Chapter 929: Guests and Decrees ( 929 )

Liana rose gracefully, then knelt down beside Javier, meeting his gaze. "But isn’t that good news for everyone?" she asked gently.

Gloria knelt at his other side, voice just as calm. "Yes, young master. That’s good news for Armand. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with us finally gaining full independence."

Javier glared at both of them, frustration clear on his face. "Of course it’s good for Armand. But you two are forgetting something important."

They exchanged a puzzled look.

Javier gripped his hair. "Ugh, these two..."

"What do you mean, young master?" they asked in perfect unison, while Mimi, completely unfazed, kept eating but shot him a curious glance.

Javier scowled, voice rising. "Once Armand gains independence... what rank does my father become, huh?"

Liana pressed a finger to her lips, thinking.

Gloria just smiled, already guessing where this was going.

Liana answered softly, "There are only two or three options, I think. King, Ruler, or Sovereign."

"And who’s next in line when that happens?" Javier pressed, voice a mix of dread and resignation.

"You, young master," they said together, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Since it’s already confirmed."

"Gihhh! That’s the real problem! Ugh! I hate paperwork!"

Liana stood up slowly, Gloria rising with her. They shared a glance, and both slipped into mock-serious drama, their tone exaggerated just to tease him.

Liana declared, "This means once we’re married, young master..."

Gloria picked up the cue, "And he becomes the next heir..."

Gloria faced Liana with a dramatic bow. "Ah~ what a wonderful day, First Queen."

Liana returned the gesture with a regal smile. "My my~ indeed, it is a good day, Second Queen~"

Javier just groaned, clutching his head as the two continued their little act, doing nothing to ease his growing sense of doom.

Mimi’s ears perked up, her tail flicking. "Nya!? So if Lord Garius becomes king, that makes our husband the prince, right?" she chirped.

Felicia’s eyes brightened, a small smile tugging at her lips. "That means no one will oppose our marriage, husband~ Me as a princess and you as a prince. How perfect."

Delya hugged herself, eyes misty. "Ah~ a real prince marrying me, a princess~ What wonderful news..."

Javier shot a glare at everyone, then abruptly stood. "If I hurry and take Buddy, maybe I can still stop this before it happens!"

He turned as if to bolt, but Liana and Gloria were faster, each grabbing one of his arms.

"Young master. It’s rude to leave your meal on the table," Liana chided, her voice firm but gentle.

"Yes, indeed, young master. You should finish your food first," Gloria added, her grip unyielding.

"No! I still have time to..."

Javier struggled, but Liana’s hand landed sharply on the side of his neck, a precise, practiced chop. At the same time, Gloria reached forward, her palm glowing faintly as she pressed it against his shoulder, whispering the trigger for her sleeping skill.

His protests cut off into a mumble. "N-no... I have to... paperwork... father... stop..." His words blurred as sleep swept over him.

Within moments, Javier’s eyes rolled and he slumped forward at the table, head landing gently atop his folded arms.

Mimi giggled, tail waving. "Nya~ so easy, husband-sama! Now you can’t run~"

Felicia’s lips curled in a smile, her elegant composure returning as she leaned closer to watch Javier doze.

Delya, her expression soft and dreamy, sighed happily. "Ah~ our prince is so cute when he’s sleeping..."

Liana dusted off her hands, looking satisfied, while Gloria calmly adjusted Javier’s hair so he’d rest comfortably.

"Let’s eat before the food gets cold," Liana said, reclaiming her place at the table with graceful authority.

Meanwhile in Armand Region.

Armand Estate.

Hesbeirn and the other elite Armand knights were escorting the keeper, his hands tied, while the two wagons carrying the keeper’s family waited at the courtyard.

The keeper’s eldest and second sons looked on anxiously as their father was led toward the manor. They turned to the Armand guards surrounding the estate, desperation in their voices.

"Please... have mercy on my family. If Lord Garius wants to punish us, please spare my family. We’ll take the blame for it."

One of the elite guards scratched his head, looking genuinely confused. "Huh? Who’s punishing who?"

Both sons stared, wide-eyed, taken aback by the casual tone. The rest of the keeper’s family watched as a group of Armand maids approached the wagons and gently helped them out.

Another elite guard laughed and elbowed his partner. "If Lord Garius wanted to punish anyone, there’s no way he’d bring you all to the estate. If he wanted punishment, you wouldn’t even see the walls of the Armand Border."

"Yeah, no way you’d even be inside if that was the case," his partner added, grinning lazily. "No one gets past these gates unless Lord Garius wants them to."

"Where are my father taken to?" the eldest son asked the guard again, his voice tense.

The guard gave a casual shrug. "Hmm? To meet our lord. What else would it be?"

"And where are the Armand maids taking my family?"

One of the maids turned, tilting her head politely. "To the guest house. It’s Lord Garius’s command. We’ve already finished preparing the guest house for your family. Now, if you please... follow me."

The maids moved with quiet efficiency, guiding Savran’s family from the wagons toward the guest house area, their steps calm and reassuring.

One of the elite guards gestured to the two sons. "Go on, follow the maids. The servants will handle your belongings."

The eldest and second son exchanged a look, nodded, and quietly joined their mother and siblings as they followed the maids toward the guest house.

Inside the manor, Savran glanced anxiously at Hesbeirn and Gilmon as they walked.

"What will happen to my family, Hesbeirn? Gilmon? Please... spare them," he pleaded.

Gilmon let out a tired sigh while Hesbeirn pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Oi, Savran. You still don’t know how Lord Garius is? If he wanted to punish you or your family, do you really think he’d have gone out of his way to make sure your journey to Arjam was smooth and free from trouble? If he wanted you dead, would you even have made it to see the Armand Border Wall, let alone step inside?" Hesbeirn snorted.

Savran’s voice faltered. "Then... why was I detained?"

Hesbeirn sighed again. "Because if he didn’t do it this way, his youngest son would be the first to notice what you were carrying, right?"

Savran’s eyes widened a little. "...The royal decree?"

"Exactly," Gilmon said, arms folded. "If Young Master Javier got wind of it, he’d will do anything to make sure that decree never made it to Lord Garius."

"W-why...?"

"That’s something you should ask Lord Garius yourself," Hesbeirn replied, voice low but firm. "Even if we know the answer, it’s best you hear it straight from our lord."

( End Of Chapter )