Reborn As Noble

Chapter 1001: A Promise Etched in Hearts ( 1001 )

At the balcony on the second floor, Garius stood hugging Francesca from behind, his chin resting gently atop her head.

”Dear~ look at our youngest son... with his favorite elf maid.” Francesca held Garius’s hand, her voice soft.

”Mm... I see him,” Garius smiled, watching Javier and Liana dance in the distant glow.

”You really knew which girls would fall for him, and stay faithful from the very beginning.” Francesca leaned back against Garius’s chest.

”Yes,” Garius said, a low smile in his voice. ”That’s why I assigned Liana as his personal maid. To look after him, to care for him... and to become his partner for life.”

He paused, his gaze still on the glowing figures below. ”Meira and Lithia were only placed with him temporarily, to make Liana take her role seriously. Once she did, I reassigned Meira to Cedric and Lithia to Marcellus. Because I knew.”

Francesca glanced up at him, a knowing smile gracing her lips. ”And now Lithia and her mother are marrying Marcellus, while Meira and Zania will be Cedric’s brides.”

”Mm... I know.”

”I still remember,” Francesca murmured, leaning back into his embrace, ”how only Liana could truly handle Javier, his cheekiness, his mischief... all of it.”

”And I did it for all our sons,” Garius continued, his voice low and steady. ”Not to arrange their partners, but to ensure they wouldn’t grow into the kind of nobles’ sons I’ve seen. The ones who treat women like trinkets to be bought, who abuse their power without a second thought... who see loyalty as weakness and cruelty as strength.”

He paused, his gaze still fixed on the distant, glowing dance below.

”I didn’t want any child of mine to grow up entitled, cruel, or careless. To think the world owed them something simply because of their name. To use people and discard them. To become so blinded by privilege they forget what it means to be human.”

Francesca leaned back into him, her voice soft. ”Mm... I know, dear. You’ve always seen deeper than most. It’s the Gifted Eyes of Truth that guided you.”

Garius shook his head slightly, a faint, somber smile touching his lips.

”No... This isn’t because of the Eyes. This is from experience. From watching so-called ’noble’ houses crumble from within, rotted by greed, arrogance, and petty cruelties. I didn’t want our children to ever become... hollow. Worthless in everything but title.”

Francesca leaned in, and Garius kissed her cheek softly.

”But now,” she murmured, ”I don’t think Javier could ever forget any of his future wives. Nor could our other sons forget theirs... not after the dance.”

Garius’s smile deepened, and he kissed her other cheek.

”You mean your dance. The one you taught them all in secret.”

”Mm... Elyria’s Spiral Love Dance,” Francesca said, a trace of playful pride in her voice. ”It wasn’t just for beauty, dear. It was a promise, etched into their hearts.”

Garius chuckled quietly, his arms tightening around her.

”The same dance you taught Garcinia and Phenelopie too, right?”

Francesca just smiled. ”Just don’t forget, dear, Eridith, too. Or perhaps I should teach both Eridith and Mylezra as well?”

Garius chuckled again. ”Don’t need to. I will always love you, Francesca.”

”Mm...”

”Now...” Garius leaned closer, his whisper warm against her ear. ”How about our night, hmm?”

”No~ You should rest, and save your energy for your honeymoon with Mylezra.”

”You don’t need to worry about that,” Garius replied, his tone low and confident. ”You know I can still make any of my wives pregnant.”

Francesca let out a soft, elegant laugh. ”No~ I don’t think Javier wants another sibling~”

”But that doesn’t mean we can’t... go through the process~”

Meanwhile, in the courtyard near the Pekko pen...

Javier slowly pulled back from their long, heartfelt kiss, his eyes still locked on Liana’s.

”Liana?”

”Hmm?” Liana looked up at him, a soft smile on her lips.

”Since we’ve already done it once...” Javier whispered, a mischievous glint in his eyes. ”How about we sneak off to my personal workshop... and...”

Liana slapped his arm lightly and let out a soft, melodic laugh.

”Naughty~ Young Master~”

”Come on... please?” Javier grinned, planting another light kiss on her lips.

”I want to as well, Young Master~” Liana smiled, her tone gentle but firm. ”But I don’t think we can~”

”Why?” Javier raised an eyebrow, genuinely confused.

”Because...” Liana’s eyes flickered meaningfully toward the shadows behind him. ”...the others are here too~”

Javier turned his head, still holding Liana, and saw Gloria, Felicia, Mimi, and Delya walking slowly toward them through the moonlit courtyard.

”Aw~ We missed our chance,” Javier murmured, leaning in to steal one more quick kiss from Liana.

Liana just smiled and glanced up at him. ”You’ll get your chance with all of us... after Prince Aelius and Princess Athine’s wedding is done.”

”Mm... I know,” Javier said softly.

Liana’s smile turned a little mischievous. ”After that, we’ve all decided... we’ll start our schedule.”

”Oh... you mean one day each per week? Everyone gets a personal day with me, right?”

”Wrong~” Liana’s eyes sparkled. ”They each get one day. I get two... since I’m the first wife.”

Gloria arrived, a knowing smile on her lips, one palm resting on her cheek while her other hand crossed lightly below her chest.

”Ara~ Ara~ my my~ Liana... I wonder why you didn’t wake me up when our young master came home~”

Liana just glanced away, adjusting her nightdress with graceful poise before folding her hands neatly in front of her.

”Ah~ Second Wife... I did try to wake you, but you didn’t budge. I thought perhaps you were tired~”

”Oh~ Really?” Gloria’s eyes sparkled behind her glasses. ”Or perhaps... you were waiting for a chance to sneak off with the young master yourself? Hmm~ Judging by the romantic dance and kiss, I believe the next stop would have been his personal workshop~”

Liana simply smiled, neither confirming nor denying.

Javier just stood there with an awkward, fond smile.

”Young Master~” Gloria turned her gaze to him, her tone sweet but pointed. ”It’s not fair if your attention is only on Liana. We’ve... ’done it’ once too, right~”

”Nya? Done what?” Mimi tilted her head, her tail swaying in confusion.

Meanwhile, Delya glided forward gracefully and wrapped her arms around Javier in a warm, lingering hug.

”Welcome home, Danna-sama~”

Felicia’s cheeks flushed pink. Her tail gave a small, restless flick as she glanced at Javier, then quickly averted her eyes.

”Nya!! Delya!! It’s not fair you get to hug Husband-sama first!!” Mimi pouted, tugging at Delya’s sleeve, but Delya only hugged Javier tighter, her eyes closed and a dreamy smile on her lips.

( End Of Chapter )