Reborn As Noble

Chapter 222 Commanding Presence ( 222 )

Errinette leaned back slightly, her piercing gaze sweeping over the room. Then, in a tone that allowed no room for argument, she declared—

”And these two”—she gestured toward Iria and Iziya, who immediately tensed up again—”will be attending the Maid Training Program once we return to the Armand region.”

Iria and Iziya visibly paled.

Javier nodded absentmindedly. ”Mmm, makes sense.”

But then—

Errinetteʼs eyes locked onto him.

”And because of you, young master… these two”—her gaze flicked toward Liana and Gloria—”will also participate in the Maid Training Program. AGAIN!”

Silence.

Javier froze.

Liana and Gloria, who had been standing calmly, suddenly stiffened.

Errinetteʼs words slowly sank in.

Liana and Gloriaʼs heads snapped toward Javier, their sharp glares piercing into him like twin daggers.

”Errr… umm…” Liana let out a rare stammer.

”A-Ara… again…?” Gloriaʼs usual amused tone wavered.

Javier felt the temperature in the room drop.

The intensity of their combined glares sent shivers down his spine.

Errinetteʼs expression remained completely neutral. ”Any questions?”

Liana and Gloria, still staring directly at Javier, answered in perfect unison—

”No, Mrs. Errinette.”

Their voices were calm. Too calm.

Javier immediately felt danger.

His eyes darted around the room, searching for an escape.

Then—

”Ah! Uhh… AHAHA! This book! YES! This very interesting book!”

In a desperate attempt to change the subject, Javier snatched the nearest book from the table, flipping it open as if it were the most fascinating thing in the world.

Everyone stared at him.

Liana and Gloriaʼs gazes did not waver.

Iria and Iziya watched in awkward silence, still too scared to breathe.

Errinetteʼs sharp gaze turned toward the kitchen, her presence still commanding the entire room.

”Now, Iʼm hungry. Liana? Gloria?”

Liana and Gloria, snapping to attention, responded in unison—

”In a minute, Mrs. Errinette!”

Their voices were crisp and efficient, a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere that still lingered in the room.

Javier, still pretending to be deeply engrossed in his book, gulped quietly.

Errinette turned her attention back to him, her eyes narrowing slightly.

”Do you think I would be here if not for Lord Gariusʼs order? Hmm?”

Javier froze, his fingers gripping the book tightly.

Stay tuned with

”U-Uhh…”

Errinetteʼs eyes bored into him, unyielding.

”I have a husband to attend to,” she continued, her tone carrying a hint of annoyance. ”And Iʼm sure he feels lonely by now. Even if Alf looks serious all the time, he always wants me near him.”

Javier blinked, momentarily distracted by the revelation. Alf… feels lonely?

Errinette exhaled sharply, her gaze flicking toward Liana and Gloria, who were frantically preparing the meal.

”And yet, here I am. Because of two irresponsible ʼgirls.ʼ”

Liana and Gloria flinched, their hands moving even quicker as they prepared the dinner.

Javier slouched further into the sofa, trying to melt into the fabric and become invisible.

Errinetteʼs eyes returned to him, the weight of her expectations pressing down on his shoulders.

Meanwhile, in the Armand Region…

Inside Lord Gariusʼs study, the atmosphere was relaxed, but serious matters loomed over the room.

Seated near the refreshment table were Hesbeirn and Rasdingen, the giant dwarf, both enjoying the warmth of the finely crafted wooden chairs. The table was set with premium wine and light snacks, but only Rasdingen seemed to eat with enthusiasm.

Lord Garius, ever composed, sat at his main desk, casually observing the man in front of him—Alf.

A smirk appeared on Gariusʼs lips.

”Hahaha… it looks like Alf is worried about something… or should I say ʼsomeoneʼ?”

Alf, his expression serious, shook his head. ”Ah, not really, my lord.”

Rasdingen, wiping crumbs from his thick beard, chuckled deeply.

”Hey, Alf! Ye donʼt need to worry about yer wife, Errinette. Ye know sheʼs strong anʼ can handle almost anything!”

Alf stayed silent for a moment, his normally unreadable face showing the slightest hesitation.

”Itʼs not that… itʼs just… nothing.”

But his tone betrayed him.

Lord Gariusʼs smirk widened, and he chuckled softly.

”Alf, you and Errinette already have two sons and a daughter—almost all of them are adults now.” He leaned back slightly, his eyes glinting with amusement. ”And yet, you still canʼt calm down when sheʼs not around you, huh?”

Alf, usually composed, stayed quiet.

For once, he had no response.

Hesbeirn, watching from the refreshment table, laughed heartily.

”Well, thatʼs just how my brother-in-law is, my lord.”

Alfʼs eye twitched slightly.

Lord Garius leaned back in his chair, his amused smirk fading, replaced by a serious expression.

”Iʼm sorry, Alf.” He exhaled, tapping his fingers on the table. ”I planned to send Rasdingen or Hesbeirn to the capital instead… but we have more serious matters here. I hope you understand.”

Alf nodded without hesitation. ”I know, my lord.”

From the refreshment table, Rasdingen let out a gruff huff, while Hesbeirn crossed his arms, slightly nodding at Gariusʼs words.

After a moment, Garius looked at Alf again.

”By the way, Alf…” He tilted his head slightly. ”Errinette went to the capital with who?”

Alfʼs expression remained calm, and he answered directly. ”Alone, with her Pekko, my lord.”

A brief pause.

Garius raised an eyebrow. ”Hmm? I thought you didnʼt want her to bring her own Pekko?”

Alfʼs stoic gaze didnʼt waver. ”My lord, Pekkos are faster and more agile than horses. Their speed makes them harder to track, and they are not as easy to mark.”

Lord Garius grinned slightly, leaning forward with a knowing look.

”Yeah, I know. Like my Giddie… ehehehe.”

Hesbeirn chuckled, while Rasdingen muttered something about ”bird-ridinʼ nobles” under his breath.

Lord Garius leaned back, lightly tapping his fingers against the polished wood of his desk. His gaze drifted toward the window, where the banners of House Armand fluttered in the evening breeze.

Then, with a smirk, he muttered—

”I canʼt wait to see Errinetteʼs report.”

His voice held quiet amusement, but there was unmistakable weight behind it.

Across the room, Alfʼs lips curled into a rare smile.

He understood exactly what his lord was thinking.

Garius tilted his head, his smirk widening. ”If his ʼclassʼ is what I predict it is…”

A brief pause.

Alf, arms crossed, stayed silent, but his eyes glinted with understanding.

Lord Gariusʼs fingers stilled, his smirk never fading. ”That boy may think heʼs clever… like he can hide things from me… but weʼll see.”

The room grew eerily quiet.

Then—

His right eye shifted.

For the briefest moment, its color changed, becoming lighter and different from his left eye.

Alf noticed.

Hesbeirn, still seated, pretended not to.

Rasdingen, ever blunt, grunted.

But no one said a word.

The room remained silent, but the air was thick with unspoken understanding.

They all knew.

They understood the true power of their lord.

Not just as their current master or the head of House Armand—

But as the man they had once served as children.

The sole survivor of a noble house that had been wiped out.

Their old friend.

Their young master.

And now—

”The Clandestine Ruler”

Lord Gariusʼs right eye returned to normal, his smirk still in place as if nothing had happened.

But Alf, Hesbeirn, and Rasdingen sat quietly, each lost in their own thoughts.

Because they all knew—

Garius never made predictions lightly.

And if his suspicions about Javierʼs true ʼclassʼ were correct…

Then the future of House Armand was about to change forever.

( End of Chapter )