บท 14: A Noble Encounter
Rest had been enjoying a small tea party, being fed cake like a baby bird, when the gathering was nearing its end, and a man appeared.
"Hello, you must be Rest, right?"
The newcomer was a middle-aged man wearing a monocle. His appearance was immaculate, dressed in a luxurious suit that was elegant without being ostentatious. His entire demeanor radiated an aura of refinement, and it was clear at a glance that he was a man of high status.
"Father..."
Viola addressed the man as her father. It seemed that this man was the owner of the mansion, Marquis Rosemary.
"Oh, I'm sorry for intruding. My name is Rest..."
Rest hurriedly stood up from his chair and bowed his head deeply in greeting.
"Yes, yes, you did well to greet me properly. Quite the opposite of your brother."
"My brother... You mean Cedric?"
"Yes. I had an introduction from Viscount Honorary Ebern and spoke with him, but he was a rude child who couldn't even bow to his elders. I suppose it's something a child might do, and his father reprimanded him, so I wanted to believe he would become somewhat decent."
"...My apologies for my brother's rudeness."
"No, no, it's not something you need to apologize for. I heard about the incident in the forest the other day from my daughters."
Marquis Rosemary took a seat in the chair that had been prepared for him. A maid promptly poured tea for her master and placed it on the table. Rest, prompted by Marquis Rosemary, also sat back down.
"I was asked to meet you because you might be attending the same academy as my daughters next year, so I made some time to meet you... but I never expected you to be taken into the forest without a guard. That man may be a capable wizard, but when it comes to his son, he seems to lose his judgment. Thanks to that, I almost lost my beloved daughters."
"..."
"Oh, please don't look so apologetic. You saved my daughters, didn't you? As a father, I must thank you. Thank you."
Marquis Rosemary bowed his head. Rest hurriedly waved his hands in front of him.
"Please, raise your head! It was a matter involving my own family, so there's no need for you to thank me, Marquis!"
The incident was entirely Cedric's fault. Being apologized to by the marquis only made Rest feel more guilty.
"No, no, my foolish... I mean, Cedric was at fault, but my daughters were also wrong to follow him. Here, this is a token of my appreciation. Please accept it."
With that, Marquis Rosemary placed a finely crafted pouch on the table. With his permission, Rest opened it to check the contents and found ten large gold coins inside.
(Large gold coins... I've never seen one before...)
Rest swallowed hard. He knew of their existence, but commoners rarely had the chance to see such currency. Each large gold coin was worth about a million yen in Japanese currency. This meant the pouch contained a staggering ten million yen.
"...I can't accept this kind of money."
Suppressing the urge to reach out, Rest pushed the pouch of money away.
"I only helped your daughters to clean up my foolish brother's mess. I didn't do it for a reward. I don't deserve this."
Honestly, Rest wanted the money. As he would be coming of age and becoming independent next year, he could never have enough funds. However, five large gold coins were too much. In this world, there were no banks. Carrying such a large sum was impossible, and leaving it in the stable where he stayed would be too risky.
If it were stolen or taken away by his father, he couldn't accept it.
"Hmm... You have no greed. However, I would also be troubled if you didn't accept it."
Marquis Rosemary, still with a gentle expression, slightly intensified his gaze.
"If I were unable to repay my daughters' benefactor in any way, it would tarnish the reputation of the Marquis household. If you don't want the money, is there something else I could do for you? Please, don't hesitate to ask; consider it a favor for my honor."
"Well... when you put it that way... hmm..."
Now that he mentioned honor, Rest couldn't just refuse. As he wracked his brain for a suitable request, he thought of something he had wanted for a while.
"Ah..."
"Oh? Do you have something in mind?"
"Well... there is one thing I would like to ask for..."
After a moment's pause, Rest voiced his request for something he had long desired.
"Could you write me a letter of recommendation for the Royal Academy of Magic? I wish to apply next year as a commoner."
"Hmm? Of course, I don't mind writing a recommendation letter, but... as a commoner?"
"Yes, my father dislikes me and doesn't recognize me as a member of the Honorary Viscount House of Ebern."
If his father supported him, Rest could apply as a noble, but without that backing, he had no choice but to apply as a commoner with a recommendation from someone with social standing.
"Ah... I'm sorry, but I have looked into your background. You were born out of wedlock to a maid, correct?"
"...Yes."
"In that case, it's understandable why the Honorary Viscount Ebern would be reluctant to acknowledge you as his son."
"Father! How could you say that...!"
"That's not right! Rest didn't do anything wrong!"
The sisters, who had been listening nearby, intervened.
"Oh, no, no. I didn't mean to insult him. I just thought it was something his father might do."
Faced with his daughters' scolding, Marquis Rosemary hurried to clarify.
"Viscount Honorary Ebern is a newly risen noble, a noble in name only without any lands. Such social climbers are often obsessed with noble status. Even though they're close to being commoners themselves, they cling desperately to being nobility, looking down on children born out of wedlock and desperately trying to bring in the blood of great nobles."
Marquis Rosemary turned back to Rest and bowed his head again.
"I did not mean to insult you or your mother. I chose my words poorly, and I apologize for that."
"No, it's fine. Being the child of a maid is a fact."
"I see. Then, about the recommendation letter..."
"Please, write it for him!"
"Yes, please, Father!"
"...Since my daughters are also asking, I will write it for you."
Though his expression was complicated, Marquis Rosemary agreed to write the recommendation letter.
"Thank you... I really appreciate it!"
With this, the condition for admission to the academy was met. Of course, Rest would still have to pass the exams, but he was far ahead of Cedric in terms of magic. If Cedric could pass, Rest was confident he could too.
"However... before I write the recommendation letter, would you mind if I tested your abilities?"
"Huh?"
"Father, what are you saying!"
"That's right! This is supposed to be a token of gratitude, isn't it?"
The daughters protested when their father suddenly added a condition.
"Of course, I want to show my gratitude. However... writing a recommendation letter means that the Marquis of Rosemary will be endorsing you. If I were to recommend someone unworthy, it would damage the family's reputation."
"But still..."
"As the head of the Royal Court Magicians, I have a position to maintain. I cannot write a recommendation for academy admission without confirming your abilities. Do you understand?"
"...Yes, I understand very well."
Rest nodded. On the contrary, if he wrote the letter without confirming his abilities, it could be seen as a mix of public and private interests.
"I understand. What do you want me to do?"
"Oh, it's simple."
Marquis Rosemary raised his right hand, and an elderly butler stepped forward.
"This man here is a trusted subordinate of mine, and he's also an excellent wizard. I'd like you to fight him."
"Fight... him?"
"Yes. There's no need to win by any means. Just show that you have the strength worthy of my recommendation."
"I understand... Please, let me do it!"
If a letter of recommendation and a step toward glory could be earned this way, it was a small price to pay. The butler, being the trusted aide of Marquis Rosemary, who was the head of the Royal Court Magicians, was undoubtedly a formidable opponent. However, it would also be a great experience for combat against another human.
Rest, rather than being apprehensive, eagerly accepted the marquis's proposal.
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