Armand for more than two weeks already.”

She glanced toward the horizon.

”Mother wants us to bring her back. She says it’s time for her to come home.”

Qamara glanced toward the island in the distance, her voice dropping into a quiet mumble.

”But the problem is... if Aunt Mylezra doesn’t allow it...”

Enania smiled faintly.

”Mm. Even after Aunt stepped down from the throne and Father was appointed as the new King, she still holds the Elder’s seat. Her word carries more weight than Father’s in matters like this. If she refuses to let Lyzia go, there’s nothing any of us can do.”

Azariah nodded slowly.

”Mm... that’s why Mother told us to persuade Lyzia. To find a way to make her want to come home on her own. Without being ordered. Without being forced. If she chooses to return willingly, even Aunt Mylezra would have a hard time refusing.”

She paused, her expression turning thoughtful.

”But... there’s another problem.”

Everyone let out a long, synchronized exhale.

”Yes. Liana... Our little sister... Liana.”

Azariah pinched the bridge of her nose and let out a long, weary exhale.

”And since Liana holds the title of Star Daughter, granted by the Elder Council itself, with Aunt Mylezra’s blessing at the head of it, her word carries weight. Even if it’s just her personal opinion.”

”Yeah.” Qamara smiled faintly. ”If Liana says no, or not yet, or offers any other reason... there’s nothing we can do. We can’t force Lyzia home if Liana refuses to let her go. And knowing Lyzia, she always listens to Liana. She’s always looked up to her. Followed her. Trusted her.”

”Mm...”

Just as Enania was about to say something, a sharp voice cut across the deck.

”You don’t love me anymore. That’s why you don’t want me to come with you. You’d rather I stayed home, wouldn’t you? You’d rather be free of me!”

All four siblings turned their heads at once.

”Genevieve, please, that’s not what I’m saying...”

”No! Don’t ’Genevieve’ me! I know exactly what you meant! You’ve been trying to get rid of me for years! YEARS!”

”Mother, please, lower your voice. The crew can hear...”

”Let them hear! Let the whole ocean hear! Your father is a heartless man who doesn’t appreciate his wife!”

Sythaeryn stood near the railing, hands raised in a placating gesture, his expression caught between exhaustion and panic. Beside him, Genevieve had turned away, her arms crossed tightly, her cheek puffed out.

”Genevieve... my love... that’s not true. I love you more than anything in this world. I just said your hair looks lovely today. That’s all I said.”

”You said it like it was a surprise! Like it was unusual! As if it doesn’t always look lovely!”

She huffed and turned away, her long wavy hair swaying behind her as she walked to the far end of the deck.

Sythaeryn stood there, staring after her, before pinching the bridge of his nose and letting out a long, weary exhale. He turned toward Edwyrd and mumbled under his breath.

”She’s been like this all morning. All it takes is one wrong word, one wrong tone, one wrong expression, and she’s off. She’s never been this moody before. Not like this. Not over something so small.”

Edwyrd let out a soft laugh, shaking his head.

”Father. We’ll be arriving at the Armand island soon. And once we do, Mother will see Gloria again.” He paused, a knowing smile on his lips. ”Maybe that’s all she needs. A chance to talk to her daughter. To see her after so long. You know how much she loves Gloria. Maybe a conversation with her will calm her down.”

Sythaeryn let out another exhale, his shoulders loosening slightly.

”Yeah... hope so.”

( End Of Chapter )