Reborn As Noble

The next morning.

Main dining room.

Everyone sat together at the long table.

Garius sat at the head of the table, accompanied by all his wives. Hesbeirn was nearby, yawning hard after another long night of drinking, while Gilmon stood attentively nearby.

Francesca, Garcinia, and Phenelope were on the right side of the table, while the left side was occupied by Eriditih and Mylezra.

All their sons were seated along the table, Marcellus, Cedric, Aelius, and Heres already eating the hearty breakfast served by the household maids. Javier, as usual, was seated at the far end of the table, his favorite spot since he was a bratty child who preferred to observe the whole family from a distance.

Garius glanced around and narrowed his eyes.

”Hmm? Where is Athine?”

Francesca smiled softly. ”Ah~ She’s with all our sons’ brides. Since I don’t want any of our sons to meet their brides before the wedding tomorrow~”

Garius exhaled and shook his head. He then looked at Eridith before turned his glance toward Phenelopie. ”Honey?”

”Yes, dear?” Phenelope smiled after dabbing her lips with a napkin.

”Where’s our youngest daughter?”

”I believe Macia is with Eriditih’s daughter, Vivica. They both insisted on staying with Athine.”

Eriditih puffed her chest proudly. ”Hnn hnn~ Our daughter is so lively now, husband~” Eriditih smiled, munching on her meat meal with enthusiastic, slightly messy bites, still a bit childish despite being a dragon girl married to Garius.

Francesca exhaled softly, giving Eriditih a sharp, motherly glare. ”Eriditih, I told you not to speak while eating.”

Eriditih’s shoulders slumped, and she focused back on her meal, chewing quietly while mumbling under her breath, ”Etiquette... etiquette...”

Garius then looked at everyone and smiled faintly, a rare expression for someone as strict and serious as him.

My sons are all grown up now.

Especially that bratty one.

Garius smiled while glancing at Javier, who was calmly eating his meat but stiffened the moment he noticed Garius’s gaze, quickly looking down and pretending to focus intensely on his meal.

He glanced around again, his gaze passing over Marcellus, Cedric, Aelius, and Heres.

I can’t believe it... all my sons are grown men now, marrying their girls tomorrow. And all of them have already made their partners pregnant.

After years of maintaining a strict, serious demeanor to ensure his sons learned discipline, responsibility, and strength, seeing them ready to start families of their own filled him with a quiet, proud warmth.

”Dear?” Francesca glanced up at him, noticing he had paused in his meal.

”Hmm? Yes, honey?”

”Are you not feeling well?” Francesca asked gently.

”No... I’m good. Don’t worry about it.” He smiled and glanced at Garcinia. ”Eat well, honey.”

Garcinia’s cheeks flushed, and she lowered her gaze shyly. Despite having an adult son, Aelius, and an adult daughter, Athine, she was now pregnant again, a secret known only to Garius and Francesca for now.

”Hesbeirn?” Garius glanced at Hesbeirn, who was nudging Gilmon with a cheeky smirk. Despite being a serious general, Hesbeirn often lacked formal manners, a trait that came from growing up alongside Garius since he was a child, when Hesbeirn was just a teen soldier under his command.

”Ah... yes, my lord? Ah, sorry.” Hesbeirn’s eyes widened, and he bowed quickly. ”Your Majesty.”

Garius exhaled. ”You know if Erinnette were here, you’d be punished hard by your sister by now.”

”Ah... my... Your Majesty... please don’t tell my sister about this.” Hesbeirn grinned and rubbed the back of his head before moving closer and bowing again. ”Your Majesty?”

”Hmm.” Garius looked up at Hesbeirn and shook his head. ”Alf and Erinnette aren’t wandering around during their day off, are they?”

”Ah... I think I saw them walking around the estate and courtyard yesterday. Feeding their Pekko and riding them.”

”Were they wearing their butler and maid outfits?”

”Ah, no, Your Majesty. They were wearing casual clothes.”

Garius smiled. ”Good. I want them to rest properly and have their own time together.”

Hesbeirn chuckled. ”Your Majesty, I don’t think we need to worry about that too much.”

”Mm... okay. Now, back to your position.”

”As you command, Your Majesty.”

Garius continued eating after Hesbeirn stepped back and returned to where Gilmon stood. Gilmon stifled a smile, seeing his best friend panic the moment Erinette was mentioned.

The maids stood around, not too far from the table, ready to be called if needed.

”So...” Garius said, making all his sons stiffen and pause their eating, sitting up straight as if ready for inspection.

Garius tilted his head, seeing all his sons rigid and tense, as if they’d been caught doing something wrong. It was a familiar sight, years of strict training had conditioned them to brace for a lecture or a test whenever their father spoke in that tone.

Garius exhaled and continued. ”So, Javier.”

Marcellus, Cedric, Aelius, and Heres breathed a silent sigh of relief and went back to their meals, while Javier glanced up from his plate, his expression carefully neutral.

”How are the staff assigned to you yesterday? Did they perform their duties adequately?”

Javier slowly set down his fork and knife, reached for his napkin, and dabbed his lips before taking a measured sip of his wine. He straightened his posture, his expression calm and respectful, meeting his father’s gaze directly.

”Esteemed Father, the staff performed admirably. Varrick was disciplined and thorough, though perhaps overly formal at first. Mahira was attentive and efficient, and Lorcan remained vigilant without being intrusive. The shadow leader’s apprentice was... present, as expected, and performed their duty without fault.”

He paused, his tone thoughtful but firm. ”It was their first day under official pressure, and they adapted well. I have no complaints.”

Garius reached for his wine and drank it slowly. After putting down the glass, he rested his elbows on the table, clasping his fingers together in front of him, a posture that exuded calm, serious authority.

”So, I can assume you are satisfied with the staff assigned to you?”

Javier swallowed hard, keeping his face straight toward Garius while his eyes briefly flicked to the feast on the table.

”Yes, esteemed Father. I believe they performed well under pressure. They adapted quickly to the demands of the role, and I have no reservations about their competence or dedication nor do i have reason to doubt their capability. With time, I believe they will integrate smoothly into the estate’s operations.”

( End Of Chapter )