As Rest and Dieble returned to the Marquis Rosemary estate following their monster subjugation, they found Viola and Primula waiting for them in the entrance hall.
The moment the two girls spotted Rest, their faces lit up with radiant smiles.
"Ah, welcome back, Rest!"
"Welcome back, Rest-sama. Are you injured?"
"I'm back, Viola, Primula."
Rest smiled at the sisters who had come to greet him.
The two hurried over and squeezed his hands tightly.
A year had passed since he first arrived at the estate, and he was now fifteen years old, but the fundamental dynamic between him and the sisters remained largely unchanged.
As always, the two were prone to excessive physical affection, yet they maintained a delicate balance, never quite crossing the final line.
The only real shifts were that Viola now addressed him simply as "Rest," and he had long since dropped formal honorifics when speaking to them.
"How were the exams, you two? Were they difficult?"
"It was a breeze! Not a single complaint here!"
"There were no issues. I am quite certain I passed."
"That's good to hear. I was worried, so I'm relieved."
"Next is your turn, Rest. I won't forgive you if you fail!"
"Of course. I'll definitely pass."
Rest nodded firmly at Viola's warning.
He had no intention of failing. This exam would be a major crossroads in his life, and he was determined to succeed.
The Royal Academy entrance exams were split into the "Noble Category" and the "Commoner Category," with the commoner exams held one week after the noble portion concluded.
The Academy consisted of five departments—Magic, Knight, Civil Official, Priest, and Art—and Rest, like the sisters, was aiming for the Magic Department.
"The exam content appeared to be the same as last year. First, there was a written exam common to all departments, followed by practical exams specific to each. The Magic Department's test was 'Target Shooting,' just like every other year," Primula explained.
Target Shooting was the standard method for measuring a mage's power; it involved firing magic at a target and measuring the output with a specialized magic item.
It seemed the Magic Department exam was following its usual routine.
"Oh... come to think of it, I saw your brother at the exam venue," Viola mentioned.
"Cedric?"
"Yes. He looked like he wanted to talk to us, so I just ignored him."
"............"
Rest's eyebrows twitched at Viola's words.
Since Cedric was the same age, it was only natural for him to take the exam... but Rest hadn't heard the name since moving to the Marquis's estate and had nearly forgotten he existed.
(It’s been a year since I last saw him. He made such a massive blunder back then. I’d hoped he might have reflected on it and grown a bit, but...)
"It seemed like his results in the practical exam were lackluster. He was making a huge scene, shouting things like 'This is a fraud!' and 'I demand a retake!'"
"He was even claiming it was some kind of conspiracy... honestly, it was quite pathetic to watch," Primula added with a look of disdain.
"...It sounds like he hasn't grown at all. Though, honestly, that's exactly what I expected."
As the two girls grimaced in disgust, Rest could only offer a wry smile.
Apparently, Cedric had caused a significant disturbance at the venue. The cause seemed to be poor results in the practical exam—which was, in itself, slightly unexpected.
"...I could understand the written exam, but he messed up the practical? That Cedric?"
The man was a disaster in terms of personality, but his magical aptitude was supposed to be top-tier for their age group.
Excluding an anomaly like Rest, who possessed infinite mana, Cedric shouldn't have been outmatched. Even Marquis Rosemary had once acknowledged his talent; that was the whole reason he had initially arranged for the boy to meet his daughters.
"Having someone like that as a brother must be such a burden. Isn't he the shame of the family?"
"I used to think I wanted a brother... but I certainly don't want that thing."
The sisters' evaluation of Cedric was scathing. Given that they had nearly died because of his recklessness once before, their vitriol was only natural.
"It will depend on his written scores, but... at this rate, he might actually fail," Viola noted.
"............I see."
If Cedric failed, his path to becoming a Court Mage would be severed. Unless there was an exceptional reason, the Royal Palace did not hire individuals who had not graduated from the Academy.
(In that case, the Ebern family's long-standing ambition to become full Viscounts will never be realized... My father is going to go into a frenzy.)
The Ebern family had held the title of Honorary Viscount for two generations. If Cedric became a Court Mage and earned his own title, they would have officially ascended to the rank of Viscount.
If the son his father was so certain would succeed—the "genius" Cedric—actually failed, the man would undoubtedly lose his mind.
(And when I, the "magicless failure" they threw away, pass the exam instead... I can only imagine how much they'll regret it.)
Rest didn't feel a burning need to personally seek revenge on his father and brother, but he would more than welcome their despair. He would be happy to watch them scream and dance pathetically from afar.
"I've suddenly become very motivated. I just found one more reason to pass."
Regardless of Cedric's outcome, Rest would succeed. He felt his resolve solidify once more.