Reborn As Noble

Eridith suddenly dropped to her knees in front of Francesca, clasping her hands dramatically. ”Francescaaaaaa!” she wailed. ”We promised! You said I could marry Garius after he married you! I’ve been waiting for so long! And now I find out that not only has he married you, but he’s also married two more women?!”

Francesca sighed, placing a hand on her forehead. She knew about the promise; it wasn’t a secret to her. But this kind of scene wasn’t what she had hoped for when it inevitably came up.

After a moment, Francesca’s curiosity piqued, and she frowned. ”Eridith, how did you find out where we live?”

”Hmm?” Eridith blinked innocently. ”Oh, I just flew over here. Some kid told me Garius was the lord and ruler of the Armand region.”

Francesca’s eyebrow twitched. ”Kid?”

”Yeah. He didn’t tell me his name,” Eridith continued nonchalantly, ”but he was super annoying. He challenged me out of nowhere and even intruded on the spot where I was resting and sleeping.”

”Oh...” Francesca murmured, her eyes narrowing slightly.

”And that boy had two birds. Big ones. Pekkos,” Eridith added. ”I wanted to eat those birds. They looked so yummy. And the elf girl with him... well, she was scared stiff. I’m sure she nearly peed herself in her maid uniform.”

The air grew noticeably colder as Francesca’s expression darkened. Her aura turned black and dangerous, making the atmosphere around her suddenly oppressive. ”Maid uniform, you say?” she asked, her voice deceptively calm. ”Perhaps this boy you mention had two Pekkos, one orange and the other orange with silver feathers? And the maid... was an elf in a maid uniform?”

Eridith blinked, a nervous chuckle escaping her lips. ”Y-yeah, that sounds about right... but why do you look so... dangerous, Francesca?”

Francesca’s smile didn’t reach her eyes as she took a deliberate step forward. ”Oh, no reason...”

Eridith’s eyes widened in realization as Francesca grabbed her by the horn with a grip that could crush steel. ”Eeeekkk!!! Francescaaaa!!!” Eridith screamed, flailing helplessly.

”So, let me get this straight,” Francesca said, her voice dripping with suppressed rage. ”Not only did you scare the maids and guards here, but you also terrified my son’s personal maid and threatened to eat his Pekkos?”

”I didn’t know he was your son!!” Eridith wailed, trying unsuccessfully to pry Francesca’s iron grip from her horn. ”Francesca, let me go! I’ll apologize!! Eeeeekkk!!!”

”Oh, this is just the beginning, Eridith,” Francesca replied in an eerily calm tone, tightening her grip as Eridith whimpered like a scolded child. ”You have some explaining to do.”

”I didn’t know he was your son, believe me, Francesca! Eeekkk!!” Eridith wailed, her voice high-pitched as she squirmed in Francesca’s tight grip.

Francesca’s eyes narrowed dangerously. ”Hmm? You said you didn’t know he was my son, yet you’re telling me he’s the one who told you about Garius? Hmm?”

Eridith froze, sweat forming on her brow. ”Ah... now that you mention it...” she stammered, her voice getting smaller. ”He did... uh... mention that Garius was his father... err...”

”And?” Francesca pressed, her grip tightening slightly, her calm tone carrying an intensity that made Eridith flinch.

”Eeeeeekkk!! Francesca!!” Eridith shrieked, flailing helplessly. ”That was after I stopped attacking him! Ah... no... no, wait, I didn’t mean—”

”I see,” Francesca said with a sweet but deadly smile, her grip shifting just a bit. ”So, after you scared his maid and tried to eat his Pekkos, you started attacking him, and only then did he tell you about Garius?”

”No! No, I mean yes—uh, no! I mean, it wasn’t like that!!” Eridith panicked, trying to explain as Francesca began dragging her across the courtyard by her horn.

”You’re not very convincing, Eridith,” Francesca said, her voice steady and calm as Eridith flailed in vain.

”Eeeeeekkk!! Francesca, I’m sorrrrryyyy!!” Eridith cried, her legs skidding along the ground as she was pulled like an unruly child.

The guards and maids watched from a safe distance, their faces a mix of awe and amusement as the mighty white dragon, Eridith the White Flame, was reduced to a wailing mess in front of Lady Francesca.

Garius, still standing on the balcony, rubbed his temples with a long sigh. ”Why does it always come back to Javier?” he muttered. ”That boy is a magnet for chaos.”

”It runs in the family, my lord,” Alf added with a smirk, earning a groan from Garius.

Inside their cozy rented house, Javier sat lazily in a chair, flipping through a book with little interest. Outside, Buddy and Pikko were happily pecking at their feed, their contented squawks occasionally drifting through the open window.

Suddenly, Javier sneezed loudly. ”Achoooooo!!!”

He looked left and right, as if trying to find the source of the sudden sneeze. ”Weird...” he muttered.

Liana, who was tidying up nearby, turned to him with a concerned expression. ”Young Master, have you caught a cold?”

Javier rubbed his nose thoughtfully. ”Umm... I don’t think so. It came out of nowhere.”

”Oh,” Liana said softly, placing a hand on her chin. ”Let me prepare some warm tea for you, just in case.”

”Thanks, Liana,” Javier replied with a grin, leaning back in his chair.

As Liana finished setting up the tea tray and brought it to the table, Javier called her name. ”Liana?”

”Yes, Young Master?” she answered, carefully setting the teapot down.

Javier grinned mischievously, leaning forward slightly. ”Chuuuuu!!!” he exclaimed, puckering his lips exaggeratedly.

Liana sighed, shaking her head with a gentle smile. ”Honestly, Young Master,” she said with amused exasperation. Leaning down, she planted a soft kiss on his lips, her touch warm and familiar. ”There, there,” she murmured, brushing a stray lock of his hair aside.

Javier beamed up at her, his eyes sparkling. ”Ehehehe.”

Liana shook her head again, though her own smile lingered. ”Young Master, sometimes you’re just too much.”

Javier grinned mischievously, leaning back in his chair with a playful gleam in his eyes. ”What? This is our routine. You love me, I love you... ehehehe.”

Liana let out a soft sigh, her eyes showing fondness despite her exasperation. ”Haa... really, Young Master. You should focus on your studies for the blessing ceremony in two months. Don’t forget about the Battleground event next week.”

Javier waved a hand dismissively. ”Hmm? We already warmed up before, didn’t we?” he replied with a cheeky smirk. ”Besides, I don’t plan on winning the Battleground anyway.”

”Young Master,” Liana began, arching an elegant brow, ”isn’t that the whole point of the event?”

”Ugh, no way,” Javier groaned, folding his arms. ”Who wants to show off their magic? I don’t need that kind of attention. People will start bothering me if they think I’m some bigshot mage.”

Liana chuckled softly, shaking her head. ”Young Master, you do realize your attitude is exactly why others call you a ’delinquent noble.’”

”And I wear that title proudly,” Javier declared, puffing out his chest theatrically before slumping back with a sigh. ”Seriously, though. I hate those kinds of people—always sticking their noses into things and acting all high and mighty. It’s annoying.”

”Hmm...” Liana hummed thoughtfully, pouring the tea she had prepared. ”So, your plan is to not win but also not lose too badly, is that it?”

”Exactly!” Javier said with a grin, picking up his teacup. ”Just enough effort to avoid looking weak but not enough to stand out. Perfect strategy, don’t you think?”

Liana shook her head again, a soft smile on her lips. ”Haa... truly, you’re one of a kind, Young Master.”

”Ehehehe,” Javier laughed, raising his teacup in a mock toast. ”And that’s why you love me, Liana.”

Javier smirked as he sipped his tea, glancing at Liana with a mischievous gleam in his eyes. ”And Liana?”

”Yes, Young Master?” she replied, tilting her head slightly, already suspecting he was up to something.

”You’re also joining the escort bracket in the Battleground next week,” he announced casually. ”It’s up to you if you want to win, though.”

Liana blinked in surprise before narrowing her eyes at him. ”Hmm? I don’t think I want that kind of attention, Young Master,” she replied with a soft sigh, placing her hands neatly on her lap.

”Why not?” Javier leaned forward, grinning. ”You could totally crush everyone and show them how amazing my personal maid is!” Read exclusive adventures at freewebnovel

”Exactly why I don’t want to join,” Liana replied with a wry smile. ”If I win, it will only bring more attention to you. Isn’t that what you’re trying to avoid?”

Javier’s grin faltered slightly as he scratched the back of his head. ”Uh... well, yeah, but it’d still be fun to see their faces when you beat them.”

”Haa...” Liana sighed, shaking her head gently. ”You truly have a way of creating trouble, Young Master.”

”Come on, Liana,” Javier teased, leaning closer. ”You don’t have to win if you don’t want to. But you could have a little fun, right?”

Liana gave him a long, thoughtful look, then finally relented with a soft chuckle. ”We’ll see, Young Master. If it doesn’t interfere with my duties, perhaps I’ll participate.”

”That’s the spirit!” Javier cheered, raising his teacup in mock celebration. ”Just don’t go too easy on them. They need to learn what happens when they mess with the best.”

Liana smiled softly, her cheeks faintly flushing as she looked away. ”Haa... what am I going to do with you, Young Master?”

( End of Chapter )