Reborn As Noble

Fransesca shook her head slowly.

”What about during Kliatana’s coronation? The one that was supposed to happen before Klimar took the throne for the Human Nation. You were there, Nyxara. You were in the carriage with Veldrac and the others. You had every opportunity to meet Garius personally before he departed for the royal capital.”

Nyxara’s lips pursed. Her fingers found each other, twisting and twirling nervously in her lap.

”I... I saw how busy he looked. There were so many people around him. I didn’t want to interrupt. I thought... I thought I would wait until things calmed down. A quiet moment. Just the two of us. But every time I built up the courage to approach him, something came up. Someone needed him. And then...”

She lowered her head.

”By the time I finally decided to just walk up and speak to him, he had already departed for the royal capital. I didn’t know how long he would be gone. And my brother... he said we had to return to the Demon Nation. We left. I never got the chance.”

Fransesca let out a weary exhale, her tone firm.

”Now is your chance, Nyxara.”

She pointed firmly toward where Garius stood in the distance, Giddie at his side, Alf watching from a short way behind.

”This is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for. Garius is standing right over there. Right now.” She paused, her eyes narrowing slightly. ”I’m giving you one last chance. If you still refuse to claim your place in his harem, then...”

Her eyes turned serious, cold and final.

”...we can forget the promise. For good.”

Nyxara stayed silent, her lips pursed, her whole body tense. Fransesca’s brow twitched. She reached out, grabbed Nyxara by the horn, and started dragging her across the sand toward Garius.

”W... wait! I’m not ready yet! Fransesca! I’m not ready! Let me go! I need to prepare myself first! At least let me fix my hair! Fransesca!”

Nyxara panicked, hissing and digging her heels in, but Fransesca kept walking, dragging her along without slowing down.

”Annoying crybaby Nyxara...”

They arrived in front of Garius. Fransesca swung her arm and threw Nyxara forward. Garius caught her instinctively, sweeping her up into a princess carry. Nyxara’s face went bright red. She buried it immediately against his chest, her hands clutching at his shirt.

Fransesca’s eyes turned serious, her smile sweet and terrifying.

”Dear~ Fulfill your promise to her. And I don’t mind if you claim her before you and her set the wedding.”

Nyxara’s head snapped up, her face burning.

”W... what?! No! I’m not ready for that! We can’t just... I mean... I haven’t even...”

Fransesca’s eyes sharpened.

”The days ahead will be busy for Garius. Once the preparations begin, he won’t have time for ceremonies or long conversations. He won’t have time for anything. So settle it now. Once and for all. Or don’t settle it at all.”

”Errr... you sure, honey?”

Garius blinked, startled by the suggestion. He adjusted Nyxara’s weight in his arms, glancing between her flushed face and Fransesca’s unreadable expression.

”Is it really necessary for me to claim her before the wedding date is even set?”

Fransesca reached out and pulled Nyxara’s ear, staring at Garius the whole time.

”If you don’t do it, this girl will wait and wait and wait. She’ll find another excuse. Another reason to delay. Another moment when she thinks it’s not the right time. She’s been doing it for years, Dear. Years. If you leave it to her, she’ll keep waiting until you’re old and gray, and she’ll still be standing at the edge of the crowd, too shy to say a word.”

She released Nyxara’s ear.

”Claim her now. Give her no more time to run from her own happiness.”

Fransesca crossed her arms, her gaze sweeping over both Garius and Nyxara.

”I’ll give you both time until tomorrow dawn. That’s it. If she still tries to avoid this, if she finds another excuse, another delay...”

She tapped her chin thoughtfully.

”...then I suppose Nyxara will be out. And to complete my dear love’s harem, maybe I could replace her with another demon girl.”

She smiled without looking at them.

”There are plenty of beautiful demon girls among Veldrac’s escort here today. Perhaps I’ll pick one out. A lovely, obedient girl who won’t hesitate. I’m sure she wouldn’t refuse the opportunity to be married to the Sovereign of Armand.”

She glanced at Nyxara, who was staring at her in shock.

”Garius is still in his prime, after all. He doesn’t even look old. Still looks like a man in his thirties.” She tilted her head. ”Any demon girl would leap at the chance.”

Nyxara stammered, her voice cracking.

”I... I’ll do it! I’ll do it!”

She hugged Garius’s neck tightly, pressing herself against him.

”I don’t want another demon girl to replace me!”

”Ara, really? Hmm~” ℯ

Fransesca gave her a long look, smirking.

”I’m sure Veldrac and Lioness will want to spend time with my dear Garius too. Old friends, reunited after so long. Drinking together, laughing together, staying up until morning just like they used to~ They’ll want to pull him away the moment they spot him.”

She tilted her head slightly.

”Will you be able to fulfill it, or not?”

Her eyes turned serious.

”I’m serious about this, Nyxara. It’s annoying to see how you keep saying you’re not ready. You’ve been saying it for years. Waiting for the perfect moment. Avoiding every chance that came your way. So this is your last warning. If you still hesitate, that means the promise is off.”

She smiled sweetly.

”Surely you both know how serious I am.”

Garius let out a short exhale, glancing at Nyxara in his arms, then back to Fransesca.

”You’re sure about this, Fransesca? If I claim her right away, and then...”

”Hmm?”

Fransesca smiled at him, warm and certain.

”I’m sure you’re not that kind of man, Dear. You never have been. Once you claim someone, you keep them. You protect them. You don’t cast them aside.” She tilted her head. ”So claim her. Then set a date. If she wants to wait for the full ceremonies, we can hold the formal wedding later. If she wants something simple, we can arrange it quickly. Just invite an Armand priest and our closest family and friends.”

Her smirk widened.

”And since they’re all already here anyway... Lioness, Veldrac, their ministers, their officers. Everyone who matters is on this island right now. We wouldn’t even need to send out invitations.”

She paused, her eyes glinting with amusement.

”And I’m sure the Beastkin Queen will arrive soon enough. Once she learns her husband slipped away from his duty.”

( End Of Chapter )