Reborn As Noble

Chapter 1125: A Moment of Sincerity ( 1125 )

”Hah! No way I’m nervous.” Marcellus smirked while continuing to check himself in the mirror. ”Cedric is the one who’s nervous! Hahaha!”

”Oi! I’m not nervous! Just excited!” Cedric smirked back. ”Since I also get two wives, Meira and Zania. Heres is the one who’s nervous since he just recently got together with Kliatana... and yet he already made her pregnant.” Cedric chuckled, adjusting the collar of his outfit.

”Err... umm...” Heres rubbed the back of his head. ”Not really nervous. Just... you know... since we all couldn’t meet our loved ones for days before the wedding... more like... restless...” Heres admitted in a mumble.

”Oh, really?” Javier stood up slowly and walked over to an empty area in the room, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

Marcellus and Cedric raised their brows, wondering why Javier was suddenly standing there alone. He raised both hands as if holding an imaginary girl’s hands, his expression shifting into an exaggerated, flustered look.

”Ah... ah... I... I... I... I do.” Javier stammered dramatically, his voice trembling with mock nervousness. He then tapped his pocket frantically. ”Ah! I... I forgot the ring... I’m... I’m sorry... ah... ah...”

He continued his act, clutching his chest dramatically. ”Oh, how could I lose my ring on such an important day? Oh~ The shame! The horror! My beloved will surely think I’m a forgetful fool~” He pretended to search the floor frantically, then looked up with wide, panicked eyes. ”Wait... is that... is that the High Priest frowning at me? Oh no... I’m doomed~”

Javier kept up his act, making his brothers double over with laughter, clutching their sides on the floor.

They were so caught up in the moment that none of them noticed the door opening quietly.

Garius stepped into the room, his expression calm but slightly bemused as he observed Javier, who was still deeply immersed in his dramatic performance, completely unaware of his father’s presence.

Javier turned mid-gesture, still pretending to search for a lost ring, when his eyes finally landed on Garius. His entire body froze, his dramatic expression melting into one of sheer panic. He snapped to attention, standing straight before bowing deeply.

”Ah! Esteemed Father!”

Garius raised a single, questioning eyebrow. ”What are you doing, Javier?”

”Nothing, Esteemed Father,” Javier said, still maintaining a perfect 90-degree bow. ”I was just... trying to ease my brothers’ nerves before the ceremony.”

”Hmm? Really?” Garius turned and glanced at Marcellus and Cedric, then at Heres, his gaze lingering on each of them. ”You three are nervous on your wedding day?”

”A... ah... es... esteemed Father!” All three of them bowed in unison, their composure visibly shaken.

Garius, with his usual stern expression, shook his head slowly before glancing over his shoulder at Alf and Erinette, who stood respectfully just inside the doorway. ”Heh... young blood~”

Alf, standing with perfect posture, responded in his polished butler’s tone, a subtle smirk touching his lips. ”It is quite normal, Your Majesty. Even the most composed of hearts may flutter on such an occasion.”

Erinette smiled softly beside him, her hands folded gracefully. ”Indeed, Your Majesty. It is a sign of how deeply they care for their brides.”

Garius shook his head again. He turned back to Marcellus, Cedric, and Heres.

”Make sure you stand tall today. Your brides are waiting for you, women of strength, grace, and devotion. Do not let nervousness cloud the moment. Look them in the eye, speak your vows clearly, and remember: today is not just a ceremony. It is the beginning of a lifetime you will build together. Carry yourselves with the dignity befitting the House of Armand.”

”Yes, Esteemed Father.” All three of them bowed in unison.

Garius then turned his gaze toward Javier.

”Javier?”

”Yes, Esteemed Father?”

”You’re not with your future brides?”

”Ah...” Javier rubbed the back of his head, letting out a sheepish grin. ”Esteemed Mother asked me to come here. And all my future brides are helping... err... their brides.” He pointed a thumb over his shoulder toward Marcellus, Cedric, and Heres without looking away from Garius.

”Mm... Don’t cause chaos today. It is their big day. You should also observe and learn from their vows, as you will soon be standing where they stand.”

”Yes, Esteemed Father.” Javier bowed respectfully.

Garius exhaled softly and turned, leaving the room with Alf and Erinette following closely behind.

The moment the door clicked shut, they all waited in tense silence for a few seconds before exhaling in unison. Then, Marcellus, Cedric, and Heres slowly turned toward Javier, their expressions shifting into synchronized, unamused glares.

Marcellus crossed his arms and exhaled slowly.

”We are what, little brother? Hmm? Your convenient excuse?”

Javier let out a sheepish grin. ”Aw, come on~ At least that excuse saved us from getting a lecture, right? You should be thankful Father didn’t launch into one of his ’responsibility of an Armand’ speeches~”

Cedric exhaled, a faint smirk touching his lips despite his glare. ”Still... using our wedding jitters as your cover story? That’s low.”

Heres shook his head, a wry smile on his face. ”See? What I said is true. Don’t mention Father’s name or anything related to him unless you want him to suddenly appear, just like... that.”

”Ehehehe... now I can see all three of you are still scared of Father~” Javier teased them with a wide, mischievous grin.

Marcellus smirked. ”Heh... you’re the same, and so is Cedric.”

”O... oi! Of course he’s scary. Just look at Heres.”

”Wha? I don’t know what you’re all talking about.” Heres exhaled and turned back to his mirror, continuing to adjust his outfit. ”But yeah... no matter how old or how big we get... he’s still scary.”

Javier smiled softly, a rare note of sincerity in his voice.

”Yeah. But because of him, and how he guided us, not by demanding or commanding, but by showing us through his actions, his choices, his strength, we are who we are today. We’re not like those entitled, spoiled noble sons from the human kingdoms. We know what respect, duty, and real strength mean.”

Marcellus smirked, his expression softening. ”Yeah. Glad to have a father who’s strict like that, even if it means a few extra lectures.”

Cedric smiled and nodded. ”Mm. Even if he’s scary, it’s for our own good. He never taught us to be cruel or arrogant. He taught us to be strong enough to protect, wise enough to lead, and humble enough to learn.”

Javier smirked, crossing his arms and adding playfully, ”Well... at least we were all born handsome and charming. But well... not as charming and handsome as me~”

( End Of Chapter )