Reborn As Noble

Meanwhile, in a quiet town nestled deep within the vast lands of the Beastkin Kingdom…

At a cozy outdoor tavern shaded by tall trees, Javier was seated at a sturdy wooden table, tearing into grilled meat with Liana, Gloria, Felicia, and the newest addition, Ferine.

The air was warm, filled with the scent of roasted spices and the faint laughter of merchants in the distance. The peaceful moment was occasionally interrupted by the sound of chaos at the nearby fruit stall—Buddy, Pikko, Peanut, and Felicia's still-unnamed Pekko were aggressively snatching fruit from baskets, ignoring the panicked vendor's cries.

Javier pretended not to see it, resting his cheek on his hand while chewing, eyes blankly following the ruckus. I'll pay later for what they eat.

Ferine, sitting nervously beside him, shifted in her seat. Her fingers fidgeted with her skirt hem before she softly asked.

"Umm… Can I ask something?"

Javier glanced her way, casually. "Hmm?"

"I'm number… what?" she asked quietly, eyes lowered, cheeks slightly flushed.

There was a short silence.

Javier turned toward Buddy, pretending to focus deeply on the bird now hopping excitedly on one leg while nibbling a stolen banana.

Liana gracefully sipped her tea and answered in a calm, elegant tone.

"You're number six."

Ferine blinked. "Six…?"

Liana smiled gently. "Yes. Before you. Its me, Felicia, Mimi, and Delya."

Ferine's shoulders slumped. "I see…"

Ferine's shoulders slumped. "I see…"

Gloria, sitting with poise, offered a serene smile. "But don't worry, dear. It's not about the order—it's about how deeply you're cherished."

"Mm-hmm," Felicia added, calmly feeding a slice of grilled meat to her Pekko as she spoke. "It's not like we can stop him anyway. He attracts trouble… and girls."

"Like a walking harem magnet," Liana murmured, sipping her tea again.

Ferine lowered her head, hiding a small smile as she quietly whispered to herself.

"…Number six isn't too bad."

Liana gently set down her cup, eyes calm and composed.

"What are you going to do after this, young master?"

"Yes, young master, what is your plan now?"

Javier leaned back slightly in his seat, arms crossed, gazing up at the sky for a moment.

"I don't know…"

"For now, all I can do is wait for Father's instructions." Javier reply.

Felicia, who had been quiet, turned her gaze back to him.

"What about the Dwarven lands that were captured by the Human Kingdom?"

Javier tilted his head.

"For that, I have to wait for Father's command. I can't act on my own. I'm not the one who decides the fate of the Armand people or the region."

His voice was calm but firm.

"I'm not the ruler. That's still Father."

Gloria gave a gentle nod of approval.

Liana simply smiled.

And Ferine quietly looked at Javier.

"So if you were the one who could decide," Liana asked softly, folding her hands over her lap. "What would you do, young master?"

Javier looked down at his half-finished plate of meat, then back at Liana.

"I can't say for sure…"

"But maybe—I'd go for diplomacy first."

Gloria tilted her head slightly, curious. "Hmm? Why is that, young master?"

He exhaled slowly, eyes distant.

"…Because I don't want more people to die."

His words hung in the air, gentle but firm.

The table fell silent.

Felicia looked down, her ears twitching faintly.

Ferine paused, her hand resting on her fork.

Liana looked at Javier, her expression calm but serious.

"…What if that's not possible, young master?"

Javier leaned back slightly in his seat, eyes thoughtful.

"Hmm? Of course I know…"

"The chance for diplomacy might not be possible if the other side refuses it—or worse, if they make absurd demands."

He paused, his fingers gently tapping the table.

"It may end up in the worst way possible."

Gloria's gaze sharpened. "Like demanding something we can't possibly give?"

Javier nodded.

"Exactly. Especially if it's King Edmund we're dealing with. Knowing him, any request would be something neither I nor father could ever agree to."

Ferine looked uneasy, whispering, "Then… it really might become war again?"

Javier looked at her, then glanced out at the busy town.

"…That's why I want to be ready—for peace or war. Whatever comes first."

Inside Javier's mind.

I know it already started.

King Edmund has deployed his unknown force…

I saw it. My surveillance drone… flying high over the Human Kingdom. Quiet. Unseen. Recording everything.

It's getting worse over there.

Starvation everywhere.

Children rummaging through trash just to find crumbs. Families sleeping on streets—thin, pale, forgotten.

Houses burned. Villages abandoned.

Homeless numbers rising every day.

And the nobles… greedy bastards…

They increased taxes to fund the war. Squeezing the poor like blood from a stone. Peasants whipped for missing payments.

Some towns even sold their women just to pay tribute to their barons.

This isn't a kingdom anymore.

It's a living hell in disguise.

None of them are rebelling.

They're too hungry… too broken… too scared.

…That's not a country at war.

That's a country already dead, walking on rotten legs.

Honestly… I don't even know what's happening in the Armand Region right now.

But I'm not worried.

We're not just some random province under the Human Kingdom. Armand is an autonomous region. Independent. No outside power can touch us or dictate how we run things.

Everything—our military, economy, laws—it's all under Father. Count Garius de Armand. No king, no duke, no royal decree can override his authority.

And my brother Aelius and sister Athine… those two might not be warriors, but when it comes to economics and trade? They're monsters.

They run our markets, our supply chains, our merchant guilds, and even the regional banking system. Efficient. Ruthless. Stable.

Our region doesn't use weird currencies or unstable notes. We stick to what's solid and universal—copper, silver, and gold coins. Accepted anywhere.

And our reserves? Hah. We've got piles. Literal piles of wealth. Just the Armand Household treasury alone could fund a war.

And the regional treasury? That's even bigger.

…Not to brag, but if I open my magic storage right now, the gold, jewels, and diamonds in there could make a royal treasurer faint.

I'm rich. Like… really rich.

But what I really worry about…

Are the refugees.

I know Father already prepared a full system to help them. Housing, food, work placements—it's all accounted for. He's not the type to turn people away.

And we're not some broke territory either. Even if we absorbed ten thousand more refugees, it wouldn't shake our economy. Not even a dent.

The problem isn't the cost.

The real issue… is politics.

Refugees coming from other noble houses—especially regions under the Human Kingdom—are still considered citizens of those houses.

Which means... if they flee to Armand, it looks like we're poaching them.

Like we're interfering.

Even if we give them sanctuary, offer them better lives, educate their children, and treat their wounds...

To their lords, we'll look like the villains. Like we're undermining their control.

And that… could cause a whole different kind of conflict.

( End Of Chapter )