Reborn As Noble

Meanwhile...

Armand Region.

Armand Estate.

Garius sat at the head of the long table, his expression composed but grave.

To his left and right sat his wives, Francesca, Garcinia, Phenelopie, and Eridith, each in their respective seats.

On the right side of the table sat Alf, Erinnette, and Hesbeirn, while along the opposite line were the City Overseer, several Armand officers, and senior official staff.

The air was still, heavy with expectation.

Garius leaned forward slightly, his elbows resting on the table, fingers interlaced. His eyes, calm but sharp, swept across the room.

”Alf. Erinnette. Where are my sons?”

Alf rose, bowing respectfully. ”My lord, all have been informed. They should be on their way now.”

Erinnette followed smoothly, her tone precise. ”Yes, my lord. We’ve already sent word to Marcellus, Cedric, Aelius, Heres, and Athine to attend this emergency meeting.”

Garius gave a quiet hum of acknowledgment. ”Hmm... And what about Javier? My youngest?”

”We’ve already sent someone to inform him,” Alf replied. ”The message should have reached him by now.”

Garius raised an eyebrow. ”Hmm? Why send someone? He’s in the estate, not far. Knowing him, he rarely leaves unless he’s bored. If Liana and Gloria are with him, he’s likely lazing around with that Pekko of his, or using their laps as pillows.”

Francesca chuckled softly, a hand covering her smile. ”Or kissing them.”

A faint chuckle echoed from the wives’ side. Even Eridith smirked quietly.

Erinnette straightened slightly.

”According to reports from Liana and Gloria, Young Master Javier is testing something again. Another one of his creations, it seems.”

Garius fell silent for a moment, his eyes lowering in thought.

”...I see,” he said at last. Then closed his eyes briefly.

”So, he’s finally begun building that.”

The room paused.

”That... thing?” Francesca repeated, glancing toward him. The others looked as well, confused but curious.

Eridith tilted her head. ”You mean you already know what he’s making?”

Garius gave no reply.

His fingers remained locked together. His eyes, unreadable.

”...Something you all shouldn’t know yet,” he said quietly.

The maids moved quietly around the chamber, setting trays and arranging porcelain cups before each seat. The soft clink of dishes and the faint aroma of something sweet filled the air.

Francesca’s eyes curved with gentle amusement as she lifted her cup.

”My~ is this the chocolate drink my little honeybun has been making?” she asked, her smile warm.

”Yes, Madam,” Erinnette replied with a composed smile of her own.

Alf stepped forward slightly, his tone steady.

”The first batch of chocolate drink, desserts, bars, and powder has already been processed through the White Gold Factory, as you commanded, my lord. The first supply is for the family to test before public release. Master Aelius and Lady Athine are overseeing its preparation.”

Garius glanced down at the cup before him, the deep brown liquid swirling faintly with steam. He lifted it, took a slow sip, and set it down again.

His expression didn’t change, calm, composed, unreadable.

”...Hmm. This is good,” he said finally. ”First rice, then sugarcane and sugar... and now cocoa and chocolate. Not only that, he discovered those ore veins that transformed our economy, from iron to adamantite. And now he’s building what others couldn’t even imagine.”

He paused, his gaze distant but approving.

”Those magic machines, the network, the mana talkies, even the relay radios that connect our bases... all of them born from his mind. Thanks to him, our communications, vigilance, and defense have reached a level no other region can match.”

He leaned back slightly, his tone calm but edged with quiet pride.

”It’s good that Javier is using his genius to create, not destroy. At this rate, our economy will rise beyond what our treasury can contain.”

Across the table, Hesbeirn chuckled, slicing another piece of meat.

”Yeah, my lord. Thanks to him, our patrols can act faster than ever. The instant communication between units makes coordination almost effortless. If something happens, we can respond before anyone else even realizes it.”

Garius gave a faint nod, his eyes thoughtful.

He turned slightly toward Francesca and gestured for her to lean closer and whisper something.

”My~ so he’s still trying to find out who bears the Hand of Creation and the Power of Destruction?” she whispered, covering her mouth as a soft laugh escaped.

Garius smirked faintly. His right eye shimmered with a subtle glow as he leaned back in his chair, speaking in a voice barely above a breath.

”He still hasn’t realized who the other two are.”

His gaze drifted toward the ceiling for a moment, expression unreadable. Then, in that same low tone, he added.

”When the bearer of the Hand of Creation and the wielder of the Power of Destruction are one and the same... and he doesn’t even notice it?”

Francesca’s eyes glimmered with intrigue as Garius’s smirk deepened.

He continued quietly, ”The ancient parchments he found spoke of three powers always coexisting. But the one he possesses isn’t the complete version. His records name three, but the truth is... it was never three to begin with.”

Francesca’s smile softened, her voice teasing yet knowing. ”Of course I know, dear. You do realize that, right~?”

Garius’s gaze met hers, calm and assured.

”Yes.”

Garius whispered again, his voice barely audible beneath the gentle clink of porcelain cups.

”Do you think I should nudge him toward it?”

Francesca gave a soft shake of her head, her smile serene.

”No, dear~” she replied, her voice like a gentle breeze. ”It’s better if he realizes it on his own. Let him grow into it... slowly. If you guide him too early, he might rely too much on us.”

”Mm...” Garius leaned back slightly, his eyes distant. His expression, once soft, shifted into something heavier. Weightier. As if the full burden of what he knew, rested quietly on his shoulders.

Francesca watched him with quiet affection.

But her thoughts whispered with warmth and certainty.

Honey bun... it was never three.

It’s seven.

And all of them... are here, within Armand.

You don’t need to look far. The bearers have always been close.

Her gaze lingered on Garius.

Your father... carries two, my sweet Javier.

The Eyes of Truth.

The Soul of Command.

Her smile deepened, soft as velvet.

Honey bun~ you didn’t even notice someone wielding holy power... becoming a paladin?

The rarest path... and the only one in the world today.

He holds the Power of Sanctum.

And what of the one born with such vast magical capacity... the strongest wizard in the entire Human Kingdom?

He bears the Crown of Arcana.

And the one still searching... still crafting, still asking questions... he holds two more.

The Hand of Creation.

And the Power of Destruction.

My precious honey bun... you haven’t noticed it’s you, have you?

Her eyes softened further.

Ah~ watching you explore and question and prepare... is like watching your father all over again.

My love of this life... and the next.

Then her thoughts stilled.

Honey bun~

There is one more. The final bearer. The one who carries...

The Master of All.

Francesca raised her porcelain cup, the chocolate drink still warm. She took a delicate sip, the corners of her lips curling into a peaceful smile.

( End Of Chapter )