Reborn As Noble

Chapter 812: Wine, Feathers, and Chaos ( 812 )

Garius let out a soft chuckle, leaning back with an air of leisure.

”Ah... I have been talking too long, haven’t I?” he said smoothly.His smile remained calm, but his eyes gleamed with quiet amusement.

Alf stepped forward, every movement precise and polished. In his hands he carried a finely sealed bottle of deep crimson wine with Armand Emblem on the bottle.

Along with it, he presented a single exquisite glass—crafted from gold, its stem inlaid with diamonds that caught the sun with each subtle turn.

Garius accepted it with ease, holding the glass. ”Perhaps, before the council begins, allow me to offer you a taste of the most expensive wine my land produces.”

Alf poured with deliberate grace, the dark liquid swirling smoothly into the golden diamond glass. Garius lifted it, studying the color for a moment before taking a slow, unhurried sip.

Garius let his gaze drift toward Alf, his expression one of composed curiosity, though the subtle curve of his lips betrayed the weight behind his words.

”Ah, Alf...” his voice flowed with noble calm, yet laced with a note of feigned concern. ”We did not bring any extra glasses, did we? How then are our esteemed peers to taste Armand’s finest wine?”

He tilted his head slightly, a sigh escaping as though he carried the guilt of poor manners. ”How careless of us. To bring such a treasure, yet so ill-prepared in courtesy... Truly, it feels wrong of me.”

”Forgive me, Your Honorable Marquis, for I brought only this one glass. A shame, I know. But unlike others, I do not burden myself with carriages overflowing with food, clothes, and trinkets. My journey was swift, smooth, and unencumbered... exactly as I intended.”

Marquis Saten ground his teeth, fury coiled behind his polite mask.

This shitty Garius....How dare he mock me so openly, in front of everyone? Does he forget I outrank him? He’ll pay for this. He might win this round with pomp and feathers, but I will not forget. I will find his weakness, and when the moment comes....

But before he could say anything.

A new sound ripped through the courtyard—a sound of split with a sudden crashing noise a shout, and the frantic cry that split the air.

”Buddy!! Brake! Brakeeeeee!!!”

Saten froze where he stood, eyes widening as the chaos unfolded before him.

Three carriages, once lined neatly in the courtyard, now lay in ruin.

Splintered wheels, shattered frames, horses neighing in panic as reins snapped loose. And at the heart of the wreckage stood a massive orange Pekko, feathers flaring, chest puffed with unshaken pride.

The rider had been thrown clean off, his body tumbling into a row of bushes with a graceless crash. Gasps and muffled laughter rippled among the onlookers, though quickly stifled under the weight of noble decorum.

The Pekko, unbothered by the wreckage it caused, tilted its head once. Then, with a slow, deliberate strut, it turned its gleaming eye toward the nobles.

”Cuquaaawk!”

The squawk rang out, sharp and triumphant, like a declaration of victory.

And then, as if mocking the very notion of punishment, the enormous bird strutted away with a smug, bouncing gait.

Saten’s lip twitched, his fingernails digging into his palm as he stared at the ruin of three carriages. First Garius... and now this...

The orange Pekko stop in front of the bushes, stood smug and proud, feathers ruffling as if mocking every noble present. Its beak curved slightly in a way that almost resembled a smirk, and each squawk it let out felt like a slap across Saten’s face.

From the bushes, the boy who had been hurled moments earlier scrambled upright, his fine clothes streaked with dirt and grass. His voice rang out, dripping with frustration.

”Ugh! Buddy!!! Now I’m in a mess! Look at my clothes!”

The Pekko merely squawked again, lowering its head to stare at him with mocking amusement.

”Cuquawked!”

”Yeah, yeah, whatever... I’m sure Liana and Uncle Hesbeirn are already apologizing to the royal guard because of you! Next time don’t brake suddenly when you’re using that speed!”

”Cuquawked?” Buddy tilted his head innocently, as if to play dumb.

”Don’t you dare use that squawk and pretend you don’t know! Ugh...” Javier dragged a hand down his face, glaring at the bird.

Just then, another Pekko came to a halt nearby, moving with far more grace. An elf maid dismounted with a flowing step, her every motion calm and refined. She hurried toward the boy, brushing leaves from his shoulder and shirt with gentle care.