Reborn As Noble

Meanwhile.

At a distance.

Javier crossed his arms and glanced at Liana with narrowed eyes. Liana fidgeted in place, her fingers twisting together, her gaze darting anywhere but at him. Her cheeks were faintly pink.

”Now do you believe me? Hmm?”

Liana averted her eyes, her voice dropping into a quiet mumble.

”I... I’m sorry... I... I shouldn’t have...”

Javier wiggled an eyebrow, his smirk returning.

”It’s not even my fault. The girl mistook me for my father and she jumped to conclusions. I had nothing to do with it.”

Liana glanced down at the sand. She took a slow step forward, then another, her walk hesitant and heavy, like each step cost her something. She stopped in front of him, her eyes fixed on the ground, her voice barely above a whisper.

”I’m sorry, Young Master... I shouldn’t have doubted you. I should have trusted you. Not just as my future husband, but after everything we’ve been through together. After all those years I’ve known you. After every moment we’ve shared. And yet I... I let my jealousy speak louder than my trust. That was my fault. Not yours.”

She lifted her head slightly, her emerald eyes still unable to meet his gaze.

”Forgive me, Young Master.”

Javier let out a long exhale, glancing at her.

”You don’t need to let your jealousy take over like that. You should have trusted me. I’ve never given you a reason to doubt me. Not once. Not in all the years we’ve been together. So next time, before you assume the worst, just ask me. Talk to me. Don’t jump to conclusions.”

Liana mumbled softly, her voice barely audible.

”How can I not feel jealous at all? Young Master is a natural magnet for girls. Everywhere you go, they look at you. They smile at you. They try to get close to you. And I...” She fidgeted, her fingers twisting together. ”Even as an elf, I’m still the oldest among the girls. I’m not the youngest. I’m not the most beautiful. I’m not the most exciting. I’m just...”

”Huh?”

Javier smiled and shook his head. He reached out and pulled Liana into his arms, holding her close.

”You’re still young. Elves never age, remember? You’ll stay looking like this for centuries. You’ll live longer than any human could ever hope to.” He grinned, tilting his head. ”Isn’t your current age still considered a teenager in elf terms? You’re practically a child compared to the ancient elves.”

Liana buried her face against his bare chest, her voice muffled.

”I’m sorry for how I reacted. I should have believed you instead of believing a stranger. I should have trusted my future husband. And I’m sorry for... for letting my jealousy get the better of me. For not being the composed, mature woman I should be. For making a scene when I should have stayed calm.”

Javier caressed Liana’s head gently, his fingers threading through her silver hair.

Delya watched from the side, her head tilting slightly. She raised a finger and pointed at herself, glancing up at Javier.

”What about me, Danna-sama?”

Liana turned her head, still resting against Javier’s chest, and extended one hand toward her. Delya’s face lit up. She walked over and joined them, pressing herself against Javier’s other side, her dreamy smile full of love.

Javier smiled and looked down at Liana.

”I hope you’ll stop doubting me. Stop assuming the worst before you even ask. I’m not going anywhere. I’m not going to leave you. Not for another elf. Not for anyone. You’re my first love. My anchor. That will never change.”

Liana nodded against his chest.

”I’ll try, Young Master. I’ll try.”

Buddy appeared beside them, glancing down at the three of them huddled together. He let out a loud squawk.

”Cuquawked!” (Okay, that’s enough of this. You three are getting too comfortable. We still have fruit to deal with!)

”Oh, hush, Buddy. Let them have their moment.”

Buddy narrowed his eyes, glancing down at Javier.

”Cuquawked~ Cuquawked~” (Yeah, right. ’Moment.’ Heh~)

His gaze dropped pointedly to Javier’s hands. One was resting on Liana’s breast, the other on Delya’s. Both were groping them casually while he held his girls close.

”Cuquawked~ Cuquawked!” (Some ’moment’ you’re having there, Master~ What a touching, heartfelt scene~ Really feeling the family love~)

Buddy craned his head down and shoved his beak between them, wedging them apart with a loud squawk. He pulled his head back and puffed his chest out.

”Cuquawked Cuquawked~” (Alright, alright. That’s enough. Enough of this sappy nonsense.)

He turned his gaze toward Liana.

”Cuquawked Cuquawked.” (And you. Since you caused my master trouble, and since you’re one of my master’s girls, you should be punished for doubting him.)

He wiggled his eyebrows.

”Cuquawked~ Cuquawked~” (As punishment, you should make everyone a special dessert, a drink, and a fruit mix with all those glowing fruits~)

He glanced toward the basket where the glowing fruits were, and his eyes shot wide open.

”Cuquawkeddd!!!”

Buddy rushed toward the basket, staring down at the glowing fruits. They had withered. Dark wisps of miasma curled off their shriveled surfaces.

”Cuquawked!! Cuquawked!!” (What happened!? How could this happen!? The fruit is ruined!)

He craned his neck down, letting out a low, disappointed squawk.

”Cuquawked...” (I really wanted to taste them... I really wanted to see what Liana could do with them...)

Then he spun toward Javier and squawked loudly.

Javier blinked. ”My fault?!”

”Cuquawked! Cuquawked!!” (Yes! You should have told that girl earlier that you weren’t your father! Then she would have understood and wouldn’t have used her magic! If you had just said something sooner, none of this would have happened!)

He then turned and narrowed his eyes at Delya.

”Cuquawked!! Cuquawked!” (And you! You weren’t supposed to use magic either! Your barrier! Your defensive power! It all affected the fruit!)

He turned back to the basket, his head drooping again.

”Cuquawked...” (Now my chance... My one chance to taste Liana’s cooking with that fruit... gone...)

Delya tilted her head in confusion, watching Buddy walk back and forth, squawking, bobbing his head, flapping his wings in frustration.

”Umm... Danna-sama?”

Javier chuckled, still watching Buddy’s dramatic reaction. He turned his gaze toward Delya, who was beside him.

”Yes?”

”What is your pekko talking about?”

Javier let out a sheepish laugh, rubbing the back of his head.

”He’s complaining that the magic used earlier ruined his fruit. He was really looking forward to having Liana make something special with them.”

”Oh...”

Delya placed a finger on her lips, watching Buddy continue his pacing and squawking.

Just as Javier was about to say something, they all turned toward a soft, glowing light in the distance. Liana was kneeling beside the basket, a gentle smile on her face. She murmured something in a low, soft voice, her hand hovering over the withered fruits.

The dark miasma was fading, and the fruits were slowly regaining their glow, plump and fresh once more.

Liana tilted her head, her voice soft and warm.

”Really? You want me to make something even more delicious with all of you?”

( End Of Chapter )