Reborn As Noble

"Now tell me, honey bun~?" Fransesca cooed sweetly, still holding him like a prized stuffed animal.

"Pwaaah!!" Javier finally broke free for a gasp of air, dramatically wiping his face. "Mother!! I nearly saw the river across the side!"

"My~ don't be like that~" she teased, completely unfazed. "A little love hug from your mother won't kill you~"

"Seriously!" Javier panted. "I was about to die from suffocation! I couldn't even breathe—my face was completely—!"

Fransesca blinked innocently, then tilted her head. "Hmm? Does that mean… you don't love mama anymore?"

"Wha—! I-I didn't mean it like that!!" Javier panicked, hands raised in defense. "Of course I love you, Mother! I just—! I mean—!"

"Hmhm~ I see." She leaned in, her soft smile dangerously gentle. "So next time you come home, you won't run away from my hugs, will you~?"

Javier flinched.

"...I'll submit quietly…" he muttered.

"Good boy~" she giggled, ruffling his hair. "That's more like my honey bun~"

Fransesca's gentle, dangerous smile didn't waver as she leaned in, still gripping Javier's wrist firmly.

"Anyway…" she said in a low, melodic tone. "What's this I've been hearing about a new addition lately, hmm?"

"A-Ah… M-Mother…" Javier stammered, his eyes darting toward the door like a cornered beast. "It's… it's not what it sounds like… I mean, err… it's not like… that…"

"Oh~?" Fransesca purred, tilting her head, her grip tightening just slightly. "Then do tell me, my honey bun~ I'm all ears~"

"I-I will… I mean… I can explain… but… Mother…" Javier gulped as his knees buckled slightly.

"Hmm~?" she hummed sweetly.

"M-My wrist—Mother! My wrist! It's hurting—IT'S HURTING!! Gyaaaaargh!!"

Fransesca finally blinked, then loosened her grip just a touch."Oh my~ I didn't know my baby boy had such a fragile wrist~ Should Mama kiss it better~?"

"P-Please no! I mean—yes? No—I mean, just don't crush it again!!" Javier pleaded, flailing like a broken puppet.

"Oh honey bun~ You still haven't told me who the new girl is~" Fransesca smiled dangerously again.

Javier froze.

Fransesca's smile was sweet.

Too sweet.

Dangerously sweet.

Javier knew that smile well.

She tightened her hold on his wrist again. "You said you would only marry Liana at first. You looked at me in the eye and said, 'She's the one I want.' And I agreed. Even if she's your maid, I accepted her because I saw the way she cared for you."

"OWW!! MY WRIST!! MY WRIST IS ABOUT TO POP!!" Javier wailed, writhing.

Fransesca ignored it. "Then you added Gloria~ The calm, graceful ex-head of the household maids. I thought… maybe… just maybe… you needed both a sunrise and a sunset by your side. So I said yes~"

"EEEKKK!! MOTHER!! MAMA!! MOMMY!! MERCY!!"

Erisa, standing dutifully nearby, coughed politely into her hand. "Ma'am, the other two additions are Princess Mimi and Princess Delya."

"Oh~?" Fransesca's tone was light, almost delighted. "Princess Mimi… and Princess Delya~?" She tilted her head innocently. "Hmm~ Lioness's precious daughter and Veldrac's little sister, wasn't it?"

Fransesca leaned in, her soft voice full of maternal dread. "Wow, honey bun… quite the collection~"

"And what about the two recent additions, Erisa?" Fransesca asked with a gentle, dangerous smile, gripping Javier's wrist tighter.

"Ma'am, you mean Princess Mimi and Princess Delya?" Erisa asked, feigning innocence as she smirked lightly.

"No~ not those two~" Fransesca tightened her grip even more, ever so slightly.

"GYAAAARHHH!! MOMMYYYY!!" Javier squealed, desperately trying to pull away.

"Oh, my deepest apologies for my ignorance, my lady," Erisa corrected herself immediately, bowing elegantly with an amused smile. "You must mean Princess Felicia—Princess Mimi's elder sister—and the dwarven princess… Hmm… If I remember correctly, her name is Ferine."

Fransesca raised her eyebrows, eyes twinkling ominously. "My~ my~ Honey bun~ Quite the impressive collection of princesses you've gathered. Even a dwarven princess now?"

"MOMMYYYYYY!!!" Javier wailed dramatically, completely at her mercy, his flailing arms utterly useless against her motherly strength.

Fransesca merely chuckled sweetly.

"Honestly, honey bun… Mama is very impressed. So many royal additions… You must introduce me to them properly, yes~?"

Inside Javier's head: Forget the stable—I should've stayed on the battlefield! It was definitely safer there!

"Oh~?" Fransesca tilted her head gently, eyes glittering with playful menace. "What's this look, honey bun? You don't seem satisfied~?"

"No, no, no! I didn't—I didn't mean it like that! EEEKKK!!" Javier desperately waved his free hand, face pale with fear.

Fransesca leaned in closer, her smile dangerously serene. "Then how about a little match, honey bun~?"

"A—a match?" Javier squeaked, voice trembling.

"Yes~" she cooed sweetly, gently brushing his cheek. "If you win, Mama will graciously allow you to marry all of them."

Javier's eyes sparkled for a split second and immediately widen in dread as she continued:

"But if you lose… you can marry only Liana and Gloria when you reach adulthood. The rest will have to patiently wait their turn. What do you think, honey bun~?"

Javier didn't even hesitate. He dropped dramatically to the floor, waving a white flag in surrender. "EEEK! I LOSE!! I LOSE ALREADY!!"

Fransesca giggled softly, triumphantly patting his head. "Good boy~ Mama knew you'd see reason~"

Inside Javier's mind, he wept.

…I'm sorry, my beloved princesses. Your prince lost instantly.

Fransesca released Javier's wrist gently, her expression softening into a loving, indulgent smile.

"Besides, honey bun… it's not like you could handle them all at once anyway," she teased, gently tapping his forehead. "Now, go to your room and rest."

Javier rubbed his wrist with relief and nodded obediently, moving to leave.

But before he could take another step, Fransesca raised her right hand expectantly, eyes sparkling playfully.

"Where's mommy's sweet kiss, honey bun?" she pouted softly, voice dripping with playful guilt. "Oh my~ after gathering your precious little harem, you've forgotten your beautiful mother already?"

"Ah—!" Javier froze, quickly turning back. "Sorry, my beautiful mommy…"

With a graceful bow, he gently took her hand, placing a tender kiss upon it, and then leaned in to softly kiss her cheek.

Fransesca's expression brightened immediately, satisfied.

"Good boy~" she cooed happily, gently stroking his hair. "Now mommy's happy again~"

Javier blushed furiously, but quickly escaped, bolting toward his room before she could catch him again.

Behind him, Fransesca smiled warmly, her heart content.

( End Of Chapter )