Reborn As Noble

Chapter 218 Vines and Vexations ( 218 )

Javier sighed as he leaned back in his chair, his eyes half-closed while sipping the tea Liana had prepared for him. The tension in the room hadnʼt eased at all; if anything, it was getting worse.

”Liana?” he called out.

”Yes, young master?” Liana replied gently, standing beside him with her usual calm expression.

”This event… the grand ball. Is it really that important?” Javier asked, hoping for a reason to escape.

”Yes, young master,” Liana answered. ”It is a major social gathering where nobles strengthen alliances, forge connections, and—”

Before she could finish, Princess Kliatana stepped forward, her noble presence commanding the room. ”Surely, Javier, you will choose me. A princess—the only princess of this kingdom,” she declared confidently, flipping her hair with an elegant smirk.

Amethia, still clinging to Javierʼs arm, scoffed. ”Hmph! Choose me, Javier-sama! Iʼm sure weʼll have way more fun at the grand ball. Just ignore this so-called princess!”

The room fell silent.

Princess Kliatanaʼs gaze sharpened instantly, her smirk turning dangerous. ”Oh? How dare the Dukeʼs only daughter speak so disrespectfully to me, the crown princess? Hmm?”

Amethia met her glare head-on, not backing down. ”Hmm? Iʼm just stating a fact, ʼprincess.ʼ Just because you are the only princess of the kingdom doesnʼt mean you donʼt have competition, right? No wonder you act so entitled.”

Gasps filled the room.

Javier let out a long, tired sigh. Here we go…

Princess Kliatanaʼs eyes flashed. ”Wanna fight?” she challenged, stepping forward.

Amethia tightened her grip on Javier. ”If you wish!” she shot back.

The tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a sword.

Javier rubbed his temples. Haaaa… Why me?

From the side, Gloria chuckled softly while Liana sighed, already preparing another cup of tea.

Javier groaned, rubbing his temples as the tension between Amethia and Kliatana grew. Sparks—literal magical sparks—crackled in the air between their locked gazes, their competitive auras clashing like two rival beasts ready to pounce.

”Calm down, girls! Ugh…” Javier sighed, raising his hands in surrender.

”No! Choose one of us!!” they both yelled in unison, their eyes meeting like an intense anime showdown. The air crackled, almost as if reality itself was reacting to their emotions.

Javier swore he saw lightning bolts shooting between their eyes. Is this really happening?

Amethia smirked, flipping her hair dramatically. ”Hmph! Just because youʼre the only princess in the kingdom doesnʼt mean you always get what you want, ʼprincess.ʼ” She emphasized the last word mockingly.

Kliatanaʼs smirk widened, unfazed. ”Oh my~ And just because your father and my father—the king—are siblings, doesnʼt mean you can act so entitled, Dukeʼs daughter.”

More sparks flew.

Javier blinked. Yeah. Iʼm out.

Without hesitation, he leaned back, stretched, and.. ”Welp. See ya, girls!! Ahahahah!”

Before they could react, he vanished—a gust of wind kicking up as he bolted for the door, his escape route perfectly planned.

”HUH!?”

Amethia and Kliatana turned, but by the time they realized what had happened, Javier was already gone, leaving behind a slight breeze and an empty chair rocking back and forth.

Gloria let out a melodic laugh, covering her mouth. ”Ara~ young master is quite skilled at running away from trouble.”

Liana sighed, gracefully picking up the untouched cup of tea. ”As expected. Completely predictable.”

The two noble girls stared at the empty space where Javier had been, their argument momentarily forgotten.

”That little—!” Amethia fumed.

”Tch. He escaped!?” Kliatana muttered, clenching her fists.

From far away, Javierʼs voice rang out.

”Lianaaa! Gloriaaa! Letʼs go!! Ahahahah!”

With a wide, mischievous grin, Javier sprinted across the academy grounds, dodging confused students and startled servants as he made his daring escape. The wind brushed through his hair, and his heart soared with freedom. No noble girls forcing me into awkward dances! No pointless social events! Just pure, sweet escape—! Experience tales with

Until it wasnʼt.

Suddenly, a hand caught the back of his collar with a strong grip, stopping him instantly.

”Eeekkk!?” Javier yelped, his feet kicking up dust as he flailed.

What the hell!? Who has the strength to stop me so easily!?

He twisted his body to see who had caught him—and froze.

Standing before him was a breathtakingly beautiful woman. Her long, silky hair flowed past her shoulders, and her sharp yet elegant features radiated a regal aura. Her figure was stunning, exuding the confidence and poise only a truly experienced woman could possess.

Javier blinked, momentarily stunned. ”Wow… beautiful~” he muttered without thinking, his eyes wide with admiration.

The woman narrowed her piercing eyes at him. ”Young master, where do you think you are going?” she asked, her tone cool yet firm.

Javier blinked again. ”Errr… Who are you?”

He was sure he had never seen this woman before. If someone this striking had been around the estate, he definitely wouldʼve noticed!

Meanwhile, just outside the classroom, Liana stepped out, following the sound of Javierʼs voice. She expected to find her young master lazing around or getting into some minor mischief—but instead, her eyes widened at the sight before her.

Javier was caught.

And the one holding him was a stunning woman.

Lianaʼs eyes narrowed slightly. She had never seen this woman before.

Her heart skipped a beat.

”Young master!!!”

Lianaʼs sharp eyes locked onto the mysterious woman gripping Javierʼs collar. Her instincts screamed danger. Without hesitation, she drew her twin blades and dashed forward in a blur of silver.

Her movements were precise—each step calculated, each slash aimed with deadly accuracy.

In an instant, all her attacks were deflected.

But not with a sword.

The mysterious woman used only a hairpin.

Lianaʼs eyes widened in shock. Impossible!

Before she could react, the woman gracefully flicked her wrist, sending Liana skidding backward with sheer force alone.

But Liana was not one to back down. The moment her feet touched the ground, she flipped mid-air, twisting her body as her bow appeared in her hands.

Her fingers pulled back on the string, and an arrow of glowing green mana formed instantly.

Sheʼs strong… I canʼt hold back!

But before she could fire—

Vines erupted from the ground.

”?!—”

Lianaʼs body was instantly wrapped up, immobilized by enchanted vines coiling tightly around her arms and legs.

”Liana!!” Javier shouted.

Reacting instinctively, he tried to leap toward her—but the moment he moved, he felt his jacket being pulled away.

In one swift motion, his jacket slipped off his shoulders, leaving him just enough time to jump back and prepare to launch a spell.

”Tch! Fine, letʼs do this!” Javier gritted his teeth, his magic surging—

But before he could react, the woman vanished.

Then she reappeared behind him.

Smack!

A sudden, light slap landed on his head.

”Eeeeppp!!” Javier yelped, stumbling forward in disbelief.

His eyes widened. ”How!?”

She had been in front of him just a second ago! There was no wind, no sound—just an instantaneous movement beyond anything he had ever seen!

Then—

A calm voice interrupted the chaos.

”Good afternoon, Mrs. Errinette.”

Javier and Liana both turned sharply.

Gloria stood at the entrance of the classroom, her usual serene expression unchanged as she gave a polite bow.

Javier and Liana both shouted at the same time:

”EHHHH!?”

Their faces were frozen in shock.

Javier pointed a trembling finger. ”Gloria, what do you mean ʼMrs. Errinetteʼ!?”

Liana, still struggling against the vines, stared in disbelief.

( End of Chapter )