Reborn As Noble

Chapter 1116: A Ghost Among the Flowers ( 1116 )

”Buddy! Catch!”

Javier shouted with a grin, tossing another grilled meat skewer high into the air. Buddy leaped with surprising agility for his size, snatching it effortlessly mid-air with a happy snap of his beak.

”Cuquawked!!” Buddy squawked in excitement, flapping his massive wings.

”Oi, Buddy! Don’t flap too hard, or the grill will blow out!”

”Cuquawked?” Buddy tilted his massive head to the side, looking genuinely confused.

”Ah...” Javier rubbed the back of his head with his free hand, the other still expertly flipping meat on the grill. ”Forgot this is a magic grill... eheheh.”

”Cuquawked!!” Buddy squawked again, this time with a tone that sounded almost smug.

Javier turned and glanced over his shoulder. Several other huge pekkos had quietly gathered behind him, their large eyes fixed on the sizzling feast.

”Ah... Pikko, Peanut, Jito, Karu, and Blitz... you all aren’t guarding your eggs?”

”Cuquawked!!” All five pekkos squawked in unison and nodded their heads, as if to say, They’re safe, now feed us!

”Oh... right... sorry,” Javier chuckled, looking around. ”We are right next to the pekko pen. Ehehehe.”

”Cuquawked!”

”Alright, alright, wait wait... we’re going to grill a lot more meat today! Don’t worry about the stock. I have plenty more in my dimensional storage! Kekeke~!”

He kept flipping the meat, tossing pieces that were nearly done to the eager pekkos while eating some himself, grilling and munching contentedly.

Hmm... wonder what’s taking them so long? Why is Mother calling for them?

But it’s good to know that Mother also cares for my future wives~

Ermm... after feeding myself and all my pekkos here, I’ll head to my personal workshop.

Javier smirked and glanced at the small, sturdy building next to the pekko pen.

I’ll craft the engagement necklaces for each of them.

While grilling, a subtle feeling crept over him. The sensation of being watched from afar. He glanced toward the source and noticed a maid standing at a respectful distance. She had long, flowing golden hair and wore a pristine golden apron, her fingers gently touching the petals of a nearby flower as if tending to it.

Hmm? I think I’ve seen her before. But where?

Javier rubbed his chin thoughtfully, keeping an eye on her as he continued to cook.

Ah... The mystery maid. From when I was a boy.

Whenever I went to the library, she was there, dusting the shelves nearby. And whenever I arrived, there was always one particular book left open on the reading table.

Or when I was walking around the gardens with Liana as a kid, she’d be nearby, quietly sweeping leaves or tending to the flowers.

Or when I was running from Liana as she chased me with that huge wooden plank, she was always somewhere in the background, watching calmly.

It’s been so long since I last saw her. Maybe because I’ve been so busy lately.

But she was always there. Always around.

She’s the only maid I don’t know about. So full of mystery. I know almost every maid’s name around the Armand estate, even those in the Battle Maid Corps or the Special Units.

But never this one.

When I asked Gloria about her back when I was a kid and Gloria was head of the household maids, she insisted there was no maid with golden hair like that.

Even Liana said the same. She tried to tell me it was just my imagination, that I was being too cheeky and mischievous, and a ”ghost” was haunting me as punishment. Heh... trying to scare a boy with an adult mind like me... ahahaha.

I even asked Erinette once. But she said there was no such maid... not even in the most elite units.

Alf also mentioned the same, but with his usual stern, lecturing tone. ”Young Master, please refrain from indulging in imaginary tales. A noble’s mind should be occupied with duty, decorum, and discipline, not fanciful specters.” And then he’d launch into another etiquette lecture about the ”proper conduct of an Armand.”

Ugh! It was a nightmare. Father’s lectures, Alf’s lectures... it felt like they were trying to gaslight me out of my own memories.

He glanced at the spot where the girl had been standing.

Hmm... perhaps she really is just a ghost, huh? The mystery maid. Always around if I happen to notice.

Javier watched as another guard and a few maids walked past the same area where she had been standing. None of them greeted her, acknowledged her, or even glanced her way.

And then, as if she were made of morning mist, she simply vanished.

Yeah...

Perhaps she really is a ghost.

Javier chuckled to himself and looked back at the grill, only to find it completely empty. He glanced up.

Every pekko had turned their heads slightly sideways, each eyeing him with one large, innocent-looking eye.

”O... Oi! You all ate it straight from the grill, didn’t you?!”

”Cuquawked!” Buddy shook his head vigorously. The other pekkos followed suit, their movements synchronized.

”Don’t lie to me! I can see the meat grease still glistening on your beaks! All of you!”

”Ugh!” He glared at Buddy. ”It’s all because of you, you glutton! The others just followed your lead!”

”Cuquawked!” Buddy narrowed his eyes and tilted his head to the side, feigned innocence.

”Damn! You’re lucky you’re my pekko.” Javier exhaled and snapped his fingers, opening his dimensional storage and pulling out a large basin full of marinated meat.

”Alright, time to grill again!” Javier grinned, carefully arranging the new batch of meat on the grill.

He smiled to himself as the savory aroma began to rise again.

One day... if I ever get the chance to speak to that mysterious maid...

Perhaps I should ask her name.

Or maybe even become her friend, or something like that.

He paused, his gaze drifting from the grill to the empty spot where she had stood.

Wait...

If I do that...

Everyone will think I’ve lost my mind, talking to empty air.

And once that happens, Liana and Gloria will probably look at me with that worried, ’Young Master, have you been overworking?’ expression. Felicia would fret, Delya might just smile, and Mimi would probably try to ”exorcise” the ghost with one of her wild techniques.

Sigh...

Hmm??

Father has the knowledge and the Eyes of Truth, right? Maybe I could ask him. He knows everyone who works under Armand. He’s never forgotten a name, especially not among his staff.

If he says there’s no maid with golden hair like that... then that girl really is a ghost.

And only I can see her.

If that’s the case... why only me?

( End Of Chapter )