บท 11: A Step Towards Nobility ( 11 )

The news about the noble party spread quickly among the household staff. Lord Garius, or as Javier liked to call him, "the dried plum," and Lady Francesca were preparing for a significant gathering. Javier, overhearing snippets of conversation from his maids and eavesdropping during quiet moments, pieced together the purpose of this event.

"So, it's official then," he mused internally while playing with Meira's tail. "The dried plum gets a shiny new rank because of my brothers. From Baron to Viscount—two ranks in one go, all thanks to Marcellus and Cedric."

Marcellus, the eldest at 14 years old, had been appraised with the Wizard class—an exceptional one known for its versatility in magic. Cedric, now 13 years old, earned the Swordmaster class—a combat prodigy blessed with unmatched talent in the blade. Together, their accomplishments meant an increase in land and influence for the De Armand family.

"That's great for you, dried plum. More land, more headaches." Javier smirked to himself. "As for me, I'll stay under the radar. No need to show off or get involved in this noble politics nonsense."

He had noticed the stark differences in treatment between himself and his siblings. While each of his brothers was assigned six maids and a training butler—a personal aide skilled in combat—he only had three maids: Meira, Liana, and Lithia.

"Not that I'm complaining," he thought with a grin. "Three beautiful maids are more than enough for me. Especially when one of them gives me the good stuff... Ehehehe."

As Javier lay in his crib, pretending to nap while Liana cleaned his room, he contemplated the structure of the noble hierarchy.

Let's see... it's something like this, right?

Kingdom: King, Queen, Prince, and Princess

Archduke

Duke

Marquess

High Count

Count

Viscount

High Baron

Baron

Low Baron

The De Armand family had started at the near bottom rank as a Baron household but was now on the cusp of entering mid-tier nobility. "A Viscount... huh. If things keep going well, the dried plum could reach Count in another decade or two," he thought.

But Javier was in no hurry to help with that. "Let the others play their little games of power. I've already lived through the grind of life back in Japan—school, work, all that nonsense. If I can stay in the background, enjoy the perks of being nobility without the responsibilities... that's the dream."

Next year, it would be the turn of Lady Garcinia's eldest son, Aelius, and Lady Phenelopie's only child, Heres, to attend their blessing ceremonies.

"Good luck to them," Javier thought with a yawn. "The more the dried plum's kids get blessed, the higher his rank climbs... and the more I get to stay out of the spotlight. Works for me."

As the sound of Meira and Lithia's chatter reached his ears from the hallway, Javier closed his eyes and smiled. "But first... where's Liana? I need my afternoon 'snack.' Ehehehe."

Javier crossed his little arms and pouted as he sat on the soft cushion in Liana's room. "As long as they don't take my wives away, I'm fine with all this rank climbing," he muttered under his breath.

His "wives" were his greatest treasures—Meira, Liana, and Lithia. Sure, they weren't officially his yet, but that was only a matter of time. No one, not even his older brothers or step-siblings, was allowed to claim them.

"They're all mine," Javier whispered, determination burning in his small but cunning eyes.

Just then, Meira entered the room, her tail swaying with every step. She carried a tray with snacks and tea for herself and Liana. Her bright demeanor instantly lifted Javier's mood.

"Meira, where are you going next?" he asked, feigning innocence but already scheming.

"Hmm? Oh, I was thinking of visiting the library," Meira replied, setting the tray down.

Javier's eyes sparkled. "Really? Can I join? I've never been to the library before!"

Meira tilted her head, a bit unsure. "Well... Madam Francesca and Lord Garius will be attending the noble party for two or three days. So maybe it's okay, as long as we're careful."

"Thank you, Meira!" Javier beamed, standing up on wobbly legs and toddling toward her.

Meira chuckled and patted his head gently. "Alright, young master. But you have to promise to behave in the library, okay? No running around or pulling books off the shelves."

"Of course," Javier said with his most angelic smile, already planning to do exactly the opposite.

The library was a grand room filled with rows of tall bookshelves, reaching all the way to the ceiling. To Javier, it felt like stepping into a treasure trove of knowledge. His eyes darted around, scanning the countless leather-bound tomes.

"Wow," he whispered, genuinely impressed. "So many books..."

Meira watched him with an amused smile as she busied herself arranging a few books that had been misplaced.

Javier wandered over to a section with books written in an ancient language. His eyes narrowed as he pretended to struggle with the letters, but in truth, he could already read fluently thanks to his past life.

Perfect, he thought. If I'm going to learn how to control mana and practice magic, I need to do it secretly. No one can know I'm actually capable. Better to let everyone think I'm just a useless little kid.

As Meira turned her back, Javier pulled out a small book on basic mana theory and tucked it under his shirt. He'd read it later in the safety of his crib.

For now, though, his focus shifted back to Meira, who was climbing a small ladder to place a book on a higher shelf. His mischievous grin returned as he toddled over to her.

"Meira," he called sweetly.

She looked down at him. "Yes, young master?"

"Can you read me a story?" he asked, flashing her his most innocent look.

Meira chuckled and climbed down from the ladder. "Of course. Which one do you want to hear?"

Javier pointed to a random book, not caring about the content. As long as he could spend more time with his future wife, that was all that mattered.

"Ehehe," he thought to himself as Meira sat down and opened the book. "They're all mine."

The night cover the estate in silence, save for the occasional crackle of the magic torches lining the hallways. With Francesca and the others away at the noble party, Junichi—reborn as Javier —had the perfect opportunity to indulge in his secret ambitions.

He lay in his crib in Liana's room, feigning sleep while the elf hummed softly to herself, preparing for bed. As her light footsteps faded and the room fell still, Javier opened one eye.

Hehehe, it's my time now.

Sliding quietly out of his crib, he tiptoed across the room, careful not to wake Liana. His tiny form slipped through the door, and he crept down the dimly lit hallways, his heart racing with excitement.

The library wasn't far, but the journey felt like a grand adventure to Javier. The shadows flickered on the stone walls, but he paid them no mind. His thoughts were focused entirely on the wealth of knowledge waiting for him.

Finally, he reached the heavy wooden door of the library. Pushing it open just enough to slip through, he stepped inside and closed it softly behind him. The room was pitch black, but that didn't bother him.

Javier held out his small hand, channeling mana into his palm. A soft, pale glow emanated from his hand—enough to light the immediate area without drawing attention.

Perfect.

He scanned the shelves, eyes glinting with determination. Most of the books were far out of his reach, but he didn't mind. He focused on the lower shelves, running his fingers over the spines until he found one that intrigued him.

Pulling the book free, he settled onto a small cushion in the corner of the room. The glow from his palm illuminated the pages as he began to read.

The book was about mana manipulation, a foundational text for aspiring mages. Javier smirked.

This is exactly what I need. If I master mana now, I'll be leagues ahead of everyone else. No need for tutors or fancy ceremonies.

As he read, he practiced the techniques described, quietly channeling mana through his body. It was challenging, especially with his small, undeveloped frame, but Javier's determination drove him forward.

The hours slipped by unnoticed as he absorbed the book's teachings. His mana control improved with each attempt, the glowing light in his palm steady and bright.

Eventually, a soft creak outside the library door startled him. He extinguished the glow in an instant, plunging the room into darkness.

Who could that be at this hour?

The door opened slowly, and Javier held his breath, pressing himself against the shelves. A familiar figure stepped inside, holding a small lantern.

"Javier?" Meira's soft voice called out, her tail swishing behind her. "Are you in here? I thought I saw you sneaking around earlier..."

Javier sighed in relief, stepping into the lantern's glow.

"Meira! You scared me!" he whispered, putting on his most innocent face.

She knelt down, her golden eyes narrowing. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be in bed!"

"I... I couldn't sleep," Javier mumbled, clutching the book behind his back.

Meira sighed, her tail flicking. "You're going to get in trouble if the madam or Lord Garius finds out you're wandering around at night."

She lifted him effortlessly, tucking him against her shoulder.

"Let's go back to bed, young master," she said firmly.

Javier pouted but didn't resist. Guess I'll have to come back tomorrow night.

As Meira carried him back to Liana's room, Javier's mind raced with plans. He'd tasted the thrill of discovery, and nothing—not even his doting maids—would stop him from mastering his magic in secret.

( End of Chapter )