Reborn As Noble

Chapter 1620: Sweets, Secrets, and a Scheming Bird ( 1620 )

Delya nodded, then scooped another bite of her dessert and murmured softly.

"Mm. Big Sister Liana said he was preparing for his upcoming mission."

Gracelle nudged her gently with her elbow and whispered in a low voice.

"We aren’t supposed to say that openly."

She pointed subtly with her lips toward where Buddy stood, still entertaining the children with his wind magic.

"Big Sister mentioned not to let Buddy know about it yet."

Felicia nodded softly, lowering her voice.

"Big Sister Liana said Husband was going to tell Buddy himself when we return to the Armand Estate. And Big Sister Liana informed us all to make sure Buddy doesn’t find out about it."

Buddy turned his head. His eyes narrowed, suspicion flickering across his gaze as he looked toward the three of them.

The three of them immediately turned their attention to their desserts, humming in delight.

"Mm! This is so delicious!"

"The cream is so light!"

"The jelly is so refreshing!"

Gracelle turned her head away, focusing intently on eating her dessert.

Buddy’s eyes stayed on them, his head tilting slowly.

Hmmm...

They’re all suspicious.

Liana, Gloria, all of Master’s girls... they’re all suspicious.

Even Master is suspicious.

I wonder what they’re hiding...

Buddy smirked. He lowered Mimi and the children gently to the floor, then stopped his wind magic. Mimi landed on her butt and immediately stood up, protesting.

"Nya! Buddy! We all still want to play!"

Buddy narrowed his eyes toward her.

But before he could say anything, Vivica and Macia ran toward him, grabbing his feathers and glancing up with pleading eyes.

"Buddy... we still want to play..."

Macia’s eyes grew wide and glossy.

"Pleaseee..."

Buddy’s eyes softened. He let out a quiet squawk, and both Macia and Vivica floated upward again, along with Azariah’s children. They spun in slow circles around him, their laughter ringing through the hall.

Mimi stomped her foot and puffed her cheek, her tail bristling behind her. Both fists dropped to her sides as she glared up at Buddy in clear dissatisfaction.

"Nyaaa! Mimi also wants to play!"

Buddy turned his head and glanced down at her, a smirk curling on his beak. He let out a low squawk.

"Cuquawked~?" (You want to play too~?)

Mimi glanced around, blinking. She’d just heard someone speak to her, but she didn’t see anyone looking.

"Nya?"

She glanced up at Buddy, both hands on her hips.

"Did you just talk to me?"

Buddy turned his head, glancing down at her with one eye, his beak still curled into a smirk. He wiggled an eyebrow and let out a low squawk.

"Cuquawked~ Cuquawked~" (Yes~ Master told me to let all his girls understand my squawks~)

Mimi tilted her head, one finger on her lips.

"Oh..."

Then her expression snapped into a pout.

"Nya! That’s unfair! You let the little ones play, but you leave me out? Mimi wants to play too! Why are you picking on Mimi?!"

Buddy squawked, then craned his head down toward her with a sly smirk. He let out a low, rumbling squawk.

"Cuquawked~ Cuquawked~" (I’ll let you play... if you tell me something I want to know~)

Mimi tilted her head in confusion.

"Nya? What is it?"

"Cuquawked~?" (Have you heard anything lately? Has Master told you anything? Anything at all?)

Mimi glanced up, tapping her chin thoughtfully.

"Mm... You mean what Husband said about the new food he wants to show us tomorrow?"

Buddy narrowed his eyes. He pulled his head back, his gaze still fixed on her, and cast his wind magic. Swings, a slide, a teeter-totter, and a spring rider rose from the air, woven from shimmering currents. Slowly, he lowered all the children gently to the floor. They landed with excited gasps and bolted toward the playground, their laughter ringing through the hall.

Buddy smirked at Mimi.

"Cuquawked! Cuquawked~" (Just tell me. There’s no need to be secretive. I’m not a bad pekko. I’ll let you play if you tell me the truth.)

"Nya? What truth?"

Buddy’s eyebrow twitched. He let out a low exhale from his beak.

Ugh!

This airheaded catgirl!

I’m sure she was told. She was definitely told.

But she probably didn’t pay attention. She probably heard the words and let them slide right out of her ears.

His eye twitched again.

I wonder what Master is hiding from me, but not his girls...

Buddy looked at Mimi, who was already dashing toward the playground with the other children, her tail bouncing with excitement. Then he turned his head toward Liana.

Liana was still seated, smiling serenely. Her three sisters were already on their feet, trying to wriggle free, but Liana held them with effortless ease. She had Qamara’s wrist in one hand and Enania’s wrist in the other, while Azariah’s hand was locked under her arm, pinned against her side. Her posture was relaxed, as if she were sitting quietly and enjoying the evening.

Buddy’s gaze shifted toward Gloria.

Gloria sat with her mother draped across her, Genevieve’s head resting on her breast, her arms wrapped around her daughter’s waist. Gloria patted her lower back slowly and hummed a soft tune, her eyes half-lidded, her expression tired but gentle.

Buddy slowly glanced toward another part of the hall.

Lyzia was sitting with Celine, trying to dodge her questions, her eyes darting sideways, her lips pressed together. Celine was leaning in, asking something Buddy couldn’t hear.

Then he looked back at the three girls. Felicia, Delya, and Gracelle, still eating their desserts and pretending nothing was happening.

Guh!

You’re all lucky I have to play with these kids!

If not, I’d keep pestering all of you until you cracked and told me everything!

Until you couldn’t take another squawk! Until you gave in and spilled every last secret! Until every one of you broke down and told me what Master is hiding from me!

I’d follow you around all night if I had to!

He turned his head away with a huff and glanced toward the playground he had just cast. His eyes softened, watching the children laughing and swinging, sliding down the wind-made slide, bouncing on the teeter-totter, spinning on the spring riders. Their laughter rang through the hall, bright and joyful.

He glanced at Liana again, and his smirk widened.

Heh~

Doesn’t matter.

I’ll let you all off the hook for now~

Just you wait for tomorrow~

I’ll make sure to annoy all of you~ until one of you gives up~

Kekeke~

( End Of Chapter )