Reborn As Noble

The warm aroma of freshly cooked meat and vegetables filled the rented house as Liana and Gloria worked hard in the kitchen. The sounds of chopping, boiling, and sizzling blended into a peaceful rhythm.

Outside, Buddy and Pikko lay lazily in the courtyard, their bellies full from their evening meal. Occasionally, Buddy let out a satisfied squawk, stretching his wings before settling down again.

Inside, however, the atmosphere was far from peaceful.

Javier sat on the sofa, leaning back with his arms crossed, facing the calm but intimidating Errinette.

Across the room, Iria and Iziya stood stiffly against the wall, their backs straight, hands clasped tightly in front of them. Their faces were pale, their expressions shifting between anxious fear and awkward nervousness.

It wasn’t just Javier they feared anymore.

The new, beautiful woman sitting gracefully on the sofa?

She was terrifying.

Even without raising her voice or moving at all, she radiated such authority that both girls knew instinctively—this was a woman who could crush them effortlessly.

Then—

Errinette’s calm voice broke the silence.

”Now then, young master…” She gracefully adjusted her position, crossing one leg over the other, her piercing gaze locking onto him.

”I believe you have to explain to me…”

Javier gulped.

”Who are these two little girls wearing maid uniforms—without any emblem?”

Silence.

Iria and Iziya flinched.

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Javier tilted his head slightly, pretending to be innocent.

”Oh? Them?” He waved a lazy hand toward the sisters. ”Just some cute little minions I picked up.”

Errinette raised an eyebrow. ”Minions?”

Iria and Iziya started sweating.

Javier cleared his throat dramatically and sat up. ”Ahem! I meant, future elite Armand maids! Yes! I, in my infinite generosity, have decided to train them personally!”

Errinette said nothing.

She simply continued to stare.

The weight of her gaze alone was crushing.

Javier started sweating.

”O-Okay, fine!” he quickly added. ”They were starving orphans, so I decided to help them. I paid for their freedom, gave them food, and now they work for me.”

Errinette tapped her chin thoughtfully. ”Hmm. And did you inform your father about this?”

Javier froze.

Iria and Iziya visibly paled.

Liana, who had just stepped out of the kitchen carrying a tray, paused mid-step.

Gloria, standing beside her, suppressed a chuckle.

Javier’s face twitched slightly.

”…Do I have to?” he asked, his voice uncharacteristically weak.

Errinette smiled.

Javier immediately felt danger.

”Aww, come on, Errinette! They’re my first minions who work directly under me! Ehehehe!”

Iria and Iziya, still pressed against the wall, visibly trembled.

Errinette, however, stayed completely unfazed.

With a slow, deliberate tilt of her head, she asked, ”Have they received any proper maid training?”

”Err…”

Javier’s grin froze slightly.

Iria and Iziya gulped.

”Do they have any combat training?”

”Err…umm…”

Javier’s confidence started to crumble.

Errinette’s gaze sharpened a bit. ”Have they received any lectures about noble etiquette, proper manners, and servant conduct?”

Javier immediately turned his head toward Liana. ”Umm… I think Liana already told them that?”

At that exact moment—

Errinette’s sharp gaze shifted toward the kitchen, where Liana and Gloria were working.

Silence.

Liana and Gloria, who had both clearly heard the conversation, pretended to stay busy.

Liana stirred the pot twice as fast as needed.

Gloria adjusted a plate that didn’t need adjusting.

They both radiated an air of ’I didn’t hear anything, I’m innocent.’

Errinette narrowed her eyes.

The tension in the room grew heavier.

Javier’s smugness completely evaporated.

Errinette’s sharp gaze flickered back to the two trembling girls still pressed against the wall.

”And you two!”

Iria and Iziya flinched violently, standing even straighter as if that would make them invisible.

”Why are you standing there!? You should be standing beside him!!”

Errinette’s finger shot forward, pointing directly at the empty space beside Javier.

”Y-Yesssss!!”

Iria and Iziya rushed forward at full speed, nearly tripping over their own feet as they scrambled to stand beside their ’young master.’

Their movements were so stiff that they looked like two wooden dolls forced into position.

Javier, still recovering from his earlier panic, glanced at them.

They were shaking.

Visibly.

He sighed dramatically. ”Haaaa… chill, Errinette. You’re scaring my minions.”

Errinette’s gaze snapped to him.

”And you, young master!” Her voice carried the weight of absolute command.

Javier froze.

”You should make sure they always stay beside you!”

Javier gulped. ”Err… chill, Errinette…?”

Errinette raised an eyebrow.

A thin, knowing smile appeared on her lips.

Javier’s instincts screamed danger.

”Eeeekkk!! I’m sorry!!” he yelped, throwing his hands up immediately.

Liana and Gloria, still in the kitchen, pretended to stay focused on cooking—but Liana’s shoulders shook slightly, as if she was barely holding back laughter.

Gloria, meanwhile, hid her smile behind her sleeve.

Errinette’s voice grew sharper, her expression showing strict authority as she turned back to the two trembling girls.

”And you two didn’t even introduce yourselves to me!?”

Iria and Iziya flinched again, their already pale faces turning even whiter.

Javier sighed, rubbing his temples. Haaaa… this is getting worse by the second…

”And what will you do when we get back to the Armand region?!” Errinette pressed on. ”What will happen when you arrive at the estate and fail to introduce yourselves properly!?”

Iria and Iziya stared at each other, looking like two cornered mice.

”W-We… umm…” Iria stuttered, her hands clasped tightly.

”I-I’m sorry!!” Iziya yelped, bowing so quickly and deeply that she nearly fell over.

Errinette sighed dramatically, then turned her gaze back toward Javier.

”And where is their manner, young master!?”

Javier groaned loudly, dramatically slumping against the sofa.

”Haaaa… why am I getting blamed for this!?”

Errinette narrowed her eyes.

Javier immediately sat up straight. ”I-I mean! I take full responsibility, ma’am!”

Errinette’s sharp gaze snapped toward the kitchen.

”Liana! Gloria!”

The two maids froze.

Javier winced, knowing exactly what was coming.

Gloria, always composed, let out a small ”Ara~,” before turning to Liana. ”It seems we’re in trouble, dear Liana.”

Liana, however, was not amused.

Errinette stood up, her presence commanding the entire room.

”You both are experienced personal maids.” Her voice was firm, yet controlled. ”And you, Gloria!” She turned her gaze onto the usually unshaken head maid.

For the first time in forever, Gloria looked slightly nervous.

”As head of the household maids, you didn’t even teach them how to properly introduce themselves!?”

Gloria cleared her throat softly, adjusting her glasses as if that would somehow protect her from this interrogation.

”Ah… umm…”

Errinette didn’t stop. ”Liana!!”

Liana snapped to attention immediately.

”Y-Yes!! Mrs. Errinette!?”

Errinette’s eyes narrowed. ”Show them how you properly introduce yourself to me. Right now!”

Liana stood stiffly, her body instinctively moving into perfect formality.

”Y-Yes!”

She took a deep breath.

Then, with flawless posture, she stepped forward, gracefully lowered herself into a deep bow, and spoke in a clear, elegant voice—

”It is an honor to be in your presence, Madam. My name is Liana, and I have the privilege of serving Young Master Javier as his personal maid, while also carrying out my duties for the esteemed Armand household.”

Her words were smooth and refined, carrying the proper weight of a noble servant’s discipline.

Iria and Iziya stared in awe.

Errinette nodded approvingly, then turned toward the two trembling girls.

”Now, you two—do the same.”

Iria and Iziya visibly tensed, their backs straight as if their very lives depended on this moment.

Iria, the older sister, gulped before taking a shaky step forward. She placed a hand on her chest, mimicking Liana’s elegant bow.

”G-G-Greetings, M-Madam…” she stuttered, her voice trembling. ”M-My name is I-Iria… I serve… y-young master J-Javier… and the Armand… H-Household…!”

She somehow managed to finish, though her body was so tense she looked ready to collapse.

Javier, still lounging on the sofa, raised an eyebrow. Well… she got through it, at least.

Errinette nodded slightly, though her expression remained unreadable. ”Barely acceptable. Next.”

Iziya, the younger sister, froze.

Her wide eyes darted between Errinette, Liana, and Iria. Her hands clutched her maid uniform tightly, her breath coming out in short, panicked bursts.

”I-I-I…” she opened her mouth, but no words came out.

A few agonizing seconds of silence passed.

Javier was already bracing for disaster.

Then, in a rush—

”G-G-G-GREETING, M-M-MADAM!!”

Her voice came out far too loud, making even Liana flinch slightly.

Iziya, clearly flustered, bowed so fast she nearly headbutted the floor.

”M-M-MY NAME IS I-IZIYA! I S-S-SERVE Y-Y-YOUNG MASTER J-JAVIER AND T-T-THE ARMAND HOUSEHOLD—”

She suddenly paused, looking like she forgot what came next.

A moment of horrifying silence.

Then—

”P-PLEASE DON’T KILL ME!!” she blurted out, bowing even deeper.

Dead silence.

Javier’s jaw dropped.

Gloria quickly turned away, shoulders shaking violently as she tried not to laugh.

Liana sighed, rubbing her forehead.

Errinette closed her eyes briefly, inhaling deeply. Then, with an unreadable expression, she finally spoke—

”…Retry. But calmly.”

Iziya, still trembling, nodded rapidly.

On the second attempt, she still stammered, but at least she didn’t beg for her life at the end.

Errinette finally leaned back, exhaling. ”Both of you need serious training. But for now… you pass.”

Javier sighed dramatically, stretching out on the sofa. ”Haaa… and here I thought you’d kill them for that performance.”

Errinette glanced at him.

”Oh? Would you prefer I did?”

Javier immediately sat upright. ”N-No! No need! They’re good! Totally fine!”

Liana and Gloria smirked, while Iria and Iziya visibly sagged in relief.

( End of Chapter )