"Try to be a kind person."
Those were the words spoken just before the final goodbye.
Rest’s mother had lain in her bed, clutching his hand as she whispered in a thin, frail voice.
"Be a strong child. Be a resilient child. Be a child who makes many friends. Be a happy child."
"Mother..."
"I’m sorry I won’t be there to see you grow up. Thank you for making me a mother. Thank you for being born..."
Rest felt that he was the one who owed her his gratitude.
In his previous life, Rest had been raised without a shred of love from his parents, his existence cut short when the man who should have been his father stabbed him to death.
To him, the ten years he had spent basking in his mother’s unconditional affection in this world were days that sparkled like precious jewels. Even though he had been an unwanted child—the offspring of a cold, irresponsible man—he felt nothing but love for the woman who had cherished him.
Thank you for giving me life.
Thank you for loving me.
When he told her so, a smile of pure bliss spread across her face.
And then... she passed away, that same smile lingering even after her breath had stopped.
"Rest, you must not let yourself hate the world."
The local Priest had spoken those words to him after his mother’s death.
"Many trials surely await you. But... they are not meant to make you miserable. The Goddess gives no trial that cannot be overcome."
"............"
"Live strongly and with integrity. Do not let yourself be consumed by hatred or resentment. Help others and live with a smile. If you do that... people will naturally flock to you. You’ll find your loneliness forgotten before you know it."
The Priest's words had been at least half-right.
Soon after, Rest was taken in by his father, and the promised trials began. He slept in a stable and ate scraps. His life became far more grueling than his days as a commoner.
In all honesty, it felt like a miracle that he had managed to live this long without hating his father, his stepmother, or Cedric. Had he miswoven the threads of his life at any point, Rest surely would have become a demon of vengeance. He would have undoubtedly turned a blade against them, claiming his wretched life was their fault.
(But... it didn't turn out like that.)
He had stopped himself just in time. While he harbored a deep desire to show his father his true worth, to outwit his stepmother, and to far surpass Cedric, he didn't want them dead.
Perhaps it was because he knew his mother and the Priest would be saddened by such an act. He wanted to ensure that those who had cared for him would never have to grieve for his soul—to prove that their love for him hadn't been a mistake.
Rest had decided to forge his own path, straight and true.
"............Ah?"
"You're awake, Rest!"
"Rest-sama, does anything hurt?"
He felt as though he had been having a nostalgic dream.
When Rest opened his eyes, he found himself staring at an unfamiliar ceiling, with each of his hands being held by a different girl.
"Viola-san? Primula-san...?"
The Rosemary sisters were peering down at him with worried expressions. When he spoke their names, they smiled, though tears welled in the corners of their eyes.
"I’m so sorry, Rest... It seems our butler went entirely too far," Viola said.
"We invited you here to thank you, yet it turned into this... I am truly sorry," Primula added.
"No... it’s fine. It was a good lesson for me."
Rest released their hands and sat up. He felt no pain, and there were no visible injuries. Someone had likely cast healing magic on him while he was unconscious.
"I’m going to give Father and Dieble a piece of my mind! Honestly, I won’t forgive either of them!"
"...Neither will I."
Viola’s face was twisted in a rage like a flickering hellfire, while Primula’s expression was as bone-chillingly cold as a sub-zero wasteland. Seeing the identical twins with such polar opposite expressions made Rest shudder.
"N-No, really... I’m fine. It doesn’t hurt at all. And it really was a learning experience."
In truth, his fight with the Rosemary butler had taught him much about his own immaturity. His lack of experience in anti-personnel combat and his insufficient martial arts skills were clear areas for improvement. He actually felt lucky to have discovered these weaknesses so early.
"But... I lost. Does this mean I won't get the recommendation letter?"
"What are you saying? Of course not!" Viola declared.
"Eh?"
"I’ll see to it that he writes that letter. Besides, Dieble is a Former Court Mage. There was no way you were going to win from the start."
Viola stood with her hands on her hips, speaking with absolute conviction. No wonder he had been so strong; he was a seasoned veteran.
(My lack of combat experience really is a handicap... Since I’ve never fought a mage other than Cedric, I have no idea how to judge an opponent’s strength.)
"Father has promised to write the letter. From next year, you will be our classmate," Primula said, smiling to reassure him.
"Assuming we all pass the entrance exams, of course!" Viola added proudly.
"I see... thank you. You two have opened the door for me."
"It’s only natural after you saved our lives. More importantly... while you’ll certainly pass the practical magic portion, have you been studying for the written exam?"
"Ah... no, not really..."
"Then we’ll lend you our reference books."
"Wait... are you sure? I don’t want to be a burden."
"Of course it’s fine. Right, Primula?"
"Certainly. In fact, why don't we have Rest-sama live here at the estate? That way, we can help you with anything you don't understand in your studies."
"That’s it! What a great idea!" Viola snapped her fingers.
Rest felt the conversation spiraling in an unexpected direction and hurriedly spoke up.
"Wait, wait! I can't possibly impose that much! Living in the same house as girls your age... that’s just..."
"Oh? Why not?"
"What do you mean 'why'?"
"Both our father and mother are here, not to mention the live-in maids and the butler. There’s no reason to worry about such trifles, is there?"
"Exactly. It will be much more enjoyable with you here, Rest-sama. It would be nonsense to waste time transporting reference books all the way to the Honorary Viscount House."
The sisters’ forceful tones left Rest with no room to retreat.
"You’re an illegitimate child and aren't treated well there anyway, right? I don't think Honorary Viscount Ebern will object," Viola pointed out.
"And I have no desire to visit that house to see you, Rest-sama. That loathsome man is there, after all."
The "loathsome man" was undoubtedly Cedric. It seemed the sisters had taken a thorough dislike to him.
"I... I understand. If the Marquis gives his permission, I’ll accept your offer..."
Rest finally buckled under their pressure. He had essentially left the task of convincing the Marquis entirely to them.
"Then it's settled! We have to go talk to Father immediately!"
"We need to get a room ready as well! Oh, we’re going to be so busy!"
Viola and Primula rushed out of the room as if in a race. Left alone, Rest could only stare blankly at the door, stunned by how drastically his life had changed in a single day.