Reborn As Noble

Garius looked up, brow furrowing. ”My love?”

Francesca paused at the door, glancing back with a calm smile. ”Yes, dear?”

”What do you mean, interim ruler?”

She tilted her head. ”Ah... didn’t you know? Mylezra already appointed someone to serve as interim ruler of the Elven Kingdom while she’s away. She said it was all thanks to a clever plan from our youngest son.”

”W...what?” Garius’s eyes widened, genuinely taken aback.

Francesca just smiled, offering a small wave as she stepped gracefully out the door. ”Oh, dear...”

Garius sat there in silence for a moment, then turned to Alf and Erinnette, still processing.

”My youngest son... did what?”

Alf coughed softly, exchanging a knowing look with Erinnette.

”My lord, I believe your youngest son has been in contact with Queen Mylezra and arranged something behind the scenes.”

Garius leaned back in his chair, letting out a slow breath before smirking. ”Ah... interim ruler, huh? I didn’t realize Javier knew about that sort of thing. If he’s the one who suggested it to help Queen Mylezra, then I suppose it’s so I can’t postpone the wedding any longer.”

He paused, gaze thoughtful. ”And if this plan’s already moving...,” Garius trailed off, eyes glinting with amusement as he scanned the documents in front of him. ”Judging by the timing, Mylezra should arrive here within the next two or three days. Am I right, Alf?”

”Yes, my lord,” Alf replied with a faint smile. ”Just as you anticipated. It’s only a matter of time before we receive word from the eastern border wall.”

Garius leaned back again, lips curling into a broader smirk. ”Interim ruler... a temporary leader who steps in until a permanent successor is in place. Ah~ well, that’s a clever move.”

He chuckled, shaking his head. ”Ah~ my clever son. One can play well...”

Garius let out a quiet, satisfied chuckle. ”Looks like I’ve been raising a better son than I thought, he’s finally planning and maneuvering things just the way I always hoped he would. This is good news for me, Alf.”

”Yes, my lord,” Alf agreed quietly. ”He improves every day.”

Garius’s smirk grew wider. ”Ah~ since he used this move... That means I can use the same move for him, too... Not that I have any real intention of postponing the wedding, especially with Francesca pushing so hard for it.” He shook his head, amused. ”Anyway, Alf, is everything already in motion?”

”Yes, my lord. The preparations are all set. But since your youngest will be returning today, I have a feeling he’ll do something to make it even more... official and better.”

Garius leaned forward, elbows on the table, fingers interlaced, chin resting lightly on his hands. ”I expect he’ll launch that new invention today or tomorrow. With that new magic technology, Armand will move forward, leaving every other nation even further behind.”

He sat back, a quiet pride warming his eyes. ”Sometimes, even I wonder how far that boy will go.”

Meanwhile.

Armand Northern Border

The captain leaned against the battlement, bored out of his mind. He dug at his ear, flicked away whatever he found, and blew out a sigh, barely hiding his annoyance at the group gathered before the firmly closed gate.

”Do you know who I am? Huh?! I was sent here officially by His Majesty King Kimar! I’m here to govern Armand now that your Lord has been stripped of title and rank! Do you understand I could have you fired the moment I step into the office? Did you even look at this decree?!”

”Yeah, yeah... whatever.” The captain shrugged, completely unfazed. ”But Lord Garius ordered us to chase you away, so...with all due respect, please go away.”

”You realize with this decree, I have more power than your Lord Garius!” the man snapped, waving the paper around as if it meant anything at the Armand border.

The captain yawned, eyes half-lidded. ”I didn’t become captain to serve a bastard like you.”

”How dare you call me a bastard!?”

”Huh? You are a bastard. I don’t work for the royal family, I work for Lord Garius. I don’t care about decrees, papers, or bribes. Even if you brought a chest of gold coins, it wouldn’t matter. Around here, Lord Garius’s word is absolute.”

”How dare you speak to me like that!? I could have you and your whole family beheaded for being disrespectful to the next ruler of Armand!”

”Yeah, yeah... whatever.” The captain rolled his eyes, then looked at his assistant with a grin. ”Ah~ don’t arrest me! I’m innocent! Please, spare my life!” he cried out dramatically.

The assistant played along, hands raised in mock alarm. ”No, Captain! Please! He’s done nothing wrong!”

The Armand soldiers nearby snickered, none of them bothering to take the royal officer’s threats seriously for even a second.

The captain turned, smirking. ”You? Ruling Armand? Are you looking to get yourself killed? Once you set foot inside, I doubt you’ll even survive the day. The people here, everyone in Armand loves Lord Garius. Have you even seen how he governs?”

He gestured toward his assistant.

”In Armand, poverty, hunger, homelessness? What’s that? Doesn’t exist here.” He faced the royal officer again.

”This isn’t the capital, or some other noble’s patchwork land. And now you’re wasting my time. You know, we only work six hours a shift out here. Because of you, I’ve got to stay overtime when I should be heading home to enjoy a meal with my family while the next crew takes over. There’s no way we’ll let a bastard like you rule over us.”

The assistant snickered. ”Yeah, we work six hours a shift and still make more than you do. I bet your salary’s less than that senior guard over there.” He nodded toward a guard contentedly sipping his tea in the shade.

”Oi! Don’t point at me, this is my break time,” the guard protested, not even looking up from his cup.

The Armand troops laughed, the mood entirely relaxed.

Before the royal officer could say anything else.

”Oi! Don’t block the road!” a voice called out.

The royal officer and his group turned, their horses suddenly panicking. Behind them, Javier and his girls rode up, each astride their Pekko. Buddy let out a piercing squawk, sending the horses sidestepping in fright.

Every Armand guard on the wall and at the gate snapped to attention, fists over their left chests. ”Welcome back, young master!!”

Even the guard who’d been on break stood and saluted, only relaxing once Javier raised his palm. ”At ease, everyone.”

Javier nudged Buddy forward, eyeing the royal officer and his party. ”Hmm? What are royal officers doing here?” he asked the captain.

( End Of Chapter )