"How should I put it... He really is a man who puts one at ease in more ways than one."
Still reeling from the weight of the responsibility dropped on him like a bombshell, Rest made his way back to Viola and Primula. Watching the boy's retreating figure—which somehow looked smaller than it truly was—Count Walnut murmured in admiration.
Beside Count Walnut stood Marquis Rosemary, Marquis Catreia, and Duke Crocus. All were heavyweights of the moderate faction and stalwarts of the throne, the most trustworthy vassals the Royal Family possessed.
"It likely stems from his commoner roots. He remains humble and earnest despite his immense power and station... I'd have those ambitious fools among the nobility take a page from his book."
For better or worse, Rest was a noble who lacked any trace of aristocratic pretension. Much of that was surely due to his status as the illegitimate child of an Honorary Viscount House, having lived as a commoner for most of his life.
Yet, regardless of his own desires, Rest stood out with agonizing prominence. He was a mage of peerless skill, a fortunate youth who had captured the hearts of the beautiful Rosemary sisters, walking with a flower in each hand.
Since enrolling in the Academy, his rise had been nothing short of meteoric. He had slain the Magical Beast Subnock, a feat unaccomplished since the kingdom's founding. He had suppressed the rebellion of Rodel Aiwood. While clearing the monsters of the plains, he had spearheaded the development of the frontier, all while drawing the daughters of the realm's most prestigious houses to his side—not only the Rosemary twins, but Yuri Catreia, Celestine Crocus, and now Ulula Lavender.
It was enough to make one move past admiration and straight into exasperation, wondering what kind of star he had been born under.
"He possesses the strength to achieve miracles beyond any other man, and he commands the devotion of the realm's finest maidens... yet he shows no sign of arrogance. Does he truly not realize that, should the whim take him, he has the power to topple the Royal Family itself?"
Rest’s influence had grown too vast. With Rosemary, Catreia, Crocus, and Lavender as his allies, he could stand as an equal to the crown if he so chose. Combined with his staggering magical talent, any other noble would have been consumed by a black pit of ambition.
"He is moderate and knows his place, Your Excellency," Marquis Rosemary said. Having looked after the boy as his future father-in-law, Albert knew Rest's lack of ambition better than anyone. "Whether it is a result of birth or upbringing, I cannot say... but the boy is devoid of greed. Even with peerless beauties like my daughters at his beck and call, he has maintained his virtue to this day. A man like that does not plot the overthrow of a kingdom."
"Hmm... Perhaps it is that very lack of greed that draws your daughters to him."
The scions of the nobility—particularly those blessed with talent and lineage—were prone to vanity. Rest's half-brother, Cedric Ebern, had been a magical genius, but he was a sadistic, self-centered man. The Third Prince, Rodel Aiwood, had also possessed natural talent and royal blood, yet he had allowed his own desires to consume and destroy him.
To be blessed with such gifts and yet remain humble, to be powerful without being overbearing, and to treat women with genuine respect... these were likely the traits that had won the girls over.
"Well, as long as he harbors no rebellious intent, we can rest easy for the time being."
"However... we cannot speak for the next generation," Marquis Catreia interjected, his voice heavy with caution. "The child of a moderate king can still grow into a tyrant. There is always the possibility that his children or grandchildren will harbor darker ambitions."
"Umu... I cannot deny that. Which is precisely why we must prepare for the future."
Heeding the Knight Commander’s warning, Count Walnut turned his gaze toward Duke Crocus. The Duke nodded, outlining the strategy they had formulated.
"First, we must ensure his blood is bound to the Royal Family. We shall take one of his children—a daughter, preferably—into the royal line. I believe it would be most prudent to marry her to the child of His Highness the Crown Prince, making her the wife of the king two generations hence."
Once they were kin, Rest’s descendants would find it far harder to bare their fangs. They would be guaranteed prosperity as the Maternal Relatives of the King without ever needing to risk the dishonor of treason.
"And... we must encourage him to father as many children as possible. This will allow us to dilute his holdings and influence through inheritance."
"If they are his children, they will undoubtedly become formidable mages. As my wife intends, this will serve to bolster our national strength..." Marquis Rosemary added, picking up the thread of the Duke's thought.
Albert’s wife, Eilische, was already busy vetting potential mistresses for Rest, fully intent on seeing him establish a sprawling harem.
"With the Geisel Empire on the brink of internal strife and the Northern Foreign Tribes making suspicious movements... his bloodline and power will be vital to the future of the Aiwood Kingdom."
"Then it is settled. Though I must say, for him to even resolve the matter of the Margrave Lavender House... Between this and my own son's failures, I feel so indebted to him that I could never sleep with my feet facing his direction."
Count Walnut’s shoulders slumped with a heavy sigh. The Margrave Lavender House had been a persistent thorn in his side, a potential political rival that had long troubled him. He had never expected Rest to provide the solution.
"But, the Margrave over there is likely—"
"It does not matter," Walnut interrupted, cutting off Marquis Catreia's interjection with a sharp shake of his head. "I care not if it is a fabrication. Our duty is to protect this nation and its people, not to uphold abstract laws or perfect justice."
"As you wish. I spoke out of turn," Marquis Catreia conceded, bowing his head.
Everyone present sensed that the man claiming to be Margrave Lavender was an imposter. They could easily guess what had befallen the real one. Yet, if it served the interests of the state, it was irrelevant. They had no intention of disturbing the peace and losing the stroke of fortune they had finally secured.
"From this day forward, I expect Count Clover to be very busy. To that end, I shall arrange a meeting with the Crown Prince in the near future."
"They are to be the king and vassal who support the next era, after all. Perhaps we should even arrange a dinner for the heirs of our respective houses."
"Indeed... let us do that."
Nodding deeply at Duke Crocus's suggestion, Count Walnut began to review his schedule for the coming month.