“As I indicated in my prior notice, I have come today to speak with you, Rest. It concerns the subjugation of Subnock.”
Celestine spoke with a serene, graceful smile.
Lest had been expecting her visit to the Marquis Rosemary townhouse, having received word of her arrival in advance. The daughter of a Duke had come in person for one specific reason: to discuss the aftermath of the battle against the Master of the Magical Wilds.
“Good day, Celestine. Please, make yourself comfortable,” Viola said, welcoming her warmly.
“Good day, Lady Celestine,” Primula added with a soft smile.
The two sisters—Viola in particular—had become quite close with her. Their tone and mannerisms had shifted into the comfortable ease of genuine friendship.
“Hey, Celestine,” Yuri added, offering a casual wave.
It seemed the four girls met frequently. Back at the Academy, they had often held tea parties and salons strictly for the ladies. Having been effectively adopted into this inner circle of close friends, Rest felt a persistent, slight sense of awkwardness at being the only boy surrounded by four such stunning young women.
“Ah... hello. Thank you for taking the time to come here and deliver the news personally, Lady Celestine,” Rest said.
“Not at all. Ordinarily, His Majesty the King would send a formal messenger, so I must apologize that this has become such an informal briefing. I will explain the specifics in a moment, but things at the Royal Palace are currently... rather chaotic,” Celestine explained, resting a hand against her cheek with a weary, apologetic tilt of her head.
Every movement she made was a study in refined elegance. She took a seat on the sofa opposite Rest and the sisters, and a waiting maid immediately placed tea and sweets before her. Celestine took a small sip of tea to moisten her lips before continuing.
“To begin with, the matters I am about to discuss were decided through a consultation between His Majesty the King, the Prime Minister, and Marquis Rosemary. While no official announcement has been made yet, the formal procedures will be carried out once the situation stabilizes.”
This meant that Rest’s father-in-law, Albert Rosemary, had already given his approval. Albert had been staying at the Palace for several days to handle the fallout of the Monster Hunting Festival and had not yet returned home.
“Hmm? Is it alright for me to be here for this?” Yuri asked, blinking. Though a close friend, Yuri had no direct ties to the House of Rosemary.
“It is no problem, provided these three are comfortable with it. I only ask that you refrain from speaking of this to others for the time being.”
“It’s fine with me. I assume you two don’t mind either?” Viola asked. Rest nodded, and Primula followed suit.
Celestine paused for a beat, then turned her full attention to Rest.
“Rest, your efforts as part of the rescue team—specifically your role in slaying numerous monsters and saving the lives of the students—have been officially recognized. Furthermore, the remains of Subnock, the Master of the Magical Wilds, were confirmed among the carcasses. In recognition of these unprecedented achievements, you are to be awarded one hundred thousand platinum coins.”
“One hundred thousand... platinum coins?”
A single platinum coin was worth a hundred gold coins. A typical commoner earned about one gold coin a month, which was roughly equivalent to a hundred thousand yen back in Japan.
If a single platinum coin is worth ten million yen, and I’m getting ten thousand of them... does that mean a hundred billion yen?
“Isn't that... a bit much?”
“If anything, it is hardly enough,” Celestine replied, shaking her head as if the very idea were preposterous. “Because Subnock has been slain, the development of the plains is now possible. If we can clear the remaining monsters before a new Master is born, the Aiwood Kingdom will gain a vast, incredibly fertile granary.”
The Subnock Plain was part of the Magical Wilds, land where monsters were born easily, but if reclaimed, it would become a bountiful territory where crops would flourish. If the Kingdom could secure a food supply that would last for generations, the profits from agricultural exports would be staggering. Compared to that future wealth, a hundred thousand platinum coins was a modest price to pay.
“Furthermore, you are to be granted the rank of Viscount and your own territory. You are officially joining the ranks of the nobility.”
“““What?!”””
Rest and the Rosemary sisters cried out in unison. Yuri didn’t make a sound, but her eyes went wide with shock.
“Nobility? But Celestine, Rest is already set to marry into the Marquis Rosemary House!” Viola pressed.
“Does this mean... he can no longer marry us?” Primula asked, leaning forward with a worried expression.
Celestine offered a wry smile at her friends’ interrogation, waving her hands dismissively.
“Of course not. There is no intention of interfering with Rest’s matrilocal marriage into the House of Rosemary. Simply think of it as an increase in the number of titles and lands your future children will be able to inherit.”
In other words, Rest would eventually hold both the position of the Head of the Marquis Rosemary House and the Head of his own newly established Viscounty. For high-ranking nobility, holding multiple titles was a common practice.
“As for the territory... you are being granted one-third of the future Subnock Plain development. The remaining two-thirds will be partitioned between the Royal Family and other noble houses. Lord Lyubase, who fought alongside you, will also be granted the rank of Baron and a territory for having the second-highest merit. A formal investiture ceremony will be held at the Royal Palace at a later date.”
The woman-hating Sword Saint, Wilhelm Lyubase. It seemed he, too, was well on his way to achieving his ambitions.
He’s one step closer to becoming the Knight Commander, then. Good for him.
“One-third of the entire plain... That is an incredibly generous amount of land,” Yuri noted, looking puzzled as she listened. “The reward for slaying the enemy commander is certainly deserved, but isn't the rank of ‘Viscount’ a little low for that?”
The scale of the territory was vastly disproportionate to the rank. For a domain as massive as one-third of the plains, a title of Count or higher would usually be the minimum expectation.
Echoing Yuri’s concern, Primula raised her hand.
“Yuri is right. Moreover, even with the backing of the Marquis Rosemary House, won't there be many people who feel jealous if Rest, a commoner, is suddenly handed that much land?”
Primula’s voice was laced with worry. Even now, there were many who envied Rest just for his engagement to the twin heiresses. If he were granted a massive territory on top of that, the harassment from other nobles could become relentless.
“It won’t be an issue. The land is being shared with the major families close to the Crown as well. Besides... any nobles who might have dared to openly oppose the Royal Family’s decision will likely all be gone soon.”
“Gone? What do you mean?”
Rest asked the question with his eyes, and Celestine let out a sigh of exasperation before answering.
“The head of the Anti-mainstream Faction, Marquis Eiger, has risen in revolt. With the Third Prince, Rodel, as their figurehead, they have officially declared war against the Crown.”