Reborn As Noble

Eridith was thoroughly enjoying the lavish spread prepared by the skilled chefs of the Armand household. She tore into the perfectly cooked meat with enthusiasm, her human form struggling to maintain some grace as she devoured her meal.

Francesca, seated beside her, watched with a calm but calculating expression. Meanwhile, Garius sat at the head of the grand dining table, quietly sipping his wine, clearly lost in thought.

”Dear...” Francesca began, her tone deceptively gentle.

”Yes?” Garius replied, glancing up from his cup cautiously.

”It’s best for you to fulfill all the promises you made to the girls you swore yourself to,” Francesca said, her voice firm.

Garius tensed, setting his glass down. ”But—”

”No buts!” Francesca interrupted sharply, fixing him with a piercing stare. ”First, there’s Duke Nyxara, now Eridith—and let’s not forget the other two.”

Garius sighed, leaning back in his chair as if the weight of the world rested on his shoulders. ”It was a promise made before we got married, Francesca. Surely you understand that circumstances change.”

”Understand?” Francesca’s tone grew sharper, her eyes narrowing. ”No. I married you, Garius, knowing you were a man of your word. I didn’t marry someone who’d make promises and then run from them the moment they came knocking.”

Eridith, mid-bite, perked up and grinned mischievously. ”That’s right, Francesca! A promise is a promise, and I’ve waited centuries for this!” she said, pointing her fork at Garius like a weapon.

”See? She agrees,” Francesca added, gesturing toward Eridith. ”And she’s not even the most persistent one. Duke Nyxara’s proposal is practically a war treaty at this point. Do you intend to ignore that, too?”

”Francesca...” Garius muttered, rubbing his temples. ”You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

”Oh, absolutely,” Francesca replied with a sly smile, picking up her teacup. ”But that doesn’t mean I’m wrong.”

Eridith nodded vigorously, taking another bite of meat. ”Listen to her, Garius! And while we’re at it, let’s talk about how you’ve avoided me for so long.”

”This isn’t the time—” Garius began, but Francesca cut him off.

”No more excuses. You will address all of them, starting with Eridith here.”

Garius sighed deeply, slumping slightly in his chair. ”Haaa... I should’ve known marrying Francesca would mean trouble for the rest of my life.”

Francesca smirked, raising her teacup in triumph. ”And yet, you love me for it.”

Garius let out a long sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. ”Haaa… fine. How about this?”

Francesca raised an eyebrow, curious. ”Hmm?”

”I’ll marry them because you want me to, Francesca. But only after Javier reaches the age for the blessing ceremony,” Garius said, his tone filled with resignation.

Francesca’s expression brightened, a satisfied smile on her lips. ”Yes, two more months,” she said cheerfully.

Eridith perked up as well, her ice-blue eyes gleaming. ”Finally! I’ve waited long enough! Garius, you’d better not make me wait a day longer.”

”Are you sure about this?” Garius asked Francesca, giving her a pointed look. ”This means more wives and less time for you.”

Francesca’s smile didn’t waver as she rested her chin on her hand. ”Hmm? For seven days, the current arrangement is two days for me, two for Garcinia, and three for Phenelopie because she’s expecting. If you marry them all, it will just mean one day for each of us.”

Garius’s eyes twitched slightly, clearly thinking about how his already limited personal time would be divided even further. ”Fine...” he muttered reluctantly, slumping slightly in his chair.

”That’s settled, then,” Francesca said with a triumphant smile, sipping her tea. ”You’ll have a lot of explaining to do to Nyxara, though. I imagine she’ll want her day of the week clearly marked.”

”I’m doomed,” Garius muttered under his breath.

Eridith, unaware of his misery, happily continued eating. ”This is going to be so much fun! I can’t wait to see everyone else’s reactions. Oh, and I’m keeping Mondays!”

Garius groaned, leaning back in his chair. ”Haaa... what did I get myself into?”

”Into a life of fulfilling promises you made, dear,” Francesca said sweetly, giving him a wink.

Francesca took another sip of her tea, her expression softening slightly. ”And let’s hope Javier doesn’t make the same mistake you did, dear,” she said with a knowing look.

Garius chuckled, leaning forward slightly, a playful gleam in his eyes. ”Are you sure about that, dear?” he asked teasingly. ”The boy already has Liana, and from what I’ve heard, someone else has their eye on him.”

Francesca raised an eyebrow, putting her cup down with a curious expression. ”Oh? Someone else?”

”Mmhmm,” Garius hummed, resting his chin on his hand, his smirk widening. ”She’s been rather... subtle, but definitely persistent.”

Francesca tilted her head slightly, intrigued. ”Haaa... that boy of ours. First, he drives people crazy with his antics, and now you’re telling me someone’s taken a liking to him?”

”It seems so,” Garius replied, amusement in his tone. ”Though I doubt Javier has noticed. He’s too busy causing mischief to realize what’s in front of him.”

Francesca sighed softly, her lips curling into a faint smile. ”That child... he truly has a knack for stirring things up without even trying.”

”He gets it from you,” Garius teased, earning a sharp look from Francesca.

”Hmph. If he takes after anyone, it’s clearly you, dear,” she replied, folding her arms in mock indignation. ”Let’s hope this ’mystery admirer’ knows what they’re getting into.”

Garius chuckled again, sipping his wine. ”Oh, I think she knows exactly what she’s doing.”

Eridith, still enjoying her meal, glanced up. ”Wait, wait! Are we talking about that brat who challenged me? The one with the Pekkos and the scared elf maid?”

”Yes, Eridith, that’s my son,” Garius replied dryly.

”Hah! He’s got guts,” Eridith said with a snicker. ”And he’s as annoying as you, Garius. No wonder he’s causing chaos already.”

Francesca sighed again, shaking her head but smiling. ”It seems Javier is well on his way to inheriting your knack for trouble, dear.”

”Let’s just hope he doesn’t end up with as many promises as I did,” Garius muttered, earning a laugh from both Francesca and Eridith.

Francesca placed her teacup down with a gentle clink, her eyes sparkling with excitement. ”Now, now, dear, don’t forget—we’ll be attending the event next week. You’d better start preparing. I can’t wait to see my honey bun.”

Garius let out a long sigh, leaning back in his chair. ”Haaaa... fine...”

Eridith, mid-bite, looked up with curiosity. ”Hmm? What are you both talking about?”

”The Battleground event at the noble school,” Francesca explained with a smile.

”Oh, that one?” Eridith reached into her robe and pulled out a sealed envelope, placing it on the table. ”The headmaster sent me an invitation as well.”

Francesca raised an eyebrow. ”Oh? Looks like you got one too, huh?”

”Hmm?” Eridith shrugged casually. ”I wasn’t planning on going, though. It’s boring. Who wants to sit through a bunch of kids playing with magic and swords?”

Garius smirked slightly. ”Well, if it’s so boring, feel free to decline.”

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Eridith grinned, her ice-blue eyes gleaming mischievously. ”Decline? Not a chance. If you two are going, then I’m coming too!”

Francesca chuckled softly, clasping her hands together. ”Wonderful. It’ll be quite the reunion, won’t it?”

”Oh, yes,” Eridith said, leaning back with a smirk. ”This just got a whole lot more interesting.”

Garius rubbed his temples, muttering under his breath. ”This is going to be a headache.”

Francesca leaned closer to Garius, a sly smile spreading across her face. ”Dear?”

”Hmm?” Garius responded absently, his focus split between Eridith’s antics and the looming thought of attending the event.

Francesca’s teasing tone cut through his thoughts. ”I wonder how our son will react when he hears you’re going to marry ’The White Flame’ and the other three big figures.”

Garius groaned, resting his head in his hand. ”Haaa... knowing Javier, he’ll probably laugh first and then find a way to tease me endlessly.”

Eridith, finishing off another piece of meat, chuckled and leaned forward with a mischievous grin. ”Oh, come on, Francesca. He’s already married to the strongest female mage in the kingdom, isn’t he?”

Garius’s eye twitched as he looked between the two women. ”Would you two stop conspiring against me?”

”Conspiring?” Francesca feigned innocence, resting her chin on her hand. ”Oh no, dear, we’re simply stating facts. Isn’t that right, Eridith?”

”Absolutely,” Eridith agreed, her grin widening. ”Besides, don’t your sons know about their mother’s reputation?”

Francesca’s smile faltered slightly. ”Ah... well...”

Eridith tilted her head, her eyes narrowing curiously. ”Wait... you mean to tell me your sons don’t know about this?”

Francesca chuckled softly, glancing at Garius, who simply smiled knowingly. ”Of course not,” Francesca replied smoothly, her tone light. ”Why would I burden them with such details?”

Eridith blinked in surprise, setting her fork down. ”For real?”

Garius’s lips curled into a knowing smile as he exchanged a glance with Francesca. Their silence confirmed Eridith’s suspicions.

”Not just Javier,” Francesca finally said, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. ”Even Marcellus and Cedric don’t know.”

Eridith blinked, then burst into laughter. ”Oh, this is priceless! They don’t know their own mother holds the title of the strongest female mage in the kingdom?”

”Of course not,” Francesca said smoothly, her tone calm.

”Haaa...” Eridith slumped back in her chair, still grinning. ”And here I thought the Armand sons would at least know that much. But wait—surely they’ve heard of the title?”

”Oh, they’ve heard of it,” Garius said, his voice tinged with amusement. ”They know about a certain female mage who holds the title, but they don’t know it’s their mother.”

Eridith stared at them in disbelief before letting out another laugh. ”You’re telling me these boys grew up idolizing a mysterious mage, and all this time, it was you?”

Francesca’s smile widened slightly. ”Precisely. It’s better this way. Let them focus on their own goals without the added pressure of my reputation.”

Eridith smirked, shaking her head. ”Oh, this family gets more amusing by the day. I can’t wait to see their reactions when they find out the truth.”

Garius chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair. ”That’s a revelation for another day. Let them enjoy the mystery a little longer.”

( End of Chapter )