Rest was being interrogated by a pair of beautiful sisters at the Marquis Rosemary Townhouse in the Royal Capital.
"I must say... Celestine certainly has resolve. She knows exactly when to make her move," Viola remarked.
"To think she would actually bathe with you before the engagement was even finalized... it's terrifying," Primula added.
Under the intense scrutiny of Viola and Primula, Rest had confessed everything that had transpired at the Fishing Village. To be precise, he had spent the better part of the conversation explaining how he had shared a bath with Celestine and how she had hinted at a private engagement.
Once they had heard the full story, the Rosemary sisters both pursed their lips, looking quite put out.
"Um... are you two angry?" Rest asked tentatively.
"I'm not angry," Viola said.
"I am not angry at all," Primula echoed.
Apparently, they weren't angry. However, they were clearly in a foul mood.
"I'm not angry, but... I do feel like the lead we had was suddenly closed in a single leap," Viola admitted.
"Lady Celestine was engaged to that Prince Rodel and had to endure it for a long time," Primula noted. "It seems her heart is quite strong after all."
"Uh... I heard you both already accepted the idea of Celestine and me getting engaged," Rest said.
"Yes, that's right," Viola replied.
"We did agree to it," Primula confirmed.
The sisters nodded simultaneously. Rest had been told that Celestine already had their permission during the hot spring incident, and it seemed that was the truth.
"We might have mentioned this before, but Mother is trying to force a horde of mistresses onto you," Viola explained. "So, we figured it would be better to bring our friend, Celestine, into the inner circle instead."
"If the two of us and Lady Celestine solidify our positions, we won't be outmaneuvered by any mistresses who come later," Primula added. "It should also ensure the continued prosperity of both the Marquis Rosemary House and the Count Clover House."
"I see..." Rest replied, his expression complicated.
Despite being engaged to two girls at once, Rest still hadn't shaken his commoner sensibilities. He wasn't quite noble enough yet to accept the idea of polygamy and mistresses as a matter of course, unlike the sisters.
"Besides... Celestine is our friend," Viola said with a sigh, her expression turning somber. "I don't want to stand by and watch her become unhappy."
"The Duke Crocus House is a family directly related to the Royal Family," Viola continued. "She absolutely cannot marry into a lower noble house. Most men of suitable status and age are already married or engaged... If you were to refuse her, she would likely spend the rest of her life single or be forced to marry someone terrible."
That could mean a man significantly older than her, or perhaps a powerful figure from the Geisel Empire. The former was out of the question, and the latter would mean becoming a political sacrifice depending on the whims of international relations. The consensus among those close to her was clear: they couldn't let Celestine, who had already suffered so much as the idiot prince’s fiancée, enter into another miserable arrangement.
"For some reason, Second Prince Andrew seems to find the idea of marrying her distasteful, and the Crown Princess is notoriously jealous," Viola noted. "In the end... I honestly think you're the best choice, Rest."
"I agree with my sister," Primula said. "I truly want Lady Celestine to be happy."
"I see..."
In other words, the outer moats had already been filled. All that remained was the inner moat—the matter of Rest’s own heart.
It’s not like I dislike the idea, Rest thought. Lady Celestine is beautiful and has a wonderful personality. It’s just... I wonder if someone like me is actually good enough for her.
"I'll... I'll do my best," Rest finally said with a nod, still feeling conflicted.
He wanted Celestine to be happy just as much as they did. During their recent trip, he had seen firsthand how capable she was and how perfectly she complemented the areas where he was lacking.
"Two daughters of a Marquis and one daughter of a Duke... I’m going to have to rise incredibly high in the world, aren't I?"
Forget just being a Count; unless he attained a significantly higher status, he wouldn't be worthy of these girls, each as precious as a living jewel. Rest felt the weight of his rapidly shifting position once again.
"If only it would stop at three," Viola remarked, sharing a wry smile with Primula.
"Yes, if only..." Primula added.
"Wait, what does that mean?" Rest asked, tilting his head.
"I have a feeling it might increase by at least one more," Viola said.
"Quite soon, I expect," Primula agreed.
Rest opened his mouth to ask what they were talking about, but the door to the room suddenly burst open with a bang.
"Hey, everyone! I'm back!"
A familiar girl came charging in—their classmate and friend, Yuri Catreia.
"L-Lady Catreia! Please, you can't go in there!"
"Not in that state! Oh, the floor!"
The Marquis Rosemary House Servants followed close behind her, sounding completely panicked. Rest only wondered what was happening for a split second before the reason became painfully clear.
"Wait... Yuri, what happened to you?! You're covered in blood!" Viola shouted.
"Lady Yuri?! Are you hurt?!" Primula cried out.
Indeed, the clothes of the girl who had just barged into the room were drenched in blood. From a quick glance, she didn't seem to have any major wounds herself, but if she wasn't the one bleeding, she looked like she had just walked away from a grizzly murder scene.
"I just had a little spat with my father," Yuri explained brightly. "But don't worry, I won fair and square."
"Your father... You don't mean Marquis Catreia!?" Rest gasped.
Marquis Irjas Catreia was the Knight Commander and the strongest warrior in the entire Kingdom. Had she actually fought that peerless martial artist and won?
"Anyway, because of that... Rest!" Yuri declared.
"Y-yes?"
"Marry me!"
"....................................Huh?"
The confession was so sudden that Rest froze, a dazed sound escaping his throat.
Yuri pressed closer, her face beaming with sparkling anticipation as she waited for his answer. Looking like a child on Christmas morning, she left not only Rest, but Viola and Primula, utterly speechless.