Reborn As Noble

Chapter 1601: The Way They Always Are ( 1601 )

Lioness grinned wide, his tail swaying with excitement. He slung his arm around Veldrac’s shoulder and laughed, his voice booming.

”The day is still long, Veldrac! We get to enjoy this vacation to the fullest! Just like the old days!”

Veldrac let out a long, weary exhale.

”Could you lower your voice? Just a little? I’m trying to enjoy my drink, and every time you boom like that, the wine vibrates in my glass.”

Lioness slapped Veldrac’s shoulder repeatedly, laughing.

”Come on! You’re too stiff, Veldrac! Look at you, sitting there with your glass, sipping like some noble at a formal dinner! Drink properly! Enjoy it! This isn’t a council meeting, it’s a celebration!”

Just as Veldrac was about to respond, a shiver ran down his spine. He swallowed hard, and his gaze slowly shifted. He noticed the woman standing behind them.

He stood up in a rush, stumbled, caught himself, and hurried off across the hall without a word, leaving Lioness alone at the table.

Lioness blinked, his arm still hanging in the empty air where Veldrac had been.

”Oi. Where are you going, Veldrac?”

Then an ominous feeling crept up behind him. He swallowed hard.

”Ara~? Here you are, my dear Lioness~”

Lioness’s face went pale. His lips trembled. Slowly, he turned his head and glanced over his shoulder.

Thalia stood there, both hands clasped in front of her dress, her head tilted to the side, smiling sweetly.

”My, my~ You’re having fun here, dear~?”

Lioness turned his head forward again, pretending not to notice his wife behind him. He started to rise, but her hand clamped onto his shoulder from behind, pushing him back down into his seat.

”Dear~ Where do you think you’re going~?”

Lioness tried to stand, but his body refused to move. Every muscle was locked in place.

Thalia leaned forward, her head settling against his shoulder. Her voice dropped to a whisper against his ear.

”How dare you leave me alone to handle the councils. All those gossiping beastkin ladies, chattering and scheming and eyeing each other’s jewelry. You slipped away without a single word. Without informing me. Without asking permission. And what do I find when I arrive here? You, sitting at a table, drinking and feasting, laughing with Veldrac like a carefree boy on holiday.”

”A... ah...”

Lioness swallowed hard, flashing a nervous grin. His tail went stiff behind him.

”I... I did inform you! I told you! Before I left! I’m sure I did!”

Thalia grabbed his tail.

”When?”

”EEEEKKKK! Not the tail, Thalia! Not the tail!!”

From a distance, Garcinia, Phenelopie, Eridith, and Mylezra stifled their laughter.

At another table nearby, Athine fed Vivica and Macia small pieces of food, the two little girls giggling, while Lithia, Harny, Meira, and Zania watched the scene with amused smiles.

Garcinia raised her palm to cover her laugh.

”Look at that. The biggest and strongest king of the Beastkin Nation... scared of his small, delicate wife.”

Mylezra smirked.

”That’s how Thalia is when she’s furious with him. All that muscle, all that power, and one glare from her turns him into a nervous cub.”

Eridith, who was busy munching on her meat, glanced at Thalia and shrugged.

”Lioness always acts like he’s terrified of her, even when he’s not. He’d let her pull his tail off if it made her feel better.”

She paused mid-chew and made a gagging face.

”And once she’s done scolding him, she’ll calm down. Then they’ll be all lovey-dovey again. She’ll sit close to him, lean against his shoulder, glance up at him with that soft look in her eyes. You’ll see. It happens every single time.”

Phenelopie tilted her head, one finger resting on her lips.

”Really?”

Eridith smirked and glanced at her.

”Yes.” She pointed with her lips toward where Lioness and Thalia sat. ”Look at them. Did she shout when she scolded him? In front of everyone?”

Phenelopie looked toward them. Lioness was sitting, his lips moving as he said something to Thalia. She couldn’t hear the words, but she watched Thalia glance up at him, her lips purse, her tail swaying slowly.

”I wonder what he’s saying to her.”

Mylezra smirked. She stood, turned toward Eridith, and cleared her throat, dropping into a deep, booming impression of Lioness.

”Thalia. It’s not that I don’t want to accompany you. It’s the council. All those beastkin women, chatting and scheming, and the way they look at me. Every one of them. If I had been there, they would have stared at me the entire time. I didn’t want to cause trouble. I didn’t want to make you jealous.”

Eridith played along, her eyes gleaming as she mimicked Thalia’s expression.

”Really?”

Mylezra stepped forward, lifted Eridith’s chin with one finger, and looked into her eyes.

”Really. You are the only one in my heart. The only one in my eyes. The only one in my life. Forever.”

Eridith kept mimicking Thalia, swaying her body the same way Thalia was swaying now. Phenelopie glanced at her, then at where Lioness and Thalia sat.

Eridith looked up at Mylezra, pursed her lips, and slapped Mylezra’s arm softly, narrowing her eyes as she spoke in a soft, sulky voice.

”At least you should have informed me. Not just left me like that. Not just slipped away without a word. Is it so hard to say a few words before you leave?”

Mylezra mimicked Lioness’s voice again, cupping Eridith’s cheek with her palm.

”I’m sorry. You’re right. I should have told you. I was wrong. I promise I won’t do it again.”

Eridith swayed her body and pursed her lips further.

”Then prove it to me. If you really love me, kiss me right here.”

Mylezra scratched her cheek, mimicking Lioness’s uncomfortable fidget.

”There are too many people around. I don’t want others to see my love for you. My feelings, my affection... they’re just for you. Only you should see them.”

Eridith slapped Mylezra’s arm, lips still pursed.

”Mm~ This is why it’s so hard to stay angry at you.”

Mylezra scratched the back of her head and grinned, mimicking Lioness’s sheepish expression perfectly. Then Eridith and Mylezra turned and shrugged together.

”This is how that big brute always is. The same way back then.”

Garcinia and Phenelopie stifled their laughter, covering their lips with their palms.

Garcinia’s voice came out between giggles.

”You two... that was too perfect. You mimicked them flawlessly.”

Eridith continued her meal, speaking with her mouth full.

”Well, they’ve always been like that. From back then till now. Never change.”

( End Of Chapter )