Reborn As Noble

Marcellus slowed his steps, then turned back toward them with a crooked smirk.

”Anyway, my little brothers,” he said lightly. ”I’m heading off.”

Javier blinked. ”Huh? I thought we were going somewhere to drink and celebrate before your wedding.”

Before Marcellus could answer, Javier noticed two familiar figures standing farther down the corridor.

”Oho~ Lithia... and hello, Harny,” Javier greeted them with a grin.

”Good day to you, Prince Javier. Prince Cedric,” the two replied politely, bowing in unison.

Javier tilted his head. ”Hmm? If I remember correctly, you’re no longer Marcellus’s maids, right?”

Harny smiled calmly. ”We still are, Prince Javier. Until the day of our wedding with Prince Marcellus.”

”Well then...” Javier snickered, glancing at Marcellus. ”Good luck with this older brother of mine.”

”Oi!” Marcellus shot back. ”I’m not that bad.”

He sighed, then gave a small nod. ”Alright, you two. I’m going.”

”Yeah, yeah,” Javier and Cedric replied together, watching as Marcellus walked off, Harny on his left arm, Lithia on his right.

Once they disappeared down the corridor, Javier leaned slightly toward Cedric.

”Still can’t believe Marcellus managed to make a mother and daughter fall in love with him,” he said casually. ”And that they’re seriously becoming his official wives.”

Cedric let out a quiet chuckle. ”Yeah... even Father couldn’t believe it at first.”

”Well,” Javier shrugged, ”dark elves hardly age anyway. Look at Harny and Lithia, if you didn’t know, you’d think they were sisters.”

”Couldn’t agree more,” Cedric replied, nodding as they continued on their way.

Javier glanced at Cedric as they walked. ”So... did you get Meira’s parents’ blessing to marry her?”

Cedric nodded, a soft smile forming. ”Yeah. I already met them. Honestly... I was surprised by how warm they were.”

”Oh?” Javier raised a brow. ”Why?”

”Well...” Cedric rubbed the back of his head. ”Meira comes from a common family. They were completely caught off guard. It was the first time I’d ever seen Meira flustered like that, running around, panicking over every little thing. You wouldn’t believe it. Her parents scolded her just because she let me sit on the floor.”

Javier laughed quietly. ”That does sound like her.”

”I told them I didn’t mind,” Cedric continued, ”but they insisted. Hospitality, pride... all of it.”

”Yeah,” Javier nodded with a smile. ”People of Armand really are different from other nobles.”

Cedric exhaled, then went on. ”The villagers came too. When they found out I was going to marry their daughter, it turned into a celebration on the spot. And that was with Zania there as well, bickering with Meira the whole time, fighting over my attention.”

Javier chuckled. ”Sounds lively.”

”So... her parents won’t be coming to Armand?” Javier asked.

Cedric looked at him as if offended. ”Hey, I’m not that heartless. I already arranged our best pekko-drawn carriages. Travel permits, lodging, everything’s taken care of. Since our carriages are fast, they’ll coming over next week.”

Javier laughed. ”So you’re not holding the wedding in her hometown?”

”I wanted to,” Cedric admitted, ”but her parents insisted we marry first in Armand. Since I’ll be marrying both Meira and Zania on the same day as Marcellus and Heres, they said it was only right. They told me we can always hold a celebration in her hometown later.”

Cedric slowed, letting out a quiet sigh.

”Hm?” Javier glanced at him. ”What’s wrong?”

”You know how shocked they were when they found out Meira was marrying a noble,” Cedric said slowly. ”They were happy, but still overwhelmed. I can’t help wondering how they’ll react when they find out...”

”Oh?” Javier smirked. ”When they learn you’re a prince now?”

Cedric nodded. ”Yeah...”

Javier chuckled. ”And when they find out their king will be attending your wedding too.”

Cedric sighed. ”Hey... King Lioness isn’t here for my wedding. He’s here because of Father.”

”Still,” Javier shrugged, grinning, ”he’s staying for Father’s vow ceremony, his wedding with Queen Mylezra, your wedding along with Marcellus’s, Heres’s wedding with that bratty Kliatana, and Aelius and Athine’s wedding.”

Cedric sighed. ”Yeah... but King Lioness and King Veldrac aren’t here just for that either.”

”Yeah, yeah, I get it,” Javier laughed, then his lips curved into a teasing grin. ”Looks like your brides are here, Cedric.”

At the far end, Zania and Meira stood waiting.

Cedric’s smile softened. ”...It’s just sad that Zania doesn’t have any family left to attend her wedding.”

Javier stopped walking and looked at him seriously. ”Hey. Cheer up. Her people are alive. The Amazarak survivors are living well here in Armand. They still respect her as their princess.”

Cedric listened quietly.

”When you visit the land Father allocated to the Amazarak,” Javier continued, ”you’ll see it for yourself. They still bow to her, their last princess. And soon, she’ll be their queen... married to a Prince of Armand.”

Cedric exhaled, his expression easing. ”...Yeah. I’m glad. Really glad.”

Javier nudged him forward with a grin. ”Alright, go on. Don’t keep your brides waiting.”

Cedric chuckled. ”Alright, little brother. I’m going.”

”Yeah, yeah,” Javier waved him off.

Javier’s eyes softened.

He continued down the corridor, hands tucked into his pockets.

...Time really does fly.

Back then, I was still just a boy.

They were teenagers, loud, reckless, arguing over trivial things.

And now...

Sixteen.

Responsibilities piling up. Expectations forming shapes he couldn’t quite escape anymore. His brothers, his sister, were all stepping into marriage, into roles that would define the rest of their lives.

Javier exhaled quietly.

Maybe that’s why I act childish sometimes.

Even with memories of another life still intact, maybe a part of me was clinging to something simpler. A time when I didn’t need to think about borders, politics, weapons, or contingencies. No calculations about defense grids or last-resort weapons. No weighing lives against outcomes.

Just days where tomorrow didn’t demand anything from him.

No pressure to protect a nation.

No burden of being ”the genius.”

No quiet fear of failing the people he loved.

He walked on.

The estate’s grand halls gave way to a quieter path. trees arching overhead, trimmed hedges hiding the way from most eyes. A secluded place, tucked deep within Armand’s vast grounds. One of the few spots he love.

Behind him, a familiar presence followed.

The orange pekko strutted smugly after him, chest puffed, head bobbing with every step, soft squawks were filled with excitement, feathers ruffling proudly.

Javier glanced back and smiled.

”...You too, huh.”

The pekko chirped again, quickening its pace to walk beside him.

For a moment, everything felt light again.

( End Of Chapter )