Reborn As Noble

After Francesca left, Javier pinched the bridge of his nose and looked at Liana and the others.

”Why were you all eavesdropping? She’s my mother. Not some random girl.”

Liana and Gloria exchanged a glance and smiled innocently.

”It’s nothing, Young Master...” Liana began softly. ”We just... wondered how Lady Francesca managed to make your father fall so deeply for her, and remain his favorite among all his wives. Perhaps we could learn a thing or two...”

Gloria glanced away, her voice dropping to a playful, almost shy murmur. ”Since... she’s so good at making you melt... we thought learning from her might... help us melt you, too...?”

Javier exhaled, shaking his head with a faint, fond smile.

”Suit yourselves.”

Javier glanced toward all of them and smiled warmly.

”I don’t think I want any of you to be like her. Each of you has something special... something that makes me feel... seen. Honestly, i feel happy just to have you all by my side.”

He turned and moved toward the door, the girls about to follow.

Until a calm, familiar voice spoke from the hallway.

”Good morning, little brother.”

Javier turned to see Aelius leaning against the doorframe, a soft smile on his face.

”Ah... Aelius. What’s up?”

Aelius smiled, then offered a polite nod to Javier’s girls.

”Ladies,” he greeted, flashing his charming smile. ”If you don’t mind, may I borrow your ’husband’ for a moment? Don’t worry, it won’t take long.”

Liana and Gloria clasped their hands in front of them and bowed gracefully.

”Yes, Prince Aelius.”

Javier exhaled, though his eyes were curious. ”What is it now, Aelius?”

”There’s... something I’d like to talk to you about. The wedding. But... in private?” Aelius glanced meaningfully toward Liana, Gloria, and the others.

”Fine, fine...” Javier looked back at the girls. ”Go on ahead. Wait for me at the wedding hall.”

”As you command, Young Master,” Liana and Gloria said with another bow, gently guiding Felicia, Mimi, and Delya away.

After making sure Liana, Gloria, and the others had walked away, Aelius turned to Javier.

”How about we walk while we talk?”

”Hah? You’re being weird. What if someone overhears?”

Aelius just chuckled softly and started walking. Javier followed lazily, both hands tucked in his pockets.

”Liana and Gloria still call you ’Young Master,’ huh?” Aelius said as they strolled.

”Yeah... I feel awkward when they call me ’Prince.’ I’d rather they just used my name, but they won’t. Said it’s against the rules or something, that they’ll only call me by name once we’re married.” Javier shrugged. ”But that’s not important. What did you want to ask?”

He glanced toward Aelius, who was walking quietly beside him.

”Actually...” Aelius began, his voice low. ”About the wedding hall... can we do it... there?”

Javier listened quietly as Aelius shared the details.

”Hmm? So you want to choose that place, huh?”

”Yeah... kind of.”

Javier exhaled softly. ”But if it’s just this, you didn’t need to pull me aside. You could’ve talked in front of Liana and the others.”

Aelius smiled, glancing around as though checking for unseen listeners. ”Umm... Athine doesn’t know yet. I want to surprise her. Since you promised you’d arrange our wedding after I agreed to not join the group ceremony... I was hoping...”

”Yeah, yeah... I think we can make that work.” Javier nodded slowly. ”But something like this doesn’t really need to be a secret from them.”

”No... I don’t want Athine to find out. And you know Liana and Gloria wouldn’t be able to keep it if she really pressed them, right?”

Javier chuckled, a knowing grin spreading across his face. ”Yeah... Athine is... persistent. And Liana and Gloria... well...let’s just say they’re great at keeping secrets, but not so great at keeping happy news quiet when they’re excited.”

Aelius smiled and glanced at Javier.

”And... about the wedding ring... could you make something from this?” He handed Javier a small, softly glowing crystal.

Javier took it, turning it over in his palm. ”Hmm? You want me to craft a ring now? At the last minute?”

”Please? I know with your magic crafting, you could make it in minutes.”

Javier exhaled. ”Of course I can, but... why now?”

”Err...” Aelius scratched his cheek, a sheepish smile touching his lips.

”I’ve been trying to find a ring for our wedding, but she just... never felt anything for the ones I showed her. None of them felt right.”

”So where did you find this crystal?”

Aelius rubbed the back of his head. ”This is the crystal Athine and I used to play with when we were children.”

Javier studied the crystal, its inner light shifting like captured moonlight. ”Yeah... this is super rare. Even I don’t have anything like it. Where did you two even get it?”

Aelius smiled softly. ”Even I don’t know. Athine said she found it when we were playing in that place... we always kept it with us back then.”

He chuckled quietly. ”And when I was stressing over finding the perfect ring, since nothing seemed to interest her, I suddenly remembered... back when we were little, she once said she wanted this crystal to be her wedding ring when she grew up.”

Javier chuckled, warmth softening his expression. ”Well... that’s a good thing to remember.”

”So? How do you want me to craft it?” Javier asked, holding the crystal up to the light and inspecting it closely. ”Do you want a gold ring, or a mithril one with this crystal as the centerpiece?”

Aelius smiled. ”Can you craft two rings... made entirely from this crystal?”

”Really? You want both rings to be made fully from this crystal? Are you sure?” Javier raised an eyebrow, glancing at Aelius.

”Yes... if you can.”

Javier considered the crystal, then nodded. ”Of course I can. With a piece this size, I can make two rings and still have enough left over to craft something like a necklace.”

”Can... can you really do that?!” Aelius’s eyes widened with excitement.

”Huh? Of course. Since I’m using Magic Crafting, there’s no waste. It’s not like cutting and forging. I reshape it with magic. I can make it exactly how you imagine.”

”Please do that!!” Aelius beamed, excitement lighting up his face.

”Yeah, yeah.” Javier chuckled, then tapped the mana talkie in his ear.

”Liana, this might take a little while, but I won’t be too long. Let the others know to wait for me, and grab something to eat in the meantime.”

Liana’s voice came through the mana talkie, gentle and reassuring.

”Yes, young master~”

Javier glanced at Aelius with a small smile.

”Let’s head to my personal workshop.”

Aelius nodded, gratitude softening his features. ”Okay... Thank you, little brother.”

( End Of Chapter )