Birthday party Part-1

Around an hour later, as expected, we were led to our rooms to get dressed. Laura led me to my room and changed my clothes. This time I let her dress me because it was slightly complicated to wear the suit. Well, the outer layer, I mean.

'Why did they have to make it that complicated? It just looks like a normal suit, with a fancier and a bit more frilly design. But I couldn't make heads or tails of the collar bow.'

(Image)

I wondered as I looked at myself in the mirror. The suit was definitely quite good-looking, and it fit my body perfectly. Obviously, since the tailors did take quite a lot of my measurements. But there was something I was not happy with.

"My hair looks weird."

I commented, looking at my neatly side-parted hair. My hair was usually messy and free and I liked it that way, but now it was all greased and fixed. It wouldn't budge at all. I looked like a model student but in a fancy dress.

'I don't like it.'

"I don't like it."

I concluded.

"You look proper, young master. You can't have your usual messy hair at today's event. It's important that you look perfectly presentable. You'll be making your debut in the nobility today. Quite a few heirs and heiresses, including their guardians, in the upper nobility, are scheduled to come. Even her highness, the second princess will be making a short appearance. It'll pain madam if any of them thought that young master isn't good enough as an heir of the proud Maximus household."

I mentally scoffed at that.

'Yeah, right. Fuck them too. Like I care what they think.'

But I did care about my mother and so I wasn't going to disappoint her.

I sighed.

"Fine. It's only for the party. I'll live with it."

'… I suppose it doesn't look that bad. Thanks to the stylish suit, I at least don't look nerdy.'

The head maid nodded in appreciation. She really can be persuasive when it came to such things.

"So, how do I look?"

I asked, turning around and posing a little for her to see me in my full majestic glory.

After 'that' incident, I regained most of my weight and muscles in a week. But my body had changed. I obviously looked taller, almost as tall as the head maid, who was 6 feet 1 inch. And considering I was only 15, I was sure to outgrow her in due time.

I smiled at the thought. I still remembered how intimidating and tall she looked just 2 years ago. My height was fairly short back then.

Another thing of interest was my muscles. They had returned, but they were quite compressed, so I looked skinnier than before 'that' incident when I had gained quite some muscles thanks to my daily training quests, though I didn't look skinny. It was the perfect balance between muscular and thin, giving me a body that looked like it belonged to a model. I also looked a few years older than my age. I could easily pass as a 17-year-old.

The only reason my mother wasn't distressed by my change in appearance is that, apparently, some changes happen to one's body when one gets their foundation. But the changes were normally gradual. My case was more sudden, but the doctor somehow linked it to my suddenly falling ill. I don't know how that works, but it saved me an explanation, so who cares.

"You look dashing, young master. You look like a proper Marquis household heir should."

She nodded with a hint of pride. Funny to think it's the same maid who looked at me with disdain when we first met.

Ah, a lot has changed since then. To think I had already spent nearly 2 years in this world. I had reincarnated a month or two after my 13th birthday.

I decided to pull her leg a bit.

"So you're saying I don't look like a proper heir normally?"

I frowned showing fake displeasure.

"No, you don't, young master. Or should I say, not fully? You've certainly improved a lot these past few years and it makes me proud to call you my young master now, but I would like you to dress more like a nobility even normally. And also to not be too informal with the maids. It gives you a bad reputation."

'This woman… she really doesn't hold back.'

My brows twitched in genuine annoyance. She didn't have to be so… forthcoming like that.

"Don't you think that's a little uncalled for? I don't like dressing in those extra frilly and sparkly dresses. They're not comfortable. And I don't know what you mean by the last one."

I mean, sure. I did try to fli—ahem, be polite with the maids and it probably didn't suit my position, but they gave me a substantial amount of my APs which, mind you, helped me a lot when I had to buy those expensive items from the Eroge shop.

'Hmm, maybe she's right about the maid part. I did get quite flirty with some of them.'

But that was all in the past when I was desperate! Both sexually and in terms of AP.

'But I've left that shell in the past. I am a new man now!'

[Yeah, right. Need I remind you you were flirting with that one maid 2 weeks ago. *Smirking face*]

'Zip it, Iris. Nobody asked your opinion on this. Also, that was in the PAST. I consider myself as a new man now… since 1 week. So, that doesn't count. Also, she was kinda cute.'

After gaining a perfect body, I seemed to have much more control over my hormones and sex drive, even though it was supposedly higher than before, so was my control over it.

"My apologies, if my words seem too harsh. I didn't mean to be rude, but it is my duty as the head maid and the one who is given the responsibility to look after you when madam is busy, to ensure that you're well. And I believe that includes your image, both on the outside and inside the mansion."

I sighed at her words.

"Alright, fine. I'll be more 'proper' from now on. But that's still a big no on the frilly dresses. I don't wanna look like a glittery peacock."

"Understood. Thank you for your consideration, young master."

[+2 Reputation from Laura.]

[Affection/Obedience/Reputation: 68/95/93]

'Oh well, I'll take what I can get. But the progress has been really slow lately.'

I had to grind the points a fair bit with her, but it was surprisingly difficult to raise them. After the drama where her points increased drastically, it was fairly easy to do so, but that stopped being the case after a while. And now even a single point was a grind.

And increasing her 'Affection' was especially hard. This woman was not easy; no, she was the opposite. Definitely worthy of that S rank difficulty.

We soon left the room after I was sprayed with scented perfume and finally ready.

***

[General POV]

There was a grand party scheduled at the Marquis family today and many nobles who had any sort of connection to the family or were important enough were invited. And most of them had made their appearance. Since the party was for none other than the only son and male member of the Marquis household, there were quite a few who were interested in finally seeing the young heir who had reached adulthood.

Not so surprisingly, most of the recipients were young noble heirs and heiresses, first, second, third, and so on sons and daughters of various nobles, and a few non-nobles but still from powerful and rich families that allowed them to attend the birthday party of the upper nobility.

From those youngsters, with age groups ranging anywhere from mere 10 to over 25, the boy-to-girl ratio tilted quite substantially towards the girls' side. Not that surprising as many of the families attending today's party had an ulterior motive of wanting to make connections with the Marquis household. And what better way to do so than marrying their daughters to the only son, and likely heir of the Marquis title.

They just needed to see how the heir was. If the rumors were to be believed, he was a shy and conservative boy, who didn't like mingling with others outside the family. It was believable since he was not really seen that much at other nobilities' parties of their children's birthday. And in the few he attended, he was timid and won't talk much.

Some people clearly took it as a weakness, scoffing at the lack of discipline and manners the single parent taught the supposed heir of the house. Others saw it as an opportunity to make use of such a weak link, exploit him, and get him to give them what they wanted when he finally grew old enough to take the position of the lord of the house and the new Marquis.

But, quite a few had heard other rumors, and some even seen the proof, that the second daughter was a genius in swordsmanship and could take the position of heir since the only son of the house didn't seem to be up to the task.

And so, over 2 years ago, there was quite a large crowd of male suitors at Emma's 15th birthday party where she made her own debut. And some of them weren't quite hiding their intentions to court the young lady.

It was not unheard of in the nobility. Everyone wanted to become more prominent and make their house the best house. And they didn't shy away from using any means possible. Some even played dirty.

And after the death of the lord of the Marquis family, they had come like hungry wolves and managed to scrape away a little bit of power and authority of the late Marquis. But thanks to Elizabeth taking the mantle and the support of the Duke family and others who had amicable relations with the Maximus family, they didn't do too much harm.

The only reason they even succeeded to do that little bit of damage was due to the lack of an immediate replacement for the lordship. The only adult child in the house, Olivia, was scheduled to marry the Duke and the son was at the time too young and timid to handle such a task.

Anyway, leaving that aside, it wasn't as if everyone present today had such ill intentions. Only a fair number of them. Some were present due to having friendly relations and some wanted to simply observe the next likely Marquis.

There were also a few who were neutral and had shown their face solely for formality.

Refusing an invitation from an upper nobility, that too a Marquis household was foolish after all. Even if the said household was currently in somewhat of a decline, their future was clearly bright. With at least one child having the best foundation grade and great swordsmanship talent and the other, the son, also having a great foundation of Silver grade, it wasn't that hard to believe the two were on their own going to bring prestige to the family. Add to that the possibility of having the third one also being talented, and the family had only a bright future.

It was already known that Olivia had a Silver grade talent. Of course, she didn't have a high tier since she wasn't a combatant. But just because of having a great foundation she was still a tier 3. It was enough to be proud of in the nobility. They were the ones who fused the most about faces and such.

The crowd gathered, consisting of children and adults formed various groups as they mingled amongst themselves. There were maids serving refreshments here and there. They were all waiting for the moment when the family shows up.

It was customary that the ones giving the party showed themselves last, once everyone was gathered. After all, they were the hosts and they deserved some special attention.

There was one exception to this rule, however. The royalty. If they were to attend a party, they would show up at the end in the attendance of everyone present, including the hosts.

And the same was going to happen today when the second princess shows after the hosts were there.

Everyone was eager to meet the princess. And in fact, it could be said that it was the main reason why a large crowd had gathered today. Of course, they were here for the heir. But they also didn't want to miss the opportunity to meet the princess. It wasn't every day they got to meet royalty outside the capital, even at parties of nobility. In fact, only the most influential people in the upper nobility were graced by their presence. And then too, they only ever saw the prince and princess. The empress would never show up in even such events. She was that much important. The only party, other than the ones she herself organized, she attended in the last decade was the marriage of the Duke. And that too was only for a short time period of half an hour. That's how important she was. The ruler of the greatest human Empire in the world.

"Please kindly pay attention. The lady of the house, the young master, and the young mistresses will now make their appearance."

The crowd gathered turned their attention to the center stage set on one side of the rectangular hall where a maid dressed in a reserved blue and white maid uniform and having a stoic face announced. They paid attention to her words and looked at the main gates from where the host family was supposed to make their attention.

They were curious to see the next heir to the Marquis title.

[End of General POV.]

***

A/N: Can this be called a cliff-hanger? I think it can. Welp, I'm sorry for that. XP