Reborn As Noble

Phenelopie chuckled, placing her teacup down with a soft clink. "That sounds like something out of a novel."

Fransesca massaged her temples. "Tell me about it. I nearly fainted when I saw her. Identical to Lithia. Same face, same voice, same… everything."

Garcinia blinked. "So he really—?"

"Yes," Fransesca said flatly. "They're both living with him now."

Eridith leaned forward, eyes gleaming with interest. "And you allowed that?"

"I'm not thrilled," Fransesca admitted, "but Harny did say it was a promise Lithia made when she was a child. To share her husband with her mother someday."

Garcinia raised her brows. "That's… new."

"Welcome to the Armand family," Fransesca muttered, sipping her tea with a tired expression.

Eridith smiled while patting her round belly. "Well, at least you can't blame the boy for lacking charm."

Fransesca sighed again. "No, I blame their father. That charm didn't come from me."

Phenelopie rested her chin on her hand, swirling the tea gently. "Talking about our husband… do you think he'll be back soon?"

Fransesca exhaled softly, her fingers tapping the cup. "Knowing him, he's probably already in the Armand region by now. Likely in our capital city, Gaze. Perhaps busy meeting his people… you know how he is."

Garcinia nodded with a small smile. "Count of Armand, ruler of our region, head of the Armand family… yet never once slacks on his duties."

Eridith chuckled. "Yes… that's our husband."

Fransesca's expression softened as she leaned back in her chair. "He always carries the weight of everything alone, even if he never shows it."

Phenelopie looked toward the window. "I hope he rests at least a little."

Fransesca smiled faintly. "He'll rest… once he sees we're all doing well."

Phenelopie grinned smugly. "By the way… it's my turn tonight, right~?"

Fransesca sipped her tea with a knowing smile. "Yes, yes… enjoy him as much as you want."

Garcinia crossed her arms, amused. "Tomorrow is my turn."

Then Fransesca turned with a playful smirk. "Garcinia?"

"Hmm?" Garcinia glanced over, suspicious.

"You're not planning to have another child, are you?"

Garcinia choked on her drink and coughed hard. "Wha—I… I-I'm not…! Well… I mean… if our husband wants to, then maybe… but… my son and daughter are already adults… It'd be weird for them to suddenly have a baby sibling running around, right?!"

Fransesca raised a brow and teased, "Hmm? I don't think it's weird. After all, Phenelopie has Heres, her adult son… yet now she has little Macia, her baby daughter."

Phenelopie proudly puffed her chest. "Age doesn't matter when it comes to love, fufu~"

Eridith laughed softly while rubbing her belly. "At this rate, our family will never stop growing."

Fransesca chuckled. "Well, so long as our husband can keep up."

That night.

Deep within the Halfling Kingdom…

Seven cloaked figures moved like shadows through the dense trees. A thin mist curled around their feet as they halted just outside the capital's outer district wall.

One by one, their appearances shimmered, twisting and shifting with transformation magic—ears shrank, limbs shortened, faces took on the cheerful roundness of halflings.

Within seconds, seven perfect disguises.

"Remember the mission," the First said coldly, eyes scanning their surroundings.

"I know," the Seventh replied, his voice calm but sharp as a blade. The others silently nodded.

"The target is the royal palace. Eliminate all guards on the perimeter. Strike silently. No witnesses."

"The goal is to weaken King Gurdan," the Third added. "He's dangerous—not because he's a halfling, but because he holds a Celestial inside him."

"It won't be easy," the Fourth muttered. "But it must be done. The other divisions are on standby, waiting for our signal."

"Don't die," the First said. "Don't fail. Even if we can't kill Gurdan tonight, we need to create an opening."

"Once he's weakened, Fourth… you must release the signal so our king can proceed," the First commanded, voice low but absolute.

"I know," Fourth replied without hesitation, his eyes already glowing faintly as he adjusted the silver ring on his finger—an artifact tied to their communication spell. "Don't worry."

The First gave a curt nod. "Good. We move once it's clear. When I raise my hand, activate invisibility. No noise. No movement until then."

The seven disguised assassins went completely still.

Their breathing slowed.

Their hands hovered near blades coated with anti-divine poison—specifically crafted to harm celestial vessels.

Then…

A distant bell rang from the palace.

The First slowly raised his hand.

Without a sound, seven bodies vanished into the night.

The sound of soft footsteps echoed faintly through the marble corridors of the Halfling Royal Castle.

A squad of elite halfling guards, clad in reinforced leather armor, patrolled the inner halls, their senses sharp—until one of them halted.

"Wait…" The lead guard's eyes widened. "Those are—!"

Several of their comrades lay lifeless in the hall ahead, blood pooling beneath them.

"What the—!! Sound the al—!"

Shhk!

A flicker of movement—too fast.

Then silence.

A thin spray of blood hit the wall. The lead guard's head slumped forward, nearly decapitated. His comrades reached for their weapons, but it was already too late.

A low, deranged chuckle echoed as the Seventh stepped forward from the shadows, blood dripping from his twin blades.

"Your voice was ugly. Too loud, too annoying. Better to just lay down and be silent…" He grinned wide, licking the blood off his blade. "It's disgusting hearing such a tone from someone so ugly."

The remaining bodies dropped in heaps around him, the dim corridor now silent but for the faint dripping of blood.

"Hey, Two."

"What now, Seventh?" she muttered, annoyed.

Seventh licked his lips, grinning with his usual twisted smirk. "Let me fuck you once this mission finishes."

Two turned slowly, eyes narrowed. "Shut up, Seventh. We haven't even finished the mission yet. Don't jinx it."

"Relax~" he snickered. "This'll be easy. They call themselves elite, but look at them." He nudged a halfling corpse with his foot, watching it roll limply. "Weakkkkk~. One hit, down. Pfft, pathetic."

"Focus," Two snapped. "If you die being cocky, I'll kill you again myself."

Seventh laughed. "Aww, I knew you cared~"

"Move."

Two already vanished into the shadows ahead—cold, quiet, efficient.

Seventh grinned again, twirling his blade. "Heh… she'll warm up to me eventually." Then he slipped after her into the darkened hall, leaving a trail of crimson footprints behind.

( End Of Chapter )