Reborn As Noble

Chapter 1521: A Witch and a Pekko ( 1521 )

”Cuquawked!” (Witchhh!!!)

Liana stepped out from the villa door, her silver hair catching the sunlight as she narrowed her eyes toward Buddy, who stood waiting near the path with his chest puffed out in obvious impatience.

”What do you want, Buddy?”

Buddy narrowed his eyes, glancing down at her with a flat, unimpressed look.

”Cuquawked!” (You’re the one who asked me to wait! I’ve been waiting for more than thirty minutes already!)

Liana smiled softly, shaking her head as she walked past him, her steps light and unhurried. Buddy fell into step behind her, his feathers ruffling with mild irritation.

”Oh, hush, Buddy. It’s not like I made you wait for hours.”

Buddy turned and followed her from behind, his long legs carrying him in slow, bouncy strides as he grumbled under his breath.

”Cuquawked.” (Still, if it weren’t for you, I’d be with Master right now. Or maybe already soaking in the water. Probably both. At the same time.)

Liana glanced over her shoulder at him, a faint, amused smile touching her lips as she kept walking.

”You can’t soak in the water. You’re a pekko, not a duck.”

”Cuquawked! Cuquawked~” (I can! Heh~ Clearly you don’t know pekko too well~ Can’t blame you, though. Because you’re a witch~ A beautiful elf witch who bewitched my master with your ’charming’ magic~)

Liana let out a soft laugh, shaking her head before she spoke, her voice carrying a playful tease.

”Yes, yes. A witch who made your master fall head over heels for her. Charmed him so thoroughly that he can’t imagine a life without her, right, Buddy?”

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

”Cuquawked. Cuquawked?” (Heh. Annoying elf witch. So... why did you ask me to wait for you? It better be important. I have a schedule, you know. Napping, eating, napping again, eating again, teasing Master, and then more napping.)

Liana stopped mid-step, her feet coming to a graceful halt. She turned around slowly, facing Buddy, who had to stop abruptly to avoid crashing into her. He let out a sharp, startled squawk.

”Cuquawked!” (Oi! Don’t just suddenly stop like that! You almost made me trip over you!)

Liana tilted her head to the side, her silky silver hair slipping off her shoulder and falling in a soft, cascading wave down her back. The motion was slow and elegant, her expression turning thoughtful as she raised one finger to her lips in a thoughtful gesture.

”Now that you mention it... why did I ask you to wait?”

Buddy’s beak dropped open, his eyes widening in disbelief. He flapped his wings once in frustration, his feathers ruffling.

”Cuquawked!” (Oi, witch! You better not be messing with me! I don’t care if you’re Master’s favorite girl!)

Liana raised one finger toward him, her voice calm but firm.

”Shush! I’m trying to remember here, Buddy. Can you stay silent for a moment?”

Buddy let out a low, grumbling squawk of frustration, his wings twitching at his sides. He turned his body to the side as he glanced down at her from the corner of his eye.

Liana smiled sweetly, her expression calm and serene, while Buddy narrowed his eyes at her, his suspicion growing.

”Cuquawked!” (I knew it! You just want to mess with me!)

Liana let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head gently. ”I’m not. I just want you to help me lift a few items for the beach.”

She paused, ticking off her fingers as she listed them.

”The portable beach chairs, the umbrellas, the coolers filled with drinks and snacks, the blankets, the portable grill, the extra shade canopy, and the beach balls. Nothing too heavy for a big, strong pekko like you, right?”

Buddy’s beak dropped open, his feathers puffing out in indignation as he stomped one foot against the ground.

”Cuquawked!? Cuquawked!” (What!? I’m not a pekko who pulls carriages or carries luggage around like some common mount! I’m a proud, noble pekko! I’m Master’s pekko! His partner! His companion! His best buddy! I have dignity! Standards! A reputation to maintain!)

Liana smiled without saying a word. She raised one palm, and a beautiful glass bottle materialized in her hand, filled with a rich, dark amber liquid that shimmered under the sunlight. The bottle was sealed with a cork, and the contents inside glow with a warm, savory aura.

Buddy flinched hard, his entire body going rigid. His eyes locked onto the bottle, his beak twitching slightly as he swallowed.

”Cuquawked?” (What... what are you doing?)

Liana smiled, her expression calm and sweet, before she let out a long, exaggerated exhale. She rolled her shoulder slowly, pressing her fingers against the joint as if trying to ease a deep ache.

”Ah... my shoulder is so stiff. I’ve been preparing everything for everyone since last night. Cooking, packing, organizing... and now I still have to lift and bring all those heavy items to the beach all by myself. I don’t know if I can manage...”

She swayed slightly, the bottle of special sauce tilting dangerously in her hand.

Buddy watched the bottle with uneasy eyes, his feathers ruffling in panic.

”Cuquawked!” (But you put everything in your dimensional storage, right!? You don’t actually have to carry them by hand!)

She held the bottle carelessly, tilting it slightly as if she were about to pour it onto the ground. ”If only there were someone strong enough to help me...”

Buddy’s eyes widened in panic. He shuffled closer, his massive head lowering until he was nuzzling against her shoulder, his voice coming out in a low, pleading squawk.

”Cuquawked~ Cuquawked~” (My beautiful, elegant, charming elf witch~ You are the most graceful, most talented, most wonderful woman in all of Armand~ The one who captured my master’s heart with your beauty and your cooking~ Please, don’t waste such a precious gift~)

He pulled back, puffing his chest out with pride, his beak curling into a confident, smug smirk.

”Cuquawked Cuquawked~!” (I will lift everything! Every chair, every umbrella, every cooler, every blanket! I will carry them all to the beach myself! Only for you, beautiful witch~)

Liana smiled, her eyes softening as she tucked the bottle safely back into her dimensional storage.

”Good boy~”

( End Of Chapter )