**Chapter 83: I Consulted My Father-in-Law About Life**
In the Valerie County, a region renowned as one of the granaries of the Aiwood Kingdom, wheat was the primary crop. The harvest from this land accounted for fifteen percent of the kingdom’s total demand, making it an essential food source for the realm.
In a corner of this vast granary, several monstrous creatures resembling monkeys were wreaking havoc in the fields. These creatures were about the size of chimpanzees, but their fur burned a fiery red, and sparks of crimson fire dripped from their mouths like saliva, making it clear they were no ordinary wild animals.
“Gya gya!”
“Gya!”
“Gyaah!”
The monkey-like monsters tore at the crops, gnawing and ripping them apart in an endless cycle. Driven by an insatiable hunger, these beasts threatened to strip the fields bare if left unchecked.
“I see… the Student Council Executive Committee, huh? That brings back memories,” a man said, gazing thoughtfully at the distant creatures.
“I was part of the Executive Committee back in my school days. To be honest… I met my wife there.”
The man speaking with a bitter expression was Albert Rosemary, the head of the House of Marquis Rosemary and the Chief Court Magician. He crouched low, whispering as he spoke.
“Is that so? That’s news to me,” Rest replied, slightly surprised by Albert’s revelation.
The two men were oddly concealed in the underbrush, observing the monsters as they discussed a recent event. A few days prior, Andrew, the second prince, had invited Rest to join the Student Council Executive Committee. His fiancées, Viola and Primula, had entrusted him with the decision, but Rest found himself unable to decide alone and sought advice from Albert, who was to become his father-in-law.
It wasn’t that Rest was opposed to joining the Executive Committee. He recognized the benefits it could bring, but he also saw potential drawbacks. He was particularly concerned about becoming too close to the second prince and how that might affect the House of Rosemary. No matter how much the sisters loved him, he was still a prospective son-in-law. He didn’t want to cause any trouble for the Rosemary family. However, the sisters never voiced any objections to his actions. Thus, he decided to seek the judgment of a life mentor, asking Albert for guidance.
Rest and Albert had shared a rather tenuous relationship until about a year ago. Albert had been quite anxious about losing both of his beloved daughters to Rest, and there had been moments of hostility directed at him. However, recently, Albert had come to terms with the idea that marrying off both daughters to Rest would allow him to keep them close. As a senior prospective son-in-law, he had even offered Rest some advice.
“Ah… the Student Council President back then was the current Duke Crocus. I was invited to join the Executive Committee by him, a senior who was two years ahead of me. My wife was also a member, and I was worked quite hard back then…”
“I see…” Rest replied, picturing Albert’s wife, who had a surprisingly brawny personality for a marquise, and grimacing slightly.
“Well, I did end up marrying her after she took a liking to me, so it wasn’t all bad. For a young man with no family to inherit, it was an extraordinary stroke of luck.”
“Ah… I see. Still, it must have been tough, being in the Executive Committee. You might have earned the ire of other students…”
“I won’t say there weren’t any drawbacks. However… I was able to cultivate a close relationship with Duke Crocus, and thanks to my achievements during my time in the committee, I rose through the ranks quickly. In my case, the benefits outweighed the negatives. Of course, I don’t expect the same for you.”
“…”
“In your case, becoming close to His Highness Andrew, the second prince, is a significant advantage. While he may not ascend to the throne, he will likely be granted at least a ducal title when he is demoted to a commoner. There’s a possibility he might marry into another country, but given the current situation, that seems unlikely. There are no noble families of similar age available in the kingdom. If the daughters had no suitors, there might have been an inquiry, but that’s not the case now.”
Albert shrugged with a wry smile, keeping his gaze fixed on the monsters.
“If you’re unsure about whether to join the Executive Committee… well, why not give it a try? Personally, I think it’s a good idea.”
“…Will it be alright? I’m worried that if I overstep my bounds, it might cause trouble for the House of Rosemary.”
“Do you think my wife would care about that? That’s just unfounded worry!”
Albert laughed off Rest’s probing concern.
“If it’s Airishu, she would undoubtedly say, ‘Go for it!’ While it’s true that members of the Executive Committee often face resentment, if you perform your duties well, you’ll be relied upon by the good students. Plus, since you’re entering as a commoner, there will be some who question your marrying into the House of Rosemary. Some might even try to sabotage you to win the daughters for themselves. If you join the committee and excel, the way others perceive you will surely change.”
“I see… I hadn’t thought of it that way.”
Indeed, there were boys who eyed Rest suspiciously for being close to the Rosemary sisters. He hadn’t paid much attention to it, thinking it was merely jealousy, but there was likely distrust regarding a commoner marrying into a marquis family.
“Joining the Student Council means that others will treat you as part of His Highness Andrew’s faction. You won’t have to worry about unnecessary enemies.”
“His Highness Andrew’s faction… but wouldn’t that put me in the sights of His Highness Richard, the crown prince?”
“The two princes share the same mother and are on friendly terms, so there’s no need to worry. If their ages were closer and their powers more balanced, faction disputes would have been fierce. However, with Richard practically confirmed as the next king, Andrew’s faction is treated more like a ‘friend group’ than a political force. So, there’s no need for concern… Oh, it seems they’re ready.”
A plume of white smoke rose from a distance, signaling that the other magicians had completed their preparations.
“Well then, Rest. It’s time for work.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Rest and Albert rose from the underbrush, joined by the other magicians who had been hiding nearby.
“It’s time for monster hunting… let’s eliminate this horde of locusts!”
“Yes!”
As Albert issued the command, Rest immediately began to gather his magical energy. To minimize damage to the crops, he decided to use water magic.
“**Water Cutter!**”
“Gyaah!?”
The released blade of water pierced the neck of the monkey-like monster that had been ravaging the fields. Purple bodily fluid splattered as the creature’s head flew into the air.