Kays Translations

Chapter 58: Walking with Pride

The carriage continued its journey and arrived at the Royal Academy, where they had visited a month ago for the entrance exams.

Rest stepped outside first and offered his hand to help Viola and Primula down from the carriage.

In front of the school gate, many male and female students in uniforms were walking, and a tree similar to a cherry blossom by the gate was shedding its white petals.

"Is that... from the Rosemary Marquis's house?"

"Yeah, those beautiful sisters everyone's talking about."

"Who's the guy with them? A servant?"

Seeing the Rosemary sisters get off the carriage, the students by the gate murmured. They sighed in admiration at Viola and Primula before casting puzzled glances at Rest.

"Could they be lovers?"

"No way. Probably a servant or a guard."

(Oh... I really feel out of place. Yeah.)

Rest silently agreed with the hushed conversations around him. He was well aware that he didn't match the sisters. The air around them was different because Viola and Primula, born of noble lineage, were in stark contrast to Rest, a child of a raised noble and a commoner.

"Now, let's go."

"Escort us, please."

"Oops..."

However, without paying attention to the surrounding voices, Viola and Primula grabbed Rest's arms on both sides. Rest found himself walking, linked arm in arm with the sisters.

"What...!"

"Is this a joke...?"

The murmurs around them grew louder. This closeness was impossible for a servant or guard. It required an intimacy reserved for family or engaged couples.

"Stand tall, Rest. You're our fiance, after all!"

"Don't embarrass us, Rest-sama, okay?"

"..."

Whispered by the sisters, Rest widened his eyes.

If he walked with a hunched back, he would embarrass his two fiancees.

(I can't... I need to stand tall and confident. I can't let them think less of me!)

Feeling inferior without reason and causing the sisters to hold back out of consideration was not a good thing.

Rest took a deep breath, exhaled, straightened his back firmly, and, with both arms linked with the sisters, walked confidently towards the school building.

"These two, what's with this guy, huh?"

"Ugh..."

The gallery that had looked down on Rest earlier now made way. The three walked through the cleared path with poise, heading towards the auditorium where the entrance ceremony would be held.

"You're doing great, Rest. Keep it up."

"Very impressive, Rest-sama."

The two praised him in a low voice so that others couldn't hear.

"To be honest... it feels way too unfamiliar and out of place."

"Noble dignity is ultimately just a fashion. If you naturally believe you deserve to be looked up to, it will naturally become a part of you."

"As our fiance, Rest-sama, you can have more confidence. Let's keep walking with pride."

"...Got it."

Linked with the sisters on both sides, Rest continued to move towards the auditorium. The auditorium already had many chairs arranged.

As there was no specified seating arrangement, the three of them chose seats in the middle closer to the entrance.

"Is the entrance ceremony starting now?"

"Yes, it seems the school principal will give a speech, and then the top-ranking student from the magic department will represent and give a greeting."

"The top student from the magic department is the daughter of Duke Crocus, it seems."

Rest was familiar with the name of the Crocus Duke family. As part of his education to marry into the marquis family, he had learned about the major nobles. Duke Crocus currently served as the prime minister, the closest advisor to the king. He was a prominent noble who held the pinnacle of political power.

His position was higher than that of Count Rosemary, the Chief Magician, or Count Catreya, the Knight Commander. Duke Crocus was the foremost noble who could speak on equal terms with anyone other than the royal family.

Soon, the chairs arranged in the auditorium were filled, 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 and spoke with a magically amplified voice.

"Everyone, please be quiet! We will now commence the 65th Royal Academy Entrance Ceremony!"

The commotion that had filled the auditorium disappeared at the voice of the man who seemed to be a faculty member. Rest and the sisters, who were engaged in conversation, also closed their mouths and turned their attention to the stage.

"Now, a speech from the school principal. Everyone, please stand!"

All the incoming students stood up. Prompted by the middle-aged instructor, the school principal, Velroid Hearn, appeared on the stage with a dignified demeanor.

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter