Reborn As Noble

Meanwhile.

In the courtyard.

Garius stood with Francesca’s arm wrapped around his, looking at Javier’s Pekko pen next to his personal workshop. They were accompanied by Hesbeirn and Gilmon standing respectfully nearby.

”Honey?” Garius said to Francesca.

”Yes?” Francesca glanced up and smiled at Garius.

”Looks like our youngest son’s Pekko is building a nest for the others to lay eggs in,” Garius observed, nodding toward the pen where Buddy was meticulously arranging fresh hay into a soft, circular bed in one of the sheltered corners.

”Mm... yes, dear.”

Garius chuckled. ”Heh... it took that ’muddy’ this long to finally make all his partners lay eggs. Five years.”

”Dear~” Francesca let out a soft chuckle. ”Don’t forget, by the time our youngest son got Buddy, Buddy and the others weren’t fully grown Pekkos yet.”

”Yeah... I know. But my Giddie is far better and cooler than that ’muddy.’” Garius smirked proudly.

Francesca slapped his arm lightly. ”Dear, don’t say things like that about Buddy.”

”What? Do you think Buddy could challenge his own father, Giddie, the King of all Pekkos?” Garius wiggled his eyebrow, a playful challenge in his tone.

”Anyway, dear~ Don’t forget it’s our anniversary today.” Francesca leaned on his shoulder, humming happily.

”Mm... I know.” Garius stood and continued observing Buddy from a distance. ”But still... it took this long for this one to make all his partners lay eggs, huh.” Garius mumbled softly while rubbing his chin.

”Dear?”

”Hmm?” Garius glanced at Francesca, who had suddenly turned serious. ”Yes, honey?”

”Be careful of Gumarak’s daughter.”

”I know. The first time we met her, we already knew she wasn’t in love with Javier. She made it look like she loved our youngest, but we both saw through it. The only reason we couldn’t act was because she’s Gumarak’s daughter.”

”Still... I’m glad she left our youngest early after realizing she couldn’t get anything from him. Not his knowledge, not his weapons, not his mana-tech.”

”Mm... I know, honey. But still, Gumarak is too soft on his only daughter, isn’t he?” Garius’s tone held a hint of pity for the dwarven chieftain’s inability to be firm with his child.

”Yes, dear. Not to mention she’s been with Kimar’s eldest son the whole time.”

”She can fool anyone... but not us.” Francesca smiled.

Garius smirked while rubbing his chin, his right eye glowing faintly. ”She forgot that Armand saved her kingdom when the human alliance attacked them during the Celestial War. But I believe our youngest knew the truth from the start.”

”Mm... looking at how our youngest prepares for everything, how he’s advanced with magic-tech, how he plans layers deep... I have no doubt he saw through her long before we did.”

”Mhmm~” Francesca smiled. ”Since she’s the only girl he didn’t feel sad about when she left. Imagine if it were Liana or Gloria who left him~”

Garius chuckled and looked at Francesca. ”Imagine? No... it would be a disaster. Remember when Liana and Gloria went back to the Elven Kingdom to visit their brother and sister’s wedding? And our youngest thought they were leaving him for good?”

”Ara? I remember that. He was so panicked. He even rushed there on Buddy~” Francesca covered her lips, letting out a soft, fond laugh.

”Even Mylezra mentioned he nearly caused a ruckus at the wedding. He thought Liana and Gloria were going to marry other men.” Garius smirked.

Francesca smiled again. ”Let’s hope for the best for all our children, and all my stepchildren.”

”Yeah.”

”But you really allowed Aelius and Athine to marry each other, huh?” Francesca gave him a playful, sidelong glint.

”Hmm? What? You’re the one who set them up back when they were still children.”

”No~ I didn’t set them up. Fate did. The Promise Stone was the one that chose to appear for both of them~ And they loved each other even without the stone, remember? The stone only strengthened their resolve and deepened a bond that was already there.”

Garius leaned in and whispered into Francesca’s ear. ”Since we’re talking about deepening bonds... how about we go to our room and deepen ours?”

Francesca slapped his arm with a playful glare. ”Naughty~”

”Of course I’m naughty. With my wives~” Garius’s hand settled on Francesca’s waist.

Francesca exhaled softly with a smile. ”But dear, don’t forget. I don’t want another child after my Honey Bun~ Besides, you’ve already made Garcinia worry about being pregnant with your child again. Ah~ I wonder how Aelius and Athine will react when they find out their mother is going to give them a sibling... while Athine is already pregnant with Aelius’s child~”

Francesca gave him another playful glare and smiled. ”I believe I saw Eriditih and Phenelope eating something sour... and being unusually choosy about their food lately. Tell me, dear~” she teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief. ”How many more children do you want until you’re satisfied? Don’t forget, you just married Mylezra.”

”Ah...” Garius averted his eyes and started gently pulling Francesca back toward the manor. ”I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Francesca exhaled, shaking her head. ”We’re already going to have grandchildren with our sons getting their partners pregnant. And now their father is doing the same~”

Back in Javier’s bedroom.

Everyone had calmed down.

”I’m going to check on Buddy,” Javier said.

Liana tilted her head. ”Why?”

”Yes, Young Master? Why? Is something wrong with your Pekko?” Gloria asked, nudging her glasses.

”I don’t know. But a guard reported Buddy’s odd behavior.”

”What do you mean?” Felicia asked softly.

”He’s been leaving the estate without me and coming back with bundles of hay.”

”That’s... unusual,” Liana said, her brow furrowing slightly. ”Buddy never leaves your side unless he’s with you.”

”Yes... so I’m worried something might be wrong with him. I’m going to check on him.” Javier said while turning toward the door.

”Young Master, we’re coming with you,” Gloria and Liana said in unison, while Felicia simply moved to follow Javier.

”Eh? If you all follow me, what about Delya and Mimi?”

”Hmm? They’re safe here. Besides, they’re sleeping right now.”

”Don’t worry about them too much, Young Master,” Liana said while gently pushing Javier toward the door.

”Yes. I believe they’ll be alright.” Felicia said softly, then shyly wrapped her hand around Javier’s arm.

”B... but...”

”No ’but,’ Young Master. Besides, if you brought them with you earlier, that means they were both with you in the office, right? So they’ve already had their time with you~ Now it’s our turn to be with you.” Gloria added with a playful, knowing smile.

( End Of Chapter )