Reborn As Noble

Javier grinned as he picked up a small headpiece from his desk and tossed it to Liana. She caught it easily, examining the thin, rune-engraved device.

"And you know what's even better?" Javier continued, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "I installed a sound rune on it! So not only can it see from the sky, but it can also hear!"

Liana raised an eyebrow. "It can… hear?"

"Yup!" Javier smirked. "Just put on this headpiece with the glasses, channel a bit of mana into it, and—voilà! You'll hear everything the drone picks up from the air!"

Liana looked skeptical but followed his instructions. She placed the headpiece over her ear and adjusted the glasses on her face. With a small pulse of mana, the runes activated, and suddenly—

—Crackle—

She blinked.

"…Young Master, I can hear something!"

"Hehe~" Javier grinned. "It's picking up the sound of Buddy and Peanuts playing outside!"

Liana turned her head, but before she could react, she suddenly heard something else.

"Oi Cedric, where are you going?"

Liana's ears perked up at the familiar voice. She turned sharply toward the window. "Wait… isn't that—?"

Javier wiggled his fingers. "That's right! My drone is already near the estate walls! It just overheard Marcellus and Cedric!"

Liana took off the headset and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Young Master… please tell me you won't use this for spying on people."

Javier cleared his throat, looking suspiciously innocent. "W-Well, I mean, it's a scouting tool, right? For military purposes!"

Liana let out a deep sigh. "Young Master… I don't know whether to be impressed or worried."

Javier chuckled. "Heh. Soon, the Magic Drone will be the ultimate battlefield tool!"

Liana tilted her head, staring at the strange object in Javier's hands. It looked nothing like the usual magical tools she had seen before. "How do you control it, Young Master?"

Javier smirked and held up a device—a peculiar object with buttons, switches, and two small levers. "Oh? With this controller. It's just like playing games!"

Liana frowned. "Playing… games?"

Javier froze. "Err—Err—Nothing!" He quickly waved his hands, forcing a laugh. "Forget I said anything!"

Liana narrowed her eyes. "Young Master…"

Javier scratched the back of his head awkwardly. Damn, my mouth slipped! No one here knows what video games are!

Liana sighed but decided to let it go—for now. "Fine. Show me how it works."

Javier immediately brightened. "Alright! Watch closely, Liana! This is how you pilot the Magic Drone!"

With a flick of his fingers, he pushed the left lever forward.

Outside, the small floating device hummed to life, its runes glowing faintly as it ascended higher into the sky. It moved smoothly above the estate, adjusting its position every time Javier pressed a button.

Liana's eyes widened in awe. "It actually moves!"

"Hehehe~ Of course it does!" Javier grinned. "With this joystick, I can steer it left, right, up, down, and even make it hover!"

Liana leaned in closer, watching as the drone maneuvered effortlessly through the air. "What about the sound rune? Can you hear anything?"

Javier tapped a switch. A faint crackle came through the headset, followed by voices—

"Cedric! That's my wine!"

"Go get yourself another bottle!"

Then, two exasperated sighs followed.

"Master, it's not time for drinking wine," Lithia and Meira scolded in unison.

Liana shook her head. "Ah. As expected… your brothers."

Javier burst out laughing. "This thing is amazing!"

Javier's eyes sparkled with excitement as he pointed to a box-like device embedded with a glowing mana crystal.

"Liana, try putting on the earpiece and place it here," he instructed, patting the side of the device.

Liana hesitated but followed his instructions. "Here, Young Master?"

"Yep! Now, press this button to turn it on!"

A soft hum filled the room as the mana crystal pulsed with light.

Then—

"Master Marcellus! Don't drink it all in one go!"

"Master Cedric—Nyaaaa~"

Silence.

Liana froze, her shoulders trembling as she pressed both hands over her mouth, desperately trying not to burst out laughing.

Javier, however, had no such restraint.

"OH MY GOD! PFFFFFT!!!" He threw his head back, laughing uncontrollably. "Did—Did Meira just meow?!"

Liana gasped between giggles. "W-Why did she meow?!"

Javier wiped a tear from his eye. "Ohhh, this is awesome! This Magic Drone is already the best thing I've ever made!"

Liana took a deep breath, still chuckling. "Young Master… maybe we shouldn't spy on your brothers like this?"

Javier gave her a sly grin. "Too late. This is important surveillance, Liana! You wouldn't want our esteemed eldest and second brother slacking off, right?"

Liana sighed, massaging her temples. "Here we go again…"

Javier patted the magic device proudly. "And this, Liana, is what I call the Magic Speaker! With this, we can listen in from anywhere! Just plug the earpiece into the receiver, and walah! You can hear everything!"

Liana narrowed her eyes. "So basically… an eavesdropping device."

Javier grinned. "A very effective one!"

Liana didn't respond. Instead, she simply smiled serenely and then—

Pulled on Javier's ear.

"Eeekkk!! Liana!!!" Javier yelped, his voice echoing through the workshop.

"Young Master," Liana said sweetly, still tugging at his ear, "this is an amazing invention… but it's not for spying on people's private moments."

"Eeeekkk!!" Javier kicked his legs. "I got it, I got it! No more eavesdropping!"

Gloria, who had just entered the workshop carrying a tray of tea, blinked at the scene.

"My, my~ What kind of trouble did you get yourself into this time, Young Master?" she asked, setting the tray down.

Javier flailed as Liana mercilessly pulled his ear. "Gloooriiiaaa!! She's being mean! Help me!" Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire

Gloria chuckled, adjusting her glasses. "Ara~ But didn't I warn you not to mess with Liana too much? You know how she gets when you push her too far, Young Master~"

"Liana! Mercy! I won't spy anymore!" Javier yelped, trying to pry her fingers off his ear.

Liana sighed and finally let go. "Good. Now promise me you'll only use this Magic Drone for important matters."

Javier rubbed his sore ear and pouted. "Tch… fine. Only important matters. But what if I need to know what kind of cake the kitchen is making?"

Liana gave him a deadpan look.

Javier grinned.

Gloria leaned closer and whispered, "If you really need to know, Young Master, I can find out for you~"

Javier's eyes sparkled. "That's why you're my favorite, Gloria!"

Liana crossed her arms. "Excuse me?"

Javier froze. "Uh-oh."

"Eeeekkkk!!! Lianaaaaa!" Javier ran from her as fast as he could, his voice echoing through the workshop.

"I'm sorrryyyy!!"

Liana chased after him, her serene smile never wavering. "Young Master, why are you running?"

"Eeeeekkk!! That smile!!" Javier yelped, his face pale with terror.

Gloria just sipped her tea, watching the chaos unfold with a charming, amused expression.

"Ara~ Young Master, running away will only make it worse~"

Javier zigzagged around the workshop, dodging shelves and tables. "It's because I know that's a trap!! That smile means death!!"

Liana gracefully picked up a rolled-up blueprint from the table and raised it like a sword. "Young Master, come here. I just want to talk~"

"No, you don't!!" Javier yelped, jumping over a chair.

Buddy, Pikko, and Peanuts, sensing the tension, watched from the doorway. Buddy squawked loudly as if cheering for Javier, while Peanuts and Pikko exchanged knowing glances.

Javier rushed toward Gloria, hiding behind her. "Gloria! Shield me! As my second wife, it's your duty!"

Gloria blinked, then smirked. "Ara~ But I haven't married you yet, Young Master. So, I have no obligation to protect you from your first wife."

Liana paused, her serene smile widening.

Javier's face went pale. "G-Gloria, you traitor!!"

Gloria just chuckled and sipped her tea. "Fufu~"

"Noooo—!!" Javier's scream echoed across the estate as Liana finally caught him.

( End of Chapter )