Chapter 14: Meeting the Marquis
As Rest was being fed cake like a little chick and enjoying the tea party, a man suddenly appeared just as the small gathering was coming to an end.
“Ah, you must be Rest, right?”
The man who appeared was a middle-aged gentleman wearing a monocle. He was well-dressed in a suit that exuded an air of sophistication without being overly ostentatious. His entire presence radiated an aura of nobility, making it clear at a glance that he was a gentleman of high status.
“Father…”
Viola referred to him as her father. It seemed that this man was none other than Marquis Rosemary, the master of the mansion.
“Ah, pardon my intrusion. I am Rest…!”
Rest hurriedly stood up from his chair and bowed deeply in greeting.
“Yes, yes, it’s commendable that you can greet properly. Quite different from your brother.”
“Brother… you mean Cedric?”
“Indeed. I had the chance to speak with him through Honorary Viscount Eberun, and he was a rude child who couldn’t even bow to his elders. I had hoped that after being scolded by his father, he would have matured somewhat, but it seems I was mistaken.”
“…My brother was indeed rude.”
“No, no, you needn’t apologize. I’ve heard from my daughters about the incident in the forest the other day.”
Marquis Rosemary took a seat in the chair he had opened. A maid promptly brewed tea for him and placed it on the table. Rest was also encouraged by the Marquis to sit back down.
“Since we will be taking the same entrance exam for the academy next year, I was asked to arrange a meeting with my daughter. I had no choice but to make time for it, but I never expected to be taken into the forest without any guards. While he is an excellent magician, it seems that when it comes to his son, he loses his clarity. Thanks to that, I almost lost my precious daughter.”
“…………”
“Oh, please don’t look so remorseful. You were the one who helped my daughters, after all. As a father, I must thank you. Thank you.”
Marquis Rosemary bowed his head. Rest hurriedly waved his hands.
“Please, raise your head! That was caused by my family, so there’s no need for the Marquis to thank me!”
That incident was entirely Cedric’s fault. Being thanked by the Marquis only made Rest feel more apologetic.
“No, no, the foolish—rather, Cedric’s daughter who followed him is also at fault here. This is a token of my gratitude. Please accept it.”
With his head raised, Marquis Rosemary placed a finely woven bag on the table. When Rest asked for permission to check its contents, he found ten large gold coins inside.
(Large gold coins… I’ve never seen one before…)
Rest couldn’t help but swallow hard. He knew of their existence, but it was a currency that commoners rarely had the chance to see. Each large gold coin was worth about one million yen in Japanese currency. In other words, this bag contained a staggering ten million yen.
“…I cannot accept such a large sum.”
Suppressing the urge to reach for the bag, Rest pushed it away.
“Helping your daughters was merely cleaning up after my foolish brother. I did not do it for a reward. I have no right to accept this.”
Honestly, he wanted the money. Considering he would be an adult and independent next year, he could never have enough. However, five platinum coins were still too much. There were no banks in this world. He couldn’t carry such a large sum with him, and leaving it in the stable made him anxious. The thought of it being stolen or taken by his father made it impossible for him to accept it outright.
“Hmm… You are quite selfless. However, I must insist that you accept it.”
Marquis Rosemary maintained a gentle expression while subtly increasing the pressure of his gaze.
“If I cannot repay the benefactor of my daughter, it would tarnish the name of the Marquis family. If you truly do not want the money, is there anything else I could grant you? Please feel free to speak up, thinking of it as saving face for me.”
“Even if you say that… Hmm.”
When it came to matters of reputation, he couldn’t just shake his head. As he racked his brain for a reasonable request, he suddenly thought of something he had long desired.
“Ah…”
“Oh? What is it?”
“Well… if possible, I would like to ask for a favor…”
Rest paused for a moment before voicing his long-held wish.
“Could you write me a letter of recommendation for the Royal Magic Academy? I wish to take the entrance exam next year, as a commoner.”
“Hmm? Of course, I can write a letter of recommendation, but… as a commoner?”
“Yes, my father dislikes me and does not recognize me as a member of the Eberrn Honorary Viscount House.”
With his father’s backing, he could take the exam as a noble, but without that, he had no choice but to rely on the recommendation of someone with social standing to take the exam as a commoner.
“Ah… I apologize, but I did look into your background. You are the illegitimate child of a maid, correct?”
“………… Yes.”
“Then it makes sense why Honorary Viscount Eberun would be reluctant to acknowledge you as his child.”
“Father! That’s not a fair way to say it…!”
“That’s not true! Rest has no responsibility for that!”
The sisters, who had been listening from the side, interjected.
“Oh, no, no. I didn’t mean to insult him. I just thought he might do something like that.”
Faced with the reproaches from his daughters, Marquis Rosemary hurriedly tried to clarify.
“Honorary Viscount Eberun is a newly risen noble. He is a noble without land, merely holding a title. Those who have risen to nobility tend to cling excessively to their status, despite being so close to commoners themselves. They often look down on illegitimate children or desperately try to incorporate the blood of great nobles.”
Marquis Rosemary turned to Rest and bowed his head once more.
“I did not intend to insult you or your mother. Please forgive my poor choice of words.”
“No, it’s fine. It’s the truth that I’m the child of a maid.”
“I see? Now, about the letter of recommendation…”
“Please write it for me!”
“…Since my daughters are saying so, I will write it for you.”
Though Marquis Rosemary wore a somewhat reluctant expression, he agreed to write the letter of recommendation.
“Thank you… This is a great help!”
With this, the conditions for entering the academy were set. Of course, he still had to pass the exam, but Rest was far ahead of Cedric when it came to magic. If the exam was something Cedric could pass, Rest should have no problem succeeding.
“However… before I write the letter of recommendation, may I test your abilities?”
“Eh?”
“What are you saying, Father?!”
“That’s right! This is a thank you for helping me and my sister, right?!”
The two daughters protested against Marquis Rosemary’s sudden condition.
“Of course, I want to express my gratitude. However… writing a letter of recommendation means that the House of Marquis Rosemary is backing you. If I were to recommend someone without the appropriate ability, it would tarnish our family’s reputation.”
“But…”
“I hold the position of the head court magician. I cannot recommend someone for entrance to the academy without confirming their abilities. Do you understand?”
“…Yes, I understand very well.”
Rest nodded. If he were to be recommended unconditionally just because he was the benefactor of the daughters, it would be seen as favoritism.
“Understood. What do I need to do?”
“Simple enough.”
Marquis Rosemary raised his right hand, and an elderly butler stepped forward.
“This man is my trusted subordinate and an excellent magician. You will be fighting him from now on.”
“Fighting… you say?”
“Yes. There’s no need to win outright. It’s enough for you to show that you possess the strength worthy of our recommendation.”
“I understand… Let me do it!”
If this meant receiving the letter of recommendation and taking the first step toward glory, it was a small price to pay. The butler of Marquis Rosemary, the head court magician, must possess considerable skill, and it would also serve as good experience in combat.
Rest gladly accepted the Marquis’s proposal.