Reborn As Noble

Meanwhile.

On the sides.

Fransesca let out a soft chuckle, her eyes fixed on the field. Her golden-brown hair shimmered in the morning light as she leaned back in her cushioned lounge, watching her son sprint across the sand with two golden orbs chasing him.

”Look at how my Honey Bun is enjoying this~”

Eridith paused mid-bite, a slab of meat halfway to her mouth. She glanced at Fransesca with mild confusion.

”Eh? Isn’t our husband the one who’s more enjoying this than Javier? He’s laughing. He’s smirking. He’s been launching that barrage for five minutes straight.”

Fransesca smiled. She rested her elbow on the armrest of her lounge and propped her chin against her palm, her gaze never leaving the field. Her eyes tracked Javier as he leaped, twisted, countered, and kept running.

He’s really enjoying this. Playing around.

Her eyes softened, her smile turning knowing.

Running. Leaping. Twisting. Screaming. But his feet are always landing perfectly. His barriers are always the right size. His counters are always timed perfectly. He’s not panicking. He’s pretending to panic. He’s playing. Just like he always does.

He knows Garius won’t hurt him. And Garius knows Javier isn’t using even half of his skill. So they play. Like father and son. Like two people who understand each other without words.

They’re both silly~

She watched Garius laugh, watched him launch another wave of magic with the ease of a man enjoying a morning stroll. She shook her head slowly, her smile warm.

Ara~ Look at how happy and proud he is.

He already knows. Our youngest son has already surpassed the power he himself held back then. The power he had when he first received the blessing. When he was first bestowed the title of First Hero of the World.

Her eyes moved back to Javier, who was still pretending to panic, still dodging, still countering, still screaming dramatically.

She tilted her head slightly, her smile widening.

Dear~ You shouldn’t worry about our youngest son too much.

Because I know... sooner or later, he will be able to surpass the power you reached when you were at your peak. He will become stronger than you. Stronger than anyone. And when that day comes, he won’t just be your son. He’ll be your equal.

Your successor. Your pride.

That day will come. And when it does... you’ll see it for yourself.

After a moment.

Javier lay flat on his stomach, face buried in the sand, his hair singed at the tips, one finger twitching faintly. Smoke curled from his back where the last golden orb had clipped him.

Garius stood over them all, both hands on his hips, grinning wide. Then his expression shifted. The grin faded into something calm, serious, and assessing. He glanced toward Marcellus, Cedric, Aelius, and Heres one by one. And then at Javier, who was still face-down in the sand.

His gaze lingered on each of them in turn.

Marcellus. Ready.

Cedric. Ready.

Aelius. Ready.

Javier. Ready.

Then his eyes stopped on Heres.

”But you... you’re not ready yet.”

Heres blinked, straightening under his father’s stare.

Garius let out a long, weary exhale.

”Your power hasn’t even surpassed your wife’s. Kliatana could defeat you right now, and she wouldn’t even need to break a sweat.” He shook his head slowly. ”That’s not acceptable. Not for my son. Not for the ruler of Arjam.”

He paused, then a small smile touched his lips. He glanced toward Kliatana, who sat among the cushions with her blanket still loosely wrapped around her shoulders.

”Kliatana, my dear. If you don’t mind, I would like you to supervise his training personally. You know his weaknesses better than anyone. And since you’re carrying my grandchild, I’ll make sure the training is... tailored to your condition.”

His gaze shifted back to Heres.

”And neither of you need to worry about governing Arjam for now. I’ll have Savran and Gilmon handle it in your absence. They’re more than capable. You focus on getting stronger. That’s all I ask.”

Kliatana smiled. She rose from her cushion, the blanket slipping from her shoulders onto the seat. She bowed in a proper, elegant princess curtsey, her movements graceful and practiced.

”Father-in-law, I am honored by your trust. I will do everything within my power to ensure Heres is ready. For Arjam. For this family. And for the trials that lie ahead. Please leave him in my care, and I shall not disappoint you.”

Garius smiled warmly. ”I know you won’t.”

Heres stiffened, his body going rigid. He let out a nervous protest, his voice cracking slightly.

”B... but... F... Father...”

Garius’s gaze sharpened, cutting toward him like a blade.

”What is it, my son?”

Heres swallowed hard, his fingers tightening around his fan.

”Is this... is all of this really necessary? I mean... I know I’m not as strong as Marcellus or Cedric. I know I have room to grow. But... surely there’s another way? Perhaps I could train on my own? Or with my brothers? Or... or maybe I could focus on my strategic abilities instead? Surely...”

Garius cut him off with a single raised hand. He crossed his arms over his chest, his expression calm but firm.

”Heres. Your weaknesses are not hidden from me. The way you hesitate before committing to a high-tier spell. The way you drop your guard the instant you think the fight is over. I saw every single one of them just now.”

He paused.

”Each attack I sent was calibrated to your individual power. Marcellus received enough to test his offense and defense. Cedric received enough to test his shield and his resolve. Aelius received enough to test his calculations and counters.”

He paused, letting his words settle.

”And you, Heres, received an amount I calculated would push you just to your limit. Nothing more. Nothing less. Because that is the level you’re currently at.”

His right eye glowed faintly, the golden light of his Eyes of Truth radiating softly.

”My assessment is never wrong. It has never failed me. Not once. I saw your strength. I saw your weakness. I saw the exact moment you began to struggle. And I saw that you were struggling against something even Kliatana could easily overpower.”

He uncrossed his arms and placed both hands on his hips.

”You’re my son. You’re the ruler of Arjam. You’re a capable ruler, Heres. You’re intelligent. You’re diligent. You’re diplomatic. You’ve handled Arjam with maturity beyond your years. I’m proud of what you’ve accomplished.”

Garius’s eyes narrowed, his face turning serious.

”But what happens when a ruler can’t protect his own kingdom? What happens when an enemy arrives who doesn’t care about treaties? Who ignores negotiation? Who only understands strength? What happens when someone stronger than you comes to take everything you’ve built?”

He raised one palm upward, his voice dropping into something deeper, more ominous.

”The upcoming enemy does not care about diplomacy. They do not respect borders. They do not follow the rules of war. What matters to them is only their victory, no matter the cost. They are not an enemy you can negotiate with. They are not an enemy you can reason with. They are an enemy that only understands one thing: power.”

He paused, his gaze steady on Heres.

”The proof is already there. One of our own elite soldiers, Marcor, was nearly killed. He is one of our best. Only a few more steps and he would have been chosen for the Special Unit. And what did he face? The first of the Seven Sins. Wrath. A single fragment of that being nearly ended him.”

His voice softened.

”I’m not doing this to punish you. I’m doing this because I want you to survive. Because I want you to protect your wife. Your people. Because when the time comes, and the Seven Sins attack with everything they have, I want you to be able to stand your ground. Not for me. Not for Armand. But for yourself.”

Heres lowered his head, his lips pressed into a thin line. He was quiet for a long moment. Then he nodded slowly, his voice quiet but steady.

”Understood, esteemed Father. I will do as you ask.”

( End Of Chapter )