Reborn As Noble

This is when I first discovered that pekko droppings could be turned into the best organic fertilizer in the world. The Armand Ferlitizer. The one that tripled crop yields across the entire continent, the one that turned barren soil into fertile farmland, and became one of the foundations of Armand’s agricultural revolution and industry. All because I was curious enough to poke a pile of pekko shit with a stick when I was a brat.

But... how?

He stared at the painting, his mind racing.

How did Mother know about this? And how did she turn my written words into a painting?

Damn. If Mother has this skill, I could learn to paint using magic instead of spending hours learning traditional techniques. Even with all the technology we have now, mana cameras, holo-cams for video and live recording, and the Holo TVs installed in every town and village center for announcements, news, and entertainment... none of them can capture the raw, artistic perfection of this. This skill is something else entirely.

But still... this skill is terrifying. She didn’t just change the words on my paper. She replaced them entirely with a memory, a perfect, detailed painting of a moment I had almost forgotten.

Hmm...

Javier rubbed his chin, his eyes still locked on the painting.

From this angle... it’s painted from the perspective of someone standing a few feet away, slightly above me. Like someone was watching from a nearby window or a balcony. It’s not a memory I would have drawn from my own point of view.

Does this mean... Mother was watching me grow up the whole time?

I always assumed she was too busy to check on me every time. Duties as the First Wife, managing the estate, accompanying Father on diplomatic matters... But she was always there, wasn’t she? Silently watching, making sure I was safe, letting me learn and grow without hovering.

He snapped out of his thoughts, shaking his head.

Ah, crap. Now’s not the time to admire the painting. I need to...

He glanced around the room, his eyes scanning the empty space where Celine and her escorts was moments ago.

”Eh?”

Fransesca tilted her head, her smile innocent. ”Hmm~? Yes, honey bun?”

Javier’s eyes darted around the room. ”W... where are they?”

Garius exhaled, pinching the bridge of his nose. ”Your mother already told them they could leave and should go find Liana in the Garden Room. All the princes’ wives are there.”

Javier’s face went pale. ”W... what!? Noooo!”

He raised his palm, ready to summon a puppet knight to intercept them, but Fransesca simply snapped her fingers. The instant he began channeling his mana, a magic circle flared around his hand, canceling his summon before it could even form.

Javier’s voice rose in panic, his hands waving frantically. ”M-Mother! If you sent them to Liana... that’s the same as sending them straight to execution!”

He scratched his head vigorously before squatting down, his voice dropping into a frustrated mumble. ”I was about to let them join the Maid Training Program...”

Erinette adjusted her glasses, her voice stern and serious.

”Your Highness, the Maid Training Program is the most rigorous training regimen in all of Armand. It produces the finest Battle Maid units this nation has ever seen. Even the Royal Knights, Special Ops Units, Shadow Units, and all elite forces have fewer restrictions than that program. It is exclusive to Armand personnel only, with the exception of Miss Liana, Miss Gloria, Lady Lithia, Lady Harny, Lady Meira, and Lady Zania, as they are the princes’ wives and fiancées. It is designed to produce the finest protectors, some of whom are later absorbed into the Armand Special Battle Maids.”

She paused, her gaze sharpening.

”Are you certain you wish to enroll them, Your Highness?”

Javier exhaled, running a hand through his hair. ”I know... But the program has different levels, right? We can keep them at a certain tier to ensure they receive proper training while also serving as their punishment. They’re loyal to Celine and want to protect her from Julius. At least this way, we can level them up while they serve their sentence.”

He paused, his voice turning serious. ”Because with their current skill level? They’re weaker than King Klimar’s personal guards. There’s no way they could protect Celine from someone like Julius. And since Celine will eventually become my wife, she will be my responsibility to provide for, to protect, and to keep safe. At the very least, her personal guards should be capable enough to stand by her side without being a liability.”

Fransesca chuckled softly, her smile turning sweet and reassuring. ”Don’t worry, honey bun~ I’m sure Liana won’t kill them.”

She paused, tilting her head with a feigned look of concern. ”But I don’t know about Gloria, though~”

Before Javier could react, she continued, her tone light but firm. ”But do not leave this room yet, honey bun. All of you, including you, Apple pie~ Pumpkin~”

Marcellus and Cedric straightened, nodding in unison. ”Yes, Esteemed Mother.”

”Eeeekkk!” Javier fumbled, pulling out his mana talkie and slipping it onto his ear. He channeled his mana, his voice urgent.

”Liana? Gloria?”

Silence.

He tried again, his voice growing more frantic. ”Felicia? Delya?”

Still nothing.

He tapped his mana talkie once more, this time contacting a different frequency. ”Mimi!? You there?”

A soft crackle, then Mimi’s voice came through in a rushed.

”Nyaaaa! Husband!! Big Sis... is mad!!”

Javier’s blood ran cold. ”W... who?”

Meanwhile.

Outside the Garden Room.

Gloria’s aura flared with a terrifying intensity, her expression calm and composed, yet her eyes held a cold, predatory glint. She adjusted her glasses with a graceful, deliberate motion, a sweet smile curling on her lips. In her hand, she held a massive white ore battle warhammer, its head resting gently on the ground beside her, the surface gleaming with an ethereal light.

Celine, Ashara, and Jiowana knelt on the ground, struggling under the sheer weight of Gloria’s presence, dense and overwhelming, pressing down on them like a physical force.

”Arara~” Gloria’s voice dripped with honeyed venom. ”Are these the two weakling plain girls who tried to harm my Young Master~? Hmm?”

Athine quickly slid her hand onto Gloria’s arm, gently holding her back. Lithia and Meira moved in from the sides, each taking an arm, trying to calm her down.

”Gloria, calm down...” Athine said softly.

Gloria’s smile didn’t waver, but her eyes remained fixed on Ashara and Jiowana, cold and unyielding.

”Two weaklings who dare raise their hands against my Young Master in a crowded market, endangering innocent lives, and now they have the nerve to show their faces here? Did you truly believe you could walk away unscathed?”

( End Of Chapter )