Reborn As Noble

Chapter 209 Friendship and Fortune ( 209 )

Inside the grand study room of the Armand estate, Garius sat at his desk, his sharp eyes scanning through a towering pile of documents.

With a heavy sigh, he leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temple. ”Haaa… These documents…”

Standing nearby, his ever-reliable butler, Alf, watched with a small, knowing smile. Unlike his lord, he showed no sign of fatigue—only quiet amusement.

”You seem troubled, my lord,” Alf said in his usual composed tone.

Garius exhaled sharply. ”Troubled? No, just… irritated. I donʼt remember signing up for a life buried under paperwork.”

Alf chuckled softly but said nothing. He knew better than anyone that Garius, despite his complaints, thrived in this role.

After a moment of silence, Garius tapped his fingers on the desk. ”By the way, Alf.”

”Yes, my lord?”

”Howʼs the sugar business?”

”The demand for sugar is far beyond what we initially expected, my lord. I donʼt believe we have enough sugarcane to process at our current rate.”

Garius raised an eyebrow. ”Oh?”

”Thanks to Young Masterʼs… contributions to production,” Alf continued, ”sugarcane farming has become incredibly popular. Not only have our farmers in the Armand region expanded their fields, but weʼve also begun purchasing raw sugarcane from other territories to keep up with demand.”

Garius chuckled, shaking his head. ”That boy… He doesnʼt even realize the scale of what heʼs done.”

Alf smiled knowingly. ”Indeed, my lord. The merchants from the capital and beyond have already begun referring to Armand sugar as white gold.”

”White gold, huh? I like the sound of that.” Garius tapped his fingers on the desk, clearly pleased. ”And the mines?”

Alfʼs expression grew more serious. ”Regarding the mine Young Master discovered before—our chief miner has found yet another large reserve deeper inside. High-quality materials, my lord. In particular, the mithril veins seem exceptionally pure.”

Garius nodded. ”And?”

”As per your orders, the best quality mithril is being reserved exclusively for our ʼbest blacksmith.ʼ”

Garius smirked at the mention of Rasdingen—the famed Giant Dwarf Blacksmith who was responsible for forging weapons and armor for Armandʼs Army. A close friend of Garius, Alf, Hesbeirn, and Erinette, Rasdingenʼs work was considered second to none.

”And with the largest reserve weʼve ever uncovered,” Alf continued, ”weʼve been able to expand operations. More of our people are now employed in the mines, strengthening not only our economy but also our military supply lines.”

Garius leaned back, lacing his fingers together. ”Good. And the farmlands?”

”The lands you designated for agriculture have yielded excellent results,” Alf reported smoothly. ”With more of our people given access to fertile farming land, the production of wheat and other necessities has not only boosted our tax revenue, but it has also greatly improved the income of our people.”

Garius smiled, satisfied. ”That means weʼve achieved balance—prosperity for the people while keeping the territoryʼs wealth growing.”

Alf gave a small nod. ”Indeed, my lord.”

A moment of silence passed between them as the sheer weight of their success settled in.

The Armand Household wasnʼt just wealthy—they were an economic powerhouse. Between their sugar empire, their mines rich with high-quality minerals, and their flourishing agriculture.

He looked up at Alf. ”Tell me, Alf. With all this wealth at our disposal… how should we spend it next?”

Alfʼs smile remained as he responded, ”That, my lord, is entirely up to you.”

Alf adjusted his gloves before speaking again. ”By the way, my lord, the tribute to the royal family for this month has already been sent.”

Garius glanced up from his documents. ”And?”

”The king was pleased with our tribute,” Alf reported with a faint smile. ”There were no complaints.”

Garius let out a short chuckle. ”Hah. Of course, he was pleased. We send more than any other noble house.”

He leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly. ”Honestly, the only reason the royal family doesnʼt fear our household is because we choose to support them instead of challenging them.”

Alf inclined his head slightly. ”A wise choice, my lord. Unlike certain ambitious noble houses… we know where we stand.”

Garius smirked. ”Yes… We stand above the others, but just below the throne. Close enough to hold power, far enough to avoid being seen as a threat.”

Alf gave a subtle nod of approval. ”As always, a well-calculated position, my lord.”

Garius chuckled again, tapping his fingers against the desk. ”Let the other nobles scramble for scraps. Weʼre already at the table.”

He set the last document aside with a satisfied sigh. ”Now then, letʼs see how my troublemaker of a son is making use of all this wealth.”

Alf, ever composed, tilted his head slightly. ”Which one, my lord?”

Garius exhaled deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose. ”… All of them.”

Alf chuckled softly, his amusement barely concealed. ”Ah. I see.”

He let out a dry chuckle. ”The only real question is… who will cost me the most?”

Alf, ever the loyal butler, simply smiled. ”Shall we take bets, my lord?”

For a brief moment, Garius was tempted.

But then he remembered that Javier existed.

”… No,” he said flatly. ”I already know the answer.”

Alf chuckled again. ”Indeed, my lord.”

Knock knock.

Before Garius could respond, the door swung open, and Hesbeirn strode in with a familiar presence. Behind him, a large, broad-shouldered figure followed—the unmistakable Rasdingen, the Giant Dwarf Blacksmith.

”Ah, my lord,” Hesbeirn greeted casually as he plopped down at the table, completely at ease in Gariusʼs presence. Without waiting for permission, he reached for the nearby wine bottle and poured himself a full glass.

Meanwhile, Rasdingen didnʼt even bother with a glass. He simply grabbed an unopened bottle, popped the cork off with his thumb, and tilted his head back, gulping the rich liquor straight from the source.

”GAAAH! Now thatʼs a proper drink, ya sod-dried twig-suckers!” Rasdingen bellowed, his deep voice shaking the room. ”Been drinkinʼ that weak elven piss fer weeks! Finally somethinʼ with a bite!”

Alf merely sighed, shaking his head in long-suffering patience. Meanwhile, Garius smirked, resting his chin on his fist as he watched the scene unfold.

Alf crossed his arms, his gaze shifting between Hesbeirn and Rasdingen with mild disapproval. ”You both are in the presence of my lord. At least attempt to behave like proper servants.”

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Hesbeirn barely glanced his way as he took a long sip of his wine.

”Aw, come on! Heʼs our friend! Ainʼt like thereʼs any outsiders ʼround ʼere!” Rasdingen grumbled, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. ”We got manners when it counts, donʼt we? Yeʼd rather we be stiff-necked peacocks like them prissy noble sods? Bah!”

Hesbeirn chuckled, raising his glass. ”Sorry, sorry, brother-in-law.”

Garius let out a relaxed chuckle, waving a hand dismissively. ”Donʼt worry too much about it, Alf. Just relax a bit.”

Alf exhaled slowly, rubbing his temple. ”Haaah… If you say so, my lord.”

Meanwhile, Rasdingen took another massive swig from the bottle and let out a satisfied roar.

”Now thatʼs a damn fine vintage! Ainʼt no finer way ta enjoy good drink than with proper company!”

After all—this was just how they always were.