Reborn As Noble

At the same time.

Mimi and Felicia lounged on cushioned beach chairs, Mimi’s tail swaying lazily and Felicia with a book propped against her knees. Near the water’s edge, Gracelle splashed and laughed with Celine and Lyzia, the three of them kicking up sparkling spray in the late-afternoon sun.

Gloria lay stretched along the long couch, one leg bent, her book propped open against her stomach, her attention fixed on the pages. Liana arranged the empty plates and glasses on the table, and with a snap of her fingers everything vanished into her dimensional storage.

Delya squirmed in her seat, shifting her weight with a soft, pained whimper. Her legs were still trembling. Her thighs were still warm. She could still feel the ache deep inside from an hour ago.

”Cuquawked~” (Mm~ Liana’s cooking was delicious~)

Liana smiled and shook her head, watching Buddy sprawled out on the sand beneath the huge tree. He burped softly, his eyes half-lidded with contentment after the meal. She glanced around, noticing Javier was nowhere to be seen.

”Buddy?”

”Cuquawked~?” (Yes, my elf witch~?)

”Have you seen Young Master?”

”Cuquawked~ Cuquawked~” (Don’t know~ But I can sense he’s nearby~ Probably somewhere close~)

Gloria glanced up from her book, tilted her head toward Buddy, and mumbled under her breath.

”Lucky Liana and Lyzia. They can understand what that orange menace is saying.”

”Cuquawked?”

Buddy glanced at her with lazy eyes, then his beak curled into a smirk.

Gloria’s brow furrowed.

”What?”

”Cuquawked~” (Big-boobed witch~)

Gloria’s eyes widened. She sat up abruptly, her book slipping from her lap.

”What did you just say?”

”Cuquawked~ Cuquawked?” (I said big-boobed witch~ Why?)

Gloria turned her head toward Liana, her expression caught somewhere between shock and disbelief.

”Liana... did I just... did I just understand what that orange menace said? Did I actually hear him? In words? In my head?”

”Hmm? Yes, Gloria?”

Gloria narrowed her eyes at Buddy, her voice flat.

”Did he just call me a big-boobed witch?”

”Ah~” Liana smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. ”He finally let you understand his squawk.”

”Eh?”

Gloria’s eyes widened.

”So that’s what he said? That means... I can understand him now?”

Liana finished placing the last item into her dimensional storage, then walked toward the long couch where Gloria was sitting. She settled down beside her, leaning back and letting out a relieved exhale.

”Yes. That’s what Buddy said.” She smiled, glancing at Gloria. ”Unlike our pekkos, or any other wild pekko, Buddy can choose who he allows to understand him. He decides who can hear his words and who only hears noise.”

”Cuquawked~ Cuquawked~” (That’s right, big-boobed witch. Listen to my beautiful elf witch~ You should be thankful that I, a majestic pekko myself, allow you to understand me~)

Gloria narrowed her eyes toward Buddy, then glanced back at Liana.

”Now that I can understand him... it’s starting to get annoying.” She sighed, shaking her head. ”Before, it was better. I couldn’t understand a word he said. Just noise. Peaceful, blissful noise. Now I have to hear every ridiculous thing that comes out of his beak.”

Liana stifled a laugh, covering her lips with her palm.

”You’ll get used to it.”

”Still... he’s so annoying.”

Just as Liana was about to say something, a few Armand maids approached them. Liana glanced at them in the distance.

”Hmm? I wonder why they’re coming here.”

The maids stopped at a respectful distance. The leading maid clasped both hands in front of her and bowed softly, the others following behind her. She lifted her head.

”Forgive the interruption, Miss Liana. Mrs. Erinette asked me to deliver a message to you and the ladies.”

”Hmm? Yes? What is it, Haira?”

Haira smiled softly.

”Mrs. Erinette asked me to inform you that Princess Felicia and Princess Mimi’s parents have arrived at the guest villa. And Princess Delya’s brother, King Veldrac, has requested to see her.”

”Nya? Papa is here?”

Mimi glanced up from the puzzle cube in her hands.

”Yes, Princess Mimi. But only His Majesty King Lioness and his escorts and high-ranking officers are here. Her Majesty the Queen is not with him.”

Felicia pinched the bridge of her nose and let out a slow exhale.

”Father is troublesome as always.” She mumbled under her breath. ”If Mother finds out he slipped away without her, she’ll be furious. Father will be in huge trouble.”

She slowly closed her book, set it down on the table, and stood gracefully, adjusting the strap of her bikini.

”Thank you for informing me, Haira. Please tell them I will be there shortly, once I have changed into something more appropriate.”

”Nya! Father is super annoying! Mimi doesn’t want to go!”

Felicia’s glare widened at her, sharp and clear. Mimi pursed her lips, her tail swaying in annoyance.

”Fine. Hmmph!”

Delya glanced up, her expression still soft from the lingering warmth of earlier, and offered a gentle smile. She inclined her head graciously, her voice flowing with the measured, graceful cadence of royalty.

”Please convey my gratitude to my brother. Tell him that I shall join him shortly, once I have refreshed myself and changed into more suitable attire. And please inform him that I shall accompany Princess Felicia and Princess Mimi as well, so that we may greet our esteemed guests together.”

Haira bowed softly once more.

”As you wish, Princess Delya.”

Liana smiled, watching Felicia walk toward the building, Mimi trailing behind her with lazy, reluctant steps, and Delya following after them with a careful, measured gait, each step a little stiff, her thighs pressing together with every movement.

Haira spoke again.

”Miss Liana? Miss Gloria?”

”Hmm? What is it, Haira?”

Gloria reached for her glasses and slipped them on, then gathered her hair and tied it up into a high ponytail.

Haira bowed and smiled again.

”Forgive me for the late notice. We have received word that your family is on board the second warship, and it will be arriving at the island shortly.”

”Ah...”

Liana and Gloria glanced at each other and let out matching weary exhales. Liana turned back to Haira.

”Was my mother on board?”

”No, Miss Liana. According to the admiral’s report, those on board are your sisters and your niece, along with Miss Gloria’s brothers, her father and mother, and a few elven officers.”

( End Of Chapter )