Chapter 19: The Ebern Couple Goes Mad (Part 2)

In the study of the Ebern Honorary Viscount’s residence, Rest’s father, Lucas Ebern, angrily pounded his desk.

“Oh, for heaven’s sake… that failure! What on earth is he doing?”

Recently, a letter arrived from the Rosemary Marquis’s household. Given the recent incident where Cedric, the legitimate son, put the Marquis’s sisters in danger, Lucas nervously opened the letter, only to find an unexpected invitation.

It was an invitation to bring Rest, the other son who is essentially treated no differently from a servant in the Ebern Honorary Viscount’s household, to the Marquis’s residence.

Receiving this unexpected invitation, Lucas was genuinely perplexed. Despite being the second son of the Ebern Honorary Viscount, Rest is practically treated like a commoner. He is not allowed to live in the residence, forced to reside in the stable, and even given leftovers for meals. If he had magic talent, Lucas would have arranged a more decent treatment. However, a magic aptitude test conducted when Rest was a baby diagnosed him as “non-magical.” Without any political reasons, Lucas might not have taken him in at all.

“Where did that one come into contact with the Rosemary Marquis’s household in the first place? A child with no magic abilities, living like a commoner, and escaping from the residence— even if he managed to do that, it should be impossible for him to establish connections with the Marquis’s household!”

Lucas didn’t believe Rest’s claim that he met them in the residence. Moreover, Reso is prohibited from entering the residence except during breakfast. The chance of him meeting the Marquis’s sisters while Cedric and the Marquis were present should have been nonexistent.

After accepting the invitation and heading to the Rosemary Marquis’s residence, Rest did not return even by nightfall. The carriage that took him there returned to the Honorary Viscount’s household, conveying the message.

“Rest-kun will stay overnight at the Marquis’s residence.”

(What in the world happened for that failure to end up staying overnight at the Marquis’s residence…? I don’t understand. What is going on!?)

Despite his head pounding with questions, Rest did not return even the next day. Sensing that something was happening outside of his knowledge, Lucas was stressed, causing stomach pains.

“Damn…! Why do I have to worry about that failure? I planned to kick him out next year…!”

“Sir, it’s serious!”

“Honey, something has happened!”

“Wha-!?”

Two people burst into the study without knocking. They were Lucas’s wife, Liza, and a butler working at the residence.

“What the hell is this sudden intrusion! You surprised me, you know!?”

“That’s not the point now, dear!”

“Yes, sir!”

“What… What happened?”

“Marquis-sama… has come!”

“Huh? What do you mean”

Lucas leaned back after receiving the unexpected report.

〇　　　　〇　

When Lucas hurriedly went to the reception room, Albert Rosemary, the Marquis, was already sitting on the sofa, waiting. A butler from the Marquis’s household was standing behind him. If Lucas’s memory served him right, the man’s name was Dible, a former court mage.

“M-Marquis Rosemary -sama, thank you very much for coming to my residence! Today’s weather is favorable, and the flowers in the garden are in full bloom…!”

“Spare me the pleasantries. Just sit down.”

The Marquis—Albert Rosemary—pointed to the sofa in front of him. Despite being in Lucas’s residence, he assumed a self-assured attitude. Lucas, feeling sweat on his forehead, sat down on the sofa.

(I never expected the Marquis Rosemary himself to come…!)

In the presence of an unexpected guest, Lucas’s body seemed to tremble.

For Lucas, Albert was once his superior as a court mage. He generally considered him a good superior. He did not wield the privileges of a higher noble arrogantly and did not behave tyrannically. He even assisted his subordinates in their consultations. Unless there was a major mistake, he did not scold them severely.

Among the same court magicians, there are many who admire Albert and say that he is their ideal boss.

However, Lucas knew that Albert had a soft spot for his family, doting on his wife and daughters. Lucas had tried to take advantage of this side of Albert, hoping to secure his backing by using Cedric to captivate his daughters and eventually marry one of them.

(If Cedric had managed to win over either of the sisters, our family would have become relatives of the Marquis Rosemary. We could have received the protection of the lenient Marquis as our kin…!)

If that had happened, my rise as a court magician would have been within my grasp. Cedric’s position, as someone who would eventually enroll in the Royal Academy and become a court magician, would have been solid. However, those expectations were splendidly backfired. I thought that my proud son Cedric could surely win the hearts of the sisters. Instead, I ended up earning the wrath of the Marquis.

“I’ve come today to discuss your son.”

“I-It’s about Cedric, right…? I deeply apologize for what happened the other day! Truly, truly… please, I beg your forgiveness…!”

Lucas bowed deeply to the floor, apologizing. He had done something inexcusable, and now all he could do was apologize.

“No, that’s not it. I’m not here to reprimand you for that. It’s about your other son.”

“My… ‘garbage,’ I mean, Rest? Did that failure cause any discourtesy to Marquis-sama!?”

“Failure? Garbage? I hope I’m mistaken, but… are you treating your own flesh and blood that way?”

“Ah, not at all!”

Lucas turned pale at his unintentional remark. Trembling lips, he tried desperately to weave words of excuse.

“… Well, never mind. I didn’t come here today to criticize your character.”

Albert snorted and sat down on the sofa, crossing his legs.

“I came here to consult with you. My family would like to receive your son, Rest-kun.”

“Is… is it about that one, going to the Marquis’s family…?”

“Yes, I plan to have him work as an apprentice servant. Do you have any objections?”

“I-it’s perfectly fine, but… Why would the Marquis want…? Especially when he’s ‘non-magical’?”

I don’t understand. Lucas was bewildered.

If the Rosemary Marquis wanted Cedric, who was a magic genius, that would make sense. However, he couldn’t comprehend why the Marquis would want a failure with no magic ability, whose only merit was taking care of horses.

“…Am I obligated to explain that to you?”

“N-No, no, no, no! If that’s what you want, I’d be happy to give him away! Please feel free to use him as you like!”

“I see… I’m glad you understand. Our business here is done.”

Albert stood up, and immediately, the butler who had been waiting opened the door to the reception room.

“Uh, Marquis-sama…”

“In exchange for him, let’s forget about the blunder your proud son caused. I’ll take my leave now.”

“Th-Thank you very much!”

Lucas once again prostrated himself. As he rubbed his forehead against the carpet, Albert’s footsteps moved away.

“W-Was I spared…?”

Fearfully, he lifted his head. Albert was no longer in sight. He had left the residence.

That Marquis was soft on his family.

Considering Lucas could have been dismissed as a court mage, and Cedric’s future could have been ruined, it was strange. Nevertheless, for some unknown reason, he was saved.

“That failure was useful for the first time… I have no idea what the Marquis liked about him…”

Could it be… one of the Rosemary sisters fell in love with Rest? Such a thought crossed Lucas’s mind, but he dismissed it with a laugh, thinking it was unlikely.

(It would be fine if it was Cedric, who is extremely talented… I don’t think he would catch the attention of a noble girl. It’s probably some kind of whim.)

Talent visible to the eye was the only criteria Lucas used, and he still refused to acknowledge Rest.

(Although he made a grave mistake this time… well, there’s still a chance. Since he’ll be attending the same academy next year!)

Despite making a potentially fatal mistake, Lucas hadn’t given up on winning over the Rosemary sisters.

The arrogant and narrow-minded father thought, “There’s still a chance.” Even though luck wasn’t on his side this time, Lucas believed that if Albert got to know Cedric better, he would surely appreciate him, and the noble daughters of the Marquis would also be impressed.

Because Cedric was a genius.

Because he inherited his talent perfectly—a splendid son unlike the failure who was a commoner’s child.

“If he enrolls in the academy, I’ll make sure to instruct him to court the Marquis’s daughter… Take time, be thorough…”

A fool doesn’t learn from failure because a fool doesn’t learn. Despite the potentially catastrophic failure, Lucas had not given up on obtaining the Rosemary sisters.

Because, in his foolish mind, there was always another chance.

Lucas chuckled slyly.

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