Reborn As Noble

As Francesca stepped into the adjoining bathroom to take her long-overdue bath, I was left in my baby prison—er, crib. From my vantage point, I saw the catfolk maid, Meira, standing nearby.

Her sleek tail swayed lazily behind her, but every so often, it wiggled in quick, sharp movements.

Ah, I know that look. I thought, watching her feline ears twitch. I've had cats before. That tail says she's excited… or curious. Maybe both.

Meira leaned against the crib railing, her golden eyes gleaming as she studied me. Her expression was calm, but her tail gave her away.

I grinned—well, as much as a baby could—and raised both of my tiny arms toward her.

Alright, cat-lady. Let's see if you're as good at cuddling as you are at stating the obvious.

Meira's ears perked up, and her lips curled into an amused smile. "Oh? What's this, young master? You want me to pick you up?"

Yes, yes! Exactly! Pick me up, catfolk! Let me experience the legendary feline grace firsthand!

She chuckled softly, her tail flicking as she reached into the crib and gently lifted me. Her hands were warm, and she held me with surprising care, cradling me close as if she'd done this a thousand times before.

"There we go," she murmured, her voice soothing. "You're quite the spoiled little one, aren't you?"

Spoiled? Please. I'm simply cultured. I know quality when I see it, and you, my feline friend, are premium service.

I nestled comfortably against her, letting out a contented coo. Her soft fur-lined ears twitched, and I reached up with one tiny hand, trying to grab at them.

"Ah-ah," Meira teased, tilting her head just out of reach. "Little hands shouldn't pull on ears, young master."

Oh, come on! Just a quick touch! Let me feel the fluff!

As I made another futile attempt to reach her ears, Meira chuckled, her tail brushing lightly against my tiny feet. The sensation made me wiggle and laugh softly.

"You're a lively one, aren't you?" she said, her tone affectionate. "I bet you'll grow up to be quite the handful."

Handful? Nah, I'm going to be the boss. And when I am, I'll hire you as my personal assistant. You've got the perfect mix of smarts and fluff.

Just as I was about to settle into the perfect cuddle session, the sound of water splashing came from the bathroom, followed by Francesca's melodious voice humming a tune.

Meira's ears flicked in the direction of the noise, and she smiled down at me. "Looks like Madam Francesca will be out soon. Shall we get you ready for her, young master?"

Ready? I've been ready. She better come out squeaky clean this time. No shortcuts!

Catfolk cuddles: 10/10. Would recommend.

As Meira held me close, her warmth and soothing scent were oddly comforting. She gently rocked me back and forth, and her soft humming started to lull me into a peaceful daze.

But then a wild thought crossed my mind.

Wait a second. What if… just what if… I could try a different flavor of milk?

I blinked, my tiny baby hands twitching as an idea began to form. Francesca's milk? Top-tier, sure. But now I've got a catfolk maid holding me. What if hers is even better? Variety is the spice of life, after all.

Acting on instinct—or rather, my ridiculous reincarnated brain—I reached up, grabbing at the edge of her maid uniform with my chubby little fingers. I tugged lightly, testing the waters.

Meira froze for a moment, looking down at me with a raised brow. "Hmm? What are you doing, young master?"

Eheheh. I giggled internally. Don't mind me, just exploring. Let's see what you've got under here.

I tugged a bit harder, trying to open her maid dress. Meira's golden eyes widened slightly, and a faint blush appeared on her cheeks.

"Now, now," she said, her voice a mix of amusement and embarrassment. "That's not very proper, young master."

Proper? I'm a baby. I can get away with anything!

She adjusted her hold on me, but I wasn't giving up that easily. My hands flailed, reaching for her chest as I let out a tiny, determined whine.

"Oh, I see how it is," Meira said, her tone teasing. "You're hungry, aren't you? Is that why you're being so grabby?"

Exactly! You've got the idea! Come on, catfolk milk. Let's see if it lives up to the hype in my head.

But instead of giving in, Meira let out a soft laugh and gently booped my nose with her finger. "Sorry, little one, but this milk bar is closed. You'll have to stick to Madam Francesca's for now."

What!? No! That's not how this is supposed to go! You can't just deny me like that!

I let out a small wail, trying to look as pitiful as possible. Meira only chuckled again, her tail flicking as she cradled me closer.

"You're persistent, I'll give you that," she said, smirking. "But you'll have to settle for cuddles this time."

Ugh. Foiled by the feline. I'll remember this, Meira. One day, I'll get my revenge.

Just then, the sound of the bathroom door opening caught our attention. Francesca stepped out, wrapped in a soft robe, her hair damp and her cheeks glowing from the warm bath.

"Thank you for looking after him, Meira," she said with a radiant smile.

Meira handed me back to Francesca, who kissed my forehead before settling me against her chest.

"There you go, Javier," Francesca cooed.

"Mama's all clean now. Ready to eat?"

I hesitated for a moment, my earlier protests fading as I took in her fresh, sweet scent.

Fine. This is acceptable. But I still wanted to try catfolk milk. You've all ruined my grand plan.

With a resigned sigh (as much as a baby could manage), I latched on, settling back into my usual feeding routine.

As Francesca settled into the chair, cradling me for my morning feeding, I latched on for a few moments. The milk was fresh and sweet, just as expected, but my mind kept drifting elsewhere.

Meira…

My gaze shifted from Francesca to the catfolk maid standing nearby. Her elegant figure, twitching ears, and gently swishing tail caught my attention.

I've had goddess-tier milk already. Now, let's try… exotic milk. I bet catfolk milk is on another level entirely.

I released Francesca with a soft pop, my lips parting as I turned my head toward Meira.

"What's wrong, Javier?" Francesca asked, her brows furrowing. "Why did you stop? Are you feeling full already? But… it's too quick."

She followed my gaze and noticed how intently I was staring at Meira.

"Ehhh?" Francesca blinked, her lips curving into a bemused smile. "Don't tell me…" She giggled softly, covering her mouth with her hand. "Javier, you silly boy. She's not married yet—she doesn't have milk, you know."

Don't care. I want to confirm it for myself. I squirmed slightly in her arms, letting out tiny, protesting whines to make my point clear.

Francesca sighed deeply, shaking her head.

"You're a stubborn one, aren't you? Fine, fine."

She looked over at Meira, who had been watching the scene unfold with an expression of mild confusion.

"Meira," Francesca said, holding me out toward her, "take over for a moment."

Meira's golden eyes widened, and her tail froze mid-sway. "Ehhh? You're sure, madam?"

Francesca gave another long sigh. "Just let your young master taste. Once he realizes there's no milk, he'll stop pestering you."

Meira blinked at me, then at Francesca, before letting out a soft, resigned sigh. "As you wish, madam."

She stepped forward and carefully took me into her arms, holding me as though I were a fragile treasure. Her golden eyes met mine, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.

"You're a stubborn one, young master," she murmured, tilting her head with a soft smile. "Alright, let's get this over with."

Ehehe… mission success! I latched on eagerly, ignoring the fact that there was absolutely no milk. Her warmth and the faint scent of lavender were comforting enough.

Meira gasped softly, her ears flicking back. "H-He's not stopping…"

Francesca chuckled from where she stood, arms crossed. "I told you he's stubborn. Just let him have his moment."

Moment? This is pure bliss. No milk? No problem. I'm here for the experience.

Meira sighed again, but her gentle smile remained. "You're such a troublemaker, young master."

As I continued my determined experiment, Francesca shook her head, laughing softly. "He's going to grow up to be quite the handful."

( End of Chapter )