Javier stepped down from the carriage, imdiately greeted by Liana and Gloria, who had been waiting for him. They scanned him briefly, checking if he was exhausted from the journey, but Javier gave them a small nod to reassure them.
Behind him, Alf approached the carriage and spoke in a low, respectful voice.
"My lord, we have arrived at the estate."
Garius stirred slightly before blinking awake. "Hmm? Oh… Alf, we've arrived?"
"Yes, my lord."
Garius exhaled deeply, rubbing his temples. "I didn't even realize I fell asleep."
He stretched his shoulders before stepping down from the carriage, followed closely by Francesca and Eridith. The mont his boots touched the ground, his sharp eyes swept over the estate grounds, reaffirming that everything was in place.
The estate's guards and staff stood in neat formation, awaiting their return. The mansion of the Armand family lood behind them.
Alf, Erinnette, and Hesbeirn remained vigilant, their eyes scanning the surroundings out of habit.
Javier, however, was still deep in thought. His father looked more exhausted than he had ever seen him before. If Garius was this concerned, then whatever was coming was no trivial matter.
"Erinnette?" Garius asked.
"Yes, my lord?"
"Is dinner prepared?"
Erinnette hesitated. "I didn't check yet, my lord. But I will inform the household maids and the chef imdiately."
Garius waved a hand dismissively. "No need to worry about that. I'm sure the head chef already knows the schedule."
He then turned to his most trusted warriors. "You three, go rest and eat. Assign the other battle maids to patrol the estate along with the elite guards. And Alf—"
"Yes, my lord?"
"Assign assassins to patrol the area too."
Before anyone could respond, Javier raised his hand.
In an instant, the courtyard of the estate was filled with the heavy sound of armored boots.
Five hundred puppet knights materialized in perfect formation.
Javier's voice was clear and unwavering. "Ensure the estate's safety. Kill anyone who is not from Armand."
The puppet knights saluted in perfect unison before imdiately dispersing into patrol formations. So spread out through the estate, marching along the walls and courtyard, while others disappeared into the surrounding area, taking up hidden positions like elite sentinels.
A heavy silence followed.
Even Garius, Francesca, and Eridith paused as they watched the puppet knights spring into action.
Erinnette, Alf, and Hesbeirn exchanged glances.
Eridith smirked, chewing on her jerky.
Alf finally broke the silence. "Impressive."
Garius exhaled, then turned to Javier. "Are you expecting an attack tonight?"
Javier t his father's gaze. "I don't know. But whatever you're worried about, I won't sit and do nothing."
Garius chuckled. "Good answer."
Liana and Gloria, who had been silent observers, exchanged knowing looks and smiled softly.
"Now, we should prepare for dinner. Everyone, go rest," Garius declared, his voice calm but firm.
As everyone began to disperse, he turned to his youngest son. "And Javier?"
Javier stopped in his tracks and faced his father. "Yes, esteed father?"
Garius gave him a knowing look. "Go and take a shower first. We will gather at the main dining hall to eat together as a family, as usual."
Javier nodded. "I will, esteed father."
Garius then shifted his gaze toward Alf, Erinnette, and Hesbeirn. "You three, go rest as well. Assign other maids and escorts if you're too worried about ."
The three exchanged glances before bowing.
"Understood, my lord."
Javier walked toward the estate, his steps steady, but his mind still preoccupied with the weight of his father's words. Behind him, Liana and Gloria followed closely.
"Liana? Gloria?"
"Yes, young master?"
Javier glanced back at them. "Go rest."
Liana hesitated, exchanging a look with Gloria. "But, young master—"
Javier cut her off with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry too much about . You two need rest as well."
Still, Liana and Gloria didn't move.
Javier chuckled before adding lightly, "Besides, we're going to sleep together anyway."
Liana arched an elegant brow, her lips curling into a teasing smile. She placed a hand over her chest and bowed gracefully, mimicking the formal posture used for Lord Garius.
"If you say so... my lord."
"Geh! Liana!" Javier flinched, feeling his face heat up.
Liana and Gloria chuckled at his reaction, their usual grace montarily replaced with amusent.
With that, they turned toward their own rooms, leaving Javier shaking his head with a sigh. These two… seriously.
Javier entered his room, closing the door behind him with a heavy sigh. The weight of everything his father had said still lingered in his mind.
Without wasting ti, he headed straight to the shower, letting the warm water wash away his exhaustion. The steam fogged up the mirror, but his thoughts remained crystal clear—What exactly is this 'thing' my family is so worried about?
After finishing, he dried his hair, slipped into casual clothes, and walked over to his desk. He pulled out his notebook, flipping it open to a fresh page before scribbling down notes.
They need this type of improvent… The mana flow needs to be more efficient… Maybe I should craft more of this and that…
His mind raced with ideas. If sothing serious was coming, then he needed to prepare. Whether it was upgrading his puppet knights, developing new weapons, or crafting sothing entirely different, he had to be ready.
For now, he focused on his notes, jotting down everything that ca to mind.
Javier tapped his pen against the notebook, deep in thought.
"Maybe I should craft new magic accessories for everyone…" he murmured.
Upgrading weapons was always an option, but was it necessary? A gun? A mana gun? He dismissed the idea almost imdiately.
"Guns don't work here. The household maids can dodge bullets with ease, so it won't be useful against unknown enemies either."
Mana-powered firearms were even more problematic. They consud too much mana, making them inefficient for soldiers with limited reserves. At best, they could work for soone like him or Alf, but even then, a regular gun wasn't exactly practical in this world.
"Upgrading their weapons?" He considered it for a mont before shaking his head.
Master Rasdingen was already handling that. As the head blacksmith, he and his team had been tirelessly working on the Armand troops' weapons and armor. With Javier's guidance, they had maximized durability and improved mana flow efficiency.
"Swords, shields, heavy weapons, magic crossbows, magic blades… everything has already been enhanced."
Even the armor had been reinforced with defensive enchantnts, allowing the troops to withstand strong magic attacks. The small barrier runes embedded into their gear activated in response to their mana, providing an extra layer of protection.
So, what else could I do?
Javier leaned back, staring at the ceiling. He needed sothing new—sothing that could tip the scales in their favor if things truly went south.
( End of Chapter )
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