Reborn As Noble Chapter 1614: Love Over Convenience ( 1614 )

Azariah stuttered, forcing a smile onto her face.

"We... we all came here to meet you, Liana. And to attend the gathering. That’s all."

Qamara nodded quickly. "It’s the Armand Family’s invitation. To all their allies. We couldn’t exactly refuse, could we? It would have been rude."

Enania let out a nervous laugh, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve. Her smile was too wide, too stiff, and her eyes darted toward Azariah before she spoke.

"You’re being weird, Liana. Suddenly asking like that. What’s gotten into you? Aren’t you happy to see your sisters after so long?"

Liana shifted her crossed legs, leaning back in her chair. Her arms stayed crossed beneath her breasts, her eyes narrowing slowly.

"I am happy to see my sisters after so many months. Only a cruel person would not be happy to see their family."

She tilted her head.

"But you three are avoiding my question. That tells me everything I need to know."

She raised her wine glass and took another slow sip.

"You know, I’ve been working in Armand for years. Serving as a maid, then as Young Master’s personal maid, and now as his betrothed." She swirled the wine glass slowly, watching the liquid catch the light.

"As you may already know, Armand staff, especially the maids, are trained harder than anyone else. We’re not just taught to clean and cook and serve. We’re trained to fight. To defend ourselves. To protect the Armand family with our lives. Harder than the Elven Nation. Harder than any noble house. Harder than even the royal guards of other kingdoms."

She set her wine glass down, her fingers trailing along the rim.

"But do you know what the very first thing everyone in Armand is trained for?"

Azariah, Qamara, and Enania turned their heads away. Azariah’s gaze dropped to her lap. Qamara’s fingers tightened around the edge of the table. Enania’s nervous smile faded into something quieter, more guarded.

Liana smiled softly.

"Information~"

She leaned back and crossed her arms, tilting her head slightly.

"Before you can serve, before you can protect, before you can be trusted, you learn how to gather information. How to read people. How to notice what they’re not saying. How to tell when someone is lying, or hiding something, or avoiding a question."

She lifted one hand and twirled a strand of silver hair around her finger, her other arm still crossed, her smile sweet and calm.

"That is why no enemy has ever slipped through our gates. No spy has ever hidden in our ranks. No intruder has ever walked our halls without being seen. Because the moment someone tries to hide something from Armand, we already know."

She let the strand of hair slip from her fingers.

"This is about Lyzia... am I right?"

Liana took out her mana phone and tapped the screen, her movements relaxed, a faint smile still playing at her lips. She scrolled slowly through it, as if she had all the time in the world.

Azariah, Qamara, and Enania fell silent.

Liana’s eyes stayed on the screen.

"Mother sent you three to persuade Lyzia to go home. Right~?"

She smiled, set the phone down on the table, and crossed her legs again.

"If Mother asked you to bring Lyzia back because she misses her, I don’t mind. But since Lyzia is still in training, I will only allow her to come home after..."

She paused, glancing at the mana phone to check the time.

"...another two weeks."

Her face turned serious.

"But if Mother plans to have you three persuade her to go back because she wants to match her to that noble elf from the southern territory..."

Her eyes hardened, her voice dropping low.

"...then I would rather let Lyzia become my Young Master’s woman than let Lyzia be married off to some stranger she’s never chosen for herself. I would rather she be loved, cared for, and cherished by someone who would never force her into anything."

Azariah’s eyes widened, her voice rising in disbelief.

"Liana! That’s... that’s absurd! That’s completely ridiculous! You can’t be serious! Javier already has seven women in his life including you! And you want to add our little sister to that? As the eighth? Do you really think that’s fair to her?"

Liana rested her chin on her palm, her other arm crossed beneath her breasts.

"So?"

Qamara blinked. "That’s not normal! Seven women! Seven! And you want to make it eight? You’re telling me you think it’s fine?"

Liana leaned back, a small smirk touching her lips.

"I see nothing wrong with it."

She lifted her glass and took a slow sip, her voice warming as she spoke.

"Young Master is the most handsome, charming prince I have ever known. He is kind. He is protective toward his family, his girls, his people. He works harder than anyone I have ever met, and he does it all without complaint. He never asks for recognition. He never demands gratitude. He simply gives."

She set the glass down, her voice turning softer, more measured.

"And there is more to him than that. Matters that a woman doesn’t speak of in polite company. Of how a man might treat his bride in the privacy of their chambers. Of being the only one in his arms. Of feeling him, seeing him, holding him in ways that words cannot describe. Of being desired, wanted, filled..."

She lifted her chin, her eyes gleaming with quiet certainty.

"I have never once been disappointed. Not in a single regard. Not once in all the years we have been together. And none of his girls are neglected. None of us are forgotten. We are all cared for. All loved. All made to feel like we are the only woman in the world when he holds us."

She looked at Azariah and Qamara, her eyes steady.

"So tell me. What exactly is the problem? If Lyzia is going to be married to someone, why not to a man who will actually love her, protect her, and treasure her?"

She tilted her head. "If Mother insists on marrying Lyzia off to that noble elf from the southern territory... then I will make sure Lyzia becomes my Young Master’s woman instead. I would rather she be happy in Armand, with someone who would never force her into anything, than be paraded around the elf courts like a prize to be handed off."

Enania let out a soft protest, her voice gentle but firm.

"Liana, you should consider Lyzia’s feelings. Forcing her to become Javier’s wife... it’s not fair to her. She should be allowed to choose for herself. She’s young, yes, but she’s still a princess of the Elven Nation. She deserves the right to decide who she marries, not to be handed off because it’s convenient or because you think it’s better for her. You’re her sister, not her keeper."

Liana smiled softly.

"Forcing her~?"

She turned her head and glanced toward where Lyzia sat with Celine.

"Lyzia~ Come here~"

Lyzia tilted her head in confusion. She rose from her seat and walked toward Liana, with Celine following behind her. Both of them stopped near Liana.

"Yes, Sister?"

Liana patted Lyzia’s dress, smoothing the fabric over her lap. Her hand slipped into the pocket, and she drew out Lyzia’s mana phone. She tapped the screen and held it up toward Azariah, Qamara, and Enania.

The screen showed a photo. Javier stood on the beach, wearing only his trunks. One hand was tucked into his pocket, his head turned slightly to the side. His bare chest was visible, lean and sculpted, every muscle defined, the lines of his body catching the sunlight. The angle was perfect. The lighting was perfect. The moment was perfect.

Lyzia’s face went bright red. She lunged forward and snatched her phone from Liana’s hand, hissing in panic.

"Don’t touch my phone!"

She stuffed it back into her pocket and huffed, turning away and storming off, her cheeks burning, her steps quick and flustered. Celine stood frozen, bewildered, before hurrying after her.

Liana smirked. She lifted her wine glass and took a slow sip.

"Does that look forced to you~?"

( End Of Chapter )