Reborn As Noble

Chapter 345: Chili and Chains ( 345 )

”Oi, girl!”

Zania remained silent. She refused to speak, to acknowledge this devil, or to show any weakness.

”Hungry?”

Her stomach betrayed her with a slight growl, but she clenched her jaw and glared at the ground. She wouldnʼt accept food from a monster. She wouldnʼt eat the spoils of tyranny.

Javier sighed dramatically.

”Liana?”

The silver-haired elf smiled sweetly.

”Yes, Young Master?”

Javierʼs grin widened.

”Feed her the food.”

Lianaʼs eyes glinted. Beside her, Gloria adjusted her glasses, a sinister gleam hiding behind them.

Zaniaʼs chest tightened, and a chill ran down her spine.

(W-What… are they planning?)

Liana took a piece of roasted meat and dipped it into a generous amount of chili paste. Zaniaʼs eyes widened in horror.

(WAIT—WHAT IS SHE DOING?!)

”Oh~ I know youʼre hungry!” Liana cooed.

Before Zania could react, Liana pried her mouth open and shoved the burning-hot meat inside.

”MMHPHH!!!”

The spice hit instantly. Zaniaʼs body jerked. Her mouth burned, her throat screamed, and her eyes watered.

Yet—Liana and Gloria just smiled.

”Ara~ looks like she loves it,” Gloria mused.

Zaniaʼs mind exploded in panic.

(THESE DEMONS!! THEYʼRE TORTURING ME!!!)

Her eyes burned, her mouth was on fire, and her throat screamed in agony.

Lianaʼs gentle, sweet voice rang in her ears.

”Youʼre thirsty, right? Aww~ here~”

Zaniaʼs instincts screamed in warning. But before she could turn away, Gloria held her chin firmly in place.

Zaniaʼs eyes widened.

(WAIT—NO—!!!)

Liana tilted the waterskin, and cool liquid rushed into her mouth.

But then—BURN.

A second wave of fire exploded in her throat. Her eyes shot open in pure horror as she coughed and wheezed, desperately trying to expel the fiery liquid.

Meanwhile—

Liana and Gloria just smiled.

”Ara~ she drank it all~.”

”How admirable,” Gloria added, adjusting her glasses.

Zaniaʼs breath was shaky, her vision blurred. These women werenʼt human. They werenʼt even warriors. They were sadists.

And her captor? Javier? He was just enjoying his meal, casually eating his roast meat, completely unaware of the silent torture happening behind him.

Javier felt movement on his back—a slight wiggle, a shudder.

”Hmm?”

He glanced over his shoulder. Zaniaʼs body twitched violently, her face bright red, her eyes watery, her lips trembling. Something was wrong.

Javierʼs brows furrowed.

Then he turned to Liana and Gloria, both standing perfectly still, their smiles innocent, hands hidden behind their backs.

Javier narrowed his eyes. ”…Hmmm?”

Lianaʼs ears twitched. Gloria adjusted her glasses. ”…Yes, Young Master?”

Javier squinted at them and slid Zania off his back, dropping her onto the ground.

The moment she hit the dground, he finally saw it. Her face was bright red, her mouth quivered as if she had just swallowed molten lava. Her chest heaved violently, and her eyes… her eyes screamed betrayal.

Javierʼs expression twisted in horror.

”What the hell just happened?!”

He snapped his head toward Liana and Gloria.

”WATER! GET HER WATER!”

Liana and Gloria? They just smiled sweetly.

”Oh? She already drank some, Young Master~.”

Javier froze, his gaze darting between them and Zania. Then—

He finally put the pieces together and sighed deeply.

”…What did you two do?”

Javier sighed, rubbing his temples.

”Old man! Water!”

The merchant, still chuckling, handed him a jug of cool water. Javier crouched down and held it out to the twitching, suffering girl.

”Here. Drink.”

Zania didnʼt hesitate. She snatched the jug, tilted her head back, and gulped it down. The burning agony in her throat finally eased, and her body relaxed slightly. She wasnʼt sure if she was grateful or just relieved she wouldnʼt die from chili poisoning.

Javier felt it. A shudder. A chill. An instinctual warning. Slowly, he turned his head.

Liana and Gloria stood behind him, their expressions blank, smiles sweet, but their eyes… terrifying.

In unison, they spoke.

”Next time, Young Master, donʼt even think about capturing a beautiful girl.”

Javierʼs stomach dropped, a bead of sweat dripping down his forehead.

As soon as Zania finished drinking, she sensed a shift in the air—a heavy presence, a dangerous aura.

Before she could react—

”Young Master, come here for a moment~.”

Gloriaʼs soft voice rang in Javierʼs ears. Before he could protest, she grabbed his arm and gently pulled him away from Zania.

Javier blinked in confusion.

”Eh? Gloria?”

But she just smiled.

Liana stepped forward, her elegant steps slow and deliberate. Then she gripped Zaniaʼs hair. Zaniaʼs body stiffened, and her breath caught.

Liana leaned in slightly, her eyes burning with emotion.

”I hate that look.”

Her voice was calm, almost gentle—but her grip tightened.

”Those eyes of yours… filled with defiance. Arrogance. Hatred.”

A pause. Then her voice dropped to a whisper.

”If Young Master didnʼt insist on keeping you…”

Her grip tightened enough to make Zania flinch.

”I would have crushed you right here.”

Zania stared into those sharp eyes and for the first time—she felt genuine fear. This wasnʼt the cold, distant look of a warrior. This was the pure, undiluted hatred of a woman scorned.

Zaniaʼs breath hitched as Lianaʼs grip on her hair tightened, forcing her to meet those piercing eyes filled with pure, unfiltered hatred.

”Youʼre lucky.”

Lianaʼs voice was calm. Too calm.

”Lucky that Young Master didnʼt tie you up and drag you to the estate like the filthy baggage you are.”

Zaniaʼs body stiffened. Liana leaned closer, her breath warm against Zaniaʼs face.

”And if you try something again—”

Her grip tightened painfully. Zania winced.

”You can dream on walking. Ever.”

The air grew heavy, and Zania felt a deep, primal fear crawling up her spine. But Liana wasnʼt done.

Her voice dropped into a low, chilling whisper.

”And donʼt even think about running away, you piece of shit.”

Her fingers twisted Zaniaʼs hair cruelly. Zania bit her lip, refusing to make a sound.

”If not for Young Masterʼs mercy…”

A slight pause, then Lianaʼs smile turned cold and cruel.

”I would have cut off both of your feet myself.”

Javier rubbed the back of his head.

”…Umm, Liana?”

Liana turned toward him, her smile warm, innocent—perfectly sweet.

”Yes, Young Master~?”

Javier felt a shiver run down his spine. That was her dangerous smile. He decided not to question it.

Instead, he sighed. ”Letʼs go back to the estate.”

Liana brightened. ”Okay~.”

Javier walked toward Zania, preparing to pick her up—

But—

SLAP!

Lianaʼs hand smacked his away. Javier blinked in shock.

”…Liana?”

She just smiled, but now her eyes were cold and dangerous.

”No need for you to carry her, Young Master.”

A pause, then she tilted her head, her silver hair swaying slightly.

”Donʼt worry… I will carry her~.”

Javier felt his soul leave his body. Lianaʼs gentle tone was the most terrifying thing he had heard all day.

Meanwhile—Zaniaʼs heart nearly stopped.

”Pikko~”

Lianaʼs voice was soft, almost playful.

”Come here~.”

”Cuquawked?”

The silver-feathered Pekko trotted over obediently, lowering its body.

Then—without hesitation or care—Liana lifted Zania up like a sack of grain. Zania gritted her teeth, struggling.

(Damn it! Thatʼs hurt, you crazy woman—!)

But Liana ignored her completely. With expert precision, she secured Zania tightly to Pikkoʼs saddle, like baggage, like cargo. Zania twitched in humiliation.

(THIS CRAZY WOMAN!!!)

Liana hopped onto Pikko with a sweet smile, patting Zaniaʼs head like a child.

”Young Master~ Letʼs go~.”

Javier? His mind went blank. For the first time, he actually felt sorry for the enemy girl.

His voice stammered slightly. ”Errr... o-okay...”

Then he turned toward Buddy. ”Uhhh… Buddy?”

”Cuquawked?”

Javier climbed onto Buddyʼs back. The moment he settled in—Buddy flapped his wings excitedly.

”Cuquawked!!”

Meanwhile, Gloria had already mounted Peanut, who was still casually munching on stolen fruit. She adjusted her glasses gracefully and patted her Pekko.

”Peanuts~ Letʼs go, darling~.”

”Cuquawked~.”

With Javier still confused, Liana gleefully smug, Gloria calmly amused, and Zania silent, they all headed back toward the Armand estate.

( End of Chapter )