Reborn As Noble

”Brownie?”

Buddy let out a gleeful squawk. ”Cuquawked!” (Yes! That weird girl took a liking to him, and Master called him Brownie, so his name is stuck as Brownie now. Hahahaha!)

Liana tilted her head, narrowing her eyes at Buddy. ”Why a male pekko? Why not a female?”

”Cuquawked!” (Well... it’s not like I had time to find a female pekko for that shy brat and the new witch. Besides, I already have five, and they’ve all laid eggs. Do you think it’s easy managing all of them? Nope. And also, that Brownie and the other one who’s always wandering around... they have their own fate to follow. It’s not my place to decide which pekko bonds with whom. That’s between them and their future masters.)

Liana nodded thoughtfully, resting two fingers on her chin while one arm crossed beneath her breast. ”So the new girl will be the sixth wife, huh?”

”Cuquawked!?” (What? No. It’s not even final yet. That Brownie doesn’t like his name and doesn’t really want to be tamed. But that silent one... he showed up the moment that shy brat arrived here. And Father already said that pekko will be destined for her, whether she knows it yet or not.)

Buddy smirked on his beak again, letting out a low, knowing squawk.

”Cuquawked.” (Well... don’t pretend, elf witch. The rank of Master’s wives is decided by you, the first wife~)

Liana glanced up at him, her eyes narrowing slightly. ”I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Buddy let out a smug, chuckling squawk. ”Cuquawked~” (Heh~ Don’t take me for a dumbass, elf witch. I’ve known you longer than your co-wives have. Remember? I’m the first pekko. And your pekko, well, my girl Piko, is the second pekko. I’ve been with Master since he was still a bratty, cheeky, mischievous young lord, and I’ve watched you from the serious no-nonsense elven maid into the woman you are today. So don’t try to hide anything from me.)

”Yes, yes~” Liana shook her head before glancing up at him with a serious expression. ”And what’s with the ’witches’? You want me to cook you for dinner?”

”Cuquawked~” (Heh~ Of course I call you and all of Master’s girls witches. Especially you. Don’t take it the wrong way, witch. I call every girl a witch, whether they’re elf, human, dwarf, or any other race. I don’t discriminate~)

Buddy lifted his head, glancing around before letting out another squawk. ”Cuquawked?” (Where’s that little elf witch with the same hair and eyes but smaller boobs? Your little sister?)

Liana narrowed her eyes at him. ”Why do you want to find her?”

”Cuquawked?” (What? No. It’s more because you elves are weird. You can understand what we pekko say. Well... except for my master. He’s a talented genius, so he doesn’t count. But you? You’re just a witch who happens to understand bird talk.)

Liana smiled and shook her head, mumbling softly under her breath. ”You’re lucky you’re Young Master’s pekko. If not, I’m sure you’d end up in a stew pot.”

Buddy stuck his tongue out to the side of his beak, making a dumb, exaggerated look before bobbing his head left and right in a teasing motion. ”Cuquawked~” (Go ahead and try, witch~ But we both know Master loves me just as much as he loves you. You can’t cook me without breaking his heart~)

Liana narrowed her eyes at him, a faint smile tugging at her lips before she shook her head again, letting out a soft, resigned sigh. ”You’re impossible.”

Buddy smirked again, glancing down at her before letting out a low squawk.

”Cuquawked~” (Anyway~)

Liana crossed her arms, looking up at him. ”Hmm? What is it?”

”Cuquawked~” (Since you have that dimensional storage, I know you’ve got a huge stockpile of roasted meat hidden away in there~)

”And?”

”Cuquawked~” (If you give me a generous pile of it, I’ll tell you something big. And I might even help you with it~)

Liana’s eyes narrowed with a hint of amusement, a smirk forming on her lips. ”Oho~? And what could that be?”

Buddy’s beak curled into a smug smirk. ”Cuquawked~” (First thing first~ Meat~)

Meanwhile.

Inside the meeting room.

Garius sat at the head of the long table, his right eye glowing faintly as he reviewed the documents and parchments Celine had provided. The information spread before him, maps, letters, and official seals, all bearing the weight of a kingdom’s trust.

Javier, Marcellus, Cedric, Aelius, and Heres sat along the table, each reviewing their own copies of the documents, their expressions focused.

After a long, measured silence, Garius set the document down. His glowing eye faded, returning to its natural state. He turned his gaze toward Celine, who sat composed at the table, with Ashara and Jiowana standing at a distance, their eyes fixed on the floor, still visibly tense.

”Princess Celine.”

Celine lifted her gaze, meeting his eyes with quiet respect.

Garius’s voice was calm, carrying the weight of a sovereign who had seen countless treaties and letters of state.

”I have reviewed the information you have provided. It is thorough, well-documented, and speaks of a kingdom that values foresight and preparation. Please convey my gratitude to your father, King Garreth, for entrusting you with this mission and for his willingness to open a line of communication with Armand.”

He paused, lifting the official letter bearing King Garreth’s seal. A faint, approving smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

”I would very much like to meet your father in person one day. I am curious to see the face of the man who raised a daughter brave enough to cross an ocean and wise enough to know when to seek allies rather than enemies.”

Celine inclined her head gracefully, her voice carrying the practiced poise of a princess raised in court.

”I am deeply honored by Your Majesty’s kind words. My father entrusted me with this mission with the utmost confidence in Armand’s integrity and strength. To hear such words of acknowledgment from the Sovereign himself is a reassurance that I will carry with me always.”

Garius nodded slowly, then lifted another sealed letter from the pile.

”Your father also included a personal request in his correspondence.”

He paused, his gaze meeting Celine’s.

”He has asked that you be granted protection under Armand’s care for the foreseeable future. Given the circumstances surrounding certain individuals in your continent, particularly the one named Julius, he believes your safety is best ensured here, away from his reach.”

He set the letter down, his voice steady and measured.

”King Garreth speaks of a man who holds considerable power and influence, and who has set his sights on you. He fears that if you were to return to Divinity under the current circumstances, your safety could not be guaranteed. He has therefore requested that Armand extend its protection to you, not as a political hostage, but as a guest and, as I understand, as a future member of our royal family.”

( End Of Chapter )