Reborn As Noble

Javier gritted his jaw, his knuckles turning white.

Garius just smirked and glanced at him.

”Save your anger for later. For now, focus on what’s more important. Your anger should be reserved for when we find the one responsible.”

Garius paused, resting his cheek on his knuckle. ”Now, Javier De Armand.”

”Yes, esteemed Father.” Javier slowly calmed down, his gaze dropping to the floor.

”Your plan is to perform surgery so you can fully heal her and purify the curse from the inside, correct?”

”Yes, Father.”

”Mm. Now, about the room you requested. I believe it’s best if you use the one stored inside your dimensional storage.” Garius smirked, still leaning his cheek on his knuckle. ”The portable room you used before, in Arjam.”

Javier exhaled softly.

Father really does know everything with his Eyes of Truth, huh?

Or maybe it’s because Armand personnel reported it to him during the Arjam intervention.

Or perhaps he already knows about everything I’ve invented and stored.

Javier glanced up briefly before looking at the floor again.

Garius continued. ”Since the curse parasite was likely planted or given by someone within the Mathrias household, a staff member, a maid, or someone we haven’t identified yet, it’s best if we ensure there’s no further chance for this individual to interfere.”

”Yes, esteemed Father.” Javier bowed.

He looked at Javier again.

”You don’t need to think or worry about finding out who did this to Gracelle, what their motives were, or who sent them. Focus entirely on the surgery.”

Garius’s right eye glowed again. ”If you follow what I’ve suggested, the chance of success is... let’s just say, guaranteed. But you know, even with healing and everything, even with a high chance of success, it all depends on the patient’s condition and will.”

”I know, Father.”

”Mm, good. Leave the matter of finding the culprit and holding them responsible to us. You just focus on what’s more important right now.”

Javier was about to say something, but Garius interrupted.

”I know what you want to say. Make this operation a success, and the matter of punishing the individual responsible and anyone related, will be left to you to handle. I’ll make sure of it.”

”Thank you, esteemed Father.” Javier let out a relieved exhale, his expression growing calmer and more confident.

”Mm... now go. Pick a spot in the courtyard and set up the portable room as quickly as you can. Make sure everything is ready.”

Garius looked directly at Javier’s face.

”Time won’t wait for us, and neither will fate. Move swiftly.”

”Yes, esteemed Father.” Javier bowed before turning and heading toward the door, with Liana and the others following him.

Garius, still resting his cheek on his knuckle, called out to him.

”Javier?”

Javier paused at the doorknob and turned.

”Yes, Father?”

”Once this surgery is successful, I expect detailed notes, manuals, and documentation on all the inventions and tools you used for Gracelle. That includes the mana defibrillator, the advanced monitoring systems, the specialized surgical tools, and the portable operating room. Full specifications, operational procedures, and potential applications.”

He narrowed his eyes. ”Since you’ll be including Myra and her team in this operation for training and experience, I believe it’s time we advance our capabilities in magical healing and medical innovation.”

Javier nodded.

”Yes, Father. I’ll see to it.”

”Mm... good. Now go. We can’t waste any more time. We’ll have a full debriefing once this is all over.”

After Javier left the room, Francesca smiled softly.

”I’m so proud of our youngest son~”

Garius smirked. ”Mm. That’s why I ensure he has his freedom, but at the same time, I’m strict with him. To make sure he stays grounded, focused, and doesn’t grow complacent.”

”Ara~” Francesca gave him a sidelong glance. ”But you never once praise him or acknowledge his achievements openly.”

Garius chuckled softly. ”No... you know why. While praise is often intended to build confidence, overdoing it or using the wrong kind can lead to several unintended negative consequences.”

He leaned back in his chair and smiled. ”Like dependence on external validation. Constant praise can turn children into ’praise junkies.’ Instead of doing things because they find them rewarding or interesting, they may start doing them only for approval. That weakens their intrinsic motivation and makes them reliant on others to feel good about themselves.”

He exhaled. ”I don’t want any of our children, or my children with my other wives, to develop these traits.”

”If I kept praising them for everything they did, they might develop a fear of failure and avoid challenges. When a child is frequently praised for being ’smart’ or ’talented,’ they may start fearing difficulty. They might avoid challenging tasks because they worry that failing will mean they aren’t actually smart anymore, causing them to lose admiration.”

He let out a rare, soft laugh and glanced at Francesca.

”And look at our youngest now? Or even all of our children, none of them have grown entitled or soft. Do you think Javier would be who he is right now, a thoughtful and capable leader who thinks ahead and acts decisively, if I had praised him at every turn?”

Francesca smiled as Garius continued.

”He never once feared failure. He’s always thinking ahead, better at judging his own work rather than relying on a parent to ’grade’ his life. He knows when to ask for help when he’s stuck. He often has better judgment and self-awareness because he learned to evaluate his own efforts, not just seek approval.”

Garius glanced at the door and rested his cheek on his knuckle.

”Just like now, when he doubted his ability to perform the operation, he came to seek my advice. And he didn’t just blindly accept it. He considered it carefully, weighed the options, thought it through, understood the reasoning behind it, and made his own decision.”

”That’s how I want my children to be. And it will be the same for our grandchildren as well.”

He smiled. ”And now, I see that his doubt is gone. All that’s left is confidence and determination.”

( End Of Chapter )