Reborn As Noble

"Your Royal Highness,"

Ferine straightened gently, calm and serene at the sound of someone addressing her.

"Yes?" Ferine said, turning around gracefully.

"A delegation has arrived at the palace gates, requesting permission to enter. They carry the crest of Armand."

Ferine tilted her head.

"Who?"

The officer raised his gaze slightly. "It is the young lord who saved our kingdom."

Ferine's breath caught. "Javier de Armand?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

A rare, unrestrained smile spread across her lips. Her usual serenity cracked with excitement, her hands tightening over her gown.

"Ah~ granted!" she declared, her voice bright and clear.

"Let him in at once. He is our savior, after all!"

The officer blinked, surprised by her tone, then quickly bowed deeper.

"At once, Your Highness."

Ferine brushed down her dress.

In her mind

Ah~ my future husband is here.

Behind the doors, Gumarak's voice shrieked again. "Gyaaarhhhhh!!! Woman, not the nose!!!"

Ferine sighed softly, torn between laughter and anticipation.

She lifted her hand and knocked twice on the heavy door.

"Esteem Mother," she called in her graceful, steady tone.

From inside came the queen's serene yet sharp reply, muffled slightly by the door.

"What do you want now, my daughter? I am busy here… disciplining some child."

Ferine pressed her lips together, suppressing a smile. "Esteem Mother… delegation from the Armand Region, is arriving. They are already at the palace gates."

There was a pause. Then the queen's voice softened into something warmer, more elegant.

"Hmm? My, my~ is that so?"

Before Ferine could answer, another voice shrieked from inside the chamber.

"Ahhh! My future son-in-law! Help me!! This witch here....ahhh! Not the eyes!!!"

There was a thud, followed by Gumarak's desperate roaring.

The door creaked open, and the dwarven queen came out. She looked calm and smiling. One hand rested on her hip, the other held Gumarak by the ear as she dragged him forward like a child.

"Now, dear husband," she said softly but firmly, "let us go and meet our future son-in-law. Maybe there is something interesting waiting."

"Ugh! You witch!" Gumarak grumbled, his beard bristling as he tried to pull his ear free.

The queen leaned closer, her smile never fading. "What was that, dear?"

Gumarak's face twitched, his eyes flicking to Ferine, who watched with a small, knowing smile.

"N–Nothing! Nothing at all!"

"Good boy," the queen said, pulling him forward again.

Ferine bowed her head to hide a small laugh, then turned and walked. "Shall we go to the entrance hall, Esteem Mother?"

"Yes, my daughter. Let us not keep our guests waiting."

At the palace gates, Javier stood with his hands behind his back, relaxed but polite. The cool night breeze blew against the stone walls, carrying a faint smell of roasted meat and dwarven ale from inside.

The dwarven guards, stocky and rosy from their own drinking, crowded around him eagerly.

"Ah! Young Lord!" one said, pushing a large mug of strong liquor toward him.

"Good to see you back here!"

Another chimed in with a wide grin, "Come now, lad! One sip, just one! You can't stand at a dwarven gate without a drink in your hand!"

Javier accepted the heavy mug with an easy smile, the scent of strong liquor curling up from the rim. He swirled it once, offering only a polite sip before handing it back.

"Don't worry about it," Javier said calmly, his tone steady but light.

Inside, his thoughts wandered.

No matter the bond between rulers, every kingdom has its own rules. Even when I once acted in Gumarak's place during the war, it was temporary.

Besides, if Father heard I broke protocol without his permission… I'd never hear the end of it. He'd start with 'discipline, order, loyalty' and lecture me for hours.

"Rules, Javier. Rules exist to keep chaos from creeping in."

Damn....It's like I can already hear it.

Hesbeirn leaned lazily against the drone just behind him, already halfway through a jug the guards had slipped him.

"You should take one, boy! Best liquor in all the lands! Don't let these fine lads drink it all!"

Javier smirked faintly, glancing at him. "And then you'll be the one reporting me to my father the moment he asks, won't you?"

Hesbeirn coughed into his drink.

The guards roared with laughter.

And just then, the heavy doors of the palace creaked open.

The dwarven guards, who had just been laughing and slapping each other on the shoulders, stiffened as the huge palace doors groaned open.

Their mugs were still in their hands.

But the queen's graceful figure gliding into the courtyard froze them in place.

Her gaze swept over them. Calm and serene.

"My~ drinking a lot, are we?"

Her words were smooth, almost gentle. Yet every guard felt as if a blade pressed against their necks.

In an instant, all of them snapped to attention. The mugs clattered to the ground or were shoved behind their backs.

"No, Your Highness!" they barked in unison, bowing deeply.

The queen's smile stayed soft and graceful, though her eyes narrowed slightly. "Even if we are dwarves, and it is common for us to drink… drinking should be in moderation."

Her voice was velvet with steel. "Especially when we stand before guests of honor."

"Y–Yes, Your Highness!" the guards chorused again, their foreheads sweating.

Beside Javier, Hesbeirn snorted into his jug, muttering so only he could hear,

"Moderation, she says… to dwarves. That's like telling the sun not to shine, eh?"

Javier smirked, but kept his lips sealed.

The queen's calm eyes then turned to him, her expression softening instantly, as if the steel she showed the guards melted away in a breath.

"Young Lord Javier," she said warmly, her smile radiant.

"Welcome to our hall."

"Thank you for your kind words, Your Majesty." Javier touched his chest lightly and bowed in a respectful, steady way.

The queen's smile grew warmer. Her calmness softened as she looked at him. She laughed softly and brushing her chin with one hand.

"You're so formal. My future son-in-law, there's no need for such strict manners with me, is there?" Her voice was warm, but it also carried a gentle push that only a queen could have.

She tilted her head a little, eyes narrowing with playful grace.

"Besides… sooner or later you will truly be my son-in-law."

Javier stood up a bit straighter, a calm smile on his face, kept his noble tone outside.

"Even so, Your Majesty, you must show respect where it is due. A son-in-law should not forget his manners toward his future mother."

The queen laughed again, soft and musical. "You're so charming. Count Garius raised you well. No wonder Ferine.." she glanced at her daughter, who blushed and looked away "...is so lively tonight."

( End Of Chapter )