If she was going to marry someone, it would have to be someone stronger than herself.
That was something Viola Rosemary, the eldest daughter of House Rosemary, had long since decided.
"Haa… Who on earth is that boy…"
Viola lay sprawled across her bed, murmuring dreamily to herself.
Her unbound golden hair fanned out across the pillows.
Clad in nothing but a thin negligee, her figure—remarkably well-developed for her age—was on full display without restraint.
She was alone in her room, so there was no helping it, but it was an utterly defenseless state all the same.
(Rest… Rest-kun… He never gave his surname, but he's a child of House Eberun, the honorary viscounts, isn't he?)
The face floating through Viola's mind as she rolled about was that of the boy who had saved her and her little sister's lives just the other day.
The face of the boy who had introduced himself only as Rest refused to leave her thoughts.
Days had passed since then, and time and again she would find herself recalling his image, only to let a sigh slip from her lips.
Viola's father—the Marquis of Rosemary—served as the head of the court magicians.
Court magicians were mages who served the royal family, standing alongside the Royal Guard as the kingdom's shields.
The marquis house had been a family of mages from its very origins, having produced any number of outstanding practitioners over the years.
Born and raised as the eldest child of such a house, Viola had studied magic from a young age and consistently earned excellent results.
(Someday I will marry and take a husband to inherit House Rosemary. I will uphold the legacy of this great lineage of mages.)
For that reason, Viola had resolved to marry no one unless they were a mage superior to herself.
It was around that time that she heard word of an outstanding son belonging to one of her father's subordinates—an honorary viscount of House Eberun.
What was more, that son was supposedly the same age as her. He was planning to sit the entrance examination for the Royal Academy the following year.
An ideal candidate.
She would see what kind of person he was as a prospective fiancé.
Thinking this, Viola visited the honorary viscount House of Eberun with her sister, but... upon meeting him, she was immediately disappointed.
The eldest son of House Eberun, Cedric Eberun, was an arrogant, selfish, and self-centered child.
How could he have been spoiled so much to grow up like this... He was a boy who naturally looked down on everyone but himself, and never doubted that he was the center of the world.
Every time he opened his mouth, it was nothing but boasts about how superior he was.
He would stare at Viola and Primula's faces and chests with a lovesick expression, drooling.
There wasn't a single thing about him worthy of respect.
(He might be talented as a magician... but honestly, the thought of making him my husband gives me the creeps.)
Viola had resolved to marry a mage stronger than herself, but she didn't feel the slightest desire to make Cedric her husband.
His talent in magic was certainly amazing.
He had taken them into the forest and shown them defeating monsters, and she could declare with certainty that he was a more skilled mage than she was.
But everything else about him was utterly lacking.
If Cedric were to marry into the marquis family, he would obviously drain their assets and lead the house to ruin.
(No good, this man. Let's look for someone else.)
Early into their foray into the forest, Viola had already written Cedric off.
(Having powerful magic is a minimum requirement, but personality is important too. I wonder if there’s a fine young man out there with outstanding magical skills, even if his status is a bit lower?)
It was unlikely she would find such a perfect person.
That’s what Viola had thought, but... a man matching her criteria appeared surprisingly quickly.
"My name is Rest. Over there is Cedric’s... well, half-brother, technically."
The one who saved them from the dire predicament of being attacked by the White Fenrir was a boy claiming to be Cedric's younger brother.
Though he wore tattered clothes, his features were well-defined, and above all, Viola could sense his concern for both her and Primula.
He was a gentlemanly boy, quite unlike his appearance. Though they had only just met, she found him very agreeable.
And then... this boy was powerful.
He was stronger than Viola, and even stronger than Cedric, who was stronger than her.
He blew the White Fenrir away, blocked its attacks with a barrier.
And then... he erupted with a vast amount of mana from his body and drove it off.
Overwhelming talent.
A level of power utterly removed from her own.
When she saw this so vividly, Viola was already convinced that no one but him could become her life partner.
(There is no one else. To take him as my husband, to have him marry into House Rosemary... it can only be him!)
If she were to bear the child of the boy calling himself Rest, that child would absolutely become the greatest mage of the next generation.
No, perhaps even a sage, the likes of which were rarely seen in the kingdom's history, might be born.
(Primula seems interested in him too... but this is the one thing I cannot yield.)
For Viola, Primula was a beloved, precious little sister.
For Primula's sake, she could give her precious jewels or dresses, but she would not give up this man.
She would never find anyone more suited to be her partner than him.
(To be honest, I don't like the idea of fighting with Primula over him. Perhaps I should just share him with her... Wait, what am I even thinking!?)
Lying on the bed, Viola hurriedly shook her head.
To make Rest her husband, she first needed to gain her father's acknowledgment.
She had to thank him for saving her life, and she would invite him over to the house.
(She would need to prepare tea and pastries, too... Rest, what kind of pastries do you like, I wonder?)
Viola's heart fluttered as she thought about how to entertain Rest.