Reborn As Noble

Chapter 918: Shadow Moves, Stormy Meals ( 918 )

Armand Region.

Armand Estate.

Private Meeting Room.

Garius worked through a neat stack of paperwork, the quiet scratch of his quill filling the room. Erinnette moved about, setting a fresh cup of tea.

Knock, knock.

”Come in,” Garius said, eyes still on the page.

Alf entered, closing the door behind him with measured care. He bowed, palm pressed to his chest.

”My lord. Good news.”

Garius looked up, a knowing smile forming.

”So... it proceeds as planned?”

”Yes, my lord.”

Garius set the quill aside, hands interlaced as he leaned forward.

”This means our secret unit succeeded in persuading the greedy king?” His gaze sharpened.

”Yes, my lord.” Alf allowed himself a rare smirk. ”All according to plan.”

Garius’s smile deepened as he leaned back in his chair.

”It seems our master shadow managed to disguise himself as an advisor to the marquis... and steered him to push Kimar in exactly the direction we needed.”

”It appears so, my lord,” Alf replied, nodding. ”And one more thing.”

”Yes, Alf?” Garius’s eyes glinted.

Alf’s smirk widened to match his master’s.

”The talented Keeper of Law is stepping down from his post.”

”Oho? That means another sharp mind like Gilmon may soon join us to assist Kliatana. Very good.”

Erinnette stepped forward, setting down the tea and a mana talkie on the table.

”Here is what you requested, my lord.”

Garius glanced at his two trusted aides, satisfaction plain in his eyes. He leaned back once more, fingers drumming lightly on the armrest.

”I’ll contact Javier soon. For now, we wait. Timing is everything.”

Erinnette chuckled, her amusement clear. Alf just shook his head, a faint smile slipping through his formal composure.

”Ah~ Someone will soon have much to say about all this, my lord.”

”Yes, my lord~ I’m sure your youngest will be grumbling to himself about ’inheritance’ and all the rest. More headaches for him, I imagine.”

Garius let out a quiet sigh, shaking his head. ”Ah, he’s always been that way. You both know how much he despises paperwork.”

”Yes... just like a certain count...ah, pardon, ’Your Majesty,’” Alf coughed, the joke barely veiled.

”Not yet, Alf. Soon,” Garius replied, lips quirking in a sly smile. He took out a small map, tracing routes with his finger.

”There are two roads the Keeper might choose, straight to Armand, or passing through Arjam. But given the circumstances, I’d wager he’ll take his family the fastest way possible.”

”Yes, my lord. Our units are already on standby, keeping the road clear to make sure the Keeper and his family travel safely.”

Garius’s smirk returned. ”Well... nothing is ever truly guaranteed. Contact our men. Have them pull back and return to Armand. They can make it quickly enough on Pekko. I’ll have my youngest handle the rest...subtly, of course.”

Alf bowed slightly. ”As you command, my lord.”

In Arjam.

Afternoon.

Javier sat at the dinner table, his harem gathered around him. Gloria, seated to his left, stabbed at her meal with a subtle but unmistakable irritation, refusing to meet his eyes. She mumbled under her breath, lips pursed in a small pout.

”Stupid young master. Always Liana, Liana, Liana...”

Javier leaned closer, suppressing a grin as he whispered into Gloria’s ear, ”Don’t worry, Gloria. You’ll get your turn soon. Promise, okay?”

”Hmph! You’ve been saying that since last week,” Gloria muttered, still not looking at him.

Liana just shook her head with a gentle smile, while Felicia, Mimi, and Delya sat across the table, each watching Javier with varying degrees of confusion.

Inside Felicia’s mind, the question lingered.

What’s gotten into Gloria? She’s always so calm and graceful, but this whole week, she’s... different. Is it because of the young master? Or maybe...

Felicia glanced between Gloria and Javier, tail flicking with curiosity.

”Nya? What’s wrong, Gloria?” Mimi tilted her head, ears perked, watching Gloria poke at her meal with restrained irritation. ”Is the food not good?” Mimi eyed the slice of meat on Gloria’s plate, inching closer.

”If you don’t want it, let me...”

Before Mimi could reach, Gloria smacked her hand away with a quick, sharp motion.

”Eeeep!”

Mimi recoiled, ears flattening as she nursed her hand, wide-eyed. Gloria’s glare cut through the table.

”Scary...” Mimi mumbled, shrinking back into her seat.

Delya, meanwhile, was in her own world, savoring every bite at a leisurely pace.

”Mmm~ Today Danna-sama did the cooking~ It’s delicious~ Thank you, Danna-sama~”

Javier smiled, warmth flickering in his eyes. ”Eat more, Delya.”

”Alright~” Delya beamed, already reaching for another helping.

Before Javier could say another word, there was a knock at the door.

Hmm? Who is it now? Javier wondered, eyes flicking toward the entrance.

”Come in,” he called.

The door opened and an Armand staff member stepped in. She bowed slightly, palm pressed to her left chest.

”Young Master Javier.”

Javier perked up. ”Hmm? Yes, Racia?”

”Lord Garius is calling you on the mana talkie. He asked me to inform you since he said you’re not picking up, Young Master.”

”Oh? Ah... I was eating. I’ll contact Father soon.” Then, grinning, he added, ”You already ate, Racia? If not, come join....!”

Before he could finish, both Gloria and Liana pinched him sharply on either side, silencing the invitation. The rest of the girls shot Racia a coordinated glare, except for Delya, who was still savoring her meal, oblivious.

Racia chuckled nervously, averting her gaze as Liana’s glare intensified.

”A-ah... I... I already ate, Young Master. If you’ll excuse me.”

She quickly bowed again, retreating out the door and closing it behind her.

Once outside, she hurried her pace.

Liana and Gloria are scary!

After Racia left, Javier was still rubbing the sore spots where Gloria and Liana had pinched him.

”What did I do...?” he muttered, glancing around the table.

Liana fixed him with a piercing glare. ”What did you do, young master?”

Gloria’s stare was even sharper, her eyes cold and accusing.

Across the table, Felicia and Mimi both pouted, their tails bristling in annoyance.

”W-what?” Javier glance around, confused.

”How dare you try to invite another girl to our lunch!?” Liana snapped.

”E-eh? I... I just wanted to share. There’s nothing wrong with that... right?”

”If it was just an ordinary staff, fine,” Gloria shot back, ”but that one is young and beautiful!”

Crack, crack!

Gloria’s knuckles whitened as she gripped her fork. ”Clearly, young master intends to add even more girls to his harem, even though he can’t handle the five of us fairly!”

”A-ah! Alright, alright!” Javier raised both hands in surrender, his expression sheepish. ”Come on... let’s just eat, okay? We’ve got good food in front of us... it’d be rude to waste it, right?”

He offered his best smile, hoping to ease the storm brewing around him.

( End Of Chapter )