Reborn As Noble

In the morning.

Golden sunlight peeked through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. The soft chirping of morning birds mingled with the quiet rustling of fabric.

Javier stirred awake, blinking slowly.

"Oh? Already morning?" He yawned, stretching lazily as he sat up. "Man… that was fast…"

Standing by the side of the bed were Liana and Gloria, both already dressed in their neatly pressed maid uniforms. Their hair was tied back, their expressions composed—but their eyes looked a little hesitant.

"Yes… young master," Liana answered softly.

Gloria tried to smile, though it didn't quite hide the lingering sadness in her eyes.

"Do you need our help to prepare your clothes and bag?" she asked gently.

Javier shook his head with a light grin.

"Nah, no need. I have magic storage, remember? And I don't need that much stuff anyway."

Without a word, Liana stepped forward. She held out a folded piece of her uniform—the one she wore yesterday. It was clean, of course, but still held a faint trace of her scent.

"Here… young master."

"Hmm?" Javier tilted his head.

"If you miss me," she murmured, cheeks slightly pink, "you can… hold this… or… smell it, maybe…"

Gloria followed immediately, her tone half-teasing, half-earnest as she handed him her own folded uniform top.

"Here. You're not allowed to forget us, okay? This is a reminder."

Javier blinked, then chuckled.

"You two…" He took the clothes gently, storing them with care inside his magic storage. "I'm not gone forever, you know."

"But still," Liana said, her voice soft.

"We'll be waiting," Gloria added.

Javier stood up and looked at them both for a moment. They stood there—his maids, his guardians, his precious future wives—with grace and pride, even as part of them clearly didn't want him to go.

"Come walk with me to the gates?" he asked.

They both nodded without hesitation.

Once they reached the main doors of the estate, Javier stepped out with Liana and Gloria quietly flanking him, their presence steady and comforting.

In the courtyard just ahead, beneath the shade of a large parasol, Garius and Francesca were seated at a small round table. A delicate tea set lay between them, and plates of light breakfast—fruit, bread, and jam—were barely touched.

The moment Javier approached, both of them looked up.

"Mother. Esteemed Father." Javier stopped and gave a formal bow.

Francesca immediately rose from her seat, her long flowing dress rustling lightly with each step. Her eyes softened when they met her son's.

"My honey bun~" she said sweetly, wrapping her arms around him and pulling him into a tight hug.

"Promise me, okay? Don't be reckless. If this mission gets too dangerous, pull out. Don't you dare throw yourself into danger just because your father said so."

She cast a firm glance at Garius.

"How dare you send our baby out alone! My poor honey bun~!"

Garius, calmly sipping his tea, raised an eyebrow and sighed.

"He's not a baby, Francesca. He's grown. And this is necessary."

"Necessary? Look at him! He hasn't even had breakfast!"

"Mother, I did have breakfast..." Javier mumbled in protest.

Francesca gave him one more squeeze before stepping back, brushing imaginary dust from his shoulders and smoothing out his clothes with gentle, doting hands.

"Just… be safe, alright?"

"I'll be fine, Mother. I promise." Javier smiled, touched by her concern even if she was fussing a bit too much.

Garius finally stood, adjusting the cuffs of his coat as he walked toward his son.

"Javier."

"Yes, Esteemed Father?"

Garius placed a firm hand on his shoulder.

"Do what you must. But never forget—you carry our name and our trust. And if you ever find yourself doubting, remember… you are never truly alone."

Javier nodded. "Understood."

Cuquawked! Cuquawked!

Buddy strolled up with an overly smug expression, squawking like he was singing a personal victory anthem. His head bobbed in rhythm, proud and dramatic as always.

Javier chuckled softly and turned to Liana and Gloria, pulling something out from his magic storage.

Two necklaces—simple yet elegant, with a faint glow pulsing from the embedded mana crystal at the center.

"Young master?" Liana tilted her head slightly.

Javier smiled and gently placed the first necklace around Liana's neck. As it settled against her skin, he closed his eyes and channeled his mana into it. The crystal glowed briefly with a warm, soft light before dimming again.

Then he turned to Gloria and did the same—fastening the necklace, placing his hand over the crystal, and pouring a touch of his mana inside.

"There. That should do it."

"Young master…?" Gloria looked down at the charm, puzzled.

Javier stepped back slightly, hands behind his back, his expression unusually serious.

"Don't lose it. These necklaces are tuned to my mana. If either of you is in danger... real danger—like life-ending spells or something that could kill you instantly—these will activate once. Just once. They'll protect you, like a final barrier, and alert me through the link."

Liana's eyes widened. "That kind of enchantment... it's complex, even for high mages."

"I didn't ask how hard it was. I just made it," Javier said with a slight grin.

Gloria looked down at hers and clutched it gently. "Young master... thank you."

Javier nodded, his tone softening. "I told you—I won't lose either of you again. No matter what."

Liana stepped forward, lightly touched her necklace, then looked up into his eyes.

"We'll come back stronger. So you better be ready for us."

"Yeah," Gloria added, smirking, "You'll be the one playing catch-up next time, young master."

Javier flinched as Liana leaned in with a serene smile that definitely didn't match the pinch she delivered to his waist.

"And young master?" she said sweetly, her fingers twisting just slightly.

"Y-yes, Liana?" he tensed up, already sensing doom.

"Don't bring another future wife candidate during your journey." Her words were calm, but the warning was very clear.

"Ow—!" Javier flinched harder as Gloria joined in, pinching the other side.

"Yeah! We don't need more!" Gloria pouted while pressing her fingers into his side with perfect battle maid precision.

"Okay okay! I get it!"

"Promise!" they both said in sync, tightening their grip like two perfect synchronized interrogators.

Javier raised both hands in surrender. "I can't promise that! What if someone falls in love with me without me doing anything?! I'm too handsome to stop fate!"

"YOUNG MASTER!!" both maids yelled in protest, shaking him back and forth while he flailed between them.

"I'm innocent!! I'm innocent, I swear! Let me gooo—Buddy help me!!"

Cuquawked!? Buddy squawked once, tilted his head… then turned away smugly, as if to say, "You dug your grave, not my problem."

"Traitor," Javier groaned.

He looked at them both—his two most trusted, most beloved girls—and smiled warmly, even as his heart tugged at the sight of Liana's tears.

"Young master. Be safe out there." Liana's voice was gentle, but the trembling hand on his arm betrayed her feelings.

"Yeah, I will." He ruffled her hair softly before glancing at Gloria. "You two as well. Don't wander outside without permission, alright?"

"We know, young master," Gloria responded with her usual confident smile, though her tone had a trace of heaviness.

Liana couldn't hold it anymore. Her tears brimmed and slipped down her cheeks as she leaned forward and kissed him deeply—a slow, tender kiss filled with silent promises. Then, without a word, she wrapped her arms around him tightly, refusing to let go for a long moment.

Javier held her back, whispering, "I'll come back soon. So train hard, alright?"

When Liana finally pulled back, Gloria stepped forward without hesitation. She gripped his collar, pulled him in, and kissed him as well—more direct, more stubborn, yet trembling just as much. Her forehead pressed lightly against his.

"If you don't come back, I'll haunt you, young master," she whispered with a smile that was both teasing and serious.

Javier chuckled. "Yeah, yeah. Just make sure both of you don't slack off while I'm gone."

He reached into his pocket and took out his mana talkie, slipping it into his ear.

"If I'm within range of our mana relay towers, I'll contact you. So don't turn these off."

Liana nodded and took out her mana talkies—small, crystal-like earbuds. She showed both pieces, one already warmed with her mana and the second as backup.

Gloria mirrored her, holding her set out proudly. "See? We're good."

Javier smiled with pride. "Perfect. Now we're never really apart. Even if I'm out there dodging arrows or sweet-talking beastkin princesses—"

"Young. Master." Liana and Gloria said in unison, their sharp gazes silencing him instantly.

He coughed and looked away. "...A joke. That was a joke."

Javier turned around for one last look. On the steps of the estate, Liana and Gloria stood—one gently weeping, the other crying silently, biting her lip to keep her composure. Both were held back by duty and love.

"You two, be careful, okay?" Javier called out, his voice steady but warm. "And—Ari! Aria!"

From Liana and Gloria's lips came two distinct yet synchronized voices,

"What?"

"Protect them," Javier said, his expression serious now. "So they can protect you both too."

"We will," the two celestial spirits replied in perfect harmony.

Javier gave one final smile.

"Liana. Gloria. Train hard... and wait for me, okay?"

Liana nodded, her emerald eyes glistening with unshed tears, her hand clenched tightly over her chest.

Gloria was already crying, her body trembling, biting her lower lip so hard it turned pale.

"Be good girls… and wait for me, okay?"

He didn't wait for their reply this time. It would only hurt more.

He turned his gaze forward.

"Buddy! Let's go!!"

Cuquawked!

With a thunderous stride, Buddy sprinted down the estate road—fast, proud, and smooth. The wind blew against Javier's cloak as he kept his gaze straight ahead, hiding the sting in his eyes.

Behind him, the two girls stood silently, side by side, until their young master vanished into the distance. They held onto the lingering warmth in their chests—and the weight of the necklaces he left them with.

For now, all they could do… was believe in him. And become strong enough to stand beside him when he returns.

( End Of Chapter )