Reborn As Noble

"Hyaaarhh! The bath was good! Ehehehe!" Javier exclaimed cheerfully as he walked toward the dining room, his damp hair still slightly messy. Liana followed closely behind.

However, the moment Javier stepped into the dining room, his eyes locked onto Garius's serious, piercing gaze.

"Eeep!" Javier froze, stiffening as if he'd just been caught doing something wrong.

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"Good Evening, esteemed Father," he said quickly, bowing politely and trying to salvage the situation.

Garius's expression didn't change as he gestured toward the table. "Take a seat and behave."

"Yes, esteemed Father!" Javier replied, his voice cracking slightly before muttering under his breath, "Haaa... why is he so serious all the time?"

"Hmm?" Garius raised an eyebrow, his sharp ears catching the mumble.

"Eeek! Nothing!" Javier blurted, quickly hurrying to the end of the table, where Liana was already setting up his plate.

As he sat down, Liana placed a platter in front of him, filled with various cuts of perfectly cooked meat. Javier's eyes sparkled at the sight, his earlier nerves forgotten. "Ahhh, meat! Ehehehe!" he muttered happily, digging in with excitement.

Garius watched silently for a moment, his stern gaze lingering before he turned back to the rest of the family. Francesca chuckled softly, shaking her head as she sipped her wine. "He's always so full of energy," she remarked warmly.

"Too much sometimes," Garius muttered, though a faint flicker of amusement appeared in his eyes as he resumed his meal.

As Javier eagerly ate, Garius's voice cut through the lively atmosphere. "And Javier!"

Javier froze mid-bite, his eyes snapping up to meet his father's serious gaze. "Yes, esteemed Father!?" he replied, sitting up straighter, eager to please.

"Try not to cause too much trouble during the battleground event tomorrow," Garius said firmly.

"Err... umm..." Javier fidgeted in his seat, glancing around as if looking for an escape. "I'll try..." he mumbled reluctantly.

"Good," Garius replied, his gaze unyielding. "And try not to lose early on."

Javier straightened again, his confidence returning. "That will be done, my esteemed Father!"

Satisfied, Garius turned to Liana, who stood quietly by Javier's side. "And Liana."@@novelbin@@

"Yes, my lord?" Liana responded, bowing politely, her eyes calm.

"Try to win the escort bracket," Garius said, his tone neutral but commanding.

Liana nodded gracefully. "I cannot promise victory, my lord, but I will try my best," she replied sincerely.

Garius nodded, his expression unreadable, though a faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. Inside, he thought, Hmph... I can't wait to see her win and face the previous year's champion. This will be entertaining.

As the conversation ended, Javier leaned toward Liana and whispered, "You're totally going to win, right?"

"Young Master," Liana said softly, her lips curving into a faint smile, "please focus on your own matches instead of mine."

"Ehehe, we'll see," Javier said with a grin before going back to his meal with excitement.

Francesca glanced at Garius from the corner of her eye, a knowing smile on her lips as she noticed the change in his mood. Leaning closer, she lightly rested her hand on his arm and whispered softly so only he could hear, "So... she's not here?"

Her tone was playful, but her expression showed curiosity about someone important who was missing.

Garius's smirk deepened, though he didn't look directly at her. Instead, he casually took a sip of his wine, his eyes shining with amusement.

"Not yet," he murmured quietly, his voice low and mysterious.

Francesca chuckled softly, pulling back to focus on her plate. She didn't ask more, clearly happy to leave the mystery unsolved, at least for now.

Later that night, after dinner, Javier lay in his bed, feeling restless. The muffled snores of his brothers, Marcellus and Cedric, filled the room, adding to his discomfort.

With a sigh, Javier quietly slipped out of bed, careful not to wake them. Tiptoeing to the door, he opened it slowly and stepped into the dimly lit hallway, heading toward Liana's room.

When he reached the door, he eased it open and peeked inside. The soft moonlight coming through the window showed Liana, Meira, and Lithia sleeping peacefully in their own beds.

From the doorway, Javier whispered, "Liana."

No response. He frowned and tried again, a bit louder this time. "Liana."

Still nothing.

"Haa... if an assassin came, you'd all be dead already," Javier muttered under his breath, shaking his head.

Taking a deep breath, he whispered once more. "Lianaaaa..."

Liana stirred a little but didn't wake.

"Ugh, fine," Javier muttered, slipping inside the room and sneaking over to Liana's bed. Without hesitation, he climbed onto the bed and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a gentle hug.

Liana stirred again, waking slowly as she felt someone holding her. Her eyes opened, and she blinked in surprise before realizing who it was.

"Young Master..." she whispered, her voice soft but a bit scolding. "What are you doing?"

"You promised to come to my bed later!" Javier replied quietly, sounding a bit accusing.

Liana blinked, then sighed softly. "I forgot... sorry, Young Master."

"Never mind," Javier said with a grin, snuggling closer to her. "Ehehehe."

Liana's gentle smile returned as she adjusted her position, pulling Javier's head against her chest. She began humming a soft lullaby, her fingers brushing lightly through his hair.

"Liana?" Javier mumbled sleepily, his voice muffled.

"Yes, Young Master?"

"Kiss?" he asked, his tone innocent yet hopeful.

Liana paused for a moment before leaning down, placing a gentle kiss on his lips. When she pulled back, she smiled softly. "There... happy?"

"Very," Javier murmured, his eyes closing as he drifted off, comforted by her presence.

Liana watched him for a moment, her expression tender. "Good night, Young Master," she whispered, continuing to hum as he fell into a peaceful sleep.

Liana held Javier close, her arms wrapped around him as she rested her chin lightly on his head. The warmth of his presence and the steady rhythm of his breathing made her feel calm. She realized that Javier couldn't sleep soundly unless she was by his side.

"Young Master..." she whispered softly, her eyes warm. "I love you."

Javier stirred a bit, a small smile spreading across his face as he mumbled, "I love you too, Liana... ehehe... my future bride."

Before Liana could respond, Javier leaned up and brushed his lips against hers in a soft, loving kiss. She hesitated for just a moment before returning it, her cheeks slightly flushed but her heart steady.

As the kiss ended, Liana placed a hand on his cheek, her smile gentle. "There... now sleep, Young Master," she said softly. "Tomorrow, you'll need all the energy you can for the battleground event."

"Okay," Javier murmured, his voice already heavy with sleep. He nestled closer to her, resting his head against her chest as his breathing slowed.

Liana continued to hold him, a quiet smile on her lips as she hummed softly, watching over him as he drifted into peaceful sleep. "Good night, Young Master," she whispered, her heart full of affection for the boy she cared for so much.

Slowly, Liana's eyelids grew heavy as she held Javier close, the comfort of his presence and the peaceful night lulling her to sleep. But soon, she found herself in a strange, unfamiliar place.

"Hmm? Where am I?" Liana muttered, looking around. The surroundings were blurry, a hazy mix of colors and light that felt both dreamlike and strangely vivid.

"My love..." a deep, gentle voice called out, sending a shiver down her spine. "What are you thinking?"

Liana turned quickly, her eyes widening in surprise. Standing before her was a tall man, his features hidden in mystery. His voice was rich and soothing, with an intimate tone, but she couldn't recognize him.

"Huh?" Liana gasped, taking a step back. "Who is he?" she thought, her heart racing.

She opened her mouth to speak, to ask him questions, but to her shock, the words that came out weren't her own.

"Nothing much, dear..." Liana heard herself say, her tone soft and affectionate.

Her mind whirled with confusion. "Why am I saying that? Who is this man?" she thought, feeling trapped in the dream as it continued.

The man stepped closer, his presence calm and commanding. "You've been quiet, my love. Is something bothering you?" he asked, his voice full of genuine care.

Liana wanted to speak, to ask everything, but the dream held her captive, her lips curving into a soft smile she didn't mean to give. "It's nothing... truly," she heard herself say again, her voice not really her own.

As the tall man leaned closer, his warm, mysterious gaze locked onto Liana's, she felt her heart race uncontrollably. She didn't understand why—despite her confusion and the alarm ringing in her mind—she found herself tilting her head slightly, her lips parting as if drawn by an invisible force.

"What... why am I doing this?" she thought, panic rising. But no matter how hard she tried, her body wouldn't let her move away.

The man's face was just a breath away, their lips about to touch—

Suddenly, Liana's eyes snapped open, her body jolting upright as she woke from the strange dream.

"Haa..." she gasped softly, her hand clutching her chest as she tried to steady her racing heart.

The room was quiet, the soft moonlight filtering through the window casting a calm glow. Javier was still peacefully asleep, nestled against her and unaware of her momentary distress.

"What was that...?" Liana whispered to herself, her eyes wide with lingering confusion. The dream felt too vivid, too real, leaving her with emotions she couldn't fully understand.

But as she looked down at Javier's sleeping face, his soft breaths steady and calm, she felt her heart ease. Gently, she brushed her fingers through his hair, shaking off the lingering unease from the dream. "Just a dream."

"Why am I dreaming of the same person twice?" she wondered, her heart aching with guilt and unease. She clenched her fists, her emotions swirling like a storm.

Liana sat still, her thoughts chaotic as the memory of the dream lingered, vivid and unsettling. She clenched her fists again, her gaze falling on Javier, who was peacefully asleep beside her.

"No..." she whispered fiercely, her voice trembling. "I don't want that. I only want Young Master."

Her eyes softened as she looked at him, his innocent expression soothing the storm inside her. She leaned closer, her lips brushing against his forehead—but the memory of the dream refused to leave.

A thought struck her, one she couldn't ignore. If she could replace that unsettling feeling with something real, something that was hers, maybe the unease would fade.

Without hesitation, Liana leaned down further, her lips brushing gently against Javier's. She lingered there, letting the kiss anchor her back to the present, her heart steadying with each moment.

Javier stirred slightly but didn't wake, a small smile forming on his lips even in his sleep.

"There..." Liana whispered, her cheeks flushed as she pulled back. "This is real... and it's all I need."

She settled back into bed, holding him close and letting the warmth of the moment wash away the remnants of the dream. As her eyes closed once more, her resolve solidified.

"You're the only one I love, Young Master. No dream will ever change that," she murmured, her voice barely audible as she drifted back to sleep.

( End of Chapter )