Reborn As Noble

Chapter 22 Breaking the Silence ( 22 )

The commotion had barely settled when Javierʼs two older brothers, Marcellus and Cedric, approached him with annoyed looks. The crowd in the hall was still uneasy after Javierʼs confrontation with the baronʼs son, and his brothers clearly wanted to scold him.

Marcellus, the eldest, spoke first, his tone sharp. ”Oi, what the hell was that all about?!”

Javier stayed seated, lazily sipping his drink before slowly standing up. His amber eyes gleamed dangerously as he stared at them.

”What do you mean, ʼwhat was thatʼ? Huh?” Javierʼs tone was calm, but there was a clear edge of menace.

Cedric crossed his arms, trying to look in charge. ”You embarrassed the family, Javier. What you did just now—”

”The fuck are you talking about, prodigy?” Javier interrupted, his voice getting louder. His piercing gaze shifted to Marcellus. ”You two strut around like youʼre the pride of the family, but when someone disrespects our household—your household—you just stand there and do nothing?”

Marcellus frowned, his own temper rising. ”You dare to talk to your brother like that?!” His mana flared, and the air around him heated up as he prepared to use his fire magic.

But before he could act, Javierʼs expression hardened. His smile disappeared, replaced by a cold, serious look.

”Fine,” Javier muttered. His aura shifted, and while standing, he activated one of his advanced skills: Triple Gravity.

Suddenly, the whole hall felt an overwhelming pressure. The gravity in the room multiplied three times, forcing everyone—nobles, servants, and even guards—to their knees or onto the floor. Gasps and cries of alarm filled the air as people struggled to breathe under the weight.

”Young master, wait!!” Liana cried, rushing forward to stop him, but it was too late.

Javierʼs voice boomed through the hall, cold and unyielding. ”Those weaklings with no manners donʼt have my respect at all. And you two—youʼre supposed to be the heirs of this family! Itʼs YOUR responsibility to uphold our honor, yet you sit back and let our householdʼs name be dragged through the mud?!”

Marcellus and Cedric, both struggling against the heavy gravity, gritted their teeth in frustration.

Marcellus growled, ”Javier, stop this madness! Youʼre going too far!”

Javier ignored him, his amber eyes glowing faintly as he stepped closer. ”Iʼve had enough of your arrogance and empty pride. You think being ʼolderʼ makes you right? Respect isnʼt given—itʼs earned. And youʼve earned none of mine!”

The force of the gravity increased slightly, making the onlookers cry out. Even the strongest knights in the hall struggled to stay conscious.

”I AM MAD!!” Javier roared, his voice echoing like thunder. ”Mad that I have to clean up your mess! Mad that Iʼm the one who has to protect the dignity of this family while you stand around doing NOTHING!”

The entire room seemed to freeze under the intensity of his words.

Liana, despite the heavy pressure, managed to approach him and gently tug on his sleeve. Her voice was soft but firm. ”Young master… please. Thatʼs enough.”

Javier turned to her, his fiery gaze softening when he saw the concern in her emerald eyes. After a tense moment, he exhaled sharply, releasing the gravity spell.

The heavy force lifted instantly, and the hall erupted in coughs and relieved gasps as everyone struggled to recover.

Javier glanced back at his brothers, who were now glaring at him while trying to compose themselves.

”Donʼt forget,” Javier said, his voice quiet but filled with menace. ”You might be older, but that doesnʼt make you better.”

Without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked away, Liana following closely behind. The grand hall buzzed with whispers and stunned silence as everyone processed what had just happened.

Liana leaned in slightly as they exited. ”Young master, you really caused a scene this time.”

Javier smirked faintly, his playful demeanor returning. ”And? Let them talk. They needed a reality check.”

Liana sighed deeply but said nothing, her expression caught between exasperation and quiet admiration.

Lord Garius, standing at the front of the hall, felt the heavy pressure just like everyone else. Even though Javier had released his spell, the silence that followed was deafening. Every noble, servant, and guest was frozen, either from fear or disbelief. Even the countʼs son, surrounded by a group of strong adventurers as bodyguards, said nothing, his mouth slightly open.

The boy who had been rude to the maid was trembling violently, his face pale as tears streamed down his cheeks. His legs gave out completely, and with a faint whimper, a wet stain spread across his trousers. The sight made it clear just how terrifying Javierʼs display had been.

Lord Gariusʼs hands tightened into fists at his sides, his face showing a mix of shock, anger, and… fear. As an experienced noble, he understood power and discipline. But this? This was different. Javier was only eleven, not yet blessed by the gods and not officially tested for his magic abilities—and yet he had just used Triple Gravity, a spell so advanced that only a few master mages could use it effectively.

Lady Francesca stood beside her husband, her usually calm face showing her astonishment. Her heart raced as she looked back and forth between her youngest son and the guests who had witnessed the scene. She had always known Javier was special, but this? This was far beyond what she had imagined.

Lord Gariusʼs thoughts raced. ”How…? This boy, always skipping his studies, alway be lazy and carefree—and yet he just casually showed power that shouldnʼt be possible for a noble child before their blessing ceremony. And yet, here he stands, completely unbothered.”

The murmurs among the nobles began to stir as they started to recover from the shock.

One of the adventurers whispered to his friend, ”That spell… wasnʼt just high-level magic—it was perfectly done. The mana control… Who is that boy?”

The friend, a seasoned mage, wiped the sweat from his brow. ”A monster… That child is a monster.”

Lord Garius finally sighed, his voice cutting through the murmurs. ”Enough.”

The room fell silent instantly, and all eyes turned to the head of the household. His voice was steady, but his gaze was fixed on Javierʼs retreating figure.

”Ladies and gentlemen,” Lord Garius addressed the crowd, his voice calm but heavy with meaning. ”I apologize for the disturbance. My sonʼs… actions were impulsive, but let this remind you: the Armand family does not tolerate disrespect toward our people.”

The guests murmured in agreement, although most looked shaken. The young baronʼs son, still shaking and teary-eyed, was quickly taken out of the hall by his guards, who looked like they wanted to be anywhere else.

Lady Francesca leaned closer to her husband, her voice low. ”What will you do about Javier?”

Lord Garius didnʼt answer right away. His eyes, narrowed thoughtfully.

”For now, nothing,” he replied, his voice mixed with irritation and a hint of pride. ”But I need to find out the truth about that boy… and how much heʼs been hiding from us.”

Javier paced restlessly in his room, his mind racing. His earlier outburst had been impulsive, and now he was starting to feel the weight of what he had done.

”Fuck, fuck, fuck! Why the hell did I use that skill?” he muttered to himself, running a hand through his messy black hair. ”I couldʼve just used Dispel when those idiots tried to cast magic, and if they went for fists, I couldʼve dodged them easily. Why the fuck did I go overboard? Ugh!”

He flopped onto his bed, glaring at the ceiling as if it held the answers to his problems.

”Young master?” Lianaʼs calm voice broke through his spiraling thoughts as she walked into the room, her graceful presence grounding him. She stood by the edge of his bed, tilting her head slightly. ”What are you thinking about ?”

Javier quickly composed himself, sitting up and resting his chin on his palm with a casual smirk.

”Oh, nothing. Just bored,”

Liana raised an eyebrow, unconvinced but choosing not to press him. Instead, she adjusted the blanket on his bed and began tidying the scattered books and papers on his desk.

”Oh…” she murmured softly, clearly not believing him but letting it go for now. ”Well, itʼs good youʼre resting. Youʼll need your energy for whatever comes next.”

Javier watched her for a moment, his amber eyes narrowing slightly as he reflected on her calm demeanor.

”Liana,” he said suddenly, his voice quieter but more sincere. ”What do you think? About… earlier?”

She paused, her hand lingering on the edge of his desk before turning to face him. Her emerald eyes met his, and for a moment, they were just two people trying to understand each other.

”I think,” she began carefully, ”that you showed a part of yourself youʼve been hiding for a long time. And while it was… overwhelming, it also reminded everyone not to underestimate you.”

Javier snorted, leaning back against the headboard. ”Yeah, but now Iʼve put a damn target on my back. Everyone saw. Even the Dried Plum was speechless.”

Lianaʼs lips quirked into a small smile at his nickname for Lord Garius. ”Perhaps. But young master, isnʼt it better to remind the world of your worth every now and then? Even if it means drawing attention?”

Javier groaned, flopping back down dramatically. ”Ugh, I hate it when you make sense. Canʼt you just tell me Iʼm an idiot and let me sulk?”

Liana chuckled softly, adjusting the blanket over him as if he were a child. ”Youʼre not an idiot, young master. Just… impulsive. And maybe a little too eager to protect whatʼs yours.”

Javier smirked, his confidence slowly returning. ”Thatʼs why youʼre still here, isnʼt it? To keep this ʼimpulsiveʼ young master in line?”

Liana sighed, shaking her head with an affectionate smile. ”Someone has to.”

( End of Chapter )