Reborn As Noble

”Liana, please ensure Javier behaves,” Lady Francesca said, her voice warm but firm.

”Yes, madam,” Liana replied with a polite bow. Her maid uniform was neat, and her backpack was ready for the trip.

Javier, however, was too excited in the courtyard. He rode Buddy, his bright orange Pekko, zooming around and laughing loudly.

Javier laughed joyfully, his hair flying in the wind as Buddy squawked and flapped its small wings.

Lady Francesca smiled as she watched her son play. ”He truly is full of life,” she said, feeling happy to see his fun with Buddy.

Nearby, Liana’s Pekko, Pikko, was more calm. Pikko had beautiful silver and orange feathers and was relaxing in the sun, stretching her strong legs. The difference between the two Pekko matched their riders well.

Lord Garius, with his arms crossed, looked at Liana. ”Liana, make sure you don’t stop until you reach the next town. I know Pekko are fast and strong, but be careful once you cross the armand border.”

”Yes, my lord,” Liana answered with a firm nod, her green eyes steady.

Happy with her answer, Garius looked at Javier, who was trying a risky stunt on Buddy, making the Pekko very happy. Garius sighed, a small smile appearing. ”And try to keep him safe until you reach the capital.”

” I’ll do my best, my lord.”

As the sun rose higher, it was time to leave. Javier finally slowed down Buddy and walked over to Liana, who was fixing her pack.

”Ready to go, Liana?”

Liana looked up at him, her expression softening. ”Yes, young master.”

Then, they both got on their Pekko—Javier on Buddy and Liana on Pikko—and got ready to start their journey to the capital city. Lady Francesca and Lord Garius watched them ride away, their figures getting smaller until they vanished into the distance.

Lord Garius turned away from Javier and Liana as they rode off. His face became serious, showing his authority.

”Alf, Errinette, Hesbeirn,” he called, his voice low but strong.

”Yes, my lord?” the three replied together, stepping forward without hesitation.

”Come,” Garius said, motioning for them to follow.

The three exchanged knowing looks and followed him to a private room in the manor. Behind them, Lady Francesca stayed by the gate, wiping her eyes with a handkerchief. Even though she was crying, she kept waving at the departing Pekko, her eyes filled with pride and sadness.

Inside the room, Garius sat at a heavy wooden table, leaning forward with his elbows on it. His sharp eyes focused on the three in front of him.

”The road before the border?” Garius asked.

”Clear, my lord,” Alf replied ”We’ve already taken care of all bandit groups in our area.”

Errinette stood tall and confident.”Not a single group remains, my lord. Every hotspot has been wiped clean, and no survivors were left to spread information about the ”clean-up.””

”Good,” Garius looked at Hesbeirn.

”All troublemakers from other households who were with Klimbert and Amboast have been taken care of,” Hesbeirn reported, ”Their influence is gone in our territories.”

”Dead or scattered?” Garius asked.

”Dead,” Alf replied quickly. ”They won’t be a threat to Javier or the household.”

”Excellent,” Garius said, leaning back in his chair. He tapped his fingers on the table, thinking, before speaking again. ”The Klimbert and Amboast households underestimated us once. They won’t get that chance again.”

Errinette smiled faintly. ”My lord, the operation went smoother than we thought. Thanks to the groundwork you laid, their downfall was certain.”

”Let this be a warning to anyone who challenges the Armand household. If they fight us, we will remind them who is in charge here.”

The three bowed deeply. ”Understood, my lord,” they said together.

”Stay alert,” Garius added, his voice back to its usual calm tone. ”I trust you three to handle anything else that comes up. For now, let them believe this is the end of our retaliation.”

”Yes, my lord.”

When the meeting finished, the three left quietly, leaving Garius alone with his thoughts. He sat in silence for a moment, still tapping his fingers on the table. He could faintly hear Francesca’s voice talking to a maid about preparing for the day.

Garius finally stood up and looked at the map on the wall of his study. His sharp eyes followed the borders of his land, paying attention to key areas where there had been recent conflicts.

”Stay safe, Javier,” he whispered to himself. ”You’ll inherit this legacy soon enough. But for now... I’ll make sure you can grow as you wish.”

He glanced at the family crest engraved on the hilt of the ceremonial sword hanging on the wall, its silver blade shining in the sunlight.

Turning away, Garius walked to the window, where he could barely see the silhouettes of Buddy and Pikko in the distance, carrying his youngest son and Liana toward the capital. A small smile appeared on his face, filled with both pride and expectation.

”The world may not be ready for you, my son,” he said softly. ”But I’ll make sure it doesn’t stand in your way.”

Lady Francesca entered the room a moment later, looking calm again, but her eyes still showed some worry.

”Do you think it was wise to send Liana alone with him?” Francesca asked, standing next to her husband and looking at the same map.

Garius smirked, tracing the path Javier and Liana would take with his hand. ”Liana is more capable than she seems. She’s not just a maid; she’s been his protector and friend since he was young. And don’t forget—Javier is no ordinary child. He can handle whatever happens.”

Francesca sighed but nodded. ”You’re right. But as his mother, I can’t help but worry. The capital is full of people who might try to take advantage of him if they find out his true abilities.”

”That’s why I sent those letters,” Garius said, his voice firm. ”By the time Javier reaches the capital, every noble who matters will know he is under my protection. They’ll think twice before acting foolishly.”

”And if they don’t?” Francesca asked softly.

”Then they’ll learn the hard way,” Garius replied sharply.

Francesca gently placed her hand on his arm. ”He’ll be fine,” she said, trying to reassure both him and herself. ”Liana won’t let anything happen to him.”

Garius nodded, his expression softening a bit. ”Yes, she won’t. And Javier… he’s more prepared than anyone knows.”

Francesca smiled slightly. ”He does take after you, after all.”

They stood in silence for a moment, watching the road that led to the border through the window, filled with hope and determination for their youngest son’s journey.

Francesca smiled softly, a mix of admiration and frustration in her eyes. ”Dear… you really planned the whole thing from the day he was born, didn’t you?”

Garius didn’t answer right away, still looking at the distant road. Finally, he turned to Francesca, his face calm but unreadable. ”Yeah.”

”You also knew about his true class before the blessing ceremony next year,” Francesca said, more as a statement than a question.

”Yes,” Garius confirmed, his voice steady.

”And you knew everything—his talents, his dreams—and planned everything for him. Even from the day he started earning money to buy his own Pekko,” Francesca continued, her voice a mix of fondness and disbelief.

”Yes,” Garius said again, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

Francesca chuckled lightly, shaking her head. ”Sometimes I wonder if you’re too far ahead of everyone else, even your own son. But… I trust you. Just as I trust him.”

Garius nodded, his gaze softening. ”It’s not just about planning, Francesca. It’s about giving him the freedom to grow and choose his own path. All I’ve done is remove the obstacles that would have held him back.”

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Francesca stepped closer and placed a hand on his shoulder. ”And yet, you still won’t tell him everything, will you?”

”No,” Garius said, his smirk returning. ”He’s too clever. If he knew, he’d find a way to outsmart me.”

Francesca laughed softly. ”That does sound like him. He’s your son, after all.”

Garius chuckled in agreement. ”And he’s your son too. That’s why he’s destined to surpass us both.”

Francesca looked into Garius’s eyes, noticing how his right eye changed color, a rare sight that always caught her attention. She smiled softly, her expression warm. ”Really, dear, it’s rare for you to show that.”

They stood in comfortable silence for a moment, the bond between them strong and unspoken. Outside, the wind carried the faint sound of Javier’s laughter as he raced toward the border, a sound that promised a future shaped by both fate and the choices of a boy who was far more extraordinary than anyone could imagine.

(End of Chapter)