Reborn As Noble

Chapter 872: Steel Beneath Calm ( 872 )

Private Office – Armand Estate

Knock, knock.

”Come in,”

The heavy door opened, and Alf stepped in. He placed his palm over his left chest and bowed slightly.

”My lord, we have received an envoy from the Arjam Region”

Garius raised a brow. ”Hmm... Arjam Region, you say? Isn’t that the land bordering ours, the one currently without a ruler?”

”Yes, my lord,” Alf confirmed.

”And what brings him here?” Garius asked, rubbing his chin slowly.

”He claims to have a matter of great importance to request. He did not give details.”

Garius leaned back in his chair, fingers lightly tapping the armrest. ”Very well, Alf. Allow him to enter.”

”As you command, my lord.” Alf bowed again and stepped out to carry the order.

Silence settled briefly. Then Garius spoke again, his gaze turning toward the nearby desk.

”Erinnette.”

The head of all maid rose from her seat and bowed gracefully. ”Yes, my lord?”

”I find it odd that an envoy comes from Arjam at all. I wonder about this envoy’s real purpose. That land has no lord and from the latest reports I read, most of the lordless regions have become prizes for those greedy nobles.”

He smirked faintly, voice dripping with dry humor. ”Especially those Loyalists of... ahem... ’His Majesty King Kimar’ are already fighting each other to seize whatever they can.”

Erinnette’s lips curved faintly. ”Our intelligence unit says the same, my lord. Many of the lordless lands have turned into an open scramble. The lords who backed Kimar are moving quickest, each trying to stake a claim.”

Garius chuckled, low and amused. ”That’s what happen when a crown is bought with promises, every vulture expects its share of meat. Kimar is simply reaping what he sowed. He dangled those lands as bait to secure votes for his coronation... and now his supporters are devouring each other for the spoils.”

He leaned forward, face serious. ”Still, for an envoy to come all the way here from from a region torn apart and leaderless, there must be something more behind it.”

Garius leaned back in his chair as Erinnette quietly prepared tea for him. The delicate clink of porcelain filled the silence, until another knock sounded at the door.

”Come in,” Garius said calmly.

The door opened. Alf entered first, his posture precise and composed. Behind him, three men stepped into the room.

Erinnette’s hand immediately slipped behind her maid’s skirt, fingers brushing the hilts of her twin blades. But Garius raised his palm slightly, signaling her to stand down.

”At ease,” his voice carried, quiet but absolute.

Alf took a step forward and positioned himself beside his lord, one hand resting casually on his butler’s coat, yet the movement was subtle, concealing his readiness to draw his own twin white blades at a moment’s notice.

Three elite Armand guards inside the room and two battle maids nearby quietly shifted into standby positions, their eyes sharp.

None of them noticed the faint glow beginning to pulse in Garius’s right eye.

He raised his palm again. ”At ease, everyone,” he said in his calm, commanding tone.

The guards and maids obeyed immediately, lowering their stances though their vigilance remained.

The three envoys hesitated at the threshold. Whether from fear or awe, their bodies stiffened. Garius was unlike any noble they had ever met. His presence was suffocating, not from arrogance, but from a natural authority that made the air itself feel heavy.

Garius’s gaze lifted, his expression unreadable. A small smile faint and composed crossing his lips.

”Step forward,” he said, voice smooth as steel. ”And speak.”

The three envoys suddenly dropped to their knees, foreheads pressing to the floor in full dogeza.

Garius’s eyes widened slightly. He stood from his chair at once.

”Don’t,” he said firmly. ”Stand up and speak properly.”

The men trembled but didn’t move. Their voices came out uneven, breaking with fear.

”We... we are sorry, Lord Garius,” one of them stammered. ”But please—help us!”

Garius turned his back to them, hands clasped neatly behind him. His tone carried quiet command.

”I refuse to hear it if you stay like that,” he said. ”If you wish for me to listen, then stand—and speak properly.”

At his signal, the Armand elite guards stepped forward, helping the men to their feet. Even then, they kept their heads low, bowing deeply.

Garius turned to face them again, his gaze sharp.

”I am not a king,” he said evenly. ”I am merely the ruler of the Armand Region. Do not mistake respect for flattery. What you’re doing now—it mocks me more than it honors me.”

The envoys froze, eyes downcast, unable to meet his gaze.

”Now speak,” Garius continued, his tone steady but unyielding. ”What brings you here?”

He gestured lightly toward Alf.

”If you came seeking aid, food, supplies, or a reduction in trade duties, you could have gone directly to the City Overseer or the Armand Merchant Guild. If it concerns your people, the refugees already within my borders and under our protection, you could have spoken to Alf without troubling me personally.”

He lowered his hand, his eyes unreadable. ”So tell me... what is so important that you refused to share it with my trusted man here?”

The three envoys began to speak, one after another. Their words filled the room, low and strained, carrying the weight of something desperate and grave.

Garius listened in silence, his face unreadable.

When they finished, he leaned forward, elbows resting on the table, fingers interlaced before his face. His expression hardened, eyes steady and sharp.

”You do understand,” he said slowly, ”that what you’re asking carries weight far beyond a simple favor.”

The air grew thick. The three envoys exchanged nervous glances.

Garius’s expression remained calm, but his eyes told another story, calculating, already weighing the political and military ripples their plea would bring. This wasn’t something he could decide lightly.

The envoys tried to kneel again, but the Armand guards moved swiftly, each placing a firm hand on their shoulders to stop them.

Garius rested one elbow on the table, his forehead leaning against his fingers. His gaze remained heavy.

”I will discuss this matter with my council,” he said, voice even and composed. ”For now, all of you should rest.”

He turned slightly. ”Erinnette.”

”Yes, my lord?” she answered softly.

”Have someone escort them to the guest quarters,” Garius said. ”See that they are provided with food and anything else they may need.”

”But... Lord Garius—” one of the envoys began.

Garius’s eyes met his, sharp and steady. The envoy froze mid-sentence.

”I already said,” Garius continued, his voice low but carrying absolute authority, ”I will discuss this with my council. The decision will come later.”

He straightened, his presence filling the room once more. ”You all understand what you’ve asked of me, it is not a request without cost, nor without consequence. For Armand... or for me.”

The envoys bowed their heads silently.

Garius gave a single nod. ”That will be all for now.”

( End Of Chapter )