Reborn As Noble

"You know, Javier."

Javier raised his eyes from his glass. "Hmm?"

Heres leaned back in his chair, swirling the wine lazily.

"Since you've become the next heir… I wonder what I should do?"

Javier tilted his head slightly.

"Hmm? If you want the position, I'll gladly give it to you and tell Father."

Heres nearly spat out his drink before laughing, a low chuckle rumbling from his chest.

"Hoh! No way! Don't wanna! All that paperwork? Those responsibilities? Nope."

He wagged a finger and smirked.

"Thankfully, everyone, including me, agrees you should be the next ruler. Hehe…"

Heres chuckled again, taking another sip, clearly relieved he wasn't the one being crushed under Garius's expectations.

"Why not, Brother Heres?" Javier asked with the faintest smirk tugging at his lips.

"Becoming the next Count of Armand would be good for you."

Heres snorted into his cup before lowering it with a grin.

"Hah! No way. I don't want my life to be like Father's, always being followed by Mr. Alf and Mrs. Erinnette, drowning in paperwork, meetings here and there, endless inspections."

He waved his free hand lazily, chuckling.

"Ah well… I do love checking the town and mingling with the people, sure. But work? Responsibility? Nope."

Heres leaned forward, smirking right back at him.

"That's your burden, little brother. The next Count's chair is already waiting for you."

"Can I ask you something, Brother Heres?" Javier said, tilting his head slightly.

Heres raised a brow, sipping his wine. "Hmm?"

"Why is it everyone already has a partner? Even me…" Javier let out a quiet breath.

"Well, let's leave Athine and Aelius out of this. Those two never even thought about partners. They just enjoy being together."

"Heh, that's right." Heres chuckled, then leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Though… I wonder if they've done it already."

Javier smirked faintly.

"Don't know, don't mind, don't care. It's their life. But you, Brother Heres… we've got plenty of beautiful maids around. Even noble daughters. Or others here tonight. Yet you show no interest in any girl."

Heres only chuckled, shrugging as he swirled his drink.

Javier's smirk curved slyly.

"Don't tell me… you like men?"

Heres nearly choked on his wine, coughing hard.

"Ewww!!! I'm not!!!"

"So? If you not swing that way, why?"

"Don't know, little brother," Heres admitted with a lazy shrug.

"I know everyone in Armand is super beautiful. Makes me wonder how Mrs. Erinnette has such good eyes when recruiting and training maids for our household."

He chuckled, lifting his glass.

"From household maids, to battle maids, to special units… all of them refined. And with Mr. Alf recruiting staff for the estate, yeah, I agree. Every girl around here is beautiful."

Javier tilted his head, his calm smile edging into a smirk.

"Are you shy, Brother Heres?"

"Not really," Heres replied, voice even. "Maybe I just haven't found my soulmate yet."

"Don't wait too long, Heres." Javier's tone softened, dropping some of his polite mask. His sly smirk returned as he leaned slightly forward.

"Or you'll end up a bachelor. And your mother will be sad, you know? I overheard her telling my mother, about it before."

Heres exhaled, setting his cup down.

"…Yeah, I know. It's just… none of them interest me."

Javier's gaze drifted past Heres, scanning the room.

Not far away, he noticed Heres's personal maid group. They weren't speaking, not even whispering, but their eyes lingered on him constantly.

Well… no wonder.

Even though Heres didn't talk much, his handsome face and well-built body spoke plenty on their own.

Poor girls, Javier thought, watching one of them quickly glance away the moment Heres shifted in his seat. It's not just his maids either.

From the Beastkin Kingdom delegation, a few young ladies kept stealing looks in his direction. Even from the Demon Kingdom's side, their girls weren't much different. Eyes flicking toward Heres whenever they thought no one was watching.

Javier sighed softly into his glass, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

Heh… charmer aura, huh? Even if he doesn't mean to, Heres naturally draws them in.

"By the way, little brother…"

Javier lifted his eyes. "Hmm? What is it, Heres?"

"I noticed something…"

"Noticed what?" Javier asked, brow tilting.

Heres smirked faintly, raising his cup.

"You sound like Father now. Calm. Suddenly mature."

"H… ha!? No… I'm not!" Javier stammered.

Heres chuckled, the sound low and amused.

"Well, you've been different from the usual cheeky and mischievous you. Hahaha."

Javier exhaled sharply, trying to hide the faint heat rising on his face. His lips curved into a half-smirk.

Damn it, did I really sound like Father just now…?

"I don't think I'm like Father," Javier muttered, his brows knitting slightly.

"Yeah? Then ask Marcellus, Cedric, Aelius, or Athine," Heres chuckled, his tone light.

"You act and sound like him now."

He leaned closer, smirking. "Or maybe you should ask Liana and Gloria? Hehe…"

Javier's eyes widened faintly. "F… for real? Am I sounding like him?"

"Yeah!" Heres grinned wide, raising his cup.

"The way you walk with your hands behind your back. Usually you'd stroll with hands stuffed in your pockets, or swinging carelessly. But now? Serious posture, calm face, hands behind your back just like him. Damn! If I didn't know your hairstyle was different, I'd swear everyone would see Lord Garius from behind."

Heres broke into soft laughter, shaking his head.

Before Javier could respond, the sound of stumbling footsteps and loud voices crashed into their corner.

"Oh!!! Heres!!!"

Marcellus and Cedric staggered over, their faces red and their grins wide.

"Don't be shy and join us!!" Cedric barked out, already shoving a goblet forward.

"Drink! Drink!!!" Marcellus laughed, grabbing Heres by the shoulder and tipping the cup straight to his lips.

"Ghhk—!!" Heres gagged, but Marcellus and Cedric only laughed harder, forcing him to gulp down the wine until the cup was empty.

Javier sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

And they said I'm the cheeky one…

" You two!" Cedric slurred, his cheeks flushed red as he shoved goblets toward both Javier and Heres. "We should drink more! You're not going anywhere!"

Javier held the cup with calm hands, his polite mask steady, though inside he sighed deeply.

Here it comes…

Heres coughed, still recovering from being force-fed by Marcellus, glaring weakly at the wine now pushed back into his hand.

Marcellus, meanwhile, was grinning slyly. His eyes shifted across the hall until they landed on a particular pair seated close together.

Aelius and Athine.

"Oh-ho!" Marcellus barked, swaying slightly as he stumbled toward them.

"Athine! As the eldest brother, I demand that Aelius drink with us tonight!"

He pointed dramatically at the two of them, his grin stretching wider. "Surely… you can join too!"

Athine exhaled softly, her calm smile never faltering despite the attention.

"If you say so, Eldest Brother."

Her eyes flicked briefly toward Aelius, who looked resigned already, before she gently reached for a goblet herself.

Javier pressed his fingers lightly to his temple, groaning inwardly.

This night is turning into chaos… and it hasn't even reached its peak yet.

( End Of Chapter )