Reborn As Noble

Chapter 448 448: Mimi ( 448 )

Yaaawn~

A drowsy voice drifted through the quiet night air just as the guards at the small entry gate were finishing the paperwork.

From the side corridor of the border compound, a girl appeared—long hair tousled from sleep, swaying slightly as she rubbed her eyes.

Two fluffy cat ears twitched atop her head, matching the tail that lazily swayed behind her. She wore a finely embroidered cloak over loose, comfortable clothes—clearly not formal attire, but still decorated with the royal crest of the Beastkin Kingdom.

The guards immediately snapped to attention, their spines going stiff.

”A-A-Ah! P-Princess!!”

The girl yawned again, entirely unfazed by the sudden spike in tension.

”Mmnh… Iʼve been waiting since this morning…” she mumbled, dragging her steps like a half-awake child as several high-ranking beastkin guards followed anxiously behind her.

One carried a pillow. Another held a small mana lamp in case she wanted more light. A third was nervously trying to fix her cloak that had slipped off one shoulder.

She waved them all off.

”Father told me to greet him personally…” She blinked, her eyes adjusting to the glow of the outer gate. ”So… whereʼs the human from Armand…?”

Her voice trailed off as she scanned the space.

Javier, quietly sipping from a cup of warm fruit tea, slowly turned his head toward the commotion.

Buddy, half-asleep by the fire crystal, opened one eye lazily.

The sleepy princess pointed directly at Javier.

”…Is that him?”

The nearest guard nearly dropped his spear.

”Y-Yes, Princess! That is Young Lord Javier De Armand!”

She yawned again and walked up to him, showing no formality.

”…Hi. Iʼm the youngest daughter of King Lioness. He told me youʼd be here tonight. Youʼre late. I waited all morning.”

Javier blinked, a little surprised.

”…You waited in your sleep?”

”…Thatʼs not the point.”

Javier offered a small, amused smile and stood to greet her properly.

”Javier De Armand. Pleased to meet you, Princess…”

”…Mimi,” she said, yawning again and scratching one ear lazily. ”Just call me Mimi. Iʼm too tired to be formal right now.”

The guards nearly choked in panic.

”P-Princess!! Titles!!”

Mimi ignored them completely, plopped down on the stone bench Javier had just vacated, and patted the spot beside her.

”Youʼre not sleeping yet, are you? Good. Sit. I have to ask you a bunch of stuff father told me to remember.”

Then she mumbled under her breath, her eyes half-lidding.

”…If I can remember them…”

Javier calmly sat beside her, hands folded neatly, expecting some casual diplomacy or, at the very least, a sleepy round of questions.

But the moment he did—

Mimi lay down sideways without hesitation, curling up and resting her head right in his lap, her tail flicking once before settling around her legs.

Her eyes fluttered shut instantly.

”Mm~ comfy...”

She squirmed slightly into position, clearly treating his lap like the worldʼs most luxurious pillow.

”Yum yum~” she mumbled in her sleep, her lips twitching faintly into a smile.

Javier blinked.

”…You fell asleep already?”

The royal guards standing nearby turned pale.

”P-PRINCESS!!”

One of them took a cautious step forward.

”S-Sir Javier, please forgive her! Sheʼs just, um—very informal when sheʼs sleepy—!”

Javier raised one hand calmly.

”Itʼs fine.”

Buddy squawked from the side, wide-eyed and judging.

Javier looked down at Mimiʼs peaceful face, her soft breathing syncing with the gentle flicker of the fire crystal nearby.

”…Well.”

He leaned back slightly, arms relaxed, and let out a soft sigh.

But he didnʼt move her.

Instead, he just let her sleep—because part of him knew this was probably the least chaotic thing that had happened all day.

After what felt like an hour—maybe two—Javier remained seated in silence.

Mimi still lay peacefully across his lap, purring faintly with each breath, her tail flicking lazily every so often.

Javier exhaled softly and looked up at the starry sky.

”…Sheʼs still out cold, huh.”

Buddy was curled up nearby, half-asleep himself but occasionally glancing over with a smug look that seemed to say, ”You brought this on yourself.”

Finally, Javier moved.

Slowly and carefully, he shifted his body, trying to slide out from under her head and place it gently on the padded bench cushion.

But the moment he budged—

”Nyaa~... donʼt move too much…” Mimi mumbled sleepily, wrapping her arms around him and pulling herself against his side with a firm grip.

Javier froze.

Her cheek pressed against his chest as she curled into him like a clingy housecat.

”Munyu~… munyu~...” she mumbled again, completely unconscious.

Javier stared down at her, completely deadpan.

”Youʼre not the only one tired.”

He muttered quietly, glancing at the now completely quiet border post.

”I also want to sleep.”

He tried to nudge her shoulder lightly.

”Oi. Wake up.”

No response.

Only more soft noises.

”...Ugh.”

He looked over to Buddy, who was now fully awake and clearly enjoying the spectacle.

Cuquawked.

”…Shut up.”

But Javier didnʼt push Mimi away.

Instead, with another long sigh, he leaned his head back against the wall.

The quiet night stretched on.

The breeze was gentle, the mana fire crystal flickered softly, and the ambient noise of the border post had faded into silence. Only the occasional crackle of magical light and the soft rustling of leaves beyond the gate remained.

Javierʼs eyelids grew heavy, his posture gradually loosening.

His body had endured a full battle, monster waves, light-element deployment, and a quiet interrogation by a clingy princess.

And now?

Now… sleep sounded better than diplomacy.

Beside him, Buddy settled down, fluffing out his feathers to form a warm, round cushion. His eyes were half-lidded, tail feathers curling around him like a blanket.

Javier gave up.

He leaned gently to the side and rested his head against Buddyʼs body, letting the soft, downy feathers support his weight. The warmth was comforting, steady, and familiar.

”…Comfy.”

His voice was barely a whisper as his eyes finally closed.

Mimi still clung to him, her arms loosely wrapped around his torso, tail lazily curling in her sleep.

And so—under the sleepy glow of the border lights—the three of them ended up huddled together on the long, padded bench:

Mimi, the royal catgirl, curled into his chest.

Javier, leaning into Buddy like a quiet, reluctant pillow-seeker.

Buddy, the silent guardian cushion of the night.

Not a word was said.

But the scene?

Absolutely scandal-worthy.

( End Of Chapter )