Reborn As Noble

In the dining room, Garius sat at the head of the table, exuding his usual commanding presence. Francesca sat to his right, while Lady Garcinia and Lady Phenelopie occupied the left side, with Eridith seated next to Francesca. The entire family, including Garius's sons and his only daughter, Athine, had gathered for breakfast.

Javier sat at the end of the table, as usual. Liana was on his right, carefully preparing his plate, while Gloria, seated on his left, poured him tea with her calm demeanor.

"Alf?" Garius called, his sharp voice cutting through the soft clinking of cutlery.

"Yes, my lord?" Alf responded, stepping forward slightly.

"Preparations for our journey?"

"It's done, my lord," Alf replied. "The first and second teams have already started moving. If there are any obstacles, they'll be handled swiftly."

"Good," Garius said with a nod. "Make sure they're ready. I don't want to lose any of them—or you."

"Don't worry, my lord," Alf reassured him with a faint smirk.

Garius then turned his attention to his two eldest sons. "Marcellus, Cedric!"

"Yes, Esteemed Father!" they answered in unison, sitting up straighter.

"Don't cause too much trouble," Garius warned with a sharp gaze. "Meira, as usual, accompany Cedric. Lithia?"

"Yes, my lord?" Lithia responded, her voice calm yet attentive.

"Ensure Marcellus behaves and accompany him at all times," Garius ordered.

"Yes, my lord," Lithia answered, bowing her head respectfully.

Francesca smiled warmly at the exchange, her eyes glancing affectionately toward her children.

Finally, Garius turned his focus to his youngest son. "And Javier?"

"Yes, Esteemed Father!" Javier replied, his voice attentive despite sneaking a piece of bread when Liana wasn't looking.

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"Try not to lose early in the event. At least make it to the top 10."

"Yes, Esteemed Father!" Javier answered confidently, though a playful grin tugged at his lips.

Francesca chuckled softly, shaking her head as she glanced at Javier. "Haaa... my honey bun, always so cheeky."

Francesca's gaze drifted to Lithia and Meira, who stood dutifully beside Marcellus and Cedric. A playful smile grew on her face as she decided to tease them.

"Now, you two," Francesca said lightly, her eyes sparkling with mischief, "just make sure you don't... rush into things too early, alright?"

Meira's cat ears twitched, and her tail swayed nervously as her cheeks turned rosy. "Y-yes, Madam," she replied softly, avoiding eye contact.

Lithia kept her head lowered, her dark elf complexion doing little to hide the faint blush on her cheeks. "Y-yes, Madam," she murmured shyly.

Marcellus and Cedric focused intently on their meals, though their stammered responses betrayed their embarrassment. "Y-yes, Mother," they said in unison, their voices slightly shaky.

Javier, sitting at the end of the table, tilted his head with a playful expression. "Hmm? What does Mother mean by 'rushing into things?'" he said, feigning confusion. Seeing no one respond, he suppressed a sly grin and continued eating.

Francesca chuckled softly, clearly amused, as she returned to her meal. Meanwhile, Garius let out a small sigh, shaking his head slightly at his wife's teasing.

Javier munched on his meal, a sly grin spreading across his face as he glanced at Meira and Lithia. "Oh... it's nice to see them getting along with Marcellus and Cedric" he thought, secretly pleased to see that both maids were now building good relationships with Marcellus and Cedric.

"I guess it all worked out quite well"

Meanwhile, Liana and Gloria stood beside Javier, both trying their best to suppress amused smiles at the scene unfolding.

Liana leaned slightly toward Gloria and whispered, "So... they both did it with Master Marcellus and Master Cedric?"

"Shhh!" Gloria quickly hushed her, glancing at Javier, who was too busy grinning to notice. "Don't let the Young Master hear this!"

Liana nodded, her expression becoming more composed, though a hint of amusement lingered in her eyes. Gloria, ever calm, maintained her serene demeanor, though the corners of her lips twitched with restrained laughter.

In the courtyard of their house just outside the capital, Francesca pulled Javier into a tight embrace, her affectionate nature on full display.

"I'm going to miss you, honey bun~" she cooed, planting kisses on his forehead, both cheeks, and a quick peck on his lips. "Ohhh~ I love you so much, honey bun~"

"I love you too, Mother~" Javier replied, his voice warm and sincere as he hugged her back.

Nearby, Garius stood with his usual stoic demeanor, his sharp gaze fixed on Javier as he waited by the carriage. Though he didn't express his emotions as openly as Francesca, there was a weight of care in his commanding presence.

"Javier," Garius called, his voice firm.

"Yes, Esteemed Father!" Javier responded immediately, standing upright.

"Don't cause too much trouble. And when school ends and the blessing ceremony is complete, make sure to go home. No detours."

"Yes, Esteemed Father!" Javier replied with a grin, though he inwardly wondered if he could sneak in a tiny detour.

Garius then turned his attention to Liana and Gloria, who were standing nearby. "Liana, Gloria."

"Yes, my lord?" they answered in unison, bowing respectfully.

"Keep an eye on him," Garius ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"As you command, my lord," they replied, both stealing a glance at Javier, who was already plotting his next mischief.

Finally, Garius addressed Marcellus and Cedric, his eldest sons. "Marcellus, Cedric."

"Yes, Esteemed Father!" they replied together, their postures straight and attentive.

"Don't cause too much trouble and stay focused on your mission," Garius reminded them, referring to their task of monitoring the summoned heroes.

"Yes, Esteemed Father!" they answered, though quick side glances at each other hinted at mischief waiting to unfold.

Francesca chuckled softly, watching the exchange. "Haaa... boys will be boys," she muttered, ruffling Javier's hair one last time before stepping toward the carriage. "Be good, honey bun~"

Javier darted toward the carriages with a mischievous grin, moving swiftly as he pretended to playfully run around each of the nine carriages. In reality, he was silently activating his most powerful barrier skill—capable of withstanding even a dragon's breath—by discreetly touching each carriage as he passed.

"Ehehehehehe..." he chuckled under his breath, enjoying his little secret.

"Honey bun?" Francesca called, her voice curious yet affectionate. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing, Mother~" Javier replied, flashing her his most innocent grin. "Ehehehehehe..."

Francesca raised an eyebrow, a small, knowing smile tugging at her lips, but she decided not to press further. "Haaa... that cheeky boy of mine," she muttered to herself, shaking her head fondly.

Meanwhile, Liana, watching from the side, narrowed her eyes slightly. "Young Master... what are you up to now?" she thought but said nothing, deciding to wait and see what mischief her young master had planned.

Gloria simply smirked. "Ara, I wonder what our young master is plotting this time," she mused, folding her arms and watching Javier with amusement.

"Francesca! Garius! Are you going to leave me behind?!" Eridith shouted as she rushed out of the house, panting heavily.

Francesca turned toward her, a playful smile on her face. "Tehe~ We're still waiting for you, Eridith."

"I didn't even have my breakfast yet!" Eridith huffed, folding her arms.

"Ugh... just hold it until we pass the capital city border," Garius muttered, already stepping into the carriage with his usual composed demeanor.

"Fine!" Eridith grumbled before her eyes landed on Javier, who was running around touching each carriage with a mischievous grin.

Inside her mind, Eridith mused, "Oho~ This kid really has potential, huh? No wonder he's the son of Garius and Francesca."

But before she could think further, the carriages began to move. She noticed Francesca giving her a sly grin from inside the lead carriage.

"Francescaaaaaa!!! Don't leave me!" Eridith screamed, breaking into a sprint to catch up as the carriages rolled forward.@@novelbin@@

Francesca leaned out slightly, her grin widening. "Haaa... hurry up, Eridith, or we really will leave you behind!"

"You wouldn't dare!" Eridith shouted, a mix of indignation and panic in her voice as she managed to catch up and climb aboard, muttering under her breath about breakfast and sly best friends.

Javier stood still, his mischievous grin fading as he watched the carriages begin to move. His mother leaned out slightly, waving at him with a warm smile. He bit his lip, trying hard to hold back the tears welling up in his eyes.

Nearby, Marcellus openly displayed his emotions, tears streaming down his face as he sniffled quietly. Cedric turned away sharply, pretending to adjust his collar, but his trembling shoulders betrayed his attempt to hide his feelings.

The personal maids around them maintained a respectful silence. Gloria, beside Javier, glanced at him with a calm but understanding expression. Liana stood on his other side, her eyes full of warmth as she rested a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

Meira, along with Cedric's other two maids, observed their master with quiet sympathy. Meira's tail swayed softly, and her ears twitched at his barely hidden sniffles, while the other two exchanged knowing glances but stayed silent.

Marcellus, encircled by his four personal maids, received a gentle pat on the shoulder from Lithia. The dark elf's usually composed expression softened slightly as she murmured a word of encouragement. The other three maids stood by respectfully, ready to offer support if needed.

The courtyard echoed with the faint sounds of the departing carriages, leaving behind the three brothers, their loyal maids, and the weight of a bittersweet farewell.

Francesca continued to wave until the carriages were out of sight, her smile lingering even as they disappeared into the distance. Garius sat beside her, his stoic expression masking the flicker of emotion in his eyes, his hand clenched into a tight fist on his knee.

( End of Chapter )