Reborn As Noble

Chapter 349 - 349: Traditions and Tensions ( 349 )

Garius rubbed his temple, a gesture of mounting frustration. His sharp gaze turned to Javier, sharpening the air between them.

"And Javier..."

Javier straightened, fidgeting slightly.

"Y-Yes, esteemed father?"

Garius exhaled deeply, a small smirk emerging.

"Good job."

Javier blinked in surprise. Liana and Gloria widened their eyes slightly, while Alf and Erinnette raised their brows.

But then Garius's voice turned firm.

"Good job… for not killing a royal princess without knowing."

Javier froze.

(Wait. What?)

Garius leaned back against the golden throne, resting his cheek on his knuckles. His voice was calm but heavy with meaning.

"Had you killed her without knowing, it would have escalated things far worse than they already are."

A cold chill ran down Javier's spine.

(Oh, crap.)

Then Garius narrowed his eyes slightly.

"But tell me, Javier…"

Javier gulped. "Why did you bring her here?"

A sudden, dangerous shift in the air made Javier tilt his head, confusion painting his features.

"Eh? I just wanted to show off—err, I mean, I wanted to hand her over to you directly, esteemed father!"

Garius's smirk deepened as he rested his hand on the armrest.

"You are aware of Amazarak traditions, aren't you?"

"In Amazarak culture, bringing a girl like her to meet your family is the same as saying you want to marry her."

Javier choked on air.

"EHHH?!?!"

His eyes darted to Liana and Gloria, who both sighed heavily. Gloria pushed up her glasses, pinching the bridge of her nose, while Liana folded her arms and shook her head.

"Young Master, this is why we told you to leave her with Hesbeirn."

"You never listen," Gloria added.

"Why didn't you tell me?!"

The two sighed again, Liana rubbing her forehead.

"We did, Young Master. We questioned why you insisted on bringing her here."

Gloria adjusted her glasses. "You ignored us."

Javier felt his soul leaving his body as realization dawned.

Liana's eyes gleamed dangerously as she took a slow, measured breath.

"Didn't I tell you earlier, Young Master?"

Javier stiffened.

"Didn't I question why you insisted on bringing her here?" Her voice was calm—too calm, which indicated he was in trouble.

Gloria stood beside Liana, letting out a long sigh as she pushed up her glasses once more.

"We suggested two very simple options, Young Master. One—finish her off."

"Two—hand her over to General Hesbeirn."

A cold sweat formed on Javier's brow.

"Yet…" Liana continued, her tone shifting to a dangerously low whisper.

"You insisted on bringing her here. To the estate. To our lord."

Javier raised his hands defensively.

"H-Hold on! You two never mentioned their traditions!"

His panicked eyes flicked between Liana and Gloria, who sighed in exasperation.

"We assumed you knew, Young Master. You have studied Amazarak customs, haven't you?"

Javier's face stiffened.

(…Did I? Did I skip that part?)

Garius suddenly smirked, leaning slightly on his throne and watching the scene unfold with amusement.

"Liana. Gloria."

Both turned their heads, bowing slightly.

"Yes, my Lord?"

Garius's eyes gleamed with mischief.

"You didn't inform him about this?"

Liana and Gloria exchanged glances, silently debating how to respond. Finally, Liana spoke up.

"We both, at first, thought Young Master was bringing her here to hand her over to Mr. Alf or Mrs. Erinnette."

Gloria nodded in agreement.

"Not to present her in the middle of the hall like this, my Lord."

Garius chuckled, the smirk on his face deepening as he rested his cheek against his knuckles.

"But… Javier."

Javier jerked to attention.

"Y-Yes, esteemed father?!"

With a calm yet authoritative tone, Garius continued,

"As a human from Armand, we don't need to follow their traditions."

Javier's shoulders sagged in relief.

"However…"

His relief froze as Garius's smirk deepened.

"We don't know about her."

A heavy pause followed, and then Garius's eyes locked onto Zania.

"She, on the other hand, must adhere to Amazarak traditions."

Javier felt a chill run down his spine as his father's words sank in like a dagger.

(Wait. WAIT. NO. Does that mean—?!)

Javier snapped his head toward Zania, who was staring at the floor with an unreadable expression.

Then—Garius's voice turned serious.

"She was an enemy… for now."

Javier gulped.

"But tell me, Javier."

His father's next words pinned him in place. "What should we do about her?"

Javier opened his mouth, then closed it, then opened it again,

(Wait. What?!)

"Unlike human women, we do not grow visible muscles," Zania continued, her eyes flickering with pride.

"That is why…"

She hesitated before continuing, the weight of her words sinking in.

"Only if the man wins the duel can he marry that woman."

Javier felt his soul return to his body as clarity dawned on him.

(OHHHHH! SO THERE IS A WAY OUT!)

But Garius smirked—a dangerous, knowing smirk that sent another chill down Javier's spine.

"I know that. That's why Amazarak has always been ruled by a queen, right?"

Zania stiffened and nodded slowly, a flicker of pride crossing her features.

"Yes… because amazarak men cannot defeat amazarak women in our kingdom."

( End Of Chapter )