Reborn As Noble

Inside the room.

Javier, who was still locked and pinned down by Francesca, glanced back over his shoulder, then casually looked up at his mother.

”Oh, esteemed Mother?”

”Hmm?” Francesca looked down at Javier, her expression softening slightly. ”Yes, Honey Bun?” she said, though she still held his hands firmly.

Javier rubbed his chin with his free hand, then casually stood up as if the pressure holding him down had simply vanished. He glanced at his mother thoughtfully.

”Can I ask you something?”

Francesca released his hand and tilted her head, a faint, knowing smile on her lips. ”Sure. What do you want to ask?”

Javier paused, rubbing his chin again, his expression turning slightly puzzled. ”I want to ask about... hmm? Why did I forget what I wanted to ask?”

Francesca chuckled softly and slowly walked back toward the long couch, patting her lap gently. ”Come here, Honey Bun~”

Javier glanced at her, then walked over and lay down comfortably with his head resting on her lap. ”Mother?”

”Hmm? Yes, Honey Bun?” she said, gently stroking his hair.

”Does Father ever feel... empty? After becoming so strong that nothing feels like a challenge anymore?” Javier asked, his voice softening.

”Hmm? Why do you ask?” Francesca leaned down and planted a quick, gentle kiss on his forehead.

”I don’t know... perhaps because I feel the same?” Javier glanced up at her eyes and exhaled. ”It’s like... when I was younger, every fight mattered. Hunting monsters, facing real danger, my heart would race, my senses would sharpen, and winning felt like an accomplishment. Now... even something like a hydra feels more like a chore than a challenge. There’s no thrill. No adrenaline. Just... stillness.”

”Ara~ If you really want, you can always have a mock battle with me or your father~” Francesca chuckled softly, her fingers still gently running through his hair.

”No... that’s not the same, Mother,” Javier replied, his expression thoughtful. ”With you or Father, I know you’d hold back. It’s just training. There’s no real risk, no unknown outcome. It doesn’t fill that... hollow feeling.”

Francesca’s smile softened into something more understanding, more tender. ”Your father has felt that same emptiness, Honey Bun. For a long, long time. That’s why he buries himself in his work. He found purpose not in fighting stronger enemies, but in protecting what he already has.”

Javier was silent for a moment, absorbing her words. ”So... he just... gave up on seeking a challenge?”

”Not gave up,” Francesca corrected gently. ”He redefined it. The challenge is no longer about defeating a powerful foe, but about maintaining peace, fostering growth, and guiding our family and our people toward a future worth living in. The battle changed, but the purpose remained.”

She paused, her hand resting gently on his head. ”Perhaps you need to ask yourself, Javier... what do you want to use your strength for?”

”I don’t know, Mother.” Javier smiled after Francesca planted another quick kiss on his lips. ”I use the strength and inventions I have to protect the people I love, my family, and the people of Armand. That should be enough, right?”

He exhaled again, his expression turning more serious. ”But... it still feels hollow sometimes. Like I’m just going through the motions. There’s no fire, no spark. No... thrill.”

Francesca let out a soft laugh and looked down at him, her eyes warm and knowing. ”No~ That’s because you’re just feeling bored~ When you were helping your father these past two days, or when you were in Tybalt before, did you feel that emptiness? No, right~?”

”Ah... right...” Javier exhaled, a faint smile touching his lips.

Francesca chuckled softly. ”It’s because you no longer have those little moments of mischief and joy. Remember when you were a child? Being chased by Liana, sneaking out to town, doing all those naughty things? Even fighting monsters felt exciting because Liana was there with you, scolding you one moment and protecting you the next. You were never bored back then because every day was an adventure, filled with laughter, scolding, and little victories.”

She smiled and continued, her voice softening with affection. ”So cherish her. Cherish all of them. Liana was your fate from the very beginning, the one who grounded you, chased you, and loved you through all your mischief. And every other girl you’ve met were pieces of a puzzle meant to complete you, to bring you different kinds of joy, love, and warmth, to fill the spaces in your heart that even strength and power couldn’t touch.. Not monsters or wars, but building a life, a family, and a future with them. That’s where your spark is. That’s where the thrill lies.”

She looked into his eyes again, her expression softening but still serious. ”Now promise me you won’t casually turn on that ’charming prince’ act for every new maid or girl you meet.”

”Eh? I didn’t flirt with any maids. I just talk to them the usual way,” Javier replied, his tone genuinely innocent.

”Honey Bun.” Francesca narrowed her eyes, her voice holding a gentle but firm warning.

”But it’s the truth! I can’t really help how I am. It was my luck to be born this handsome, this charming. I can’t stop girls from admiring me or feeling flustered, that’s on them, not me.”

”I didn’t raise you to be a womanizer, Honey Bun. Does having five wonderful girls who adore you and will be your wives not feel like enough? Hmm?”

Javier exhaled softly. ”I still can’t promise to change who I am naturally, this face, this charm, it’s just... me. But one thing I can promise you, Mother, is that I will cherish all five of them. Always. They are my home, my joy, my everything.”

”Mou!” Francesca pouted playfully, though her eyes held relief and affection. ”I don’t know why that Elyria’s Spiral dance hasn’t tamed your playful side more!”

”What? It does affect me, Mother,” Javier chuckled softly, still lying comfortably on her lap. ”It makes me feel restless when they’re not around. It ties my happiness to theirs. It just... didn’t erase the fact that I’m still me, a hopelessly charming prince who loves his girls more than anything.”

”And kept on charming other girls!” Francesca kept slapping Javier’s arm repeatedly while he hissed and sat up.

”Mother!”

”Hmmph!” Francesca glanced away, puckered her lips, and slowly exhaled.

She glanced at Javier, who was now rubbing the back of his head.

”Just promise me you’ll take care of all your future wives. And make sure they really become your wives.”

”Yes, Mother. I’ll make sure they all become my wives when the time comes.”

Francesca smirked. ”Ah~ If you don’t... it’ll be easy to force you to do it~ Besides, I believe Liana and Gloria do have quite a lot of fans~”

”M... MOTHER!!! They are mine!” Javier stood up and rushed toward the door, only to turn back quickly, wrap his arms around her, and hug her tightly.

”Thank you, Mother.”

”Mm~ You’re welcome, Honey Bun~ Now go~ Meet them, cherish them... and don’t hurt them.”

”Mm... I will! Eheheh~”

( End Of Chapter )