I Died and Became a Noble's Heir

Chapter 302: Acknowledge House Kaiser

The gates of Sorne stood open, defenders lining the walls to watch their lord’s return.

Jack walked slowly, Annabelle’s arm wrapped around his, giving the soldiers time to see. To understand. To recognize that their youngest lady was safe, that the threat was handled, and that House Kaiser protected its own.

”Annabelle, you must promise me never to tell anyone what you saw.” Jack said firmly.

”Of course dear brother, you must have your reasons for keeping your powers a secret.” She pondered.

”I do. But that’s not for you to know.”

A slight smile perched across her face.

Octavia stood at the gate’s entrance. Celeste beside her. Both sisters’ faces brightened seeing Annabelle safe.

Jack stopped perhaps ten feet away, released Annabelle’s arm, and gestured her forward.

Annabelle ran forward without wasting a second.

Her small legs carried her across the distance before either sister could react. She crashed into Octavia first, arms wrapping around her oldest sister’s waist, face buried in expensive robes.

Octavia’s composure shattered. Her arms came around Annabelle immediately, pulling her close, one hand cradling the back of her youngest sister’s head.

Her golden eyes squeezed shut.

”Thank the gods,” Octavia whispered.

Celeste wrapped both sisters in her arms from behind, creating a circle of Kaiser women. Her usual carefree demeanor cracked as relief flooded through her features. ”Knew you’d be fine, little one. Jack doesn’t lose.”

Annabelle’s small voice came out muffled against Octavia’s robes. ”He saved me. Jack saved me.”

”Of course he did,” Celeste said, her tone lighter now, the crisis had passed. ”That’s what brothers do.”

Octavia pulled back slightly, her hands moving to Annabelle’s shoulders, examining her for injuries.

Finding only minor scrapes. Her gaze lifted, and found Jack standing at the gate watching them.

Their gaze met.

Octavia released Annabelle gently, straightened her posture, and walked toward Jack with measured steps. Celeste followed, more casual, already relaxing now that the fighting was done.

Octavia stopped directly in front of Jack, her golden eyes searching his face. ”Where have you been?”

Jack’s expression remained neutral. ”Handling what needed handling.”

”That’s not an answer,” Octavia pressed, her tone sharp despite the relief underlying it. ”You disappeared for days. Celeste and I held the territory together while Marcus Thorne marched fifteen thousand soldiers to our gates. And you vanished.”

Celeste leaned against the gate’s frame, arms crossed, but her eyes tracked Jack with curiosity.

”She’s not wrong, brother. You picked an interesting time for a vacation.”

Jack’s lips curved slightly. ”All in due time, sister.”

Octavia’s eyes narrowed. ”Jack—”

”All in due time,” Jack repeated, his tone carrying finality. ”What matters is that I’m here now. Annabelle is safe. The threat is handled. Everything else can wait.”

Octavia stared at him for a long moment.

Understanding that whatever Jack had been doing, wherever he’d been, he wasn’t going to explain it yet.

Finally, she sighed. ”Fine. But we’re having this conversation later.”

”Looking forward to it,” Jack replied nonchalantly.

Celeste pushed off the gate’s frame, sauntered over, and clapped Jack on the shoulder hard enough to make him shift balance slightly. ”Glad you didn’t die. Would’ve been annoying to deal with Father if you had.”

”Your concern is touching,” Jack said dryly.

”I do what I can,” Celeste grinned, then gestured toward the assembled courtyard behind them.

”Though you might want to turn around. Pretty sure half the kingdom’s been waiting to grovel.”

Jack glanced past his sisters. The courtyard had filled during their reunion. Defenders lined the walls. Noble emissaries stood in ordered ranks. Father Caelen waited near the center. S lounged against a wall, his red eyes tracking everything with amusement.

And every single one of them was staring at Jack.

Octavia stepped aside, gesturing for Jack to address them. ”They witnessed what you did on the battlefield. Whatever that portal was. They’re waiting for acknowledgement.”

Jack walked past his sisters into the courtyard. His golden eyes swept across the assembled faces—defenders who’d held Sorne’s walls, emissaries from houses who’d answered his call, minor nobility who’d committed their forces to help.

They’d all witnessed fifteen thousand mercenaries die. They’d all seen him open a portal to unknown dimensions. They’d all watched him drag prisoners into the darkness.

And now they waited to see what came next.

Father Caelen moved first. The old priest dropped to one knee, his weathered face calm, his posture respectful. ”Lord Kaiser.”

The defenders on the walls followed immediately. Hundreds of soldiers taking a knee in synchronized motion, their weapons grounded, their heads bowed.

Then the noble emissaries stepped forward.

Lady Mistfang’s representative, a stunning woman who was very reserved. ”House Mistfang acknowledges Lord Kaiser’s strength.”

Lady Arydn’s emissary followed, ”House Arydn stands with House Kaiser.”

The Veyra representative, a young woman perhaps twenty-five with a bow across her back, took a knee. ”House Veyra honors this alliance. My mistress will be pleased.”

Lord Dustspire’s emissary placed his fist over his heart. ”House Dustspire recognizes House Kaiser’s power.”

The remaining twenty minor nobility houses followed. One by one. Each emissary kneeling. Each one acknowledging what they’d witnessed.

Each one understanding that the alliance their masters had made with Jack Kaiser was more significant than they’d realized.

This wasn’t just a chosen one with white lightning.

This was someone who commanded forces beyond comprehension.

Someone who killed fifteen thousand professional soldiers and laughed about it.

Someone who opened portals to dimensions unknown.

Someone who protected what mattered with absolute conviction and absolute brutality.

Jack stood in the center of the courtyard, surrounded by kneeling emissaries and defenders, his sisters watching from the gate.

S remained standing against the wall, his red eyes gleaming with satisfaction. Demons didn’t kneel to mortals. But even he inclined his head slightly in acknowledgment.

Jack raised his hand slowly, palm facing the assembled crowd.

”Rise,” his voice carried across the courtyard. ”All of you. Today, you answered the call. Today, you stood when it mattered. You witnessed what happens when House Kaiser is threatened.”

The emissaries and defenders rose, some faster than others, all of them processing Jack’s words.

”Remember what you saw,” Jack continued, his golden eyes sweeping across every face.

”Remember the lesson delivered to those who mistake patience for weakness. Remember that House Kaiser protects its own without hesitation and without mercy.”

He paused, letting the words sink in.

”And remember that those who stand with us stand as allies. Make sure you tell your masters what has happened here. I’m sure they’ll want to see me. They can see me in a month. But do not spread word about House Starfell, I have plans for them.”

The emissaries straightened, their expressions shifting from mere respect to something approaching pride. Despite some being nervous about his last proclamation.

Octavia’s eyes gleamed with approval from her position at the gate. Her brother understood politics as well as power. The combination would make him dangerous when dealing with other houses.

Jack’s gaze swept across the courtyard one final time.

Then he turned toward Sorne’s keep, where the rest of his family waited.

”We’re done here,” he said simply. ”Everyone rest. I have some plans we can start soon.”

Jack walked away and head into the manor.

”Octavia?”

”Yes Annabelle?”

”Uhm... did you tell Jack about the chickens?”

”... .... .... No. I did not. I’m sure it will be fine.”

”Yeah or he’ll blow something up.”