Reborn As Noble

”And Mimi?”

King Lioness’s voice cut through the tension like a blade.

”Y-Yes, Fath— Your Majesty?” Mimi stiffened, her tail dropping flat as she looked up nervously.

He gestured calmly, but firmly.

”Release him.”

”Ehhhhh!?”

Mimi whined, clinging just a little tighter.

His eyes narrowed.

”Mimi.”

”...Y-Yes, your majesty...” she muttered, finally letting go with clear reluctance.

Javier exhaled.

Freedom tastes like oxygen...

”And you too, Delya.”

King Veldrac’s voice was calm but firm.

”Yes, big brother,” Delya muttered, still gripping Javier’s sleeve.

Veldrac’s eyes slowly narrowed into a silent, soul-piercing stare.

Delya flinched.

”I mean—YES, your majesty!”

She jumped back as if she had touched holy fire, standing straight beside Mimi, both of them looking like scolded schoolgirls.

King Lioness sighed, running his fingers through his hair.

”Let’s move. We’ll speak away from the crowd.”

King Veldrac nodded, his tone now colder.

”There are things that need to be said. Things that should not be overheard by wandering ears.”

Javier straightened his coat, took one last longing glance at the fruit cart, then followed.

”Here we go again,” he muttered.

Javier walked a few steps behind the kings, now casually flanked by Queen Maira, who strolled gracefully at his side, her fan lazily flicking open and closed as if she were on a garden walk, not heading toward a royal war carriage.

They were still on the paved road leading to the royal transport, surrounded by elite guards, with the massive capital gates looming ahead.

As Javier adjusted his coat, he couldn’t help but overhear the two kings walking in front of him—King Lioness and King Veldrac—speaking in low, familiar tones.

”I still can’t believe it...”

King Lioness muttered under his breath, brows furrowed.

”He actually sent his youngest son.”

”No wonder,” Veldrac replied, rubbing his temple.

”That letter he sent... now it makes sense why he asked your daughter and my sister to ’greet him at the border’ so specifically. We both thought he was coming.”

”Tch. Damn Garius.”

King Lioness’s voice dropped with a mix of annoyance and reluctant amusement.

”I thought the three of us would finally be on a mission together again—like the old days.”

Veldrac chuckled dryly.

”Instead, he sends in his mini version.”

Behind them, Javier sighed quietly.

”Mini version, huh... Thanks, Dad. Really appreciate the vote of confidence.”

Queen Maira leaned toward him slightly, whispering with a smirk.

”Don’t worry, dear. I think you’re doing wonderfully. A little chaos makes the world more interesting.”

Javier side-eyed her carefully.

”Please don’t cause another political scandal.”

Queen Maira winked playfully before walking a few paces ahead with her usual elegant sway.

Mimi and Delya, who had been trailing just behind Javier like perfectly synchronized shadows, immediately closed in again—each trying to flank him on opposite sides.

Javier felt the shift in the air and groaned internally.

Here we go again…

He slowed his steps just enough to glance sideways, then forced an awkward smile.

”Err... girls?”

Both of them perked up.

”Please... excuse my rudeness, but could I ask you—just once—to give me a little space?”

”Ehhh~?”

Mimi tilted her head dramatically, still leaning into his side.

”Define ’space’,” Delya added with a sly grin, arms casually brushing against his.

Javier’s smile twitched.

”No ’ehhh’. I’m serious. I’m sure my buddy here—”

He pointed behind him without turning.

”—was planning to walk next to me. Weren’t you, Buddy?”

Buddy, who was still lazily following at the rear, instantly perked up at the sound of his name.

He strutted forward with a smug bounce in his step and wedged himself neatly between Javier and the two girls—stretching out his wings like a proud divider.

”Cuquawked.”

(”I got you, boss.”)

Javier let out a breath of relief.

”Thank you, my noble feathered wall.”

Meanwhile, in the Armand Region.

That night...

The moon hung low and silver, casting a pale glow across the quiet landscape.

A gentle wind brushed through the grasslands, whispering secrets of what lay ahead. The air was unnaturally still—almost like the world was holding its breath.

Count Garius De Armand rode silently atop Giddie, the golden Pekko, whose feathers shimmered even in the faint moonlight. His regal figure cut through the darkness like a spear of light.

Fransesca rode with him, sitting gracefully behind, one hand resting calmly against his back, her eyes glowing faintly with magic from her sacred winged aura.

A short distance behind them, two figures followed on their own Pekkos—equally silent, equally alert.

Alf, with his sharp eyes scanning every inch of the horizon, was on high alert—every instinct ready.

And beside him, Erinette, the legendary battle maid, her presence unreadable, but her tight grip on her twin blades revealed enough.

Garius finally spoke—his voice low, calm, but commanding.

”Alf. Erinette.”

”Yes, my lord?” they answered in perfect unison.

He didn’t turn.

”Focus.”

”We are, my lord,” Erinette replied sharply.

”Nothing will get past us.”

Alf gave a slight nod.

”Our eyes are open. Every step is watched.”

The group moved forward, Pekkos trotting softly through the bushes, their talons barely making a sound on the dirt.

Garius lifted his hand slightly.

”We are close. The heart of Armand.”

The core of their homeland.

The place where corrupted mana had begun to stir.

The central region.

Where the boundary between peace and destruction was growing thinner with each passing hour.

Fransesca closed her eyes.

”I can feel it. The darkness... it’s gathering just ahead.”

Garius narrowed his gaze.

”Then let it come. We’ll purge every last stain from our land.”

”Liana! Gloria! Focus!”

Erinette’s voice rang out sharply, like a whipcrack piercing the quiet of the night.

The wind shifted.

”Yes, Mrs. Erinette!”

Liana and Gloria answered together, their eyes sharp, their postures ready.

Liana sat astride her silver-and-orange Pekko, Pikko, whose sleek feathers shimmered faintly under the moonlight.

Gloria rode her own stead—a proud white Pekko named Peanut—steady and calm beneath her.

Erinette turned her head slightly, the silver edge of her blades catching the light.

”This is your test,” she said coldly.

”And remember... this is not a drill.”

”Yes, Mrs. Erinette!”

Ahead, Garius looked back at them.

He didn’t speak immediately—only watched.

Watched Liana, the elf girl who had served his son with unwavering devotion since childhood.

Watched Gloria, the calm and brilliant maid—one of the strongest minds under his roof.

But his gaze wasn’t just for them.

It was for the two sleeping powers within them.

He spoke—softly but firmly.

”Ari. Aria.”

There was silence.

Then, two voices answered.

From Gloria’s lips came a playful yet wise tone—brighter, with a hint of ancient mischief.

”Yo. Did you call for us?”

Aria.

From Liana’s lips came a gentle, faint voice.

”Yes, Garius?”

Ari.

Garius didn’t flinch.

”Don’t surrender to the darkness. Not now. Not ever.”

( End Of Chapter )