Reborn As Noble

Anna arrived at where Javier was standing, her steps measured and composed. Delya, who had just greeted him, stood beside him, her chocolate jar still hugged close to her chest, her dreamy gaze fixed on him with quiet adoration.

Anna stopped at a respectful distance, clasped both hands in front of her maid dress, and bowed her head gracefully.

”Your Highness.”

Javier snapped his fingers, and an expensive cushion chair materialized behind him. He took a seat with casual ease, resting his elbow on the armrest and his cheek against his knuckles. With a gentle tug, he pulled Delya onto his lap, wrapping an arm around her waist as she settled against him with a soft, contented hum.

All around them, cuts of meat floated through the air, turning slowly over the glowing magic grill. Seasonings drifted from small floating jars, sprinkling themselves in perfect measure. The grill ignited with a soft blue flame, and the meat started sizzling in mid-air, rotating slowly as it cooked.

”So, Anna?”

”Yes, Your Highness?”

Javier glanced at her lazily, his eyes half-lidded. ”How’s work in Armand?”

Anna smiled softly, her expression polite but carrying a hint of subtle amusement.

”Your Highness already knows the answer to that question. You ask me every time, and every time, I give you the same response.”

She lifted her gaze slightly, her voice soft.

”But since Your Highness asked, my work is good. As usual. The Armand family treats its staff with fairness and respect, and the working conditions are beyond anything I could have hoped for. The pay is generous, the accommodations are comfortable, and the opportunity to serve such a distinguished household is an honor in itself.”

She paused, her smile turning slightly playful.

”Though I suspect Your Highness already knows all of this. Perhaps you simply enjoy hearing me say it.”

Javier’s lips curled into a faint smirk, his fingers tracing slow circles against Delya’s waist. ”Maybe I do.”

Javier glanced at Buddy, who stood near the portable grill. A perfectly cooked slab of meat lifted from the grill and floated toward the huge pekko. Buddy’s beak curled into a smug smirk as he snapped it out of the air with a smooth, swift motion, swallowing it whole in one effortless gulp.

He let out an excited squawk and continued gulping down the other floating pieces, while the raw slabs of meat kept floating toward the grill, cooking themselves in a seamless, magical rhythm.

Javier smiled, turning his gaze back toward Anna. ”Where are Iriya and Iziya? I haven’t seen them for a month. Usually, they’re tasked inside the manor or the main dining room.”

Anna clasped her hands in front of her, her voice calm and respectful.

”They are currently undergoing an intensive maid training program, Your Highness. It’s a specialized course designed to elevate their skills beyond standard household duties.”

”Oh.” Javier’s smile widened slightly. ”Looks like those two are going to become battle maids. Good.”

He paused, his gaze shifting back to Anna with a curious glint. ”So, Anna?”

”Yes, Your Highness?”

”What level are you at right now in the underground special training facility?”

Anna’s lips twitched slightly before she bowed her head, a composed smile on her face. ”I have already passed level thirty, Your Highness.”

”Hmm...” Javier glanced at her, shaking his head slowly with a teasing tone. ”Still far. At the very least, I expect you to pass level forty.”

Anna’s smile remained polite, but there was a subtle glint in her eyes as she responded.

”I apologize for not meeting Your Highness’s expectations. I will continue to train diligently and do my best to reach the level Your Highness requires of me.”

Javier’s face suddenly turned serious, his gaze locking onto Anna with quiet intensity.

”Anna. I need you to reach at least level forty in the underground special training facility within these two months.”

Anna’s expression shifted to calm composure. She bowed her head gracefully, her voice steady and resolute.

”I will do my best to reach level forty before the two-month deadline, Your Highness.”

”Mm.” Javier nodded slowly, his voice dropping into a more measured tone. ”You must have heard about the upcoming trouble that will soon come to this continent. The winds are shifting. And when they do, everyone in Armand needs to be ready.”

Anna straightened, her voice calm and certain. ”Yes, Your Highness. Every Armand personnel knows. From household maids to elite battle maids, we are all aware. Everyone has been training, preparing, and gathering information.”

”Good.” Javier’s expression relaxed slightly, a faint smile returning to his lips. ”Anyway, I heard from Mother about the postponed Armand Maid Beauty Contest. It was delayed because of unavoidable circumstances. But the voting is still ongoing, even though the public program is on hold.”

He tilted his head, his eyes glinting with curiosity. ”So, what’s your rank now?”

Anna’s brow twitched slightly. She turned her head away, her voice dropping into a low mumble. ”S... seventeen.”

”Huh? Last time I heard, you were ranked higher than that. What happened?”

Anna let out a long, slow exhale before meeting his gaze again.

”There are maids from the special division units joining in. I believe two candidates entered after the First Queen’s recommendation. And a few more new candidates were recommended by the Second Queen through the Fifth Queen.”

”Wow...” Javier’s eyes widened slightly, genuine surprise flickering across his face. ”The Queens can recommend anyone, huh?”

Anna smiled softly, shaking her head.

”Not exactly, Your Highness. The special division units, like the elite battle maids and special battle maids, rarely show their faces. The Queens’ recommendations are a way of giving them a chance to be known, to step into the light without revealing too much of their true roles.”

”Ah...” Javier nodded slowly, understanding dawning in his eyes. ”But well... you never know who’s inside those special units anyway. They might look like ordinary household maids, but in secret, they could be elite ones. Just like Gloria.”

( End Of Chapter )