Reborn As Noble-Chapter 408: Between Spirits and Rivalry ( )

The warm breeze of the border town rustled softly through the streets as Javier, flanked by Liana and Gloria, strolled casually through the marketplace—hands behind his head and completely at ease.

Vendors waved, children pointed excitedly at the trio, and Pekkos squawked cheerfully as they waddled behind them with light clattering steps.

"Young Master?" Liana asked gently.

Javier tilted his head. "Hmm? Yes, Liana?"

She glanced at him, her eyes narrowed with quiet concern. "Ari said… you should start worrying about the other Celestial vessels."

Javier yawned dramatically and shrugged. "Oh… I will. You know, when the time comes."

Suddenly, Gloria paused mid-step, her expression shifting subtly.

Then her voice changed—calmer, sharper.

"Isn't that already too late by then?" Aria's voice came through Gloria's mouth, laced with her usual elegant frustration.

Javier blinked and then grinned.

"Hmm? Why worry about it anyway?" he said mischievously. "Father already briefed me about the situation."

Liana and Gloria exchanged quick glances.

"When?" they asked in unison.

Javier raised an eyebrow like it was obvious. "Hmm? Oh, when you both went to the maid dining area at the manor that day."

Liana squinted. "Huh? We didn't notice anything."

"Of course you didn't," Javier replied with a smug smile. "Mrs. Errinette was with you two at the time, right? When you were having your lunch?"

Gloria blinked. "Wait—so while we were distracted, he pulled you aside?"

Javier whistled innocently, hands still behind his head. "I mean… not like I planned it. But you know how father is. Quiet. Direct. Efficient."

Liana frowned. "And you're… not even worried?"

"Nope." Javier grinned. "Because I've already prepared."

He stretched lazily, letting out a small breath as they strolled past a blacksmith's forge, the clanging of metal echoing behind them.

"Besides," he said casually, "worrying about something like Celestial vessels can come later."

Liana frowned but stayed silent, waiting for him to continue.

"For now," Javier continued, "I'd rather focus on securing the safety of our people here."

His tone was light, but beneath it lay firm conviction.

"When war really breaks out, like Father predicted…" He looked ahead, eyes narrowing slightly. "That's when I'll step up. I'll do what I can—when it actually matters."

He glanced at Liana and Gloria with a smirk. "Until then… you two should start figuring things out with Ari and Aria."

Liana blinked. "...Ari and Aria?"

At the same time, both girls' expressions changed subtly, their voices overlapping as the spirits stirred within.

"Hmm? Yes?" came the synchronized reply from Ari (inside Liana) and Aria (inside Gloria).

Javier nodded, now serious. "You two should teach them how to synchronize with you. Let them learn to draw and control your power properly."

He stepped ahead slightly, sunlight catching the confident tilt of his smile. "We'll do it later when we get back to the estate. And this time... you both better be serious."

For a moment, Aria and Ari were silent, then both gave a resigned, almost sulky response:

"Yes, yes. We got it."

Liana and Gloria exchanged glances and sighed in unison.

"Why do I feel like training with them is going to give me a headache…" Gloria muttered.

"Because it will," Liana replied with a sigh.

Javier just chuckled and kept walking, Buddy squawking cheerfully behind him.

He looked up at the sky for a moment, sunlight flickering through drifting clouds.

Then he muttered quietly—almost like a passing thought.

"Ari… Aria…"

Their voices responded instantly, echoing softly through Liana and Gloria.

"Yes?" they said in perfect harmony.

Javier didn't turn to look at them. His tone, for once, was stripped of mischief—calm and firm.

"You better make sure they can synchronize with your power… and sooner rather than later."

"Like I said before…" He paused, then clenched his fists slightly. "I don't want anything bad happening to them. No matter what."

A long silence followed, filled only by the distant sound of wind and Buddy's soft cuquawk behind them.

Then both spirits answered gently.

"Yes. We will."

Javier closed his eyes for a moment, a rare stillness washing over him.

"Good."

He turned slightly to glance at Liana and Gloria, their forms steady and beautiful.

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"Because I don't want to lose them again."

His voice dropped to a whisper.

"No matter what."

Liana looked at him, eyes widening faintly at the raw honesty in his words. Gloria's lips parted softly, but she said nothing.

The wind passed between them—warm, quiet, and heavy with the weight he carried without saying it aloud.

Javier simply smiled again.

And walked forward.

Meanwhile, at the Armand estate...

Cedric sat on a stone bench, relaxed, enjoying the quiet while Meira gently combed through his hair from behind—her tail flicking contentedly.

"Peaceful, isn't it?" Cedric murmured, his eyes half-lidded.

Meira gave a soft hum of agreement. "Mm. Finally some quiet time—just you and me."

She leaned in closer, her ears twitching.

Until—

BANG!

The door to the courtyard flew open with a dramatic thud.

"CEDRIC!!"

A blur of energy shot across the stone path.

"Zania!?" Cedric blinked as a petite figure rushed straight at him.

And then—

POMF.

Zania tackled him in a flying hug, practically clinging to his side.

"I missed youuu~!" she chirped, her cheeks squished against his arm.

Meira's tail puffed up like a furball.

Her ears twitched, and her eyes narrowed.

"Don't touch my Cedric."

Her voice was calm. Too calm.

Zania looked up with a sly smirk.

"Hmm? Cedric's not yours alone, you know." She wrapped her arms tighter around him. "I'm sure he's happy to have me at his side too~. Right, Cedric?"

Cedric blinked, sweat trickling down the back of his neck as the tension between the two girls surged like static mana in the air.

"Uhh…"

He raised both hands carefully—like a man caught between two dragons.

"Can we not do this today…?"

Meira's tail swished sharply behind her as she stood, hands on her hips, narrowing her eyes into thin golden slits.

"Shoo shoo, Amazarak princess," she said flatly, flicking her hand at Zania as if chasing off a particularly annoying bird. "Go find your own noble to cling to. This one's mine."

Zania pouted dramatically but didn't let go of Cedric's arm. In fact, she hugged it tighter, her eyes twinkling with defiance.

"Hmm? No," she said sweetly. "I love him."

Meira's ears twitched, and her tail fluffed up again.

"I was the first one!" Meira snapped, pointing a clawed finger. "I've been with him since he was ten! I'm the one who stood beside him through training, studies, and those awful etiquette classes!"

Zania tilted her head with a teasing smile. "And? He's a noble." She shrugged innocently. "A charming prince, at that. That means he can marry more than one, right?"

"Not if I bury you in the garden first," Meira growled, her claws lightly tapping the air as she took a step forward.

Zania giggled, still clinging to Cedric.

Meira stared at her, deadpan.

Cedric sighed.

Another normal day at the Armand estate.

( End of Chapter )