Reborn As Noble

Chapter 1538: The Unwilling Judge ( 1538 )

Liana and Gloria both crossed their arms, glaring at each other with matching smirks. Their eyes locked, the air between them crackling with playful tension.

Lyzia swallowed hard, standing a short distance away, watching her sister and cousin with wide, nervous eyes.

Celine moved beside her and whispered, her voice low and curious. ”Lyzia... what language are they speaking? I don’t understand a single word.”

Lyzia explained in a nervous whisper, her voice shaky. ”They’re... they’re talking in Elvish...”

Celine tilted her head in confusion, her brow furrowing. She glanced toward the two women before turning back to Lyzia, her voice soft and curious.

”I’ve never heard you speak like that before. When I first arrived at the Elven Nation before we met, I never heard any elf speak in that way either. Not the merchants, not the guards, not even the commoners.”

Lyzia hissed softly, keeping her voice low. ”That’s because Elvish is usually used in ceremonies, official meetings, or formal settings. Or when elders and nobles gather for important discussions. When you were at the market, everyone was using the common language because it’s what the traders and visitors understand.. You wouldn’t hear this kind of speech unless you were in a court or a council chamber.”

”Oh...” Celine nodded slowly, her eyes drifting back toward the two elves. ”So... what are they talking about?”

Lyzia watched the back-and-forth for a moment, her face growing paler with each exchange. She leaned closer to Celine and mumbled.

”They’re... they’re fighting. If we don’t stop them... it’s going to become a full-blown duel.”

Celine’s eyes widened in panic. She grabbed Lyzia’s arm, her voice dropping into a frantic whisper. ”What should we do? Should we call Felicia? Delya? Mimi? Or ask Gracelle for help?”

Lyzia swallowed hard, her gaze still locked on the two women.

”Honestly... I don’t know if any of them can stop those two when they’re like this.”

Buddy arrived at the scene, stopping at a slight distance between Liana and Gloria. He narrowed his eyes, glancing down at them with a flat, unimpressed look.

”Cuquawked... Cuquawked...” (Sigh... Fighting again. It’s been years already. Always the same topic, over and over. Just drop it already...)

He glanced at them again, letting out a low, tired squawk.

”Cuquawked... Cuquawked...” (Weird Master’s girls. Both are exceptionally pretty, even better than most girls, and yet they keep having the same argument over and over. I wonder when the juice will be ready.)

Buddy kept staring at them for a moment before shrugging with his wing and turning away.

I guess I’ll go wake up Master, who’s faking his faint over there...

Just as Buddy was about to walk, he paused. His entire body went still. His head turned slowly, his eyes narrowing as he glanced down at his tail feathers. Two hands, one slender and pale, the other equally graceful, were gripping his tail feathers tightly. He squawked in protest.

”Cuquawked!? Cuquawked!!” (What the hell are you two doing with my tail? Let it go!)

Liana turned her head and smiled sweetly, her voice coming out in a soft, melodic tone that was both gentle and dangerous.

”Buddy~ Tell us. Who is the prettiest one among us?”

Gloria nudged her glasses up, turning her glance toward Buddy with a sweet smile.

”Yes, Buddy~”

Her grip on his tail feathers tightened. She tilted her head to the side, her voice dripping with honeyed sweetness.

”Ah, ah~ And you must be honest about it.”

Buddy flapped his wing once, his eyes narrowing as he glanced between the two women.

”Cuquawked...” (At least let my tail go first, you two witches...)

Liana’s grip tightened, her smile growing even sweeter.

”You must be honest and choose the best among us. If you answer truthfully, I will reward you with anything you want to eat.”

Gloria nudged her glasses up again, her smirk widening.

”Ara~ If she offers you food, I can also cook. And just so you know, I have a stash of dishes you’ve never even tasted before~” She leaned closer, her voice dropping into a low, tempting whisper. ”A dish so rare, so exquisite, that no pekko has ever tasted it before. The aroma alone would make your feathers stand on end. And I promise you, Buddy... once you try it, you’ll never forget it~”

Buddy swallowed hard, his beak twitching as a drop of drool escaped the corner of his mouth.

Liana’s smile widened. She tilted her head, her voice turning soft and inviting.

”My, my~ Buddy. Surely you’d want to taste the best dessert and juice made by me, especially with your rainbow fruit~ The sweetness of the fruit, the freshness of the herbs, the perfect balance of flavors, all blended into a drink so refreshing it’ll make you forget everything else~”

Buddy stood frozen between them, his tail still trapped, his eyes darting back and forth as both women smiled sweetly at him, waiting for his answer.

”Cuquawked! Cuquawked!” (Fine. I will tell after you two let my tail go!)

Liana and Gloria’s smirks widened. They glanced at each other, then back at Buddy, and spoke in perfect unison.

”No~”

Liana tilted her head, her silver hair swaying as she spoke in a calm, knowing tone. ”I know you, Buddy. The moment I let go, you’ll bolt like a startled deer and claim you ’forgot’ the question. So no freedom until you give us a proper answer.”

Gloria nudged her glasses up, her smirk sharpening. ”That’s right. And make sure it’s the best answer. The right answer. Or you won’t be going anywhere for a while~”

Buddy’s wings slumped. His entire body seemed to deflate as he let out a long, defeated squawk.

”Cuquawked... Cuquawked...” (Fine... So tell me what you two were fighting about.)

Liana smirked, her eyes glinting. ”About who is Young Master’s real favorite. Me... or her.”

Buddy stared at both of them in utter disbelief. His beak hung open for a moment before he puffed his chest out and let out a long, loud squawk.

”Cuquawkedddddd!?” (You two are fighting over something this stupid!?)

Liana’s eyes narrowed. Her grip on his tail tightened, and she gave it a mock pull. Buddy flinched hard, his feathers ruffling as she spoke in a low, dangerous tone.

”Stupid or not, you need to tell the truth. And don’t you dare try to ditch the question like you always do.”

Buddy shook his head, then puffed his chest out with pride. He spread both of his wings slightly, his posture turning into a smug, self-satisfied pose before he squawked in a proud, confident tone.

”Cuquawked! Cuquawked!” (Simple! The answer is me! I’m Master’s favorite!)

( End Of Chapter )