Reborn As Noble

”When will you stop being childish, Javier?”

Javier flinched and spun around at the voice, one hand flying up to rub the back of his head with a sheepish grin. The grin froze the moment he saw who it was. His shoulders dropped, and his expression flattened into pure annoyance.

”Damn you, Cedric. Don’t use Father’s voice like that. You almost gave me a heart attack.”

Cedric walked toward them across the sand, wearing a pair of dark blue beach trunks, his posture calm and composed. Marcellus strolled beside him, hands behind his head, whistling a lazy tune as he took in the scene with amused eyes.

”I don’t sound like Father.”

Aelius, Marcellus, and Athine, all turned their heads at once, fixing Cedric with narrow, skeptical stares.

Cedric blinked, glancing around at their expressions in confusion. He spread his hands slightly, his brow furrowing.

”What? It’s true!”

Javier let out a short, flat scoff before pointing at Cedric.

”Even the way you walk? That calm, composed, slow and steady stride? That’s literally Father’s walk. You’ve copied it down to the exact pace.”

Athine nodded, a soft smile playing on her lips. ”The resemblance is... uncanny, Cedric. Sometimes when you stand a certain way, I forget for a moment that you’re not Father.”

Aelius nodded, adjusting his glasses. ”Yeah. The way you stand, the way you cross your arms, the way you tilt your head when you’re listening to someone... it’s all Father’s gestures. You even mimic his speaking rhythm without realizing it.”

Cedric rolled his eyes, letting out a long, weary exhale. ”Not this again.”

He pointed an accusing finger at Javier.

”Every time we gather, you always bring this up. Every single time. You, Marcellus, Aelius. Now, even Athine joins in. It’s not funny anymore. Stop teasing me like that. I do not sound like Father, and I certainly do not act like him.”

Javier ignored him and tilted his head toward Marcellus. ”Where’s Heres?”

”Huh? Heres?” Marcellus rubbed his chin thoughtfully before shrugging. ”Don’t know. Last time I saw him, he was with Kliatana, eating breakfast together. Probably still there. Or maybe they went off somewhere quieter.”

Javier’s grin widened into a cheeky smirk as he wiggled his eyebrows toward Marcellus.

”Maybe Heres doesn’t want to hang out with us because you keep picking on him, Brother Marcellus~”

”What?” Marcellus’s smirk sharpened as he pointed an accusing finger at Javier. ”You’re the one who left Heres facing Father alone before!”

Javier tilted his head down slightly, giving Marcellus a pointed, accusing look.

”And yet you followed along and left Heres alone. You, along with Cedric and Aelius here. All of you ran off and abandoned him.”

Athine glanced at Aelius in disbelief before slapping his arm lightly.

”That’s not good. You shouldn’t have left your younger brother to face Father alone.”

Aelius let out a weary exhale, rubbing the spot where she had slapped him.

”If I hadn’t left that time, I would have been dragged into a practice duel with Father. I didn’t have a choice.”

Cedric raised both hands in front of him, palms out, his expression turning defensive.

”Hey, don’t look at me like that. I also didn’t want to be in a practice duel with Father. None of us did. You know how intense he gets when he’s in training mode.”

Athine glanced at them before shaking her head with a soft sigh.

”Just contact him with the mana talkie. Or call him with the mana phone.”

Aelius nodded and reached into his pocket, pulling out his mana phone. He was about to tap the screen when Javier suddenly grabbed his wrist, stopping him with a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

”No, no~ I have a better way to call him~”

Javier rubbed his palms together, his eyes glinting with mischievous excitement.

Athine noticed the change in Aelius, Cedric, and Marcellus’s expressions. Their faces lit up with the same mischievous gleam, the kind they always got whenever Javier proposed one of his ridiculous pranks. She let out a weary exhale, reached over, and slapped Aelius’s arm lightly before turning toward the group.

”Don’t overdo it.”

She leaned up and pressed a soft kiss to Aelius’s lips before whispering, ”I’m going to join Liana and the others.”

Aelius nodded, his expression softening as he watched her walk gracefully toward where Liana and Gloria were gathering near the grill before his mischievous grin returned.

The four brothers gathered in a tight circle, their heads leaning in close as they began plotting. Marcellus rubbed his hands together, his voice low and eager.

”What’s the plan?”

Javier’s grin turned dark and sly. He turned his palm upward, and a megaphone materialized in his hand, sleek and metallic, humming with a faint magical glow.

”We’ll use this to call him. I’ll sync it with one of my scout drones so his name echoes across the entire island. Every corner. Every beach. Every villa. No matter where he’s at, he’ll hear it.”

Cedric’s eyes widened with excitement. ”Oh, that’s good. That’s really good.”

Aelius adjusted his glasses, a rare smirk tugging at his lips. ”What are we going to say?”

Javier’s grin widened as he raised the megaphone to his lips, testing the weight in his hand.

”Leave that to me~”

Meanhile.

All the girls gathered around the grill and the table setup. Gloria was busy arranging plates and utensils on a second table, while Mimi skipped around with a chair balanced on her head, her tail swaying happily as she helped Gloria. Delya and her clones moved gracefully around the area, arranging plates, utensils, and drinks after the Javier clones had vanished.

Felicia sat in a chair facing Macia and Vivica, who sat on a small bench in front of her, their eyes wide and expectant as they waited to be fed. Nearby, Lyzia, Gracelle, and Celine shared a quiet meal at another table, chatting softly among themselves.

Athine arrived at the grill where Liana stood, her eyes fixed on the massive rainbow fruit resting on the cutting board. Athine’s gaze softened as she watched Liana’s hands move with practiced ease.

”Do you need any help?”

Liana smiled warmly, her silver hair swaying gently in the breeze.

”No need to worry. Since you’re pregnant, you should join the others and rest. I can handle this.” She gestured toward the vibrant fruit with her knife. ”I’m going to make a fruit dessert and some fresh drinks with this. It’ll be ready soon.”

Athine glanced toward the distance where Javier and his brothers stood huddled together, their expressions full of mischief. She let out a soft, knowing sigh.

”I wonder what they’re planning. Probably another prank on Heres.”

Liana paused, her knife hovering just above the fruit’s colorful skin. She glanced toward Javier, her emerald eyes narrowing slightly as she spotted the megaphone in his hand.

”What kind of chaos is he going to cause this time?”

She turned back to Athine, her expression shifting to one of gentle curiosity.

”Where are Lithia, Harny, Meira, and Zania? I haven’t seen them since this morning.”

Athine smiled softly. ”They should be here any...”

Her words were cut off when a voice suddenly echoed across the beach from where Javier and his brothers were standing.

”Umm~ I’m looking for Prince Heres?”

The voice was feminine, soft, and carried a familiar tone. Liana’s hand froze. Athine’s smile faded. Every head on the beach turned toward the source of the sound.

( End Of Chapter )