Chapter 2: The Disliked Older Brother and the Beautiful Sisters
Two years had passed since then.
Rest was now fourteen years old, but his treatment hadn't changed in the slightest.
He still slept in the stables, and he was fed only once a day, forced to eat like a dog off the floor.
Though he was severely malnourished, servants who felt sympathy for his plight secretly shared bread and vegetables with him, allowing him to narrowly avoid starvation.
On the bright side, serving as a magic test subject had allowed the number of spells at his disposal to steadily increase.
Despite the emotional toll of his ordeal, Rest endured his harsh circumstances and continued to grow steadily.
I'll turn fifteen next year—the age of adulthood...
One early afternoon, after finishing his duties taking care of the horses, Rest sat atop a pile of firewood stacked beside the shed, looking back on the days he had endured.
My mother died when I was ten, and I was brought to this mansion. These four years have been filled with non-stop humiliation. But... that will all come to an end soon.
Once he turned fifteen, he would be eligible to find legitimate employment.
He could leave this mansion behind and live freely. His miserable, humiliating days would finally be over.
Still... if possible, I don't just want to be free. I want to aim even higher.
Thanks to his half-brother, Rest had mastered spells up to the intermediate level.
Individuals capable of casting magic were in high demand everywhere. Even right now, if he were to step out into the common world, he would have no trouble finding work.
However, simply making a living was the bare minimum. Climbing to the top was a completely different story.
If I'm going to do this, I want to reach a position even higher than Father's... Something beyond a court magician.
He wanted to rise to a standing far superior to the people who had looked down on him and trampled all over him.
That would be the ultimate way to avenge the four years of humiliation he had suffered.
To do that, I need to attend the Academy... Isn't there some way I can get in?
The "Academy" referred to the premier educational institution in the nation—the Iwood Royal Academy.
"Iwood" was both the name of the kingdom and the ruling royal family.
Located in the western part of the continent, the Kingdom of Iwood was a medium-sized nation—neither a major superpower nor a minor state.
Commoners can enroll in the Royal Academy too. If I graduate with top grades, I could easily become a court magician. Depending on my achievements after graduation, I might even earn a title of viscount or higher... though that would require considerable luck alongside pure skill.
Flipping the coin, however, meant it was virtually impossible to secure an important government position without graduating from the Royal Academy.
His father was a former graduate, and Cedric was currently studying for the entrance exams to get in as well. The stress of studying had only caused Cedric to abuse Rest even more frequently of late.
You can't enter the Academy until you turn fifteen. Nobles automatically have the right to take the entrance exam, but commoners applying through the commoner track need a letter of recommendation...
The Royal Academy split its entrance examinations into a "noble track" and a "commoner track."
Taking the exam via the noble track simply required being listed on an official noble family registry.
To take it as a commoner, however, one needed a recommendation letter issued by someone of high social standing.
While Rest carried the blood of an honorary viscount's house, his father had never recognized him as a legitimate child. In other words, he did not possess noble citizenship.
If I can't take the test through the noble track, my only option is the commoner track. That means I need a connection—a noble, or someone with comparable status...
Needless to say, Rest had no such connections.
Having been treated as nothing more than a servant around the estate, it was only natural.
Hmm, isn't there a generous noble somewhere who'd willingly write me a recommendation letter...? Hm?
As he lost himself in thought, voices suddenly drifted over to his ears.
They weren't voices he usually heard around the mansion; it sounded like several children chatting together.
One of them is Cedric, but there are a few others... Alright, time to do a little eavesdropping.
Spurred by curiosity, Rest activated a spell called Wind Control.
While normally used to manipulate currents of air to move objects or strike enemies, with creative application, it could also carry distant sounds straight to his ears.
"Alright, let's go on an exploration!" a boy's voice declared enthusiastically.
"Yeah, let's go monster hunting!" another added eagerly. "There's a perfect forest near the mansion. Let me show you guys!"
"I learned a new spell!" Cedric bragged loudly. "I've been itching to try it out!"
"Hold on..." a girl's refined voice cautioned. "Going monster hunting with just children is far too dangerous. We should bring adults with us."
"I agree with Sister," a second girl whispered timidly. "Monsters are dangerous and scary..."
"What's the matter? You guys are a bunch of scaredy-cats," one of the boys jeered.
...Sounds like five people total. Are they Cedric's friends?
Judging by their voices, the group consisted of Cedric, two other boys, and two girls.
Come to think of it... they mentioned at breakfast that Cedric's friends were coming over to visit today. But still... monster hunting in the forest?
The forest they referred to was undoubtedly the very place Rest frequented to hone his magic.
Thanks to his daily culling, the monster population in that forest had dropped significantly.
Still... a powerful monster moved into the area recently from somewhere else. I haven't caught sight of it yet, though.
He had sensed the presence of a formidable beast lurking in the deep forest. The creature seemed aware of Rest as well, and both parties had maintained a cautious distance from each other.
"Figures! Girls really are cowards!" one of the boys mocked.
"We're enrolling in the Academy next year, aren't we?" Cedric argued back proudly. "The magic and knight courses both have combat training. We need practice fighting real monsters!"
"If you're so scared, why don't you wait behind?" the other boy chimed in. "The three of us will go on our own!"
"What...? We are not cowards!" the first girl retorted sharply. "Take that back!"
"P-Please, Sister, calm down..." the second girl pleaded softly.
"Then you're coming with us, right?" Cedric insisted confidently. "Don't worry, you'll be safe with me around!"
The conversation pushed forward, and it seemed settled that all five of them would head into the woods after all.
Even the two reluctant girls were pulled into accompanying them.
Hmm... Cedric comes of age next year, so he can probably handle himself, but...
Rest crossed his arms and pondered as he listened in.
If his foolish brother were going into the forest alone, Rest would have happily thought, Go right ahead. In fact, drop dead for all I care.
However, he couldn't bring himself to abandon the four kids who seemed to be Cedric's guests.
Can't be helped. I guess I'll tail them from the shadows...
His work for the day was already done. He wasn't doing this for Cedric's sake—he would tag along as a hidden bodyguard purely for the sake of the accompanying visitors.
Standing up, Rest set off to follow Cedric and the four other children.
◇ ◇ ◇
The forest lay just a short walk away from the estate of Honorary Viscount Eberne.
Monsters inhabited its depths, but none were particularly strong. Nearby adventurers routinely entered to thin their numbers, and Rest frequently hunted them as part of his magic training.
As long as one didn't venture into the deep interior, it wasn't particularly dangerous even for underage children to step inside... Or so it should have been.
"Alright, let's go! Follow me!" Cedric declared, striding forward.
The group of five boys and girls made their way into the woods.
Taking the lead was a brown-haired boy—Cedric Eberne.
As the son of a court magician, Cedric clutched a short wand his father had bought him in his right hand. He marched across the forest soil with supreme confidence, without a single shred of anxiety on his face.
Following close behind Cedric were his two male friends, both children of lower-ranking nobles who maintained ties with House Eberne.
And walking behind them were the two girls, one with long golden hair and the other with long silver hair.
Though both possessed a youthful innocence fitting their age, their beauty was radiant. Compared to the three boys, they possessed a clear air of elegance that betrayed their noble lineage.
"Viola Sister..."
"It's alright, Primula," Viola replied reassuringly. "I'm right here with you."
The blonde girl was named Viola, while the silver-haired girl was named Primula.
They were twin sisters born into the house of Marquis Rosemary.
The sisters had visited the estate of Honorary Viscount Eberne to foster friendly ties with Cedric and his peers. Their father, Marquis Rosemary, served as the Grand Commander of the Court Magicians—making him the direct superior of Cedric's father.
With both superior and subordinate having children of the same age who were scheduled to enroll in the same academy next year, it was only natural to arrange time for them to build rapport ahead of time.
Establishing friendly relations beforehand seemed like the most logical course of action.
Cedric Eberne... I heard he possessed incredible magical talent, but as a person, he's completely hopeless. It's blatantly obvious he's ogling Primula and me.
Cedric is kind of scary. The way he looks at Sister and me creeps me out, and he does nothing but boast endlessly. I could never become friends with someone like him.
As a result of this attempt at friendship, Cedric had succeeded only in earning the complete detestation of the Rosemary sisters.
Cedric had been instructed by his father to woo one of the sisters and gain her favor. His father undoubtedly hoped to advance his social standing by securing the daughter of Marquis Rosemary, Grand Commander of the Court Magicians, as his son's bride.
Cedric himself had taken an immediate liking to the beautiful twins and was scheming to claim one of them as his own. His adamant insistence on entering the monster-infested woods was entirely driven by his desire to show off in front of them.
"Gii, gii!" a high-pitched screech echoed from the bushes.
"Oh, a goblin showed up!" Cedric exclaimed, pointing his wand forward. "Alright, watch me blow it away with my magic!"
As they walked through the woods, they promptly encountered a monster.
It was a bipedal creature with green skin, a child-like build, and a completely hairless head.
It was a goblin—the lowest tier of monster.
"Fireball!" Cedric shouted, aiming his wand at the creature.
"Giiieeeeee!" the goblin shrieked in pain.
Cedric pointed his wand at the enemy and released his spell.
A fist-sized ball of flame slammed directly into the goblin, engulfing its small body in blazing fire.
The goblin collapsed to the ground, writhing in agony until it finally succumbed and stopped moving altogether.
"Hahaha! A mere goblin is a piece of cake!" Cedric boasted loudly. "Took it down in a single hit!"
"As expected of Lord Cedric!" one of his friends cheered. "What amazing magic!"
"There's no way we could ever cast a spell like that!" the other added, showering him with praise.
"Ahahaha! How's that? Incredible, isn't it?" Cedric gloated, puffing out his chest.
Flushed with victory, Cedric began callously kicking the charred corpse of the goblin.
The two baron's sons continued to flatter Cedric as he laughed triumphantly.
"..."
Cedric kept glancing over at the sisters, expecting them to shower him with praise like "Wonderful! You're so cool!" However, both Viola and Primula maintained thoroughly cold expressions—a reaction completely opposite to what Cedric had calculated.
(Sister... he's creeping me out.)
(I feel the exact same way, Primula... We must never trust him.)
The sisters whispered softly between themselves.
As daughters of a marquis's house, they had been subjected to calculating, ulterior looks since early childhood, rendering them highly sensitive to such dirty intentions. Both of them clearly felt the improper motives Cedric harbored toward them.
(Let's tell Father to avoid dealing with Honorary Viscount Eberne. Even after we enroll in the Academy, it'll be best to keep our interactions with him to an absolute minimum.)
(He seems talented as a magician, but his personality is just terrifying. I definitely don't want to get anywhere near him.)
Cedric's attempt to impress the sisters had backfired entirely.
Getting arrogant over slaying a weak monster and taking joy in stomping on its corpse brought nothing but intense disgust to the sisters.
Yet Cedric, spoiled rotten by his parents and living entirely self-centeredly, noticed none of this. Believing instead that he simply hadn't shown off enough, he pointed deeper into the forest.
"Goblins aren't even enough for warm-up practice!" Cedric declared arrogantly. "Let's head deeper inside!"
"Um... no matter how peaceful this forest usually is, won't there be stronger monsters if we go further in?" Viola warned.
"Y-Yes, Lord Cedric," Primula chimed in nervously. "Going any further is a bit..."
"Keep quiet!" Cedric snapped back impatiently. "Killing weak monsters over and over is boring, isn't it?! It'll be fine! You've got me—a genius magician—right here with you!"
Puffing out his chest arrogantly, Cedric began marching recklessly into the thick of the woods.
His two friends hastily scrambled to follow behind him.
"...Sister, what should we do?" Primula asked anxiously.
"...His logic holds some weight," Viola sighed softly. "There shouldn't be any exceptionally powerful monsters in a forest like this, so it ought to be alright."
No matter how much they disliked him, their conscience wouldn't allow them to abandon someone walking into potential danger. Feeling like chaperones forced to watch over reckless, cheeky brats, the sisters reluctantly followed the three boys.
As they ventured deeper into the woods, the trees grew denser and the environment turned increasingly dim. Since woodcutters and hunters rarely ventured this far, nature had been left untamed, with wild vegetation growing unchecked.
Whenever monsters appeared along the way, Cedric and his friends dispatched them with magic.
Each time, Cedric threw coy, flirtatious glances back at the sisters, leaving them thoroughly disgusted.
"Hey, don't you think it's time we head back?" Viola called out. "Surely we've done enough monster hunting for today."
Going any further was bound to lead to trouble. She desperately wished he would realize the futility of his antics.
"There could be stronger monsters deeper in the forest," she added firmly. "Besides, the sun will set soon... Let's head home."
"No... just a little further," Cedric insisted stubbornly. "Let's push ahead just a bit more!"
"Lord Cedric," Viola said, her tone sharpening. "Honestly, enough is..."
"Just one more!" Cedric pleaded desperately. "Just one more monster, and then we're done!"
Cedric practically begged in response to Viola's stern warning.
He hadn't managed to make the Rosemary sisters swoon over him yet. He believed that if he defeated a stronger monster and showcased his brilliant talent, they would inevitably fall for him.
Praised for his magical talent since early childhood while abusing his half-brother as a useless incompetent, Cedric was convinced of this outcome through sheer, unadulterated arrogance.
"Haaah..."
The temperature of the sisters' gazes chilled rapidly, but oblivious as ever, Cedric pressed even deeper into the woods.
"Lord Cedric! Wait for us!" one friend shouted.
"Don't leave us behind!" the other yelled, scampering after him.
The two boys scrambled to catch up with Cedric as he marched ahead on his own.
"Wait a minute! Knock it off already!" Viola called out exasperatedly.
"S-Sister...!" Primula squeaked.
Left with no choice, the sisters hurried after the three boys.
Part of them wanted to abandon the boys and head back on their own, but it was already too late to put that thought into action.
Having reached this deep into the forest, making their way out by themselves carried its own dangers. The Rosemary sisters should have made the decision much earlier while they were still near the perimeter.
"Oh! There's a wolf monster over there!" Cedric shouted excitedly.
Before them stood a wolf roughly the size of a large dog.
The creature was covered in gleaming silver fur—an extraordinarily beautiful wolf rarely seen in these parts.
"Huh...? That monster..." Viola gasped, her eyes widening.
She recognized the true identity of the silver wolf.
The silver wolf monster... She had read about its kind before.
"Haha! There you are, monster!" Cedric cackled, raising his wand. "I'm gonna slaughter you!"
"W-Wait! Don't!" Viola yelled. "That monster is...!"
"Wind Cutter!" Cedric roared.
"Kiaiin!" the wolf let out a painful yelp.
Before Viola could stop him, Cedric unleashed a blade of razor-sharp wind.
The silver wolf was sliced across its torso, collapsing to the ground as blood pooled beneath it.
"Kyu, kyuu..." it whimpered pitifully.
"Alright, time for the finishing blow!" Cedric grinned. "I'll take this bad boy home and stuff it!"
"Stop it!" Viola screamed frantically. "You can't kill that monster! That creature is...!"
"GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRR!"
At that exact moment, a spine-chilling roar thundered through the entire forest.
The surrounding trees vibrated violently, and the ground trembled with a heavy, deafening thud.
"Hieeep?!" Cedric shrieked, collapsing onto his backside in utter shock. "W-What was that?!"
Just as he was about to land the fatal blow on the pup, the sudden eruption knocked Cedric right off his feet.
His two male friends slumped to the ground alongside him, paralyzed with terror.
"S-Sister!" Primula cried out, grabbing Viola's arm.
"Primula! Hurry, over here...!" Viola urged, attempting to pull her sister away.
Viola grabbed Primula's hand, frantically looking for an escape route.
However, before the sisters could flee, trees were mowed down like toothpicks, and it burst into view.
"GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!"
"Ah..." Viola gasped, freezing in her tracks.
It was a massive wolf clad in snow-white fur.
It was incomparably larger than the one Cedric had struck—nearly the size of an elephant.
Its golden eyes, glowing like full moons, locked onto the trembling sisters, pinning them to the spot as if stitching their shadows to the earth.
"W-White Fenrir...!" Primula stammered in a terrified whisper.
Her voice shook uncontrollably as she uttered the legendary beast's name.
It was a monster that was supposed to reside far to the cold north—a terrifying magic wolf known for its intelligence and ferocity, strong enough that only veteran adventurers or court magicians could hope to defeat it.
The one Cedric had attacked was actually a White Fenrir cub. Even as cubs, they grew to the size of ordinary adult wolves, which was why Cedric hadn't recognized it as a juvenile.
"S-Save me... HEEEEEEEEEEEEK!" Cedric squealed in complete panic, turning to run.
Confronted by such a terrifying monster, Cedric lost his mind to sheer terror and attempted to flee.
Turning one's back on a wild predator was a fatal blunder in any tactical scenario.
Predictably, the White Fenrir launched itself forward in a blur, swatting Cedric aside with its massive foreleg.
"Gugheh...!" Cedric choked out.
Sent flying like a leather ball, Cedric slammed hard against the trunk of a massive tree.
He slid limp down the bark onto the dirt, knocked unconscious on impact.
"L-Lord Cedric!" one of his friends shrieked.
"Uwaaaaaaaaaaah!" the other wailed in despair.
As the two boys screamed, the monster casually swept its paw across them as if brushing away annoying flies.
Two heavy thuds echoed through the clearing as both boys were slammed violently into the leaf-strewn ground.
"S-Sister... what do we do?!" Primula cried, trembling. "At this rate, we're going to...!"
"C-Calm down, Primula!" Viola stammered, her face pale. "It's going to be alright...!"
Their faces drained of color, the sisters backed away in sheer terror.
Looking closer, Viola noticed that the White Fenrir was dragging one of its hind legs. It bore numerous wounds of varying sizes across its body.
They had likely been driven from their northern home after losing a battle against a rival predator, fleeing south to recover.
"...I read in a book that White Fenrirs are ferocious, but extremely intelligent and capable of understanding human speech," Viola whispered quickly. "It's injured. Maybe... maybe it'll let us go if we talk to it."
"GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!"
The White Fenrir fixed its golden eyes squarely upon the sisters.
Though it growled threateningly, it didn't pounce immediately. Plucking up every ounce of her courage, Viola stepped forward.
"I-I'm so sorry for what happened to your child!" Viola pleaded, holding up her trembling hands. "We never intended to hurt your baby!"
"Grrr..." the wolf lowed ominously.
"We'll leave right now," she continued, watching its reaction nervously. "We won't harm you or your child. So... won't you please let us go...?"
Viola spoke timidly, carefully gauging the beast's response.
"..."
The White Fenrir observed the sisters in silence for a brief moment... then tilted its massive head skyward and released a terrifying howl.
"GUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!"
"Eek!" both sisters shrieked together.
Clinging tightly to one another, they sank to their knees. The thought of running away vanished completely from their minds—the overwhelming aura of a supreme apex predator had caused their legs to give out entirely.
"Primula..." Viola whimpered, squeezing her sister's hands.
"Sister..." Primula sobbed, burying her face into Viola's chest.
Calling out each other's names, the twins embraced tightly.
Trembling with dread, they could neither fight nor flee. The White Fenrir slowly closed the distance, opening its cavernous jaws to crush the girls whole.
"Wind Ball!" a voice shouted.
"Gyan!" the wolf yelped as an explosive force hit its snout.
"Huh...?" the sisters gasped in unison.
A powerful blow had struck the White Fenrir squarely in the side of its head.
Widening their eyes in shock, Viola and Primula whipped their heads toward the direction from which the spell had flown.
"Dear me... What an absolute headache," a voice grumbled. "This is why my foolish brother is such a pain..."
Stepping out of the thicket while muttering lethargically was a boy roughly the same age as the sisters.
He had black hair and black eyes. Though his clothes were somewhat soiled, his features were strikingly handsome.
"I'm sorry Cedric caused such a mess," the boy said softly. "You don't need to worry anymore—you're safe now."
With those words, the boy—Rest—offered the twin sisters a gentle, reassuring smile.
◇ ◇ ◇
Cedric had really messed up this time.
Failing to realize it was a cub, he had blindly attacked the White Fenrir's offspring.
Seeing the high-ranking noble girls about to be collateral damage, Rest—who had been watching quietly from nearby cover—launched his spell.
"Wind Ball!"
"Gyan!"
He slammed a blast of wind magic directly into the side of the monster's head as it prepared to devour the sisters.
Caught completely off guard by the unexpected strike, the White Fenrir's massive body was blown sideways.
"I'm sorry Cedric caused such a mess," Rest repeated kindly. "You don't need to worry anymore—you're safe now."
"W-Who on earth are you...?" Viola asked, her eyes wide with shock.
"Fua...?" Primula gasped, staring at him in bewilderment.
Viola and Primula fixed stunned, disbelieving gazes upon Rest.
Trying not to intimidate them, Rest placed a hand over his heart and offered the most gentlemanly smile he could muster.
"Well... my name is Rest," he introduced himself smoothly. "As reluctant as I am to admit it, I'm the half-brother of Cedric over there on the ground."
"His brother...?" Viola asked hesitantly. "But... I've never heard anyone mention he had a sibling..."
She voiced her query cautiously, still trying to process the situation.
Maintaining a serene expression, Rest bowed slightly to apologize to the two victims of his foolish brother.
"I was born illegitimate, so my existence is kept hidden," Rest explained plainly. "Please don't dwell on it too much."
"Behind you!" Primula shrieked.
Her terrified scream cut through the air.
An instant later, the White Fenrir pounced right at Rest's back.
"GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRR!"
"Ah, right, sorry about that," Rest remarked nonchalantly. "I almost forgot about you."
"Guh?!"
The White Fenrir lunged to sink its fangs into Rest's shoulder, only to collide headfirst with an invisible barrier of compressed air. It was a defensive spell—Wind Wall.
"My apologies," Rest said, turning to face the giant beast. "For intruding on your territory, and for injuring your child."
"Grrr...!" the wolf growled warily.
"Consider this an apology... Heal."
Rest cast a healing spell toward the giant wolf's battered body.
A warm light enveloped the White Fenrir, completely erasing every injury, large and small, from its hide.
"What are you...!" Viola gasped out in disbelief.
She blurted out in amazement, but Rest offered her a reassuring glance that silently communicated, It's alright.
"I'll mend your little one as well... Heal."
"Kyuu..." the cub squeaked.
He channeled healing magic into the injured cub that Cedric had slashed.
The cub stood up with a puzzled look on its face and let out a soft whine.
"How about we call it even with this?" Rest asked, looking up at the mother wolf. "You don't want to get hurt again, right?"
"Grrrrr..."
The White Fenrir growled low in its throat, slowly backing away.
Whether to retreat or fight... Its golden eyes wavered in hesitation.
"If you still refuse to back down... then I have no choice," Rest sighed softly.
Raising his hand, Rest released his suppressed power. Dense blue magic erupted from his entire body like pressurized steam bursting from a kettle.
"Kyan?!" the White Fenrir yelped like a frightened puppy.
The legendary magic wolf let out a high-pitched whimper of terror.
Ordinarily, magic power was invisible to the naked eye.
However, Rest's magic was so colossal and concentrated that it manifested as a visible blue aura.
"Kyan! Kyan!"
Scooping up her cub in her jaws, the White Fenrir turned and bolted away at full speed.
Scared out of its wits, the beast would surely flee far into the deepest recesses of the forest.
Unlike goblins, White Fenrirs rarely raided human settlements, so driving it off was more than sufficient.
"Sorry about that," Rest said, suppressing his mana and turning back to the sisters. "I must have frightened you two as well."
""Huh...?"" they gasped together.
Rest smiled gently down at the twins sitting dazed on the forest floor.
Viola and Primula stared up at Rest with wide, stunned eyes.
"I'll escort you out of the forest," Rest offered politely. "Also... I'm terribly sorry to ask, but could you keep today's events a secret from my father and brother?"
"W-We don't mind keeping it quiet, but... why?" Viola asked, still dazed.
"That magic power... it was even more overwhelming than Father's, and he's the Grand Commander of the Court Magicians," Primula whispered in awe. "Who... who are you really...?"
The twin sisters pressed him with questions, but Rest couldn't very well explain his secrets.
Deciding to brush it off with momentum, he offered a cheerful smile.
"I'm not even a noble—just a humble stable boy," Rest replied lightly. "There's really no need to overthink it."
Afterward, Rest led the sisters—who clearly still had much they wanted to say—out of the forest.
Cedric and the two baron's sons had been knocked unconscious by the White Fenrir, but their injuries amounted to broken bones at worst, with no threat to their lives.
Personally, I'd love to just abandon them here... but Father would beat me half to death later, so I might as well drag them back.
Rest cast Floating to hoist their unconscious bodies into midair, hauling them along like oversized luggage.
"Well then, I'll take my leave here," Rest said.
Dumping the three boys unceremoniously outside the entrance of the Eberne estate, Rest turned to make a swift exit.
Of course, "taking his leave" simply meant slipping around to the back entrance to re-enter the estate where he lived.
"Ah, wait!" Viola called out after him.
"Please, hold on...!" Primula shouted.
The sisters shouted after him, but they were daughters of a marquis—people from an entirely different world.
We'll probably never see each other again anyway... Rest thought as he walked away without looking back.
◇ ◇ ◇
"What has he done?! That foolish son of mine!" Lucas Eberne roared, slamming his fist onto the mahogany desk in his study.
Lucas Eberne, head of the Honorary Viscount Eberne household, bellowed in rage inside his office.
His son, Cedric, had committed an unimaginable blunder.
He had dragged Viola and Primula—the daughters of Marquis Rosemary—into the forest and exposed them to mortal danger.
By sheer luck, the monster that attacked them had departed without killing them, but they had come within a hair's breadth of a fatal tragedy.
"I specifically instructed him to treat those young ladies with the utmost respect!" Lucas raged. "My grand plan is completely ruined!"
"Dear, who cares about those girls?!" his wife, Liza Eberne, shrieked hysterically. "More importantly, our son—Cedric—was injured?!"
Liza Eberne shrieked at her fuming husband.
"Our own son is hurt, and you're worrying about someone else's daughters?!" she demanded shrilly.
"This is no time for such foolishness!" Lucas yelled back. "Don't you realize we might lose our nobility over this?!"
"What...?" Liza gasped, looking utterly bewildered.
She stared at her husband with genuine confusion.
Infuriated by his wife's complete lack of understanding, Lucas slammed his fist onto the table again.
"Lady Viola and Lady Primula are daughters of Marquis Rosemary!" he shouted. "He is the Grand Commander of the Court Magicians—my direct superior!"
While House Eberne possessed noble rank, their status couldn't begin to compare with Marquis Rosemary's house.
An honorary viscount was a title granted strictly in conjunction with an official post—a position often looked down upon by high society as "overnight nobles" or "pseudo-aristocrats."
Lucas held temporary noble status only because he served as a court magician. If he were stripped of his position, he would immediately revert to commoner status.
"If Marquis Rosemary desires it, he can dismiss me and throw me out of the court with a single word!" Lucas paled. "If I lose my position as a court magician, we will be cast down to commoners on the spot!"
If he had known this would happen, he never would have invited the marquis's daughters to his estate.
Marquis Rosemary had two daughters, both blessed with extraordinary beauty.
Lucas had plotted to match Cedric with one of them to secure a marriage, but his scheming had backfired disastrously.
"If we had welcomed a daughter of Marquis Rosemary into our household to back Cedric, we might have been promoted to full viscounts or even earls!" Lucas gritted his teeth. "Yet that foolish son of mine ruined everything!"
He had pleaded endlessly to arrange an opportunity for interaction under the pretext of them entering the Royal Academy together next year. He had explicitly instructed Cedric to win the sisters over, yet the boy had caused this catastrophe.
Lucas had already rushed to Marquis Rosemary's residence to apologize, only to be turned away flatly at the gate.
They refused to even hear him out, granting no opportunity for excuse or explanation.
"T-That can't be... You must be joking!" Liza stammered, trembling as reality finally hit her. "Us... commoners?!"
She began to shake violently as the severity of their situation dawned on her.
"This isn't what you promised!" she screeched. "Weren't we supposed to become true viscounts—true nobles?!"
"That would have happened if Cedric had done his part!" Lucas snapped bitterly. "Where on earth did we go wrong with his upbringing?!"
"B-But he's such a sweet, kind boy..." Liza stammered in denial. "For him to cause harm to young ladies, even by accident..."
Lucas and Liza had doted on Cedric since childhood, rarely scolding him. They were utterly blind to the fact that their indulgent upbringing had twisted Cedric's character into an arrogant bully who tormented the weak and acted with complete selfishness.
"Cedric is supposed to be nothing like that magicless failure..." Liza whimpered. "How did things turn out like this...?"
"Master, pardon the interruption," the butler said, knocking gently before stepping into the room.
The butler presented a sealed document on a silver tray.
"A letter has arrived from the house of Marquis Rosemary."
"What?!" Lucas gasped, snatching the letter from the butler's hand.
He ripped open the envelope and hurriedly unfolded the missive.
He scanned the contents line by line... and froze completely.
"What is this...?" Lucas muttered, his eyes wide in disbelief. "What does this mean...?"
"Dear! What does it say?!" Liza demanded anxiously.
Lucas remained motionless, staring blankly at the parchment.
After standing like a statue for what felt like an eternity, he slowly lifted his head toward his wife.
"They wish to invite that failure... Rest, to the estate of Marquis Rosemary," Lucas said in a hollow voice. "They explicitly stated that neither of us nor Cedric are to come—only him..."
"...Huh?" Liza squeaked.
Faced with contents beyond their wildest imagination, Lucas and Liza's minds ground to a complete halt, leaving them standing in stunned, speechless silence.
◇ ◇ ◇
While the Eberne couple had endless question marks floating above their heads...
At the townhouse of Marquis Rosemary in the royal capital, Viola and Primula—the fair twin sisters—were letting out melancholic sighs.
If I ever marry, it will be to someone stronger than me.
That was the firm resolution Viola Rosemary, the eldest daughter of Marquis Rosemary, had made long ago.
"Haaah... Who on earth is he...?" Viola whispered, staring aimlessly at the canopy.
Lying on her back atop her bedroom bed, she murmured to herself in a dreamy daze.
Having just stepped out of the bath, her damp golden hair fanned out across the mattress like a golden sheet.
Clad in a delicate nightgown, her figure—unusually well-developed for her age—was exposed without restraint. It was a terribly defenseless and alluring sight, but since she was alone in her private room, there was no one to reprimand her.
Rest... He didn't give a family name, but he's a child of House Eberne, isn't he?
As she lay back, the image floating continuously in Viola's mind was the handsome face of the boy who had saved her and her sister's lives.
The face of the boy who had introduced himself simply as Rest refused to leave her thoughts.
Viola's father, Marquis Rosemary, served as the Grand Commander of the Court Magicians.
Court magicians were elite spellcasters serving directly under the royal family, standing alongside the Royal Guard as the twin shields of the kingdom.
House Rosemary was a prestigious lineage renowned for magic, having produced countless outstanding magicians throughout history.
Raised as the eldest child of such a household, Viola had studied magic since childhood, achieving exemplary results.
I will eventually take a husband into the family and inherit House Rosemary. To uphold the prestige of our great mage bloodline, I need a husband who is stronger than me...
Viola had resolved never to marry any magician inferior to herself.
Around that time, she had heard rumors that Honorary Viscount Eberne, her father's subordinate, had a talented son.
What's more, that son was the same age as Viola and Primula, planning to take the entrance exam for the Royal Academy next year.
He seemed like a suitable candidate. She decided to meet him to assess his potential as a prospective fiancé.
With that intention, Viola had visited the Eberne estate alongside her sister, only to be thoroughly disappointed the moment they met. Cedric Eberne, the heir of House Eberne, was an arrogant, selfish, and utterly self-centered brat.
Just how spoiled did someone have to be to grow up like that? He naturally looked down on everyone around him, acting like a childish fool who believed himself to be the center of the universe.
He might have magical talent, but honestly, the thought of taking him as my husband makes my skin crawl. He's physically repulsive to me.
She couldn't bring herself to want Cedric as a husband in the slightest.
His magical talent was certainly impressive. Having been taken into the forest to watch him slay monsters, she could state with certainty that his raw talent exceeded her own.
However... beyond that, he possessed not a single redeeming quality worthy of respect. If Cedric were to marry into the marquis's household, it was painfully clear he would squander their fortune and bring ruin to the family.
Nope, this man won't do at all. I need to look elsewhere.
Shortly after entering the forest, Viola had completely written Cedric off.
Being a powerful magician is the bare minimum requirement, but a decent personality is essential too. Honestly, even if his status is low, isn't there a boy out there with a good heart who's also skilled in magic?
There was no way such a conveniently perfect person existed.
Or so Viola had thought... until a young man fitting her exact criteria appeared with astonishing speed.
"Well... my name is Rest," he had said. "As reluctant as I am to admit it, I'm the half-brother of Cedric over there on the ground."
The one who had rescued them from their perilous encounter with the White Fenrir was a boy claiming to be Cedric's half-brother.
Though wearing tattered clothes, his features were refined, and above all, his deep consideration for Viola and Primula was unmistakable. Despite it being their first meeting, she found him immensely likable.
And... he was strong. Far stronger than me, and far stronger than Cedric...!
Blowing away the White Fenrir, blocking its razor-sharp fangs with a defensive barrier...
And then... releasing an overwhelming torrent of blue magic power from his body to drive the beast away.
Overwhelming talent—a staggering, boundless potential so far removed from her own.
The moment that vast difference in power was vividly laid out before her, Viola became utterly convinced that no one else could possibly serve as her companion.
It has to be him... The one to become my husband, the son-in-law of House Rosemary, can only be him!
If Viola were to bear the children of the boy named Rest, their offspring would undoubtedly become the greatest magicians of the next generation.
In fact, a grand archmage unseen in the kingdom's history might be born.
It seems Primula has taken an interest in him too, though... What should I do?
To Viola, Primula was her precious, beloved younger sister.
For Primula's sake, she would gladly give away her prized dresses or jewelry... but she couldn't yield him. No man more suited to be her husband would ever appear again.
"Still... fighting with Primula really doesn't appeal to me," Viola murmured to herself. "What if... what if Primula and I shared him...? Wait, what on earth am I thinking?!"
Her face flushing bright crimson, Viola squirmed and rolled side to side across her bed in agony.
"T-To be fair, I do think talented magicians should have plenty of children, and it's not rare for high-ranking nobles to take multiple wives... B-But still, sisters together is just scandalous! Taking turns being held by him... No, no, no!"
As images of herself and her sister being embraced by Rest filled her mind, Viola squealed into her pillow.
Viola Rosemary, fourteen years old—an age where adolescent fantasies were in full bloom.
"Lord Rest... What could he be doing right now?"
Meanwhile, in another room of the very same house, Primula Rosemary—the second daughter of House Rosemary—was letting out a quiet sigh in front of her mirror.
Seated at her vanity table, numerous cosmetics were neatly arranged before her.
Furthermore, several gorgeous dresses were spread across her bed.
I've never used makeup before... but for Lord Rest's sake, I need to make myself look at least a little pretty...
Primula was the younger of the twin sisters born to the marquis.
Timid by nature, she usually hid in her elder sister's shadow, but tonight she was unusually practicing her makeup.
Her goal was to prepare for welcoming the boy they had invited to their estate—Rest.
Primula and her sister had begged their father, Marquis Rosemary, to invite their savior to their residence.
Upon hearing that Rest was the half-brother of Cedric—the boy who had placed his daughters in danger—their father hadn't looked pleased. However, after the sisters fervently explained how remarkable a magician Rest was and how gentlemanly and caring he had proven to be, he finally agreed to send an invitation.
I'm sorry... Viola Sister. But I simply cannot yield Lord Rest to anyone...!
Ever since she could remember, Primula had carried a deep complex toward her elder sister, Viola.
Viola possessed radiant golden hair, a strong-willed personality, and exceptional talent in magic. To Primula, her twin sister was both an object of admiration and an insurmountable wall.
As long as her sister was around, she could never be number one. She would always remain second best.
She could never surpass her sister... That haunting obsession had constantly loomed over Primula.
In truth, there was no need for her to demean herself so much.
No one had the right to decide whether a rose or a lily was more beautiful.
While Primula lacked Viola's vibrant, powerful beauty, she possessed a soft, graceful, and delicate charm of her own.
Their parents had never made any explicit distinction between the two. Primula's complex was entirely a burden she had placed upon herself.
Having struggled with such thoughts, Primula had accompanied her sister to the estate of Honorary Viscount Eberne to interact with their prospective fiancé candidate, Cedric Eberne.
To be honest, she hadn't been keen on the idea, but even if he failed to meet her sister's high standards, there was a chance he might become Primula's husband. So she had reluctantly followed her sister.
Yet the boy introduced to them—Cedric Eberne—had filled Primula with nothing but sheer disgust.
He does nothing but stare at Sister's and my chest... How filthy.
Although her twin sister Viola was unusually developed for her age, Primula's bust was actually slightly larger. Having those developing breasts stared at so impudently had left Primula with an intense aversion to Cedric.
The feeling of revulsion had only grown as they ventured into the forest.
He had probably intended to showcase his strength, but watching Cedric ruthlessly murder monsters and stomp on their corpses with laughter had been utterly terrifying.
I could never bring myself to like this man... I don't want to spend even a single second in the same room as him.
If her sister hadn't been there, Primula would have fled the scene instantly.
If I get married, I want someone kind. He doesn't have to be rich or handsome. I just want a caring person who respects my feelings...
Primula often wished for such a person, but boys her age meeting those criteria were practically non-existent.
In the first place, almost everyone who appeared before Primula was a child of noble lineage.
Children born into privileged classes inevitably tended to be overbearing and prideful.
Not all of them were like that, of course, but partly because Primula was a marquis's daughter, the people gathering around her were mostly drawn by power. Those uninterested in power were intimidated by her status and couldn't interact with her naturally.
"I'm sorry Cedric caused such a mess," he had said. "You don't need to worry anymore—you're safe now."
Yet that boy had suddenly appeared right before Primula.
The one who had saved them when they were attacked by the White Fenrir was a boy with gentle, soothing eyes.
Though he introduced himself as Cedric's half-brother and apologized for the danger his brother had caused, Rest treated Primula and her sister with utter naturalness.
On top of that, he had cast healing magic on the injured White Fenrir and its cub, allowing them to escape without taking their lives.
Primula was a court magician's daughter. She knew how dangerous monsters were and that they had to be hunted for the safety of the populace.
Even so, she found herself deeply drawn to the boy who had saved them with loving kindness and spared the White Fenrir with mercy.
A kind person... A truly, truly kind person. If someone like him could stay by my side from now on, how peaceful and fulfilled my life would be...
He was gentle, calm, composed, and dependable. Despite being of the same generation, being around him felt like interacting with an adult far older than herself.
The boy named Rest was Primula's ideal man.
It seemed Sister was taking an interest in Lord Rest too... but this is the one thing I cannot lose.
She had lived in the shadow of her strong sister for so long. If she backed down this time as well, she felt as though she would spend the rest of her life in the dark.
No matter how much I love my sister, I cannot hand Lord Rest over to her. Absolutely not...!
If it couldn't come true... then perhaps the two of them together...
Catching herself entertaining dangerous thoughts, Primula shook her head rapidly back and forth.
"I wonder what kind of dress Lord Rest would like..."
Having finished her makeup practice, Primula spent late into the night selecting a dress to wear for the very first man she had ever come to cherish.
Post a Comment