Reborn As Noble

Chapter 372: Suspicion in the Air ( 372 )

Meanwhile, outside the meeting room…

Near the sealed door, Javier slumped in his chair with arms crossed in frustration. Liana and Gloria sat beside him, looking far more composed.

”Whatʼs taking them so long?” Javier groaned, leaning back.

”Young Master…,”

”What? Itʼs been over three hours! Iʼm starving!”

Gloria smiled. ”But Madam Francesca already invited you to the banquet hall.”

Javier scoffed. ”And leave this spot? Get nagged by Father for wandering off? No way!”

Liana and Gloria chuckled, amused by his predicament.

Javier, still slouched in his chair, glanced around in boredom. His eyes landed on the two beastkin guards standing near the door—both tall, muscular, and serious.

A mischievous grin crept onto his face.

”Oho~ Yo, rabbit guy!” Javier called out.

One guard, a rabbit beastkin , twitched in confusion. ”R-Rabbit guy?”

”Yeah, you! Flex your muscles for me!”

The rabbit beastkin hesitated but eventually struck a basic bodybuilding pose, his arms bulging slightly. ”Err… like this?”

Javier nodded in approval. ”Oho~”

Not wanting to be outdone, the other guard—wolf beastkin—stepped forward and flexed dramatically, veins popping. ”Or like this?”

Javierʼs eyes sparkled. ”Nice muscles~”

Liana and Gloria, watching quietly, exchanged glances. Finally, Liana asked in a flat tone:

”Young Master… are you… into men with muscles?”

Javier jolted upright. ”Ehh?! No!!!”

The two beastkin, completely caught up in the moment, struck dramatic poses.

”Hnngh!” shouted the rabbit beastkin as he flexed his arms, showing off his bulging muscles.

”Hyaa!” the wolf beastkin echoed, spreading his arms wide in an over-the-top stance.

”Haiit!!” Together, they flexed their muscles again.

Javier applauded slowly, nodding. ”Not bad, not bad. You two would be great on stage.”

Liana sighed. ”Young Master… please donʼt encourage this.”

Gloria adjusted her glasses, smirking. ”At this rate, you might start a new fitness craze for beastkin warriors.”

The guards exchanged excited looks and grinned. ”Should we show the young master our ultimate pose?”

Javier leaned in, curious. ”Oh? Thereʼs more?”

Liana facepalmed. ”Please… no.”

The two beastkin guards jumped into the air, twisting as they landed with a loud thud, striking their ”ultimate flexing pose”—one with both arms flexed in a double bicep pose, and the other in a strong side-chest pose.

For a moment, everyone was silent.

Then, applause broke out.

Javier clapped, nodding in approval. ”Great job! Iʼd give it a nine out of ten, but the landing could use a bit more flair.”

”Feewit!” Someone whistled from the side, followed by whispers of admiration.

Even the nearby beastkin maids, who were passing by, stopped and stared at the flexing warriors.

One maid blushed. ”I… I had no idea how strong our guards were…”

Another maid gulped. ”Theyʼre so muscular…!”

Hearing this, the two beastkin guards grinned proudly, their tails wagging.

Liana sighed. ”Young Master, look at what youʼve started…”

Gloria adjusted her glasses and shook her head.

Liana sighed. ”Young Master… youʼre lucky this is the Beastkin Kingdom. If we were in the Armand region, Lord Garius would definitely be upset.”

Javier scoffed and crossed his arms. ”Come on! Whatʼs wrong with appreciating some good muscles? Strength should be recognized!”

One of the flexing beastkin guards smiled. ”Exactly! A warriorʼs body shows their hard work!”

The other guard nodded seriously. ”Our muscles tell a story! A story of discipline, training, and—”

”Too much meat and not enough brains,” Liana muttered quietly.

Gloria cleared her throat. ”Anyway, Young Master, please try not to turn an important diplomatic meeting into a muscle contest.”

Javier sighed. ”Fine…”

The huge doors creaked open.

The two beastkin guards, who had just been flexing, immediately stiffened.

The first to step out was King Lioness III. He scanned the area with sharp eyes before stopping at the nervous guards.

”Hmmm? Whatʼs wrong?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

The beastkin saluted right away. ”My liege!” they both bowed deeply, their ears twitching in tension.

Javier, who had been grinning just moments ago, suddenly froze. His smile vanished when he saw his father, Garius, walking out behind King Lioness.

Garius paused mid-step, fixing his intense gaze on Javier.

Javier quickly looked away, feeling cold sweat forming.

Liana and Gloria hurried to his side, bowing politely to each ruler, including Garius.

Gariusʼs eyes moved over the beastkin guards before landing on Javier.

”...”

Silence filled the air as Garius continued to stare.

Javier felt the weight of his fatherʼs gaze on him, and his heart raced.

Garius smirked. ”Javier.”

Javier straightened up immediately. ”Y-Yes, esteemed father!!”

”Letʼs go. Your mother and stepmother are waiting.”

Javier gulped. ”Y-Yes, esteemed father!”

Before he could move, a gentle voice interrupted.

”My, my… isnʼt that Liana?”

Everyone turned to see Queen Mylezra gracefully stepping out of the meeting room. Her presence exuded elegance and authority.

Liana bowed deeply. ”My Queen!”

Mylezra smiled. ”Oh, I didnʼt know you were working under Garius here.”

Garius simply smirked, saying nothing.

The queen chuckled. ”I canʼt help but think your mother might be feeling lonely back home. You should visit her sometimes.”

Lianaʼs posture tensed slightly. ”I understand, my Queen.”

Mylezra then looked back at Garius. ”And Garius?”

”Yes?”

”Make sure to give her proper time off every now and then.”

Garius tilted his head slightly. ”Hmm? Iʼve never forbid any of my staff, maids, or subordinates from taking leave. But... for some reason, she never asks for it.”

Javier glanced at Liana, who stayed silent but lowered her head a bit.

Queen Mylezra was about to speak, her lips forming the beginning of a word—

”Besides, Iʼm sure my—”

But Liana, sensing what was coming, quickly and politely interrupted.

”My Queen, I believe the feast in the banquet hall is truly exquisite and divine.” She bowed gracefully, her voice smooth and composed.

Inside, she was screaming.

ʼPlease, please donʼt say anything more…!ʼ

Mylezra paused for a moment before letting out a soft chuckle, her knowing gaze lingering on Liana. ”Is that so? Well then, we shouldnʼt keep everyone waiting.”

Liana exhaled quietly, keeping her calm expression.

Javier narrowed his eyes, focusing on Liana as they walked.

ʼThat elf queen was about to say something… but Liana stopped her. And not just politely—there was desperation in it.ʼ

His instincts tingled. Liana was usually composed and graceful, but just then, there was a subtle change. The way she redirected the conversation, how her voice held a hint of urgency…

ʼSuspicious.ʼ

Javier smirked.

”Say, Liana…” he began casually, lightening his tone but keeping a keen gaze. ”What was the Elven Queen about to say?”

Liana, always professional, smiled gently. ”I wouldnʼt presume to know, Young Master. Perhaps it was nothing important.”

”Oh? Then why did you look like you were about to sweat?”

Lianaʼs smile stayed, but Javier thought he caught a flicker of something in her eyes—just for a moment.

ʼOh-ho. Now Iʼm really curious.ʼ

Gloria, adjusting her glasses, glanced between them and sighed. ”Young Master, shouldnʼt you focus on the banquet? You were just saying how hungry you are.”

Javier clicked his tongue. ”Youʼre right. But…” He shot one last knowing glance at Liana.

She simply bowed her head. ”Letʼs focus on the current event, Young Master.”

ʼThis elf is hiding something.ʼ

And Javier was determined to figure out what it was.

( End of Chapter )