Reborn As Noble-Chapter 464: Courts, Clowns, and Crowns ( )

Just as Buddy ruffled his feathers and leaned forward, ready to peck or maybe body-slam his way into them—

Delya's gaze shifted.

Her eyes narrowed.

Her shadow aura thickened instantly, dripping with warning.

A chilling pressure rolled toward Buddy like a slow-moving wave of "don't you dare."

"Don't even think about it," Delya said sweetly—too sweetly.

Her tone was soft, but the air around her darkened.

"Just enjoy your fruit over there, big bird."

Buddy froze, half-chewed fruit still in his beak.

He slowly leaned back.

One step.

Two steps.

"...Cuquawked..."

("Nevermind, I like living.")

"BUDDY!!!"

Javier cried from beneath the cuddle-sandwich.

"Don't just abandon me! You're my mount! My partner! My friend!!"

"Cuquawked?"

Buddy waddled a few steps further back and flopped onto his side like a lazy house pet, fruit still in his wing.

"Cuquawk."

("This is your problem, not mine.")

Meanwhile, Delya let out a satisfied hum and rested her cheek on Javier's chest.

Mimi nuzzled in from the side with a dreamy smile.

"Nyaa~ so warm."

"My my~ so bold, Mimi," came a silky, regal voice from behind.

"A-Ah! M-Mother!!"

Mimi instantly froze, still wrapped around Javier.

The atmosphere shifted instantly.

All the nearby beastkin—including guards, merchants, and civilians—dropped to one knee.

Royal guards, mages, and archers surrounded the queen in perfect formation, their presence like a wave of silent pressure.

Queen Maira, the consort of King Lioness and ruler beside him of the Beastkin Kingdom, stepped forward gracefully.

Her presence radiated confidence and a playful danger—like a predator at ease.

She smiled as she eyed Javier, ignoring entirely the fact that her daughter and a demon princess were clinging to him.

"Oh~ handsome Armand..." she purred, stepping close enough that Javier instinctively leaned back.

"Just like your father."

Her fingers gently lifted his chin, tilting his face toward hers.

"That gaze... the way you carry yourself…"

"Mmm, are all Armand household men raised this well?"

"M-Mother!!"

Mimi quickly pulled herself between them, cheeks puffed red.

"Don't flirt with him! I saw him first!"

"My my..." Queen Maira purred, slowly running a finger along her jawline as she leaned in just a little too close.

"If I weren't with Mimi's father... I might have claimed you for myself. So handsome~"

"MOTHER!!" Mimi screeched, tail puffed up, ears standing straight up.

Before Javier could even process the queen's words—

Delya suddenly tightened her hug, pressing her cheek against his chest with a smug grin.

"Not letting go," she whispered.

"Never."

Javier's eye twitched.

Inside his mind:

Ugh... good. More trouble...

He cleared his throat, trying to maintain whatever of his noble composure was left.

"I-I'm sorry everyone, but I must politely say I have no inte—"

-EREST!!!

Javier's voice squeaked in the middle of his sentence as Delya squeezed him tighter, like a giant plush toy.

Everyone around blinked.

Queen Maira covered her mouth with a soft laugh, absolutely entertained.

"Ara~ such a sweet reaction."

Mimi stared at Delya, her eye twitching.

"You're crushing him, you demon!"

Javier just sighed.

"Liana... Gloria... if you can hear me, please come save me."

"Cuquawked."

("You're on your own, boss.")

"Hands OFF!!" Javier finally snapped, trying to pry himself free.

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKK!!!"

He flailed like a trapped noble squirrel, limbs wiggling uselessly between Mimi and Delya's vice-grip hugs.

"BUDDY!!" he shouted as a final, desperate prayer.

"Cuquawked."

("Not my problem.")

"BUDDY!!!"

Buddy took a slow, exaggerated bite of the fruit.

"...Cuquawk."

("I warned you about women problems.")

Javier slumped in defeat between the two girls, who were now arguing over which side of him was more comfortable to cuddle.

"My left!"

"No, my right!"

"You're on the wrong side! Switch with me!"

"No, you move!"

Queen Maira watched the entire scene unfold with a dainty smirk, her tail swaying gracefully behind her.

"My, my~ This is far more entertaining than court politics."

Javier's eye twitched again as he raised a single, trembling hand.

"Ehem."

The sound was firm, deep, and undeniably regal.

Both girls froze.

Mimi's ears shot straight up, tail stiff.

Delya's grip loosened instantly, her eyes wide.

They both slowly turned in unison—

Standing just a few steps away, flanked by elite guards in ornate armor and radiating authority, were two of the continent's most powerful rulers:

King Veldrac of the Demon Kingdom—tall, stern, with a faint glow in his eyes and an aura that carried heavy judgment.

And beside him—

King Lioness, ruler of the Beastkin Kingdom—his muscular frame draped in ceremonial robes, his expression somewhere between disappointment and suppressed amusement.

The air grew heavy.

All the beastkin and demon soldiers around the courtyard dropped to one knee instantly, heads bowed low.

Even Queen Maira stepped slightly to the side, giving a graceful nod, though her smirk stayed.

"Finally," Javier exhaled in his mind, fighting the urge to collapse to his knees in exhausted relief.

Sanity has arrived.

"Mimi. Delya."

King Lioness's voice was low but carried across the whole area.

"Care to explain why the diplomatic guest looks like he's been mauled by affection?"

King Veldrac raised an eyebrow at his sister.

"Delya."

"...Hi, Brother," Delya replied stiffly, hands neatly clasped behind her back like a scolded child.

"You're not here for games."

"Yes, Brother."

Mimi was the first to blurt out,

"I-It was her idea!!"

"Liar!"

"Silence,"

King Lioness's tone silenced them both immediately.

Both girls straightened, backs stiff like soldiers at inspection.

Javier, still caught in the middle of the chaos, looked between the two kings and slowly raised a hand.

"…Uh. Hi. I'm still alive. Barely."

King Lioness took a step closer, arms crossed, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"So... Garius's son."

Javier stood straight, brushing off the imaginary dust from his coat.

"Yes?" he replied, cool and steady—despite the sweat gathering at the back of his neck.

King Veldrac looked at him carefully, his voice sharp and precise.

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"This isn't the right place for this conversation."

"And I assume your father was supposed to be here with you?"

Javier hesitated—then answered honestly.

"No. He's not with me. I was sent alone."

The two kings exchanged a glance.

King Lioness clicked his tongue.

"Ugh. He played us again."

King Veldrac sighed, eyes closing briefly.

"Classic Garius. Sends his son as a shield while pretending it's diplomacy."

Queen Maira chuckled from the side.

"Oh, don't be so grumpy. He's handsome and charming. Quite the improvement over his father, if you ask me."

Javier's eye twitched.

...Can someone else be me for a day? Please?

( End Of Chapter )