Reborn As Noble

Chapter 82 Behind the Veil of Nobility ( 82 )

”You do know this region is your fatherʼs land, right?” Liana said, her tone calm but instructive as she gently ran her fingers through Javierʼs messy hair. ”All the borders are guarded personally by his army. I think the numbers have grown to more than 7,000 troops already.”

”Eh? Really?” Javier raised an eyebrow, propping himself up slightly from Lianaʼs lap. ”I thought the kingdom was the one maintaining the borders.”

Liana chuckled softly. ”No, young master. Every noble is responsible for maintaining their own borders. Itʼs their duty to protect their land and their people.”

Javier blinked, sitting up fully now. ”Wait, so all those soldiers.. theyʼre all Fatherʼs personal troops?”

”Your father takes his responsibilities very seriously. Those troops are highly trained, and they ensure the safety of the entire territory, especially at the borders.”

”Huh,” Javier muttered, scratching his chin. ”I always thought nobles just relied on the kingdomʼs army for protection.”

”Itʼs not that simple,” Liana said, her expression turning thoughtful. ”While the kingdom has its own forces, nobles are expected to manage their own defenses. A strong personal army is not just for protection—it also serves as a symbol of power and authority. It shows that a noble can stand strong without depending entirely on the crown.”

”But doesnʼt that make things tense between nobles?” Javier asked, leaning forward, curios. ”I mean, having a private army that big… doesnʼt it make the other lords nervous?”

Lianaʼs expression turned serious. ”It does, young master, but having an army isnʼt just about show or deterring external threats. Itʼs a necessity. Some nobles may see any sign of weakness as an opportunity to exploit—whether that means attempting to seize land, challenging your fatherʼs authority, or even plotting underhanded schemes to undermine his influence.”

Javier frowned, leaning back into the chair. ”So itʼs like a big game of posturing? Everyone trying to look tough so no one starts a fight?”

”In a way, yes,” Liana replied. ”But itʼs not just posturing. Your fatherʼs army exists to ensure stability in the region. It protects not only the borders but also the people within. Without a strong military presence, this land would be vulnerable to both foreign threats and… internal strife.”

”Internal?” Javier raised an eyebrow.

Lianaʼs eyes locked with his. ”Do you remember the recent assassin attack?”

Javierʼs relaxed demeanor shifted as the memory resurfaced. ”Yeah, It was only a few days ago. Those guys were after Father, right?”

Liana let out a chuckle, a glint of amusement in her eyes. ”You seemed to enjoy yourself quite a bit, young master. You were practically gleeful while taking them down.”

Javier grinned, leaning back in the chair. ”What can I say? It was fun! Those assassins never saw it coming.”

Liana shook her head, a smile still playing on her lips. ”Just remember, itʼs not always a game. But I have to admit, your enthusiasm made it easier to deal with the situation.”

”Yeah, but I didnʼt expect it to be so serious,” Javier replied, his expression sobering. ”I mean, I knew they were after Father, but to think they could have succeeded if we werenʼt ready…”

Liana nodded . ”That attack was likely orchestrated by another noble—someone who saw your fatherʼs growing influence as a threat to their own power. Without a strong army to protect this estate and a capable personal guard, the consequences could have been dire.”

Javierʼs gaze darkened. ”Youʼre saying the army doesnʼt just guard the borders; it protects us too.”

”Precisely,” Liana affirmed. ”The strength of this household is what keeps potential enemies at bay. Assassinations, sabotage, and attempts to usurp power are all real threats if a nobleʼs authority is questioned. The world of nobility, young master, is not as refined as it seems on the surface. Those who seek power will always look for vulnerabilities to exploit.”

Javier crossed his arms, troubled by the implications. ”So without Fatherʼs army, weʼd be sitting ducks.”

”Yes,” Liana replied simply. ”And itʼs not just about having numbers. The troops your father has trained are among the best in the region. Theyʼre loyal, disciplined, and equipped to deal with various threats. Thatʼs why your father prioritizes maintaining and expanding his forces. Itʼs not about ambition—itʼs about survival.”

Javier let out a long breath, his playful smirk fading into a more contemplative expression. ”I guess I never thought about it that way. I knew the assassin incident was serious, but to think it couldʼve been worse without all this in place…”

”Itʼs a harsh reality, young master,” Liana said gently. ”But rest assured, your father is prepared for it. And one day, you might need to be as well.”

”One day, huh? For now, Iʼll leave it to the old man. But if anyone tries something again, theyʼll regret messing with me.”

Liana smiled softly, her voice warm with encouragement. ”I donʼt doubt that, young master.”

Inside, Javier thought about many things he didnʼt say. He had learned long ago—back when he was in previous life—that people are basically selfish. Even if they seem polite and proper, they are just like the harsh business world he had known.

Wars happen over land, money, and power, and many innocent people suffer because of them. He remembered his history lessons from his old world—how countries invaded others in the name of ”freedom,” but really just took everything for themselves and enslaved the people. Politicians talked about peace but caused wars behind the scenes, only to make money for themselves.

Even regular people, who say they are victims, arenʼt innocent. Greed, jealousy, and anger are everywhere. His coworkers sabotaged each other for promotions. Families fought over inheritance. Charity events often showcased wealth instead of kindness.

In this new world, it was the same. Nobles might greet each other nicely at parties, but beneath that kindness, they had the same basic desires: wanting power, fearing they would be outdone, and being ready to betray anyone who showed weakness.

Javier sighed quietly, ”This world might have magic, but humans are the same everywhere. Greedy, selfish, and always ready to take advantage of someone weaker.” He knew he shouldnʼt trust easily, especially when it came to power.

The recent assassin attack showed this clearly. Some noble, likely too ambitious, had sent killers to their home. If Fatherʼs guards and the personal maid and butler had not been ready—or if Javier had not stepped in—it could have ended badly. It wasnʼt personal. Nothing ever was. It was just business. In politics, lives can be thrown away, and loyalty means little.

In his past life, Nakamura Junichi often wondered why people kept making the same mistakes. War after war, betrayal after betrayal. Even when survival was on the line, people chose their own benefit over what was good for everyone. He had seen companies fall apart because of greed. He had watched governments ignore problems to make money. And now, he saw the same problems in this medieval fantasy world.

Javier crossed his arms, leaning back with a cynical smirk. ”Itʼs always the same. The powerful take from the weak, the weak try to claw their way up, and the whole cycle starts over again. No wonder Father needs an army and power.”

”Something on your mind, young master?” Lianaʼs gentle voice brought him back to reality.

He looked at her and put on his usual mischievous grin. ”Just thinking about how lucky we are to have Father running things. Without his army, weʼd probably be knee-deep in someone elseʼs mess by now.”

Liana raised an eyebrow, sensing something deeper behind his words, but she didnʼt ask more. ”Indeed. Itʼs why he works so hard to keep his position. This landʼs peace isnʼt guaranteed—itʼs earned through vigilance and strength.”

Javier chuckled, though it didnʼt sound very happy. ”Strength, huh? Guess thatʼs all that really matters in the end.”

Liana paused for a moment before saying, ”Itʼs unfortunate, but strength is often the language people understand best. Without it, even the noblest ideals can be trampled underfoot.”

Javier nodded, but inside, he thought differently. ”The strong protect themselves, the weak get trampled, and ideals… ideals are just stories we tell ourselves to feel better about the chaos we create.”

He wouldnʼt say this out loud—not to Liana or anyone else—but he knew the truth. This world was not just like his old one; it was worse. At least in his past life, there were laws and technology to soften some of humanityʼs darker sides. Here, power was everything.

As Liana talked about the regionʼs defenses and Fatherʼs strategies, Javierʼs mind went back to the assassin attack. It hadnʼt been the first threat, and it wouldnʼt be the last. ”If they want to come at us, let them,” he thought, his eyes shining with determination. ”Iʼll make sure they regret it.”

Javier nodded as Liana talked about the importance of having a strong army. Her voice was calm but serious. To anyone watching, he looked like he was paying close attention, his sharp eyes focused on her as if he was remembering every word.

But in his mind, he was thinking something completely different.

Javierʼs lips turned up slightly, but he quickly hid it with a thoughtful look. ”I wonder which assassin house sent that little group last time? Once I find out… kukuku~ Iʼll be paying them a personal ʼvisit.ʼ”

He imagined sneaking into the shadows of a grand estate and catching the mastermind in their fancy study. He could already picture the fear on their face when he appeared out of nowhere, completely annihilate all of the house, with his puppet knights.

”Oh, how delightful itʼll be to watch them squirm.”

”Do you understand, young master?” Lianaʼs voice broke into his thoughts, bringing him back to reality.

Javier blinked and quickly put on his best innocent smile. ”Of course! A strong army is essential for protecting our borders, deterring enemies, and ensuring stability within the territory.” He even nodded wisely to show he agreed.

Liana looked pleased, but her raised eyebrow showed she wasnʼt completely convinced. ”Iʼm glad youʼre taking this seriously, young master.”

”Oh, Iʼm taking it seriously, alright,” Javier thought, already thinking about his plans. ”Seriously excited to test my new tracking spells and sneaking skills. Letʼs see how cocky these so-called assassins are when I show up at their door.”

He leaned back, pretending to think deeply. ”Itʼs just… fascinating, you know? How everything ties together. The army, the nobles, even the assassins… itʼs like one big chessboard.”

Liana tilted her head, happy with his sudden insight. ”Exactly, young master. Understanding that balance is crucial if youʼre to navigate this world effectively.”

”Balance, huh? Sure, Iʼll keep the balance… right after I tip the scales in our favor.”

As Liana continued to explain noble politics and military strength, Javier kept up his attentive act, nodding at the right times. But in the back of his mind, he was bubbling with excitement.

”Iʼll make them regret coming after us. But first, Iʼll have a little fun. Canʼt rush these things, after all.”

( End of Chapter )