Reborn As Noble

Alf's voice was steady, his posture formal as always.

"My lord?"

Garius set down his teacup, glancing at him.

"Yes, Alf?"

"Do you wish for me to deploy all of our shadow unit?"

Garius shook his head faintly.

"No. Just put some on surveillance. To ensure my family's safety. And make certain they remain around Javier's perimeter as well. He has just overused his mana for that special skill. I will not risk leaving any of my children exposed."

Alf bowed his head.

"Yes, my lord. I will dispatch them immediately."

Garius's gaze turned toward Erinnette.

"Erinnette."

"Yes, my lord?"

"Liana and Gloria are with Javier right now, aren't they?"

Erinnette nodded once.

"Yes, my lord. Erisa reported just a short while ago, they are with him, enjoying grilled meat in the garden."

"Good." Garius's tone softened slightly. "Those two must protect Javier closely for the next two or three days."

Erinnette tilted her head slightly, studying his face.

"Are you… concerned, my lord?"

"No. Not concerned." Garius folded his arms, his voice firm and low.

"But as a precaution. We cannot be careless. Carelessness leads to oversights. And oversights…" His eyes sharpened. "…lead to downfall."

The room went quiet. Then, despite the heavy words, both Erinnette and Alf allowed small smiles to appear.

They knew.

They knew just how far Lord Garius always planned ahead. How much he overthought every possibility, every danger. He would never allow his family to be caught unprepared.

Meanwhile…

The battle maids kept themselves busy around the manor.

Sweeping the garden paths, polishing the windows, tidying the yard. Their hands worked, but their eyes lingered often toward the pekko pen under the great tree beside Javier's workshop.

There, the young master lay sprawled comfortably on Liana's lap, fast asleep. His breathing was steady, lips faintly curved as if he had found the perfect pillow.

Liana sat upright, stroking his hair gently, her expression serene but undeniably possessive. Gloria lingered close, her arms crossed loosely, gaze fixed on Javier with a faint warmth she didn't bother to hide.

Erisa approached at a careful pace, her steps light, almost hesitant. When she finally drew near, she stopped just short of the trio and spoke softly.

"Liana… Gloria…"

Both women turned to her at once. Their eyes narrowed, not just with hostility, but with a sharp edge of jealousy.

After all, Erisa had once said openly that she wouldn't mind being one of Javier's concubines. That memory alone was enough to make both Liana and Gloria silently bristle.

Liana's tone came first, velvet but cold.

"What do you want, Erisa?"

"Ara~" Gloria followed, her smile polite but laced with warning. "Do you need something, Erisa~?"

Erisa raised her hands slightly, her voice calm.

"No… I only came to inform you. Mrs. Erinnette said, if the young master is sleeping, he should be brought back to his room."

Gloria gave a small, airy laugh, tilting her head.

"Ara~ we were just about to. You don't need to worry about our future husband. Look around you~ these three pekko are guarding us, after all."

Buddy, Pikko, and Peanut, the three pekko, stood in a loose circle around them, sharp eyes alert as if they understood their duty.

Liana's hand drifted lovingly through Javier's hair, her smile sweet… but her tone carried weight.

"Yes, Erisa. There's no need to worry. You can return to your work. We'll bring our young master inside once he's rested enough."

Her fingers continued to brush Javier's hair, the gesture protective, while her eyes flickered briefly toward Erisa.

Erisa paused, her lips tightening, then suddenly curved into a sly smile.

"My~ Liana, Gloria… what's the worry? It's not like your young master is for you both only. He's handsome now and will surely grow even more handsome, just like Master Marcellus, Master Cedric, Master Aelius, and Master Heres~"

Liana gave a soft chuckle, her smile shifting into something dangerous.

"My~ Erisa… yes, he indeed will grow handsome. But his hands are already full now, you know~ How about you try Master Aelius instead? He's still single… or perhaps Master Heres. He's calm, handsome, and gentle. I'm sure those two are better options~"

Erisa tilted her head thoughtfully, pretending to weigh the suggestion.

"Ah~ yes, indeed. Both are handsome. But Master Aelius is always with his sister, Miss Athine. She never separates herself from him. As for Master Heres, yes, he is charming, especially with that polite smile of his… but he is far too calm, too silent. A quiet man is hard to read~"

Gloria stepped closer, her eyes narrowing playfully behind her glasses.

"Ara~ if that's the case, you still have two more options left, don't you? Master Marcellus already has two lovers. Lithia and her mother. Surely he still has at least two more open slots. Or perhaps Master Cedric. He only has Meira and Zania so far… I'm sure he still has room for another one or two, don't you think~?"

Erisa's sly smile didn't fade, but her eyes flickered with a faint glint of irritation as she caught the underlying message.

She turned around gracefully, her skirts swaying lightly with the movement.

"Well then~ I'll leave the both of you here," she said with that same smooth tone, not letting her pride slip.

But just as she stepped away, Erisa glanced back over her shoulder, her smile sharp and knowing.

"And please… do remember to bring him back to his own room. Since Mrs. Erinnette mentioned it was Lord Garius's order."

Liana returned the look with a serene smile of her own, her voice gentle yet firm.

"Don't worry, Erisa. We'll bring him soon."

The tension lingered for a moment, before Erisa finally walked off, leaving the two maids with their young master.

Once her presence was gone, Liana's eyes shifted to Gloria. Her lips curled faintly, a whisper of mischief and warning mixed together.

"Second wife?" she asked softly.

"Yes, first wife~," gloria replied with a gentle lilt, almost teasing but dead serious.

The two exchanged a knowing look, the silent pact between them strengthening.

"We should keep an eye on our 'future husband,'" Liana said, her hand still brushing Javier's hair with tender care.

"Yes~," Gloria answered, leaning closer, her voice a low murmur. "There's a dangerous person inside. We have to be careful."

Liana chuckled under her breath, her smile sharpening just enough to reveal the seriousness beneath her calm face.

"Yes~ dangerous indeed."

Her fingers lingered affectionately on Javier's hair as the two maids sat in quiet agreement, their rivalry set aside for the sake of guarding the man they had already claimed in their hearts.

( End Of Chapter )