Reborn As Noble

Garius stretched his arms dramatically, taking a deep breath. "Haaa... It's good to bond like the old days, without all this noble crap weighing us down."

Errinette chuckled softly, momentarily breaking her refined composure. "Young master—oh, pardon me—Count Garius."

Garius spun around, pointing at her with mock indignation. "Errinette! You did that on purpose!"

Alf and Hesbeirn burst into laughter, Hesbeirn slapping Boulder's side for emphasis while Alf doubled over, clutching his stomach.

Errinette shook with laughter, her usual grace cracking. "Apologies, my lord. It simply slipped out."

Garius crossed his arms, sulking dramatically. "Hmph. You three are ganging up on me again, just like the old days."

Alf wiped a tear from the corner of his eye, grinning. "We wouldn't dare, My Lord. You're far too important now for teasing, aren't you?"

Hesbeirn added with a rare smile, "Of course, my lord. We'd never mock the great Count Garius... openly."

Their laughter echoed, and even Garius couldn't keep up the act. He shook his head, a genuine smile spreading across his face. "Ah, you three... Some things never change."

Errinette placed a hand over her heart, a twinkle in her eye. "We wouldn't want them to, my lord. It's moments like these that remind us of what truly matters."

Garius smirked, his playful tone returning. "Just don't forget who's in charge now. Or I might have to remind you—nobly, of course."

The group laughed again, the warmth of their shared memories and bond evident in every smile.

As they sat under the shade of a large tree near the grand Pekko pen, cups of steaming tea in hand, the atmosphere quieted. The cheerful banter of earlier moments softened as Garius leaned back, his gaze distant.

He swirled his tea absently, the golden liquid reflecting the sunlight. "You know," he began, his voice somber, "if it wasn't for all of you, I might not have survived the Klimbert attack."

The group fell silent, exchanging glances. Even Alf, usually ready with a smirk, looked down at his cup, thoughtful.

Garius exhaled deeply, his amber eyes clouded with memories. "It's sad… my whole family fell during the Klimbert war. Back then, we had nothing—no allies, no resources."

Errinette placed her cup down gently, her fingers clasped. "You were just a boy then, my lord. But your will to survive was unmatched."

Hesbeirn nodded solemnly. "I still remember that night. The chaos, the screams... You stood your ground even when the odds were against you."

Alf leaned forward, his tone serious. "We all swore that day to protect you, not because of your title, but because of who you were—a leader even as a child."

Garius smiled faintly, his usual playfulness replaced by sincerity. "I owe my life to you three. You weren't just loyal retainers; you became my family when I had none."

Errinette's voice was soft but firm. "And we will continue to stand by you, my lord. Always."

Hesbeirn raised his cup slightly, calm but resolute. "To our Lord who survived, and to the family he built from the ashes."

The others followed suit, lifting their cups in a silent toast. Garius smiled brighter as he clinked his cup against theirs.

"To the old days and the future ahead," he said, his voice filled with gratitude and determination.

For a moment, they sat in peaceful silence, the weight of their shared past binding them closer. The laughter from earlier felt even sweeter now, a testament to how far they had come together.

The atmosphere turned tense as Garius placed his teacup down, his sharp gaze meeting each retainer in turn. The earlier lightheartedness vanished, replaced by the commanding presence of a leader ready to protect what was his.

"Alf," he began, his tone low but resolute.

"Yes, my lord?" Alf straightened, his playful demeanor fading.

"Hesbeirn," Garius continued, his voice steady.

"Yes, my lord?" Hesbeirn leaned forward, serious.

"Errinette," Garius called, his eyes lingering on her.

"Yes, my lord?" Errinette's calm voice held a trace of determination.

Garius clasped his hands together, his gaze piercing. "Ensure your elite units are ready to counter any further attempts by the Klimbert remnants. They've already tried to end my family again, but they failed—thanks to all of you."

The three nodded, faces set with grim resolve.

Garius turned to Hesbeirn. "Make sure our troops are prepared, not just for defense, but for war if it comes."

Hesbeirn placed a fist over his heart. "As you command, my lord. Our forces will be ready to respond."

Errinette interjected, unwavering. "We've gathered intelligence on their movements, my lord. They won't catch us off guard again."

Alf smirked slightly, confidence shining. "Let them come, my lord. We'll remind them why the Armand family rose from the ashes. They'll regret ever setting foot near this estate."

Garius leaned back slightly, a faint but determined smile on his lips. "Good. I trust you all. If they come for us again, we'll show them what happens when you challenge the house of Armand."

The weight of his words hung in the air as the trio bowed their heads, silently vowing to protect their lord and his family with everything they had.

"Hesbeirn," Garius said, turning to his loyal commander.

"Yes, my lord?" Hesbeirn straightened, ready to report.

"Total troops now?"

"We have over 10,000 fully prepared for deployment and an additional 6,000 in reserve, all local recruits," Hesbeirn replied confidently.

Garius tapped his finger on the armrest of his chair. "Good. But never make the same mistake as my late father. Double-check the background of every new recruit. I don't want infiltrators in our ranks."

Hesbeirn nodded firmly. "Understood, my lord. I'll ensure every recruit is thoroughly vetted."

Turning to Alf, Garius's gaze sharpened. "Alf."

"Yes, my lord?" Alf leaned slightly forward, eyes gleaming with readiness.

"Your house of assassins—status?"

Alf smirked. "Local talent and recruits from various sources, my lord. Most are slaves bound by seals to ensure loyalty. They can't betray their lord, even if they wanted to. They're trained to perfection, especially the beastkin units, who excel in stealth and combat."

Garius nodded, a faint smile forming. "As expected. Keep them sharp and ready. If war comes, I'll need their precision."
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Finally, Garius turned to Errinette. "Errinette?"

"Yes, my lord?" Her calm demeanor remained unshaken.

"Our elite secret battle maids?"

Errinette smiled subtly. "Each one is carefully chosen and integrated into the manor. They are highly trained in combat and subterfuge. No intruder will pass unnoticed."

Garius leaned back in his chair, satisfaction evident. "Excellent. Maintain vigilance. If the Klimberts dare to strike again, we'll show them the strength of the Armand house. This time, they'll regret underestimating us."

Garius sighed dramatically, leaning back with a weary expression. "Gaaaarrhhh... noble life is hard."

The trio—Hesbeirn, Alf, and Errinette—exchanged amused glances and chuckled softly.

"Always being marked by others..." Garius muttered, waving a hand in mock frustration. "Rivals scheming, assassins lurking, alliances turning into betrayals—it's exhausting! Can't a man enjoy his life without worrying about who's plotting to stab him in the back?"

Hesbeirn smirked. "It's the price of power, my lord. The higher you climb, the more enemies you attract."

Alf shrugged teasingly. "But you wouldn't trade it, would you? You enjoy the challenge too much."

Errinette crossed her arms, a knowing smile on her face. "Besides, if noble life were easy, what excuse would you have to drag us into your sparring matches or reckless plans?"

Garius chuckled, unable to deny it. "Fair point. I suppose I'd be bored otherwise. Still, sometimes I wish I could just... live a simpler life. No politics, no scheming—just peace and quiet."

Hesbeirn grinned. "You? Peace and quiet? Forgive me, my lord, but I can't imagine you sitting still for more than a day."

Alf added with a smirk, "And if you didn't have all this, you wouldn't have your precious Giddie."

Garius's face lit up at the mention of his beloved pekko. "Ah, Giddie... true. He's worth the headaches. Fine, I admit it. Maybe noble life isn't all bad."

The group shared a laugh, the tension of their earlier discussions forgotten. Despite the challenges ahead, their bond as a team remained unshakable.

( end of chapter )