Chapter 122
The elderly man in front of me grinned at me.
"For a promising young man like you to say he needs this old man's help, I specially carved out time from my busy schedule to come."
No, you retired last year and now have nothing to do except sit in the rocking chair at home and drink tea.
I know that, that's why I tried to invite you.
As expected, law nobility, especially those who worked in the imperial palace, are said to be the most pretentious.
I realized that rumor wasn't wrong at all.
'The higher the person they serve, the more they show off.'
Now I'm in a position needing help, so I should bow appropriately.
To begin with, this gentleman is actually a high-ranking person in reality too.
"Please forgive my rudeness in asking such a busy Chamberlain to come here so urgently."
His title is law nobility baron, his position is former Chamberlain.
In terms of the Three Kingdoms, he'd be about equivalent to a Ten Regular Attendants.
However, unlike the late Han dynasty where eunuchs monopolized all power, the Tuscan Empire is run by the Emperor and nobles.
So he doesn't have power strong enough to make birds fall from the sky like evil ministers like Zhang Rang or Jian Shuo.
'Still, a former Chamberlain is a high-ranking person on the level of a former vice minister or deputy minister.'
"I fully understand your situation, it can't be easy preparing for the wedding with Lady Erica."
Originally, I would have been busy with all sorts of preparations now, if not to the point of breaking my back, or at least racking my brains.
Because in a marriage with a family of higher status than me, even a small mistake in etiquette could lead to tremendous political attacks.
'It's not for nothing that Albert spent all the family's money when he married the Count Farnese's young lady.'
But the Duke said he'd take care of everything from his family so our grandson-in-law doesn't have to struggle, and told me to just come when called and do as told.
If not for that, I would have left the trading company work to Chris and Sebastian and focused solely on wedding preparations.
"But don't worry. Who am I? Baron Mateo de Conte, the Emperor's direct 3rd Chamberlain, will solve everything. Who in our empire knows etiquette better than me?"
Nobles study etiquette all their lives and live applying it in real life.
But etiquette is, without exaggeration, like something that can be interpreted in different ways, so even we don't know exactly what's right.
Many cases are overlooked as long as you don't make mistakes that would be a major breach of etiquette.
But for important events where mistakes can't be made, like weddings, succession ceremonies, or funerals, it's common to invite 'etiquette experts' as consultants.
'This is also a big moneymaker for the law nobility.'
Of course, I don't need to worry about that now.
"The reason I asked to see you, Chamberlain, is for a different reason than that."
Baron Conte frowned and tilted his head.
He must be wondering what could be more important than the wedding with a ducal family's young lady.
"I want to create a restaurant where even non-nobles can enjoy the food and atmosphere nobles have at banquets."
Baron Conte frowned in an 八 shape and started tapping his knee with his finger.
He thought I called him to ask for help with the big matter of marrying the Duke's granddaughter.
He must have felt dirty being mobilized for a game to give lowly beings a chance to taste food nobles eat.
But since he can't antagonize the Rothschild baron family...
He seems to be pondering how to refuse this proposal without severing relations with me.
'It would be foolish to insist he must do it here.'
"I'd like to seek advice on everything - minimum etiquette understandable to commoners, furniture arrangement not inferior to noble family mansions, dish selection, music, and so on."
Baron Conte answered as if sincerely impressed by my words:
"I heard Baron Rothschild was someone with a mindset not at all trapped by prejudice unlike others, and now I see why. Giving commoners a chance to experience nobles' elegant lifestyle, it's certainly an ingenious idea."
"Thank you, Chamberlain."
I said thank you too, but I'm not unaware of the hidden meaning in those words.
Considering he suddenly used formal speech to greatly increase distance from me, it's close to cursing me out while not being rude.
Translating into easily understandable words, it means:
Is it because you're someone who rose to baron in less than 3 years that you have no understanding of noble culture, so you can have such vulgar thoughts?
Good heavens, is this why priests these days always lament it's the end times?
What if lowly commoners start looking down on us because of this?!
It's irritating to someone who understands everything.
'But it's actually natural to react like that.'
In Japan, they twist their bodies in all sorts of sexy ways to revive their traditional clothing kimono.
But if you try to modify hanbok worn by women in any way to emphasize sexual appeal, people rise up in protest.
Moreover, the person in front of me is like the incarnation of etiquette.
Destroying tradition is like taking away his rice bowl too.
"I'm too old and my mind is too rigid to keep up with such ingenious ideas. So please look for someone else."
If he really couldn't do it because of lack of ability, he would have immediately suggested alternatives.
But not even suggesting a replacement person means he's openly saying he won't listen to me...
'There are ways to persuade people like this.'
"500 gold coins just for consultation fees."
Baron Conte, who was about to get up, stopped abruptly hearing my words.
Then he looked at me as if displeased and answered:
"Baron Rothschild, I may have served as Chamberlain of the court, but I'm a person whose mind is too rigid from old age. Moreover, to attempt to buy me with money!"
There's an old saying:
The opposite of goodwill is not hostility, but indifference.
In other words, if he has any kind of emotion towards me, I can turn it into goodwill depending on how I handle it.
At least I've passed the first stage.
"700 gold coins for consultation fees, paid in one lump sum."
700 gold coins is an enormous sum that can buy a fairly large mansion in downtown Florence and furnish it.
It's also a minor baron family's baron's annual net income.
For law nobility who are always short on money, and retired on top of that, this must be tempting.
I have so much money that even if I spend thousands of gold coins when needed, it won't impact my finances, but that doesn't mean 700 gold coins isn't a large sum.
However, the value of the knowledge and publicity effect I can gain from his consultation is worth several times 700 gold coins.
'If I set up restaurants in other cities besides Florence, I'll recoup it instantly and have plenty left over.'
I'll start with restaurant form at first, then later operate it as catering banquets or restaurant rental services.
And to begin with, my purpose in running such a restaurant is more than just making money from restaurant income.
Baron Conte's brow started to waver.
"To try to buy me with money…"
No, if you really dislike money, you can just storm out.
But the body is really honest.
It seems like it was just about 30 seconds ago that he tried to get up and leave, but his lower body is very honest to instinct.
His knees are automatically bending and sitting back down.
As expected, the wise saying that when things aren't going well, think if you lack money, is true.
'There's nothing that can't be solved with cash attacks and slaps.'
"Fine, I'll generously pay for your grandson's entire wedding instead. Just submit the expense claims."
Law nobility barons hold relatively simple ceremonies compared to barons with territories.
The reason is purely because they lack money.
But still, the wedding of the eldest grandson who will inherit the family would cost at least 1,000 gold coins.
Hearing my words, Baron Conte started pondering with a deep sigh.
He must be fighting between money and pride.
I decided to give him as much time to think as he needed without rushing.
"... Is that true?"
Seeing his speech style change again, it's certain his heart has come over to this side.
"You know well about our family's wealth from rumors, don't you?"
Including unofficial earnings, if we count just net income, we're already at a level that could enter the ranks of great merchants.
It's just that the unofficial part is quite large, so our corporate value seems undervalued.
"Actually, I have four grandsons, and there's no suitable place for them to go..."
It's even better that he's asking for job favors.
You're becoming my buddy for your grandsons' working lives too.
"There will be open recruitment at Medici Trading Company soon. If you apply there, I'll place them in appropriate positions."
I won't entrust them with work from the very beginning, but I can make them study hard for a few years and then assign them to practical work.
"But isn't money... something given after the deal is concluded?"
Baron Conte grasped my hand tightly.
"Do you think someone who served as 3rd Chamberlain can't handle even this much? Since we're doing this, I'll make it so other nobles can't even pick fights over etiquette."
See, I told you money solves everything.
And I first opened Restaurant Rothschild in Florence.