Reborn As Noble - Chapter 314

Chapter 314: Treasures of the Past ( 314 )
“Achoo!!”

Javier wiped his nose, frowning.

“Weird… it’s not even cold. Maybe I’m still weak?”

He muttered to himself, staring at the sizzling wyvern meat on the portable magic grill.

Liana tilted her head, watching him.

“Young Master? What are you thinking?”

Javier shook his head.

“Oh… nothing.”

Liana raised an eyebrow, but let it go.

Nearby, Gloria stretched her arms, sighing in relaxation.

Pikko and Peanut were happily chasing each other, flapping their small wings.

A few feet away, Buddy was busy scratching the earth like a chicken, pecking with excitement.

Javier smirked as he watched.

“Looks like Buddy’s found a new hobby.”

The scene was peaceful, warm, and full of life.

For the first time in weeks—Javier felt like things were finally back to normal.

“Cuquawked?”

Buddy tilted his head, staring at something half-buried in the dirt.

His eyes widened.

Something was there.

Something needed to be…

DUG UP.

“Cuquawk! Cuquawk!”

With sudden energy, Buddy started scratching wildly at the ground, kicking up dirt everywhere.

His claws tore into the soil, sending dust flying in all directions.

Liana blinked.

“Young Master… what is he—”

A huge clump of dirt smacked her face.

Gloria got hit next.

“Uwah?! Buddy!! What are you doing?!”

Javier just watched, amused, as Buddy kept digging like his life depended on it.

Dirt flew everywhere, covering the grass, the air, and unfortunately—his maids.

Then—with one final, dramatic swipe of his claws…

THUNK!

Buddy froze.

His beak gently tapped against something solid.

The dust settled.

And there, half-buried in the ground—was an old, rusted chest.

“Cuquawk?!”

Buddy tilted his head again, completely unaware of the mess he had just made.

Liana wiped her face clean, groaning.

Gloria spat out a bit of dirt.

Javier grinned.

“Hah… guess he found something interesting.”

Buddy puffed up his chest proudly.

This was the greatest achievement of his life.

Buddy puffed up his chest, standing proudly in front of his discovery.

He turned toward his master, ready to show off.

“Cuquaw—”

A shadow loomed behind him.

A familiar, terrifying presence.

“Cuquawked…?”

Buddy slowly turned his head—

And froze.

Giddie.

Towering. Glowing. Radiating dominance.

His golden feathers gleamed under the sunlight like an emperor inspecting his kingdom.

His sharp, piercing gaze locked onto Buddy.

Then—he squawked.

“CUQUAWKEDDDDDD!!”

The ground shook. The air trembled.

Buddy’s soul nearly left his body.

Panic. Pure panic.

Buddy jumped like his life depended on it, flapping his tiny wings, sprinting away at full speed.

Pikko and Peanut saw Giddie—

They didn’t think.

They just ran.

A stampede of terrified pekko birds scattered across the yard.

Javier, Liana, and Gloria watched the chaos unfold.

Javier sighed.

Meanwhile, Giddie stood proudly, watching the other pekko flee in terror.

He turned his gaze toward the ground—where the old, rusted chest sat half-buried in the dirt.

His sharp eyes narrowed.

Something about it seemed… familiar.

Giddie squawked in realization.

“Cuquawked!!”

Without hesitation, he leaped forward, clamping his massive beak onto the chest’s handle.

With one mighty tug—

The chest was freed from the dirt.

“Cuquawwk!”

Giddie lifted the chest and bolted toward the courtyard,dragging the massive chest along the ground.

“CUQUAWKED!! CUQUAWKED!!”

The entire estate shook with the sheer volume.

Garius, who was in his office, sighed.

“Haa… what is it this time?”

Fransesca took a sip of tea, smiling.

“Looks like Giddie found something important~”

Garius slowly stood up, a rare smile forming on his lips.

“Hah… that bird.”

His Giddie rarely got this excited.

The last time he had seen Giddie like this…

Was when he was just a small, fluffy pekko chick.

With calm, steady steps, Garius made his way toward the courtyard.

And there he saw it.

Giddie—hopping in place, wings flapping excitedly, his golden feathers ruffling.

The mighty alpha pekko, the proud king of birds—was acting like an overgrown chick.

Garius’ eyes followed the reason for Giddie’s excitement.

Then—he froze.

There it was.

An old, rusted chest.

The one he had buried long ago.

Before his life changed forever.

Before his entire family was taken from him.

Before he had to become the cold, calculating lord he was today.

The chest that held the last pieces of his innocent childhood.

And he had forgotten where it was.

Until now.

Garius let out a slow breath.

“…You found it, huh, old friend?”

Garius reached out and gently patted Giddie’s head.

“Good boy.”

But his gaze remained locked on the chest.

The forgotten treasure of his past.

The one thing he had never thought he’d see again.

With steady hands, Garius reached for the rusted chest.

The air around him felt heavy.

For a moment, he hesitated.

Then—he opened it.

Inside the chest, atop everything else…

Was a single framed picture.

A drawing, aged by time but still perfectly preserved.

His breath caught in his throat.

It was his family.

A portrait created by a magic painter they had once hired—back when everything was still warm, peaceful… whole.

Garius stared at it, his fingers gently brushing the edges.

His father, standing tall and proud.

His mother, smiling softly.

His two older brothers, arms crossed in confidence.

His sister, laughing with a flower in her hair.

And him—

A young boy, grinning wide, standing in the center.

For a long time, Garius said nothing.

The weight of the past crashed down on him.

Garius let out a slow, deep breath.

His fingers tightened around the frame.

“…I was just a boy back then.”

His voice was calm, but tinged with something deeper.

Loss.

Regret.

Love.

Alf spoke carefully.

“My lord… do you wish to stop?”

Garius closed his eyes for a moment.

Then—he shook his head.

“No. I’ve already opened it.”

He looked back at the chest.

There was more inside.

More pieces of his lost past.

And for the first time in decades…

He was ready to remember.

Garius shifted through the chest carefully.

The next thing he pulled out—

Another magic painting.

As soon as his eyes landed on it, a small, rare chuckle escaped his lips.

“Heh… look at Alf.”

The painting captured a memory long forgotten.

It was of him and Alf—back when Alf was just a teenager.

Beside them stood Erinnete and Hesbeirn—both still preteens, their faces full of youth and energy.

And behind them…

The first and only maid who had ever served the Armand family back when they were still just a Lower Baron household.

A humble beginning.

Before titles.

Before power.

Before war.

Garius turned the painting slightly, letting the light hit it.

Alf was in the middle, his usual sharp eyes filled with the stubbornness of youth.

Erinnete stood beside him, her arms crossed, already exuding authority despite being a child.

Hesbeirn was grinning wide, his preteen self looking full of mischief.

And Garius…

A boy who still smiled.

Who still had a family.

( End of Chapter )