Reborn As Noble

Chapter 14 Dried Plum and the Mischievous Son ( 14 )

Javier casually leaned back in his chair, his small finger digging into his nose as he watched his esteemed father—Lord Garius, or as he fondly called him in his mind, ”the dried plum”—continue his tirade.

”No! You wonʼt get any permission from me!” the old man shout, slamming his hand on the table for emphasis. ”Neither will anyone else in this family give you permission! How do you expect to learn anything when all you do is waste time?”

Javier yawned, his expression completely unbothered. ”Hmm? Are you done, dried plum?” he muttered, flicking his gaze toward his siblings, who were sitting smugly with their noses in the air. His eldest brother, Marcellus, puffed out his chest as if to say, Look how perfect I am.

Cedric, the second son, leaned back with a smirk that screamed, Iʼm the swordmaster prodigy, and youʼre not.

Even his step-siblings looked down at him like he was some charity case unworthy of their presence. Oh, how he wanted to wipe those smug looks off their faces one day. But for now, he had a role to play.

”Javier!” Lord Garius snapped, his face turning a darker shade of red. ”Stop with that rude posture and answer me properly!”

Still digging his finger into his nose, Javier responded in a bored tone, ”Esteemed father, as the youngest son, my duty is to observe and learn. And what better way to learn than through real-life experience?”

His casual tone earned him a sharp glare from Francesca, his mother, who was seated gracefully across the table. She didnʼt speak, but the subtle pinch of her brows told him to tread carefully.

Lord Garius sneered, leaning closer. ”Real-life experience? Ha! Donʼt make me laugh. What do you hope to learn from wandering around like some commoner? You are nobility. You should be studying, training, and preparing for your future blessing ceremony!”

Javier sighed dramatically, removing his finger from his nose and flicking it away with mock elegance. ”Ah, yes, the blessing ceremony,” he said with exaggerated reverence. ”How could I forget the grand event that determines my future class? Perhaps Iʼll become a humble farmer, like the ones who actually work hard to support this household. Surely that would be a noble pursuit, wouldnʼt you agree, esteemed father?”

A silence fell over the table, broken only by the muffled giggles of one of his step-siblings. Marcellus and Cedric, however, both looked ready to explode with laughter or rage—it was hard to tell which.

”You insolent child!” Lord Garius bellowed, rising to his feet. ”How dare you mock your heritage in front of the family!”

Javier leaned forward, resting his chin on his palm, his golden eyes glinting with a mischievous light. ”Iʼm not mocking, Father. Iʼm merely exploring all possible outcomes. Isnʼt that what you want? A son who considers every option?”

The sarcasm in his voice was as thick , and Lord Garius looked like he was about to pop a vein.

”Enough!” Francescaʼs voice cut through the tension like a blade. She placed her fork down delicately and turned to Javier with a calm but firm expression. ”Javier, apologize to your father.”

Javier met her gaze, his playful smirk softening slightly. ”Of course, Mother,” he said smoothly, bowing his head. ”My deepest apologies, esteemed father..”

Lord Garius huffed, sinking back into his chair. ”Hmph. See to it that it doesnʼt happen again. And forget about leaving the estate. Youʼll stay here and focus on your studies, just like the rest of your siblings.”

Javier nodded,but inside, he was already planning his next move. Dried plum, youʼll see. I donʼt need anyoneʼs permission to do what I want.

As the dinner concluded, and the family began to leave the dining room, Javier lingered behind, his mischievous grin returning.

”Liana,” he whispered as his maid approached to escort him back to his quarters.

”Yes, Young Master?” she replied softly, her keen eyes catching the glint in his.

”Pack some snacks and a cloak,” he whispered, his grin widening. ”Weʼre going on an adventure tomorrow.”

Liana frowned, crossing her arms as she looked down at Javier. ”No, Young Master. I donʼt want you sneaking out. Do you know how much trouble Iʼll be in if Lord Garius finds out? If I pack lunch for you, itʼs as good as admitting I helped!”

Javier tilted his head, giving her his most innocent smile. ”Oh, come now, Liana. Who said anything about sneaking? Itʼs just a little walk. Nothing dangerous.”

She raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. ”Youʼve been talking about ʼadventuringʼ for weeks now. I know exactly what youʼre planning, and the answer is no.”

Inside his mind, Javier chuckled to himself. Heh, who needs food anyway? Hunting sounds more fun. He glanced at Liana, pretend to be disappointed. ”Alright, alright, You win, Liana.”

Her expression softened, but she didnʼt relax completely. ”Good. Now, letʼs get you to bed before you get any more wild ideas.”

Javier obediently followed her out of the dining room, a sly grin tugging at the corner of his lips. As they walked down the dimly lit hallway, his mind raced with plans. Let her think Iʼm giving up. Tomorrow, the adventure begins. Hunting my own food, experiencing the real world... This is going to be fun.

When they reached his quarters, Liana helped him get ready for bed, her stern expression still lingering. ”You promised, Young Master. No sneaking out.”

Javier nodded, looking as earnest as he could manage. ”Yes..yes.”

She gave him one last skeptical look before tucking him in. ”Good night, Young Master.And donʼt cause trouble.”

As soon as the door closed behind her, Javier smirked, his eyes glinting in the moonlight. Donʼt cause trouble? Oh, Liana, you know me better than that.

--

The early morning air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of dew and earth as Javier slipped past the mansion gates. His invisibility skill cloaked him perfectly, rendering him undetectable to the guards stationed nearby. A triumphant grin spread across his face as he darted into the open road, feeling the exhilarating rush of freedom.

”Hehe, time to explore!” Javier whispered to himself.

With a flick of his wrist, he activated his wind magic, enhancing his speed. The world around him blurred as he dashed forward, the thrill of breaking free coursing through his veins. The road stretched ahead, winding towards the nearby village, its outline barely visible in the dim pre-dawn light.

”Who needs a weapon when Iʼve got this?” Javier murmured, flexing his fingers.

A faint glow emanated from his palm as he gathered mana. The familiar warmth of his wind magic filled him, ready to unleash at a momentʼs notice. He smirked at the thought of encountering a monster. Letʼs see whatʼs out here.

The forest lining the road loomed dark and mysterious, the faint rustling of leaves hinting at unseen creatures. Javierʼs heightened senses picked up distant sounds—chirping crickets, hooting owls, and the occasional snap of a twig.

Suddenly, a low growl echoed from the underbrush to his left. Javier stopped in his tracks, his eyes narrowing as he turned toward the sound.

”Alright,” he said, cracking his knuckles, ”time for some action,ehehehe!”

From the shadows emerged a wolf-like creature, its fur bristling and eyes glowing a menacing red. Its sharp teeth gleamed in the faint light as it snarled, stepping closer.

”Looks like I found my first challenge,” Javier said, a confident smirk playing on his lips. He raised his glowing hand, wind swirling around him in anticipation.

The wolf lunged, and with a swift motion, Javier unleashed a gust of wind that knocked the creature back into the bushes.

”Too easy,” he chuckled, brushing off his hands.

But then, more growls sounded from the forest, and a pair of glowing red eyes became a dozen. Javierʼs smirk widened. ”Oh, so you brought friends huh. Even better!!! Ehehehehe”

His mana surged as he prepared for the fight, his excitement building. This is going to be more fun than I thought.

( End of Chapter )