Chapter 138: A Triumphal Return
“Welcome back, Rest—!”
“Welcome home, Rest-sama—!”
“Wapuh!”
As the battle came to an end, Rest was greeted by the warm embrace of the Rosemary Sisters upon his return to the Royal Capital. The civil war had concluded unexpectedly quickly, allowing him to return home just three days after his departure. Despite the short separation, it seemed the two had worried far more than he anticipated. Their simultaneous hugs caused Rest to stumble backward, resulting in a rather undignified homecoming.
“Rest, are you hurt? Is there anywhere that hurts?”
“Rest-sama, Rest-sama, Rest-sama…!”
Viola and Primula cried out, their voices filled with emotion. Rest, taken aback by their fervent welcome, struggled to maintain his composure as he reassured them.
“Ah, um… I’m back. And I’m sorry for worrying you. As you can see, I’m unharmed, so please don’t worry.”
““That’s a relief…””
“Ah… I’m really happy to see both of you… truly, from the bottom of my heart.”
As he felt their warmth against him, a wave of relief washed over Rest. He had steeled himself for the battlefield, prepared to become a heartless warrior, yet he found that he could not completely cast aside his emotions. The love he felt filled the void left by the harshness of war, soothing his frayed spirit.
(What can I say… I’m really glad to be back. Having someone say ‘welcome home’ is a happiness I never realized I needed.)
In his previous life, he had not been blessed with family, but in this life, he had gained a new one. A family with whom he could connect deeply, where love was felt and reciprocated—a genuine bond. The existence of such irreplaceable family was undoubtedly worth far more than any noble title or territory.
“Viola, Primula…”
“Rest…”
“Rest-sama…”
Rest and the two sisters gazed into each other’s eyes, slowly leaning in closer. Just as they were about to share a cramped kiss, a loud “Ahem” interrupted them.
“Ah… Rest-kun. Now that you’ve returned, shouldn’t you report to the head of the family first?”
“““Ah…”””
Rest and the sisters froze in unison. The one who had interrupted them with a sour expression was Albert Rosemary, the head of the Rosemary Marquis House. Additionally, since they were at the entrance of the Rosemary estate, there were others present as well. Dibble, who had fought alongside Rest, and the magicians of the Rosemary family were there, along with maids and butlers who had gathered to welcome him. All of them wore awkward expressions, with some of the younger maids blushing furiously.
“Come to my office. I need you to report the details of the civil war.”
“…Understood.”
Rest felt he had made quite the spectacle in front of his father-in-law. He reluctantly stepped away from the sisters, his head bowed as he followed Albert.
“Um, you must be hungry, right?”
“I-I’ll prepare the meal right away!”
Viola and Primula said awkwardly before hastily retreating to the kitchen.
Upon entering the head’s office with Albert, Rest was greeted by the presence of Airish Rosemary, the Marquise.
“You’ve returned. My son, who is not of my blood.”
“…It’s been a while, Ma’am.”
“Call me Mother.”
“…Yes, Mother.”
Having been challenged to a fight right from their first meeting, Rest found himself feeling uneasy around Airish. It wasn’t that he disliked her; rather, he felt a discomfort that he couldn’t shake.
(She’s the complete opposite of a soothing presence… Mother.)
“I’ve already received a report, but please tell me the details of the battlefield. Be thorough.”
Albert gestured for Rest to sit on the sofa at the desk in the office. Following his instruction, Rest took a seat and took a deep breath before recounting the events of the civil war.
“The battle began with me casting magic. Under the orders of the Crown Prince, I unleashed the spell that defeated the Magical Beast Sabnock upon the enemy ranks.”
The Rosemary couple listened silently to Rest’s report, but once he finished, they both sighed deeply.
“Well, that was more impressive than I expected.”
“As expected of my son-in-law! I’m relieved to see you fought without bringing shame to the name of Rosemary!”
Albert wore a pained expression, while Airish smiled proudly. Faced with the contrasting reactions of the couple, Rest scratched his cheek in confusion.
“Um… Was it perhaps too much?”
“No… There’s no issue for the kingdom. I believe you achieved results beyond our expectations.”
Albert explained with a sigh.
“However… I can’t say whether this is fortunate for you. It seems you’ve drawn more attention than necessary.”
At the heart of the kingdom, the King, the Crown Prince, and Marquis Cattleya were considering elevating Rest to the status of a hero to divert the public’s gaze from the royal family’s blunders. They had entrusted him with the First Charge for this very purpose, but it seemed he had outshone their expectations.
“Taking down seven thousand enemy soldiers in your first strike… well, that’s acceptable. Thanks to you, the battle turned in our favor, and it was resolved in half a day. However, defeating Prince Rodel in single combat was a bit excessive… you’ve drawn too much attention.”
First and foremost, the fact that Rodel had allied with the rebel army was to remain confidential. Of course, word would eventually spread, but officially, the mastermind behind the rebellion was to be declared as Marquis Aiger, with Rodel’s name kept hidden. Yet, when people witness something extraordinary, they tend to share it with others. Rest’s battle with Rodel would undoubtedly become a tale of heroism, passed down through generations.
“Your prominence means that the name of Third Prince Rodel, with whom you fought, will also spread. It will no longer be possible to hide his involvement with the rebel army. This is his own doing, so it’s not something to hold against you, Rest-kun… but his name will be remembered as that of a rebel.”
“Ah… Did I perhaps cause unnecessary trouble? Will the royal family be angry with me?”
“No… had you not fought, the Crown Prince might have been in danger. No one would blame you for this. In fact, you’ll likely find many trying to ingratiate themselves with you.”
While saying Rest was not at fault, Albert’s gaze held a contradictory reproach.
“Due to your achievements in this battle, it has already been decided that you will be elevated to Count. However, that may not be enough as a reward. While it’s difficult to grant you a title higher than Marquis… you will receive a reward money and an increase in the territory of the Plains.”
“Ah… I see. It sounds like it will require a lot of development.”
“Well, that’s fine. That’s all well and good, but…”
Albert wore a bitter expression. Rest tilted his head, wondering what could be troubling his father-in-law, when Airish spoke up in his stead.
“In other words, there’s a possibility that many brides will be sent your way…”
“Eh… brides?”
“Increasing your territory means just that. Since Magical Power is hereditary, there will be women who come seeking to bear your children, and you will likely end up with more wives and concubines.”
“…………”
Rest was left speechless by the bluntness of her words.
He had displayed his power too prominently. As a result, many nobles were now taking notice of him. Women would be sent to him, seeking wealth, territory, or a connection through marriage. While it was understandable, Rest could sense Albert’s distress at the thought of his son-in-law taking multiple wives.
“Um… I’m perfectly fine with just Viola and Primula…”
“…Political marriage is a duty of the nobility. If the royal family acts as intermediaries, you won’t be able to refuse.”
“That’s…”
“However… if you make my daughter unhappy, I will not forgive you. I will never forgive you.”
“…………”
While Rest had thought he wanted a large family, he had never wished for multiple wives. He stood there, momentarily dazed, shoulders slumped, at a loss for words.