Rest knocked the Third Prince Rodele unconscious, and afterward, both he and the burned male student were sent to the infirmary.
The school nurse at this academy, where dangerous magic was sometimes handled during class, was exceptionally skilled.
The rumor going around was that "as long as the head is still attached to the body, any injury can be healed."
Rodele and his entourage, as well as the victimized male student, all returned to their daily lives without any lasting impairment.
After that.
Although an assault — or rather, an attempted murder — had taken place during lunch break, afternoon classes in Class A proceeded as though nothing had happened.
The only change was that their homeroom teacher, Ms. Carder, had gathered the classmates together to deliver a notice.
"During lunch break, an act of violence occurred in Class D. As I'm sure you're all aware... using magic to attack others outside of class is a violation of school rules. I urge you all to be very careful."
Strictly speaking, what Rest had done to subdue Rodele and his cronies was also a violation of school rules.
Of course, it had been an emergency, and the situation clearly showed Rodele to be in the wrong, so even if Rest had come forward, he likely wouldn't have faced any penalties.
As for what happened to Rodele after that, he had no idea.
The prince was probably being held by the faculty, but if it were up to Rest, he'd prefer the guy just disappear from the academy entirely.
On the carriage ride home, Rest told Viola and Primula about the lunch break incident.
"So that's what happened while we were having our tea party..."
"To think he'd actually attack someone with magic... His Highness Rodele's stupidity truly exceeds all expectations."
Once Rest explained the situation, both sisters made disgusted faces.
"If it were up to me, I'd want him to take responsibility for this and resign from the academy. That way, everyone could breathe easy..."
"...That probably won't happen, though. I'd expect he'll just get suspended at most."
At Primula's words, Viola shook her head with a grim expression.
Rest turned his gaze toward Viola.
"Why not? One D-class student could have ended up dead, and honestly, expulsion wouldn't have been out of the question, right?"
"Well, actually, after hearing what Celestine had to say, I asked my father about it. About that idiot prince's backers—the Queen Dowager and his concubine mother. From what he told me, the problem is even more delicate than we thought..."
Viola explained with a grimace on her face.
The Queen Dowager's faction was Rodele's backing, but even after losing their figurehead, they still had people of considerable strength who wielded significant influence within the kingdom.
Some of those people were among the board members involved in running the academy, which meant that even the academy headmaster couldn't expel Rodele unilaterally.
Moreover, the current head of a certain margrave family responsible for border defense was apparently a staunch sympathizer of the Queen Dowager. If they were to punish Rodele and him, that person's anger could even put national defense at risk.
"Our country has strong local decentralization, and the nobility wields considerable power. That stems from the lessons learned after a former king branded a tyrant ruled despotically and oppressed the people... But on the flip side, even His Majesty the King cannot punish his own without gathering the support of the nobles. As long as the Queen Dowager's faction remains intact, driving that idiot prince out of the academy is going to be difficult."
"Why don't we just... no, never mind."
"If we just got rid of him..."—Rest almost let those words slip, then swallowed them back down.
Whatever came next was clearly not something a mere student and prospective son-in-law to a marquis family had any business saying.
Even if leaving Rodele alive caused trouble for many people, the decision to deal with that was someone else's to make.
*(Ideally, I'd want that kind of glorified punching bag to just disappear. I've had my fill of Cedric and that Celery kid...)* "...Anyway, you two should stay away from Prince Rodele. Be careful, alright?"
Rest made sure to impress the point upon both Viola and Primula.
"Just so you know... if either of you ever gets hurt by him, I won't be able to hold myself back."
"Rest..."
"Lord Rest..."
The Rosemary sisters both had their eyes glistening as they took Rest's hand.
In perfect symmetry, each sister pressed his hand to her own cheek, their eyes narrowing with deep affection.
Despite their completely opposite personalities, these little gestures were strikingly alike.
(I have to protect these two no matter what happens...)
Even if it meant ruining his own future in the process.
Rest renewed his deep resolve, etching the sensation of their cheeks into his palms.