Chapter 11:
Capital Debut Party
IT WAS THE DAY OF THE CAPITAL DEBUT PARTY. THE group today consisted of Garm, Sarah, and Cain. The butler, Sebas, was driving the carriage. Reine had no role to play in today’s event, so she was staying at home.
“Reine, listen to Maria and behave,” Sarah told Reine.
“I know. I really wish I could be there to see Cain, but I guess I did get to watch him change his clothes, so I’m feeling quite satisfied.”
Reine was in the room the entire time when Cain was getting changed. Sylvia was there too.
“How can Cain possibly get changed without the presence of his personal maid?” Sylvia asked, as she stood next to Reine with a sparkle in her eye. She didn’t actually do anything other than stare at Cain as he got dressed.
“Let’s get going,” Garm said as he led the way and boarded the carriage.
“Elder Sister, I’m off. Sylvia, take care of things while I’m gone.”
“Have a safe trip.”
Sarah and Cain got onto the carriage as well, and it set off at Sebas’s signal.
“Cain, you became a baron at your previous audience with the king. At your age, this is an unprecedented event. You will garner significant attention at today’s event as well. Be careful. Be especially careful of those parents who introduce their daughters to you. Your engagement with Her Highness and Miss Silk still hasn’t been publicized.”
“I understand, Father. I’ll handle matters smoothly.”
“That’s not the typical response a ten-year-old would give… What am I to do with you?” Garm was exasperated by Cain’s response.
The carriage slowly made its way through the noble district. After traveling for about ten minutes, Sebas announced, “We will soon arrive at the palace.”
“It’s finally time… I’m starting to get nervous.”
They got out of the carriage upon arriving at the palace. They were then guided to a great hall where aristocrats and their children were already engaged in lively conversation. At a cursory glance, there were at least thirty children. Including the parents, there were around a hundred people total within the hall. The adults were split up into their own groups and chatting with each other over some wine.
So, those are the factions?
Marquess Corgino, the one who raised an objection towards Cain’s ennoblement and then glared at him afterwards, was part of the largest group. Since he was in the middle of the group, he was likely a leader within the faction. He was bringing around an arrogant looking child with him. That child appeared to have two young followers of his own.
The Silfords entered the hall and began greeting people in a group. The royal family had yet to arrive, so Garm brought them over to Duke Eric. Silk was there with him. Noticing Cain and the others’ arrival, she smiled and waved at him. Cain returned the wave and met eyes with Duke Eric.
Duke Eric looked at Silk and Cain in turn, then smirked at Cain.
That smile of his creeps me out, Cain thought.
Garm began the introductions. “Duke Eric, thank you for the other day. Let me introduce him properly this time. This is my third son, Cain.”
They had met and talked after the audience with the king the other day, but this was their first public meeting.
“I’m Cain von Silford, third son of Margrave Garm von Silford Gracia. It’s an honor to meet you.” Cain straightened his back and offered a polite bow.
Duke Eric responded with a smile. “Oh my, it is good to see you, Hero Baron Cain. I’m Eric von Santana Maalbeek, and I serve the kingdom as a duke. Let me thank you again for saving our daughter, Silk.” Duke Eric winked and pushed Silk forward. “This is my second daughter, Silk. I hope you get along with her in the future.”
“Silk von Santana. Thank you for coming to save me when I was in danger, Sir Cain.” Silk was wearing a light pink dress. Her long hair was tied up at the top of her head, and she exuded a beauty worthy of a queen.
“Miss Silk, the dress you’re wearing looks amazing. It’s extremely pretty. You could be mistaken for a queen.”
I’ve lived the total years of a high schooler plus a ten-year-old. Ten-year-olds just look like cute children to me.
Cain casually complimented Silk. However, it seemed to have a much greater effect than he had intended as Silk’s face flushed red.
“Sir Cain…do I really look that good in this dress?” Silk asked with upturned eyes.
“Yes, you do. You look wonderful, Miss Silk,” Cain reaffirmed.
“That azure outfit is wonderful as well. You look really good in it, Sir Cain.”
As Cain and Silk gazed at each other, Duke Eric conspicuously cleared his throat.
“Margrave Garm, I didn’t expect Baron Cain to be so skilled at dealing with woman at the tender age of ten… Is everything going to be all right? I can’t help but worry for the future.”
“It is likely his older sister’s influence. Our Reine is a bit of a tomboy, and if you aren’t careful in how you deal with her, she’ll immediately get into a bad mood. He probably learned from dealing with her.”
The two adults were both laughing. They had finished their greetings, and a line of other people who wished to speak with the duke was forming behind them.
“Well then, I shall see you later,” Garm said as they left.
Silk waved once more at Cain, so he returned the gesture.
“Cain, aren’t you a little too used to handling women?” Garm whispered into Cain’s ear.
“Elder sister Reine’s mood improves whenever I flatter her. I pay careful attention to what people show on their faces.”
“You really don’t behave like other ten-year-olds…” Garm said with a wry smile.
The group went around and greeted the aristocrats Garm was acquainted with. Things went exactly how Garm had predicted. As expected, the main topic everyone wished to talk about was Cain’s ennoblement and Cain’s battle with the orcs. They also asked Cain whether he preferred older or younger girls. Although Cain felt a bit awkward, he still directly answered each of their questions.
As nobles themselves, they probably either wanted to marry their daughter to the heir of a high-ranking noble family or an independent ennobled aristocrat. Cain was the son of a margrave as well as an ennobled aristocrat at the age of ten; he was probably viewed as an extremely capable youngster. In addition, since he was only ten, they assumed he wasn’t betrothed yet. This led to aristocrats introducing their daughters to him one after another, but Cain already had Telestia and Silk, two peerless beauties. None of the girls introduced moved him, and he responded as inoffensively as possible before moving on to greet new people.
As they went around socializing, music suddenly resounded throughout the great hall. The moment the music ended, the king, the queen, and third princess Telestia entered the hall. The king walked over to the throne and sat down. The queen sat on one side next to him and Telestia sat on the other side.
Since she was sitting on an elevated platform, Cain could clearly see her. She was wearing a white dress and had a tiara on her head. She had on light makeup and her beauty was even more polished than usual.
The children of the other nobles were all enraptured by Telestia’s beauty as a faint blush made its way to their cheeks.
The king began to speak. “Thank you all for joining us today. I know many of you come from lands afar. The children here today have just reached ten years of age. They will be the pillars of this country in the future, and I hope they strive to better it. A toast.”
The attendees raised their glasses. The children’s glasses were naturally filled with juice.
“Cheers,” the king said.
“Cheers,” the attendees responded in unison.
After the toast, slow music began to play throughout the hall. The nobles present took their children and headed towards the king to pay their respects. However, there was an implicit understanding that it should be done according to rank, starting with the high-ranking nobles.
Cain did not really wish to speak with the king, but he also couldn’t avoid paying his respects. He left the timing of when to go up to Garm.
After a few groups finished, Garm called out to Cain. “It’s about time we greeted the king.”
Cain nodded in response and followed Garm to where the king was sitting.
“Greetings, Your Majesty. Princess Telestia, congratulations. This is Cain, my third son.”
“Baron Cain von Silford. Thank you for inviting me here today.”
“Garm, Cain. Thank you for coming. Enjoy yourselves.”
“Sir Cain, as always, your outfit today is quite striking. It suits you very well.”
“You look extremely beautiful today as well, Your Highness Telestia. When you first appeared, it was as if a goddess had descended upon the land. I almost forgot how to breathe.”
Telestia flushed red at Cain’s words.
“…Garm, what sort of upbringing results in a lady killer like this? Look at Telestia.” The king glanced over at Telestia, who was as bright red as a ripe apple. She was covering her cheeks with both hands and wriggling in embarrassment. Both the king and Garm’s faces contorted at the sight.
“Your Majesty, there was something I wanted to present to you. I brought it here with me. May I have permission to retrieve it from my Item Box?” Cain asked.
“Very well.” The king nodded.
Cain retrieved an Othello set from his Item Box. It was the set specially made for the royal family, and the serial number 000001 was engraved into it. The woodcarver had put his heart and soul into carving this thick, solid board. The production cost of this specially-made Othello set came out to a gold coin.
“I produced a leisure product in conjunction with the capital branch of the Saracaen Company. The name of this game is Othello. I’ve already registered it with the God of Commerce, and we are planning to begin selling it soon. I wanted to present you with the first one.”
“Mmm. A leisure product, you say? Cain, after the proceedings today have ended, I will have someone bring you to the drawing room. I would like to know more about this product of yours. Understood?”