**Chapter 58: Walking with Pride**
The carriage sped along, arriving at the Royal Academy for the first time in a month, a place they had visited during the entrance exams. Rest stepped out first, extending his hand to help Viola and Primula down from the carriage.
Before the academy’s grand gates, numerous students in uniforms walked about, while trees resembling cherry blossoms shed their delicate white petals nearby.
“Is that… the House of Marquis Rosemary?”
“Yeah, the rumored beautiful sisters.”
“Who’s the guy with them? A servant?”
As the Rosemary Sisters disembarked from the carriage, a murmur rippled through the students gathered at the gates. They sighed in admiration at Viola and Primula before casting puzzled glances at Rest.
“Could he be their boyfriend?”
“That’s impossible. He’s probably just a servant or a bodyguard.”
(Ah… I really do feel out of place. Yeah.)
Rest inwardly agreed with the whispers of the students. He was acutely aware that he was mismatched with the sisters. The air surrounding the noble sisters and Rest, the child of a newly ennobled family and a commoner, was inherently different.
“Come on, let’s go.”
“Please escort us.”
“Whoa…”
However, ignoring the surrounding chatter, Viola and Primula each took hold of his arms. Rest found himself walking with the sisters on either side.
“Wha…!”
“N-No way…?”
The murmurs grew louder around them. The closeness they shared was not something that could be attributed to a servant or bodyguard; it was a level of intimacy reserved for family or fiancés.
“Walk with your head held high, Rest. You are our fiancé, after all!”
“Please don’t embarrass us, Rest-sama!”
“…………!”
Whispered encouragement from the sisters made Rest’s eyes widen in surprise. If he slouched and walked timidly, he would only bring shame to his two fiancées.
(I can’t let this happen… I need to stand tall and not let anyone mock us…!)
It was unacceptable to let his insecurities cause the sisters to feel uncomfortable. Taking a deep breath, Rest exhaled and straightened his back. He then confidently walked toward the school building, with both arms linked with the sisters.
*These girls are mine, so what?*
“Ugh…”
Seeing Rest’s bold demeanor, the onlookers who had previously looked down on him parted to make way. The trio strode through the path they created, heading toward the auditorium where the entrance ceremony would take place.
“That’s the spirit, Rest. Keep it up!”
“You look very handsome, Rest-sama.”
The sisters praised him in hushed tones, ensuring their compliments were not overheard.
“Honestly… I feel so out of place and inexperienced…”
“Nobility is just a fashion statement. If you believe you deserve to be seen as important, it will naturally come to you.”
“Since Rest-sama is our fiancé, you should have even more confidence. Let’s walk with pride!”
“………… I understand.”
With the sisters at his side, Rest made his way to the auditorium. Rows of chairs were already set up inside. It seemed there were no specific assigned seats, so the three of them chose to sit together near the front.
“So, the entrance ceremony is about to start…”
“Yes, the headmaster will speak, and then the top student among the new entrants will give a representative greeting.”
“I heard the top student from the Magic Department is a daughter of the Crocus Duchy.”
Rest was familiar with the name Crocus Duchy. As part of his education to marry into a marquis family, he had learned about the prominent nobles. Duke Crocus was currently the prime minister, a close advisor to the king, and a major noble who reigned at the pinnacle of politics. His status surpassed that of Marquis Rosemary, the head of the Court Magicians, and Marquis Cattleya, the captain of the knights. He was the foremost noble who could speak on equal terms with royalty.
Soon, the auditorium filled with students, and the time for the entrance ceremony arrived. A middle-aged man in a suit appeared on the stage at the back of the auditorium, projecting his voice magically.
“Everyone, please be quiet! We will now commence the 65th Entrance Ceremony of the Royal Academy!”
The murmurs that had enveloped the auditorium faded away at the voice of the teacher. Rest and the sisters, who had been conversing, fell silent and turned their attention to the stage.
“Now, we will hear from the headmaster. Everyone, please rise!”
All the new students stood up. Prompted by the elderly teacher, Velroid Hahn, the headmaster, appeared on stage with a solemn demeanor.