Reborn As Noble

Francesca sighed again. ”My, my~ Heres isn’t the first one, my honey bun. These two older brothers of yours are the first one~”

She shook her head with an indulgent smile. ”Ah~ I don’t even know which one will be giving birth first. Dear, I think we should move up their weddings, maybe a week after your marriage with Mylezra. What do you think, Garcinia? Phenelopie?”

Garcinia sighed as well, glancing at Aelius and Athine before shaking her head. ”Since our husband’s already given his blessing, I suppose we should just hold everyone’s wedding ceremony at once.”

Francesca placed her palm on her cheek, giving Garius a gentle, expectant look. ”Dear~?”

Garius cleared his throat and adjusted his posture. ”Well... I don’t mind.”

”Good.” Francesca let out another sigh, her warm gaze shifting into a sharp glare aimed directly at Marcellus and Cedric. ”Since you two are about to become fathers, you must be ready to take full responsibility for your partners and children.”

”Ye...yes, esteemed Mother,” they replied in unison, their voices almost sheepish.

Francesca’s smile returned, but her eyes landed squarely on Javier.

A sweet, loving look that somehow carried the weight of a royal decree. ”Now, now, honey bun~” she cooed, her tone soft yet dangerous. ”Since you’re my youngest, don’t even think about making your partners pregnant before marriage, okay? You’re still my honey bun.”

”Y...yes... m-mother.” Javier stiffened, nodding rapidly.

While Javier sat in surprise, his expression remained calm, but inside his mind, a storm of thoughts spun.

Aelius... made Athine pregnant too?

...

THAT’S MY BROTHER! AHAHAHAHA!

On the outside, Javier maintained a composed face, nodding slightly.

So, Athine and Aelius will finally get to be officially married to each other, huh? Good for them. This is a world of magic, there’s no rule stopping them, and with Father’s blessing already given, who am I to get in the way of their happiness? No way! Ehehehe...

And Marcellus... does that mean Lithia and her mother are both pregnant? Or just one of them? I’ll have to get the details out of him later.

And Cedric... which came first, Meira, the catgirl, or Zania, the Amazarak princess? Don’t tell me he got both pregnant?

Well... with everyone getting married in the same ceremony, the people of Armand will have a lot to celebrate.

More weddings mean more feasts, and I can finally show off the new Holo TV and mana satellite system I’ll be launching tomorrow. That way, not just Father’s wedding and coronation as Sovereign, but all the weddings can be seen live throughout Armand and Arjam.

He let out a quiet, satisfied breath.

Alright. I’d better make more Holo TV units before I sleep, then hand them to Father to distribute to every public office and village chief. I want the whole of Armand and Arjam to be able to watch the live broadcast.

”Honey bun~? What are you thinking?” Francesca’s gentle voice broke Javier’s thoughts.

Javier smiled, putting on his best innocent face.

”Ah, nothing, Mother. I’m just... happy. Aelius and Athine, Marcellus with Lithia and her mother Harny, Cedric with Meira and Zania, Heres with Kliatana, all getting married soon. With everyone so happy, I guess I’ll be an ’uncle’ soon.”

Garius suddenly sputtered his drink, coughing while Garcinia and Phenelopie both tried to stifle their laughter.

”Everyone’s happiness is my happiness,” Javier declared, showing his purest, most harmless smile.

Garius wiped his mouth, aided by Alf, who offered a handkerchief without a word.

”Such good words from my youngest... soon to be the next heir. With a heart like yours, and the way you’re happy for everyone, I’m truly glad you’ll inherit the crown someday,” Garius said, pride coloring his voice.

Javier met his father’s eyes with a calm, dutiful smile. ”Yes, esteemed father.”

Inside...

Who the hell wants that crown or title?! Gihhh!! Just you wait, Father. I’m going to that place and making you eat those life-extending fruits, along with everyone else, so you’ll all stay young and healthy before I turn eighteen. Mehehehe!

Oops... control your mind, Javier. Careful with this dried plum, he could read your mind with the Eyes of Truth. Don’t think of anything. Think of Liana. Think of Gloria. Think of the harem...

He glanced up and saw Garius’s right eye glint suspiciously. Instantly, Javier flooded his thoughts with nothing but Liana, Gloria, and a swirl of harem fantasies, faces, laughter, hugs, kisses, anything to drown out his plotting.

Oho~ I see you, dried plum.

You’re using those Eyes of Truth on me, old man... Mehehehehe! You won’t get anything!

Javier smiled sweetly, eating his meat with deliberate care while flooding his mind with a random jumble: fishing rods, grilled meat, Buddy, Buddy, Buddy, Liana, Gloria, Felicia, Mimi, Delya, one image after another, anything distracting.

How about this, old man? Javier pictured a solid brick wall, mind utterly blank.

He changed the mental image to a vast, endless sea, nothing but blue and silence.

And then, just for fun, Javier pictured Queen Mylezra chasing Garius through the palace, relentless and dramatic.

He peeked up, just in time to see Garius start coughing quietly, the glint in his right eye fading as he looked away.

Ehehehehe.

Javier kept eating, smug and satisfied, perfectly innocent to anyone watching.

After the meal, Garius stood up and looked around the table. ”I’ll excuse myself and head to my office for a while.”

”Dear, don’t overwork yourself,” Francesca called after him, concern gentle in her voice.

Garcinia, Phenelopie, and Eridith all watched him go, a hint of worry in their expressions.

Garius waved a hand dismissively. ”Don’t worry. Just a few documents to finish, then I’ll rest. Besides, I’m sure Alf and Erinnette are tired too.”

”Don’t worry about us, my lord,” Alf and Erinnette replied together, bowing respectfully.

Garius nodded, then strode out, leaving the dining hall quiet in his wake.

Inside his mind...

I still can’t read Javier’s mind, can I? Nothing but a void...empty

But judging from his expression, that restless posture, and those fidgeting fingers...

A smirk tugged at Garius’s lips.

Well... let’s see how good your plan is this time, my youngest~

( End Of Chapter )