And so, Rest and the Rosemary sisters officially became engaged.
While a formal public announcement had yet to be made, the legal procedures were already complete. Normally, an engagement between a noble and a commoner would have faced significant hurdles, but Rest technically held noble status on the official register.
Furthermore, since Marquis Rosemary held legal guardianship over him, there was no need to seek permission from the Honorary Viscount Ebern House. The paperwork was settled without a hitch. A grand engagement party was held at the Marquis House, where the three of them were showered with blessings.
A few days later, once the initial excitement had finally begun to simmer down, Rest decided to pay a visit to his childhood home—the Honorary Viscount Ebern House—to report his admission to the Academy and his engagement to the sisters.
"Are you sure about this, Rest? You truly don't need me to come along?"
"Yes, it won't be a problem."
Before his departure, Rest stood tall and answered his father-in-law, Albert, with confidence.
"I want to settle things with that family once and for all, with my own hands. Even if you are my father-in-law, I have no intention of yielding on this point."
"I see... Well, I’ve already sent word ahead. I’ll handle the fallout if anything goes wrong, so feel free to run as wild as you like."
"Yes. Thank you for your consideration."
After bowing to his strict yet caring father-in-law, Rest set off for his old home in a carriage bearing the crest of the Marquis Rosemary House. It was a distance he could have easily covered on foot, but he had borrowed the carriage specifically to ensure the people of the Honorary Viscount House would not dare look down on him.
(Finally, the time has come...)
As the carriage swayed, Rest drifted into thought.
It had been one year since he was taken in by the Marquis Rosemary House. Five years had passed since his mother died of illness and he was brought to the Ebern estate, where he had been kept like a stray animal. It felt like a lifetime ago.
(No, that’s not right. It goes back even further.)
His history with the Honorary Viscount Ebern House had begun long before that. It traced back to the moment he was born—no, even further, to when his father had forced himself on his mother while she was working as a maid, getting her pregnant against her will.
Today, that long-standing karma would finally be settled.
The current Rest was no longer a punching bag who would simply suffer in silence and cry himself to sleep. He had obtained the power and status necessary to ensure they could never make a fool of him again.
(It’s not that I’m particularly obsessed with revenge. Even so, the thought of putting those people who trampled all over me in their place... I'm actually quite tense.)
"We have arrived, Master Rest."
"Thank you."
The carriage came to a halt, and the driver’s voice called out from the box. Hearing a servant who had recently addressed him as "Rest-san" now call him "Master" drove home the reality of his new life within the Marquis House.
"Phew..."
Rest let out a short breath, stood up, and stepped down from the carriage.
"W-Welcome!"
Standing before the gates of the Ebern mansion for the first time in a year was his father, Lucas Ebern, wearing a stiff, plastered-on smile. Having received the advance notice, he had clearly been waiting for the guest's arrival. His wife stood beside him, and the servants were lined up behind them as they bowed in greeting.
"We are honored by your visit today! As the Representative of Marquis Rosemary... eh?"
Lucas had been reciting his formal welcome with practiced deference, but he froze the moment he realized the identity of the person he was bowing to. His face contorted, and his eyes widened in shock.
(Ah... so he can still recognize me.)
Rest gave a thin, cynical smile.
He was dressed in fine, noble attire today, and his hair was neatly styled. He looked like a completely different person compared to the boy who had lived in the stables, yet Lucas evidently still recognized his own disgraced son.
(He’s my father, for better or worse... How annoying.)
"I-Impossible... Why? Why are you—!?"
"Good day, Honorary Viscount."
Rest gave the stunned Lucas a mocking smile.
"I have come today as the Representative of Marquis Rosemary. I have several matters to report. By the way... was that 'fool' comment just now directed at me?"
"Kh...!"
Lucas’s face turned deathly pale. No matter their biological relationship, Rest was standing there as an emissary of the Marquis Rosemary House. A mere honorary viscount had no right to insult such a representative.
"M-My apologies. Please, forgive my slip of the tongue..."
"D-Dear? What is the matter? Who is this person...?"
His wife, Liza Ebern, looked on with a bewildered expression. It seemed she had yet to realize that the dignified guest they were welcoming was Rest.
"Very well, I shall overlook it. Everyone makes mistakes, after all."
"I... I am grateful for your mercy," Lucas squeezed out the words, his expression twisted with humiliation. His wife remained utterly lost beside him.
(It’s a good thing Cedric isn't here. He would have definitely said something stupid and made things worse.)
Or perhaps they had purposely kept him away for that very reason. If so, it seemed even his father had finally realized that Cedric was far from the "ideal son" he had imagined.
(Though realizing it now is far too late. I can't imagine that guy ever turning his life around and becoming a decent person.)
"Now then, would you mind showing me inside?"
"Understood. This way, please."
Led by his grim-faced father, Rest finally crossed the threshold of the home where he had not a single happy memory.