Chapter 13:
Housewarming Party
AFTER SEEING GARM AND THE OTHERS OFF, CAIN returned to the living room and lounged on the sofa.
“I have to hold a housewarming party? I didn’t expect that…” Garm’s parting words were playing on repeat in Cain’s mind.
“Colan, did you know that?” Cain asked, glancing at the new butler of the Baron Silford household.
“Yes. I was taught that while I worked as an apprentice butler. I’m planning to meet with my uncle, Sebas, next week to go over the invitation list. There haven’t been any other recently ennobled aristocrats. I believe it has been several years since the last one. You officially became an aristocrat at the time of your ennoblement, but you still need to hold a housewarming party in order to create relationships with other nobles.”
Colan was an excellent butler.
“I’d like to introduce myself to the staff once more. Can you gather everyone together?”
Colan nodded at Cain’s words, bowed, and left the room. A few minutes later all of his servants, including his maids and chefs, were gathered in the living room. They lined up and stood before Cain.
Cain greeted the servants gathered before him. “Sorry for interrupting you during your duties. I’d like to introduce myself once more. I’m Baron Cain von Silford. I’m still a child, so there will likely be much I need to rely on your help for. Thank you for working here.”
The servants chorused in unison as they bowed, “It’s an honor to serve.”
Introductions out of the way, the servants returned to their duties, leaving only Cain, Colan, and Sylvia in the living room.
“Now then, can you explain this housewarming party I’m obligated to hold in more detail?”
Colan nodded and began to explain. Newly independent aristocrats or heirs taking over the mantle of their predecessors were expected to hold a housewarming party and invite other aristocrats to attend in order to make themselves known. This was especially important in the capital, to the point of being mandatory. It wasn’t an official rule, but there was a tacit understanding around the matter. This custom was why every aristocrat’s mansion had a grand hall.
Cain hugged his head once Colan finished explaining. He had just arrived at the capital and barely knew any aristocrats. He had spoken with the king, a duke, a prime minister…it definitely wasn’t appropriate for a baron to invite nobles of such high stature.
“I’ll be meeting with Sebas tomorrow to work on an invitation list. You simply need to confirm the list after we make it, Master Cain.”
Cain calmed down after hearing Colan’s concrete plan of action.
“Okay, I’ll leave this matter to you, then. I wouldn’t know what to do, after all.”
“Understood. Please leave it to me,” Colan said with a deep bow.
A few days passed. Colan and Sebas had finished creating the list and sending out invitations. Colan had scheduled the housewarming party to take place in two months. It was customary to send invitations to all nobles with estates in the capital, but it wasn’t guaranteed that they would be present. They might have returned to their own territories. When that happened, the invitation had to be delivered to their territory. That may take over ten days if their territory was far from the capital.
It also wasn’t a guarantee that everyone invited would come in person. Some may send a proxy, and it wasn’t uncommon to simply send a congratulatory letter and not come at all.
It would be a lot of trouble if they had to come to the capital every time they received a party invitation, Cain thought. Colan had explained the nuances and expectations of housewarming parties to Cain, and the explanations made sense to him. Although Cain didn’t want him to, Colan had also sent an invitation to Marquess Corgino. It was apparently common practice to at least send out invitations to high-ranked aristocrats.
He had also invited Duke Eric and Prime Minister Magna as they had helped him quite a lot, but he hadn’t invited the king. It was apparently rare for aristocrats to send invitations to the royal family. The king would only receive invitations when a high-ranking aristocrat of at least count or higher was stepping down and passing the reins to their heir.
Even if they were close enough to play Othello together, it wasn’t appropriate for a baron to invite someone from the royal family to their housewarming party.
Ten days after the invitations were sent out, a courier from the palace arrived at Cain’s mansion and requested that he immediately head to the palace. He was planning to go on foot, but Colan had stopped him.
“Anything but that. You have an image to uphold as an aristocrat.”
Colan was extremely insistent, so Cain acquiesced and took the carriage instead.
They seemed to have been waiting for Cain’s arrival, as he was immediately allowed through the gates. The usual maid was waiting at the doors of the palace, and she took him to the drawing room like always. Cain was getting surprisingly familiar with the routine of being summoned by the king. Cain sat down on the sofa and waited as he partook in the black tea and sweets prepared for him.
Why did the king suddenly summon me here anyway? Don’t tell me…
A short while later, the king, Duke Eric, and Prime Minister Magna entered the room. Cain rose and observed proper etiquette. The king seemed to be in a bad mood. The Prime Minister was his usual self and Duke Eric was smiling. The king took a seat, followed by Duke Eric and Prime Minister Magna. Cain sat down last.
“Cain. I hear you are holding a housewarming party. You invited Prime Minister Magna and Duke Eric, but not me. Why?” the king asked, directing a cold gaze at Cain.
That’s why he’s in a bad mood?!
“I’m the one who granted you a noble title. You are also betrothed to my daughter—why would you not invite your future father-in-law? Eric showed up and rubbed the invitation he received in my face!”
“It’s not appropriate to blame Cain for this matter. Only high-ranking nobles are allowed to invite the king to their housewarming parties,” Duke Eric said with a wide smile.
“Who cares! Cain is not a normal aristocrat, he is my future son-in-law! Why didn’t you invite me?” the king demanded, slamming his fist on the table.
Fortunately, Colan had prepared Cain for this potential situation. Cain took out an invitation letter from his Item Box and placed it on the table.
“For as esteemed a personage as the king, I thought it may be better to deliver the invitation directly, rather than through a courier. However, the palace is not somewhere I can visit whenever I wish. Please forgive me for taking so long to get this invitation to you.”
Cain apologized as he handed the invitation to the king. The king’s mood immediately brightened.
“Very good! That’s what I thought. I told you so, Eric. He prepared an invitation for me as well, didn’t he?”
Duke Eric and Prime Minister Magna could only smile wryly.
“I’ll bring Telestia with me when I come. I’m looking forward to the dishes and alcohol you prepare.”
The king was naturally a busy man. He had summoned Cain in the midst of handling other tasks, so upon receiving the invitation, he left the room. The prime minister left with him.