Reborn As Noble

Chapter 1456: Two Maps That Were Mirrors ( 1456 )

Javier clasped both hands behind his back, watching the retreating commander and the Grand Mage disappear into the distance before letting out a weary exhale.

”Sigh...”

His thoughts drifted, heavy with the weight of what lay ahead.

Damn...

I still remember what Father mentioned before.

About Zurakan... and the parts of Vurghen land...

This won’t end well for the Lurghen last heir.

Lurghen was conquered by different noble houses. The Hargrab Household took the majority, and part of Lurghen originally belonged to them before it was stripped away generations ago. They’ve been waiting for an excuse to reclaim it.

And Vurghen... some parts of it were originally Zurakan’s grandfather’s land. Land that was lost during a border dispute generations ago, land that Zurakan’s family has never forgotten.

Perhaps that’s why the map inside the sealed document had certain areas marked. Those markings represented the land that could be rightfully claimed by Friedrich. But the unmarked areas... those were the lands that originally belonged to other houses, lands that would be contested, lands that would spark further conflict if Friedrich tried to reclaim them.

Javier’s gaze remained fixed on the horizon, his expression thoughtful.

Father’s proposal isn’t just about practicality. It’s about avoiding a war over land that, by the old kingdom’s laws, might not even be Friedrich’s to reclaim. Armand could take it by force, of course. But then we’d be seen as conquerors stealing land from other nobles, not liberators restoring a rightful heir.

That would turn every other noble in the region against us, and worst of all, it would paint us as tyrants who disregard the ancient treaties and laws of the land, laws my father has always respected, even when he no longer had to follow them.

Ugh...

And I know about Zurakan and Father.

Back when Armand was still a noble house, Zurakan and Father were never enemies. They weren’t allies either. They were more like... neutral acquaintances. They respected each other’s boundaries, kept their distance, and never interfered in each other’s affairs. Zurakan was always careful around Father, never crossing a line, never giving Father a reason to view him as a threat.

And the worst part?

Zurakan was always a stickler for the laws, for tradition and precedent. And Father, for all his power, has never disrespected those who follow the law earnestly. He respects the old kingdom’s legal framework, even if he no longer answers to it. He sees law not as a cage, but as a foundation. Zurakan is someone who truly understands law, who lives by it, and who expects others to do the same.

Javier pinched the bridge of his nose before letting out a long, tired exhale.

Father would respect that. He wouldn’t want to start a war over land that, by the letter of the old kingdom’s laws, might have a legitimate claim from another house. That’s why the proposal is so specific. It’s not just about what Friedrich can take. It’s about what can be taken without sparking a wider, bloodier conflict that would drag Armand into a quagmire of endless border disputes.

Javier’s gaze lingered on the distant horizon, where the last traces of the fleeing carriage and the scattered remnants of enemy soldiers had finally vanished beyond the treeline. The dust settled slowly on the empty road. Nothing remained but the silence left behind by routed men.

And I’m sure all of them are going to be dead soon.

By their own lord.

From the observations we conducted a week ago, and the reports from our spies embedded in the coalition camps, the war map of Vurghen told a very specific story.

Zurakan’s war map only marked certain areas. Specific towns. Specific strategic positions. The unmarked areas on his map were never part of his objective. He wasn’t trying to conquer all of Vurghen. He was only reclaiming the lands that once belonged to his grandfather.

And the sealed document Father gave to me before... the map inside it marked the areas Friedrich could rightfully reclaim. Those marked areas on our map were the lands Zurakan never targeted.

The two maps were mirrors of each other. One showed what Zurakan wanted. The other showed what Friedrich could keep.

Which means...

Those two commanders exceeded their orders. Zurakan never told them to attack this town. This town wasn’t on his map. It wasn’t part of his objective. They pushed beyond their lord’s command, probably hoping for glory, for plunder, for a victory they could boast about.

And they dragged their soldiers to face Armand forces, something Zurakan never authorized. They exceeded their mandate, and in doing so, they dragged their lord into a conflict he never wanted.

Zurakan is a man of law. A man of precision. He doesn’t tolerate insubordination, and he certainly won’t tolerate two commanders whose arrogance nearly started a war with Armand.

Javier squatted down, placing both hands on his knees, before raising one hand to scratch his head in frustration.

This would mean...

Paperwork!

Negotiation!

Meeting the nobles!

Discussion!

And I’m sure this will include the King from another nation as a mediator!

He let out another frustrated groan, running his hand through his hair.

Ugh! I hate dealing with this stuff. Every single time, it’s endless meetings, hours of carefully chosen words, diplomatic posturing that goes nowhere, and bureaucrats who love the sound of their own voices. Give me a battlefield any day. At least there, I know who the enemy is.

Now my freedom of time is going to be completely gone! Stuck in stuffy rooms, shaking hands with sweaty old men who’ll talk in circles for hours, pretending to care about ’mutual prosperity’ and ’shared interests,’ all while trying to figure out who’s lying and who’s just stupid. I’d rather face another army alone than sit through another negotiation banquet.

Just when I thought I could spend some time relaxing with the girls, or maybe even sneak off with Buddy to the nearby forest... now I’m going to be stuck in meetings, reviewing treaties, and listening to nobles argue over border lines and ancestral claims.

He glanced back toward the town, where his soldiers were already organizing the cleanup and securing the area.

And I’m sure Father’s going to make me attend every single one of those meetings too. ’You’re the one who led the mission, Javier. You should see it through to the end.’ And then he’ll hand me a stack of documents taller than Buddy and say, ’Read these, understand them, and prepare a summary for me by tomorrow.’

Javier straightened up, dusting off his pants with a resigned expression.

Well... at least the battle is won. The town is secured. And now comes the boring part.

A small smile tugged at his lips as he watched the Armand soldiers moving with sharp discipline, their movements precise and coordinated. They were no longer the relaxed, complacent troops from earlier. Their eyes scanned the streets, their rifles held at the ready, their formations tight.

Heh... I guess Father was right. They just needed to remember what it felt like to stand on their own. Now, let’s get this place settled and deal with whatever comes next.

( End Of Chapter )