Reborn As Noble

That same night.

Armand Northern Border Military Base.

Heres let out a long, weary exhale after the video call with his wife, Kliatana, ended. The piles of paperwork and documents remained scattered across the desk, illuminated by the soft glow of the mana lamp on the ceiling. His maids sat nearby, ready to assist, while a few Armand officers worked at the side table, reviewing maps and reports.

He rubbed his temples, his mind heavy with the weight of the negotiations.

Sigh... the negotiations has to pause because Father contacted me to stop the talks and bring them inside the Armand border for their safety.

Friedrich still insists on asking Armand for military intervention to reconquer his late parents’ region, Lurghen, when Vurghen isn’t even fully secured yet. He keeps pushing, keeps pleading, promising fealty and loyalty, swearing his undying devotion to the Armand Crown.

But the problem is bigger than just reclaiming land.

He raised one of the papers, scanning the intelligence report on the Hargrab Household.

Lurghen is now controlled by the Hargrab Household, who have been waiting generations for an excuse to reclaim it. They have deep roots there, old claims. If we march into Lurghen, we’re not just fighting Hargrab’s forces, we’re opening a front against an entire noble house with its own alliances and resources.

I know Armand doesn’t even have to worry about the coalition, but still...

He pinched the bridge of his nose, letting out a slow, tired breath.

And Vurghen itself is still contested. Zurakan’s forces are still present in parts of the region. The coalition hasn’t fully withdrawn. The people are scattered, the infrastructure is destroyed, and the administration is in shambles. We can’t just march deeper into enemy territory when we haven’t even stabilized what we already hold.

Friedrich doesn’t understand that. He sees Armand’s power and thinks we can just sweep through both regions like a tide. Even if that’s true, the problem is, he doesn’t see the political consequences, the diplomatic fallout, the risk of turning every noble in the region against us. He doesn’t see the long game.

He tapped his finger on the table, leaning back in his chair.

Friedrich is a good man. He cares for his people, he wants to protect them, and he’s willing to sacrifice everything for them. But he’s not ready to be a lord. He’s too desperate, too emotional, too focused on the immediate goal of reclaiming his homeland.

He doesn’t understand that ruling isn’t just about taking back what was lost. It’s about building something that can last. It’s about making hard decisions, prioritizing long-term stability over short-term satisfaction, and knowing when to wait.

And Father knows this. That’s why he paused the negotiations. He wants Friedrich to understand the reality of the situation before we proceed any further.

Heres let out a soft chuckle before shaking his head.

Even Javier, who always slacks off, enjoys his freedom too much, and only focuses on his girls, his inventions, or... well... his Pekko, Buddy... he still has a sharper political instinct than Friedrich.

He has something Friedrich doesn’t. He has the mind of a ruler. He sees the bigger picture without even trying. He can read a situation, understand the political implications, and make decisions that balance strength with wisdom. He doesn’t even realize how naturally it comes to him. He thinks he’s just playing around, but every move he makes, every invention he creates, every alliance he builds, it’s all laying the foundation for something greater.

Heres smirked, a knowing glint in his eyes.

That’s why we all pushed him to be the next in line for the throne. Even when he rarely focuses on his studies, even when he complains about paperwork and negotiations, he’s still the most suitable one to lead Armand after Father. He has the vision, the creativity, and the heart for it.

He smiled and nodded to the maid who brought him a cup of hot coffee, taking a slow sip before reviewing another document.

Well... I guess this will be little brother’s problem after this. He’ll have to deal with Friedrich’s desperation, Hargrab’s claims, Zurakan’s legal maneuvering, and the political fallout of all of it.

And knowing how Zurakan is... just like Father, he values law, precedent, and tradition. He won’t just back down because we have a stronger army. He’ll fight with documents, treaties, and legal arguments. He’ll drag this into a diplomatic quagmire that could take months to resolve if there’s no clear legal path forward.

He’ll demand arbitration. He’ll cite ancient border agreements, historical claims, and old treaties that predate the current conflict. He’ll bring in neutral parties to mediate, or worse, he’ll appeal to the other nations.

Even though we know the Beastkin King, Lioness, and the Demon King, Veldrac, are Father’s best friends, in matters like this, we all know they are also fair mediators and judges. They won’t simply side with Armand because of friendship. They will weigh the evidence, listen to both sides, and rule based on the law and the facts presented. That’s the kind of rulers they are.

Well... I’m sure Father doesn’t mind at all. He already knows the outcome.

It’s Friedrich who will have the problem.

From the marked lands Father already set on the map, the territory Friedrich could legally claim through Armand’s intervention will shrink even further once Zurakan presents his historical claims and Hargrab brings forth their ancestral rights. What was already a modest proposal will become even smaller, and Friedrich will have to accept that the region his late parent once ruled is no longer his to reclaim in full.

Sigh... I already tried my best to persuade Friedrich to just accept the proposal and the marked lands on the map.

Even his sister, Emeline, tried to.

But he still insists on reclaiming his parents’ entire estate, every last village, every field, every piece of land that once bore the von Lurghen name. He speaks of honor, of legacy, of a duty to his ancestors. He doesn’t understand that the world has moved on, that borders have shifted, that power has changed hands. He’s clinging to a past that no longer exists, and he’s willing to risk everything, even his own safety, to chase a ghost.

Well... I guess that’s it.

Mm~

Looks like the best entertainment is yet to come.

Heres clasped his fingers together, resting them on his stomach before smirking and glancing up at the ceiling. He thought about the entertaining spectacle that would soon unfold.

The upcoming battle of wits... not a fight of swords and magic, but a clash of minds, legal arguments, and political maneuvering.

I want to see those kinds of fights~

If Father is the one who handles it, Zurakan might win some of the territory back, but Hargrab will lose more.

But since it’s Javier who will be sent~

He’ll have to face Zurakan’s legal precision, Hargrab’s ancestral claims, and Friedrich’s desperate pleas, all while trying to keep Armand’s interests intact. It’s going to be a masterpiece of diplomacy and strategy.

Ugh! I want to see it!

But I can’t just leave Arjam and the paperwork...

He rubbed his chin before a grin spread across his face.

Ah~

Since Savran and Gilmon are helping me handle the Arjam Region...

I guess I can take some time to be free from those paperwork and watch those battles of minds unfold.

Hehehe~

That will be a show worth watching~

The debate, the legal chess match, the subtle threats, the veiled promises, the moments when Javier will have to think on his feet and outmaneuver seasoned nobles who have spent their entire lives in these games...

And Friedrich, sitting there, watching his dreams crumble piece by piece, realizing that the land he wanted to reclaim was never truly his to begin with.

Heres rubbed his palms together, his grin widening.

Oh, this is going to be so good~

( End Of Chapter )