Reborn As Noble

I should tell Lord Garka to deploy our new weapons unit. The musketeer regiment, trained with those flintlock muskets, enchanted for accuracy and range, perhaps this unit can match these Armand shitty weapons.

Just you wait. Once Lord Garka hears about this...

Several captains rushed toward him, escorted by guards.

”General!” They saluted sharply.

”Inside. All of you. We’re changing plans.”

”Yes, General!”

Meanwhile, in the northern Tybalt border.

”Shoot! Shoot!”

A volley of magic arrows streaked toward the transport drones, only to be picked off mid-air by precise mana rifle fire from Javier’s knights hovering above.

”Captain! Our arrows can’t touch them!”

The captain snarled. ”Ready the cannon!”

”Yes, sir!”

They loaded the cannon.

Two soldiers hauling a heavy iron ball into the muzzle, another ramming it down with a long rod, while a fourth poured black powder into the touchhole. They aimed the crude, wheeled weapon upward toward the transport drone where the knights were aiming their mana rifles.

”Ready!!” The captain raised his palm.

”Aim!!” a soldier yelled back.

Just as the captain was about to command fire, he saw one of the knights aiming a small, cylindrical weapon toward them. A sleek, metallic tube with faintly glowing runes along its length.

The captain gritted his teeth and shouted.

”FIRE!!”

The soldier fired, and the cannonball shot fast toward the transport drone.

Only to be seen exploding in mid-air after being struck by a silent, brilliant beam of condensed mana that lanced from the knight’s weapon. There was no sound, no smoke, just a flash of searing light, and the iron ball shattered into harmless fragments that rained down like metallic dust.

The hell?

What kind of weapon is that?

All the captain could see was the knight standing calmly aboard the hovering transport drone, offering a slow, deliberate salute.

The captain’s jaw tightened.

They are mocking us!

Grrr... How dare they interfere in a war that isn’t theirs?

We haven’t attacked Armand. We haven’t crossed their borders. And yet here they are, flaunting their magic-tech in the skies like we’re nothing but a training exercise, showing us how outmatched we are.

Just like that boy did during the Arjam campaign. Standing there showing his advance army while mocking both Lord Turka and Garka son, making us look like fools in front of our own troops.

And that salute... it’s not respect. It’s a taunt. A reminder that they can see everything, reach anywhere, and we can’t touch them.

A show off that this isn’t a battle; it’s a humiliation.

”Captain! What should we do?”

The captain ground his teeth, fury boiling as the drones continued to hover, silent and watching.

”Fall back to camp! Now!”

Meanwhile, back in Armand, just before the Turka soldier attacked the transport drone.

”Eeekkk!! Liana! Stop, stop! My neck!!” Javier tapped Liana’s hand, now locked firmly around his throat as she bit her lower lip.

”My, my, young master~ Feeling guilty now? Asking for mercy~?” Liana glanced at him with a sweetly terrifying smile.

”Err... no...” Javier casually slipped from her grip and settled back into his chair. He tapped his portable mana computer, pulling up the live feed from the knight’s helmet camera.

”That Garka general is a sharp one.” Javier smirked as Liana stood beside him.

He pulled her gently by the waist, seating her on his lap, then rested his chin on her shoulder.

”Now look at that dumb Turka soldier. Attacking my knights before we even make a move.” Javier’s smirk widened.

”Will you retaliate? Since they attacked first.” Liana smiled, leaning her cheek against his.

”Nah... no need. They’re just ’panicked,’ that’s all.” He chuckled lightly.

”They’re aiming their cannon at one of the drones,” Liana noted, pointing toward the screen.

”Mm... they are. Well... let’s give them a little demonstration of our new toy~” Javier grinned.

”Now watch the knight with the new weapon.” Javier rubbed his palms together in anticipation.

”Steady... steady...”

”And... there! They fired! That slow cannonball is coming and... walaaa, gone! Bwahahaha!” Javier laughed loudly as Liana shook her head, leaned in, and wrapped her arms around his neck.

This is what I love about him.

Never cares about what people think of him.

Enjoys every moment he wants. whether it’s inventing something impossible, teasing his brothers, playing with his fiancées, or watching his creations turn enemy weapons into dust.

He doesn’t put on airs, doesn’t pretend to be someone he’s not. He’s a genius who still laughs like a kid, a prince who’d rather be in his workshop than on a throne, and a man who protects what he loves without ever losing the joy of creating it.

And that’s why I love him. He doesn’t let the weight of being a prince crush the joy of being himself.

”Young master...” Liana said while pressing her face against Javier’s neck.

”Hmm?” Javier glanced down at Liana.

”Please promise me something...” Liana mumbled in a whisper.

”What is it?” He caressed her hair and kissed the top of her head.

”Promise me... you’ll never change.” Liana whispered while hugging his neck tightly.

Javier tilted his head down, narrowed his eyes, and gave her a sideways glance. Expression shifting into a deliberately exaggerated, goofy, cross-eyed face with a lopsided grin.

”Young master!” Liana slapped his arm.

”Ow ow! Don’t slap too hard! Ehehehe.” Javier playfully kissed her lips while she tried to evade, then settled for her cheek.

”Promise me, young master.” Liana smiled, glancing up, looking at his face.

”Mm... I’ll try not to change, Liana. But I can’t just promise you like that. We never know what the future will hold for us. But believe me, you will become my first wife.”

Liana glanced up.

Javier smiled, then slowly leaned down.

Their lips met in a soft, lingering kiss. His hand cradled the back of her head, fingers threading through her silver hair, while her arms wound around his neck, pulling him closer.

When they finally parted, foreheads resting together, her emerald eyes were soft, her smile tender.

”Young master...”

”Mm?”

”Thank you.”

”For what?”

”For being you.”

He chuckled softly, brushing his thumb along her cheek. ”You’re the one who keeps me grounded, Liana. Always have been.”

She leaned into his touch, expression serene. ”Then I’ll keep doing it. For as long as you’ll let me.”

”As long as I live,” he whispered, and sealed the promise with another gentle kiss.

( End Of Chapter )