**Chapter 51: Farewell to the Viscount of Honor House**
“…This can’t be true.”
Lucas Ebern, the father, muttered in disbelief, his eyes wide open as he struggled to form words with trembling lips.
“This can’t be true. Someone like you, a failure…”
“You just called me a failure, didn’t you? To the heir of the Marquis House.”
“N-no, that’s… but…!”
“Check for yourself. 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, Lisa sat on the floor, murmuring the same words like a broken toy. Her eyes were vacant, as if she were escaping from the harsh reality before her.
(I didn’t expect such a reaction… Is it really that hard for them to believe I’m marrying both of them?)
Or perhaps, it was simply the final blow that shattered their world?
Their beloved son, their pride, Cedric, had failed the entrance exam for the Royal Academy. The son they had mocked as a failure, Rest, had passed the exam and was set to enter the academy that Cedric was supposed to attend. And the sisters from the House of Marquis Rosemary, whom they had coveted, were now in Rest’s grasp.
Everything they had expected from the child they had treated like a dog had been taken away from them. It was no wonder that their hearts had been completely crushed by this reversal.
(…This is it.)
Rest let out a small sigh. There wasn’t as much satisfaction as he had anticipated, but still, he felt a refreshing sense of liberation, as if he had shaken off the years of accumulated sludge that had clung to him. Finally, the ties with the Ebern Viscount House had come to an end. He had avenged his mother’s grievances, which had been neglected, and settled the four years of oppression he had endured.
(Considering what they’ve done, this might not be 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 be clear… you have transferred your parental rights, and I am now of age. No permission is needed.”
“…”
“…This is a lie… a lie…”
“Therefore, I will no longer have any ties with you. I wish you happiness.”
Although Rest would no longer inherit the title of Viscount Ebern, 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 title as a reward.
(But… no matter what method 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, stepping in for Lucas, guided Rest as he opened the door. Rest walked through the threshold, heading down the corridor toward the entrance.
“…You’ve grown quite splendid, Rest-dono.”
The butler spoke softly without turning around.
“Your mother… Chiffon, must be watching over you with joy from the shadows.”
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. We couldn’t do anything in front of the master, but…”
“…It’s alright. You provided me with food and medicine.”
“…That was merely to alleviate our guilt. We could not stop your suffering.”
The butler’s voice was tinged with sorrow as he continued.
“Feel free to resent us. I hope you find happiness in the Marquis House…”
“…That’s quite an exaggeration. More importantly, tell me about what happened after I left the mansion.”
Rest engaged in a meandering conversation with the butler, expressing his desire for the servants who had cared for him to reach out if they needed anything. After saying his goodbyes, he left the Ebern Viscount House behind. He would never return to that mansion, which had felt like a cage to him.