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Javier opened his eyes and saw a beautiful girl about his age, maybe 11, with long, glossy auburn hair styled impeccably and wearing an elegant dress adorned with intricate embroidery. Everything about her scread "high nobility."
"Hmm?" Javier opened his eyes, lazily looking up from where he lounged against Buddy, his pekko.
"This bird... Are you its keeper?" she asked, her tone polite but curious, her gloved hand gesturing toward Buddy.
Javier blinked and furrowed his brows. "Huh!? What brat like you want?" he snapped, clearly annoyed by the interruption.
"Oi! Don't you dare disrespect our lady!" one of the guards accompanying the girl, stepping forward and placing a hand on the hilt of his sword.
Behind the girl stood several individuals dressed in maid uniforms and guard attire, all from a clearly different noble household. One of the maids sneered, pointing at Javier dismissively. "Lady Elizabeth, please don't waste your ti mingling with a commoner like him."
"Haaa. Can you all leave alone?" Javier said in a polite tone, though annoyance seeped into his voice.
"How dare you raise your voice at our lady!" the guard barked, drawing his sword and pointing it threateningly toward Javier.
Javier grinned and raised his hand, showing them his middle finger. "Oi! I said leave alone. Now go away… shoo shoo… bring along your 'lady' over there," he said, making air quotes with his fingers.
"Oh, a rude tone for a commoner kid. Clearly, your parents didn't teach you manners," Elizabeth said, her tone condescending.
Inside Javier's mind, he thought, Haaa… these noble kids and their maids, along with their guards, clearly forgot they were inside the Armand estate. Yet they think their lady title or power ans sothing here.
The guard's patience snapped. "Oi, commoner! You're standing before Lady Elizabeth of the Klimbert Household, Viscount Klimbert's grandaughter!"
Javier blinked and tilted his head. "So?"
"This kid!!" The guard raised his sword, ready to slash at Javier. "My lady, do you think we should punish this commoner?"
Elizabeth waved her hand dismissively, her lips curling into a cruel smile. "Cut his hand. Let him learn to respect those above him. I have no tolerance for insolence."
"As you wish!" the guard shouted.
The blade glead as it arced toward Javier.
Here it cos, Javier thought, a mischievous grin creeping onto his face. Ehehehe… I can't wait to parry this!
Clang!
The strike never reached him. The guard's sword was deflected with precision by an elegantly dressed figure who had appeared out of nowhere.
"Oh my," ca Liana's soft, polite voice, tinged with a dangerous undertone. She stood firmly in front of Javier, her erald eyes glowing faintly. The maid held her sheathed sword in one hand, its blade partially drawn just enough to block the attack.
The guard stumbled back, his face pale. "W-what?!"
Liana gently tilted her head, her serene smile not quite reaching her eyes. "What do we have here? And might I inquire why you are attempting to harm the youngest son of Viscount Garius of the Armand Household?"
Elizabeth's confident expression faltered. "The youngest son of... "
Her maids and guards exchanged uneasy glances, realizing their error.
Liana's tone remained gentle, though it carried a steely edge. "Oh, did you not know? My young master is Javier de Armand, son of Viscount Garius. And if I recall correctly…" She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "…this is the Armand estate, is it not? Your actions could easily be interpreted as an offense to this house."
Javier leaned against Buddy with a smirk, watching the scene unfold. Inside, he was dying of laughter. Ahhh, Liana, you're just the best. Look at these fools squirming.
The guard dropped his sword, bowing hastily. "M-my apologies! I didn't know—"
Liana's smile widened slightly. "Didn't know? That's hardly an excuse,Right?"
Elizabeth huffed, her face red with humiliation. "Let's go," she ordered curtly, turning on her heel. Her entourage scrambled to follow.
As they left, Liana turned to Javier, her expression softening into exasperation. "Young master, why didn't you say anything before it escalated?"
Javier grinned. "And miss the show? No way. You handled it perfectly, Liana."
Liana sighed, though a faint smile tugged at her lips. "Honestly…"
Liana sighed deeply, rubbing her temples as she processed Javier's bold declaration.
"And what do you think will happen if I didn't defend against the attack?" she asked, her tone calm but probing.
Javier shrugged nonchalantly, patting Buddy's feathered neck. "Hmm? I'd just parry it myself... or let Buddy here crash that guy into the dirt. Maybe take out the rest of them too, including their oh-so-precious 'lady.'"
Liana's eyes narrowed sharply. "Young master..."
"What? The Klimbert family's history with us isn't exactly clean, right? Mother said so herself. They tried to wipe out this family when Father was just a kid."
Liana remained quiet, her lips pressing into a thin line.
Javier leaned back casually against Buddy. "If it weren't for Butler Alf, Maid Leader Mrs. Errinette, and General Hesbeirn protecting him back then, Father wouldn't have survived, right? They're the reason he's even alive today."
Liana finally spoke, her voice low but firm. "That doesn't an you should provoke them unnecessarily, young master. Lady Francesca may have told you those stories to teach you caution, not to encourage reckless behavior."
Javier waved her off, grinning. "Reckless? Nah, I'm just... prepared. Besides, it's not like I started anything. They're the ones acting high and mighty on our land, waving swords around."
Liana folded her arms, her usual composed deanor returning. "Even so, young master, you must consider the consequences. Provoking a noble house like Klimbert could lead to political trouble, not just for you but for Lord Garius and the entire household."
Javier's grin faded slightly as he mulled over her words. He let out a small sigh. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. But co on, Liana, don't you think it's unfair that they can walk around thinking they're untouchable? Especially after what their family did in the past?"
Liana's expression softened, though her tone remained steady. "Perhaps it is. But part of being noble is knowing when to act and when to hold your hand. That's a lesson you'll need to learn sooner or later."
Javier huffed, crossing his arms. "Haaa… fine. Next ti, I'll only send Buddy after them if they really deserve it. Deal?"
Liana raised a brow, her lips quirking into a faint smile. "That's... not exactly what I ant, but I'll take it for now."
Liana's sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, her usual calm deanor replaced by an intense aura of authority. Javier, still lounging against Buddy, tilted his head at her sudden shift.
"Young master," Liana called, her tone low but firm.
"Hmm?" Javier responded lazily, still chewing on a piece of grilled at.
"Stay here with Buddy and Pikko," she ordered, her gaze fixed beyond the pekko pen.
Javier raised a brow. "Where are you going?"
Liana didn't answer imdiately, but the subtle tremble in her hands and the fiery look in her eyes told him enough—she was furious.
"Liana...?" Javier ventured cautiously.
Her voice was cold and decisive. "I need to report this incident to Lady Francesca... and—"
Suddenly, Javier felt the air around her shift. It was heavy. Liana's usual grace was overshadowed by a commanding presence that made him sit up straight.
"Li...ana?" he asked hesitantly.
She turned to him, her eyes glowing with fury. "I will ensure every guard on duty today is fired imdiately!"
Javier blinked, stunned. "Err... Liana? Chill... I an, it's not that big a deal—"
She whipped her gaze toward him, silencing him with a look. "Not a big deal!!? Young master, there were no guards patrolling! None! The estate is wide open to anyone. Guests—like those Klimbert fools—are wandering freely. Do you understand what could've happened if soone with ill intentions got through?!"
Javier raised his hands defensively. "O-okay, okay! But firing them all seems... harsh?"
Liana clenched her fists, her usually soothing voice now steely. "Neglecting their duty is unacceptable. This estate isn't just a ho—it's a stronghold. The guards' carelessness has endangered everyone. I will not tolerate it!"
Javier leaned back, scratching his head. "Alright, I get your point. But... maybe don't go full warlord on them? At least hear their excuses first?"
Liana turned away, her elegant composure slowly returning as she started walking toward the estate. "Stay here, young master. And don't cause any more trouble while I'm gone."
( End of Chapter )
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