Chapter 27: Marquis Rosemary’s Resignation
Several days had passed since Rest arrived at the Rosemary Marquis House.
His exam preparations were progressing smoothly. Although Viola and Primula occasionally tempted him with distractions, Rest managed to shake off their allure with his formidable mental strength, acquiring the necessary knowledge. Fortunately, he could solve mathematical problems effortlessly, thanks to the knowledge from his previous life. The troublesome subjects were those requiring memorization, like history, but he knew he could only engrave this information into his mind through repetition.
Not only did Rest dedicate time to study with the sisters, but he also flipped through borrowed reference books during his free moments, diligently hammering in the required knowledge. While it seemed he would face some struggles, the presence of reference materials and knowledgeable individuals made this experience far easier compared to his high school entrance exams in his past life.
Combat training was also going well. The magical power acquisition that he thought would take time was completed swiftly, allowing him more time for mock battles. By sparring with the butler, Dibble, he steadily gained experience in interpersonal combat.
So far, there were no issues. At least, none for Rest.
“…My daughters are absent.”
In the dining room of the Rosemary Marquis House, Albert Rosemary sat alone at the large long table, murmuring to himself. It was dinnertime, and a spread of dishes lay before him: sautéed lamb, fish meunière, salad, and soup. As expected of a marquis’s household, each dish appeared to be a meticulously prepared gourmet meal. However, Albert’s expression was grim, overshadowed by the absence of his daughters, who should have been present at the table.
“The young ladies are dining with Lord Rest,” Dibble, the butler, interjected.
“Mmm…”
Albert’s face twisted into a pained expression at the butler’s words. Recently, his beloved daughters—Viola and Primula—had been glued to Rest’s side, rarely leaving him unless absolutely necessary. As a result, Albert found himself dining alone more often than not. The mere thought of his daughters growing close to another man was already tormenting, but feeling neglected by them only deepened his anguish.
“…Perhaps we should invite Lord Rest to the dining table? If he were here, the young ladies would surely join us for dinner.”
“N-no… that cannot be done!”
Albert rejected Dibble’s suggestion with a firm tone.
“Regardless of how much they favor him, Rest is merely an apprentice servant! It would set a poor precedent to have him dine with the master!”
“I believe that is a moot point now… The servants are already aware that Lord Rest is special,” Dibble replied, his expression tinged with mild exasperation.
Though Rest officially resided in the marquis’s household as an apprentice servant, no one truly believed he was just a servant. Viola and Primula were overtly attentive to him, treating him with the affection of a woman. Consequently, many of the maids and butlers recognized Rest as a potential suitor for the sisters. Some servants even treated him with deference, addressing him with honorifics as if he might one day become their master.
“While some of the servants may have envied the special treatment given to Lord Rest… they quickly quieted down after witnessing his magical training,” Dibble continued.
“…Is his combat training progressing well?” Albert inquired.
“Exceedingly well,” Dibble affirmed, nodding. Then, with unusual conviction, he asserted to Albert, “In terms of combat skills and instincts, he is slightly above average, but Lord Rest is undoubtedly a magical genius. By any means necessary—even if it means marrying him to the young ladies—we must ensure he becomes part of the Rosemary Marquis House!”
“Is he truly that remarkable…?” Albert asked, astonished.
“Indeed. He possesses the ‘eye’ for magic, able to master spells after just one demonstration. His magical power seems limitless, showing no signs of depletion. He already possesses abilities close to that of a court magician. While I may currently hold the upper hand as a magician, it won’t be long before he surpasses me.”
“…”
Dibble was a man who understood his position as a butler. It was rare for him to express his opinions so strongly, indicating just how exceptional Rest was as a talent.
“Previously, I suggested that both young ladies be given to Lord Rest. That was out of respect for their opinions, but now my perspective has changed. Marrying the two to Lord Rest and having him father children would undoubtedly lead to the prosperity of the Rosemary Marquis House.”
“I see… If you say so, then perhaps my daughters do have good judgment in men…”
“It would be wise to arrange their engagement with Lord Rest before they enter the academy. Once he enrolls, his talents will surely become known to many. A competition for his favor may very well ensue.”
The Royal Academy served as both an educational institution and a talent scouting ground. It was a place where nobles sought to recruit aides and subordinates, as well as where noblewomen searched for potential husbands. The nobility would not overlook a promising candidate like Rest, who was not only kind-hearted but also brimming with talent.
“…Understood. If you feel that strongly, I will consider their engagement,” Albert conceded, his shoulders slumping in resignation. The outer defenses had been breached, and now even the inner walls were crumbling. He could no longer find a reason to refuse.
“However… this is only if he can successfully enroll in the Royal Academy! If he fails the exam, it will all be for naught!”
“My lord, the likelihood of that is exceedingly low,” Dibble replied.
“Moreover… I cannot say whether my wife will approve of Lord Rest. Airish will be returning soon, and I cannot predict how she will treat him.”
His wife… the image of Airish Rosemary crossed Albert’s mind, causing his expression to darken slightly. Airish, the mother of the sisters, possessed a rather unique personality. She would pamper those she favored to no end, yet treat those she disliked with utter disdain. Whether Rest could win the affection of the beautiful sisters ultimately hinged on whether he could gain Airish’s approval.
“Conversely, if my wife accepts him, then you will have no say in the matter, my lord. The plight of a son-in-law is that he cannot speak firmly against his wife.”
“…”
Albert Rosemary. He too was a son-in-law of the Rosemary Marquis House, unable to assert himself against his wife.