Kays Translations

Chapter 20: Marquis Rosemary’s Distress

After the negotiation between Marquis Rosemary and the Ebern Honorary Viscount concluded, it was decided that Marquis Rosemary would take custody of Rest.

On the way back, inside the Marquis’s carriage, Albert Rosemary sighed.

“What a terrible sight that man presented.”

“Yes, it was quite unpleasant.”

The butler, seated across from his master, responded. Lucas Ebern’s disgraceful behavior during the recent negotiations was more than enough to leave the two astonished.

“I knew he was fixated on maintaining a noble status and looked down on commoners, especially with his strong emphasis on magic talent. However, I didn’t expect him to treat his own son so harshly.”

Throughout the negotiation, Lucas continuously referred to Rest as ‘that’ or ‘failure’ or ‘garbage.’ As someone known for loving his family and being lenient with them, Albert couldn’t help but frown at such expressions.

“Yet, he indulges his arrogant and talented son. Honestly, I’m tempted to make him resign as a court mage.”

“If you wish, we can proceed with that. There should be a pretext for it, shouldn’t there?”

His eldest son had taken the Marquis’s sisters out and exposed them to danger. Even if he made his father take responsibility, no one would blame him.

“No… let’s refrain from that for now. If he loses his noble status, it will be difficult to arrange Rest as a fiancé for my daughter.”

The Rosemary sisters seemed to have taken a liking to Rest, regardless of what happened with the Ebern Honorary Viscount family. To engage one of them, Rest needed to maintain his noble status.

“Until Rest graduates from the academy and takes up a position like a court mage, it won’t be a problem. Until then, it’s convenient for him to remain a noble. While there’s an option to have him adopted by another family, it might not be done in time for next year’s academy enrollment.”

Next year, Viola and Primula would enroll in the Royal Academy. Before then, Albert wanted to engage Rest to one of his daughters. Once enrolled, many boys would approach the sisters. Even without parental bias, the two were exceptional beauties with good figures and impeccable lineage.

“…Next year, that idiotic prince will also be enrolling. Engaging Rest will be helpful in protecting the girls from him.”

The idiotic prince referred to Rodel Iwood, the third prince of the royal family. He had a personality that was overbearing, arrogant, and fond of women. Despite that, he wasn’t completely inept; he had magic talent and was a troublesome man.

The man, who is like a superior version of Cedric, of all things, ends up enrolling in the same school and being in the same grade as the Rosemary sisters.

“If only he would fail the entrance exam… but it won’t be that convenient. He is exceptionally skilled. Most likely, he will pass.”

If Rodel enrolled in the same class, he would undoubtedly approach Viola and Primula. Until now, Rodel had caused various problems, such as trying to seduce a noble’s daughter he met at a social gathering, causing trouble with her fiancé, and using violence on a young maid working at the royal castle, trying to forcefully take advantage of her. Although they managed to suppress the issues without much trouble, everyone knew Rodell was a notorious prince.

“…The daughter of Duke Crocus, a fiancée of the same grade, is also planning to enroll. With the second prince in the grade above, major issues may not arise.”

“…For the safety of the young ladies, having a fiancé is preferable, indeed.”

If there was a fiancé, even a prince wouldn’t be able to forcibly court them. Even if they retaliated when pressured, the blame would fall on the other side.

“When Rest passes the exam safely, we’ll proceed with the engagement immediately. Having my daughter fall into the clutches of that idiotic prince is unbearable.”

“For that, the Ebern Honorary Viscount family is necessary. I understand.”

The butler deeply nodded at Albert’s words. However, he immediately questioned, “But…”

“Miss Viola and Miss Primula, which do you intend to engage with Rest? Regardless of which one becomes the fiancée, I don’t think the other will be satisfied…”

“Uh…”

Poked in a sensitive spot, Albert grimaced. In order to protect his daughters from the foolish prince, it would be better to have a fiancé, even if it was just temporary. However, there was one Rest and two daughters, Viola and Primula. No matter which daughter he chose as the fiancée, it was certain to cause problems.

“Nobles are allowed to have multiple marriages. How about both of them…”

“No! No, no, no!”

Albert vigorously shook his head at the butler’s suggestion.

“I know Rest is a good young man with magic talent! But… giving both of my daughters is too much! Absolutely unacceptable!”

“However, if you choose one, the other young lady will surely resent you. Can you endure that, sir?”

“Ugh…”

Imagining a scene where his dear daughters said, “I hate you, Father!” Albert clutched his chest. It was unbearable. His heart felt like it would burst.

“In a way, if you marry both of them to Rest, you could keep them both at home without marrying them off, couldn’t you?”

“Well… that may be true, but… however…”

Inside the moving carriage, Albert held his head in his hands. Until they arrived at the Marquis’s residence, Albert continued to emit sounds of bitter anguish.

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