Chapter 7: Cedric is Disliked
The forest lay just beyond the Eberrn Honorary Viscount House. Though it was inhabited by monsters, none were particularly strong. Local adventurers routinely ventured in to thin their numbers, and Rest also hunted there for magic training. As long as one didn’t venture too deep into the woods, it posed little danger even for boys and girls who had yet to reach adulthood.
“Alright, let’s go! Follow me!”
Into this forest strode a group of five, a mix of boys and girls. Leading the way was a red-haired boy—Cedric Eberrn. With a court magician for a father, Cedric confidently stepped into the woods, a short rod gripped tightly in his right hand. Following closely behind were two boys, both friends of Cedric and children of lower-ranking nobles.
And then… there were the two girls. One had a golden ponytail, while the other sported long silver hair. Though they still bore the youthful innocence of their age, both possessed radiant beauty. Compared to the three boys, they exuded an undeniable grace, clearly of noble birth. This was only natural, as they were daughters of the Rosemary Marquis House, a family of much higher standing than the boys.
“Viola, sister…”
“It’s alright, Primula. I’m here with you.”
The golden-haired girl was named Viola, and the silver-haired girl was Primula. They were twin sisters born into the Rosemary Marquis House. Their visit to the Eberrn Honorary Viscount House was intended to foster friendship with Cedric and his companions. Their father, the Marquis of Rosemary, served as the head court magician and was a superior to Cedric’s father. With both families having children of the same age, who were set to enroll in the same academy next year, it was only natural to create opportunities for camaraderie.
(Cedric Eberrn… I’ve heard he possesses incredible magical talent, but as a person, he’s quite lacking. It’s obvious he’s trying to charm both me and Primula.)
(Cedric seems a bit frightening. The way he looks at my sister and me is unsettling, and he brags incessantly. There’s no way I could ever become friends with someone like him.)
However, as a result of this budding friendship… Cedric had completely fallen out of favor with the Rosemary sisters.
Cedric had been urged by his father to somehow win over one of the sisters and grow closer to them. By courting the daughter of the head court magician, he aimed to elevate his own status. Cedric himself was captivated by the beautiful sisters at first sight and pondered how he might make them his own. His insistence on leading his friends and the sisters into the monster-infested forest was driven by this desire. He intended to showcase his magical prowess by elegantly defeating monsters, hoping to impress the sisters.
“Gii, gii!”
“Oh, a goblin has appeared! Alright, I’ll take it down with my magic!”
As they walked through the forest, they soon encountered a monster. It was a small, green-skinned creature with a childlike physique and no hair—known as a goblin, the lowest tier of monsters.
“Fireball!”
“Giiiiiiiiiiii!”
Cedric pointed his short rod at the enemy and unleashed his magic. A fist-sized fireball struck the goblin, engulfing its small body in flames. The goblin fell to the ground, writhing in agony, before eventually succumbing to its injuries.
“Ha ha ha! A goblin is no match for me! I took it down in one hit!”
“Just as expected from Cedric! What incredible magic!”
“There’s no way we could ever use magic like that!”
“Ahahahahahaha!”
Victorious, Cedric stomped on the charred remains of the goblin. His friends, both sons of barons, cheered him on, reveling in his triumph.
“…………”
Cedric glanced over at the sisters, but both Viola and Primula wore expressions of indifference. In Cedric’s calculations, the sisters were supposed to be enchanted, exclaiming, “How wonderful! How cool!” instead of displaying such a starkly opposite reaction.
(Sister, that guy is…)
(I know, Primula… We can’t trust him.)
The sisters whispered to each other. As daughters of a marquis, they had often been subjected to calculating and ulterior motives since childhood, making them sensitive to such insidious gazes. They both clearly sensed that Cedric harbored unsavory feelings toward them.
(We should tell Father to keep our distance from the Eberrn Honorary Viscount House. It would be best to maintain minimal contact even after we enroll in the academy.)
(He seems talented as a magician, but… his personality is frightening. I don’t want to get close to him.)
Cedric’s attempts to impress the sisters had completely backfired. His overconfidence in defeating weak monsters and his delight in trampling over their corpses only served to disgust them. Yet, Cedric, who had lived selfishly, remained oblivious to their feelings. Instead, he pointed deeper into the forest, convinced he hadn’t made enough of an impression.
“A goblin isn’t even a good practice target! Let’s go further in!”
“Um… even though this forest is peaceful, there might be stronger monsters deeper inside, right?”
“Y-Yeah, Cedric. Surely we shouldn’t go any further…”
“Shut up! Defeating weak monsters is boring! Don’t worry, I’m here, the genius magician!”
Cedric puffed out his chest proudly and strode boldly deeper into the woods. His friends hurried to keep up with him.
“…Sister, what should we do?”
“Well, he does have a point. There aren’t many strong monsters in this forest, so it should be fine.”
Even if they disliked him, it would weigh on their conscience to leave him to wander into a potentially dangerous area. The Rosemary sisters followed the three boys, adopting the mindset of guardians looking after a reckless and arrogant child.