Chapter 480: Water, War, and Warnings ( 480 )

“Cuquawked!!”

(Time for breakfast!)

Buddy flapped his wings once, puffed out his chest proudly, and strutted forward.

He leaned down with one massive talon and—very gently but firmly—lifted Mimi off Javier like she was a sack of flour.

“Ehhh?!” Mimi yelped as she flailed mid-air.

“Why did you move me?!”

“Put me down! I’m still snuggling my husband!!”

Ignoring her protests, Buddy tilted his large beak and carefully scooped Delya off Javier, nudging her a few feet away like a mother bird relocating her chicks.

Delya blinked, her long hair swaying as she sat up, unimpressed.

“…This Pekko has no manners.”

“Cuquawked!!”

(Time for my master to grill some meat!)

Mimi sat up with puffed cheeks, arms crossed.

“Ehh? What is this big bird saying!?”

“Something about meat, I think,” Delya murmured, rubbing her eyes.

Still lying on the grass, Javier finally sat up with a groan, rubbing his temples.

“I just wanted peace,” he muttered.

Buddy turned toward him, gave a solemn nod, and strutted off.

“Cuquawked.”

(Let’s go. You cook. I eat.)

“…Yeah, yeah, I’m coming,” Javier muttered, standing up.

His face hit the cold stream first.

“…Morning sucks,” he mumbled into the water.

Still wearing clothes stained with yesterday’s chaos, he pushed himself up with a sigh. Everything reeked of sweat, dirt, and royal girl perfume.

He peeled off his shirt and pants, flicked his magic storage open, and tossed them inside.

Silence.

Just the gentle sound of the stream flowing.

He waded in slowly, letting the cold water wash over him.

“…Peace. Finally.”

From the riverbank—

“Ohhh~”

Javier twitched.

Delya was lounging on a nearby rock, her head resting on her hand, eyes glued to him.

“Those muscles… that back… ahhh~ My danna-sama’s built like a dream~.”

“…I’m literally just washing off dirt,” Javier muttered.

“Nyaaa~”

Mimi purred as she sat with her knees tucked, tail swaying seductively.

“Future husband~ Are you trying to seduce us with that river sparkle~?”

Javier’s head drooped forward.

“…Oi. You two. Enough staring,” he muttered.

Neither moved, neither blinked.

“…I hate my life,” he said flatly.

Cuquawked!!

Buddy came stomping from behind, flapped once, and jumped into the river with a splash—nearly crashing into Javier.

Water flew everywhere.

“Cuquawked!”

(Time for bath! Move over, human!)

“Oi! Watch it!” Javier snapped.

Buddy ignored him and splashed happily, flapping his wings like a kid in a puddle.

“Cuquawked!”

(Hurry up and grill meat after this!)

Mimi giggled.

Delya tilted her head wistfully, sighing dreamily.

Javier stared up at the sky, exasperated.

“…Can I please just have one normal morning?”

The river flowed quietly as Javier stood waist-deep in the water, arms crossed, hair dripping down his face—his well-built body on full display without meaning to.

His gaze flicked toward the two girls still seated on the bank.

“You two.”

“Yes~?” Delya and Mimi answered in perfect sync, grinning like they hadn’t just turned his life upside down.

He exhaled slowly, tired.

“Why do you even want me to be your husband?”

His tone wasn’t angry. Just exhausted.

“You’re both royal. Princesses. You’ve got hundreds of better options back home. Stronger men. Nobles. Future kings.”

Mimi tilted her head, tail lazily swaying.

“Nya? I just love your smell. Your face. That sharp glare. And nya~”—she pointed—”that body is so Mimi’s type.”

Javier twitched visibly.

Delya leaned forward, resting her cheek on her hand with a dreamy smile.

“Me? I don’t know~” she murmured softly. “I just fell for you at first sight.”

Simple. Honest.

Javier groaned.

“Ugh…”

Mimi giggled.

“Well~ I’m sure a lot of girls fall for you when they see you, right~?”

He didn’t respond.

Just stared into the water.

The ripples moved slowly, surrounding him like fragile traps.

For once… Javier had no comeback.

Delya tilted her head, still eyeing him like a snack.

“You mentioned nobles…” she said with a growing smile. “But aren’t you one too?”

He blinked.

“You’re Lord Garius’s son. Ruler of the Armand Region. The strongest territory. The richest land. The most secure domain.”

She licked her lips slightly, clearly more focused on something else.

“You’re the best candidate for us,” she purred.

“No one can surpass you—not in status… or in body…”

More drool.

“Oi. Stop staring like you’re trying to eat me alive,” Javier muttered, stepping a little deeper into the river.

Delya giggled.

“I’m just saying~ Once you reach adulthood, you’ll seduce women left and right without even trying. So having a wife like me—an early investment—you know~”

She winked.

“Once you try a demon… you never go back.”

“Nya!!” Mimi jumped to her feet, hands on her hips.

“Mimi’s better! Catgirl! Cute! Hot! Flexible! Purrfect in every way!”

Javier pinched the bridge of his nose.

“You both are thirteen!!”

Mimi tilted her head innocently.

“Nya? But you’re also thirteen, nya~.”

“…That’s not the point,” Javier mumbled.

Buddy, floating in the river nearby, slowly turned his beady eyes toward Javier.

Cuquawked.

(You dug this hole yourself.)

“Shut up, Buddy,” Javier muttered, eyes fixed on the trees.

“I miss Liana,” he said softly, voice distant.

“Ugh. Both of you, stop fighting already!” Javier groaned, massaging his temples.

“Why don’t you two go clean yourselves while you’re at it?”

That should’ve been a normal, reasonable suggestion.

Unfortunately…

“My~ Danna-sama~,” Delya beamed, walking closer to the riverbank with playful steps.

“Are you inviting me to join you~? How naughty~”

“Oi!” Javier flinched, taking a hurried step back until he nearly slipped on a rock.

“I didn’t say that!!”

Behind her, Mimi tilted her head, ears twitching.

“Nya…?” she mumbled softly.

Delya glanced over her shoulder, a grin playing on her lips.

“Heeehh~ What’s wrong, cat? Don’t like water?”

“Nya!?” Mimi puffed up, clearly offended.

“I’m sure my danna-sama doesn’t want a dirty cat clinging to him~” Delya added with a teasing smirk, fangs glinting mischievously.

“Nyaaaa!!!” Mimi hissed, paws swinging in indignation.

“I’m not scared of water! I just… I didn’t bring extra clothes, okay!?”

Javier froze.

“Oh no.”

Mimi’s eyes slowly turned toward him, big and watery.

“Nyaaa~ Young master~ can I borrow your shirt after bathing?”

“No. Absolutely not. Never.”

“Cuquawked.”

Buddy floated by lazily. (She’s going to do it anyway.)

( End Of Chapter )

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