Reborn As Noble

”Alf?” Garius smirked.

Before Javier could react, Alf vanished and reappeared behind him, firmly pinning both of his shoulders.

”W-Wait! Hold on—”

Javier struggled, but Alf’s grip was unbreakable. He wasn’t going anywhere.

Marcellus and Cedric grinned slyly.

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Heres, Aelius, and Athine smirked.

Garius casually leaned back in his chair, scanning the faces of his gathered children. Then, in a slow, deliberate voice, he asked:

”Are you all sure?”

”Yes, Esteemed Father!” Marcellus grinned.

”I agree!” Cedric added, raising his brows at Javier in mock amusement. ”I can’t think of anyone better!”

”He’s the best choice,” Heres said, nodding with a smug smile.

”I fully support this,” Aelius chimed in. ”No objections at all.”

Athine simply smiled. ”Yes, Esteemed Father. I have no objections.”

Javier’s heart pounded. ”O-Oi! Are you all conspiring against me?!”

Fransesca sipped her tea, smiling softly, not saying a word.

Garcinia shook her head, amused.

Phenelopie, busy tending to her youngest daughter, agreed without even looking up.

Javier paled.

He was trapped.

Javier’s mind raced as Alf’s firm grip held him in place.

”W-wait! Hold on! You’re all joking, right?” Javier forced out a nervous chuckle, but his siblings’ grins only widened.

”Oh no, little brother,” Marcellus said, crossing his arms. ”We’re very serious.”

”Completely serious,” Cedric added, wiggling his eyebrows.

Javier’s eyes darted around the room, looking for any possible escape. His father, sitting at the head of the table, had that all-knowing smirk—one that told Javier there was no way out.

”T-this isn’t fair!” Javier tried to protest. ”Why me?! I’m the youngest! Shouldn’t it go to the eldest?”

”Oh, but you see,” Aelius chimed in, ”we’ve all agreed that the most talented sibling should inherit everything.”

”Yes,” Heres nodded with fake sympathy. ”And you’re the one Father is most proud of, aren’t you?”

Javier’s soul nearly left his body. ”YOU—!”

”You wouldn’t want to disappoint Father, would you?” Athine added sweetly.

Javier slowly turned his head toward Garius, his last hope.

”F-Father! You won’t seriously—!”

Garius exhaled, taking his time sipping his wine before answering. Then, with a smirk, he leaned forward.

”The decision is unanimous.”

Javier’s breath hitched. He tried to yank himself free, but Alf’s grip was like iron. There was no escape.

”N-No, wait—!”

Before he could finish, Marcellus clapped him on the shoulder, grinning ear to ear.

”Congratulations, little brother! You’re the heir now!”

”We’ll be sure to support you,” Cedric added, barely holding back a laugh.

”We believe in you,” Aelius said, looking smug.

”You’ll be a great leader,” Heres teased.

Javier turned to Athine, hoping for mercy, but she simply smiled and gave him polite applause.

”You’re all demons,” Javier whispered in horror.

Fransesca, ever the elegant lady, sipped her tea gracefully. ”Oh my, how wonderful. I should prepare a celebration.”

”Maybe we should commission a grand painting,” Garcinia mused, pretending to think.

Phenelopie, still tending to her baby, nodded absentmindedly. ”Mm. Sounds good.”

Javier felt betrayed by everyone. His head snapped back to his father, his last hope for salvation.

”F-Father… I…”

Garius met his gaze calmly.

”You accept, of course.”

”I refuse!” Javier blurted.

”Accepted,” Garius countered, sipping his wine.

”WAIT, THAT’S NOT—!”

”Meeting adjourned.”

Alf finally let go, patting Javier’s back like a proud uncle.

Javier slumped in his chair, defeated. His siblings burst into laughter.

Garius studied each of his children, his sharp gaze lingering on every one of them. He had given them all a chance to refuse—to step forward and claim the title—but not a single one did.

”Are you all sure you want Javier to inherit the title and rule?”

Marcellus, Cedric, Aelius, and Heres all nodded without hesitation.

”Yes, Esteemed Father,” Marcellus confirmed, ”but it’s not as if we’re losing our rights as part of the Armand family. We will still have our roles.”

”Exactly,” Cedric added, leaning back with a smirk. ”Javier might handle the ’burdens’ of ruling, but that doesn’t mean we won’t support him in other ways. Besides, I’d rather focus on the military than deal with politics and paperwork.”

”Trade and finance are mine,” Aelius stated confidently. ”No matter who the heir is, I will still be managing the economic side of things. It’s what I do best.”

”And I prefer staying with Mother and helping where needed,” Heres added, shrugging.

Athine just smiled, sipping her tea. ”I was never an option, was I?”

Garius exhaled through his nose, a smirk forming.

Javier, who had been completely ignored in this entire discussion, sat there pale and stiff. ”H-Hey, wait a minute! What about what I want?!”

His siblings all turned to look at him.

”Oh?” Marcellus feigned surprise. ”Did you think you had a say in this, little brother?”

Cedric grinned. ”It’s already been decided.”

”Unanimously,” Aelius added.

Heres chuckled. ”No objections.”

Javier turned desperately to his father, but Garius simply leaned back in his chair, watching him with quiet amusement.

”Well then… It’s settled.”

Javier’s mind was still reeling from the conversation about his inheritance when his father’s next words made him stiffen even more.

”Liana.”

Liana straightened immediately. ”Yes, my lord?”

”Starting tomorrow, you will attend training sessions with Erinnette.”

Liana lowered her head respectfully. ”As you wish, my lord.”

Javier’s eye twitched. Training? Why?

”And Gloria.”

Gloria perked up, standing at attention. ”Yes, my lord?”

Garius leaned forward slightly. ”You will be officially assigned as Javier’s second personal maid. The position of Head of Household Maids will be handed to another suitable candidate—Erinnette will personally oversee the selection.”

”As you command, my lord.” Gloria lowered her head respectfully, but she couldn’t stop the small smile forming on her lips.

She was happy.

Finally, she was officially assigned as Javier’s second personal maid. Not temporary. But permanently.

Liana, who stood beside her, glanced at Gloria’s expression and let out a small sigh. ”Try not to look too smug,” she whispered.

”I’m not,” Gloria whispered back, though the sparkle in her eyes said otherwise.

Garius, watching them both, let out a small chuckle before his gaze turned sharp again. ”But don’t think this will be easy. Both of you will be trained personally under Erinnette.”

Both maids straightened. ”As you wish, my lord.”

Garius smirked at Javier’s reaction. ”You’ll be Count one day, boy. Your maids need to be trained accordingly.”

Javier paled. ”This is a setup!”

Erinnette’s training was legendary. She didn’t just train maids; she turned them into warriors in skirts.

Liana remained calm. ”I will serve as always, young master.”

Gloria, still secretly delighted, nodded. ”And I will officially be your second personal maid, so I must be just as capable.”

Javier slumped back in his chair. ”Crap.”

( End of Chapter )