Reborn As Noble

Chapter 1068: A Matter of Privilege ( 1068 )

After a while.

The sky had darkened into a deep, velvety blue, but the deck of the new ship was brightly lit by softly glowing mana crystals.

”Young master?” Liana asked Javier, who was focused on pulling in a fishing line while mumbling, ”I got you~”

Javier hauled in a huge, silvery fish, which Buddy promptly snatched and placed neatly on the growing pile on the deck.

”Hmm?” Javier turned and looked at Liana. ”Yes?”

”Tonight the sky is clear, and the stars are beautiful. I was hoping we could enjoy the night sky... perhaps slow the ship down a little so we can truly enjoy the cruise?”

”Oh? Sure, Liana~ Anything for you. I didn’t know you liked this sort of thing.” Javier tapped his mana watch and adjusted the ship’s speed to a gentle, leisurely pace.

”Thank you, young master.” Liana smiled and kissed his cheek.

Javier grinned happily, then turned back to unhook the huge fish from his line.

”Alright, Buddy! I think this is enough for everyone, right?”

”Cuquawked!!!” Buddy puffed out his chest proudly as he looked at the impressive pile of huge, wriggling fish on the deck.

Liana smiled, turned away from Javier, and glanced at Gloria, who was ’busy’ showing Felicia, Mimi, and Delya how to prepare the portable mana grill.

Their eyes met, and Gloria nodded with a knowing smile. Liana slowly walked over to join them.

”As you all can see,” Gloria gestured toward the control panel, ”this fire crystal and this dial here...” She pointed to a smooth, rune-etched switch. ”Just press to ignite, and turn to adjust the heat.”

”Now, after the fire crystal heats up, you place the grill grates right here.” Gloria explained. ”And since this is our husband’s invention, we don’t need to add charcoal, unless you want that smoky flavor... charcoal does make everything taste better.”

”Oh!!” Mimi’s eyes widened as she looked at the sleek grill, her tail swaying with curiosity. She tilted her head and glanced at Gloria. ”Nya? So what if the mana runs out?”

Gloria opened a small panel at the base and revealed a large, clear mana crystal nestled within. ”You can just channel mana here, like this.” Gloria brought her palm close and channeled a stream of soft, blue mana into the crystal. It began to glow with a steady, warm light. ”Once the crystal is glowing like this, it means it has enough power for the entire grill session.”

Delya focused intently on the portable mana grill. ”Wow... Danna-sama’s inventions are so special. Our castle has had one of these, along with the huge magic stoves in the main kitchen, for years now.”

”Nya! Same here!” Mimi chimed in, her tail flicking happily. ”After we became Husband-sama’s fiancées, we got these in our castle too, nya!”

”Mm... it helps speed up cooking,” Felicia added softly, ”and means less wood needs to be cut. It makes firewood more affordable for everyone during the winter.”

Liana stepped closer, her smile gentle.

”And it’s one of the many ways our husband thinks of others. Even his inventions serve a greater purpose, helping people live better, warmer lives.”

Her gaze drifted back toward Javier, who was now laughing as Buddy proudly guarded the fish pile. ”But for tonight... let’s focus on making this a meal to remember.”

”Can I learn how to... clean the fish?” Felicia asked softly, turning to Liana.

”You’re sure you want to get your hands dirty like that?” Liana asked, a gentle smile on her lips.

”Yes,” Felicia nodded shyly. ”It’s because I will become his wife, so knowing how to cook and handle basic things like this is a must.”

”Oh? You sure, ’Princess~’?” Gloria leaned in and whispered into Felicia’s ear.

Felicia bit her lower lip, her tail swaying in a flustered arc. ”Mou! Gloria! You and Liana are also Queen Mylezra’s nieces, and you both come from elven noble families. But you two still cook and serve our husband like true wives. I want to be able to do that too!”

”Nya! Me too, nya!” Mimi jumped toward Liana and hugged her from the side, rubbing her cheek against her shoulder while her tail swayed in eager, playful loops.

Delya sat gracefully nearby, watching them. ”I don’t mind learning for my Danna-sama either~”

Liana and Gloria looked at each other, sharing a knowing smile before nodding.

”Very well... if you all insist, I believe our husband can show you and teach you all.”

”Nya? Really?” Mimi’s eyes gleamed. ”I’m going to him now!” Mimi ran toward Javier, who was just starting to scale and gut the first fish with practiced ease.

”Husband-sama!!”

”Mimi!” Felicia puffed her cheeks and stomped after her.

”Ah~ Learning from Danna-sama? Mm~ I want to join too~” Delya moved toward Javier with a dreamy, contented smile.

After watching them go, Liana stood gracefully, her gaze lingering on Javier before she glanced sideways at Gloria, who was doing the same.

”Now, now, second wife~” Liana said in a sweet, lilting tone.

”Ara~ what is it, first wife~?” Gloria returned the sugary tone, turning her head toward Liana with a practiced smile.

Liana smiled. ”Since those ’virgins’ are busy with our husband... about the proposal you mentioned earlier, I believe, as the first wife of our husband, I have certain privileges regarding the order of things.” Liana turned fully toward Gloria, crossing her arms beneath her breasts, which lifted slightly with the motion.

”Ara~ not so fast, Miss First Wife~” Gloria turned as well, crossing her arms beneath her own chest, which, being slightly fuller, bounced gently with the movement. She adjusted her glasses, her eyes glinting playfully behind the lenses. ”I believe you overuse the ’privileges’ of your title.” Her tone was sweet but carried a sharp, teasing edge. ”Just because we’re cousins doesn’t mean I’ll back down on this~ After all, this was my idea.”

”Oh? Getting bold, are you, Miss Second Wife?” Liana’s glare was light, almost amused.

Gloria returned the glare, adjusting her glasses again. ”Of course, Miss First Wife. I do believe you already got your privilege by being the first to lose your virginity to our lovely husband.”

Liana smirked. ”But isn’t Miss Second Wife also the second who lost her virginity to our husband as well? If I remember ’correctly’~”

”Ara~ that’s true, Miss First Wife. That’s precisely why today it must be my turn to be the first for my second time.”

”Ah~ not so fast, Miss Second Wife. As the first wife, I believe it is my ’duty’ to have my second time with him too~”

( End Of Chapter )