Reborn As Noble

Lioness’s eyes landed on Erinette, and his grin widened. His tail swayed behind him, still holding Veldrac over his shoulder like a sack of flour. Veldrac kept wiggling, trying to pry himself free, but Lioness didn’t even budge.

”Erinette! Still look the same as when we met months ago... no~ From back then! Serious. No nonsense. Always with that same stern face.” He tilted his head, his grin turning teasing. ”You should smile more, you know. All that seriousness will give you wrinkles before you know it~”

Erinette’s lips curved into a faint smirk. She nudged her glasses up the bridge of her nose with one finger.

”My hair has started turning white, Your Majesty. And my face is already old. I’m afraid the wrinkles have long since arrived.”

”Gah! Don’t give me that!”

Lioness waved his free hand dismissively, his tail flicking with disbelief.

”You’ve been saying that for years! Every time we meet! ’I’m old, my hair is white, my face is wrinkled.’ And yet you look exactly the same as the day I first met you. You’re not fooling anyone, Erinette. I know your tricks!”

Lioness leaned forward, studying her face closely. He squinted at her black hair, threaded with plenty of white strands, then pulled back with a huge grin, wiggling his eyebrows.

”I don’t know how you do it, Erinette. But that’s clearly fake. Every time I see you, you look the same. Come on~ At least show me your real self when you greet us. Just once, I want to see the actual Erinette, not this disguise you keep wearing.”

Erinette clasped both hands in front of her maid dress and smiled, tilting her head slightly.

”If Your Majesty remembers what I looked like when we first met all those years ago... That is what I look like now. Still the same.”

”Whooo~ Really? Damn!”

Lioness’s grin widened, his tail swaying behind him. He glanced around, then leaned closer.

”At least show me once. Just a peek. I’m curious!”

Erinette nudged her glasses up, her expression still serious and stern, but her eyes carried a faint, quiet warmth.

”The real me is only for Alf’s eyes, Your Majesty.”

Lioness let out a loud laugh, shaking his head.

”Ahh! Alf! He’s a lucky one, I’ll tell you that!”

Erinette’s expression remained composed, her posture stern, but her eyes softened with quiet love. She glanced toward Veldrac, still dangling over Lioness’s shoulder.

”Now, Your Majesty, you should let King Veldrac go. It is not befitting for a king to be carried around like a sack of grain. Especially in front of Armand’s officials. It reflects poorly on his dignity and your own.”

”Not gonna happen~” Lioness grinned, then slapped Veldrac’s butt with a loud smack. ”I’ll only release him when we both arrive at the feast area~ This is our reunion tradition, you know!”

Before Lioness could finish, the robed figure stepped forward and removed her hood.

The hood fell back, revealing her face. A beautiful face, framed by long, dark red hair. Two small dark horns curved up from her forehead. Her eyes were crimson, deep and warm, and her cheeks were faintly flushed. She smiled softly at Erinette.

”Long time no see, Erinette.”

Erinette adjusted the cuff of her long sleeve and smiled.

”Likewise, Lady Nyxara. It has been too long.”

Nyxara glanced around, her eyes scanning the path leading inland. Her expression was soft and full of longing, her gaze carrying something wistful, hopeful. Her cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red as she turned back to Erinette.

”...Is Garius here?”

She lowered her voice, her tone hesitant and gentle.

”I want to see him. I’ve missed him so much.”

Just as Erinette was about to answer, two voices drifted from the distance.

”Ara~ Someone here wants to see our husband, Eridith~”

Eridith’s voice followed, confident and sharp, carrying a teasing edge that cut through the dock’s noise.

”How shameful~ For a certain old virgin to still be chasing after another woman’s husband after all these years. Honestly, Nyxara, I thought you would have gotten over it by now. But here you are, still blushing like a maiden meeting her first love~”

Nyxara’s head snapped toward the sound. Her crimson eyes widened, then narrowed.

”Mylezra... Eridith...”

Mylezra smiled, calm and confident. She raised her back hand gracefully, sweeping a lock of hair over her shoulder.

”Nyxara~ Long time no see~”

Eridith grinned, her arms crossing under her chest.

”Surprised to see us?”

Nyxara’s face turned calm. She smiled faintly, but her aura began to rise around her, slow and heavy, pulsing outward in silent waves.

”What are the two of you doing here?”

”Ara~ No one told you yet~? Poor Nyxara~ You really came all this way without knowing?”

Eridith’s grin widened as she stepped forward.

”I’m Garius’s fourth wife.”

Mylezra raised her chin slightly, a graceful pose, and let her smile widen.

”And I am his fifth.”

”F... fourth? F... fifth?”

Nyxara’s aura flared hard, the pressure rippling outward and making the dock creak faintly beneath her feet. Her eyes snapped open wider, her cheeks flushed, and her hands clenched at her sides.

Erinette let out a long, weary exhale, rubbing her temple with her fingers.

This is exactly why His Majesty was so frantic. I had a plan ready. A distraction. An excuse. Something to soften the news, to give him time to break it gently. And now these two... They just announced it without care. Without warning.

She glanced at Lioness and Veldrac, then at their escorts.

This is going to take a long time.

She turned toward them and spoke briskly.

”Your Majesties. It would be best for us to proceed to the villa where you’ll be resting. The welcome feast has already been prepared. There is no need for you to stand here waiting while... this matter is settled.”

Lioness and Veldrac both nodded. Veldrac finally slipped free from Lioness’s shoulder while Erinette turned toward the Armand officers.

”Please escort them to the guest villas. Ensure their comfort.”

”Yes, Mrs. Erinette.”

She then turned to the Armand Battle Maids Unit.

”Ensure their safety. All three of them. Do not interfere. Do not engage. Just ensure nothing gets out of hand.”

”As you command, Mrs. Erinette.”

The masked maids placed their palms over their left chests and bowed. They spread out into a wide perimeter, taking up positions at a distance. The maids who had been escorting Mylezra and Eridith stepped back and joined the formation, giving the three women space.

Erinette glanced at them one last time, shook her head, and turned to walk toward Lioness and Veldrac.

( End Of Chapter )