Reborn As Noble

Javier bolted out of the dining room as soon as he could, his heart racing.

”Hehe… time to run!” he whispered to himself, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

But just as he reached the hallway, a shadow loomed over him. Before he could react, Alf appeared out of nowhere, his gloved hand firmly gripping Javier’s collar like a cat caught in the act.

”Young Master,” Alf said with a calm yet unyielding tone, ”this way.”

”Eeeeekkk!! Nooo!! I don’t want to study!!” Javier flailed his arms dramatically, trying to break free. ”Mother!! Liana!! Help me!!”

Lady Francesca, still seated at the dining table, merely smiled and took another sip of her tea, clearly unfazed by her son’s antics.

Liana, standing by the doorway, let out a soft sigh and shook her head. ”Young Master…” she murmured, her voice tinged with amusement. She made no move to intervene, knowing full well that Alf, the butler and highest-ranking member of the household staff, was not someone even she could challenge.

”Liana! Traitor!” Javier shouted, still thrashing about as Alf dragged him effortlessly down the hallway toward the study.

”Good luck, Young Master,” Liana called after him with a serene smile. You’ll need it.

Alf stopped abruptly, his sharp gaze turning to Liana. ”You were appointed as Young Master’s personal maid, so you should attend as well.”

Liana gave a polite bow, her voice calm. ”Yes, Mr. Alf.” She stepped forward to follow, her movements as graceful as ever.

Javier, still dangling slightly in Alf’s firm grasp, smirked mischievously. ”Ehehehe… serve you right, Liana! Now you’re stuck with me. Ekekeke!”

But instead of reacting, Liana merely smiled, her expression serene. She walked behind them without a hint of annoyance.

”Oh, Young Master,” she said softly, ”unlike you, I actually enjoy reading and studying. This will be no trouble at all.”

Javier’s smirk vanished instantly. ”Ugh! Liana, you’re supposed to suffer with me! This isn’t fair!”

Liana chuckled lightly. ”Perhaps you should consider the merits of study, Young Master. You might even learn something useful.”

”Useful, my foot!” Javier grumbled, crossing his arms as Alf continued to drag him along.

Alf, unfazed by the banter, merely pushed open the study door, ushering them both inside.

Javier slouched in his chair, his chin resting on his palm as Alf went on about noble etiquette, alliances, and the intricacies of aristocratic society. His eyes glazed over, staring at the pile of documents and books in front of him as if they were his mortal enemies.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Alf closed the book in his hand with a definitive thud.

”Young Master,” Alf said in his usual calm but commanding tone, ”you are to study these materials later. They are essential for your future as a nobleman.”

Javier groaned inwardly but nodded reluctantly, not wanting to provoke Alf further.

”And Liana?” Alf turned to the maid, who stood calmly at Javier’s side.

”Yes, Mr. Alf?” she replied gracefully.

”You will ensure he studies and learns this material properly. I will be busy attending to our lord’s duties, so this task falls to you.”

”Understood, Mr. Alf,” Liana replied, bowing slightly.

Alf adjusted his gloves and added, ”If the Young Master refuses to cooperate or neglects his studies, report directly to me.”

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”Yes, Mr. Alf,” she answered dutifully.

Javier’s head shot up at that. ”Wait, wait, wait! Isn’t there some other way? Like... maybe not reporting me?”

Alf ignored his protests and strode out of the study, leaving Javier and Liana alone.

Liana turned to Javier, her expression a mix of amusement and authority. ”Well, Young Master, shall we begin?”

Javier groaned, leaning back dramatically in his chair. ”Ugh, Liana, you’re supposed to be on my side! What happened to loyalty?”

Liana raised an eyebrow, her tone light but teasing. ”My loyalty lies in ensuring you fulfill your responsibilities. Now, shall we start with alliances, or would you prefer etiquette?”

”Liaaaanaaaa,” Javier groaned, dragging out her name with exaggerated frustration. ”Studying is boring! You already know I’ve gone through everything in the library. War tactics, strategy, formation, mastering magic—you name it. I’ve already learned it all.”

Liana folded her arms, her eyes meeting his with a calm yet knowing gaze. She had no reason to doubt her young master’s claim. Javier’s voracious appetite for knowledge, especially in anything that piqued his interest, was something she had witnessed firsthand.

”Yes, Young Master,” she replied evenly, ”but Mr. Alf still expects us to go through this material. We can pretend, as usual, if that suits you better.”

A mischievous grin spread across Javier’s face. ”Ehehe… this is why I love you, Liana.”

”Yes, yes, Young Master,” Liana replied, waving his words off with a small smile. ”Now, let’s start with this.”

”Ugh…” Javier slumped in his chair, a pained look on his face. ”Liana, can we at least move this to my workshop? I want to be near Buddy, and the sugarcane and cocoa tree need tending. If we leave them unattended, they’ll dry out!”

Liana sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. ”Haa… Really, Young Master…”

Javier clasped his hands together, his eyes sparkling with mock desperation. ”Pleeeease, Liana? We can kill two birds with one stone. I’ll study—promise!—and take care of the plants at the same time.”

Liana shook her head, suppressing a laugh. ”Very well, but only because I know you’ll find another excuse if I refuse.”

”Ehehe, you’re the best, Liana!” Javier exclaimed, jumping up from his chair and grabbing the study materials. ”Let’s go!”

As they made their way toward the workshop, Liana couldn’t help but smile at his enthusiasm. ”Sometimes, I wonder if you enjoy making excuses more than anything else.”

When they arrived at the pekko pen, Javier’s gaze lit up as he spotted his beloved pekko, Buddy, lounging in the warm sunlight. Nearby, Liana’s pekko, Pikko, was enjoying the same sunny patch, its feathers gleaming with a vibrant sheen.

”Oh, look at them!” Javier exclaimed, his earlier reluctance to study fading away. ”Buddy looks so content.”

Liana smiled fondly at her pekko. ”Pikko enjoys the sunshine just as much as Buddy does.”

Javier’s eyes wandered to a large shade tree nearby, its sprawling branches casting a perfect spot for their studies. He pointed toward it with excitement. ”Liana, we can study there! It’ll be much more comfortable under the tree with Buddy and Pikko around.”

”Alright, Young Master,” Liana agreed with a soft chuckle, following his gaze. ”A change of scenery might make it more enjoyable for you.”

”See? We can study like this!” Javier said with a grin, leaning back against Buddy, who lay comfortably on the ground. They were nestled under a tree near the workshop and the pekko pen.

”Yes, yes. Now, Young Master, read your book,” Liana replied, suppressing a smile.

Javier’s grin widened as he shifted to lie down on Liana’s lap, making himself comfortable.

Liana shook her head, a fond smile on her face. She knew Javier genuinely enjoyed lying there. As she took out her book, she began to read, gently caressing his hair with her free hand.

”Liana…?” he said, his voice a bit softer.

”Yes, Young Master?” she replied, glancing down at him.

”I love you.”

”Yes, yes…” she said with a light chuckle, her heart warming at his words. It was a routine exchange, but it never failed to bring a smile to her face. She’d heard the words countless times before, yet they never failed to bring a faint blush to her cheeks and a flutter to her heart.

”Now, can we get back to studying?” she prompted, turning her attention back to the book.

Javier closed his eyes momentarily, savoring the moment before letting out an exaggerated sigh. ”Fine, I’ll study,” he muttered, flipping open the book in his hands.

The atmosphere was peaceful, and despite his initial complaints, the cozy setting—Liana’s presence and Buddy’s quiet companionship—made focusing on the material easier. For all his grumbling, Javier couldn’t deny that studying like this wasn’t so bad after all.

( End of Chapter )