Reborn As Noble

Dwarven Kingdom.

Capital City – Last Defensive Wall.

Royal Palace – Private Chamber.

The room was warm—heated by braziers and filled with the rich aroma of roasted wyvern meat.

Gumarak sat cross-legged on his thick bed, chewing happily on a huge piece of fire-roasted meat. Grease dripped from his beard, and his belly rumbled in satisfaction.

Then—footsteps.

He froze.

Quickly, he grabbed a napkin, frantically wiped his mouth, then pulled the blanket over himself—tucking it up to his chin.

By the time the door creaked open, he was trembling dramatically, wrapped in the blanket like a sick patient.

”O-Old man! You still don’t feel well yet?” Javier’s voice echoed as he stepped inside.

Gumarak let out a pitiful cough.

”It’s... c-cold...” he croaked, voice deliberately raspy.

He sneezed for good measure.

Javier raised an eyebrow.

Then slowly stepped forward, hands in his pockets, eyes sharp as he scanned the room.

He stopped near the bed.

”Old man...”

”Y-yes?”

”...Stop pretending.”

Gumarak blinked.

”I-I don’t know what you’re—”

”I can see the oil dripping from your beard,” Javier said flatly.

Gumarak’s eyes darted to the side, then he sheepishly wiped his beard again.

He dropped the act and threw the blanket off.

”Can’t fool a noble brat like you, huh?”

”Can you stop pretending and stalling already?” Javier asked, arms crossed.

Gumarak adjusted the blanket, sniffled once, then pouted.

”What? I already signed the documents! Gave Armand temporary authority! My son will handle everything while I’m gone, under Armand’s command.”

Javier narrowed his eyes.

”That’s not what I came for.”

The dwarf flinched visibly.

He slowly pulled the blanket higher.

”No!! I don’t want to meet Garius!!”

”Seriously?” Javier deadpanned.

”I’m still weak... and sick... I haven’t recovered properly... I think I need more grilled meat and maybe more rest,”

”Old man,” Javier said simply.

”Yes?”

”Stop pretending.” Javier pointed straight behind Gumarak’s pillow, where a hidden meat skewer was tucked away.

Gumarak lowered the blanket just enough to give a very fake innocent smile.

”Come on... you really don’t need to take me to Garius, right? Riiight?”

He wiggled his eyebrows hopefully.

”We’re friends now, aren’t we? Just tell him I caught a sudden flu, or some other excuse!”

Javier sighed.

”...You’re a grown man.”

”Exactly! That’s why I have rights! And one of those rights is avoiding that nagging, fire-breathing group of old friends!”

Javier let out a long, tired sigh.

”...Why is this old man acting like a child today...”

He rubbed his temples as Gumarak curled deeper into his blanket fortress.

”Heh~” Gumarak chuckled nervously.

”I really don’t want to meet them. I can already feel it. Garius, Mylezra, Veldrac, Lioness... they’re probably sharpening their knuckles right now.”

Javier narrowed his eyes.

”It’s not like my father is going to behead you,” he said flatly.

”I know that!!” Gumarak snapped, eyes wide.

”But if I had to choose between a clean execution or being nagged to death and punched by four smug monsters—I’d honestly prefer the axe! At least the axe has mercy!”

He shivered.

”I can already see it... Garius crossing his arms with that ’I told you so’ smirk... Mylezra tapping her fan with a sinister grin... Lioness cracking my knuckles while saying ’I’m doing this as a friend’... and Veldrac just laughing at me from the side!!”

Javier crossed his arms.

”That’s what you get for claiming a Celestial.”

”Nope! Nooope!”

Gumarak yanked the blanket over his head and began rolling on the bed.

”I’m sick! I’m weak! I have a cold! I might collapse any second!”

Javier leaned closer.

”You’re literally sweating from all that”

”It’s a fever!”

Knock. Knock.

The door creaked open.

A gentle voice called out sweetly,

”Father?”

A young dwarven girl peeked in—her eyes wide, cheeks puffed, her voice soft and lovely.

”How are you today?”

”Ah!! Ferine! My lovely, adorable daughter~!”

Gumarak threw the blanket off, arms open wide.

”Come here! Papa’s not sick anymore when he sees you~!”

Javier slowly turned toward him, squinting.

”See? Old man. You’re healthy already.”

Gumarak immediately coughed again and threw the blanket back over his head.

”Nope. No. I’m sick again. Sudden relapse. Terrible timing. Cursed timing.”

”You’re unbelievable.”

”Wait—wait!”

Gumarak sat up again, eyes hopeful.

”How about this, huh? A deal! I’ll let you marry my daughter—Ferine! Beautiful, smart, perfect wife material! And in return... you let me skip their judgment. Yes? Shake hands?”

Javier stared at him.

Ferine blinked, confused.

”Eh? Husband?”

”What? Ferine~” Gumarak waved wildly toward Javier.

”Look at your handsome future husband~! Tall! Handsome! Just your type~! And you’re both the same age anyway!”

Ferine turned bright red.

”P-Papa! Don’t just say that out of nowhere!”

Javier pinched the bridge of his nose.

”Old man... I’m not old enough to get married yet.”

”What!? That’s the perfect time to get married! That’s investment, son! Investment!”

Gumarak jabbed a thumb at Ferine.

”She’s cute, beautiful, adorable! You think quality like this grows on trees!? Eh? Eh? Eh? Just accept it already~!”

”No.”

Javier said flatly, grabbing the edge of the blanket and yanking.

”I’m still bringing you to meet my father.”

”NO!!”

Gumarak screeched like a toddler and wrapped his arms around the bedframe.

”I REFUSE! I’d rather marry you off than go see that smug bastard and his smug friends!!”

”You’re unbelievable,” Javier muttered, trying to pry his fingers loose.

Ferine, standing quietly by the doorway, just sighed and shook her head—watching the King of the Dwarves cling to his bedpost like a stubborn child while Javier, clearly used to this level of stupidity, tried to peel him off like dried glue.

Gumarak held onto the bed frame like his life depended on it.

”One more day!! One more day!!”

Javier stood over him, arms crossed, face blank.

”...That’s what you said yesterday, old man.”

”But this time it’s true!” Gumarak whined, squeezing the frame even tighter.

”Just one more day! Please~! I’m not mentally ready to face them! I need... emotional preparation!”

Javier sighed... then finally gave in.

”...Fine. One more day. But tomorrow, I’m dragging you by your beard.”

”Deal!” Gumarak grinned victoriously.

”Alright, Ferine~! Take care of him today, will you? He’s your future husband, after all~”

Ferine instantly flushed, her whole face turning red.

”P-Papa! Stop saying weird things!”

Javier simply turned toward the door, muttering under his breath.

”I swear... the real war is babysitting this old man.”

Ferine nervously glanced between Javier and her grinning father.

”...Sorry about him,” she mumbled quietly, bowing her head.

”It’s fine,” Javier replied.

( End Of Chapter )