Chapter 51: Farewell to the Honorary Viscount House
“……This can’t be true.”
Lucas Evern, his father, murmured in disbelief. His eyes widened in shock, and he struggled to form words with trembling lips.
“It’s a lie. Someone like you, a failure…”
“You just called me a failure, aimed at the heir of the Marquis House.”
“No, that’s not… but…!”
“Look into it. The engagement process has already been completed. The results will be out soon.”
“………”
It seemed that Rest’s demeanor had made Lucas realize the truth. He collapsed from the sofa, falling to the floor.
“Lies… lies… lies… lies…”
In the corner of the room, Liza sat on the floor, murmuring the same words like a broken toy. Her eyes were distant, as if she were escaping from the reality before her.
(Their reaction is more intense than I expected… Can they really not believe that I’m marrying both of them?)
Or perhaps, it was simply the final blow that shattered their world?
His beloved son, Cedric, the pride of the family, had failed the entrance exam for the Royal Academy. The son they had mocked as a failure, Rest, had passed the exam and would be attending the academy that Cedric was supposed to enter. Moreover, the sisters of the Rosemary Marquis House, whom they had coveted, were now in Rest’s grasp.
Everything they had wished for from the child they treated like a dog had been taken away from them. It was no wonder their spirits were utterly crushed by this reversal of fate.
(……This is it.)
Rest let out a small sigh. There wasn’t the sense of accomplishment he had anticipated, but still, he felt a refreshing sense of liberation, as if he had shaken off the years of grime that had clung to him. Finally, the ties with the Evern Honorary Viscount House had come to an end. He had avenged his mother’s grievances, long overlooked, and settled the four years of suffering he had endured.
(Considering what they’ve done, it feels like this isn’t enough for revenge… but well, I’ll let it slide this time.)
He hadn’t wanted revenge in the first place, nor did he have a hobby of kicking corpses. This would be the end of it.
“Just to clarify… you have relinquished your parental rights, and I am now of age. I don’t need your permission.”
“………”
“……It’s a lie… a lie…”
“Therefore, we won’t have any further dealings. I wish you happiness.”
Though Rest would no longer inherit the title of Honorary Viscount, that didn’t mean the path to becoming a Viscount was closed off. Cedric could retake the entrance exam for the Royal Academy next year and aim to become a court magician, or he could achieve merit through other means and be granted a noble title.
(But… no matter what path he chooses, it’s no longer my concern.)
“Well then, I’ll take my leave. Excuse me.”
“I will see you out, Rest-dono.”
The butler, who had been waiting in the room, stepped in for Lucas and led Rest away. He passed through the door the butler opened and walked down the hallway toward the entrance.
“……You’ve grown splendidly, Rest-dono.”
Without turning around, the butler spoke softly.
“Your mother… Chiffon, would surely be delighted from the afterlife.”
Chiffon was the name of Rest’s deceased mother. This butler had been a colleague of hers and had treated Rest kindly due to that connection.
“She was taken advantage of by the master, cast aside while pregnant… Many servants were worried for her safety. We couldn’t do anything in front of the master, but…”
“……It’s alright. You provided me with meals and medicine.”
“……That was merely to ease our own guilt. We couldn’t stop your suffering.”
The butler’s voice was tinged with sadness as he continued.
“Feel free to resent us. I hope you find happiness in the Marquis House…”
“…………You’re being overly dramatic, really. More importantly, tell me about what happened after I left the mansion.”
Rest engaged in idle conversation with the butler, expressing his desire for the servants who had cared for him to reach out if they needed anything. Afterward, he departed from the Evern Honorary Viscount House. He would never return to that mansion, which had felt like a cage to him.