Reborn As Noble

Chapter 32 Duty and Distraction ( 32 )

Liana stood patiently in the courtyard, surrounded by several workers from the manor who were chatting idly as they waited. Today was the day the shipment of ore was set to arrive, as promised.

The deal had been finalized two days ago, with three gold coins handed over as payment—a personal order from her mischievous young master, Javier. The merchant was expected soon, bringing not only the usual supply of food and household necessities for the estate but also a large quantity of ore.

Liana glanced at the workers. Some looked curious about the unusual addition to the order, but none dared to ask her directly. Her composed demeanor and reputation as one of Lord Gariusʼs most trusted maid kept unnecessary chatter at bay.

Her thoughts briefly wandered to Javier. ”What exactly was he planning to do with so much ore?” He had been suspiciously enthusiastic about it, which only made her more wary. She let out a small sigh, brushing a strand of silver hair from her face.

That boy is always up to something… I just hope this doesnʼt end with me having to explain things to Madam Francesca.

A soft rumble in the distance signaled the arrival of the merchant caravan. The workers straightened up, ready to unload as the wagons came into view, their wheels creaking under the weight of their cargo.

The lead merchant, a stocky man with a wide-brimmed hat, dismounted his horse and greeted Liana with a respectful nod.

”Miss Liana,” he said with a warm smile, ”your special order has arrived, along with the usual supplies.”

”Thank you,” Liana replied politely. ”Please have the workers sort the shipment as usual. The ore will need to be stored separately.”

”Of course,” the merchant replied, signaling his men to begin unloading.

Sacks of grain, barrels of oil, and crates of produce were soon being carried off to the storerooms. Among the goods, several heavy crates marked with a special insignia contained the iron ore. Liana inspected the crates herself, ensuring everything was accounted for.

”Help me move these crates of ore to the new workspace the young master requested,” Liana instructed, her tone calm but firm.

”Yes, Miss Liana,” one of the workers replied promptly, gathering his team to begin.

Liana watched as the workers carefully pushed the carts across the courtyard, the iron ore crates stacked securely. Liana followed, keeping an eye on their progress to ensure nothing went wrong.

The workspace was located in a secluded area of the estate grounds, a newly constructed shed that Javier had insisted on having built. Though she didnʼt know all the details of his plans, she knew better than to underestimate her young master resourcefulness—or his talent for creating chaos.

As the workers unloaded the crates inside the workspace, Liana took a moment to inspect the area. The building was simple but well-constructed, with sturdy walls and a wide wooden workbench. A few shelves and storage racks lined the walls, ready to hold tools and materials.

”Place the crates neatly over there,” Liana directed, pointing to a corner near the bench.

The workers nodded and carefully arranged the crates as instructed. Liana stood with her hands clasped in front of her, her eyes scanning the setup.

This should keep him occupied for a while… though I canʼt shake the feeling heʼs going to surprise us all again, she thought with a small sigh.

Once the last crate was in place, the workers bowed slightly before heading back to their other duties. Liana stayed behind for a moment, surveying the space.

At least heʼs keeping busy… but Iʼll need to keep an eye on him. Trouble has a way of finding that boy—or perhaps he has a way of finding it.

Liana looked around the manor, starting with the usual places her young master liked to spend time. First, she headed to the Pekko pen. The lively birds squawked happily, but their food troughs looked untouched.

”It doesnʼt seem like the young master or the workers have fed them yet,” she murmured, shaking her head.

She checked the bag of peculiar feed Javier had concocted, a mixture he proudly called ”Pekko manure,” claiming it was the perfect nutrient-packed food for the birds. Liana dutifully measured out portions and placed them into the troughs.

”Here you go,” she said, watching as the Pekkos eagerly gobbled up the food.

After ensuring the birds were well-fed, Liana began asking the maids around the manor, ”Have you seen the young master this morning?”

”No, Miss Liana. I havenʼt seen him at all today,” replied one maid, echoing the responses of others she questioned.

With no leads, Liana sighed and headed inside the manor to continue her search. She checked the library, the garden, and even the storage room—nothing.

Finally, she decided to try the dining room.

There he was. Javier sat at the long dining table, happily devouring a thick slice of meat steak, a look of pure satisfaction on his face despite it being early in the morning.

Liana let out a long sigh and approached him. ”Young master.”

Javier looked up, his mouth half-full of steak. ”Yes, Liana?”

”The ore you ordered has arrived and has already been placed in the new workshop,” she informed him.

Javierʼs eyes lit up. ”Oh! Nice! Ehehehe.”

He then gestured toward the seat beside him, a playful grin on his face. ”Wanna eat together, Liana?”

Liana gave him a disapproving look, folding her arms. ”Maid and master cannot eat together in the main dining area. Did you forget that rule, young master?”

Javier smirked, leaning back in his chair. ”Rules, schmules. I donʼt care about those. Besides, itʼs just us here.”

Liana frowned, her eyes narrowing slightly as she crossed her arms. ”Still, a maid cannot sit and eat with their master. Donʼt encourage the maids to bend the rules. You know Lord Garius and Lady Francesca donʼt like it. I donʼt want anyone else breaking the rules because of your antics. Do you know what will happen to them if they do? They could get fired.”

Javier paused for a moment, then grinned mischievously. ”If you say so...” He cut a small piece of steak with his fork and held it out toward her, his smirk widening. ”Here. If you wonʼt sit, at least have a bite.”

Liana blinked, caught off guard by his gesture. ”Young master...”

”Come on, Liana. Iʼll keep it between us. Nobody will know,” he said, flashing his most innocent smile.

Her lips tightened as she struggled to suppress a sigh.

Just as she was about to protest again, Javier wiggled the fork teasingly. ”Say ʼahhh!ʼ”

Despite herself, Liana felt her cheeks warm. She shook her head but took a small bite of the offered steak.

”There. Happy now?” she asked, giving him a pointed look.

Javier beamed as though he had just won a great victory. ”Very! And? Itʼs good, right?”

Liana rolled her eyes but softly admitted, ”It is.”

Javier chuckled. ”See? I told you itʼd be worth it.”

”Just donʼt let anyone catch you doing this,” she warned, quickly straightening her posture and resuming her usual composed demeanor. ”You might enjoy bending the rules, but I wonʼt let you drag me down with you, young master.”

”Ehehehe,” Javier laughed, taking another bite of his steak, clearly unbothered.

”By the way, young master,” Liana began in a steady yet firm tone, ”there was supposed to be at least one or two maid accompanying you while you eat. Where are they?”

Javier blinked, his fork pausing mid-air. ”Err... I told them to go eat their breakfast?”

Lianaʼs brows furrowed, and her voice carried a rare note of exasperation. ”They shouldnʼt have done that! Theyʼre supposed to accompany you during meals, especially when Iʼm not around. Where are they!?”

Javier leaned back in his chair, holding up his hands in mock surrender. ”Calm down, Liana. Chill. Relax. Ehehehe.”

Lianaʼs expression remained composed, but her eyes were sharp as she shook her head slightly. ”Young master, that is against the household rules. When we are on duty, our role is to serve and remain attentive to your needs. Allowing them to leave their post is a breach of conduct.”

Javier chuckled, clearly not as worried about decorum as she was. ”Relax, Liana. Itʼs fine. No big deal.”

Liana eyes narrowed slightly, though her hands remained poised. ”It is a big deal, young master. If Lord Garius or Lady Francesca saw this, the consequences for the maids would be severe. Do you want them to be dismissed for negligence?”

Javier sighed and put his fork down. ”Alright, alright, Im Sorry. Next time, Iʼll make sure someone stays, okay?”

”Young master, household maids are allowed to relax when they arenʼt actively attending to the family or their assigned tasks. Thatʼs why they have their own early breakfast before starting their duties. But when they are attending you or anyone else in the family, they must follow the household rules without exception.”

Javier leaned back, his fork still in hand. ”Alright, but they were just taking a break. Whatʼs the harm?”

Lianaʼs emerald eyes met his, firm but calm. ”The maids here were selected for their talent and dedication. They understand their roles within the household. Their responsibilities during meals are crucial and require their full attention. Outside of that, they have plenty of time to rest, eat, and manage their tasks, such as cleaning and organizing. Itʼs not like theyʼre overworked.”

She adjusted the napkin on her arm as she continued, her tone softening. ”But when they are present, they must uphold their duties properly. Allowing them to relax or neglect their responsibilities during these key moments sets a bad example and could affect the householdʼs overall discipline. You wouldnʼt want Lord Garius or Lady Francesca to think the staff is incompetent, would you?”

Javier sighed and shrugged, conceding with a faint smile. ”Alright, I get it, Liana.”

Liana gave a small, approving nod. ”Itʼs not about me, young master. Itʼs about ensuring the household runs smoothly and that everyone understands their roles.”

”Yeah, yeah. Im sorry, Liana,” Javier muttered, smiling.

”Itʼs simply my job, young master,” she replied with a faint smile, returning to her poised stance.

( End of Chapter )